Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I might need more than five minutes. I may come back in after the Chair with a supplementary question, if that is okay. I thank our guests for being with us.

I am very concerned about the term "age assurance". As I have said previously, I worry that this is something that is less strict than age verification. Will the witnesses give me an idea of what exactly is meant by age assurance and how it will work in practice?

One of my concerns is that pornography platforms that are not based in the EU cannot be reached by Coimisiún na Meán. Am I correct in thinking that there are platforms that can make stuff available in Ireland that could be seen by children? Parents are increasingly worried about the impact of pornography, in particular on underage persons. In the United States, certain pornography providers have literally been forced offline in certain states because of laws that make them criminally and-or civilly liable if young people access pornography. Does what Coimisiún na Meán is doing have any kind of teeth like that? In my view, that is what people want. Is age assurance enough? Does it fall short of age verification in terms of strictness? Is it the reality that platforms outside of the EU can put stuff online and that Coimisiún na Meán has no way of reaching it? I understand that platforms which have their EU headquarters in Ireland cannot be reached by Coimisiún na Meán, but I presume that equivalent entities in other countries can deal with them. Does Coimisiún na Meán have the power to take down or neutralise platforms where it is or can be established that young persons can access pornography online? I would like some explanation and reassurance on the whole business of what is meant by age assurance, because I am concerned that it does not go far enough.

In the context of recent events, does Coimisiún na Meán think that social media platform posts which glorified the assassination of a well-known public figure, for example, should be removed? Is Coimisiún na Meán capable of taking action if such material turns up on digital or social media platforms? Does Coimisiún na Meán regard that as incitement to violence? Is there anything it can do about such things?