We all saw last weekend the worst of toxic masculinity with Conor McGregor being invited to speak on the world stage on our national day of celebration. People like Conor McGregor, the Irish version of Andrew Tate, promote hyperaggressive, misogynistic and often violent forms of masculinity. As a parent and as someone who coaches underage teams, works with local schools and is a director of a local youth and community centre, I deal with a lot of young people of all ages. I know from speaking to friends and parents across County Kildare that they are conscious of the potential impact of these social media-type figures on their children. Currently, on our television screens, we see the impact depicted quite harrowingly in the new Netflix series, “Adolescence”. The glorification of dominance, aggression and subjugation of women through social media must be ended. What more can we do? What is the Government doing to tackle the rise of toxic masculinity and its detrimental influence?

The Deputy is so right and I thank him for the question. This is an important topic for all of society. The programme, “Adolescence”, has provided a glimpse into how toxic influences are filling a void in young men’s lives. I believe it should be compulsory viewing in all our secondary schools throughout this country. Social media has such an influence on young lives. That is why in Europe and Ireland we need to be true to our values, even if others in other parts of the world decide to go a different way. These so-called influencers are feeding young men a warped view of what it is to be a man. Let us be clear: the likes of Conor McGregor and Andrew Tate should not be social media influencers; they should be social pariahs.

Hear hear.

Their behaviour is wrong, retrograde, degrading and damaging. They are normalising behaviour that is totally and utterly unacceptable. Everyone in this House should speak with one voice in this regard. They are social media pariahs, not social media influencers.