Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

An entirely different level of expertise is required for this type of work. The Garda has made great play of the civilianisation of certain aspects of its work. Should the Garda take in additional resources from outside the force to ensure it has the level of skills required?

That was not made clear in the submission made last week by An Garda. It has been noted that when people complain to An Garda about being victimised, they are told it is a civil matter, between the person complaining and the person being complained about. The problem could not arise, however, without the existence of the platform on which the content is posted. I put the point to the representatives of the platform providers that appeared before the committee last week. The providers step back and say the matter is between the two parties involved and that they just happen to be the platform. They act as bystanders.

I appreciate that our guests believe that some legislation needs to be updated and made fit for purpose. Does it also need to ensure that it will encapsulate what I have outlined, which is left outside? Do the platforms, which currently act as bystanders in such cases, need to be incorporated into the laws to ensure they, too, are held accountable? In the case of litigation, if someone has uploaded something on Facebook or Twitter, for example, he or she can be identified and commented on, but the platform in question will step back and say: "There you go." It is necessary to try to encapsulate the platforms in the law. They would be much more careful if there were consequences for how they act.