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 meeting held with Deputy Sorca Clarke and CPsychI, IACP, and PSI discussing a proposed ban on AI "therapy"

Intended results To encourage Deputy Clarke and other members of the Oireachtas to begin crafting legislative action to ban AI ‘therapy’ in Ireland, protect vulnerable individuals, and ensure that psychological services are delivered only by trained human professionals.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Dr Sarah Cassidy, PSI President; Dr Geraldine McNamara, PSI Council Member; Dr Orlaith McCaul, PSI Executive Director; 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.

Meeting (1)

The meeting focused on PSI’s perspective on banning the use of AI "therapy" and the steps that Deputy Clarke will take to start the legislative process of introducing a bill to ban the practice in Ireland

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.

Sorca Clarke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)