Taoiseach to chair online safety meeting with stakeholders

Taoiseach Simon Harris will chair a meeting today in Government Buildings, to hear perspectives from a broad range of stakeholders on online safety, including those working in the area of children and young people.

This follows from an Online Safety Summit which the Taoiseach chaired in September, with relevant Ministers, Digital Regulators and An Garda Síochána.

These engagements reflect the priority the Government places on tackling harmful and illegal online content, particularly as it impacts children.

Speaking ahead of today's meeting, the Taoiseach said:

"Earlier this week, the Online Safety Code was adopted by Coimisiún na Meán, which is a significant milestone in addressing illegal and harmful online content and behaviour, including the exposure of children to harmful content.

"With all the elements of our new Online Safety Framework taking shape, the focus must now turn to full and effective implementation of these new digital regulations.

"Ireland has a unique and central role in enforcing digital regulation, and the Government remains committed to resourcing and supporting the work our digital regulators are progressing in this space.

"I am committed to ensuring that our communications campaigns are effective in raising awareness among the public of their rights, and indeed the obligations on online platforms, under this new Online Safety Framework.

"I look forward to hearing from stakeholders today as we work to ensure a safe online environment for all, and in particular the most vulnerable users."

Minister Catherine Martin said:

"The adoption of an Online Safety Code by Coimisiún na Meán this week is a significant development in putting in place the regulatory tools for our Online Safety Framework.

"The Framework, which includes the Digital Services Act and the Terrorist Content Online Regulation, gives Coimisiún na Meán the tools to address harmful and illegal online content. It means real accountability for platforms with serious penalties for non-compliance. Online safety is a whole-of-society issue so hearing directly from stakeholders provides important feedback, as we progress this critical work."