On 21 May 2024, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment launched a consultation on the domestic implementation of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (the “AI Act”). The consultation is intended to inform Ireland’s approach to implementing the AI Act, particularly in relation to the configuration of national competent authorities required for implementation.

The AI Office will implement the future AI Act at EU level and it should become a central coordination body for AI policy at EU level and cooperate with other Commission departments, EU bodies, Member States and the stakeholder community.

On 17 February 2024, the Digital Services Act (the "DSA") comes into full force, requiring all intermediary service providers to consider what action they need to take in order to comply with its terms.

On 11 May 2023 the latest compromise text of the AI Act was voted on by the leading parliamentary committees of the European Parliament.

Making predictions about the future trajectory of M&A markets is always fraught with difficulty. Globally, deal advisers report a healthy pipeline of potential transactions to come, but there can be no guarantee that dealmakers will not turn the tap off once again.

Speaking at the Irish Consulate in New York on 17 March 2026 alongside Bridget McCormack, President and chief executive of the American Arbitration Association, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke has announced that Ireland has been selected as the European base for a new international arbitration hub aimed at resolving commercial disputes between European and US companies.

The Irish Screening of Third Country Transactions Act 2023 (the Act) is currently expected to enter into force by 30 June 2024.