947. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the engagement his Department had with Irish writers, publishers and musicians regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on copyright, authors’ livelihoods and the unauthorised use of copyrighted works in AI training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55639/26]

My Department recognises both the transformative potential and the challenges posed by AI. Whilst generative AI tools can have distinct benefits, I recognise the significant challenges posed to the creative sector in relation to the application of copyright law.

Minister of State for AI, Niamh Smyth, has had several engagements with representative bodies from the cultural and creative sector. Officials from my Department are engaging on an ongoing basis with stakeholders from the creative sector and professional representative bodies, to ensure they have an opportunity to make their views known and to allow Department officials to receive direct input and insights from stakeholders.

My Department is actively involved in EU and international discussions to balance technological innovation with the protection of creators' rights. At present, the European Commission is reviewing the 2019 Copyright in the Digital Single Market (CDSM) Directive, including the Text and Data Mining (TDM) exception. A stakeholder consultation, on behalf of the European Commission, has been shared with relevant stakeholders by officials in my Department, and a national submission been made to the European Commission. A final report is due to be published by the European Commission early in 2027.

In parallel, the European Commission has launched a call for evidence on possible new measures to strengthen the position of creators and creative industries in the online and AI environment. The aim is to ensure that creators can better control the use of their works and enforce their rights, while supporting innovation and the development of AI technologies. A public consultation will open shortly, and new measures are expected to be proposed early in 2027. Engagement with stakeholders in Ireland will continue at all stages of this process, further informing Ireland’s ongoing policy development in this area.

During the Presidency a Presidency Conference will be held on Copyright and Human Creativity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, organised by rightsholder organisations and endorsed by my Department.