Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
586. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether a data protection impact assessment has been completed in respect of the proposed use of a State-issued digital wallet or MyGovID for online age-verification purposes; if not, when such an assessment will be completed; and whether it will be published prior to any legislative proposal being brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas. [6061/26]
View answer587. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether his Department has conducted a formal proportionality assessment under Article 52 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union in respect of requiring age verification for access to lawful online content by adults; and if not, whether such an assessment will be completed before any pilot or legislative measure proceeds. [6062/26]
View answer588. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether he will confirm that the proposed age-verification system would apply to adult users accessing lawful online content; and whether his Department has assessed the impact of such a requirement on adults’ rights to freedom of expression, privacy, and anonymous or pseudonymous communication. [6063/26]
View answer589. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether he intends to place explicit statutory limits on the authority of Coimisiún na Meán to require age-verification measures, including limiting such requirements to specific categories of content; and whether such limits will be set out in primary legislation. [6064/26]
View answer590. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether he will confirm that no individual will be denied access to lawful online content solely on the basis of declining to verify their age using a State-issued digital identity system; and whether this principle will be explicitly provided for in legislation. [6065/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 586, 587, 588, 589 and 590 together.
As I set out for the Deputy on 13 January, we are not yet at the stage where all of the issues being raised by the Deputy can be answered. However, I can confirm that the introduction of age verification through the Government's digital wallet will be in line with EU law and that all necessary steps will be taken to ensure that data protection and other rights of users will be protected, including a data protection impact assessment, as required.
I will reiterate for the Deputy that the aim of developing this tool is to support the application of Ireland’s online safety code, which is an integral part of Ireland's Online Safety Framework being implemented by Coimisiún na Meán. The Code is aimed at protecting children from inappropriate, harmful or illegal content.
As provided for under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, it is An Coimisiún that determines when it is appropriate for a platform to use age verification and under the Code, designated video-sharing platform services are obliged to take measures to protect children online, including, under Part B, the obligation to implement robust age assurance measures to ensure children do not normally see adult-only content, like pornography.
Finally, the digital wallet itself is being developed by the OGCIO under the framework of the EU eIDAS regulation (EU 2024/1183). This requires every EU member state to introduce a secure digital identity framework provided through a digital wallet but the wallet will be voluntary for citizens to use. It should also be noted that it is not intended that the Government's digital wallet will be the only option for platforms to meet their age verification obligations. Rather, it will provide a privacy preserving and secure option that respects users' rights and helps to safeguard children.
