Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2015
374. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which his Department continues to monitor areas such as possible child pornography with particular reference to ensuring that adequate action will be taken to deal with the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8292/15]
View answerPrimary responsibility for issues relating to child pornography rests with the Department of Justice and Equality. Matters related to internet-based pornography are under the remit of the Office of Internet Safety, an executive office of that Department. Obviously, child pornography should be a concern to all of society. As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, my concern is to ensure that any risk to the protection and welfare of a child from any source, including child pornography, is quickly and appropriately addressed.
One of the commitments in Better Outcomes Brighter Futures, the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, is a reduction by 2017 in the availability on the Internet of child sexual abuse material, including child pornography. This commitment is led by the Department of Justice and Equality with the support of a number of other Departments, including my own.
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, produced a Child Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook which is intended for social workers and other professionals who refer child welfare and protection cases. The Handbook contains advice in respect of online safety and online child sexual abuse in order to heighten awareness of same.
