12 Márta 2013, 17:00
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications tomorrow continues its hearings on the challenges facing individuals, families and communities from the rise of social media, including the challenges posed by cyber-bullying and online harassment.
12 March 2013
Representatives from the National Anti-Bullying Coalition will be before the Committee to outline their concerns. The coalition is a voluntary organisation campaigning for the introduction of a National Safe Schools Programme. All members of the Coalition have either experienced bullying within the school setting or are practitioners of best and safest practice with regard to dealing with issues of a bullying nature.
Chairman of the Committee Tom Hayes TD says: \"We look forward to hearing from the representatives of the National Anti-Bullying Coalition tomorrow. We intend to raise with the representatives the possible policies they envisage can be put in place to increase awareness of cyber-bullying and enhance accountability for the minority who abuse online channels. Committee Members will wish to explore whether the representatives feel the existing laws are sufficient in this area and their opinion on the current take-down and blocking policies of the social media companies.
“It comes after a series of meetings last week with Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte, officials from the Office for Internet Safety, and representatives from the social media companies Facebook and Twitter. A strong current of opinion last week pointed to the very positive and exciting potential of social media. However, there is a fine balance to be struck between allowing freedom of speech on these channels and not impacting adversely on people's individual rights. The meeting with representatives from the National Anti-Bullying Coalition is a valuable opportunity to further inform our consideration of this matter.”
Following the presentation from the NABC, the Committee will hear from Jan Geiss, the Secretary General of EUFORES.
Deputy Hayes continues: “National Parliaments have a key role, along with the Commission and Member State governments, in forging a sustainable and clean supply of energy for Europe. EUFORES is an important cross-party network of European parliamentarians, whose core objective is the promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency. We look forward to hearing more about its work tomorrow and plans for its 13th interparliamentary meeting, which takes place in Dublin Castle later in June.”
The meeting commences tomorrow 13 March at 9:30 am in Committee Room 4, LH 2000. Committee proceedings can be followed live here.
Have your say: View more on the Committee's public consultation n social media and make a submission. The closing date for receipt of submissions is this Friday 15 March.
For further information contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +353 1 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Seán Kenny, Labour
Eamonn Moloney, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan