Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Hear, hear. Following on from Senator Craughwell raising the issue of social media, he is a big guy and is well able to deal with social media.

I wish to address the seeming U-turn in the proposed appointment, the first of its kind for Ireland, of a digital safety commissioner to oversee and hold Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat and so on to account in respect of our vulnerable children.This issue has been discussed at length by the Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs. We have worked on it and discussed it with witnesses in recent months. It came to our attention yesterday that the Taoiseach has been quoted as saying that the initiative has been shelved. This issue is not just about children and youth affairs, it is also involves all aspects of the mental health of children and adults. Will the Leader clarify whether the appointment of a digital commissioner - which was promised by the Minister for Communications, Climate Change and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, and supported by the Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs - is to be shelved?