Inland Fisheries

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 May 2014

Tuesday, 13 May 2014

Ceisteanna (438, 439)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Ceist:

438. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied with the actions and policy of Inland Fisheries Ireland in maintaining, promoting and exhibiting on its Facebook site, commentary from persons and organisations that is open to controversy and refutation by reputable scientific evidence and which is potentially damaging to the reputation and commercial interest of the Irish aquaculture industry, including the facilitation of an organised protest at a national seafood conference that was opened by a senior Minister; in view of the liability to which IFI, as a State agency, and his Department are potentially exposed to as a result of such actions. [21396/14]

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Ceist:

439. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied with the actions and policy of Inland Fisheries Ireland in maintaining, promoting and exhibiting on its Facebook site, commentary from persons and organisations of a potentially defamatory nature in respect of named public servants in view of the liability to which IFI, as a State agency, and his Department are potentially exposed to as a result of such actions. [21397/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

I propose to take Questions Nos. 438 and 439 together.

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), in common with a range of State Agencies and other organisations, participates in social media in order to engage individuals and organisations in its core business areas. I understand that IFI posts on its Facebook page news and information on events and developments of interest to anglers and other stakeholders. It also posts commentary from Regional and National media on matters of interest.

I am advised that IFI have over 4,400 ‘Likes’ on their Facebook page each of which, in accordance with the manner in which social media works, then becomes a potential gateway to the Facebook page of the individual or organisation which posted the ‘Like’ in the first instance. IFI or indeed any public body is not in a position to edit or control the content of these external Facebook pages and cannot take responsibility for the content of private social media pages. I have forwarded a copy of this question and reply to IFI as the matter raised relates to them in the first instance.

Questions Nos. 440 and 441 answered with Question No. 435.