Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, the report by the relevant Oireachtas committee on its pre-legislative scrutiny of the online safety and media regulation Bill was published and has been broadly welcomed. However, a note of caution was sounded by Samaritans Ireland which said that, in its view, the registered providers should have a duty to support staff who undertake moderation of harmful content. The job of content moderator for social media platforms is a relatively new one, which has been discussed with the Tánaiste and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. There was hope there would be some scope within the Bill to encompass regard for content moderators' employment rights. They review awful, harmful and disturbing content in order that we do not have to see it. Does the Taoiseach consider there might be scope, before the Bill proceeds to the next Stage, for the inclusion of an element of workers' rights and protection in respect of this new form of work? If there is an alternative approach that might be taken, will he indicate what it is?

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