Fiach MacConghail (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for not being here at the beginning of the presentation. I also apologise if some of my comments and questions are repetitive. An important lesson I have learned since starting to use Twitter three years ago is to have my own set of rules and engagement with Twitter. It can be a compulsive form of communication. As the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, said yesterday, it is about emerging best practice. As a parent, one of the challenges is to remind teenagers that Twitter is not like texting. Certain teenagers use Twitter as if it were a private conversation. The public-private issue is a challenge for parents and we must consider it.

We must also deal with the difference between criticism and abuse. Dealing with criticism on Twitter can be tough, and something may appear abusive if one reads it at 10 p.m. but the following morning it may not seem as bad. As a user, one must develop self-regulation and not answer quickly or ignore something. I have received regular systematic tweet after tweet. What does one do? Does one ignore it? If one is seen as a public figure, does one block it? What does "blocking" mean? I apologise if this has already been explained when I was not here, but I would like the witness to explain the process of blocking. If I block someone, does the person I have blocked know this? Does it allow the person to come back in a different way? If teenagers or young people using Twitter decide to block somebody, does the person who has been blocked know this? I would like the witness to explain the sequence. One of my rules is to ignore being bombarded by someone with no followers. Does the witness have any statistics on blocking Irish Twitter accounts on a daily or weekly basis?

Understanding anonymity is a challenge for the committee. As Ms McSweeney stated, anonymity in itself can provide an opportunity for people to be more expressive or more honest. The challenge is with regard to anonymity and authenticity. Anonymity has been described as an enabling tool to enter dialogue and debate, but the essence and attraction to Twitter is authentic voices, diverse opinions and a safe place to dialogue. There is a moment at which anonymity becomes abusive, because one cannot engage on an ongoing basis on Twitter with somebody who is completely anonymous.