Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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13. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide an update on the latest meeting of the steering committee set up under the National Counter Disinformation Strategy; to outline when the terms of reference and an implementation plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52399/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The National Counter Disinformation Strategy steering committee, chaired by my Department, has so far met on two occasions: 20 June and 4 September 2025. The intention is that it would meet every two months. The terms of reference and minutes of the first meeting are available online on my Department's website.

In terms of an implementation plan, the first step was to establish the oversight arrangements. The steering committee, which will drive implementation, is being supported by a broader multi-stakeholder coordination group. That coordination group met for the first time on 30 September; the intention is that it would meet at least twice a year. Its terms of reference are being finalised and will be published in due course. The role of the coordination group is to support implementation by acting as a forum where relevant issues can be discussed and to support collaboration and coordination among stakeholders.

Progress on implementation will be considered by the steering committee and progress reports will be published on a periodic basis. The format and frequency of the progress reports is to be agreed by the steering committee.

Progress is already being made. In June, fulfilling one of the actions in the Strategy, I attended a multi-stakeholder media literacy forum which discussed the importance of access to trustworthy information, the importance of education and the value of collaboration and cooperation.

Furthermore, in relation to implementation, the Strategy has a commitment to supporting research to further knowledge of the impact of disinformation and help better target measures to counter its harmful effects. To support this, the Department is developing proposals for research. The issue of funding in this regarding will be considered as part of the Department's settlement in Budget 2026.