Bruton 'can't give a precise commitment' on when new online safety commissioner will be appointed

The proposed laws to ramp up protection for children have been welcomed by the likes of the ISPCC, the Children's Rights Alliance and CyberSafeIreland who have been campaigning to end self-regulation by online platforms.

However, Mr Bruton refused to provide any promises around the roll-out of the new laws or the setting up of an online safety commissioner's office.

"I can't give a precise commitment because we clearly have to go through the legislative requirements and that's how it should be," he said.

Clearly we are having a short consultation period of six weeks. After that I will draft heads. There is a legislative procedure - heads would have to go to the Oireachtas committee for scrutiny. We will be in the hands of the Oireachtas as we always are in delivering legislative proposals.

Alex Cooney, Chief Executive of CyberSafeIreland called on the Government to lay out a timeline for the legislation and to give an indication of when the commissioner's office would be up and running.

Citing Australia where companies can face fines of up to $500,000 if they fail to comply with take-down orders, she said: "The Australian E-Safety commissioner has as a core function, the remit to promote online safety for all citizens and to support, encourage, conduct, accredit and evaluate educational promotional and community awareness programmes that are relevant to online safety for Australians. We need an equally strong mandate for Ireland's Online Safety Commissioner."

The measures would categorise harmful online content. The Minister pointed out many of the proposals to date have not defined such content.

"The danger of not providing a clear definition is that we would unintentionally restrict legitimate freedom of speech and freedom of expression, which are core values," said Mr Bruton.

He referred to the clear examples that would be considered harmful such as serious cyberbullying, including content which is seriously threatening, intimidating, harassing or humiliating.

Material which promotes self-harm or suicide or material designed to encourage prolonged nutritional deprivation that would have the effect of exposing a person to risk of death or endangering health would also be included in the definition.

Cyberpsychologist, Dr Mary Aiken, who has worked on an online safety bill with Senator Joan Freeman in the Seanad, welcomed the move but said the legislation must be child specific.

"We need legislation that forces social technology companies to step up and be responsible and be accountable in that space," she said.

She pointed to German legislation which contains take-down notices that would force offensive material to be removed.

Tanya Ward, chief executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance encouraged the young people to give their view during the six-week consultation on the development of this new legislation.