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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

Online advertising transparency Bill

Summary

Deputy James Lawless pressed for enactment of the Online Advertising and Social Media (Transparency) Bill before the European Parliament elections, following a meeting with Facebook. The Taoiseach said regulation would also need European and platform-level action, and that the Bill was still awaiting committee pre-legislative scrutiny.

Pat the Cope Gallagher An Leas-Cheann Comhairle Fianna Fáil

Perhaps the Whips should look at this arrangement. The Taoiseach is not even in a position to answer questions about constituency issues. Perhaps Members could make better use of parliamentary questions. This is an abuse of the system. I call Deputy Lawless.

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I assure the House that the matter I am about to raise does not relate to my constituency.

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Pat the Cope Gallagher An Leas-Cheann Comhairle Fianna Fáil

I was not reflecting on the Deputy.

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That is okay. I accept I do it on other days but not today.

Deputy Eamon Ryan has already alluded to the meeting that he, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton and I had yesterday with Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer of Facebook. It was a good meeting. Among the issues discussed were those of integrity and transparency in electoral campaigns and the threat to democracy worldwide which social media poses. Mr. Zuckerberg outlined some of the measures which Facebook is implementing voluntarily at European level in advance of the forthcoming European Parliament elections. I do not agree with Mr. Zuckerberg on everything but he made a strong point when he said it is up to governments and parliaments to regulate, legislate and lead in this matter.

My Online Advertising and Social Media (Transparency) Bill was introduced in 2017. It has gone through detailed scrutiny and been the subject of expert evidence. A long list of stakeholders came before the relevant committee. It has done its work and discharged its duties. We can now add Mr. Zuckerberg to that long list. We missed introducing this legislation for the repeal the eighth amendment campaign and the presidential election. The writ has been moved for the local elections and the European Parliament elections will be held in a month’s time.

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Pat the Cope Gallagher An Leas-Cheann Comhairle Fianna Fáil

I call the Taoiseach.

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Will the Online Advertising and Social Media (Transparency) Bill be enacted prior to the European Parliament elections? Our Parliament has done its job. It is now over to the Executive.

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Pat the Cope Gallagher An Leas-Cheann Comhairle Fianna Fáil

The Taoiseach understands the question.

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Leo Varadkar The Taoiseach Fine Gael

This requires both regulation from the Government and at European level, as well as responsibility from the platforms of the digital companies themselves. One can only regulate and legislate so much. I am advised that we are still awaiting the pre-legislative scrutiny report on the Bill from the committee.

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