Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would be willing to accept that invitation and I am certain that my colleagues would also. As the Deputy identified, we need a whole-of-Government approach. The Ministers whose Departments are at the forefront of the issue need to work together to identify more clearly an action plan for what each of us is doing. Together we need to ensure that plan is implemented. For example, the issues that are particularly relevant to the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment are technology, the legislative framework and industry.

Combating online child grooming is particularly relevant to the Department of Justice and Equality, and is addressed as part of a wide-ranging package of measures aimed at the reform of Ireland’s criminal law on sexual offences, set out in the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017. The Office for Internet Safety is an executive office of the Department of Justice and Equality. We are particularly looking at reforming that or approaching it in a different way.

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