In a recent survey we can see that 97% of people in Ireland have access to a smartphone. As the Government knows, many households are awaiting the delivery of high-speed broadband. Access to the Internet brings countless new opportunities and it is no exaggeration to say the Internet is shaping society in a variety of new ways. Many people, especially young people, socialise via the Internet and for many, sharing their lives online has been completely normalised, although the technology was not available to the previous generation. However, the Internet also has a dark side. Young people are often in a phase of self-discovery at a time when they are involved in nearly continuous online activity. We have repeatedly seen cases of older men using Internet websites to fool young people into sending intimate photographs of themselves or even arranging meetings, with frequent reports of sexual assault or even rape as a result. We also know that some people use the Internet to hurt others, for example, in the taking of revenge by putting up compromising photographs for the whole world to see. There is growing evidence of a strong link between cyberbullying and the online harassment of young people and those young people indulging in self-harm and even suicide. Ireland's teenage suicide rate is already among the highest in Europe. Tragically, recent Central Statistics Office figures show that 20 to 30 young people die by suicide annually in Ireland.

On 16 May 2017 the Labour Party's Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017 was passed on Second Stage in this House. In a debate with cross-party support the Government pledged full co-operation to bring legislation through the House to regulate the area of online harassment and bullying. Since May last year dozens more young people have tragically lost their lives by suicide. Too often they were the victims of online bullying and harassment and many more are suffering today. The legislation is urgently required. We would happily accept any amendment from the Government side. For example, as an Opposition party, we could not table a proposal to establish a digital safety commissioner, a concept everybody now supports. It is possible to have these fundamental issues addressed in the coming weeks: we have waited too long. My question is simple. Will the Government facilitate the early enactment of this much-needed law?

I thank the Deputy for raising these important matters related to the mental health of young people, teenagers and adolescents, as well as the impact of the Internet, online bullying and the effects of exposure to nefarious online activities on the mental health of young people. We are very much in the process of implementing the national suicide strategy Connecting for Life which I was involved in putting together with the former Minister of State, former Deputy Kathleen Lynch. It is making a real difference. I know that it is difficult to calculate these things, but we have seen an approximate 30% reduction in suicide rates overall in Ireland in the past couple of years. In part, that is down to the additional resources given to the National Office for Suicide Prevention and additional investment in mental health services, but there are many other factors at play.

I do not know what the current status is of the particular legislation that the Deputy mentions. I do not know if we have any principled objection to it, so I will have to check up on that. I think we indicated in the past that we would support it, so I will have to check that out again and perhaps get back to the Deputy to see if we can progress it.

The Minister for Justice and Equality has been supportive of this measure. I have also spoken to the Attorney General directly on this matter. Second Stage was passed a year and a half ago, which is a long time, yet there is urgency about regulating a sphere of activity that did not exist ten years ago. Our law still references telephones and telecommunications but says nothing about protecting people using the Internet, which is so much more intrusive in everyone's life today.

Regarding this bespoke legislation, which is to establish a digital safety commissioner to protect vulnerable people of all ages, but particularly young people, will the Taoiseach give his Government's commitment, if possible, to at least have the Bill passed by this House before the end of this session?

The Minister for Justice and Equality informs me that his Department is in regular contact with the Deputy's office about the Bill with a view to moving matters on. We certainly want to do that as quickly as we possibly can. When it comes to the Internet and the worldwide web, what I can say is that the era of self-regulation is over. Self-regulation has not worked for the Internet and the tech sector, and we need now to do more. We need to make sure that whatever regulatory moves we make and whatever we put into place actually works and is effective. We are very happy to work on a cross-party basis with Deputy Howlin and others to make that possible.