Vol. 566 No. 3
161 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make a statement on the European Parliament and European Council's decision adopting a multi-annual community action plan on promoting safer use of the Internet by children. [9936/03]
The programme to which the Deputy refers is the follow up to the multi-annual, European Community action plan on promoting safer use of the Internet by combating illegal and harmful content on global networks. The original action plan, administered by the European Commission's Information Society Directorate General, covered a four year period from 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2002. It had a budget of €25 million and had three main action lines: creating a safer environment by creating a European network of hotlines for the reporting of child pornography and encouraging self regulation and codes of conduct for the internet service provider industry; development of technical means of parental control – rating and filtering systems for on-line content; and promoting awareness actions by providing funding for awareness projects, aimed at teachers, parents and children.
Some projects under the original action plan are still ongoing.
In March 2002 the European Commission introduced a proposal to extend the existing plan for a further two years, from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2004. Some new elements were introduced and several adjustments made to the way that the action plan has been implemented so far. These include: extending the coverage to new online technologies, including mobile and broadband content, online games, peer-to-peer file transfer and all forms of real time communication; more attention to other forms of illegal and harmful content on the Internet in addition to child pornography, such as racism and violence; more active involvement of industry; more networking among project participants; and the association of accession countries in ongoing activities, and projects to share experiences and know-how with them. A budget of €13.3 million has been allocated for the extension. The European Parliament voted in favour of the proposed extension on 11 March 2003, and formal Council approval is expected in May or June of this year.
The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform provides the Irish representation on the action plan's programme committee.
Several Irish projects have received support from the original action plan. A call for proposals for the new round of funding will be issued by the European Commission later in the year.
