Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
185. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide an update on the progress made to date in relation to the implementation of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16770/26]
View answerIn terms of implementation of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, the main development was the establishment, in 2023, of Coimisiún na Meán, Ireland’s independent online safety and media regulator.
An Coimisiún is now at the heart of Ireland's online safety framework. The OSMR Act, along with the EU Digital Services Act under which An Coimisiún is Ireland’s Digital Services Coordinator, and the EU Terrorist Content Online Regulation for which An Coimisiún is a competent authority, are the main elements of Ireland's online safety framework.
2025 saw the full application of Ireland's first Online Safety Code, implemented by Coimisiún na Meán, as provided for under the OSMR Act. The Code obliges designated video-sharing platform services 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. A failure to adequately fulfil obligations under the framework can lead to significant financial sanctions and continued non-compliance can lead to criminal sanctions for senior management under the OSMR Act.
I plan to make online safety a key theme of Ireland's Presidency of the European Union next year. In this context, the EU Audio Visual Media Services Directive, which is the basis for Ireland's Online Safety Code, will be evaluated over the coming year. Further measures are likely to be proposed at European level during Ireland's Presidency, and Ireland will work with all stakeholders to ensure that additional legislative proposals are robust in addressing harms posed to children online.
More broadly, having regard to broadcasters and providers of audiovisual on-demand media services, under the Broadcasting and other Media Regulation Acts 2009 – 2022, Coimisiún na Meán has responsibility for the development and application of a range of media service codes and rules that govern the standards and practices of these services. These include the Code of Fairness, Impartiality and Objectivity in News and Current Affairs for radio and television broadcasters, Media Service Code and Media Service Rules for Audiovisual On-demand Media Service Providers and the Code of Programme Standards.
Coimisiún na Meán continues to develop and implement its compliance framework on an iterative basis in accordance with the evolving regulatory regime for online and broadcast media at national and European Union level, and is independent in the discharge of its functions. Further details of Coimisiún na Meán's compliance framework can be found at www.cnam.ie/industry-and-professionals/codes-legislation/codes-and-rules/
