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Ireland AI companion-services bill (2026)

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Law & policy information
Name
Artificial Intelligence Companion Services (Protection of Children) Bill 2026[1]
Jurisdiction
Ireland[1]
Instrument type
Private member’s bill[1]
Bill / legal citation
Bill 93 of 2026[1]
Legislative or adoption status
Introduced September 29, 2026; Second Stage listed as current. Not enacted.[1]
Effective dates
No fixed date: commencement would require ministerial orders after enactment.[2]
Last source verification
October 27, 2026 — official stage record, complete introduced bill and explanatory memorandum.

Overview

The Artificial Intelligence Companion Services (Protection of Children) Bill 2026 (Bill 93 of 2026) is a private member’s bill sponsored by Malcolm Byrne. It was introduced in Dáil Éireann on September 29, 2026. The official record, checked October 27, lists Second Stage as current and later stages as future.[1]

Proposed coverage

The bill would prohibit providers from making AI companion services or intimate AI services available to children under 16. Its definitions focus on services designed, developed or marketed to simulate companionship, emotional support or relationships, rather than every informational chatbot. It also addresses targeted promotion and would require proportionate age assurance beyond self-declaration, consistent with data-protection law.[2][3]

Section 8 would require chatbots to identify themselves clearly as AI. Section 9 would prohibit false representations that a companion service is a person, has consciousness or legal personality, or experiences human emotions.[2]

Proposed enforcement and commencement

The bill would give Coimisiún na Meán monitoring, information-notice and compliance functions, with administrative sanctions and criminal offences for specified breaches. Proposed directions include stopping access by children, strengthening age assurance or disabling a chatbot persona.[2]

Commencement would require ministerial orders following enactment. The introduced proposal establishes no operative restriction or fixed start date.[2][1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Houses of the Oireachtas, Bill 93 of 2026, sponsor and stage record; complete bill-history entry reviewed October 27, 2026.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Introduced bill, sections 1–22; complete introduced text reviewed.
  3. ↑ Explanatory memorandum, purpose and section-by-section explanation; complete memorandum reviewed.
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