Ireland's parliament debates using its EU presidency to force AI copyright rules

The Irish parliament debates a motion this evening asking the government to use its EU Council presidency to force AI and copyright onto the European agenda. Ireland took over the six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union in early July, and Sinn Féin culture spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh wants it spent on creator rights.

The motion asks the government to “draw attention to and lead efforts to resolve” copyright and AI questions at European level.

What Aengus Ó Snodaigh’s motion asks the Irish government to do

Beyond the EU presidency, the motion pushes for domestic legislation setting an “appropriate framework” for generative AI covering licensing, transparency, fair remuneration, and personality rights.

Two asks are more concrete. State funding of the arts would go only to human creators. And the creative industries would get seats on Ireland’s AI Advisory Council.

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Irish artists are being ripped off. Their copyrighted work is being used, without their consent and without any remuneration, to build systems that spew out 'AI art' which directly competes with them.

Why the EU presidency gives a Dáil motion reach

A motion in the Dáil binds nobody. The presidency is what gives this one weight beyond Ireland.

The country holding the Council presidency steers the agenda and priorities for six months. Creator groups see a window to push AI and copyright up the queue in Brussels while an Irish minister is chairing the room.

Which Irish music groups are backing the motion

The songwriter collecting society IMRO, The Ivors Academy, and the Screen Composers Guild of Ireland are among those supporting Ó Snodaigh. Danny O’Donoghue of The Script has backed it publicly.

“Ireland has an opportunity to lead the conversation on creators’ rights during its presidency of the Council of the European Union, and we hope this motion builds momentum for meaningful, practical action,” said Catherine Martin, Head of Policy for Ireland at The Ivors Academy. She urged members of Dáil Éireann to vote for it.

The Screen Composers Guild framed it as a both-ways argument. “Technological innovation need not hamper ethical business practice any more than regulation need hamper innovation,” the guild said in a statement.

Sinn Féin is the main opposition party, so the motion needs cross-party support to pass. It is scheduled for private members’ business.

The timing is the part worth watching. AI companies are already signing licensing deals with labels and publishers, including Udio and Klay, and it is still unclear whether artists and writers are asked for consent before their music enters those deals. Ireland is debating the rules while the deals are being signed, which is the same sequence France ran into with its own AI training bill.