Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister back to the House today. Deputy Bruton is a regular visitor here and he is always welcome.

I welcome also that through the introduction of this Bill by my colleague, Senator Craughwell, we are having a conversation in this country about digital devices and the harmful effects of the overuse of such devices, not only by children but by adults as well. While we all welcome the advances in technologies and must embrace them, including the use of iPhones or whatever, it is time that we as a society had a general conversation outside of what my colleague here has proposed today regarding the overuse of iPhones in Irish society from a work perspective.

A gentleman told me recently that there is no getting away from work and it is a 24-7 connection with work. If somebody cannot get a person on the phone, they text him or her. If they cannot get the person by text, they email him or her. He had a case recently where a guy said, "I sent you an email there at 10 p.m. on Saturday and you never got back to me until Monday." This is the world we live in. It is in many ways a positive development due to the advances in technology but the invasion of one's private life and family life, and one's lack of time-out, is something that we need to be conscious of and probably need to have a conversation about. I was in a coffee shop a few weeks ago and I sat across from a family I know - a husband and wife and two young children. All four of them were on devices while they were there and there was no conversation. That is not unique to one family. I would say we could all hold our hand up and say something similar. That is something that we need to be conscious of. It is time that we pressed the pause button on where technology is going.

As to the subject matter here today, I compliment my colleague for bringing the Bill forward. I acknowledge everyone who started this conversation about the overuse of digital devices in schools or, for that matter, anywhere. The Daily Mail, among others, has been running with a campaign on banning iPhones in schools. Senator Craughwell has done a great deal of work in this regard as well and I compliment him on it.

From my party's perspective, I am not overly convinced that legislation is the way to go. In many cases, because the world of technology moves so fast, with the best will in the world legislation will always lag behind and find it difficult, and maybe even impossible, to keep up with those advances. I am satisfied to a great extent that the school boards of management and parents' associations are dealing fairly well with this issue. They have taken a sensible approach to the use of digital devices and they have been flexible in that regard and responsive to their advantage.

As to whether there is a need for legislation, I am not closing the door to Senator Craughwell's proposals but I wonder whether it is really needed. We all will be aware that schools have policies on a wide raft of issues. I acknowledge that schools, through the good offices of the Minister, have policies on the use of Internet devices, school bullying and other issues. I have spoken to a number of school principals who, in consultation with parents and boards of management, have their own school policy on the use of technologies and it seems to be working out quite well.

I am certainly not closing the door to what Senator Craughwell proposes. He started a conversation and it is worthwhile that he did so. I look forward to the progression of the Bill. It is merely that some aspects of the Bill would concern me from the point of view of punishment, etc., if a child is found with a device on his or her person. When mobile phones came out at first they were almost the size of a concrete block and now, with advances in technology, they have reduced to the size of a matchbox. In a few years' time, they say, one could have a device on a watch or anywhere. I would have concerns for the future about how schools are meant to police something like this.

On the current system, perhaps a circular issued by the Minister would push matters along in that regard. Overall, schools are doing good work in this area. Senator Boyhan mentioned educating, not only children, but us adults as well, about the potential harmful effects of these devices.I compliment the Senators for bringing this forward. I look forward to the progression of the Bill. My party will have an input into it. I am not against the idea in principle. I feel we have to be conscious of the great deal of good work that is being done at the moment. It is possible that it needs to be tightened up, but I am not convinced that legislation is the only show in town for such purposes. I look forward to the progression of the Bill. I compliment those who have brought it to the House.