Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2025
491. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when the Counter Disinformation Oversight Group, as committed to in the National Counter Disinformation Strategy, will be established; its future terms of reference; when the associated implementation plan will be developed and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37849/25]
View answer492. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport how his Department is working with other Government Departments and public bodies to coordinate a national response to disinformation and misinformation; and if no formal coordination mechanisms are currently in place, when they will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37850/25]
View answer493. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport how his Department is supporting national media literacy initiatives and promoting public trust in reliable information sources in line with the National Counter Disinformation Strategy; and if no new initiatives or funding have been introduced in 2025, whether and when they are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37851/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 491 to 493, inclusive, together.
The National Counter Disinformation Strategy was published on 15 April 2025. It is built around five principles, one of which is countering disinformation through increased cooperation, collaboration and cooperation. The Strategy was developed by an independently chaired multi-stakeholder working group which included a range of Government Departments.
In terms of oversight of implementation, my Department leads a steering committee to be supported by a broader coordination group. The steering committee is comprised of this Department, the Department of An Taoiseach, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Education, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) Ireland, Media Literacy Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman.
The steering committee met for the first time on 20 June. Draft terms of reference and a draft implementation plan are being considered and will be finalised and published in due course.
There are commitments and actions in the Strategy relevant to media literacy. For example, Commitment 4 includes an action to hold bi-annual disinformation summits and on 23 June, I attended a media literacy disinformation forum in Limerick, organised by Media Literacy Ireland and EDMO Ireland.
There are already funding schemes in place to support media literacy. For example, the most recent funding round (Round 56) of the Sound and Vision 4 Scheme opened in April of this year and will make funding available for media literacy projects on TV and radio. Funding awards in respect of Round 56 will be announced in August 2025.
The Programme for Government commits to funding the implementation of the Strategy and the Department is developing proposals for this, including for media literacy, as part of the Estimates process, subject to the availability of resources.
