Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

As I set out on Committee Stage with regard to amendment No. 10, I am advised that it is not appropriate to give a public body this type of general power. It should be explicitly linked to its functions. This is why the Bill provides for these powers in relation to designated online services and their compliance with online safety codes. Under the Bill it will be an offence for them not to do so.

On amendment No. 35, the Digital Services Act sets out a detailed process by which this may be done. The Digital Services Act came into force on 16 November. My colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, leads on the implementation of the Digital Services Act in our national law. Dealing with this in the Bill would duplicate and pre-empt that work. Therefore, I do not accept these amendments.

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