A successful meeting of the International Grand Committee on Disinformation and 'Fake News' was held in the Oireachtas last week. It was attended by representatives of parliaments from several other countries and by global experts on the serious issue of the effects of social media on political debate. There was a great deal of debate on the merits or otherwise of political advertising, particularly micro-targeted advertising, on social networks.

It is not in the public sphere; it is open to outside influence and gives undue power to money over argument. People may have differing views on whether we should allow such advertising but there was clear agreement on the recommendations of the International Grand Committee on Disinformation and 'Fake News' that there should be transparency on what is happening in that regard. Does the Taoiseach agree that we need to change the rules of this House such that before the end of the year, each Member gives a full account of how much he or she has spent on social media advertising and what micro-targeting has taken place, and that the same be done in advance of the election next year? As the location for many social media companies' European headquarters, it is critical that we set the highest standards. Such standards require transparency. Can we commit to such transparency on Members' social media advertising?

It is important to note that online and offline political advertising includes advertising by people who wish to change politics, referendums or the Constitution. It is not just political party advertising. All such advertising needs to be regulated online, as is the case offline. The Government has agreed to bring forward legislation in the first half of next year to provide for such regulation. It will go further than the regulations governing print media in terms of the amount of money being spent, whether it is targeted and so on. The proposals are contained in the latest report published by the Government's interdepartmental group, which is examining this issue. We have committed to legislate for political advertising online in the first half of next year.

Will the legislation be in place before an election?