Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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71. To ask the Minister for Culture, Culture, Communications and Sport his plans to protect young people active on social media; if he plans to introduce a social media ban similar to that introduced in Australia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2551/26]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Like many other European Union Member States, Ireland is considering the question of prohibiting access by children and young people to social media platforms – the so-called “digital age of majority”. I believe that any decision would be better taken by the EU and EU Member States together. In that regard, it is important to note that the President of the European Commission Ursula van der Leyen announced that she would establish an expert panel to examine the issue, including the implementation of Australia’s social media age restriction policy, and advise her on the best approach for Europe in taking next steps on social media regulation.

However, it must be acknowledged that there are differing views across the EU 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 plan to make online safety a key theme of Ireland's Presidency of the European Union later this year. Further measures are likely to be proposed at European level during Ireland's Presidency, and Ireland will work with all stakeholders to ensure that additional legislative proposals are effective in addressing harms posed to children online.

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