Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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I thank all of the witnesses for their testimony. I agree this legislation is incredibly important. As legislators, one of our core functions and responsibilities is to protect all of our citizens, particularly those most vulnerable of our citizens, in the public space, of which the online area is now part. We need to take action. I strongly agree with the testimony of the witnesses and with their view that we need specifically to name the online safety commissioner in the Bill and to resource the office properly. The witnesses' testimony has been very powerful for all of us because we have been talking to children who have been directly impacted by these issues.

We also heard from students from Kinsale and Tallaght last week. We have been engaging with young people. It is important that their voices are heard.

When we set up this new regulator, what mechanisms do the witnesses believe should be in place to allow children and young people to have direct input into the codes? Representative and advocacy bodies can represent them but it is important that young people's voices are heard. We heard from a number of young voices last week. How can we put that in place on a statutory basis?

Community standards have been touched on. As the witnesses know, we will meet with a number of the social media companies next week. What messages would the witnesses like to send to those companies with regard to changes to their community standards that the witnesses believe will make children safer? Part of this will be about what the regulator can do but it is also about what actions can be taken by social media companies.