Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 April 2023
234. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on when the Media Commission will be in a position to engage with organisations that wish to become trusted flaggers. [19533/23]
View answerArticle 22 of the Digital Services Act (EU Regulation 2022/2065) obliges Digital Services Coordinators to consider applications for, and award, the status of trusted flaggers. It also sets out the criteria and some of the procedures that should be applied when considering applications. That Article will start to apply in Ireland from 17 February 2024.
The Government decided last year that it will designate An Coimisiún na Meán as the Digital Services Coordinator in Ireland. That decision requires national law to take effect. Accordingly, the Government approved, on 7 March 2023, the General Scheme of a Digital Services Bill 2023. In order to meet the legal and practical deadlines in the EU Regulation, the Digital Services Act, that Bill must be enacted by 17 February 2024, when all the provisions of the EU Regulation, including the provisions on trusted, start to apply directly here.
Coimisiún na Meán was formally established on 15 March, in accordance with the Broadcasting Act 2009 (Establishment Day) Order 2023 (S.I. 72 of 2023). Under the Broadcasting and Other Media Regulation Acts 2009 & 2022, Coimisiún na Meán is responsible for the regulation of broadcasting services, video-on-demand services and designated online services (in particular, video-sharing platform services). An Coimisiún policy areas such as media regulation and development and online safety regulation fall under the remit of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media while the responsibility for the digital services regulation is with my Department.
It is important to note that Coimisiún na Meán is independent in the performance of its functions. However, I am advised by my colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Gaeltacht, Arts, Sports and Media, that An Coimisiún is in the process of developing a work programme which I envisage will set out its priorities for the coming period, including the steps necessary to prepare for the full coming into force of the Digital Services Act on 17 February 2024.
