Mr. Rory Harte:

European Movement Ireland is very conscious of our role as one of the many custodians of Ireland’s relationship with the EU. A core part of this relationship is a trustworthy and clear information environment. This is especially true as we approach these crucial European elections. Since 2023, we have carried out programmes aimed at buttressing Ireland’s information ecosystem in respect of issues relating to the EU and examining the impact of disinformation online in order that we, as a society, can address these issues head on.

First, I will address how our work supports Ireland’s information ecosystem. We are cognisant of the strong network of academia, industry and civil society working to support media literacy, as referenced by Dr. Culloty, and giving people living in Ireland the critical skills they need to evaluate the information they come across online. Through the working group co-ordinated by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media that is leading on the development of Ireland’s national counter disinformation strategy, and organisations such as Media Literacy Ireland, the European Digital Media Observatory Hub and the Future of Journalism school in DCU, theJournal.ie and the Hope and Courage collective, among many others, incredible work is being done in Ireland to push back against the tides of false information.

We see our role in EMI as to support the work of all organisations that wish to provide accurate information about Europe to the public. We recognise our long-standing expertise on the EU, how it functions and the role that Ireland plays. We recognise that not everyone has the same access to resources that we enjoy. As such, especially in advance of the upcoming elections, we are providing opportunities for researchers, journalists and those working on EU issues to come to us if there is anything on which they are unsure, want to check or need advice. We can and will provide expertise and access to resources to ensure that, where possible, people can feel confident that the information they are putting out is correct.

We note through our engagement with stakeholders in academia, industry, civil society and at governmental levels that there is a well-developed network of organisations carrying out innovative research into disinformation channels and narratives in Ireland. Our disinformation research programme is focused on examining the impact of disinformation on how people in Ireland discuss issues related to the EU in online spaces. Using thematic and linguistic methodologies, our work cross-references disinformation narratives against Irish social media content to explore how these issues are being framed online. For instance, in our most recent research paper, published this morning, we note a continuing focus on migration and a significant amount of discourse around the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Most disinformation themes are localised. In the US, migration is tied to the southern border, while in the UK, it is tied to channel crossings. In Ireland, it is linked to housing and the role of government. In our most recent data, we see how discourse on these topics is coarsening. Delegitimising terminology about those coming to Ireland is predominant, while the use of legitimate terminology is becoming less prevalent. More generally, sentiment in respect of migrants and those seeking international protection is becoming more negative.

Our data also draws attention to the role of language around the war in Gaza. Antisemitic tropes echoing disinformation narratives are common, as is language questioning Israel’s motivations. There is evidence of language being used to frame Hamas as a puppet which does not have agency in the conflict, which attributes to it a level of victimhood. It is interesting to see how general narratives come down to the discourse we see online.

Understanding how disinformation affects communities is vital. We use our results to develop tailored awareness campaigns and support our work in media literacy. Moving forward, it is vital that NGOs in Ireland are supported to carry out work in this area, in collaboration with media outlets and civil society more broadly, to facilitate access to trusted sources of factual information. As we continue this ongoing project, we look forward to building further partnerships and networks to support the effectiveness of our efforts.

All present recognise the importance of these elections. We are well aware that voter turnout for European elections has been on the decrease, with Ireland’s voter turnout in recent elections being below the European average. Nevertheless, we are heartened by reports from the European Parliament that voter interest is on the rise. A thriving European democracy relies on increased voter turnout and informed and engaged citizens in Ireland and across the EU. This work is a fundamental part of EMI’s mission. We have played a vital role in informing the public and encouraging participation in the EU’s democratic processes through the past 70 years and we look forward to continuing this work in the future. I thank the committee for the opportunity to address it. We look forward to members' questions.