131. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if the proposal to introduce a social media ban for under 16s has been abandoned; and if so, the reasons. [16790/26]
Sentiment score: -0.26
The Minister will understand our confusion this evening. According to media reports, he was blindsided by the Government's announcement of the national digital and AI strategy 2030 last week. Just the day before that announcement, media sources were briefed that the under-16s' social media ban had been approved and that the strategy would be rolled out the following day. The media further stated that the Minister was surprised by the plan to work at EU level and that he was not aware of it, despite being the Minister responsible. We are really just looking for a bit of clarity here, after months of press statements starting in May of last year when the Tánaiste announced the Government was looking at copying the Australian model that banned all under-16s from social media. There has been a lot of kite-flying, there has been a lot of media coverage and what we seem to have now is an ambiguous Government statement about working actively with like-minded EU member states to explore options on introducing age restrictions on the use of social media, concentrating in particular on those under 16. In his response, the Minister said the strategy states that the Government will take action if necessary. I am still unclear as to the concrete pathway on which we are moving forward with this.
Sentiment score: -0.00
One thing the Minister and I do agree on is encouraging the safety of our youth online. Our preference is to have a safe, well-regulated online world for our teens, where social media companies are held to account for what is on their platforms, which can be done by Ireland's online safety framework, and where bad actors online are removed from platforms and face repercussions. What I do have concerns about is an outright ban for under-16s, and I will tell the Minister why. It is unenforceable as teens are simply well ahead of us in the technological age and they will use virtual private networks, VPNs, to circumvent the blocks. This concern is shared by CyberSafeKids, the Children's Rights Alliance and other experts in the field that have been before the committee week after week in recent months and have all shared that concern. They feel it will further isolate marginalised teens such as those living in emergency accommodation. They feel that with us living in a technological age, if we are excluding youths at that age, they will not be prepared for what the digital age will be like when they reach the allowed age.
Sentiment score: 0.13
133. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the details of the status of the delivery for use of the new ICT system to replace the existing sports capital programme grant management systems, OSCAR; the total spend on the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16791/26]
Sentiment score: 0.13
Will the Minister of State give an update on the delivery of the new ICT system to replace the existing sports capital programme grant management system and outline the total spend on the project and where it is at?
Sentiment score: 0.36
It is now March. When I asked a question on this last June, the response I received was that we would have a fully developed online customer portal and an administrative case management system in March 2026. I appreciate that the Minister of State said it is coming very soon, but the urgency on this was for it to be up and running before the new round of the CSFF opens and for that to be able to facilitate an ease of application and an easy navigation portal for those using it. I have travelled around the country, as has the Minister of State, meeting sporting organisations and the one thing that comes up time and again is the arduous application process and the system being hard to navigate, particularly for voluntary-led organisations but is not just the voluntary organisations that are finding it difficult. Some of the bigger national governing bodies with experienced, qualified staff are also finding it difficult. That is the urgency on it. If it is ready this summer, that is well and good, but I am not the only person who is keen to see that come before the next round of funding opens.
Sentiment score: 0.10
That is brilliant. It is very welcome news. I appreciate that. If it is relatively on time and on budget, that is great news to all of the sporting organisations the length and breadth of the country that will use it. The only thing I ask is that there be a test run beforehand to ensure all of the bugs are ironed out so that it does not pose any difficulties to any applications that come through on it, but it is brilliant news.
Sentiment score: 0.59