Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2085. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the persons he met with from a company (details supplied) in New York on 19 July 2018; the location in which the meeting took place; the matters discussed; and the persons present from his Department. [34389/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the Channel 4 Dispatches programme I sought an immediate meeting with Facebook management. As I was in New York addressing the United Nations on Sustainable Development issues in my capacity as Climate Action Minister, the Facebook meeting took place in New York on Thursday, 19 July.
The meeting was attended by Niamh Sweeney in person, who is Facebook’s Head of Public Policy and she was joined by her colleagues Gareth Lambe, Head of Facebook Ireland and Siobhan Cummiskey, Head of Content Policy via video conference link from their Dublin HQ office.
Officials that attended from my Department included Assistant Secretary Brian Carroll, my Private Secretary and my two Special Advisors Jean Andrews and Suzanne Coogan.
I expressed my disgust to Facebook management at the revelations contained in the programme and told them that a significant and serious step change was needed in their practices and processes.
Facebook undertook to report back to me and my officials on the actions they’re taking in light of the Dispatches Programme.
