Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 788: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the terms of reference of the Office of Internet Safety and the Internet Safety Advisory Council; the progress each of these bodies have made in protecting children from harmful content on both computers and mobile phones; the measures the bodies have taken in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22617/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Office for Internet Safety (OIS), which was established in March 2008, is an executive office of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and takes over the formal role of the Internet Advisory Board in terms of monitoring industry self-regulation in relation to illegal content on the internet.

The establishment of a dedicated Office for Internet Safety (OIS) is an important step in the process of building the best possible protection for the community at large and in particular for children from the downside of the internet. The OIS has responsibility for the following:

internet safety, particularly in relation to combating child pornography,

supervising the internet Hotline (www.hotline.ie — the system for dealing with reports of illegal content on the internet), which will continue to be operated and funded by the internet service provider industry,

involvement in internet safety awareness campaigns,

and monitoring compliance with the Internet Service Provider industry code of practice.

The OIS is coordinator of the Irish project under the EU's Safer Internet Programme, and in that context is working closely with the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE) and the Internet Service Providers' Association of Ireland (ISPAI). NCTE manages the Webwise project (www.webwise.ie), which is the Irish Internet Safety Awareness Node. ISPAI funds and operates the www.hotline.ie service and all ISPAI members subscribe to its Code of Practice and Ethics.

The OIS will expand on the work that was carried out by the Internet Advisory Board (IAB). The IAB played a significant and pioneering role in raising awareness about the risks associated with the use of the Internet, both within the internet service providers sector and among the general public. In the coming period I hope to give consideration to putting in place arrangements, which will involve key stakeholders, for the purpose of supporting the Office for Internet Safety. I expect to be able to make an announcement in this respect over the summer months.