2127. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Government has conducted an assessment of the risks posed by artificial intelligence to national security, public services, democratic processes and critical infrastructure; the measures being taken across Government to mitigate such risks. [58777/26]

2128. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his department has assessed the threat posed by artificial intelligence-generated misinformation, disinformation and deepfake content to democratic processes and public trust in Ireland; and the measures being taken across Government to address these risks. [58778/26]

2129. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether a whole-of-Government strategy is in place to address the risks associated with artificial intelligence, including cybersecurity threats, deepfakes, misinformation and risks to critical infrastructure. [58779/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2127 to 2129, inclusive, together.

This Government recognises the benefits that artificial intelligence (AI) can bring, while  also acknowledging that it can present risks which require careful consideration.

The recently published National Digital and AI Strategy identified secure and trustworthy AI, cyber resilience and digital security as strategic priorities. The Strategy includes commitments to undertake a national AI cyber risk assessment, strengthen the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), enhance the capabilities of the Joint Cyber Defence Command, update the National Cyber Emergency Response Plan, implement the EU AI Act and strengthen governance arrangements for the use of AI across the public service.

The NCSC which is an operational arm of my department monitors developments in AI-enabled cyber capabilities on a continuous basis and collaborates with our international partners in the EU and globally. The latest National Cyber Risk Assessment (NCRA), published last December, highlighted how AI drives systemic risk by increasing the speed, scale and sophistication of cyberattacks.

In June 2026, the NCSC published Securing AI Adoption in the Public Sector, providing guidance to public bodies on identifying and managing cyber security risks associated with AI systems. This complements the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation's Responsible Use of AI in the Public Service framework which sets out governance, risk management, transparency and human oversight requirements for the use of AI by public bodies.

In relation to risks to democratic processes and the information environment, the Department of Communication, Culture and Sport published the National Counter Disinformation Strategy in 2025, which analyses the rise of Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) and the role played by the amplification of harmful online content.

The drafting of a new National Cyber Security Strategy, which is being led out by my department and currently open for consultation, aims to build resilience against AI-enabled threats by tasking the NCSC to develop AI readiness across government, small businesses, and critical national infrastructure (CNI). It further proposes leveraging AI to enhance national defence capabilities, which the NCSC will progress through the development of an AI readiness plan. This strategy will complement the work of Government as part of a suite of complementary strategies including the upcoming National Security Strategy.