Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 6, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following: “ “communications media” means a broadcasting service, a broadcasting services platform, or newspapers or periodicals consisting substantially of news and comment on current affairs within the meaning of section 2 of the Broadcasting Act 2009;”.

I will speak to amendments Nos. 1, 2, 8 and 9 because, as the Minister of State will see, they are all pretty much connected. The amendments concern the insertion of definitions of "communications media" and "social media platform" specifically to cover the two mediums to ensure that secondary ticket sellers comply with section 17. The concern, as I am sure the Minister of State will appreciate, is that social media platforms are not included. These are fairly technical amendments. Is the Minister of State satisfied that the definitions already contained in the Bill do not need to be strengthened? In my experience, small as it is - it is a long time since I bought a lot of tickets for concerts - tickets are quite regularly sold on social media platforms as well as on traditional media such as other websites and all the rest. People share and advertise much of this information on social media. I just want to be satisfied that the definitions contained in the legislation will be sufficient to cover any possible scenario. We know social media and the social media platforms are very fast-moving technologies but, to the greatest extent possible, we need to be satisfied that all eventualities are catered for, and that has to include social media.