Vol. 502 No. 1
39 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps, if any, being taken to restrict the present unlimited access to Internet paedophilia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7296/99]
There is a real problem with the availability of illegal and harmful material on the Internet, including paedophilia. Essentially this is an international problem which gives rise to highly complex legal and technical issues. Within these considerable restraints on national action, I have consistently taken whatever initiatives were open to me in this jurisdiction.
The working group on the illegal and harmful use of the Internet set up in my Department and consisting of representatives from both the public and private sector submitted its first report to me last July. Focusing on child protection issues, the report recommended a system of self regulation by the service provider industry. I agreed with this approach and, with Government approval, initiated the protracted discussions which followed between officials in my Department and representatives of the Internet Service Providers Association of Ireland on the question of implementing the self regulation aspects of the report. In simple terms, while the industry favoured a self regulation approach, it baulked at funding it. I do not regard this as a satisfactory response.
Following the most recent round of direct discussions between my Department and senior executives from the main service provider organisations, I am advised they have agreed to bring forward urgently their response on the funding issue in respect of the proposed public complaints hotline and other elements of self regulation recommended in the report. My view and that of the Government is that if an industry needs and favours self regulation, logic dictates it must be prepared to pay for it. A reasonable period has been given to the service provider industry to work out its position on this matter and I look forward to its deliberations concluding shortly.
The Child Trafficking and Pornography Act which I introduced last year represented an important step in ensuring the full rigour of the law will be brought to bear on any person based here who becomes involved in child pornography on the Internet. This will be an important component in the overall set of anti-paedophile measures in this State.
Although national initiatives can and will be taken in this area, the only comprehensive solution to this problem lies in international co-operation by all the parties involved, especially by the service providers. My Department is monitoring very closely ongoing European developments in this regard.
I welcome the Minister's reply. Is he concerned that the cross-Border group Focus on Children recently confirmed that of the 15,000 to 20,000 people worldwide who log on to see pictures of children being abused, the computer literate Irish population is, proportionately, second from the top? With regard to imposing obligations of self regulation on service providers, why is there no major publicity drive to alert parents to the fact that restrictive mechanisms can be bought relatively cheaply to deal with this problem and to block access to paedophilia or pornographic material on the Internet?
I am aware of the report to which Deputy Higgins refers. It was given publicity some time ago. However, the report is not yet published. I sought to examine the report but I was advised that, despite press leaks to the contrary, the report was not completed. Given the nature of the Internet, I believe the problem in this country is no worse and no better than in any other country.
With regard to advising children, my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, recently informed the Dáil about his initiatives in this area. I refer the Deputy to the replies the Minister gave to parliamentary questions on 24 February last. The working group concerned made specific recommendations in this area and the Minister undertook a number of initiatives.
The report to which the Deputy refers and which received a good deal of publicity – as if it had, in fact, been published – is not yet completed.
The Minister referred to the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act. How many arrests have been made under that Act and how many charges have been brought?
The Minister correctly identified the need for international co-operation. What is required is international co-operation on a legislative basis. The big difficulty is that there is no international law covering the Internet. Will the Minister press for maximum co-operation on international legislation to establish a common code of practice which can be enforced uniformly throughout the world?
Unfortunately, I do not have the precise number of charges which have been brought under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act. However, I will ascertain the figures and communicate them to the Deputy.
With regard to international law for tackling abuse of the Internet, it is important to recognise that the Internet by its nature is extremely difficult to control. It knows no national boundaries and, in some circumstances, it could be argued that it is not amenable to national law. Often, for example, service providers can unknowingly provide material on the Internet which would, in normal parlance, be regarded as an abuse of it.
I accept the Deputy's contention that the best way forward is through international co-operation. It would be almost impossible for one state on its own to tackle the problem in a meaningful way. However, the co-operation of service providers can go a long way towards giving a considerable amount of assistance. I am also aware of moves to ensure there is co-operation among European Union member states in order to tackle this serious problem. In the immediate future it is imperative that a hotline be set up in this State and that it would be funded by the service providers. I am particularly anxious that they bring forward their proposals. Having sought self regulation, they must accept there is a price to be paid for it.
