Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair. I have a couple of questions for each of our witnesses. First, Dr. Docquir proposes a voluntary system. In a voluntary system like the one he proposed, does he believe it would be sufficient? What if companies chose not to sign up to it? Without any statutory footing, what power would the system have? Also, who would fund it? Maybe he has clarified this already. Would providing for an individual complaints mechanism in the Bill negate the need for a social media council?

Second, Mr. Lupton mentioned Professor Conor O’Mahony’s submission. Can he comment on the proposed individual complaints mechanism? Does he have an opinion on the need for the individual complaints mechanism, that was recommended by so many of the children’s rights stakeholders? Professor O’Mahony cited it as the most serious omission from the Bill from his point of view. Could Mr. Lupton please comment on that?

Third, Ms Fitzpatrick mentioned in her opening statement - and others made reference to this - that only the most serious repeated and systematic cases should be penalised. Does she come from a position of protecting the tech giants from any significant responsibilities or liabilities? She will understand the objective of the Bill and what we are trying to do. Yet, she is also against any senior management liabilities. She had said that it may have a detrimental effect on investment in Ireland. Is it her position that tech giants should be immune from oversight or responsibility, in case they move their business elsewhere? That would be tough to swallow. We all know why they are here. It is to pay less tax. I am, therefore, curious about that.