Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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615. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department plans to introduce online advertising regulations that would prevent companies from advertising on web platforms that are orientated around slander, gossip and content that is character and mental-health damaging (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48958/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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In relation to the website mentioned by the Deputy, my understanding is that it is established outside the State and is therefore subject to regulation in another jurisdiction and not in this jurisdiction. Coimisiún na Meán is Ireland's online safety and media regulator but it is not a general advertising regulator and does not regulate advertisers directly. In Ireland, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, which is under the remit of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, as well as the Advertising Standards Authority are the main bodies involved in the regulation of advertising.

The role of Coimisiún na Meán is at the heart of Ireland's online safety framework. Online safety, ensuring that platforms do not allow harmful or illegal content, and protecting children from age-inappropriate content, while allowing users to enjoy the full benefits of the online world is paramount.

Coimisiún na Meán was established under the Online Safety and Media Regulation (OSMR) Act, which transposed the AudioVisual Media Services Directive, and that Act is one of three main elements of the online safety framework. The other two elements are 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.

Under the OSMR Act, in October 2024, An Coimisiún adopted a new Online Safety Code for designated video-sharing platforms established in Ireland, including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X. The Code sets out what they must do to protect users; in particular, they are obliged to put measures in place to protect children from harmful content online including providing for parental controls and have transparent reporting and flagging mechanisms.

Additionally, as Digital Services Coordinator 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 and take measures to tackle disinformation. In particular, Coimisiún na Meán works with the European Commission to ensure platforms address the risk of exposure of children and young people to illegal and harmful online content, including by means of age-verification or age-assurance, setting children’s accounts as private by default, adjusting recommender systems and allowing children to block or mute users, for example. It also requires that all commercial content displayed on a platform is readily recognisable as such, and that it does not include content that is harmful to the general public or children.

The Online Safety Framework is relatively new and the focus now is on implementation to ensure platforms meet their regulatory obligations. Failure to adequately fulfil these obligations can lead to significant financial sanctions and continued non-compliance can lead to criminal sanctions for senior management under the OSMR.