Senator McFadden does a great job for her local area. I totally support what she is trying to do for Athlone Institute of Technology, a fine institute which I had the privilege of representing for over two years. I wish her the best of luck in her quest.

From time to time, all of us in public life are subject to attacks on social media. That is part of the job. I say "fair play" in respect of some of it but some of it is disgusting. This weekend my identity was stolen on Facebook. Somebody set himself or herself up on Facebook as Gerardp.craughwell.77.

Is that the Senator's age?

He or she used my photograph and my profile. Such a situation can be amusing. However, this person contacted females in my Facebook friends' group and made all sorts of suggestions to them. Facebook was contacted by one of my friends, which is why I am making this statement today. Facebook sent me a message stating that it had removed a profile that my friend reported because it did not follow its community standards and that it lets the profile owner know that it has been removed but not who reported it. What the hell does "does not meet with its standards and that it will let the profile owner know that it did not meet with its standards" mean? This thug, whoever it was, took my photograph and all the details belonging to me from my Facebook page and used them for a reason he or she should never have been allowed use them for. Has anybody in this House ever tried to get in contact with Facebook? Is there an email address that one can use? Can one telephone Facebook? Can one say this is wrong? This is outrageous misbehaviour. I am not saying there is only one Gerard P. Craughwell in the world.

Thankfully.

Indeed, the world is very lucky to have one but there could be a second one out there.

The world could not take more than one.

I am certain there is no Gerard P. Craughwell with the fine physique and good looks that I have. Using my name and my photograph to try to seduce women and attract them to various acts or whatever is simply not on.

I opposed the Bill brought in by the former Senator, Lorraine Higgins, in the last Seanad in which she sought to place controls on what happens on social media. The disregard they have for people and their private lives will force a situation where we will have to introduce legislation and make them answerable. There is no way on God's earth that Facebook should have allowed my photograph to be used by somebody else. Facebook admitted it knew the person who perpetrated this, because it was about to contact him or her and asking him or her to please remove that page. There is no place to hide on the Internet and there never has been. It is time the social media companies faced up to that and started to behave and protect people. I happen to be in public life but there are people who are not to whom this is happening all the time and they cannot make a complaint in the Seanad or Dáil. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Justice and Equality to come in here to discuss this matter in the not too distant future.

The Senator might need a good lawyer. He is seated beside an excellent one.

Good lawyers are expensive.

That is another day's work. I note Senator Martin Conway is on my list but he is not present so I call Senator Tim Lombard.