Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. The events which took place in our capital city highlight the threats posed by violent political extremism. As he said, messages of hate spread online resulted in manifestations of physical violence on our city streets. It is clear that social media companies have an important responsibility to resource and operate robust systems of detection, including the timely removal of harmful content. I have said clearly that it has been relayed to me that some companies engaged better than others. Some companies took down content in a proactive way when compared with others. I am awaiting a wider or more detailed report from the Garda so I can engage further.

I assure the Deputy that countering the threat posed by extremism is a top priority for the Garda and for me and my Department. Our strategy to deal with extremism is part of a whole-of-government response to countering radicalisation to extremist ideologies, along with liaison with the Garda. I and my Department are fully engaged with our EU partners through the radicalisation awareness network to develop our understanding of the evolution of the threat posed by political extremism with a view to putting in place appropriate measures to counter the threat. My Department is also responsible for policy on illegal online content, including the implementation of the terrorist content online regulation, and policy on online extremism, including in respect of right-wing extremists. That is a particular part of the legislation that brought into existence Coimisiún na Meán, on which my Department is leading and for which it will be responsible.

The law is kept under review and the Deputy will be familiar with the provisions of the new Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill, which I am bringing through the Oireachtas. It is currently in the Seanad. It will criminalise the dissemination of exactly the kind of hate speech, offline and online, that often informs or encourages violent extremism.

As I have mentioned, my colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media has introduced the Online Services and Media Regulation Act and established Coimisiún na Meán to regulate online media, including enforcing rules about how online services or platforms should deal with harmful and illegal content on their services. It is important that there is a role for Coimisiún na Meán and the Garda to engage appropriately where there is harmful content. It is particularly important for the Garda to become involved where there is illegal content.

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