Anne Rabbitte
Question:105. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who work in the Office for Internet Safety; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26170/17]
View answerWednesday, 31 May 2017
Questions (105)
Written answers
The Office for Internet Safety (OIS) is responsible for developing strategic actions to promote the highest possible levels of internet safety, particularly in relation to combatting child pornography. The OIS currently has two members of staff assigned to it who in turn are working alongside officials working in other divisions of my Department which have a specific remit in dealing with cyber-related policy. The OIS coordinates the EU Safer Internet Programme for Ireland and channel the EU funding, which runs from January 2017 to June 2019, to four partner bodies. The bodies funded are:
- PDST – Professional Development Service for Teachers Technology in Education (a part of the Department of Education and Skills),
- Childline which is operated by the ISPCC,
- the National Parents Council (Primary) which operates a helpline for parents and
- Hotline.ie which is operated by the Internet Service Providers Association of Ireland.
A dedicated website www.internetsafety.ie is supported by the Office and provides information and links to other resources on internet safety. In addition, it partners with experts to develop and publish a series of information booklets on internet safety which are made available on the website and also in hard copy.
The OIS has an oversight role in the operation of Hotline.ie and the Garda blocking initiative. Hotline.ie is the confidential service for reporting illegal content in the internet in Ireland and it liaises closely with An Garda Síochána (AGS) in carrying out its functions. In November 2014, An Garda Síochána launched an initiative on the blocking of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on the internet in Ireland. AGS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a large internet provider company under which the company agreed to block access to CSAM as per a list supplied by AGS. AGS continues to engage with other companies with a view to establishing further MOUs.
In September 2016, the Law Reform Commission published its report on 'Harmful Communications and Digital Safety'. While noting the positive benefits to society of the interconnected digital world in which we live, the report also noted the negative aspects and the emerging trend to engage in online communications that cause significant harm to others. In December 2016, the Government gave its approval for the drafting of a General Scheme of a Bill which would provide for new and amended criminal offences along the lines set out in the report. The Bill will address the criminal law aspects of the Law Reform Commission’s report. The Commission has proposed extending some existing offences and creating some new criminal offences. Drafting to prepare the General Scheme is ongoing in my Department.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Internet Content Governance Advisory Group (ICGAG), established by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, made a series of recommendations in relation to the OIS including the transfer of some of its functions to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. In order to oversee the implementation of the various recommendations in the Report, an interdepartmental implementation group was established under the chairmanship of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and work is ongoing in this regard. The group includes representatives from the Departments of Communications Climate Action and Environment, Children and Youth Affairs, Education and Skills, Health and my own Department.