Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will follow up on some of the comments made by my colleague, Senator Ruane. Today is Safer Internet Day, among many other days. Almost one year ago, Senator Ruane and I successfully introduced an amendment to the Data Protection Bill, now the Data Protection Act, to prohibit the profiling of children under the age of 18 and the use of such profiles for commercial purposes. I ask the Leader for an update on when the Minister plans to commence that aspect of the legislation. It is no longer a proposed amendment. I understand Deputy O’Callaghan put forward a variation of the proposal in the Dáil. Will the Minister commence that aspect of the legislation which protects children under the age of 18 from commercial targeting, fast-track the alternative version put forward by Deputy O’Callaghan or take action of his own volition? It is not satisfactory that almost a year after the legislation was passed, we have not taken steps to protect younger people, which is vital, and ensure they are not targeted in a shocking way based on their vulnerabilities or insecurities. We hear much rhetoric-----