Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2018
369. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if he has been in contact with the Minister for Justice and Equality with regard to the mental health impact from cyberbullying on the Internet; his plans to bring forward legislation regarding the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46771/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Action Plan on Online Safety, launched by An Taoiseach on 11 July last, recognises that online safety is not the responsibility of any one Department, but that many Departments have a role to play. The Action Plan sets out 25 Actions and Departments responsible for their respective delivery. A Sponsors Group has recently been established to drive implementation of the Action Plan. This is chaired by the Department of Education & Skills and comprise five other key Government Departments; Children and Youth Affairs, Justice and Equality; Communications, Climate Action and Environment; Business, Enterprise and Innovation; and Health.
I have made my views and concerns know to several other Ministers and the Taoiseach in relation the effects of cyber bullying and social media generally on mental health. It is a matter for each Department to consider recommendations in the context of the implementation of the Action Plan over 2018-19, and their wider policy remits. Issues collectively relating to tackling posting and removal of harmful material online, possible legislation, or any other relevant issues will be progressed in the context of the work of the Sponsorship Group over the next eighteen months or so.
The Department of Health and the HSE recognises the importance of Internet Safety, with several initiatives within the health sector supporting this wider objective. These include Connecting for Life, the National Taskforce on Youth Mental Health, and various other Health and Well-Being actions generally, including promoting positive mental health.
Connecting for Life, Ireland’s National Strategy to reduce suicide, commits to engaging with online platforms to encourage best practice in reporting around suicidal behaviour, so as to encourage a safer online environment in this area.
The Programme for Partnership Government (2016) committed to the establishment of a National Taskforce on Youth Mental Health “to consider how best to introduce and teach resilience, coping mechanisms, greater awareness to children and young people, and how to access support services voluntarily at a young age.”
The Task Force process came to a conclusion last summer and its final set of recommendations were published in December. The recommendations include actions in areas such as consultation and advocacy; awareness and training; accessibility and alignment of mental health services; and improving knowledge through research online youth mental health supports.
Work in this area is further informed by good practice guidelines for the safe delivery of online mental health information and support commissioned by the National Office for Suicide Prevention in 2015.
