Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to add my own words of support for amendment No. 24 and its significance. It is an important amendment. This section of the Bill and the matters contained therein have proved contentious and difficult to deal with. Despite this, there has been a great deal of co-operation and sincerity in terms of trying to come to a legislatively competent conclusion that can, if such a thing is possible, at least go some way in trying to meet the concerns about this and the differing and competing views on it. I take Senator Ruane's points with deep sincerity because I know how passionate she is about this issue. There is no doubt there is merit in what she has flagged, and that is the difficulty there has been with this part of the Bill. Yes, we have had to listen to competing views and competing expertise on this.We have also had to listen to a wide range of parental and family views as well as those of children and young people. For our part, it has been a difficult, long and drawn-out process internally in the Sinn Féin group within both Houses of the Oireachtas. Ultimately, we have decided to err on the side of caution for the digital age of consent by opting for 16 years of age.

The issue on amendment No. 24 and what it seeks to do was summed up well by Senator Ruane. We have flagged and talked previously and at length about the dangers concerned with cultivating and harvesting data relating to young people. I am keen to hear what the Minister has to say on some of the more mechanical points raised about the general data protection regulation. I believe it would be a pity if, at this stage, we were to unnecessarily replicate a vote in respect of which we might know the outcome. I do not mean to be presumptuous in that regard. I simply want to flag that I hope we can get this done in a way that is speedy and compliant for the Minister and his officials.