82% of TDs have suffered abuse on social media

A majority of TDs have been abused online, according to an Irish Examiner survey which reveals the extent of the problem.

Some 82% said they had received abusive comments on social media, while 48% said they had been cyberbullied — subjected to a prolonged campaign of abuse by an individual or group.

The survey, which was distributed to the 166 members of Dáil Éireann, received 110 responses. Of these, 89 TDs said they were active on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Of those active on social media: