Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have a final question on what is referred to as the dark net, which emerged as a form of preventing surveillance. It was initially a benign development by journalists and pro-democracy campaigners who emerged in Egypt and elsewhere. Unfortunately, however, recent evidence in Britain suggests that the dark net is now being utilised by people availing of child abuse images.

This debate concerns the need to strengthen measures against such issues, so I ask the Minister, with her European colleagues, to examine the implications of the dark net's threat. Something that began as a benign means of protecting human rights campaigners from surveillance by some regimes that abuse their powers is now, unfortunately, being utilised by some of the vilest people who facilitate child abuse. There has been an international focus on zoning in, using every means available, to pursue that vile industry. I am sure every citizen would support such measures. Perhaps the Minister could report back to the committee at some stage on what is being done at European level to combat this new threat.