Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am concerned that we are being asked, on the one hand, to take a more technological approach to our work and, on the other, to switch off technological devices.

The Minister stated there is a robust set of legal measures in place for defamation and referred to section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act, which deals with harassment. The Act deals with direct communications with a person but does not deal with communications about a person. This is a straightforward anomaly. Does the office for Internet safety have a statutory role in terms of making recommendations to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and-or the Minister for Justice and Equality on implementing changes to legislation? Has the office made a recommendation to either Department on this anomaly?

To reinforce the point made by Deputy Colreavy, I understand there is not much point in tracing someone for an act unless the act in question is illegal. If there is a loophole, an act may well be undesirable but it is certainly not illegal. If we are not taking steps to make the act illegal, the loophole must be closed.

How many members of staff are available to the office and what is its annual budget? There is a lack of awareness about the office. Is its role purely advisory in nature or can it make recommendations on legislative and regulatory deficits? We are trying to identify where are the gaps in terms of what we can we achieve. We are realistic about what we can achieve, bearing in mind the Minister's comment that the Internet as a platform is a conduit for good and only a small minority will abuse it. How does the office fit into the picture in terms of making deliverable and realistic changes?