Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support Senators Colm Burke and Keith Swanick on the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, my views on which are well documented. Does the Leader have any idea as to when it will proceed to Report Stage?

I refer to social media and the need for legislation to deal with many of the issues that arise in that regard. They are evolving and we are behind the curve in legislating to deal with many of the issues, legal and otherwise, which arise. We have become desensitised to the activities of keyboard warriors. Common decency, courtesy and standards of respectability have to apply to the Internet. Just because we have become desensitised to the degree of vitriol and bile encountered on social media does not mean that it is acceptable. We need to deal with this issue. It is not acceptable for people to be continually referred to in a derogatory manner. Just because we are politicians and sort of deserve it we put up with it.