Ireland has taken another major step in shaping safe digital government. New AI cyber security guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), published via gov.ie, is designed to help public bodies adopt artificial intelligence with greater confidence while protecting systems, services and sensitive data.
The new guidance, titled Securing AI Adoption in the Public Sector, comes from the NCSC under the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, with support from the Department of Public Expenditure and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. It acts as a practical companion to the Government’s responsible AI framework for the public service and supports compliance with the EU AI Act and NIS2 requirements.
Why the new gov.ie AI cyber security guidance matters
As more public bodies explore AI tools to improve services, automate processes and strengthen decision-making, cyber risk becomes a central issue. The gov.ie announcement makes clear that adoption must be both innovative and secure.
The guidance is aimed at the public service, but its principles will also be useful to agencies and regulated bodies across Ireland, including organisations working with the Revenue Commissioners, Health Service Executive (HSE), An Garda Síochána, Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and National Transport Authority (NTA).
According to the NCSC, the guidelines are built around practical measures that can be applied throughout the full AI lifecycle:
- design and development
- testing and deployment
- ongoing maintenance
- secure retirement of AI systems
That lifecycle approach is significant because cyber vulnerabilities often emerge long after a tool is launched.
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What is included in the AI cyber security package
The gov.ie release also confirms the publication of an accompanying AI Cyber Security Risk Assessment. This document identifies the main threats linked to AI deployment and pairs them with clear mitigation steps.
Among the key themes are:
- protecting public sector networks and data
- reducing exposure to new AI-related vulnerabilities
- applying controls proportionate to the scale of each project
- aligning with recognised European and international standards
The guidance aligns with ETSI EN 304 223, described as a European baseline standard for securing AI. It also fulfills a commitment under Ireland’s 2026 national digital and AI strategy, Digital Ireland – Connecting our People, Securing our Future.
This matters across the wider State ecosystem, from the Department of the Taoiseach and Justice to Health, Education, Finance, Social Protection and Local Government and Heritage. Public-facing bodies such as Tusla, the Central Bank, the Data Protection Commission (DPC), HIQA and the Office of Public Works (OPW) are all part of a broader environment where secure digital adoption is increasingly critical.
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What ministers and the NCSC are saying
Minister Jack Chambers said the public service is already using AI in valuable ways and that these measures will help bodies move forward securely and responsibly. Minister Jim O’Callaghan stressed that AI must be used in a way that protects both national security and the integrity of State systems.
NCSC Director Dr Richard Browne highlighted a key reality: AI is changing cyber security for defenders and attackers alike. In that context, the new gov.ie guidance is intended to help public bodies use AI as a strength rather than a source of additional risk.
What happens next
The NCSC says further support materials are on the way, including a companion assessment tool to help organisations apply the guidance in practice. That signals a broader programme of support, not a one-off policy release.
For public bodies, the takeaway is simple: AI adoption can move ahead, but only with robust security built in from the start. With this new gov.ie framework, Ireland is signalling that trustworthy AI in public administration must be practical, standards-based and cyber secure.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
