Call for new national AI office as part of efforts to attract American investment 

American Chamber of Commerce Ireland makes pre-budget submission to the Dept of Finance

AmCham president Mark Cockerill and Paul Sweetman, AmCham chief executive at the launch of its pre-budget submission. Picture: Conor McCabe

The State has been urged to set up a National AI office to become a global leader in artificial intelligence development and attract new foreign direct investment from the US.

The call was made on Wednesday by the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (AmCham) in a pre-budget submission to the Dept of Finance. AmCham also said Ireland has a unique opportunity to become a leader in artificial intelligence development but critical infrastructure challenges and skills gaps must be prioritised.

Ireland's infrastructure also gap remains a major block to securing foreign direct investment, AmCham warned. 

“In the current challenging environment with geopolitical issues driving uncertainty, the competition for investment, talent and leadership will continue to increase. The countries that not only withstand this uncertainty but adopt a proactive leadership approach will reap the benefits of increased FDI and economic growth.

"US FDI is a key component in the success of our economy and it is critical that Ireland focuses on growth opportunities," said AmCham chief executive Paul Sweetman. "It is encouraging to see that in a recent AmCham survey 50% of respondents cited Ireland’s highly skilled and educated workforce as the country’s main competitive advantage. However, it is vital that Ireland addresses its infrastructure gaps and skills shortages to ensure we maintain our competitive edge and secure future FDI growth.” 

The AmCham submission recommends Ireland to utilise the upcoming AI Summit in Dublin in October to demonstrate Ireland’s competitiveness in AI, and to establish a National AI Office. It also urged the Government to use Ireland’s voice in the EU to advance digital rule book simplification, and enhance Ireland’s position as a digital regulatory hub within the EU. 

It called for continued multi-annual funding for the National Cyber Security Centre.

The AI recommendations were part of a detailed submission which also called for increased funding for the Regional Airports Programme;  multi-annual funding model for Uisce Éireann; investment and support for the All-Island Strategic Rail Review; and delivery critical road infrastructure nationally. 

Other recommendations include enhanced electricity grid capacity; supporting renewable energy growth; and accelerating the use of National Training Fund resources to address skills gaps.

Paul Sweetman said: “It is a critically important time for Ireland to leverage the economic factors within our own control to secure future growth and protect our competitive edge. Budget 2027 must reflect this."