Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Senator Cullinane that the all-party document produced has some very good proposals and suggestions. Education on the dangers of social media and the Internet needs to be very high on the curriculum of all primary schools and secondary schools.

Even if we do not agree on all aspects of the Bill Senator Higgins has brought forward, she has done the Seanad some service by bringing it forward for debate and discussion. There will be opportunities to seriously improve it on Committee Stage. I welcome the positive indication given by the Minister of State that much work is being done by various organs of the State to address this issue. Whether one is a public representative or private citizen, nobody should have to put up with being threatened with the most vile form of death or serious injury which some in the House have had to endure over the past 12 months. Politicians are fair game to take stick for decisions they make, but it must be done in a respectful manner. One yearns for the days when the worst abuse one would get was outside the church gate on a Sunday morning as one gave a political contribution before an election. A few hecklers in the audience would take one to task over decisions made. We have come a long way from that in many ways, which is to be welcomed.

While we welcome the progress we have made, we need to keep an eye on it. I am concerned social media has become a runaway train and we need to put the brakes on it. We need to put in controls and I agree with Senator Crown who spoke about regulating by controls. There is much common ground on this issue. Senator Higgins has been brave in bringing forward the Bill and I am very pleased to support it. I want to see it strengthened and to see safeguards put in place in this country to keep our young people safe.

We need to get the message out to young people that unfortunately some of the information being shared will come back to haunt them in years to come. I have no doubt it is accurate to state the first thing an employer will look at, as he or she makes a decision on offering a position, is the candidates' activity on social media and what they have been involved in. We need to be very careful about what we share as it may come back to haunt us significantly in years to come. I congratulate Senator Higgins and I look forward to supporting the Bill.