Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 January 2026
141. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the position regarding any work ongoing within his Department that seeks to improve the level of protection for children online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4716/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraOnline safety is a whole-of-society issue and a whole-of-Government priority. I am committed to working with all stakeholders, nationally and internationally, to ensure a robust online safety framework is in place, in particular, to protect children and young people from inappropriate, harmful and illegal online content.
Coimisiún na Meán, as Ireland’s online safety and media regulator, is at the heart of that framework. It was established under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, which transposed the EU Audio Visual Media Services Directive, and provides that An Coimisiún is independent in the exercise of its functions. 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. 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 Online Safety and Media Regulation Act. Under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act (Section 10) Coimisiún na Meán is an independent regulator and is independent in the exercise of its functions and its enforcement of the Online Safety Code in relation to any possible sanctions of platforms set out in the OSMR Act.
European Union Member States are also examining the question of prohibiting access by children and young people to social media platforms – the so-called “digital age of majority”. Australia is implementing such a measure and other jurisdictions are considering similar measures. Ireland is also considering its approach on this matter. I believe that any decision would be better taken by the EU and EU Member States together and in that regard, it is important to note that the President of the European Commission Ursula van der Leyen announced that she would establish an expert panel to examine the issue. However, across the European Union there are differing views whether there should be an age of digital majority at all, and if there were such an age, what age it should be, and whether it should be an outright ban or a ban subject to parental consent. I am determined to make progress on this key issue and will work with other EU member states, including in the context of Ireland's Presidency of the EU next year, on effective and practical solutions.
I believe that age verification is a vital part of the picture in terms of providing real assurance that children are the age they claim to be and to ensure they are not exposed to harmful or illegal content. Without robust age verification, any other measures, including implementing a digital age of majority won’t work. I am working across Government to support robust age verification. In doing so, we must seek to ensure inter-operability and respect users’ rights, including data protection rights. To that end, my officials are working with the Government’s Chief Information Officer and his Office to look at practical technical solutions to age verification as part of the Government's Digital Wallet being developed using MyGovID. I am also seeking the inclusion of a commitment to this effect in the Government’s updated National Digital Strategy which will be published later this year.
While no platform will be obliged to use the digital wallet for age verification purposes, it will be incumbent on all video-sharing platform services to ensure that they are complying with their obligations under the Online Safety Code, and Coimisiún na Meán will continue to play an important role in this regard.
I plan to make online safety a key theme of Ireland's Presidency of the European Union this 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.
