Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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35. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the actions being taken within his Department to ensure child protection is a priority when it comes to education of children and families regarding safe Internet usage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31222/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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My Department seeks to promote awareness of internet safety and to highlight its importance for parents, children and young people alike. The Office for Internet Safety (OIS) was established in my Department in 2008. As a small unit, it aims to build linkages and cohesion between relevant Departments and agencies to promote internet safety, particularly in relation to combating child pornography. A dedicated website provides information primarily aimed at parents as well as links to a variety of other resources on internet safety. In addition, the unit provides a series of information booklets on internet safety which are made available on the website and also in hard copy.

An Internet Safety Advisory Committee (ISAC) advises the OIS and includes representatives from An Garda Síochána, academia, relevant non-government organisations, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner as well as industry etc. At a European level, the website www.betterinternetforkids.eu gathers and makes available best practice examples, including some from Ireland, on safer internet for children and makes them available in a variety of languages.

The EU Safer Internet Programme for Ireland operates through my Department, channelling EU funding to four partner bodies:

- Webwise in Professional Development Service for Teachers Technology in Education (a part of the Department of Education and Skills) - this programme raises awareness of online safety issues and promotes good practice among students, their parents and teachers.

- Childline - a helpline and other services for children and operated by the ISPCC.

- the National Parents Council (Primary) which operates a helpline and provides training for parents and

- Hotline.ie which deals with reports of illegal content on the internet in Ireland.

My Department also keeps the criminal law up to date in this area as required. For example, the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017, has addressed criminal law aspects of the Law Reform Commission’s Report on Harmful Communications and Digital Safety, including a number of measures to significantly strengthen existing criminal law in combating child exploitation - in particular to address the use of modern communication technologies as a tool which may lead to child sexual exploitation.

An Garda Síochána has an arrangement in place with a large internet service provider to block access to child sexual abuse content in accordance with a list they provide. Among the aims of this initiative is to reduce inadvertent viewing by members of the public, including children, of this illegal and/or harmful material. An Garda Síochána also has a Schools Programme where personal safety issues, including online safety, are highlighted and discussed with children and young people in schools.

Finally, my Department works with other relevant Government Departments in this area. As the Deputy may be aware, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment has the lead role in terms of the National Cyber Security Strategy and is also considering the Law Reform Commission's recommendation for the establishment of a Digital Safety Commissioner.