Online Safety: Motion
Seanad Éireann — 2026-02-26
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Mark Duffy (FG), Labour Panel

I join with the Cathaoirleach in welcoming our visitors from Norway to the Gallery. I thank Fianna Fáil Senators for bringing forward this important Private Member's motion during what is a seminal moment in time. We see the development of and advancements in technology, including AI, and the brilliant opportunities that provides for society, along with incredibly dark elements that need to be addressed and legislated for.
This week I attended an information evening in Ted's Bar hosted by Achill Island Smartphone Free Childhood, led by my colleague, Deputy Keira Keogh, and attended by the local community, including parents and Councillor Paul McNamara. While we are legislators in Leinster House, in order to protect children there needs to be leadership in communities. There have been initiatives in Westport, and the parents of children on Achill Island are showing similar leadership in collectively understanding that there is peer pressure for young people in terms of the use of smartphones and different apps. There are many worrying and addictive features and dark elements that need to be addressed, and that is what we need to do as legislators.
There is also an element of responsibility in homes and communities. The initiative on Achill Island is an excellent example of leadership whereby parents are trying to get together to encourage all parents of children not to get them a smartphone until a certain agreed age. It is a good example of protecting young people from the harms, peer pressure, potential bullying and all of the other dark features and elements addressed on the floor of the House. I would like to acknowledge the speakers on the night. They included Emmet Major, from Planet Youth Ireland, and Hilary O'Connor, from Westport Smartphone Free Childhood, as well as community gardaí, Shane Nallen and Padraic O'Connor, and the local sergeant, Sinead Barrett. It is a great example of parents, community policing units, civic leaders and members of both Houses of the Oireachtas and the local authority coming together. A local GP, Dr. Noreen Lineen-Curtis, spoke about the health impact, including the mental health impact, phones can have. It was organised by Edwin McGreal and was a great example.
Perhaps it is something we can encourage and support in other towns, villages and communities across the country. Legislation will never keep up with the speed and advances in smartphone and online technology and digital tools. Legislation is often trying to catch up and react to the different challenges that arise every time there is innovation. If there is responsible leadership in communities, that can be mitigated. I want to acknowledge the work of Achill Island Smartphone Free Childhood and the same group in Westport.
I encourage the initiative in other towns, villages and communities across the country. It is a constructive approach to protect young people. I thank the Minister of State for being here today. I also thank my colleagues, the Fianna Fáil Senators, who have brought this issue to the floor.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-02-26/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:42+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-26