Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

62. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is working with like-minded colleagues in the European Union to develop a strategy to combat the rise of far-right actors across Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36394/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The rise in far-right non-state actors is a matter of serious concern for this Government. Misinformation and disinformation is being used to sow division across the EU and beyond, and is driving the propagation of far-right narratives.

Democracies depend on reliable information and trust in democratic processes.

Disinformation campaigns, and foreign information manipulation and interference, can distort public discourse, undermine trust in sources of reliable information, and negatively impact people's ability to make informed decisions and exercise their rights. The fast pace of AI development may increase these risks, including by amplifying the spread of false and misleading information.

Effectively countering interference in Ireland’s democratic and electoral processes is a matter of the utmost priority for the Government of Ireland. This is a global challenge that cannot be tackled by any one country and Ireland is fully supportive of ongoing initiatives at EU level to mitigate these threats. At the Foreign Affairs Council I regularly engage with my EU counterparts on issues relating to countering disinformation.

My colleague, the Minister for Justice, also regularly meets with her counterparts across the EU to coordinate the EU’s response to countering violent extremism. The nature of the threat posed by violent extremism and terrorism, and measures to respond to that threat, including through prevention and detection, and by addressing the spread of content online, are discussed within the Justice and Home Affairs Council.