Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Mulherin. I commend Deputy O’Brien on bringing forward this timely Bill. Today’s edition of The Leitrim Observer, a local paper in my constituency, features on its front page the type of sick behaviour by some people using social media. It will give an idea of what is happening. The term Internet trolls is slang for people who host items online in a forum or blog with the intent of provoking an emotional response. The father of Ciara Pugsley, the young schoolgirl from County Leitrim who tragically died by suicide, highlighted this week at a conference a post on a social network which urges teenagers to do a “Ciara”. The front page of the newspaper refers to the site which encourages teenagers to commit suicide. That is the level of depravity that exists and it must be dealt with by schools. Thugs and bullies who are cowards are aided and abetted by websites such as ask.fm because they are allowed to remain anonymous. That is so wrong.

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