The Government's position on the issue of restricting access to social media platforms for children under 16 years of age is set out in the Government's recently published national digital and AI strategy. The Government is committed to working closely with like-minded European Union member states on proposals to restrict social media access for children and young people. In addition, the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, announced an expert panel to examine the issue and any decision will take account of this report. This reflects the Government's view that a decision at EU would be preferable. However, as set out in the strategy, Ireland will also take action domestically if necessary. The European Union member states are examining questions of prohibiting access by children and young people to social medial platforms and some are taking steps to do so, including France, which is debating legislation to restrict access to social media for under-15s. Australia is implementing such a measure in respect of under-16s and other jurisdictions are considering similar measures. However, across the European Union there are different views on whether there should be a digital age of majority, and if there was such an age, what that age should be and whether it should be an outright ban or a ban subject to parental consent. Notwithstanding the international debate on the age of majority, I am of the view that age verification is a vital part of the picture in providing real assurance that children are the age they claim to be and to ensure they are not exposed to harmful or illegal content. Without robust age verification, any other measures including implementing a digital age of majority will not work. That is why my officials are working with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer on an age verification tool as part of Ireland's digital wallet in support of the implementation of Ireland's online safety code. This wallet will be voluntary for people to hold and the tool will be voluntary for users and platforms to avail of. A pilot is envisaged to be led by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and will be voluntary and will run for a number of months. Feedback from the pilot will inform the shape of the initiative but while doing so we will ensure interoperability and respect users' rights, including data protection.
Sentiment score: 0.04
There has been no ambiguity regarding what I have previously said in the House. This is the first time Deputy Byrne has raised this issue in the House with me on oral questions. There has been no ambiguity regarding this issue from my point of view. I do not care what people read in the paper. The reality is I have consistently said and am on the record as saying that I thought it was regrettable the European Commission and the European Union had not acted as one with regard to this up to now, and that individual member states are being left to do it. I have also put on the record, as I am doing this evening, that we will be bringing forward legislation, once the heads of the Bill have been agreed, in the first quarter of this year with regard to elements of the digital wallet that will be required to make sure we can put it into law. I hope that at that stage I get support from the Opposition. I have not got clarity with regard to where the Opposition stands on the digital wallet. Indeed, I have not got clarity on where it stands regarding age verification or whether it believes age verification is a necessary tool. Deputy Byrne might use the opportunity this evening to enlighten the House as to where exactly her party stands on this issue.
Sentiment score: -0.01
I am still no clearer as to whether the Deputy's party is going to support legislation that is going to be brought before the House in respect of a digital wallet. This is the public health issue of our generation. I have three small children and I am speaking as a parent. Previous generations had issues with smoking and alcohol from a public health point of view. We know that social media causes huge issues around mental health, addiction and physical health. Deputy Byrne is talking about a self-regulated system. What does that mean in the absence of a law? I am still no clearer. Again, will Deputy Byrne enlighten me, as Opposition spokesperson, whether she is in favour of taking children off social media or whether she is in favour of allowing social media companies to continue to be the dominant voice on the future of our children online, because I am no clearer as to where her party stands on it?
Sentiment score: 0.18
I thank Deputy O'Donoghue. Threats and harassment of any individual are not acceptable. The safeguarding of athletes at all levels of sport is a shared responsibility. It is imperative that we demonstrate that there is simply no place for abuse of any kind in sport and there should be zero tolerance for any actions that endanger welfare, whether of participants, staff or those who work for and support sports or, indeed, any discipline in the country. Everyone involved in sport, or in any discipline or capacity, regardless of age should be able to enjoy an experience that is free from any form of abuse, whether that is online or offline. On raising awareness, a number of national governing bodies of sport have conducted campaigns in recent years with a specific focus on online abuse, including the Olympic Federation of Ireland and the Irish Rugby Football Union. We recently saw the racism that has been directed at some people playing rugby in this country and it is absolutely despicable. The bringing to justice of the perpetrators of such abuse, whether online or offline, is a matter for An Garda Síochána and if anyone has been subjected to threats or abuse, they should report it immediately to the Garda. Furthermore, I encourage anyone who sees any abusive or threatening content online to report it in the first instance to the relevant platform. If a person is dissatisfied with the platform’s response, they can report it to Coimisiún na Meán. In terms of dealing with this issue from an online safety perspective, a robust online safety framework in now in place in Ireland. Coimisiún na Meán has responsibility for implementing that framework, which includes applying and enforcing the online safety code to designated video-sharing platforms established in Ireland to ensure they minimise the availability of harmful online content. Platforms must provide a way for people to report content they think is illegal, respond to these reports in a timely and diligent manner and consistently enforce their own terms and conditions. In particular, under the Digital Services Act, which is part of Ireland’s online safety framework, the largest online platforms must take mitigation measures against the availability and exposure of users to illegal online content. This includes, albeit not exhaustively, threatening, abusive or insulting comments that are intended or are likely to stir up hatred as detailed in the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989. Once again, I and the Government condemn all forms of abuse and urge those affected to notify the relevant authorities.
Sentiment score: -0.21
I agree with the Deputy. To be honest, unfortunately, it is not isolated to one cohort in society. People in this House get their fair share of it as well and it is totally unwarranted. Whether a person is in Opposition or Government, there is a common thread that unites all of us who put our name on a ballot paper and get in here. The abuse some people get, particularly women Members of this House and the other House, is absolutely unbelievable. These nameless and faceless trolls hide behind makey-uppy names and invariably have a flag of some description stuck on after them. They besmirch our national flag and invariably bring it into disrepute. Those people, if they stood for election to a bin collection committee, would not get elected. They are very brave men and women who hide behind faceless troll accounts and fake names. They think they are really brave men because they are ganging up on people who actually have done the State some service by putting their names on a ballot paper, regardless of what party or no party gets in here. The same can be said of sport. Any co-operation and suggestions members of the Opposition have on this are welcome. Going back to the previous question, I will take every bit of it on board because collectively, we have to get serious and get real on this. None of these people are any of our friends, by the way. Some people or some political parties might benefit occasionally from trolling but none of them are any of our friends.
Sentiment score: 0.20
With regard to the situation in County Louth that the Deputy raised, it is important to state that the national governing bodies here, the FAI and the League of Ireland, accepted their responsibilities, in fairness to them, because ultimately they are the governing authorities for this sport. I was not going to single out one. I had to single out the governing authority. When I met the governing authorities last week, they did not in any way push back with regard to the proposed sanction I had. In fairness to them, the following day, they brought forward a suite of measures that was proportionate to what had happened. They also sent out a very salient message to other clubs within their ambit of national governance, which is that if any of the rest of them engage in this sort of carry-on or thuggery, this is exactly what they are likely to face as well. The challenge now for other national governing bodies of sport is to do the same and take the lead of the League of Ireland and the Football Association of Ireland. They need to look at these two institutions, the League of Ireland and the FAI, see where they have gone and pitched their penalties, and they have to do the same. That has to apply to all sporting codes in all disciplines.
Sentiment score: 0.14
I thank the Deputy. I believe he is taking this for Deputy Gibney.
Sentiment score: 0.18
As Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, I am committed to the support and development of the live music industry. The Department, both through its own schemes as well as its funding of the Arts Council, provides support to a range of organisations that play essential roles in the development of music in Ireland. Last year, I launched the grassroots music venue support scheme, a night-time economy initiative to support independent music venues that promote themselves and are known in the community for programming grassroots music artists, in recognition of the contribution they make to the industry. The scheme operated with a total fund of €500,000 and grants of up to €15,000 were available to host events showcasing the talent of emerging, grassroots artists performing live music they had written or created themselves in 34 venues right across the country. This year, I have secured an increased allocation and committed €1 million in funding to support independent live performance venues with another edition of the grassroots music venue support scheme. Details of the scheme are currently being finalised. The Arts Council provides funding support to Irish arts centres and live performance venues which support year-round, high-quality, professional programming and infrastructure. In addition, the Commissions Award, funded through the Arts Council, supports individual music and opera artists and organisations, and festival organisers, to develop new work. The music capital scheme, which is supported by my Department and managed by Music Network, has been awarding individual musicians and organisations, by providing access to instruments for people across the country. These types of initiatives focus on supporting, nurturing and strengthening the live music sector, from the grassroots up by providing music education, employment opportunities for emerging artists and professionals. As Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and various funding streams that support the development of the live music sector. However, the codes of practice in relation to live events or music events does not fall under the remit of the Department. Codes of practice in relation to live events fall within the remit of a number of different bodies and Departments. The events industry is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and licensing is a matter for local authorities under regulations most recently amended under the Planning and Development (Licensing of Outdoor Events - Planning and Development Act 2000) Regulations 2025, SI 37 of 2025.
Sentiment score: 0.52
I welcome the fact the Deputy acknowledged that this is not a responsibility for the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport. As I said a while ago, the planning legislation - this is a planning matter and events are covered under event licences - is a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the first instance but supports from an enterprise point of view are a matter for the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. As I said a while ago, the Planning and Development Act 2000 lay down with strict criteria how events are to be planned under event licensing. It is a matter for local authorities, and rightly so. If there was any attempt to remove event licensing from local authorities, the Deputy would have great difficulty with it from a Dublin city point of view as would a lot of his colleagues from around the country would because this is a local function that should be performed locally.
Sentiment score: 0.29
The Deputy is conflating as fact that all events are music events, which, of course, they are not. Some events are agricultural shows. Some events are religious events.
Sentiment score: 0.00
It is a matter for planning. Event licensing is Ronseal - it does what it says on the tin. It is event licensing. It is a matter for the local authority, in the first instance, to decide whether to grant or not grant an event licence. You have everything from sports to agricultural shows to music to everything else. As much as I am Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, I am not Minister with regard to papal visits, agricultural shows or anything of that nature.
Sentiment score: 0.11
The question that the Deputy asked was with regard to music performance but then he decided to go off on a tangent with regard to outdoor events.
Sentiment score: 0.00
The Deputy said-----
Sentiment score: 0.00
The Deputy said that you want all events consistent across the country and being handled by my Department. That is a physical impossibility because we are not a planning Department. As a former member of a local authority, the Deputy should know what the local authority does with regard to event licensing. Removing a power from a local authority would go down like a lead balloon with the Deputy's colleagues.
Sentiment score: 0.16
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an seans seo cúpla freagra a thabhairt trí Ghaeilge i rith Sheachtain na Gaeilge. Mar atá leagtha amach i gclár an Rialtais, creideann an Rialtas go bhfuil an cultúr agus na healaíona riachtanach do leas an phobail. Tá líonra de bhonneagar cultúrtha ar fud na tíre agus an tromlach faoi úinéireacht na n-údarás áitiúil. Cuireann údaráis áitiúla agus an Chomhairle Ealaíon tacaíocht bhliantúil ar fáil don bhonneagar ealaíon agus cultúir seo, lena n-áirítear tacaíochtaí reatha a chabhraíonn le clár ealaíon a chur ar siúl. Díríonn mo Roinn ar mhaoiniú deontais chaipitil a sholáthar chun cabhrú le forbairt agus chun aire a thabhairt do na háiseanna ealaíon agus cultúir seo. Tá roinnt cláir mhaoinithe á reáchtáil ag an Roinn faoin scéim um chaipiteal cultúrtha le blianta beaga anuas. Is é sruth E an ceann is déanaí, a chuir deontais suas le €50,000 ar fáil le haghaidh oibreacha caipitil agus a leithéid. De réir an ghealltanais i gclár an Rialtais, cuireadh €6 milliún ar fáil do mo Roinn i mbuiséad 2026 le haghaidh clár nua maoinithe caipitil d'eagraíochtaí ealaíon agus cultúir ar fud na tíre. Cuirfidh sé seo tacaíochtaí caipitil a bhfuil géarghá leo ar fáil do na heagraíochtaí seo. Tá mo Roinn i mbun sonraí na scéime a dhearadh, lena n-áirítear critéir chun cur isteach ar an scéim. Is scéim maoinithe caipitil chultúrtha eile atá ar fáil ó mo Roinn an scéim phíolótach €6 milliún do spásanna oibre d'ealaíontóirí, a seoladh i mí an Mheithimh 2024. Faoin scéim seo, tugtar cuireadh d'údaráis áitiúla, lasmuigh de Chomhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath, tionscadail a mholadh a chuirfidh ar a gcumas spásanna oibre d'ealaíontóirí a sholáthar. Tá maoiniú suas le €300,000 ar fáil do cheantair údarás áitiúil a bhfuil daonra dlúth iontu agus €150,000 d'údaráis áitiúla eile. Críochnóidh mé an freagra go luath.
Sentiment score: -0.04
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Bhí cruinniú agam um thráthnóna leis na hoifigigh sa Roinn maidir leis an scéim de €3 mhilliún atá curtha ar fáil do Chomhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath. Space to create an t-ainm atá ar an scéim. Tá sé an-tábhachtach dom go mbeadh an t-airgead seo á chur ar fáil don chomhairle cathrach go luath agus go mbeidh an chomhairle ag teacht go dtí an Roinn le plean chun úsáid a bhaint as an méid airgid sin. Tá súil agam go mbeidh mé in ann teacht ar ais go dtí an Teach go luath chun cuntas a thabhairt ar an €3 mhilliún sin. Maidir leis an €6 mhilliún atá fógartha agam i mbuiséad 2026, tá súil agam go mbeidh mé in ann scéim cosúil leis an sports capital a tharraingt amach. Beidh mé ag caint go soiléir leis na comhairlí cathracha agus comhairlí contae agus freisin leis na húdaráis bheaga atá ag obair i gcúrsaí ealaíona timpeall na tíre.
Sentiment score: -0.12
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an méid tacaíochta a thug sé dom maidir leis an scéim phíolótach basic income for the arts. Tá sé an-tábhachtach dom go bhfuil sé seo críochnaithe go dtí seo agus go mbeidh muid in ann an scéim a chur i bhfeidhm arís i rith an tsamhraidh. Maidir leis an scéim nua eile atá i mbuiséad 2026 a labhair an Teachta faoi, beidh mé in ann, le cúnamh Dé, teacht ar ais go dtí an Teach go luath leis an scéim seo. Má tá deis ag an Teachta cabhair a thabhairt dom chun an scéim seo a bhaint amach leis na heagraíochtaí éagsúla, ní hamháin i mBaile Átha Cliath ach timpeall na tíre freisin, b’fhéidir go bhféadfadh sé ríomhphoist a sheoladh chugam chun a chuid smaointí a phlé. Fáiltím roimhe sin mar cabhróidh sé leis an méid oibre atá le déanamh agam agus atá á déanamh agam faoi láthair.
Sentiment score: -0.11