Dáil debates

Wednesday, 27 May 2020

Covid-19 (Communications, Climate Action and Environment): Statements

 

11:20 pm

Photo of Anne RabbitteAnne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Chambers for sharing his time with me this evening. I too acknowledge the fabulous work An Post has done in connecting in with people in recent weeks. However, the two issues I wish to address this evening are broadband and our new engagement with social media. Is the Department engaging with the Department of Education and Skills on creating a heat map to ensure teachers have connectivity to deliver the class work that is required in the event of a second wave of Covid and that they are able to continue to support children, especially secondary school children in examination years? One of the downsides that has emerged in the education debate is that not every teacher or child had the opportunity to log on. We have an opportunity now to create a heat map and see exactly where teachers are located. It is only a matter of the teachers linking in with schools to provide their Eircodes and then identifying what sort of broadband service they have.

The next part of my question relates to communication with social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, which are based here in Ireland. Have they continued to work at full speed to address online bullying and hate speech? Has a full suite of measures been put in place to ensure that children are protected online? It is not just children that need to be protected online; adults also need protection online. In the past 72 hours, I have been the subject of online bullying. As politicians, we all understand exactly what it is like. It is incumbent on us to address the issue. The parties to my right must ensure they lead by example and must not lead out on hate speech or vicious, vulgar attacks on people online.

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