As Ireland assumes the Presidency of the Council of EU, IMRO has called for strong cross-party support for Sinn Féin’s Protecting the Copyright of Irish Artists in the Era of Artificial Intelligence Motion, which is scheduled for debate in the Dáil on Tuesday evening, 14 July.
Music is central to Ireland’s cultural identity and international reputation, supporting thousands of jobs and contributing €1 billion to the national and local economy. The motion is an important opportunity to place creators’ rights, consent, transparency and fair remuneration at the centre of Ireland’s response to artificial intelligence. As AI reshapes how music and other creative works are discovered, distributed and used, IMRO believes innovation must be built on respect for copyright and the people whose work fuels new technologies.
Speaking about the motion, IMRO CEO Victor Finn said: “Ireland has a proud global reputation for music, creativity and artistic excellence. As AI technologies develop, it is essential that creators’ rights are protected and that copyright is recognised as a foundation for innovation, not a barrier to it.
“This is a moment for cross-party leadership. The protection of creators’ rights should not be a party-political issue. Songwriters, composers, publishers and performers need certainty that their work will not be copied, replicated or commercially exploited without their permission. A strong legislative framework will aid innovative, responsible technology companies and support human creativity and wider society.
IMRO is calling for a balanced, innovation-friendly approach that includes transparency obligations for AI developers, effective licensing mechanisms, respect for opt-outs and rights reservations, and fair compensation where copyright works are used in AI training or output generation.
IMRO welcomes the focus brought to this issue by Sinn Féin and Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, and stands ready to work with all parties, Government departments, regulators and stakeholders to help shape legislation that is workable, future-focused and rooted in respect for creators.
The Dáil motion follows a sustained campaign by IMRO, The Ivors Academy and Screen Composers Guild of Ireland to strengthen protections for creators.