The Psychological Society of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation The Psychological Society of Ireland

Date published 21 May, 2026

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 Jan, 2026 to 30 Apr, 2026

Specific Details Joint statement from CPsychI, IACP, and PSI calling for an immediate ban on AI ‘therapy’ in Ireland. Statement sent to members of the Joint Committee on Health and relevant TDs.

Intended results To secure urgent legislative and regulatory action to ban AI ‘therapy’, protect mental health service users, and ensure psychological services are delivered only by trained human professionals.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Kennedy Fiorella, PSI Policy & Advocacy Manager

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (1)

Email sent to members of the Joint Committee on Health and individual TDs (Pádraig Rice, Liam Quaide, Marie Sherlock, David Cullinane) providing the joint statement, highlighting risks of AI ‘therapy’ and requesting urgent legislative action to prohibit its use in mental health services.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Tom Clonan Senator (Seanad)

Maria Byrne Senator (Seanad)

Nicole Ryan Senator (Seanad)

Teresa Costello Senator (Seanad)

Manus Boyle Senator (Seanad)

Peter Roche TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pádraig O'Sullivan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Daly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Colm Burke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

David Cullinane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Marie Sherlock TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Liam Quaide TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pádraig Rice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)