Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
168. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the progress made in implementing the National Counter Disinformation Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16773/26]
View answer572. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for a detailed update on the National Counter Disinformation Strategy and its operation to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17217/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 572 together.
The National Counter Disinformation Strategy was published in April 2025. In June 2025, in fulfilment of actions in the Strategy, my Department established a multi-stakeholder Steering Committee to oversee and drive implementation of the Strategy, supported by a broader Coordination Group. Terms of reference, membership and minutes of meetings for the Committee and the Group are available on the Strategy web page.
The Committee agreed to publish periodic updates on progress on implementation and the first such update, compiled based on inputs from action owners, was published on the Strategy web page in December 2025.
2025 highlights include the first Disinformation Forum held in June, the Media Literacy Ireland Annual Conference held in November and Ireland joining the Steering Group of the OECD Hub on Information Integrity.
Implementation of the Strategy will be accelerated in 2026 with the allocation of the €1.1 million in funding which I secured in Budget 2026, to be directed towards media literacy, fact-checking and research initiatives. My Department is engaging Coimisiún na Meán on media literacy and fact-checking initiatives and with stakeholders such as Research Ireland and the Royal Irish Academy on research initiatives. It is hoped to finalise arrangements for these initiatives in the coming months.
