Protection of Children (Online Age Verification) Bill 2026: Second Stage
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-08
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Gareth Scahill (FG), Nominated by the Taoiseach

I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. I commend Senator Mullen on this Bill on online age verification. It comes at a very good time. I know the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, has this as a key priority for the Presidency of the European Council. My colleague, Deputy Kiera Keogh, has done an awful lot of work in this particular area, along with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport. All of that work must be complimented. All of the previous speakers have spoken about how this is an issue that affects us all. This is an issue that everyone in this House and the Lower House would like to see resolved.
I am coming at this as a parent. Kids deserve the opportunity to be kids first.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-08/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:10+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-08