First, Senator Keogan wished to congratulate, as do I, our colleague, Senator Nicole Ryan, and we wish baby Réidín Lydia a long, happy, healthy and productive life, inside or outside of Seanad Éireann.

I want to mention this morning the report the Oireachtas joint committee on communications, culture and media - on which I sit - has produced regarding online safety. I want to be fair here and acknowledge the good work done by committee colleagues and I welcome their recommendations, particularly the recommendation on dealing with harmful recommender algorithm systems. That is very helpful, and I hope it will inform Government policy and objectives. However, I have regrettably, but sincerely, criticised a failure by the committee to grasp the nettle on two points. One is to pay serious attention to the calls for a ban on platforms allowing persons under 16 to open social media accounts. The committee failed to understand it is the opening of accounts that is in play, it is not about banning children from accessing social media directly. Without consulting properly with parents and experts on the harms excessive and early use of social media is causing, and without waiting to see how the Australian policy in particular evolves over time, the committee has rushed a judgment in its commentary, suggesting that a ban is somehow a bad idea without even understanding the precise measure that is in place and examining it closely. That is really regrettable. I asked the committee to hear from experts on the harms done by excessive screen and social media time, people such as Professor Jonathan Haidt, and there was an opportunity to hear from such experts, but the committee declined to do so.

The second point is the failure to take seriously enough the need to make it a crime and for there to be a penalty for platforms allowing underage persons to access pornography online. Again, huge danger is done here. The committee talks about risk assessment, graduated approaches and regulation, but it is not in touch with the concern of parents and the actual harms done by exposure of young people to pornography. For example, if you were to try to buy vaping or nicotine products online, you would have to use a credit card to show, among other things, that you are over 18. There is nothing like this protection being recommended by the committee in respect of the harms posed by pornography and social media accounts.

I am afraid some good work was done but there was a real failure to have enough guts to grasp the nettle for the sake of the children of this country and their very concerned families. This is an issue they will have to come back to and they will have to question their thinking and caution on this.

As Senators are aware, committee reports and recommendations can be debated in the Seanad, so it is possible for it to be put on the Order Paper and time could be given for it to be debated.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for that. Action will be taken.