Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise that I could not be here earlier. I was speaking in the Dáil. I happen to think that the concept of social media is quite positive in that it has given us a level of communication which, in my early life, I certainly did not think would be possible in the early 21st century. I believe it does more good than harm in society. I may be unusual in that but it is a view I have always held. That is why it is exceptionally important for those who provide the ever-evolving array of social media platforms, reaching out and connecting to an ever-increasing number of people, both here in Ireland and throughout the world, to act responsibly.

If we place a significant value in the sense of the communicative power that social media affords people, particularly as it allows for voices that did not previously have a role in shaping society, policy and, ultimately, the way humanity evolves, the we must reach the conclusion that social media has been exceptionally powerful in giving voices to people who did not have them 20 or 30 years ago. The Irish political landscape was essentially denuded of the voice of the individual and social media has done very important work in allowing people to have their say in how our country and our world develop. That is why it is so important that when people engage in social media, they can trust they are entering an environment that is as safe as possible, on a par with the normal engagement that takes place outside of social media, and that they and their rights be sufficiently protected. Ireland should lead the way here. We should be very proud that a number of the world's largest social media companies have decided to base themselves here. I am very supportive of the proposed legislation, which will, as best it can, create that safe environment, particularly for young people who find themselves in a space that is often challenging because of bullying and so on.

Our guests are representative of the social media industry, if we can call it that. Do they acknowledge that there is an issue with providing a safe environment online? How do they propose that we resolve it? Legislation is necessary - I have no doubt about that - but my fear has always been that when legislation such as that proposed is brought forward, the pendulum swings much too far in the other direction. Those very voices I mentioned, which can often call power or the performance of a government into question, may be silenced or suppressed. How can we strike the balance between creating a safe environment where normal, respectful discourse can take place while, at the same time, not shutting down those voices that need to be heard and have been heard throughout the world in places, for example, where there has been terrible conflict? Social media has been the only mechanism for people to reveal to the world the kinds of atrocities that have been committed in certain places throughout the world.

How can we strike that balance? Will the proposed legislation before us do so? I recall legislation put forward five years ago which was designed to criminalise people who cause offence on social media, but who can determine what offence is? Who will be the arbiter of what is or is not in good taste, or what causes or does not cause offence? These are big questions we have to ask ourselves in the context of how we should regulate social media in future. I would like to hear our guests' views on how to strike that balance. For me, it is the big question regarding what we are proposing to do here.