Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Today is Safe Internet Day. Many significant issues arise from the advent of technology. A Cybersafe Ireland survey published today presents worrying and interesting statistics that simply cannot be ignored by policymakers and Government. It confirms that four out of five children own a smartphone and almost half of these children are in contact with adults they do not know and are playing games with people aged more than 18 years. The games contain sex and violence. A recent report by the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, indicated that nine year olds who own a smartphone are potentially weaker at reading than their peers who do not.

The Irish Primary Principals Network called last month for a national policy on smartphone ownership for schoolgoing children. A White Paper on this issue will be published next month in the United Kingdom and there is already a commitment there to introduce a planned compulsory code of conduct. There are issues there. Will the Taoiseach outline the plans under the programme for Government for providing a digital commissioner? Does the Government plan to introduce a code of conduct here to protect children as much as possible?

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