I commend Deputies Carthy and Devine on this important amendment. It is welcome that the Government is not opposing this. The Minister and I both know that sometimes that does not mean the Government is supporting it either. I would like to see it supported. I welcome the visitors in the Gallery. Tá sé mícheart rogha duine éigin a thógáil agus é a athrú gan cead an duine. Níl sé ceart nó cóir é sin a dhéanamh do dhuine. It is regrettable that intimate image abuse is increasing. The harm is increasing. The scope is increasing. The way that images are being manipulated is becoming even more pervasive. The charge that has been levelled against the Government is that it is too beholden to big tech to take any real action. The only way that charge can be answered effectively is by the Government taking real action. In his opening remarks the Minister said "that platforms have allowed the non-consensual nudification of images". Platforms have been allowed and that has to stop. Platforms have been facilitated because that is how it has happened. This has to stop. The generation of these images dehumanises not only women but mostly women. It is dehumanising, degrading and disgusting. This amendment to Coco's Law is designed to stamp it out once and for all. We need to get serious about this. We need to ensure not just that the Government does not oppose the legislation but it supports it, implements it and enforces it.

Sentiment score: -0.01