John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 412: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the mechanisms in place to protect children from offensive, age inappropriate or dangerous multimedia activities that are easily accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20914/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Protection of children from the inappropriate use of multimedia activities is a very broad and encompassing term, but I take it that the Deputy is referring particularly to the internet, video games and mobile phones. I have no function in the regulation of broadcast media or phones but I can inform him as to the child protection arrangements in place in respect of a number of other media formats.

I am very aware of the concerns of parents, teachers and voluntary organisations regarding the content available to children via the internet. The recent establishment of the Office for Internet Safety (OIS) as an executive office within my Department will continue to build on the work of the Internet Advisory Board which was set up in 2002 following the Report of the Working Group on the Illegal and Harmful use of the Internet. The OIS 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 OIS will also 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. It plays an important part by accepting reports, providing the resources to validate them and channelling those that are illegal directly to the appropriate jurisdiction and authority. If the material is hosted in Ireland, it will request the relevant Internet Service Provider (ISP) to remove it, in accordance with their Code of Practice and Ethics. Special protocols operate between the Gardaí and the Hotline that maximise cooperation on law enforcement issues. The Hotline provides a first port of call for parents and members of the public in general who encounter illegal material on the internet.

You may be aware of the booklets in the GET with IT! Series on behalf of the Internet Advisory Board (IAB). There are three booklets in the series, a parents' guide to new media technologies, a parents' guide to filtering technologies and a parents' guide to social -networking websites. These booklets give an overview of new technologies, help parents to understand and use websites and help them to safeguard their children online. Copies of these publications were distributed widely and can be had on request through a freefone number 1800 24 25 95. They are also available on the website of my Department at .

With regard to video games, the position is that Ireland is a member of the Pan European Games Information (PEGI) system. Video games are classified by age appropriateness at the following levels; 3+: 7+ 12+; 15+ and 18+. The categorisation is then indicated on product packaging. Under these arrangements, video games are categorised according to a robust and consistent system and subject to independent non-industry verification.

A key component of video game arrangements is that the classification systems are designed to provide useful information as to the content of the product. In particular, the intention is to assist parents in making informed choices concerning the media they acquire for their children or which they permit their children to use.

In so far as films and videos/DVDs are concerned, the position is that these must be classified by the Irish Film Censor for sale, exhibition or rental. The age appropriateness of each work is then displayed in cinema and all video/DVD works must carry the age classification on the packaging and video/DVD.