Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We all understand the importance of the tech sector in Ireland. We are a major hub, not only from a European point of view but also from a global point of view. Obviously, regulation is vital. The difficulty is that there has not always been a great relationship when regulation and legislation meet technology. We just spoke about artificial intelligence. We all know there are great advantages in the medtech sector, but we also know the dangers. Some of the jobs that have been displaced in the tech sector are down to AI; it has already happened. We need to ensure we are on top of the regulation.

Based on what has happened in the past, we know the issues with cyberattacks and disinformation, particularly relating to elections. We need to get to grips with - the Digital Services Act is part of it - the algorithms that social media companies have. They are weaponised and used by state and non-state actors and are not necessarily useful. We need to get on top of this while at the same time, as the Minister, Deputy Coveney, said, needing to keep it between the ditches. We know the advantages that we have had and will have from tech in the future.

See this speech in context