Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2023
45. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration will be given to the establishment of a Departmental forum on AI in the workplace, comprising experts in the area and trade unions representing workers whose employers use automated systems to monitor workers, to better understand how firms deploy automated technology for worker surveillance. [31538/23]
View answerIreland’s approach to AI recognises the potential for the technology to enhance our socio-economic wellbeing as well as presenting great benefits for businesses in terms of productivity and innovation. We are also mindful of the concerns and questions that the public and workers have in relation to AI.
Work is well progressed on a horizontal EU regulatory framework which will underpin trustworthy use of AI in the EU, and Ireland is actively engaged in this. We are also developing guidance on the use of AI in the public service to ensure that Government can safely harness the power of AI to tackle big challenges.
In line with the National Digital Strategy, Harnessing Digital – The Digital Ireland Framework, and the National AI Strategy, AI – Here for Good, the Enterprise Digital Advisory Forum (EDAF) has been established to advise on the adoption of AI and other digital technologies.
This forum brings together representatives of indigenous enterprise of all sizes, multi-national enterprises, and experts in digital technologies and their adoption by enterprise. An open expression of interest for membership of the EDAF has recently taken place to ensure it is well placed to support Government into the future.
The EDAF will act in an advisory capacity to GovTech on AI adoption by the Public Service. This will include the continuing implementation of enterprise elements of the National Digital Strategy and the GovTech elements of 'Connecting Government 2030: A Digital and ICT Strategy for Ireland’s Public Service', both of which were published in 2022.
The Forum’s work will now include advising on the actions in the GovTech Priority Action Plan, which is led by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer.
As the Deputy will know, statutory regulation of technical surveillance in the workplace falls under the terms of General Data Protection Regulation and the 2018 Data Protection Act, which have significantly increased employers' obligations and responsibilities in relation to how they collect, use and protect personal data.
The Data Protection Commission (DPC) is the national independent authority responsible for upholding the fundamental right of individuals to have their personal data protected. The DPC is the Irish supervisory authority for the GDPR, and also has functions and powers related to other important regulatory frameworks including the Irish ePrivacy Regulations (2011) and the EU Directive known as the Law Enforcement Directive. Any employee may request the DPC to enforce his or her rights in relation to Data Protection.
Trade unions may raise issues of non-compliance with GDPR or Data Protection legislation with employers or they may raise their members’ concerns with regard to workplace surveillance as part of collective bargaining. If parties cannot agree, it is open to them to use the industrial relations dispute resolution mechanisms operated by the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court.
