Mr. Jeremy Godfrey:

We are in transition at the moment. The idea is we will be funded by levies. Our predecessor organisation, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, BAI, was funded by levies on broadcasters. This year, we have introduced new levies for video sharing platforms and video-on-demand providers. The idea is that we will be 100% levy funded from next year. We have had some Exchequer funding in the start-up phase. Last year, we had some Exchequer funding through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and, this year, a little from the Department of Justice. The idea is we will be 100% levy funded for our regulatory activities in due course.

The Senator asked about the hate speech Bill and what its impact would be if it were to become law. The question of whether it becomes law is obviously a matter for the Oireachtas and not us. The DSA places obligations on platforms regarding illegal content. If the hate speech Bill becomes law, that will change the scope of illegal content. For example, I have observed that the Bill before the House makes expressing hatred and violence against women illegal for the first time, whereas the current law does not bite on misogynistic speech. Types of speech, such as incitement to violence and hatred, against a broader variety of groups will be included than is the case under the current law. That will have a knock-on impact on the way the DSA operates.

The Senator mentioned that somebody said the purpose of the DSA was censorship. That is certainly not how we see it. The purpose of the DSA is outlined in Article 1 of the DSA Act, which is to ensure a safe, trusted, online environment where liberty, including liberty of expression, is protected and there is innovation. Its purpose is not censorship. As I said, we certainly do not see ourselves as a censor at all. We are there to ensure a thriving, diverse media landscape, one where all opinions and a variety of voices can be heard, and people's right and agency to make free choices in elections is protected.

The Senator asked about the ERGA and EDMO code of conduct on misinformation. That is something our predecessor organisation, the BAI, was very much involved in putting together. We are a member of ERGA as well as a member of the European Board for Digital Services. That is something we have had a role in.

The Senator asked whether we see TikTok as a threat to national security. We are not a national security agency. Our job is to protect the users of platforms from harmful and illegal content but not to deal with those national security issues.

I will take a deep breath and ask Ms Pollock to talk a little about complaints. Ms Comey will then talk about media literacy.