Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for the technical issues earlier. The sooner we can return to the committee rooms the better. I thank the witnesses for attending the meeting today and speaking on the heads of the Bill. I have read the statements. I missed out of many of the contributions and questions due to technical issues but I can certainly watch the meeting back later on.

My questions are for any witness to answer that he or she feels relevant. The first question is to the BAI and concerns the impact on local commercial radio of the setting up of the new media commission. I apologise if this question has been asked already. Do the witnesses have an opinion on what this will mean for local commercial radio? It is a really tough world out there for them to compete. Advertising revenue has gone online to a great extent. Without a shadow of a doubt the local stations provide an important media service and this does not get enough recognition. What are the witnesses' opinions on what the setting up of the new media commission will mean for local commercial radio?

On the harmful content issue and the scope within the heads of the Bill, do the representatives feel that the scope goes far enough? This may have been covered already. Will there be enough emphasis on fake news for example? I believe this area has really been exacerbated and highlighted during the pandemic and even in recent months with the roll-out of the vaccine. Some people who have quite an influential social media presence with a large reach and a big following have been purporting and extolling incorrect information. This is damaging to public health.

Do the witnesses believe that, as presented, the scope of the Bill's heads is wide enough to cover this issue?

Much of what I am about to raise next has been addressed, but I have to speak about a young woman who bravely told her story recently about a fake Instagram account that had been set up in her name and using her face and that showed sexually explicit images of other young women. She received horrific abuse. It was a shocking experience that only occurred in the past couple of weeks. It highlighted that this has happened to many young women throughout Ireland. It is horrific. The act is illegal under Coco's Law, but it is still happening. How can this Bill put in place measures that will protect young women and ensure that it does not happen again or, if it does, there are strong measures to deliver retribution?