Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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32. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for an update on the work of Coimisiún na Meán to protect children against harmful online activity. [36752/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Coimisiún na Meán is Ireland's media and online safety regulator. As provided for under its establishing legislation, the Online Safety and Media Regulation (OSMR) Act 2022, it is independent in the exercise of its functions.

An Coimisiún is at the heart of a new online safety framework comprising three elements: Digital Services Coordinator (DSC) in Ireland under the EU Digital Services Act (DSA); supervising platforms in respect of the Terrorist Content Online Regulation (TCOR); and implementing the provisions of the OSMR Act.

As provided for under the OSMR Act, An Coimisiún may develop and enforce binding online safety codes. These codes may provide for obligations on relevant online services (video sharing platform services), with the aim of reducing the exposure of users, and children in particular, from some of the most serious forms of harmful online content.

An Coimisiún published its first draft online safety code in December 2023 and then published a revised draft in May 2024 which it submitted for consultation to the European Commission. That consultation period concluded at end-August and An Coimisiún has signalled its intent to adopt the revised code in October.

Under the OSMR Act, a failure to comply with an online safety code can lead to significant financial sanctions and continued non-compliance can lead to criminal sanctions for senior management.

As Ireland's DSC, An Coimisiún supports the European Commission in the enforcement of the DSA. Among other things, the DSA requires the largest online platforms and search engines to assess risks regarding the availability of illegal online content and the exposure of younger users to such content. These services must then address these risks, including by means of age-verification or age-assurance.

As provided for under the OSMR Act, An Coimisiún established its Youth Advisory Committee in December 2023. The Committee has been established to assist and advise An Coimisiún in relation to its online safety functions and other matters. It currently comprises representatives from nine national youth groups and nine individual young people under 25 years of age. providing a voice for children and young people in online safety policy implementation.

An Coimisiún holds further functions relating to child safety online, including through research and supporting education. As an example of its work, in March, An Coimisiún launched the ‘Spot it. Flag it. Stop it’ campaign to help people to recognise illegal content online and provide guidance about how to report it.