John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Having listened to the debate for the last hour or more, the challenges and opportunities presented by social media have been well discussed and ventilated, which is to be welcomed. As pointed out by all speakers, this is an evolving, fast moving and changing story, but, having been involved in and present for all of the hearings and presentations and visits, as was Deputy Michael Colreavy, to the headquarters of the various social media companies in Dublin, there is a greater awareness on their part of the difficulties families, schools, school principals and communities have and there was a greater awareness among us of the efforts they were making and wanted to make because it is also in their interests that this is got right. We emphasised this point to them. Apart from anything else that comes from the report, it was a useful exercise and I am glad that the Minister's advisory committee will also be engaging with them.

I thank Members for their contributions. I also thank the Minister for presenting to us when we were hearing submissions and also giving us an update this morning on what is happening. It is important that the public realise action is being taken and progress made. I am glad that we will have a debate when the advisory group comes back with its findings. It is an important part of modern society and we want to accentuate the positive, while eliminating the negative. That is the challenge and what this debate was about.

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