These are interesting amendments. It is my view that when the commission is appointed we should be really proud of them because they are going to be among the most powerful regulators in the State as they will oversee this work. The board should reflect diversity. I am always cautious about naming too many groups and trying to match them up. The board needs a wide variety of expertise, which relates to the earlier point on the online safety commissioner that there should be someone with specific expertise. On amend…

I move amendment No. 41 In page 22, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following: “(10) (a) The Minister shall designate one member of the Commission as having primary responsibility for the exercise of the functions of the Commission specified in Part 8A. (b) This member, having primary responsibility for the exercise of the functions of the Commission relating to online safety, shall also be known as the Online Safety Commissioner. (c) Nothing in this subsection shall be interpreted to prevent other Commissio…

I move amendment No. 44: In page 24, to delete line 13. This issue is not unique to this legislation, but it is something that is being applied to quite a number of State appointments. It is the exclusion of members of local authorities from effectively applying for these jobs. As the Minister is aware, this is not about a political appointment of a Minister appointing somebody to a role. This is somebody who may be a councillor and have a specific area of expertise. They apply for the job and come through an indep…

I appreciate the first part of the Minister’s answer to the effect that this has always been the practice and should, therefore, continue. That does not really answer the question around why we are trying to exclude members of local authorities. It certainly makes sense that where a conflict of interest arises, people should have to step outside the room. It also makes sense where there is a conflict with regard to any of the functions of the commission. However, where somebody has the necessary expertise qualifies…

I will be moving amendment No. 49 in due course, which is part of this group, but I wish to comment on the previous remarks. I agree in principle with some of the points that are being made. Senator Ruane said that the figures are a little arbitrary but what is important is that there are figures there. The effect of the amendments would be to remove any limits. On gifts, for example, if a provider offered one tea or coffee, bought one a drink or invited one to a particular event, that could be classified as a gift…

If one got an elite drink, like a rare bottle of wine or something-----

I appreciate that. I am thinking of my colleague, Senator Cassells, who spoke the other day about political advertising and said that Deputy Catherine Martin hates puppies, which for the record, is not true. She loves puppies. This is relevant even in the case of non-commercial accounts through which one is able to influence others. It is not just about being able to commercially influence. This may be about political influence or influence in other areas. One may not be monetising it. It is not just all about mone…

I move amendment No. 49: In page 24, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following: "(e) has an active personal account on a designated online service with in excess of 20,000 followers or subscribers.".

I move amendment No. 50: In page 26, to delete line 6. I am not sure why this amendment was grouped with the others, because it relates to the local authority issue. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

I move amendment No. 52: In page 27, to delete line 18.

Next Wednesday at 2 p.m.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for welcoming my colleague, Councillor Andrew Bolger, my secretarial assistant, Patrick Higgins, and Christopher, Conor and Joe to the Gallery. I also welcome the students who are here. It is very important that they hear about democracy and see democracy in action. I again raise the question of the voting age. As the Leader will know, I have raised on a number of occasions the issue of lowering the voting age to 16. I have a Bill before the House for this purpose. Those in Scotland and Wa…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. There is a little bit of déjà vu given we were discussing the question of higher education funding here yesterday. I will come to that presently. I begin with the situation in Ukraine and will raise a number of issues. It is important we put on record the strong support that has been made available by the universities, the technological universities, some of the institutes of technology and the other colleges. These have been places of sanctuary for many Ukrainian students and are…

I thank the Minister of State for coming in to address this issue. We are coming up to the seventh anniversary of the publication of the Cassells report, which outlined the crisis facing higher education funding at that time. A number of options were presented in that report. Three options were presented very clearly to the Government, namely, that there be a dramatic increase in public funding, that the fee model be retained, or that we look at the model of income-contingent loans. It is fair to say the Government…

I appreciate the Minister of State's comments. The timing of this matter is opportune but, with respect, this has been a seven-year process. As the Minister of State mentioned, the urgency of this situation was realised when the Cassells report was published, yet nothing has really happened bar kicking it to a committee and DG REFORM and a series of statements. I welcome that the Cabinet is considering the matter, but what is the Cabinet going to do about it? If we are serious about investing in higher education an…

We were fortunate to welcome the Ukrainian ambassador, H.E. Ms Larysa Gerasko, to Gorey yesterday. It was an emotional day during which she met local families who have been supported by schools in the community and by voluntary activity. There is a drop-in centre at Gorey Youth Needs Group where people come to provide information. Active groups have sprung up around the county, including in Riverchapel and Kilmuckridge, where Councillor Mary Farrell is actively involved. Support groups have also sprung up in Rossla…

We have tabled amendment No. 100 on a related issue. It would remove the ban on political advertising on certain forms of media. We have the odd situation at the moment where if I wish to place a political advertisement, I can take one out in a newspaper, in the cinema and on any social media website, including that of my local radio station, but I cannot place one on television or on independent or commercial radio. This kind of ban was fine in the past when, effectively, television and radio were incredibly power…

I understand the concerns that Senators Sherlock and Higgins have expressed. At the outset, I should have thanked the Minister and her officials. A great deal of work has gone into this Bill and we are grateful for all their assistance. In this amendment, we are talking about a level playing field. The reality at the moment is that Amazon has no problem with taking out adverts on all social media channels if it wants to. The trade unions can equally do so, including in newspapers. This amendment is about a level pl…

I appreciate the Minister’s sentiment around amendment No. 100. However, as Senator Higgins pointed out, the Minister said that the language is simply based on the 1997 Act, and the media landscape and environment has changed enormously. I appreciate some of the Minister’s concerns that perhaps an extremist group could then be allowed, if our amendment was accepted, for instance to take out an advertisement on local radio. However, an extremist group under free speech may be allowed to take advertisements out on El…

I have to support Senator Higgins on that because this is a particularly important area in terms of the regulation of algorithms. This is a debate about whether it is specifically in the legislation or not. I do not accept the argument that it can be ruled out on an additional cost basis. This is about a regulator which is going to be set up to do a particular job. This is just a question around one of its functions. I would support the challenge to that interpretation-----