Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - IACP

Lobbying Organisation Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - IACP

Date published 21 May, 2026

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 Jan. 2026 to 30 Apr. 2026

Specific Details Calling for legislation required to prohibit 'Artificial Intelligence' (AI) 'Therapy'

Intended results For legislation to be filed to protect the public from the serious risks associated with the use of AI 'therapy'

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Nicole Mac Dermott, Lisa Molloy

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

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members We joined with the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland and the Psychological Society of Ireland, in a joint policy statement that said ‘therapy’ as prescribed through AI could never be viewed as an adequate substitute for a human therapist. We called for urgently needed legislation to protect all in Ireland from the risks that are associated with AI ‘therapy.'

Social Media All Oireachtas Members We joined with the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland and the Psychological Society of Ireland, in a joint policy statement that said ‘therapy’ as prescribed through AI could never be viewed as an adequate substitute for a human therapist. We called for urgently needed legislation to protect all in Ireland from the risks that are associated with AI ‘therapy.'

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (1)

The group wrote to Minister Mary Butler about our concerns and requested a meeting to discuss the issues.

Meeting (1)

Our group met with Deputy Sorca Clarke to discuss our serious concerns about AI 'therapy' and the need for a legislative ban to protect the public.

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.

Mary Butler Government Chief Whip and Minister (Department of the Taoiseach)

Ian Power Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)

Sorca Clarke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)