Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Milner and Ms Cartes. The presentations we heard, previously and from Facebook, highlight the differences between the two platforms. I hope they will excuse me for saying this, but I have heard it a few times and they have probably heard it hundreds of times. When talking about the difference between Facebook and Twitter, somebody mentioned that Facebook makes strangers out of friends and Twitter makes friends out of complete strangers. Obviously, it is over generalising, but to take the analogy of going to a kind of town square and meeting people, some of them would be anonymous on Twitter and on Facebook it is more like going into their classroom, into their clubhouse or into where they socialise. Perhaps I am generalising far too much. I am interested in the approach Facebook has taken. For example, anonymity is not an option on Facebook and as a result, one gets different content.

I am also interested in the partnership approach that Facebook has taken with some of the agencies that do significant work in handling abuse and offence, and dangers. Does Facebook adopt a partnership approach with the office for Internet safety through the Department of Justice and Equality? Mr. Milner might be able to flesh that out, if there is a relationship with that office.

One of the matters brought to my attention was a sublime difficulty with which some deal. Where someone may post something, it is not that they would attract negative comment but that they are not attracting enough likes, while a friend in the same classroom is putting up something similar and getting ten times the amount of likes, and it is beginning to become an issue. There is a competitive element. Facebook is so widely used, particularly among school friends. It is merely an issue I had not thought of until recently. That could be an issue as well. I accept it is very difficult to deal with it. Mr. Milner is probably aware of it. It was brought to my attention.

Facebook is a fantastic resource. We use it to do what we do, both socially and through the political work. It is brilliant to reach out to those who we would not normally get a chance to reach. It is reassuring that Facebook has its controls.

There was one question I meant to ask. I would imagine for Facebook to implement its safety policies must require a great deal of staff. Can Mr. Milner give us some idea of what staff resources Facebook puts towards dealing with reports and with these abuse issues?