Ms Triona Quill:

We recognise that ensuring safety in the online world is not a matter that can solely be dealt with by the media commission once it is established. There are a range of aspects. For example, data protection will continue to be overseen by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner while the new gambling regulator, when it is put in place, will oversee online gambling aspects. The Department of Justice is bringing forward a review in respect of defamation that I expect will also look at defamation online. It is responsible for bringing forward the recommendations to the Minister in the first instance in that regard.

It is important to allow this regulator to get up and running. The areas within its remit are already very substantial. There are many areas people could potentially think of that should or could be considered for inclusion, but it is already a very substantial remit. The first step in defamation is for the Department of Justice to report on its review which has been awaited for a while now.