Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I welcome the imminent publication of the personal insolvency Bill on which it would be a good idea to receive a briefing. If a briefing is provided for Senators, I ask that we are circulated a copy of the report of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality on the personal insolvency legislation. The report made a number of recommendations and includes a full transcript of our hearings with stakeholders and interested parties. It would inform our debate on the Bill.

I welcome the extension of the remit of the Ombudsman for Children to cover children detained in St. Patrick's Institution. Senator van Turnhout raised this matter yesterday. This is a welcome and long overdue development for which the Irish Penal Reform Trust and international children's rights bodies have called for some years. I also welcome the Government's announcement, which was also long overdue, that it will end the imprisonment of children in St. Patrick's Institution.

I ask the Leader to arrange a specific debate with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on the regulation of advertising. I have raised previously the difficulty with making complaints about advertising on Facebook and other social media, in particular, concerning various nightclubs in Dublin which have placed grossly offensive and sexist advertisements. While Facebook has removed these advertisements on most occasions that it has been requested to do so, those seeking to complain to the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland, ASAI, were informed that social media are outside the remit of the ASAI. I have asked that the Minister come before the House to address this issue and I have also communicated with him directly on the issue.

The need for a debate has become more pressing, however, as a result of a billboard campaign being run by Youth Defence, an organisation to which I am loath to give publicity. I, and I am sure other Senators, have received numerous complaints about the campaign from individuals who believe the advertisements in question are offensive, misleading and amount to false advertising. The advertisements concern abortion and feature a caption which reads "Abortion tears her life apart". They depict a foetus at more than 18 weeks, although 89% of abortions take place before 13 weeks. The advertisements are grossly offensive and Senator Mullen-----