Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are approaching 5 p.m. I have two brief questions and then I suggest we bring matters to a conclusion. I thank our guests for their papers and their engagement which is very valuable to us in providing insight to the work we are doing.

Dr. Culloty’s paper has left us with four insights. On the fourth, she said that “research on disinformation has been hampered by a lack of access to online platforms’ data”. How should we approach that? In the context of all the areas we have discussed, both national and international, this one appears to me to be one we could solve relatively easily in terms of co-ordination. She referred to the failure to deliver insights about the nature of disinformation that is circulated and she has bemoaned the absence of co-operation from platforms, researchers and journalists. She discussed the investment of time and resources. Ireland may well have an advantage in that area having regard to the high-tech industries we have here. Many multinationals have their headquarters here and many are very well resourced. Therefore co-ordination between the private sector and the public sector, the Government, would seem to me to be a no-brainer. I am thinking, for example, of the anonymisation of social media accounts and the ease with which false information may be transmitted without any responsibility on the part of those posting it because they are unknown and they are apparently untraceable and therefore have no responsibility in law. Would that be something that might be done? Second, what co-ordination does Dr. Culloty see as being essential in the current climate?

I have a similar type of question for Ms Heinl. She spoke of the need for a whole-of-government approach. We spoke about that earlier but it seems obvious that Ms Heinl does not see a whole-of-government approach. That type of approach is necessary. Will she leave us with a message as to the most critical priorities she sees about a whole-of-government approach? Some time ago, Deputy Berry seemed less than impressed at the National Cyber Security Centre under the Department of the Taoiseach. It is an agency whose activities we do not hear much about. That is par for the course because in intelligence much of the work is done under the radar and outside the public glare. What priorities does Ms Heinl see that we might be in a position to recommend to the Government as a cross-party group of parliamentarians?

I welcome Deputy Cronin. We are coming to the end of our deliberations but I will let her in after these replies.