Last week, the Geary Institute for Public Policy at UCD and CeADAR hosted a sold-out event examining the challenges and opportunities of using artificial intelligence in Ireland’s public services. Designed as an introductory session, the gathering marked the launch of a broader series of follow-up discussions over the coming months.
The afternoon began with an opening address from Professor Michelle Norris, Director of the Geary Institute for Public Policy. Following the opening remarks, Dr John Lonsdale, CEO of CeADAR, presented on the opportunities for improved AI use within the Irish public service. He explored how Ireland might move beyond early-stage experimentation toward generating real, impactful outcomes in areas. He also noted Ireland’s strong position in the global AI landscape, while drawing comparisons with Estonia, a smaller nation that has effectively embedded AI across its public services, as a way of illustrating how Ireland might further raise its ambitions.
The event’s core was a roundtable discussion and audience Q&A chaired by Dr Lonsdale. The panel included an insightful mix of expertise:
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Bernard Harbor, Senior Communications Consultant and a member of the national the AI Advisory Council
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Dr Dermot Coates, Chief Economist of the Economic and Tax Policy Unit and Head of Secretariat of the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council
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Patrick Moran, Principal Officer for Public Service Transformation at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation
Last week’s event laid the groundwork for a national conversation on AI in public services, grounded in policy, economics, and practical challenges. With speakers across academia, government, and advisory bodies, the discussion both contextualised and invigorated the path ahead. In the coming months, the Geary Institute and CeADAR plan to collaborate on several follow-up events to further examine the implementation of AI into the public sector in Ireland.