Keira Keogh (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputy Ward and Senator Bradley.

The agenda item for consideration this morning is a discussion on technology, social media and children, with a particular focus on the safety and well-being of children online. This is a resumption of this topic. We have been talking about it for a number of sessions.

This morning we are joined by Shineka Scanlon and John Brennan, project manager, from Sligo Springboard Family Support Service; Charlie Grant, Luke McCluskey and Aaron Fowler, youth officer, from Louth Meath Education and Training Board; Katelyn Warren, Noah O'Shea and Anthony O'Connor, training officer, from Foróige Connect Safely training, learning and development team; and Amber Mooney, Miah Morris and Siobhán O'Dwyer, CEO, from Youth Advocates Programme Ireland. They are very welcome to the meeting.

As I said, this morning we are going to be talking about technology, social media and children, and especially focusing on the safety and well-being of children online. We have one more meeting on this topic and then we will be putting together our report. We will have a very busy secretariat putting together all of the notes taken so far. It is, for me as Chair, and for the members, a real honour to have children and young people with us today. It is the second meeting with children and young people and it is really important they get to have a say on policy, legislation and decisions that might be taken which affect them.

I assure all present that members of the committee take very seriously the provisions under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 12, that they have their say and are heard in relation to their rights. Members of the committee also recognise the valuable perspective young people can bring to the committee discussion on policy and legislative matters under its consideration.

While we have a small number of individuals presenting to the committee this morning, I acknowledge the collective work of all the members of the organisations in putting together the opening statements and contributions today. Our witnesses are the spokespersons for their groups and we have a full Gallery today. They are all exceptionally welcome. As I said, this is the second of our meetings with children and young people and they might be some of our most important.

Before we begin, there are a few housekeeping matters I am obliged to go through. We do not have anybody on MS Teams. In relation to parliamentary privilege, our witnesses and members are all protected by absolute privilege in respect of a presentation they make to the committee. This means they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. However, they are expected not to abuse this privilege and it is my duty as Cathaoirleach to ensure this privilege is not abused. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any such direction.

Witnesses will be allocated three minutes' speaking time to deliver their opening statements. I will call them in the following order: Shineka, Charlie, Katelyn, Noah, Amber and Miah. After that we will have a questions and answers session with our members. I call Ms Scanlon to deliver her opening statement.