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account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories Byrne said the decision to step down from the committee was “entirely my own”.Alamy Stock Photo drink driving Malcolm Byrne steps down as AI Committee Chairperson after drink-driving arrest Byrne was arrested last Thursday while he was travelling from a hotel in Dublin to Dublin Airport. 10.50pm, 4 Jun 2026 Share options FIANNA FÁIL’S MALCOLM Byrne has stepped down as chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on AI after he confirmed he was arrested by gardaí last week
on suspicion of drink-driving. In a statement this evening, the Wicklow-Wexford TD said he was doing so “totally without prejudice to the ongoing legal process”, adding “there is no further movement on this issue”. Previously, Byrne said he was arrested early on 28 May while he was travelling from a hotel in Dublin to Dublin Airport. He said he was stopped at a mandatory garda checkpoint in the city centre, close to the hotel, and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of drink-driving. He informed Fianna
Fáil of his arrest on Thursday morning immediately after it happened, he added. Advertisement In his statement, Byrne said the decision to step down from the committee was “entirely my own”. “Given the seriousness of the matter, my deep respect for my fellow committee members, and despite my strong personal and professional commitment to this area, I believe this is the right course of action to protect the committee’s important work and ensure it can continue without any unnecessary distraction.” He said the garda investigation
“remains ongoing” and he is “cooperating fully with that process”, adding “it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on that matter at this time”. “I will remain an active member of the committee, which I campaigned to have established,” he said, adding “I will fully support the vice-chair and any new chair appointed in continuing its important work”. “Our committee works in a collegial and collaborative way, and our recommendations have influenced government’s approach to this transformative technology. Next week, we will
publish our second interim report.” “I look forward to continuing my work as a member of the committee and to continuing to write and speak about AI. Next week, I will also move Second Stage of the Protection of Voice and Image Bill, which I introduced in the Dáil.” Press Association View 22 comments Send Tip or Correction Embed this post To embed this post, copy the code below on your site Email “Malcolm Byrne steps down as AI Committee Chairperson after drink-driving arrest”. Recipient’s
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Malcolm Byrne, Oireachtas Committee on AI, Fianna Fáil, drink-driving arrest, gardaí, Wicklow-Wexford TD, interim report, Protection of Voice and Image Bill