Ms Elizabeth Farries:

I thank the Deputy for his question. The laws need to be updated, but it is not simply about the law. There are issues at Garda level that we have outlined and identified. There must be cultural changes at that level and we have provided suggestions on how to do it. There was a third suggestion that I have repeated over and over again today, but it has completely escaped me. I feel it has not been part of the conversation, which is why it has left my mind.

What about the expanding web of surveillance technology in the State to which we are all exposed? It is increasing every day and it is not just coming from private companies. It comes from the State. We must fundamentally rethink it for the sake of privacy which, as I have outlined, is heavily codified. There are also data protection principles at EU level. The use of closed-circuit television systems is wholly unnecessary, given the level of invasion of our privacy. The egregious treatment of Dara Quigley really illustrates the point. The risks to our privacy and willingness to associate with people important to us, travel to areas of a city important to us and speak out are too great. A host of rights are implicated. The data which suggest CCTV systems warrant that invasion of our fundamental rights are not available.

It is not worth it and the horrible experience of Ms Dara Quigley illustrates that. This is a call to the committee to keep that under consideration when it examines the problem of online harassment. There are individual perpetrators and social media companies but we cannot forget the role of the State.