THE GOVERNMENT IS being urged to back a Dáil motion today aimed at strengthening protections for Irish musicians, songwriters and composers against the growing use of generative artificial intelligence.

The Private Members’ motion, tabled by Sinn Féin arts spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh, calls on the government to introduce stronger copyright protections, ensure creators are fairly paid when their work is used by AI companies and use Ireland’s upcoming EU Council Presidency to lead efforts on the issue across Europe.

The proposal has been backed by organisations including the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO), The Ivors Academy and the Screen Composers Guild of Ireland, alongside musicians including The Script frontman Danny O’Donoghue and Something Happens singer Tom Dunne.

Among the measures contained in the motion are calls for legislation guaranteeing licensing, fair remuneration, transparency and opt-out rights for creators, a ban on public arts funding being used for AI-generated content, and arts sector representation on Ireland’s AI Advisory Council.

The Ivors Academy said the debate marks “a significant milestone” in efforts to protect the livelihoods of Irish songwriters and composers.

Its chief executive Roberto Neri said it demonstrated “the value of creators, industry partners and policymakers working together to protect the rights and livelihoods of Irish writers”.

Ahead of the debate, O’Donoghue said he had discovered that 125 songs by The Script had been scraped and used as training data by five major AI companies without the band’s knowledge.

“I think it’s intellectual property theft on an industrial scale,” O’Donoghue told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.

He said musicians were seeking four key commitments from the government, including stronger copyright laws, fair licensing and compensation, and a guarantee that public arts funding would continue to support human creativity rather than AI-generated content.

“It’s vital that the government backs us on this motion to protect Irish songwriters and composers from the misuse of generative AI,” O’Donoghue said, though he added that he does not expect Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael to back the bill.

“We must stand up for the creators who have dedicated their lives to this craft which is the foundation of Irish culture and give them what they deserve, their consent, fair pay and transparency.”

Former arts minister Catherine Martin, now head of policy in Ireland for The Ivors Academy, said Ireland had an opportunity to “lead the conversation on creators’ rights” during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The motion is due to be debated in the Dáil later today.

Speaking outside government buildings this morning, higher education minister James Lawless aid that AI in the music industry was “a complex issue”.

“I don’t think, in honesty, it’s going to be solved by private members’ bills from opposition put through in the last week of the Dáil,” Lawless said.

He added that there was a need for EU-wide regulation on the issue.

We do have to act quickly on it. I think it’s something that’s a very breathing and present danger to the musical industry right now, and we need to be engaged on that.”