Martin McAleese (Independent)

I welcome the Minister to the House. I intend to make a few brief comments because this is an issue on which it should be possible for all us to agree without difficulty, as Senator Leyden stated earlier.

Ireland is currently attempting to lead in many fields, for example, information technology, digital services and the smart economy. We should also be willing to lead in the prevention of abuse of children either through or on the Internet. The motion, as originally drafted, was aimed at a simple goal, which is the protection of children. It calls for two specific actions. First, it calls on the Minister to bring proposals to Government to ratify two key international treaties on the protection of children from sexual abuse or exploitation. This may require implementing legislation prior to ratification but the motion, as drafted, is broad enough to capture that.

Second, the motion calls for the adoption of legislation to require Internet service providers in Ireland to block child abuse images or material hosted on servers outside the State. Although the amendment tabled by the Leader and supported by Senator Bradford at first glance seems extensive, it only involves changes to drafting or emphasis. When the texts are examined side by side, it becomes clear that there is only one difference of real substance, namely, the amendment tabled by the Leader does not include a call or a commitment to block child abuse images in Ireland or material hosted on servers outside the State. As was stated earlier, this option is legally open to us under the European directive on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography.

I am morally certain that no one - the Leader, members of the Government or anyone else - is opposed to the idea of requiring Irish Internet service providers to block child abuse images or material hosted overseas. In that case, therefore, was it necessary for an amendment to the motion to be tabled at all? Surely the protection of children is an issue on which we can agree the substance of a motion without unnecessary complicated procedural manoeuvrings. I look forward to the Minister's reply.