Ms Sabha Greene:

On the scale of what the digital services co-ordinator, DSC, will oversee, I will ask Mr. Dugdale to give a quick summary of exactly what its functions and role will be. Its main purpose is to implement the obligations that are in the Digital Services Act, which are due-diligence obligations on platforms and service providers, thereby putting systems in place. When we say a "systematic approach" that is what we mean.

On staffing, we are engaging most directly with the European Commission because we are trying to find out exactly what kind of skills the new DSC will need. It is already clear it will need data analysis skills, economists, lawyers and enforcement specialists. The Senator is absolutely right that we want to make sure it is adequately equipped. A key objective of the Government in implementing the digital services authority, DSA, is that the DSC is properly resourced and able to meet its obligations. One of the concerns is that there are several regulators in Ireland who will be looking for similar skills. At the same time, now that the Commission will have a role in enforcement, it may also be looking for the same skills, and it is probably a very tight labour market. We are looking at all those issues at the moment.

As to who will perform the DSC functions, our Department is conducting a regulatory impact analysis, which is due to be ready soon. This is to assist the Government in deciding where the DSC should be, whether we should start from scratch with a stand-alone body or whether we should assign the functions and additional resources to an existing body. Perhaps Mr. Dugdale will give a brief outline of what the DSC will do.