Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support the legislation. I welcome the Minister to the House and acknowledge his work on digital technology. He has been very conscientious and vocal about same. I also acknowledge that he published a circular that requires all schools to consult parents, teachers and students on the use of smartphones and tablet devices in schools, which is important. We need to have a tripartite conversation on digital technology that involves parents and guardians, schools in the form of teachers and boards of management, and pupils.

The primary aim of the Education (Digital Devices in Schools) Bill is safety, well-being, mental health and the protection of students. I would not have put my name to a Bill that wanted to reduce the use of technology because I firmly believe we must embrace technology. However, we must educate people about digital technology and how to use it responsibly. As time progresses we will see, just as we have seen in Europe, a greater use of IT systems, platforms and tablets in schools. There has been a shift to using technology and I believe that is positive. Our generation did not learn IT skills but the younger generation has embraced technology. That is a positive move and our usage should be on a par with that everywhere else in Europe.

This Bill outlines a code of behaviour, conduct, protocol or understanding about the best way to use digital devices, phones and netbooks. I own an iPhone and, as I have said before, it has the potential to be a very dangerous weapon when used by the wrong person. On another occasion in the Seanad I shared the experience of two sisters who attended a private school but were bullied, intimated and suffered harassment of a sexual nature while travelling on a bus. When they approached the school's authorities and told of their ordeal they were informed that the matter had nothing to do with them. Other students who attended the school suffered similar abuse when they were on another school trip and wearing the school's uniform. What did those parents do that night? A mother confronted her daughter because she had been concerned about her well-being for some time. The girl told her mother that she had been intimated for many months and begged her mother not to approach the school because she would be further harassed. Subsequently, the girl developed major mental health issues and problems. She did not find a welcome at the door of the school. Needless to say, her parents drove to the private school and confronted the teacher concerned and the parents of the other girl but, unfortunately, they did not get a good reception. One can understand that the school felt, and I think wrongly, that it could not get involved or did not want to get involved because the incident occurred outside of school hours. Who was there for that young girl? It was only her parents who confronted their daughter and spoke to her. Intimidation and bullying is a real issue and damages one's mental health, and sometimes the perpetrator or perpetrators are known. Sometimes other children do not see the danger but we, as adults, must educate and understand the potential danger posed by powerful technology and how it impacts on young people's lives.

This legislation seeks to strike a balance. It is important that we strike a balance between the benefits of using technology for educational purposes and the negative effects of unsupervised use of devices within schools. I reiterate that an outright ban on devices is not the right way to go. I have mentioned technologies such as netbooks, etc. I do not support us having a nanny state and people at the top telling people what they cannot do. I suggest we educate, support and help people to understand the processes and involve boards of management and teachers, parents and guardians of children, and students.

I am sure the Minister will tell us in a minute that the Government does not oppose the Bill at this Stage, which is welcome. I acknowledge the enormous amount of work that he has done to encourage a conversation on digital technology. I note that the UK Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Matt Hancock, recently called for teachers to completely ban the use of phones and mobile phones in schools. I also note that the French President, Emmanuel Macron, has decided to ban the use of mobile phones by children under the age of 15 years. I am not sure that a ban is the right way to go. I would prefer if we educated people and had a conversation because people need to know about the dangers and negative impacts caused when technology is abused and misused. The Bill attempts to develop a clear understanding and protocol - not all policies suit everybody - specific to a particular school where the parties involved sign up to a protocol. That is the best way to proceed.

I thank Senator Craughwell for the enormous amount of work he has done to prepare this legislation. It is good legislation and the fact we are having this debate is very positive. Again, I thank the Minister and acknowledge that he is ahead on this matter and it is clear he wants to listen to all sides of the debate.