Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome everyone back from the Christmas break, although I know we were all working.

I agree with what previous speakers said in respect of the case of Ms Joanne Hayes. What happened to that lady was horrific and we all need to make sure that it never happens again.

I call on on the Minister for Justice and Equality to come to the Chamber to allay my fears regarding the digital age of consent for children. According to a report arising from pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of Data Protection Bill 2017 carried out by the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality last November, the digital age of consent - the age at which a child can consent to use online services - should be set at 13 years. The new EU general data protection regulation comes into effect on 25 May 2018 and I am concerned that many parents do not know that their children will be treated as adults online from the age of 13. This must be investigated further, and I know that there is time to do so. If a parent is told that, from 26 May next, his or her 13 year old will become an adult online, he or she might cry. A child of 13 cannot consent to a medical procedure, drink alcohol or vote. However, we are suggesting that children roam the worldwide web alone just because they have reached an age adopted from social media companies. While I understand that an official age has not yet been set before the EU general date protection regulation comes into effect on 25 May, I cannot agree that 13 is a suitable age. From where did it come? We need much more debate on this matter and we cannot let it slide as a result of our own ignorance.

It worries me that experts like Dr. Mary Aiken and Professor Barry O'Sullivan are concerned about the report's recommendation of this age, which will be the lowest digital age of consent in Europe. They are concerned that parents are not aware of this provision and have had no part to play in this. Children are able to use technology, but can they be responsible at 13? A 13 year old could not be left on O'Connell Street and told to go shopping and look after himself or herself. Why are we allowing 13 year olds to navigate the Internet alone? The age of 16 is a much more appropriate age of consent and would be more in line with consent and maturity.

Recently, shareholders in a popular tech company called for more help for parents to regulate children's use of devices. I agree that parents cannot do this alone. We live in a changing world. Current studies show that the time children spend using these devices is excessive.