Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I support what both of the Senators said. I reiterate that this provision is not about legitimate forms of advertising. It is about disinformation and misinformation specifically during an election period. A complementary piece of work is being done on the online space.

In terms of a broader approach to the establishment of the commission, and the commission's role in strengthening the democratic processes, including public participation, awareness and inclusion in the political system in a broader sense, over time that will address many of the wider issues around the public's awareness of what is disinformation or misinformation. With this Bill, we are trying to achieve an electoral system that has integrity while ensuring the public are well informed, and ensuring people can make informed decisions about their electoral choices and participate fully in the electoral system. If the Senators look at the entire Bill they will discover that we are trying to strengthen the democratic system, which will allow people to make informed choices around voting and participate fully in the democratic system.