Martin Conway (Fine Gael)

I agree that there is a need to examine the remit of the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland, ASAI, because the use of social media is now a predominant means of advertising. I suggest a charter of people's rights in respect of social media is required. Approximately 900 million people use Facebook, more than 1 million of whom live in Ireland. This constitutes an enormous number of people who are using what essentially is an unrelated medium. There is some appalling advertising through Facebook and while the company, in fairness to it, probably reacts to some of the unsavoury elements of the advertising, society and the Government have a responsibility to try to regulate it because there is nothing as bad as a lack of regulation, as has been evident in the past. Consequently, I support the call for a debate on extending the remit of the ASAI.