Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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533. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide an update on the Government’s consideration of either EU or national policy measures to introduce stricter age-verification requirements for access to digital platforms. [63453/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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In the first instance, it is worthwhile reiterating the significant progress made on this issue in Ireland. Since July of this year, under Coimisiún na Meán’s Online Safety Code, designated video-sharing platforms established in Ireland, including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X, are obliged to implement effective age assurance measures to ensure that, for example, adult-only video content cannot normally be seen by children. Also, since July, guidance on implementing Article 28 of the Digital Services Act, which deals with protecting minors, has been in place, setting out how platforms should address the risk of children and young people being exposed to illegal online content including by means of age verification or age assurance. Failure to adequately fulfil these obligations can lead to significant financial sanctions and continued non-compliance can lead to criminal sanctions for senior management in relevant digital platforms under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act.

Notwithstanding this progress, I believe that more needs to be done to ensure robust age verification, given its importance to keeping children safe online. It is a vital part of the picture in terms of providing real assurance that children are the age they claim to be and to ensure they are not exposed to harmful or illegal content. I am working across Government and with all stakeholders to ensure children and young people can be safe from harmful or illegal content online, in particular, through a new Government measure to support age verification. I am seeking the inclusion of a commitment to this effect in the Government’s updated National Digital Strategy which will be published later this year.

In addressing age verification, we must seek to ensure that there are trustworthy systems in place that are interoperable and respect users’ rights, including data protection rights. To that end, my officials are continuing to work with the Government’s Chief Information Officer and his Office to look at practical technical solutions to age verification as part of the Government's Digital Wallet being developed using MyGovID.

In addition, right across Europe, member States are examining the question of prohibiting access by children and young people to social media platforms – the so-called “digital age of majority”. Ireland is also considering its position on this matter but I believe that any decision would be better taken by the EU and EU Member States together. However, it must be acknowledged that there are differing views on various aspects, for example, as to whether there should be an age of digital majority at all, if there is one, what age it should be, or whether it should be an outright ban or a ban subject to parental consent.

I will continue to work with all stakeholders, nationally and internationally, to ensure robust safety measures, including robust age verification, are in place to protect children and young people from inappropriate, harmful and illegal online content.