Deputy Helen McEntee:

There are a lot of communications between people online that could potentially come under that provision if there is not some onus or requirement to show there is intent. Many people could come under this section, which would make it very difficult because there would be an onus on the Garda to respond to every single complaint and challenge put to it. There needs, therefore, to be some element of a requirement in that regard. Again, my understanding is that while there is a requirement for the intent to cause harm, there is no requirement in respect of paragraph (b) of the same section.