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Byrne Wallace Shields: Publication of the General Scheme on the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026
On 4 February 2026, the Irish Government published the General Scheme of the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026 (the Scheme). The Scheme outlines the proposed national legislative framework that will enable Ireland to implement and enforce the EU Artificial Intelligence Act.
The publication provides early clarity on the institutional structure and enforcement approach Ireland intends to adopt for AI regulation.
Distributed Regulatory Model
The Scheme proposes a distributed regulatory model, under which existing sectoral regulators will oversee AI systems within their respective areas of competence. This means that authorities responsible for sectors such as financial services, healthcare and data protection will supervise compliance with the AI Act where AI systems are used within those sectors.
This approach is designed to leverage existing regulatory expertise while avoiding the creation of a single overarching AI regulator.
Establishment of an AI Office
The Scheme also proposes the establishment of a statutory AI Office. This body will act as Ireland’s central coordination authority for AI regulation and will serve as the State’s single point of contact under the EU AI Act.
Its functions are expected to include coordinating market surveillance authorities, facilitating cooperation with EU institutions, and supporting the consistent application of the AI regulatory framework across sectors.
Enforcement Framework
The proposed legislation will empower designated market surveillance authorities to investigate and enforce compliance with the EU AI Act. Authorised officers will have powers to conduct inspections, request information and take enforcement action where breaches are identified.
As with the EU AI Act, organisations that fail to comply may face significant administrative fines, potentially reaching up to 7% of global annual turnover for the most serious infringements.
Next Steps
The General Scheme represents an early stage in the legislative process and will now undergo further scrutiny before the full Bill is introduced.
However, it signals the direction of Ireland’s AI regulatory framework and highlights the importance for organisations developing or deploying AI systems to begin assessing their obligations under the EU AI Act.
Access the full article - Publication of the General Scheme on the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026
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