Nicole Ryan (Sinn Fein)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill which addresses the growing and deeply concerning issue of catfishing. Sinn Féin welcomes the debate on this Bill and believes this conversation is welcome. It is not just timely but also necessary. I thank Senator O'Loughlin for bringing it to this House today.

Catfishing, at its core, is deception. It is when someone steals another person's images or identity to create a fake persona online, often to trick, exploit or defraud others. While it begins with a messaging or dating app profile, it frequently escalates to financial fraud, emotional manipulation and, in some cases, even coercive control. This is not harmless online behaviour. It is calculated, predatory and can destroy people's lives. As Senator O'Loughlin said, we have seen headlines from high-profile GAA players who have been impersonated, vulnerable people who have been scammed out of thousands of euro and individuals left traumatised after discovering a relationship they believed was real never actually existed. Behind each headline, however, is a human who has been betrayed, humiliated and sometimes left to pick up the pieces.

The Minister pointed out there is current legislation which covers some of these aspects through harassment laws, fraud legislation and Coco's Law. While these laws are welcome, we cannot ignore that catfishing is a distinct and emerging form of harm. It does not just fit neatly into our current legislation. Victims are sometimes left without a clear path to justice and that is why we believe there is a strong case being made today to have this as a stand-alone offence. It sends a clear message that online deception is not just morally wrong but also legally wrong. It would give An Garda Síochána and the courts the clarity they need when investigating and prosecuting these offences and would give victims the recognition they deserve. Of course, legislation is only one part of the solution. We must ensure gardaí have the resources, training and digital expertise to investigate these crimes properly. We also need a stronger public education campaign around online safety and reporting mechanisms that are easy to access and are victim-centred.

We support this Bill. It is fantastic and much needed. We must ensure our justice system can respond to this form of abuse for people and ensure nobody gets to hide behind a screen when they are destroying people's lives.