Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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309. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the increased level of support and funding outlined for Coimisiún na Meán for enforcing the online safety code, as committed to in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52712/25]

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. It is a whole-of-Government priority that children and vulnerable groups are able to avail of the full benefits of the online world without being exposed to harmful content.

Coimisiún na Meán, as Ireland’s 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 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.

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 at establishment to just under 240 currently, and will continue to grow to around 300 in the coming months. From this year, as provided for in legislation, An Coimisiún is largely self-funded from levies on regulated entities. The levies are based on the expected expenses arising for Coimisiún na Meán from the discharge of its functions. This ensures it will continue to have the resources necessary to implement Ireland's Online Safety Framework effectively, as well as its other regulatory responsibilities.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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310. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the review of ways to enforce age verification obligations on online service providers and the commitment to hold them to account for failure to do so, as committed to in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52713/25]