Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2026
385. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the engagement he has had with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to his Department's consideration of a ban on social media access for person under the age of 16; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11267/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra386. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the engagement he has had with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to his Department's consideration of a ban on social media access for person under the age of 16; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11268/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra387. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the engagement he has had with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to his department's consideration of a ban on social media access for person under the age of 16; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11269/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra388. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the engagement he has had with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to his department's consideration of a ban on social media access for person under the age of 16; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11270/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra389. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport 672. the engagement he has had with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to his department's consideration of a ban on social media access for person under the age of 16; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11271/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra390. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the engagement he has had with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to his department's consideration of a ban on social media access for person under the age of 16; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11272/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra391. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the engagement he has had with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to his department's consideration of a ban on social media access for person under the age of 16; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11273/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 390 and 391 together.
Ireland, like many other EU Member States is considering the question of restricting access by children and young people to social media platforms – the so-called “digital age of majority”. Ireland will strongly advocate for a decision on the digital age of majority to be taken at EU level and that any decision take account of the forthcoming report of the European Commission’s expert panel on the matter. Ireland is committed to working actively with like-minded EU Member States to explore options to introduce age restrictions on the use of social media concentrating, in particular on those under 16. In parallel, Ireland will continue to work nationally on robust age verification tools.
I have not yet met the organisations mentioned by the Deputy in relation to this particular issue but I am committed to working with stakeholders, nationally and internationally, on this and other online safety matters. In particular, online safety will be a key priority for Ireland's Presidency of the European Union and we will hold a youth forum in advance of that to get the perspectives of children and young people as to what they consider to be a safe online world and what further measures they would like to see taken to strengthen their safety online.
