Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will start by agreeing with Senator Kyne. Several of us have been calling for debate on the Passport Office. It is now becoming a matter of serious urgency, so it could be arranged in the next week or two, it would be appreciated.

Yesterday, I referred to the appointment of the expert panel that is due to be set up to examine how an individual complaints mechanism could operate with the office of the online safety commissioner that is due to be established as part of the online safety and media regulation Bill. On “Prime Time” last night we saw further development of the story around Eden Heaslip and about how Eden Heaslip’s bullying continued in the online space. Very clearly, his family desired that there would be some form of individual complaints mechanism. It is something that the Ombudsman for Children and children’s rights organisations have all sought. In addition, as I pointed out yesterday, our Oireachtas committee recommended this as well.

I was a little concerned when the Minister appeared on “Prime Time” last night. She indicated that this legislation will be coming to the Seanad very soon, and I welcome the fact that we will finally be debating it. However, we may be debating it in the absence of the report coming from the expert panel that is charged with setting up the individual complaints mechanism. My concern expressed yesterday was around the terms of reference that were given to that expert panel.

The Oireachtas committee recommended it because we found the testimony of Ms Julie Inman Grant, the Australian eSafety Commissioner, compelling. I have engaged separately with her office. This being Australia Day, it is appropriate that we look and learn from our Australian cousins in respect of what they have done in this space. There is a model that works very clearly in Australia and it is the model we want to see followed.

If the legislation is brought in here before we have any clear picture of what an individual complaints mechanism might resemble, I will propose an amendment to the legislation that will require the new online safety commissioner to introduce such a scheme within 12 months of his or her appointment. Many of us have spent much time on this legislation, including on a cross-party basis. Senators Cassells, Carrigy, Warfield and I have all worked very hard on this to get it right. It is one of the most important items of legislation that this House will debate over the next number of years because it will talk about shaping our society, culture and, indeed, our democracy.

I urge that adequate time be given for this and that there be active engagement by the Minister in the Department with officials on this issue.