Results 1,981-2,000 of 2,156 for speaker:John Cummins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Marine Planning Framework: Discussion (6 Apr 2021)

John Cummins: I am not in Leinster House so I cannot contribute to the meeting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

John Cummins: I thank both witnesses for their attendance. I have read with interest, as I am sure all members have, the points made by the witnesses in their submissions and there are some good ones in respect of harmonising EU and Irish law in this area. While that should certainly be considered, it is not a reason not to have more transparency in regard to online advertising and to where the money for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

John Cummins: Sorry but-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

John Cummins: Will Mr. Ó Broin confirm that if I approve an individual or organisation to place adverts on Facebook on my behalf, that ad spend is not accounted for on my ad library page?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

John Cummins: Mr. Ó Broin is saying it is not accounted for on my ad library page but on that of some unknown individual. We know what country they are in but we have no idea who they are. Facebook knows who they are but the public does not. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

John Cummins: I am asking where the ad spend is accounted for. Is it accounted for on the page of the administrator I have approved or on my ad library page?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

John Cummins: It is accounted for on the second page and, as a member of the public, I have no idea who that person is. I know there is an account but it could be in Serbia or Germany and I have no idea who is behind the page. I have a couple of follow-on questions-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

John Cummins: I am glad Mr. Ó Broin moved on to that. He indicated that if I have approved individuals or organisations based in other countries to manage my page, they cannot run the advert, which I accept. Could they use virtual private networks, VPNs, to circumvent that? Could they create the campaign, develop the ad sets, create the targeting, examine the demographics and create the content...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

John Cummins: I just want to know whether it is possible.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

John Cummins: That is not what I am asking.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

John Cummins: A person who is based in another country cannot create an ad set or campaign or examine the demographics for targeting on Facebook. Why would somebody in another country be linked to my ad account if they can do nothing on the platform?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

John Cummins: To be clear, is Mr. Ó Broin saying that somebody who is based in another country cannot use Facebook's ad creation tools to create a campaign or ad sets, examine demographics or create content?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

John Cummins: Is it possible? I return to the original question. It is very important in this context.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

John Cummins: Pressing "publish" on the ad has to be done in Ireland but is it possible for any of the other steps to be taken in another country? I apologise for pressing the issue but it is very important in the context of the transparency aspect of this legislation. That is what we are trying to capture in heads 123 to 125, inclusive.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

John Cummins: I am not happy with the response because it is not clear.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

John Cummins: I would appreciate that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

John Cummins: I will only take two minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

John Cummins: I echo many of the comments that have been made about anonymous accounts. It is unacceptable in this day and age. If online banking apps have the capacity to be able to verify identities, there is no reason that online platforms cannot do it. To return to my original question to Facebook relating to advertising, what I am concerned about is outside interference in our democracy. I have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

John Cummins: However, one can change the attribution setting during campaign creation. If my Ireland manager sets up a draft campaign, is it possible for my manager in Serbia or Germany to go in, add to that campaign, create data sets and then for another advertising manager in Ireland to press the "run" button on it? With all due respect, it is a "Yes" or "No" answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

John Cummins: Requirements are different from a "Yes" or "No" answer. Is it possible for my Ireland manager to set up a draft campaign, entitled "Public Meeting", and for one of my managers in another country, with no connection to this jurisdiction, to add demographics or create further content within that campaign and then for another Ireland manager to press the "run" button, "Yes" or "No"?