Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We have been told there is an issue with the commencement of the Act because of the definition of companies. The policy was accepted by the Seanad and the Minister but there is an issue with the wording of the section. That is why I have suggested this mechanism, which allows for the prohibition of the targeting of minors with commercial communications through online safety codes, as a way to achieve the policy point agreed when debating the Data Protection Act, in a way that will not present similar technical problems with its commencement. I am trying to ensure a policy point which had cross-party agreement will progress. This is an opportunity to do that. I will ask others to press this issue in the Dáil. I believe action on this is overdue. If the Government's preference is to address it by amending and then commencing the relevant section of the Data Protection Act, that should be done, but if it is not being done, the policy point still stands and should be progressed.