Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 35:

In page 45, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following:

"(3) The Commission shall ensure that fees for different classes of application or review request are not prohibitive.".

This is a simple common-sense amendment. It seeks to bring some equality of opportunity to the playing fields of who can become a trusted flagger. This should not exclusively be the remit of a large body or wealthy State-funded NGO. Those who have the necessary experience and qualifications should be able to apply and should not be prevented from doing so due to cost.

Without this, the Government is giving free rein to large bodies to reinforce a monopoly of power by controlling the information landscape via content moderation. This is undesirable and should be combatted.