Written answers

Wednesday, 19 December 2007

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Internet Child Pornography

3:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 356: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the extent to which modern technology is capable of providing an early warning or alarm system to prevent internet child pornography; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35995/07]

Photo of Brian Lenihan JnrBrian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As I have outlined in response to previous Questions on this issue the internet, by its very nature and despite its many advantages, lends itself to being used for a wide range of criminal activities. These can include illegal pornography, racist or hate materials, financial fraud, intimidation or any other criminal activity carried out via the internet. Combatting such illegal, harmful and predatory use of the internet requires a response at national, EU and wider international levels. The internet is an international and world-wide phenomenon with no borders and no single organisation controlling it. Measures to combat illegal materials and activities on the internet are, therefore, influenced by a multiplicity of jurisdictions, differing legal systems, and differing societal norms. Furthermore, new developments in communications technologies allowing for internet access by new means are a regular occurrence. These are largely positive developments but also bring particular challenges for those charged with protecting against the downsides of the internet.

A combination of responses and the co-operation of all the stakeholders, at both national and international level — legislators, law enforcement, schools, child protection practitioners, parents and guardians — is essential. My Department is fully committed to playing its part in a pro-active way.

One of my first steps as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform was to provide for the establishment of the Office for Internet Safety (OIS) as an executive office within my Department. As I outlined previously, arrangements for the staffing and headquartering of this new Office are well advanced. The new Office will continue to build on the work of the Internet Advisory Board which was set up in February, 2002 following the Report of the Working Group on the Illegal and Harmful use of the Internet. It will oversee and further develop the self-regulatory regime for the Irish internet service providers, encourage best practice procedures; promote awareness of the internet downside issues and provide advice and facilitate research on internet related issues regarding child safety. The overall objective of the Office will be to make the internet a safer place for users, and particularly for children.

In terms of using technology to counter the most harmful effects of the internet, the Office will be tasked with investigating, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, the issue of applying blocking technology to the internet. The Office will also consider the possibility of operating some form of symbol assignment to content as a method of rating such content as age appropriate within Ireland. The OIS will continue to oversee the operation of the Hotline (www.hotline.ie — the system for dealing with reports of illegal content on the internet). The Hotline is funded by the Internet Service Providers' Association of Ireland with support from the EU Safer Internet Action Plan. It accepts and investigates reports from the public in relation to child pornography and other illegal material on the internet.

I launched two new booklets in the GET with IT! Series on behalf of the Internet Advisory Board (IAB) earlier this year. The first booklet "Get with IT" A Parents Guide to new media technologies is an update on the Board's first "Get with IT" booklet which was originally published in September, 2005 and was a major success. That booklet gave an overview of new technologies for parents in an effort to address their potential worries about the dangers of the new media for their children. The second booklet "Get with IT" A Parents' Guide to filtering technologies helps parents navigate the processes of how to use filtering technology. This latter booklet offers practical advice to parents and others on how best to use readily available tools to filter out unacceptable material. The booklets are available free of charge from my Department, and are also available on my Department's website, and on the website of the IAB.

In terms of legislation, in the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998, Ireland has one of the most robust pieces of legislation anywhere. Under the Act, the possession, distribution, importation and exportation or sale of all forms of child pornography — films, video or material in written or auditory form including material produced or transmitted via the internet — are offences with penalties of up to 14 years' imprisonment. Mere possession of child pornography can be punishable by imprisonment for up to 5 years. Using a child or allowing a child to be used for the production of child pornography is also punishable by up to 14 years' imprisonment.

I am informed by the Garda Authorities that they monitor child pornography on the internet and where evidence is available action is taken in accordance with legislation. I understand that An Garda Síochána, in conjunction with its EU colleagues, is currently examining new methods of preventing the production and distribution of child pornography on the internet.

International co-operation is a vital part of the fight against child pornography on the internet, and Ireland is fully committed to playing its part. The Deputy may be aware that the European Union has taken a strong line on combating child pornography and other illegal and harmful uses of the internet. Since 1999, under the Safer Internet Action Plan, the EU has provided financial and other supports for measures in the member states to combat illegal and harmful uses of the internet, with particular emphasis on protecting children. A new EU action plan — Safer Internet Plus — covering the period 2005 to 2008, and with a budget of €45m, was agreed under the Irish Presidency in June 2004 and is now in operation. My Department is represented on the management committee for the Safer Internet Plus programme.

My Department is fully committed to co-operating with and promoting internet safety measures nationally, at EU level and on the wider international level.

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