Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

156. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide an update on the progress made to date by Coimisiún na Meán on the implementation of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34923/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Online Safety and Media Regulation (OSMR) Act provided for the establishment of Coimisiún na Meán as Ireland’s independent online safety and media regulator. The legislation also provided for a new regulatory framework for online safety, updated the regulatory frameworks in respect of broadcasting services and audiovisual on-demand media services and assigned to An Coimisiún the powers and functions with regard to supervision and enforcement.

Part 3 of the OSMR Act provides that An Coimisiún is independent in the exercise of its functions and that it shall submit an annual report on its activities, which is laid before each House of the Oireachtas by the Minister. The 2023 Annual Report is the latest such report available.

Part 8A of the OSMR Act provides for the regulation of designated video-sharing platforms established in Ireland including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X. It sets out obligations to protect users, including children and young people, from harmful online content and for the development by An Coimisiún of online safety codes. In October 2024, An Coimisiún’s adopted Ireland's first such code. Part A obliges designated platforms to have age verification systems with respect to content which may impair the physical, mental or moral development of minors. Part B, which will apply from July 2025, obliges them to implement effective age assurance measures to ensure that, for example, adult-only video content cannot normally be seen by children.

Part 4 of the OSMR Act inserted a new Part 3A into the Broadcasting Act, 2009. This Part required CnaM to establish and maintain a register of providers of audiovisual on-demand media services established under Ireland’s jurisdiction in accordance with the EU’s revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD). As detailed in the Annual Report 2023, CnaM published the first such register on 30 November 2023.

Part 5 of the OSMR Act inserted a new Part 3B into the Broadcasting Act, 2009, updating the duties, codes and rules which may be applied to providers of television and radio broadcasting services, and to providers of audiovisual on-demand media services. In December 2024, CnaM revised these codes and rules, which cover, for example, programme standards, commercial communications and accessibility and fairness, objectivity and impartiality in news and current affairs reporting.