Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence meets for engagement on the environment

The Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence chaired by Committee Leas-Chathaoirleach Deputy James Geoghegan meets tomorrow, Tuesday, 16th June 2026 at 11am in Committee Room 4 of Leinster House.

The meeting will discuss the environmental impacts associated with AI and will hear from
• University College Dublin
• Maynooth University

Speaking ahead of the meeting Committee Leas-Chathaoirleach James Geoghegan said ""Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of the Committee's inaugural public meeting, and over the past year we have examined both the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence across Irish society.

Building on last week's discussion, tomorrow's hearing will continue our examination of the environmental implications of AI. We want to explore the very real concerns around electricity demand, carbon emissions and the pressure on local infrastructure arising from the growth of data centres, including their impact on energy use, water consumption and land use.

At the same time, it is important that this debate remains balanced and evidence-based. Ireland has an opportunity to ensure that investment in AI infrastructure works alongside our climate ambitions and growing investment in offshore renewable energy.

We look forward to hearing from our witnesses on how we can support innovation while planning responsibly for environmental sustainability and energy security."

Committee proceedings can be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.