Martin hits out as full copy of report leaked in advance of Cabinet meeting

Report on digital and AI strategy 'not clear' and it was 'open to interpretation' as to what the Government intended to restrict

Taoiseach Micheál Martin is understood to have expressed frustration that age verification for social media dominated headlines and took away from the wider contents of the report. Picture: Cillian Sherlock/PA

Taoiseach Micheál Martin warned ministers at yesterday's Cabinet meeting that it was “not on” that a full copy of a new report was leaked in advance of it being discussed by ministers.

Mr Martin is also understood to have expressed frustration that age verification for social media — described as a small aspect of the digital and AI strategy — dominated headlines and took away from the wider contents of the report.

There was confusion on Wednesday about whether the Government intended to ban or restrict social media for under-16s and what this would entail.

The digital and AI strategy has now been published and commits the Government to “working actively with like-minded member states to explore options to introduce age restrictions on the use of social media, concentrating, in particular, on those under 16 years of age, strongly advocating for a decision on the ‘digital age of majority’ to be taken at EU level, but taking action domestically if necessary”.

There was no clarity on what would be restricted in the plan. While it says that “age restrictions on the use of social media” would be examined, a Government spokesperson said last night that this related to specified content on social media rather than restricting access to social media.

This is not made clear in the report, leading some to suggest on Tuesday evening that a social media ban would be discussed at Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting.

Media minister Patrick O’Donovan welcomed the “commitment to robust age verification as part of the digital wallet and to explore options in relation to age-restricting access to social media, in conjunction with other EU member states”.

One senior Government source admitted the report was “not clear”, and it was “open to interpretation” as to what the Government intended to restrict.

Tánaiste Simon Harris has repeatedly called for a social media ban for under-16s.

A spokesperson for the Taoiseach stated last night that there were no plans to introduce legislation to introduce such a ban, and that work would be undertaken with European countries to explore how restrictions could be introduced using the new EU Digital Wallet.

Meeting 'fairly heated'

Government sources told the Irish Examiner that Wednesday night's Cabinet meeting was “fairly heated” when the matter was brought up.

It is understood that Mr Martin raised the issues, telling ministers that the Government press secretary had received a call from a media outlet on Wednesday morning. He was told it had obtained a copy of the full report in advance of Cabinet. Mr Martin said this was “not on”.

Mr O’Donovan said the first he had heard of social media restrictions being discussed at Cabinet was when he heard it on the radio, with the Tánaiste understood to have said he was “screaming at the radio” when he heard it mentioned.