Pádraig Ó Céidigh (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We will not go there. We are dependent on Corofin to help us through this year.

To get back to the Bill, I wish to make a couple of important points. I am delighted this Bill has been brought forward to Second Stage and I hope the Minister of State and all parties will support it. Following Second Stage, Members who are interested parties may table amendments and make suggestions. I suggest that rather than water down this Bill, we should strengthen it because young people under 16, who are the people defined in the Bill, are very vulnerable at that age. We, as legislators, have a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in our society. As we know, social media and the Internet are extremely invasive in terms of very vulnerable people, particularly in the area of suicide.

I listened carefully to Senator Freeman when she said she spent a few seconds on a website, as I did this afternoon. On the third search, one can see how to commit suicide. It actually explains how to tie the knot. It is disgusting. That is freely available to all. I will not go into any more gruesome detail on it but that is what we are talking about. This Bill is fundamental to addressing that issue and I will passionately support it.

As self-regulation is not working, we need leadership from the Minister of State and the Government to ensure there is a duty of care in terms of this issue. Parents, schools and we, as legislators, have a duty of care but, importantly, Internet providers have a duty of care also. Self-regulation is not working. That is the reason we need Senator Freeman's Bill. I would seek to strengthen it because right now, this problem is like a virus affecting vulnerable people, and we must protect those vulnerable people.

I am comfortable with ComReg as a regulator in this area. I have a question about the penalties proposed, which I would strengthen. The Bill provides for a fine or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months on conviction of a summary offence and imprisonment not exceeding seven years on conviction of an indictable offence. A fine for a summary offence will not compensate for the damage that can be done to one person.

I like the jurisdiction proposed in the Bill, which relates to acts committed both within and outside the State but which can affect people in the State. As the Senator said, Australia enacted legislation in 2006. I understand Germany has legislation on this area also. Regardless of what other countries have done, as parliamentarians Senators have a duty of care to push this Bill to Committee Stage as quickly as possible and to invite contributions on it. Senator Freeman has done a lot of homework on this Bill and engaged with many people in its drafting but there is room for more support in terms of amending and strengthening it. I hope the Minister of State, the Government and all parties will support the Bill proceeding through Committee Stage.