The Government is facing calls from Ireland’s technology sector to simplify regulatory frameworks that industry leaders say are placing unnecessary strain on businesses, particularly startups and small firms.
In its pre-budget submission, Technology Ireland, the Ibec group representing the country’s tech industry, warned that overlapping EU digital and artificial intelligence regulations have created significant compliance challenges. The organisation cautioned that the current environment risks undermining Ireland’s competitiveness in the global technology market.
“There is a growing need for simplification, coherence, and predictability in how these rules are implemented and interpreted across Member States,” the group said. It added that Ireland, as a leading European technology hub, has a “strategic interest in advocating for a more streamlined and innovation-friendly regulatory environment at the EU level.”
While Technology Ireland said it supports efforts to enhance online safety, it argued that the Irish Government and regulators have gone beyond the spirit of EU legislation in their approach, creating an “overly burdensome landscape” for companies. National-level laws that fragment EU frameworks or delay their implementation, the group warned, could damage Ireland’s reputation as a trusted regulatory partner within the bloc.
The submission also urged regulators to take greater account of the wider economic impact of their decisions. “Regulators should function in a manner that serves competitiveness and public interest objectives,” it said.
Alongside regulatory reform, Technology Ireland has called for major investment in digital skills to prepare the workforce for rapid technological change, particularly in artificial intelligence. It said the National Training Fund should be used for “strategic, large-scale investment” to equip workers with advanced digital capabilities.
The group also pressed for the swift rollout of recommendations from Silicon Island: Ireland’s National Semiconductor Strategy, which aims to strengthen the country’s role in the global semiconductor supply chain.
Una Fitzpatrick, Director of Technology Ireland, stressed the urgency of aligning policy with long-term economic needs. “As we look toward 2030, the next five years will be pivotal for Ireland and the global economy. Investment in skills and innovation is not a discretionary spend – it is a national imperative,” she said.
She added that the National Training Fund, funded by employers, must be “used strategically to unlock Ireland’s AI-enabled future.”
The tech industry’s intervention comes as the Government prepares its upcoming budget against a backdrop of rapid advances in AI and increasing competition among global technology hubs. Industry leaders argue that striking the right balance between regulation, innovation, and workforce development will be essential to ensure Ireland maintains its position as a key player in Europe’s digital economy.
