Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support Deputy Neville in his remarks. This is something about which I feel very strongly. There is the notion of monkey see, monkey do. I do not know how we can expect children to behave any differently from adults. I do not know when the digital safety commissioner will come into place. I am very frustrated that it has not happened already. Will it be possible for a digital safety commissioner to place an onus on digital companies to have an awareness campaign? It sounds ridiculous that we have to be thinking about making adults aware that they should interact with one another in a respectful way. Short of going back and rearing people it is hard to see how a state, country or government can tell adults what constitutes appropriate behaviour. A great deal of what we, as politicians, put up with online is in the realm of harassment and bullying. Most of us do not go on about it too much because we are so used to it but the fact we have become used to it is a problem in itself. It is a cultural problem. Do the witnesses believe the digital safety commissioner can play a pivotal and important role in shifting the direction we are going in? I do not know where this will all end. That may sound negative. We have to think of practical ways in which we can improve the situation. Could an awareness campaign and investment by technology companies make an impact?