Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate all those who stood for election. I acknowledge the Leader's position and that she had an excellent turnout and is still in the race. The nobility of democracy comes home to us all. I always get goose bumps when I go to vote and think it is an extraordinary privilege. I never get over the novelty of being a grown-up and being able to vote; it is amazing. The sheer dedication of everybody who worked on the elections and in the count centres is extraordinary to see and very exciting to be part of.

I echo the congratulations to our athletes. It has also been an extraordinary weekend for them.

I want to highlight a particular issue. We passed a motion in this House regarding smartphones, the enforcement of the digital age of consent and the use of smartphones and we highlighted the dangers of smartphones. I want to bring to the Leader's attention the fact that mental health research in the UK, aligned to the Great Ormond Street Hospital, has now proven there are issues, through the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, between Internet addiction and the use of smartphones on the functioning of the brain, particularly with regard to memory and decision-making. There is now a direct correlation. The evidence is mounting that we need to be strict. We debated across both Houses enforcing the digital age of consent by the Data Protection Commission, DPC, and this week I wrote to the commission asking what it is doing to enforce this and requesting a meeting. I would appreciate if a letter could be sent from this House to the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, to ask what follow-up there has been, what has happened to our motion and what steps have been taken by the Government in response to the motion passed unanimously by this House. We did all agree on the fact that there are dangers and that actions must be taken both by the Government and Coimisiún na Meán, which is doing a very good job, but the DPC also has a role in this. I would appreciate if the Leader could write a letter to the Minister on behalf of this House seeking a follow-up to our motion.