Ireland: Technology

As Ireland prepares to assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, cybersecurity concerns are escalating with warnings of increased cyberattacks targeting reputational damage. The National Cyber Security Centre anticipates sophisticated threats, including AI-powered attacks, while businesses face imminent compliance requirements under the NIS 2 Directive.

Ireland has emerged as Europe's leading destination for AI and technology investment, yet a significant readiness gap is emerging across Irish businesses. The third William Fry Technology Report reveals that while 80% of large firms have invested in AI, 70% of businesses overall have yet to do so, and only 11% of large businesses report achieving positive returns on their AI investments.

The European Data Protection Board and European Data Protection Supervisor have issued their Joint Opinion on the European Commission's proposed Cybersecurity Act 2 and amendments to the NIS 2 Directive. While generally supportive of strengthened cybersecurity measures, the opinion emphasizes the need to balance effective security protocols against fundamental rights to privacy and data protection, offering specific recommendations to ensure compliance with EU data protection law.

The European Commission's draft guidelines on classifying high-risk AI systems under the AI Act have significant implications for financial services providers, particularly those using AI for creditworthiness assessments...

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly prevalent in workplace grievances and employment disputes, employers face new challenges in managing AI-generated complaints, correspondence, and legal submissions.

The European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission agreed a joint roadmap to complete and deepen the EU single market by the end of 2027. The roadmap sets out a programme of legislative and policy initiatives. It is structured around five strategic priorities, including digital infrastructure and connectivity as a core pillar, with measures to simplify regulation, remove barriers to cross-border provision and accelerate digital and AI transformation.

On 5 March 2026, the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) published a Discussion Paper (DP12) (PDF 1.4 MB) examining the use of DLT and tokenisation within Irish and European financial services, with a particular focus on investment funds, including money market funds and exchange-traded funds.

The Central Bank of Ireland's latest Financial Stability Review examines intensifying global risks facing the domestic financial system, with particular focus on AI financing developments and their potential market implications. Governor Makhlouf highlights elevated vulnerabilities from Middle East energy supply shocks, AI-related stock valuations, and evolving cybersecurity threats, while emphasizing the accumulated resilience in Ireland's financial system through strong capital buffers and prudent lending

On 20 May 2026, the European Commission published a targeted consultation on the review of Regulation (“EU”) 2023/1114 on Markets in Crypto-Assets (“MiCA”).