Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There can be no doubt but that the pervasive use of social media has challenged a wide number of previously accepted norms, both in the context of media governance and in more general societal terms. These issues are far from simple. In fact, they are quite complex. The nature of the sector is such that a formal regulatory system similar to that for broadcast media would be impossible to create. Moreover, the evolution of social media and online media in general has proven to have radical and important positive characteristics. Social media are categorically not a bad thing, rather they enrich the lives of millions of people every day. That is not to say, however, that all of the uses to which social media are put are positive .

Substantial work has already been completed in this area in the past 15 to 20 years and European Union Safer Internet Day is an example of what has already been achieved. On Monday, at this year's Safer Internet Day event, my colleague and Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, reiterated the Department's and Government's commitment to safer Internet use, including the responsible use of social media. To this end, the Department has funded the Up2Us anti-bullying kit as a practical resource for dealing with the issue of cyberbullying.

It is clear that time has come to take stock of Government responses to some of the questions posed by online media use. In that context, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, has asked the Internet content governance advisory group, formed in December, to evaluate the full range of content issues that now arise online. This group will report in May and the Government will consider its report in great detail. A public consultation process is now open and submissions from all interested parties are welcome before the closing date of the 18 March. I am aware also that group expect to meet with all key stakeholders in the coming weeks as part of its work.

While there has been significant media commentary around the way the phenomenon referenced by the Deputy has been propagated, the key issue here is our underlying attitude towards alcohol in this country. The Government has been very clear about its commitment to deal with the pattern of alcohol misuse in society and the widespread harm this causes. The issues involved are multifaceted and a co-ordinated response is in place across a number of Departments. Last October the Government approved an extensive package of measures to deal with alcohol misuse based on the steering group report on a national substance misuse strategy, which was published by the Department of Health in February 2012. These measures are being delivered and include a minimum price for alcohol and a number of new restrictions on how alcohol is advertised, particularly in the context of how it is advertised to children and young people.

The issues that arise in respect of this matter are complex and delicate. A balance must be struck between preserving freedom of speech and freedom of expression online, and protecting children and young people in particular from content that may well be age inappropriate or harmful. As already stated, social media and online content in general are not subject to the same types of editorial restrictions as broadcast media, for example, and questions as to the most appropriate governance model are being asked by governments and civil society groups across the globe. There are no simple answers to these questions but I am confident that the group established by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, will evaluate all of these issues thoroughly and in detail.

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