Sector — Public Sector & Semi-State
AI Advisory for Irish Public Sector & Semi-State Bodies
Public sector AI carries accountability obligations that the private sector does not. Governance frameworks need to reflect that.
Why public sector AI governance is different
Public sector organisations face AI governance requirements that go beyond the EU AI Act. Decisions made using AI affect citizens directly — in benefit assessment, planning applications, enforcement, infrastructure management and public service delivery. The accountability standard is different: public bodies must be able to explain AI-assisted decisions to oversight bodies, elected representatives and the public. Generic governance frameworks built for private organisations do not meet this standard.
Challenges we address
- Governing AI use across multiple departments with different risk profiles
- Meeting EU AI Act deployer obligations under public procurement and accountability frameworks
- Explaining AI-driven decisions to citizens, oversight bodies and ministers
- Assessing vendor AI claims without internal technical expertise
- Implementing the National AI Strategy's principles in operational practice
Grounded in public sector governance
Ger Perdisatt is a current Non-Executive Director at Dublin Airport Authority and Tailte Éireann. Both are state and semi-state bodies operating under the accountability frameworks — financial, governance, and political — that define the public sector. He understands the difference between private sector governance and public sector governance from the inside, and designs AI frameworks that work within the constraints that matter.
National AI Strategy alignment
Ireland's National AI Strategy establishes principles for responsible AI adoption in the public sector. The EU AI Act creates legal obligations for public deployers of AI. These frameworks overlap but are not identical. Our advisory work maps your current AI use against both, identifies the genuine gaps, and produces a governance framework and remediation plan that satisfies both sets of requirements. We have experience working with a national customs authority on strategic AI advisory, including maturity assessment design and peer exchange with European counterparts.
Common questions
Does the EU AI Act apply to Irish public sector organisations?
Yes — and in some respects more stringently than to private organisations. Public sector bodies deploying AI in areas that affect citizens' rights, benefits, or service access are likely using high-risk AI as defined by the EU AI Act. This includes AI used in benefit assessment, infrastructure management, enforcement, and public administration. State bodies and semi-state entities must classify their AI systems, maintain documentation, and ensure human oversight mechanisms are in place. Ireland's AI Office, operational from August 2026, will have supervisory authority over public sector AI deployment.
What does the National AI Strategy mean for public sector AI governance?
Ireland's National AI Strategy commits to responsible, human-centric AI adoption across the public sector. In practice, this means public sector organisations are expected to govern AI use with documented frameworks, ensure transparency in AI-assisted decisions, and maintain public trust. The Strategy aligns closely with EU AI Act requirements — organisations that are building governance frameworks for one should design them to satisfy both. A readiness review maps your obligations across both frameworks simultaneously.
How is Acuity AI's approach different for public sector clients?
Public sector AI advisory requires sensitivity to procurement rules, political accountability, public trust obligations and multi-stakeholder oversight that simply does not apply in the private sector. Our founder, Ger Perdisatt, serves as Non-Executive Director at Dublin Airport Authority and Tailte Éireann — state and semi-state bodies with exactly these governance requirements. We understand how public accountability works in practice and design governance frameworks accordingly. We have also supported a national customs authority as strategic AI advisor on a multi-year innovation programme.
Discuss Your Organisation's AI Position
Vendor-neutral. No platform to sell. Grounded in public sector governance experience.