Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1000. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated full year cost of the online safety commissioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4929/20]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill will provide for the establishment of a Media Commission, including an Online Safety Commissioner.  As the Bill is still in development, the scale and cost of the regulator have not yet been finalised. The Commission will absorb the functions and staff of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, which is funded by an industry levy of approximately €5 million per year. In addition, the Commission will regulate on-demand audiovisual services that are established in Ireland. The Commission, through the Online Safety Commissioner, will also regulate Video Sharing Platforms and other designated online services established in Ireland for the whole of Europe. 

It will be necessary to ensure that the new regulator is adequately resourced to take on the complex and important tasks that will be assigned to it. In analysing these resource requirements, my Department is taking account of the staffing requirements and costs of regulators of similar scale and function.   

It is intended that, when established, the Commission will be fully funded by industry levies.