Mar is eol don Taoiseach, d'fhoilsigh an Teachta Lawless an Bille um Fhógraíocht Ar-Líne agus na Meáin Shóisialta (Trédhearcacht) 2017 anuraidh. Mar is eol dó freisin, tá raic ar siúl faoi láthair maidir leis an mhéid atá ag tarlú le Cambridge Analytica agus Facebook. Tá daoine ar fud na hEorpa agus ar fud an domhain buartha agus feargach faoin mhéid atá tar éis titim amach. Mar is léir anois, tá sé scanrúil nach raibh aon saghas cosc ar na comhlachtaí móra maidir le eolas príobháideach an saoránach. Tá mé ag súil go mbeidh an Bille seo os comhair an choiste sar i bhfad. Tá sé tábhachtach go n-admhaíonn an Rialtas go bhfuil gá ann reachtaíocht a chur i bhfeidhm chun cosc a chur leis na comhlachtaí móra seo. An mbeidh an Taoiseach agus an Rialtas sásta gach cabhair agus gach tacaíocht a thabhairt don Bhille seo ionas go mbeimid in ann é a chur i bhfeidhm sa Teach seo chomh tapaidh agus is féidir?

I am advised that the Bill was rushed through the Dáil before Christmas without proper and due consideration. The experts who have since examined it have stated that it is riddled with technical and legal flaws and, in particular, presents serious unintended consequences for the democratic process itself. For example, the definition of "political end" in the Bill is so broad that the Bill essentially prohibits the spending of public money on any kind of online advertising on any matter dealt with or funded by the State. It could even prevent a public meeting organised by a local authority about a landfill from being advertised online. Although I am sure Deputy Lawless was well intentioned, this is perhaps a case of poor legislation being rushed through the Dáil------

It was not rushed through the Dáil.

-----and not undergoing the proper scrutiny for a Bill. If it were a Government Bill, the heads of the Bill would have been drafted along with other scrutiny of the Bill prior to its publication.

It can be amended on Committee Stage. Tá sé dochreidte.