James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have already heard today about the announcements made by Facebook and Google and the regulation of posters and printed materials has been raised. Such materials are regulated under the Electoral Act 1992. However, 1992 is a long way from 2018 in political and Internet terms. That is why I introduced the Online Advertising and Social Media (Transparency) Bill 2017 into this House last November. I suggest that were that Bill in force now, we would not need all these voluntary announcements from the technology giants two weeks before a seminal vote.

That Bill is progressing, albeit slowly. I understand it has started the process of committee scrutiny and the Government is now coming onboard with the Bill, according to various recent announcements and media reports. That is welcome. I will engage constructively with the Government, as I am sure will the committee. I look forward to progressing it but will the Minister for Justice and Equality advise on the timetable for the next stage of that Bill?

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