Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I would never want my son or daughter to do this work. I just cannot imagine how horrific it must be. Could Senator Garvey please mute her microphone please? What is happening here is absolutely appalling. This is the dark underbelly of our shiny multinational social media companies. As someone who used to organise workers for a living, I would like to hear from Ms Ní Bhrógáin. We have heard about a climate of fear. Let us think about the work these people do. It is the most horrific work that ensures we do not have to see it. Deputy Shanahan mentioned that we all see it, but clearly we do not see most of the worst of it, only thanks to Ms Plunkett and her colleagues. It is quite clear to me from today's hearings that Facebook could not operate without these people, their work is so fundamental, and yet these people are denied the right to join a union. They are denied basic rights of work. I read in Ms Ní Bhrógáin's submission prior to this hearing that a couple of content moderators were contacted by the agency to reinforce its requirements on secrecy. What is happening here is truly Orwellian. It is that frightening. Could Ms Ní Bhrógáin expand on that challenge and the outlook of secrecy?

I want to ask Ms Plunkett what the mood is like among her colleagues. Presumably she is here today because she wants to see change and to give hope. She contacted the Tánaiste. He has spoken out about how crucial the work is, but we need to see action. As we come to the end of the meeting, I would like to understand what the specific asks are from Ms Crider of the Government, what it is that it needs to do now to take action for these workers because this has gone on for far too long. You have my commitment, Chair, to bring the employers in, because I want to know, not just as a trade unionist, but as a father and a citizen how on earth Facebook can stand over the outsourcing of these jobs. From what I can see, it is just for reasons of cost and liability. I will leave it at that because I am conscious of leaving time for the answers.