Ireland is actively proposing to host a future international artificial intelligence (AI) summit as part of its strategic push during the upcoming 2026 EU Presidency. The plans will be presented by Minister Niamh Smyth at the Oireachtas Joint Committee meeting on AI.
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence meets today, July 8, with Minister of State Niamh Smyth T.D, Ireland’s first minister officially dedicated to AI, set to outline a bold bid for Ireland to host a global AI summit.
"We look forward to engaging with the Minister about her plans for Ireland's EU Presidency and how Ireland can lead on AI innovation globally," said Cathaoirleach of the Committee, Malcolm Byrne.
The proposal, expected to center on defining ethical guardrails in AI development, draws upon Ireland's 2021 National AI Strategy “AI: Here For Good” (updated November 2024) and its leadership in implementing the EU AI Act.
Byrne added, "The committee looks forward to discussing the strategy and the EU AI Act in depth and the implementation of stringent conditions on AI systems for this revolutionary technology to work effectively in areas such as biometric identification, decision-making for public and private services and benefits and machinery."
Ireland reinforced its international role at the 2025 Paris AI Action Summit, where it backed the “Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable AI” and championed a human-centered regulatory framework. Minister Smyth previously highlighted Ireland’s strong AI talent pipeline and academic capacity at the American Chamber of Commerce business conference, citing the increasing number of STEM and AI graduates.
Moreover, Ireland benefits from a thriving ecosystem of technology events like the Business Post AI Summit and Dublin Tech Summit, showcasing homegrown AI innovations and fostering public-private collaboration.
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Summit proposal details
Cathaoirleach Byrne is expected to press Minister Smyth on how hosting an AI summit aligns with Ireland’s EU Presidency goals and whether the event will spotlight Ireland’s ethical, transparent, and trustworthy governance model.
Key themes likely to feature in the proposal include strengthening the implementation of the EU AI Act, especially around biometric identification and decision-making systems. It will also look at ensuring human-centered oversight and public trust mechanisms and positioning Ireland as a hub for global AI policymaking at the intersection of governance and innovation
If successful, the summit would cement Ireland’s role as a leading voice in AI policy and innovation, reinforcing its global reputation as a center for ethical, high‑impact technology development.
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