Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 February 2022
19. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the progress that has been made regarding recruitment of an online safety commissioner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10440/22]
View answerOne of the most important aspects of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill is that it establishes a new, powerful regulator to enforce accountability in the sector. Coimisiún na Meán will include an Online Safety Commissioner to enforce not just this legislation, but also additional legislation and measures that will be brought forward at European level in the coming years. The goal of the Online Safety Commissioner will be to minimise the availability of defined categories of harmful online content through binding Online Safety Codes, including certain criminal content, serious cyberbullying content, content promoting self-harm and suicide and content promoting eating disorders. The Commissioner will have specific regard to the effects of such content on children when defining and enforcing the Online Safety Codes.
A programme of work is now underway to secure the recruitment of key staff with the relevant skills and experience to establish and lead An Coimisiún and to lay the groundwork for the commencement of its regulatory functions. This includes managing the transition of Broadcasting Authority of Ireland staff and functions to An Coimisiún, while at the same time ensuring the continuity of existing broadcasting regulation set out under the Broadcasting Act 2009.
The recruitment of the Online Safety Commissioner is a priority. Work is currently underway between my officials and officials from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Public Appointments Service to secure the recruitment of the Online Safety Commissioner through an open, transparent and effective public competition.
As provided for by the Bill, the recruitment of the Online Safety Commissioner will be carried out by the Public Appointments Service. I would expect that this critical post would be advertised in the second quarter of 2022 at the latest.
In terms of the timeline of the Bill itself, the second milestone in the progress of the Bill through the Houses was completed on Tuesday, when the Bill competed Second Stage in Seanad Éireann. That debate provided an opportunity for me to outline what I believe are the most important provisions of the Bill, including the establishment of An Coimisiún, and for me to listen to perspectives of Senators from all sides of the House.
Based on that debate, and the widespread recognition of the importance of the Bill, I am confident that we as parliamentarians can complete our consideration of the Bill by the Summer recess. I acknowledge that this is an ambitious timeline for a Bill of this scope and scale. However, I believe this will still allow us to give extensive consideration to the Bill in Committee and Report Stages in both Houses. I know that Members of both Houses are as committed as I am to the enactment of the Bill and to the formal establishment of An Coimisiún and commencement of its operation.
