Emer Currie (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to talk about a serious incident that happened in Blanchardstown a few weeks ago, where two teenagers were involved in a fight and there was a stabbing. Thankfully, the injuries were non-threatening according to reports. In the context of Safer Internet Day, I want to talk about cyberbullying. We are all aware of cyberbullying, and it is to be hoped it comes into focus more when we discuss the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill, part of which addresses the harmful content around cyberbullying, self-harming and eating disorders. We will have a rigorous debate about that. The attack in Blanchardstown shows how bad cyberbullying can get. We have seen the tragedy of bullying.

Social media can become unsocial media very quickly. Things can escalate very quickly. There is a new trend, for want of a better word, on social media forums which is translating into real fights that are filmed and posted on platforms. We have all been in such situations involving relationships, an image and our whole life, and that can impact the rest of our lives. Gardaí are aware of this trend and are engaging with schools in Dublin 15.

Given the severity of the issue, gardaí are trying to get the message out to parents. Gardaí, schools and parents who know about this phenomenon are doing their bit. I hope that under the Bill to which I referred we can strengthen what we can do. There needs to be awareness about this issue. I hope the individual complaints mechanism that is being considered is implemented. Identities need to be verified. There needs to be a step change in online safety. I want to raise awareness of how incidents like this are increasing in frequency.