Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Today, outside the Dáil we met members of the families who have been affected by cyberbullying and online harassment. In my 15 years in politics, it was certainly one of the most emotional scenes I have ever seen. We heard from Jackie Fox, who lost her daughter, Nicole. We heard from the O'Neill family, who lost their daughter and granddaughter, Mia. I knew Mia.

I am asking the Taoiseach genuinely to park the politics and to work with us to implement Deputy Howlin's Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017 in relation to bullying and cyberbullying. Everyone in this House needs to learn about and deal with this. It is called Coco's law in honour of Nicole. Deputy Lawless, from the Taoiseach's own side, has been quite supportive on it and it is in the Government's list for the programme for Government.

We have had this Bill on the Order Paper since 2017. The Government is supportive of it but we have not been able to get Government amendments to the Bill. Can we bring this forward and get it dealt with before Christmas so that no more children, or, indeed, adults, are affected? People cannot be prosecuted for online abuse.

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