Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
152. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the details of the proper legal basis that the digital wallet has for mandatory use by citizens to access online platforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16806/26]
View answer169. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the current status of the age verification pilot being undertaken to restrict access to social media; when the pilot will commence; the bodies and platforms participating in the pilot; the criteria being used to assess its effectiveness; the timeline for completion and evaluation; and when he expects to make decisions on national implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16938/26]
View answer178. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if his Department will continue to independently progress the proposed online age-verification tool, the Government digital wallet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16803/26]
View answer190. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the details of Departmental spending to date on the proposed online age-verification tool, the Government digital wallet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16804/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 152, 169, 178 and 190 together.
Officials in my Department are working with the Government’s Chief Information Officer and his office on an age verification tool as part of the digital wallet being developed under the framework of the EU eIDAS regulation. This regulation requires every EU member state to introduce a secure digital identity framework provided through a digital wallet. It is important to state that the wallet will be voluntary for people to use. The EU deadline for implementation of the regulation is end-2026.
The aim of developing this tool is to support the application of Ireland’s online safety code. Coimisiún na Meán determines when it is appropriate for a platform to use age verification. Under Part B of the Code, designated video-sharing platform services are obliged to implement robust age assurance measures to ensure children under 18 years of age do not normally see adult-only content, like pornography. It should also be noted that the use of the digital wallet for age verification purposes is envisaged in guidelines produced by the European Commission under Article 28 of the Digital Services Act which deals with the protection of minors online.
A voluntary pilot to be run over a period of months is envisaged, led by the Office of the Chief Government Information Officer. The specifics of the pilot are yet to be finalised. Officials in my Department continue to engage with platforms and while there is interest in supporting the initiative, at this stage no formal commitments have been made. It should be noted that it is not intended that the age verification tool in the digital wallet would be the only option for platforms to meet their age verification requirements. Rather, it will provide a privacy preserving and secure option that respects users' rights and helps to safeguard children.
The legislative requirements for the age verification tool as part of the wallet are also being examined at present. The experience and results emerging from the pilot will inform the final shape of the legislative provisions that are required but in any case, they will be in line with EU law and all necessary steps will be taken to ensure that data protection and other rights of users will be protected.
The cost of delivering the wallet is a matter for the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
