Who enforces the EU AI Act in Ireland?

The full list of Irish NCAs by sector

Ireland's Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026 designates 15 National Competent Authorities along existing regulatory lines. The Central Bank of Ireland is the NCA for AI in financial services, including credit, insurance, investment, payments, and AML. The Data Protection Commission is the NCA for AI systems that process personal data, giving it jurisdiction over a wide range of AI applications across all sectors. The Health Products Regulatory Authority is the NCA for AI in medical devices and clinical systems. The Legal Services Regulatory Authority is the NCA for AI in legal practice. The Workplace Relations Commission has jurisdiction over AI in employment decisions. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission oversees AI in consumer markets. The Commission for Communications Regulation covers AI in electronic communications. The Health and Safety Authority oversees AI in workplace safety systems. The National Cyber Security Centre has responsibility for AI in cybersecurity contexts. The AI Office of Ireland operates as the coordinator and default authority for cases that cross sectoral boundaries.

The AI Office of Ireland's role

The AI Office of Ireland is the new body established under the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026 to coordinate EU AI Act enforcement. It must be operational by 1 August 2026. The AI Office's functions include: acting as the default NCA for AI systems that do not fall clearly within a sectoral regulator's remit; coordinating the 15 sectoral NCAs to ensure consistent enforcement standards; overseeing general-purpose AI models (the foundation models that underpin many AI tools); receiving and investigating serious incident reports; and liaising with the European AI Office at EU level. For Irish organisations, the AI Office is the most likely first point of contact for EU AI Act queries that do not have an obvious sectoral regulator. It is also the body most likely to develop enforcement guidance and codes of practice that shape how the Act is applied in Ireland.