The initial list was confirmed yesterday as the government approved plans to adopt a “distributed model of implementation” of the landmark EU legislation.

The eight bodies are the Central Bank of Ireland, the Commission for Communications Regulation, the Commission for Railway Regulation, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, the Data Protection Commission, the Health and Safety Authority, the Health Products Regulatory Authority and the Marine Survey Office of the Department of Transport.

Additional authorities, and a lead regulator who will coordinate enforcement of the Act and provide a number of centralised functions, will be designated in the future.

Enterprise, tourism and employment minister Peter Burke said: “AI presents Ireland with a strategic opportunity; it holds the prospect of major benefits for our economy and for our society.

“For business it can boost productivity, spur innovation and deliver better customer services; for the public it can provide enhanced public services; and for society, accelerated advances in science and medicine. It is a priority for me to ensure that we capture these benefits.

“However, to capture these benefits, we must build trust in AI systems. For this reason, the landmark EU AI Act, the first in the world comprehensive regulation establishing guardrails for the safe and ethical use of AI, is a strategically important regulation for Ireland, as well as the EU.

“I am committed to an efficient and well-resourced implementation of the Act in Ireland, in a manner that provides the necessary safeguards, while spurring innovation for the benefit of our economy and our society.”

Niamh Smyth, the minister of state for trade promotion, artificial intelligence and digital transformation, added: “The decision by government to use the existing national framework of well-established sectoral authorities for enforcement of the EU AI Act will make compliance with the AI Act easier for businesses.

“It is also an important step towards the commitment in the programme for government to make Ireland an EU centre of expertise for digital and data regulation for companies operating across the EU digital single market.

“Providing an efficient, comprehensive, fair and transparent implementation of the Act in Ireland will enhance Ireland’s reputation for quality regulation and its competitiveness for attracting further investment in this burgeoning technology.”