Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair and the witnesses for coming before us today and informing us on what is happening in regard to the DSA in particular.

I have two questions. The first relates directly to the DSA. It might potentially mirror what Senator Byrne asked about. Ms Quill stated, "The Digital Services Act, DSA, envisages the creation of networks of digital regulators at both EU and national level." In terms of what we are doing with the OSMR Bill and the online safety commissioner, how will they work and will they work in tandem? Could that be an opportunity to support and bolster the potential workload of an online safety commissioner, as Senator Byrne outlined, in particular if we go down the road of individual complaints mechanisms? Is there an opportunity to dovetail the systems and for them to complement each other or is there a danger of conflict between the two?

I apologise if this is a bit out of left field. I understand if neither of the witnesses has an answer to this, but I am thinking in particular of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport, Gaeltacht and Media. It relates to an incident I feel I have to bring up that happened during the week. I was contacted by a constituent who organised an event, which was an online vigil to commemorate the loss of Ashling Murphy. Unbelievably - I just cannot fathom how this could happen - the event was sabotaged by a man who managed to hijack the details of one of the panellists and joined the panel online. He exposed his genitalia and proceeded to masturbate. It was an horrific experience for all involved. This is the first opportunity I have had to bring this up. In many ways, this is the right place. Have we gone far enough in terms of the scope of the online safety media regulation Bill? The people in question spent hours with the Garda talking about the issue. In many instances the Garda was almost left powerless in terms of how it could address this. I understand if the witnesses do not have the answer, but perhaps it is something that could be brought back to the departmental officials. Does the OSMR Bill have the scope to deal with that type of disgusting, despicable behaviour, and will the online media regulator have the power and the clout to be able to clamp down on that type of thing? They are my two questions.