Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

I am heartened to hear the response of the Minister of State. I am very concerned about the number of parents in my constituency who contacted me about these websites. I looked at them for research purposes and I was shocked by the images of thin people proffered as thinspiration. There is also the promotion of a bracelet project, where pro-mia or bulimic sufferers, are advised to wear blue beaded bracelets around their right wrists and pro-ana or anorexic girls are encouraged to wear red beaded bracelets around their left wrists, which allows children to identify other followers and foster a sense of community. We can be cocooned in the House and not realise what is going on with our vulnerable young people. Another website has a list of the thin commandments, containing instructions for sufferers such as "if you aren't thin, you aren't attractive", "what the scale says is the most important thing" and "being thin and not eating are signs of true willpower and success". These websites are promoting unhealthy and dangerous diseases as lifestyle choices. As a Government, I am glad we are exploring ways of protecting our vulnerable people and I am glad to hear the Minister of State say that Internet service providers of Ireland have a code of practice. I call on the Internet service providers to look at the websites mentioned and ensure minimum standards in respect of dealing with complaints.

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