Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 February 2026
194. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his views and plans to enforce age verification obligations on online service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13108/26]
View answerRegarding age verification, as I have set out previously, my Department is working with the Government’s Chief Information Officer and his office on an age verification tool as part of the Government's digital wallet being developed using MyGovID. In my view, robust age verification is vital to keeping people, especially children and young people, safe online.
The aim of developing this tool is to support the application of Ireland’s online safety code, which applies to designated video-sharing platform services (VSPS). Under Part B of the code, these VSPS are obliged to implement robust age assurance measures to ensure children do not normally see adult-only content, like pornography. It is An Coimisiún that determines when it is appropriate for a platform to use age verification.
A pilot is envisaged, led by the Office of the Chief Government Information Officer. It will be run on a voluntary basis over a period of some months. The specifics of the pilot are yet to be finalised, but platforms have been invited to participate. The legislative requirements are also being examined and it is intended that the experience and results emerging from the pilot will inform the final shape of the initiative.
