Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. Many of my questions have been already answered, but I would like to make a small number of points and ask a few questions. The report references a waiver of the broadcasting levy for the independent sector. Are there plans for a further waiver to help the sector?

The issues of disinformation and gender-based harm were mentioned earlier and it was recommended that it would be appropriate to await legislation with regard to disinformation. What is the reason for that recommendation? I would consider it important to have it addressed in this legislation because disinformation can be extremely harmful content. On the levy, I support its introduction but I believe it should be applicable not only to the broadcasting sector, but the print media as well, particularly news and current affairs. It is important that sector would be able to benefit too.

On data protection, I sometimes find it hard to get my head around this area. What stands out to me are two particular comments from the DPC opening statement, in particular that the Bill expressly excludes material that violates data protection or privacy law from falling within the scope of harmful content.

I ask the witnesses to expand on that and the opinion that it does not regulate all types of harm.

It is stated in the submission, at No. 9, that complaints about harmful content may be excluded from the remit of the commission simply because the online content in question also involves, at some level, the use of an individual's personal data. Are we facing barriers to deal with certain types of harmful content because of data protection? Are there ways to address that so that we can deal with all forms?