Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Unfortunately, during my first year as president of the Teachers Union of Ireland, two sisters committed suicide in the north of the country within a couple of weeks of each other. There was a significant impact on the adults left behind, including the teaching staff at their school. The principal of the school made a valid point, which we need to take on board. He stated that on 1 September, children return to school until 31 June. For 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the principal of the school is, somehow or other, deemed to be responsible for them. He continued that the terrible thing about dealing with children and technology today is that it is to be hoped that parents make children do their homework when they come home, feed them their meals, allow them to watch television, send them to bed at a certain time, make sure they change into nightwear, wash their teeth, carry out their ablutions and do whatever else they are expected to do, but then they allow them into bed with the most lethal of devices in their hand, a smartphone, through which children can be subjected to all sorts of abuse from colleagues. I have been told by secondary school teachers in recent years that the punishment for a child in the bullying network is for their page or photograph not to be liked. In other words, the child is shunned and electronically sent to Coventry.

The Minister is a man of his word and is drafting a Bill to address these issues. This is an ideal opportunity to put our views on the record. Adults are affected by the damage done to children. Sadly, I hear far too often about tragic ends to what goes on online. I ask that the Minister give consideration to the multiple cases of children who have taken their own lives, which have been reported as death by misadventure rather than suicide. As a society, we must confront these things. We must be aware of the damage that is being done. I have suffered attacks online and there are times when I simply must turn off my phone for the benefit of my mental health. I know many members of the Government would prefer if I left it turned off all the time, but that is another story. We must broaden our approach on this issue and look at its impact across society.