Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There are a number of points that I wish to tackle in my questions to our witnesses today. First, to put my cards on the table and be very clear, I believe the principle under which the companies operate is wrong. I do not accept this made-up term of "intermediary". To me, the companies are publishers and should have the liabilities of publishers. As an industry, it has pulled off an amazing trick over many decades, which has enriched the companies and their shareholders to a vast level, and the cost is too great. I want to be absolutely clear and our witnesses can respond to it. I am aware of the response about intermediaries and publishers and the difference the companies always seek to strike on this.

All of the companies' representatives have collectively outlined the takedown process. Will each of them give me a figure that is spent globally by their company on that process? Let us start with Google, which I understand, roughly, give or take the small change, is a €100 billion plus revenue company. Is that roughly correct, give or take? Let us take the parent company, Alphabet.