Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for the presentation. In our deliberations we are trying to drill down into the social media phenomenon. As I said to Ms Sinéad McSweeney, the representative from Twitter, this in itself is a raising of awareness. I think the public is sometimes not aware that when on social media the same rules apply as in the print media. When I look at Facebook, I am amazed at what people post on Facebook about their private lives, or even regarding abuse, including what they let the whole world know about themselves. I welcome the opportunity to visit the premises in Dublin. Like others I am uncomfortable with social media but I am trying to steer to the middle of the road without seeking to manage what users are trying to do. We are trying to defend the right of Internet users outside the EU context as mentioned earlier about the Arab Spring and how social media has played a huge part in the democratisation of some parts of the world. I am very aware of that. I do not see our role as trying to close down any sites-----