Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 19 January 2022

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media

EU Digital Services Package and the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill: Discussion

Ms Sabha Greene:

On the staffing to meet the obligations in both the DSA and DMA, the Government is committed to ensuring that the regulation here is adequately resourced, is robust, works well and is fit for the purpose for which it is intended. Our RIA process, which will be ongoing as the two European texts evolve, is looking at resources and ensuring we have the right skills and adequate numbers.

The Senator asked if businesses are ready for the DMA. Mr. Cuddihy might correct me if I am wrong. My understanding is that the objective of it is to open up markets so that small and medium-sized businesses can compete with the larger service providers. The idea is that more jobs would be created for those businesses if they can compete more and scale up.

From the moment these proposals were put in place, there has been ongoing consultation with businesses. I hope they consider that they are being informed and prepared for the impact of these.

I think the Senator may have had a third question which I missed.