I thank Deputies Devine and Carthy for raising this issue. I also extend my appreciation to all the other speakers who contributed to the debate this evening. It was interesting to listen to so many points on which there was broad agreement in this House. It is not that usual to hear that. As mentioned, online safety is a priority for the Government and the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, and I have it at the heart of what we believe is important in what we are doing. It will also be a priority during our EU Presidency. The European Commission has a key role to play in this area. It is important to ensure we work together with other member states. As the Minister, and indeed the previous Deputy, indicated, a momentum is being developed to prohibit at European level the types of AI systems that enable the generation of child sexual abuse material and non-consensual intimate content of people. It is important that we drive this at EU level because we need to drive it at that scale. A significant body of existing legislation provides the foundation of Ireland's online safety framework, including the regulation of social media. Coimisiún na Meán, as Ireland's online safety media regulator, is at the heart of that framework. Under the framework, it is for the regulated platforms to demonstrate they have the correct safety measures in place to prevent illegal or harmful content being shown. The EU AI Act complements the protections provided for in the Digital Services Act, by introducing stronger governance for AI that is developed or deployed within the European Union. These provisions will introduce transparency requirements such that AI-generated images must be clearly labelled, as has been mentioned, as being made by AI. The Government is in the process of implementing domestic legislation to give full effect to the EU AI Act in Ireland. The main supervision and enforcement provisions will come into effect in August, as the Minister mentioned. These provide a formal regulatory mechanism for relevant surveillance authorities to engage with individual companies specifically on the development, provision and deployment of AI systems. I reiterate that the harmful digital practices being debated disproportionately target women and children. So many of the contributors tonight made that point and it should be made by everybody who speaks on this matter. In such circumstances, the zero-tolerance strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is extremely relevant. Cuan is engaging with partners and stakeholders on research relating to the harmful effects of violent pornography and its links to violence against women and children in order to develop an evidence-based pornography literacy strategy spanning public awareness and education. This includes co-ordination with the Department of Education and Youth, ongoing work to provide prevention, consent and healthy relationships education through our schools and other youth settings and the implementation of the framework for ending sexual violence and harassment in higher education. I reiterate that I am committed to keeping all legislation under review, as is the Minister. Technology is evolving rapidly, and criminal law must keep up. I have made it clear in the many contributions that I have made on this topic that one of the problems that we face in democracies is trying to keep pace with the speed at which things change. The ability of companies to instigate and commercialise products is effectively faster than most democracies can respond to them through legislation. What we are doing here this evening is important. I will consider whatever legislative amendments are required arising out of this debate.

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