Results 5,321-5,340 of 8,235 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: In other parts, we talk about the fact of the impact. There may be a short video that very few people saw and was not very highly viewed. It is an unfortunate and sometimes very unfair practice where there is a lot of trawling of people’s pasts, finding something and then using it in a negative way to try to use it and frame it against them or, indeed, to frame it in a different...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 141: In page 59, lines 6 and 7, to delete “as soon as practicable” and substitute “within 30 days”. The amendment ensures that when a complaint about a broadcast has been dismissed, the complainant is notified "within 30 days". The amendment seeks to ensure that we do not see situations whereby complainants are left waiting for months to...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank Senator Carrigy for his support. I am happy that the Minister accepts the principle behind the amendment whereby if a complaint is dismissed that the complainant knows that and is not left waiting. Perhaps we could have an approach that simply mirrors the provisions where there is a different outcome to a complaint. That may be a way of addressing this matter as well. It is in...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I wish to speak to an issue that has been ruled out of order but I will endeavour to bring back the issue in another manner. Amendment No. 144, which was proposed by my colleague and I, sought to ensure that not just harmful content but harmful conduct would be addressed. I have had some constructive engagement with the Minister's officials on this matter. There is potential for harmful...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will be brief, as I am conscious that others have debated the issue. I am happy to engage further with the Minister on it. Even though I understand where amendment No. 164 is coming from, we had extensive debate on very similar issues when the data protection legislation was going through. It is not simply the age of consent in terms of when one begins to have an online account, the...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 165: In page 79, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following: “(2) Notwithstanding anything in this section, content which seeks to educate children on the effects of violence or acts of cruelty in an age-appropriate manner shall not be considered age-inappropriate online content.”.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 166: In page 79, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following: “(fa) section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act,”. Amendments Nos. 166 to 168, inclusive, are all around trying to ensure that in deciding whether an online service provider falls into the category of providers to which the online safety codes may apply, the...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: In light of the fact that the Minister's officials have indicated a willingness to engage on the question of the proper recognition of human rights and equality in section 7 regarding powers and functions, I will not press the amendment in this context. I think that may be where we can best address it.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 167: In page 79, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following: “(fa) the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,”.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 168: In page 79, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following: “(fa) the Web Accessibility Directive (Directive (EU) 2016/2102),". I believe we will have an opportunity to debate the related issue I highlighted later. I will withdraw this amendment for now and reserve the right to introduce.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 169: In page 80, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following: "(1A) A record of any consultations conducted under subsection (1) shall be kept and in the case of consultations carried out under subsection (1)(d) such a record will include the rationale by which the Commission deemed the person to be appropriate to consult with, and such records shall be deposited...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I appreciate the point about documents being laid before the Oireachtas. However, I am concerned as to why there is a reluctance to have a record of those the commission consults. It is not the same to say the joint Oireachtas committee can bring people before it. Any of us who sit on a committee know there are two hours in which to cover every issue at a meeting. We should not have to...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 171: "In page 81, line 36, to delete “may” and substitute “shall”." A similar principle underpins amendment No. 171 as other amendments. It seeks to insert “shall” instead of “may” specifically in relation to the making of online safety codes. As I said, these are the core duties and functions and they should...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 172: "In page 82, line 9, after “to” to insert “advertisements or"." I will withdraw the amendment because we have had engagement on this issue. I reserve the right to reintroduce it if necessary.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would join in thanking the Irish Heart Foundation, the Children's Rights Alliance and the many groups that have advocated on this set of amendments as one of the core areas of amendment to the Bill. I also want to thank the individuals who have contacted us with their concerns on the online targeting of children and the kinds of content to which children are being exposed and targeted....

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The provision in the Data Protection Act has not been commenced but, yes, it focuses on the targeting, gathering and use of information. However, it is would be appropriate to address it in this Bill. We have been ensured that part of the regulation of online content is content delivery. Measures aimed at content delivery based on the profiling of children are relevant to this Bill. It is...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 178: In page 82, line 28, to delete “may” and substitute “shall”. We do not need to elaborate because it is the same principle again. The purpose of this Bill is not to just give a lot of power to the commission but it is to regulate and ensure there is regulation of the online media space and the provision of online safety. The...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 179: In page 82, between lines 39 and 40, to insert the following: “(4A) When preparing such codes referred to in subsection (1), the Commission shall have due regard to section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Web Accessibility Directive (Directive...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 180: In page 82, between lines 39 and 40, to insert the following: “(4A) In preparing such codes referred to in subsection (1), the Commission shall consult with appropriate persons with relevant expertise in human rights and digital public participation.”

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 183: In page 83, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: “Online safety codes: public health of children 139L. (1) Without prejudice to section 139K, in the case of a designated online service which incorporates advertisements or commercial communications, the Commission shall ensure that an online safety code in respect of that service shall...