Tánaiste expects proposals on furthering social media laws soon, welcoming debate on youth impact

In the Dáil, Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney noted that there had been 'disturbing cases' that highlighted the 'dangers' that children face on social media. Picture: Carla Feric/Stock

The impact of social media on young people deserves a Dáil debate, Tánaiste Simon Harris has said, as he confirmed the Attorney General has been asked for advice on further laws that can be introduced.

In the Dáil, Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney noted that there had been “disturbing cases” that highlighted the “dangers” that children face on social media.

This included the case of Armagh “catfish” Alexander McCarthy, originally from Lissummon Rd outside Newry, who was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum sentence of 20 years for 185 charges of child sexual abuse crimes and blackmail, along with one manslaughter charge. McCarthy had made fake online accounts to entrap young children.

She also referenced the nine-year sentence this week given to a 22-year-old man who raped two girls, aged 14 and 10, whom he met on Snapchat.

Ms Gibney stated that Snapchat was “supposed to have” a minimum age requirement of 13.

“The laws and policies that we expect in real life are not replicated in any way online that would meet similar standards of safety," she said.

She called for gardaí and regulators to have great enforcement powers.

Domestic law

When Ms Gibney asked Mr Harris if he was satisfied that bail conditions in this jurisdiction, which require defendants to stay off the internet, are properly enforced, the Tánaiste said he was not.

“To use parliamentary language, I am irked — this is a very weak word — by some of the advertisements I see from social media companies in national media telling us they are doing this, that, and the other,” he said.

“That is not what we want ... It is not what we are talking about here; we are talking about a minimum age below which children should not be on social media, not anything else."

Media minister Patrick O’Donovan is engaging with the Attorney General and others across the Government to examine what is possible within domestic law to take further action, Mr Harris said.

“I expect he will have proposals on that very shortly, and I hope within this calendar year," the Tánaiste said.

“Since entering this House in 2011, I have never called for a debate on any issue, but I actually believe we should have a full debate on this one.

“We would really welcome it. The Government will support the deputy with a request at a meeting of the business committee to make time to tease through what practical proposals would be in this area.”

It is understood that the advice being sought from the Attorney General relates to whether there should be a minimum age for social media, and is “about having the legal and technical framework for verifying age online" through the Government digital wallet that is being developed. This will require legislation.