Reports of illegal online content on the rise

A website used to report illegal content on the internet, received almost twice as many complaints in 2014 as the previous year.

Of these, over 300 cases were confirmed online child abuse.

Other complaints received by Hotline.ie included financial scams, child grooming and material promoting violence.

Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald says those caught producing or sharing this material will be punished:

"We want to welcome the fact that people are reporting, and that the public can do something in relation to it.," said Minister Fitzgerald.

"It is a reality unfortunately. There is very serious abuse and international criminal activity in terms of abusing children online. They are selling both photographic and video images of children actually being abused, which is a very serious criminal offence, and its being dealt with both nationally and internationally," said the Minister.