Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Tá fáilte roimh na finnéithe. Dr. Evans has said that the entire framework for the online space is now in place. I ask about Coimisiún na Meán's interaction with the online platforms. We are talking about the likes of TikTok, Meta incorporating Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, and YouTube. There are probably a million and one streaming services, including those operated by young people.

Anybody who has been online recently will have seen a number of brutal murders, including the murder of Charlie Kirk. There have been attacks in this State and across the world on politicians and others. There have been nefarious attacks even on politicians' family members. Nobody is against robust debate and everyone is for freedom of speech. However, while we can have all the rules and regulations we like, the people who have the power are the online platforms. With the resources Coimisiún na Meán has, including European and domestic legislation, I still see this as a five-a-side team going up against Bayern Munich or Barcelona in their prime just on the basis of the resources they have and at some level the international backing they have from the likes of the Trump Administration at this point in time.

We are all very worried. The fact is that advertising works. Many people are not in a very good space. They end up in what we would have called groupthink years ago but now end up with their own thoughts being focused back on themselves and reinforced. Some of them are not necessarily very positive. Beyond that, I would say that it is not a very safe mental health place for many people and the outcomes can be catastrophic.

I really appreciate that Coimisiún na Meán is attempting to do battle. Could anything else be provided to it to make the battle a bit more equal? If the witnesses can answer all that in two and a half minutes, I will be impressed.