Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2014
39. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to bring forward legislation to implement the recommendations of the Internet content governance advisory group to help tackle the issue of cyber bullying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47114/14]
View answerThis Government is committed to our citizens’ safety both on and offline. I believe it is of critical importance that there is a cohesive Governmental response to coordinating this regulatory function and my Department is at the forefront of this response.
In late 2013, an independent, expert Internet Content Governance Advisory Group (the ICGA Group) was established to report to the then Minister on a range of issues related to online content following a number of incidents. The Group conducted a public consultation taking particular account of issues of online safety arising from children and young people’s use of the Internet. The Group then used these responses and the outcome of meetings with a number of the major international companies based in Ireland who operate in this space to inform their policy recommendations. The Group’s report was approved by Cabinet and published in June 2014. It made a comprehensive and well thought out series of structural, legislative and administrative recommendations. The Government established a Cross-Departmental Implementation Group in July 2014, which is chaired by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and attended by representatives from the Departments of Justice and Equality, Children and Youth Affairs, Education and Skills and Health. This group will report back to Government on a set of measures to implement the report. Among the changes currently under consideration by the Implementation Group are allocating the central national role for coordinating internet content governance policy to Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and moving the advisory and coordination functions of the Office of Internet Safety relating to child safety online to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The introduction of stronger supports for tackling cyberbullying through primary and post-primary curricula and additional training and awareness measures are also under discussion. This Group will report back to Government shortly, and the final report will be published in due course. The Law Reform Commission are also presently reviewing a number of related issues in their current Work Programme, and have recently published a consultation on cyber-crime affecting personal safety, privacy and reputation including cyber-bullying which all Deputies are encouraged to engage with, as many of us have obtained valuable insights into the real impacts of these issues on the lives of our constituents through our work.
