Eoin Hayes (Dublin Bay South, Social Democrats)
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229. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the way in which his Department and the State intends to further develop and fund the regulation and moderation of social media content, particularly those expounding hateful or harmful rhetoric and content and especially content aimed at young people (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22686/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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There is now a significant body of legislation providing the foundation for Ireland’s online safety framework, including the regulation of social media.

Coimisiún na Meán, as Ireland’s new online safety and media regulator, is at the heart of that framework. It was established under the Online Safety and Media Regulation (OSMR) Act, which transposed the AudioVisual Media Services Directive, and provides that An Coimisiún is independent in the exercise of its functions.

The OSMR Act along with the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), under which An Coimisiún is Ireland’s Digital Services Coordinator, and the EU Terrorist Content Online Regulation for which An Coimisiún is a competent authority, are the main elements of Ireland's online safety framework.

Its role is not to moderate individual pieces of content but to ensure that the regulated platforms have the correct safety measures in place to prevent illegal or harmful content being shown.

As provided for under the OSMR Act, An Coimisiún adopted and applied the new online safety code for designated video-sharing platforms established in Ireland, including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X. Part A of the Code, which has applied since November 2024, provides that designated services must provide protections to the general public from harmful online content, including content which incites hatred or violence, is racist or xenophobic, and to establish and operate age verification systems with respect to content which may impair the physical, mental or moral development of minors. Part B of the Code, which will apply from July 2025, contains specific obligations for designated services to prohibit the uploading or sharing of harmful content that is incitement to hatred or violence, terrorism, child sex abuse material, racism and xenophobia as well as to use age assurance to prevent children from encountering pornography or gratuitous violence online and provide parental controls.

An Coimisiún is responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the Code.

Under the DSA, An Coimisiún works with the European Commission to ensure platforms put in place the systems and processes required to minimise the availability of illegal content, including content which incites hatred or violence, is racist or xenophobic.

A failure to adequately address these requirements can lead to significant financial sanctions under both those strands of the online safety framework and, under the OSMR Act, continued non-compliance can lead to criminal sanctions for senior management.

This framework is derived from EU legislation. Along with other relevant Departments, my Department continues to engage at EU level on these matters. For example, my Department is engaging with the European Commission and other EU Member States on the upcoming review of the Audio Visual Media Services Directive. All of the elements of the online safety framework are relatively new and the focus now is on implementation to ensure services meet their regulatory obligations.

In terms of resources, significant Exchequer funding was provided to An Coimisiún on establishment to allow it to hit the ground running. Staffing has expanded from around 40 to over 200 currently. From this year, An Coimisiún is being funded from levies on regulated entities, ensuring it will have the resources to implement Ireland's online safety framework effectively.