The Irish Times view on Ireland's AI future: the clock is ticking
This week its chair, Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne, set out his thinking on what must happen next. Byrne believes Ireland could position itself as 'the AI island' but warns that the opportunity will be lost without swift and decisive action. He says he would be disappointed if both a new AI office and an AI observatory are not operational by next year. The office will be tasked with implementing the EU's AI Act, while the observatory will assess the technology's effects, from employment disruption to identifying future skills needs.
In Byrne's view, those who embrace AI will displace those who do not, whether they are doctors, architects or lawyers. He welcomes the Government's plan for an AI summit during Ireland's EU presidency in 2026 and argues for clear ethical frameworks in education, where students are already using AI tools. He also points to the technology's current uses in Ireland, from automating recycling processes to analysing tax data.
Such calls for urgency are sensible and overdue. But preparing the State for the changes ahead will require far more than offices, observatories and summits. The debate is complicated by the sweeping and often speculative claims surrounding AI, from the elimination of entire job categories to science-fiction visions of superintelligent machines destroying the human race. This discourse is unfolding against the backdrop of a global investment surge, with leading AI companies commanding extraordinary valuations and data centres proliferating at breakneck speed. History suggests such frenzies rarely end without turbulence.
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Byrne's proposals are shaped by the EU's AI Act, which will impose a detailed regulatory roadmap over the coming years. That approach contrasts sharply with the let it rip stance favoured by Donald Trump's administration in the US, and with the UK's less prescriptive, more innovation-oriented strategy. Which philosophy will prove more effective is an open question but the divergence will have real consequences for competitiveness.
If Ireland is serious about becoming 'the AI island', it must reckon with the reality that others are moving faster and with considerable resources. Ambition is necessary, but so too is a clear-eyed appraisal of the scale of the challenge and the pace of change. Without that, the island will be an observer, not a leader, in the age of AI.
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Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on Ireland's AI future: the clock is ticking
Given the scale of the claims being made for artificial intelligence, it is striking how slow the Oireachtas has been to give the subject sustained attention. AI is routinely described as having the potential to transform society, disrupt the global political order and even alter what it means to be human. Yet it was only this year that the Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence began its work, holding its first public session in June. This week its chair, Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne, set out his thinking on what must happen next. Byrne believes Ireland could position itself as 'the AI island' but warns that the opportunity will be lost without swift and decisive action. He says he would be disappointed if both a new AI office and an AI observatory are not operational by next year. The office will be tasked with implementing the EU's AI Act, while the observatory will assess the technology's effects, from employment disruption to identifying future skills needs. In Byrne's view, those who embrace AI will displace those who do not, whether they are doctors, architects or lawyers. He welcomes the Government's plan for an AI summit during Ireland's EU presidency in 2026 and argues for clear ethical frameworks in education, where students are already using AI tools. He also points to the technology's current uses in Ireland, from automating recycling processes to analysing tax data. Such calls for urgency are sensible and overdue. But preparing the State for the changes ahead will require far more than offices, observatories and summits. The debate is complicated by the sweeping and often speculative claims surrounding AI, from the elimination of entire job categories to science-fiction visions of superintelligent machines destroying the human race. This discourse is unfolding against the backdrop of a global investment surge, with leading AI companies commanding extraordinary valuations and data centres proliferating at breakneck speed. History suggests such frenzies rarely end without turbulence. READ MORE Byrne's proposals are shaped by the EU's AI Act, which will impose a detailed regulatory roadmap over the coming years. That approach contrasts sharply with the let it rip stance favoured by Donald Trump's administration in the US, and with the UK's less prescriptive, more innovation-oriented strategy. Which philosophy will prove more effective is an open question but the divergence will have real consequences for competitiveness. If Ireland is serious about becoming 'the AI island', it must reckon with the reality that others are moving faster and with considerable resources. Ambition is necessary, but so too is a clear-eyed appraisal of the scale of the challenge and the pace of change. Without that, the island will be an observer, not a leader, in the age of AI.
Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Irish Times
Irish unit of Analog Devices pays out dividends of $5.4bn
The main Irish arm of US-based semiconductor manufacturer Analog Devices paid out combined dividends of $5.4 billion (€4.7 billion) this year and in 2024. New accounts show that Limerick-based Analog Devices International UC paid out the dividends as profits decreased by 72 per cent to $487.78 million in the 12 months to the end of November 2nd last. The drop in profits arose mainly from non-cash amortisation costs rising from $2.04 billion to $2.73 billion. Revenues increased by 4 per cent to $8.55 billion during the 12-month period. In May 2023, the company announced plans to build a €630 million facility in Co Limerick, adding 600 jobs to its Irish workforce. READ MORE The investment at its European regional headquarters in the Raheen Business Park involved the construction of a 45,000sq ft research, development, and manufacturing facility. The directors state that the results for 2024 'were in line with expectations'. They state that dividends of $3.18 billion were paid during 2024 and in a post balance sheet event the company paid further dividends of $2.25 billion to Analog Devices Limerick UC. Numbers employed increased by 131 to 1,757 during 2024. Staff was made up of 741 in manufacturing, 634 in engineering, 308 in marketing and 74 in administration as staff costs marginally increased to $195.8 million. The company recorded post-tax profits of $398.7 million after incurring a corporation tax charge of $89 million. Sounding an upbeat note, the directors state that 'our diversified business model combined with our leading technology portfolio position the company to deliver sustainable long-term growth in the years ahead'. The directors state that its R&D spend last year totalled $1 billion - up from a spend of $615.2 million in 2023. Directors' pay totalled $2.19 million made up of emoluments of $715,000, $1.42 million on long-term incentives and $54,000 in pension contributions. At the end of December, the firm had shareholder funds of $26.74 billion. The company's cash funds increased from €163 million to €570.73 million.
Irish Examiner
5 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Arrival of new and unknown candidate in presidential election injects some life into dull race
The arrival of a new and unknown candidate in the presidential election has, for a brief moment, ignited what has been an unmercifully dull race. The high level of coverage garnered by businessman Gareth Sheridan came from a combination of his newness to the public stage, his age and, if we're being frank, a media which wants the race to kick off while it stubbornly refuses. One might think it would be sensible in a personality-driven race to take advantage of the fallow summer months news-wise and be in attendance at every agricultural show or public event you can find, but there is a wariness this time around due to a number of factors. Firstly, the elephant in all of the rooms owned by large political parties — money. While the figure often bandied about for a presidential run is €250,000, one informed source said the real cost to political parties could be anywhere up to three times as much. While none of the major political entities is broke, running three elections last year has drained the coffers somewhat. According to election spending reports published recently, Fianna Fáil had just €470,000 in cash at the end of the year. The party has this year run a "superdraw" raffle, understood to have brought in about €600,000. For Fine Gael, it had €1.7m on hand at the same time. Both parties paled in comparison to Sinn Féin, which finished the year with €4.6m in cash. While the chance to dominate the airwaves and column inches might be tempting, moving a candidate across the country requires time and resources, which teams are loathe to do. Secondly, there is the acknowledgment the campaign itself will be short, but gruelling. Fine Gael's candidate, former European Commissioner Mairead McGuinness acknowledged this in her letter of acceptance for the nomination, when she told supporters: "I do hope that you manage to get to enjoy some down time with family and friends before September." While the race is currently being held at walking pace, it will turn into a full-on sprint come September, and burning out your team, candidate and the public before the real business begins is a short-sighted plan with so much left to play for. Thirdly, the field is not yet clear, so it's not obvious where either of the two confirmed candidates — Ms McGuinness and Galway TD Catherine Connolly — should be pitching themselves. While Sinn Féin is expected to make a decision at some point in August, Fianna Fáil members are not expecting a candidate to be confirmed until its think-in in Cork next month. Unless, of course, the party opts not to run a candidate and allows Mr Sheridan become something of a proxy candidate, similar to how it approached Sean Gallagher's run in 2011. While the idea has been floated online, many in Fianna Fáil were quick to pour cold water on it, saying Mr Sheridan's association with independent senator Sharon Keogan would be one stumbling block, given her frequent criticism of the Government, as would Mr Sheridan's previous low profile and lack of public service. But, beyond that, there is only a handful within the party who do not believe it should have its own candidate. "We're the biggest party in the Oireachtas, we have to compete," said one TD. While some drew a straight line between Mr Sheridan's emergence this week and Fianna Fáil's lack of a candidate, it does not appear that straightforward.
