Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 19 May 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Online Content Moderation and Reactivation of Economy: Discussion

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Tánaiste to the committee. The meeting we had with the content moderators was harrowing for all of us. I congratulate Deputy O'Reilly on having brought the matter to our attention and facilitating their meeting with us and with the Tánaiste, whom I thank for meeting them. Heinous crimes are being committed in the world, in Ireland and elsewhere. As the Tánaiste said, these crimes often involve child abuse, rape, torture, murder and God knows what else. Today, we are talking about supporting content moderators. I do not know how any human being can survive being exposed to this kind of material, all day every day, without becoming seriously damaged, while not receiving intense support.

Facebook could not continue without the work of the moderators. I think the Tánaiste said that some of this content is getting through in spite of the work of the moderators. Is there an issue regarding the investigation by police forces, not just in Ireland but all over the world, of crimes committed and their recordings being put online? There are real victims out there. I know some of these crimes occur in war zones, countries without governments and failed states, but much of it is probably happening in the so-called developed world. Perhaps the Tánaiste will use his good offices at European level and beyond to get governments to chase this material down and prosecute those who put it online, inasmuch as this can be done. That is not to take away from the content of our meeting today, which is to support the content moderators in every way possible, but what is happening behind the scenes is awful. I think there are 1,900 moderators working full time in Ireland trying to deal with this material. That shows the vast scale of the horrific stuff that is going on. It strikes me that it is important to go beyond what is happening here.

On the issue of opening the economy, the announcement made by the Tánaiste yesterday about supports for people in non-rateable businesses working from home is very welcome. It is a matter on which several people have rang me about from time to time. The extension of the small business assistance scheme to such people is very welcome. I told a number of people about this yesterday and they were very pleased because they have been under a lot of pressure. I know the amount of money involved is small, but it is very welcome. When does the Tánaiste expect that to be up and running? The press release stated that it would be shortly but he might let us know when.

Will the Tánaiste comment on the announcement by Aer Lingus yesterday, which affects Cork and Shannon airports? Aer Lingus has closed its Shannon operations completely. In Cork there is work taking place on the runway to coincide with the temporary closure of the base there. It is a concern and I ask the Tánaiste to comment on it.

The pandemic has thrown up all kinds of different issues. Driver theory tests are being cancelled left, right, and centre. I know it is not the Tánaiste's area, but people need to drive to work and take part in businesses. It has been put to me that if the theory tests were to be put off until the company running them has the opportunity to get organised, people could start to do the driving lessons first and do the driver theory test afterwards. As the Tánaiste knows, people must do the theory test first but many people cannot do it and are put out by that.

Another area which is related to this, is about people involved in business and industry needing a small public service vehicle licence. There was a hiatus for a year during which the requirement was suspended but it now in place again and €2,000 is being sought from self-employed people who are involved in taxi tours, limousine and car hire. These people tell me they will not have business until May 2022. They are being asked to pay €2,000 for a licence they cannot use. This is a business issue which I take the opportunity to bring to the Minister's attention.

Those are the two main points I wanted to raise. I thank the Tánaiste for the work he is doing during these very challenging times.

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