1672. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the position regarding any work ongoing within his Department that seeks to improve the level of protection for children online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63607/26]

1673. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his views on whether a ban on the use of social media for under-16s could be implemented in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63604/26]

1674. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he plans to assess the success of the implementation of a ban on social media for under-16s in Australia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63603/26]

1676. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the extent to which a proposed ban on the use of social media by under-16s has been assessed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63605/26]

1677. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the position regarding any research his Department has carried out into the EU proposal to set the minimum age requirement for social media use at 13 years of age (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63602/26]

1678. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he proposes to support an EU proposal to set the minimum age requirement for social media use at 13 years of age (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63601/26]

1679. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the position regarding any engagement he has had with his EU counterparts regarding the EU proposal to set the age requirement for social media use at 13 years of age (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63600/26]

1680. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his views on the proposal to set the minimum age requirement for social media use at 13 years of age (details supplied); his views on the adequacy of this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63599/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1672 to 1674, inclusive, and 1676 to 1680, inclusive, together.

The National Digital and AI Strategy, published in February of this year, states that the Government will work actively with like-minded EU Member States to explore options to introduce age restrictions on the use of social media, concentrating in particular on those under the age of 16. It goes on to say that Ireland will strongly advocate for a decision on the digital age of majority to be taken at EU level to avoid fragmentation within the Single Market and that any decision should take account of the report of the Special Panel on child safety online.

The Special Panel on child safety online, which was convened by President von der Leyen, has since issued its report, on 13 July. That report included recommendations for an EU-wide access restriction to social media and other digital services for children under 13, with flexibility for Member States to introduce other precautionary measures such as other age thresholds.

The European Commission is now preparing proposals to enhance the legal framework for online safety for children and young people, and these will be informed but not bound by the Special Panel's recommendations. It is expected that these will be announced during Ireland's Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers. We await the detail of these proposals.

In line with the commitment in the National Digital and AI Strategy, I have been engaging with my EU counterparts at Council meetings and bilaterally on this issue and have made it my priority for the EU Presidency. In this context, I am hosting a two-day high-level Presidency Conference on online safety for children and young people on 10 and 11 September, as well as a Ministerial Dinner, where the report of the Special Panel will be discussed.

The Australian measures to ban social media for under 16s were considered by the Special Panel on child safety online. For my own part, I am arranging to speak with the Australian Minister for Communications soon on their experience of introducing age-based restrictions.

In addition to age-restrictions, the European Commission is also preparing proposals for other child protection measures. These are a proposal to strengthen the child protection provisions in the Audiovisual and Media Services Directive and a proposal for a new Digital Fairness Act to enhance protection of consumers online, including minors. These are all expected to be published this year.

As I have said, the protection of children and young people online is a key theme of Ireland’s EU Presidency, we will give priority to the negotiations on these proposals as soon as they emerge.