Launch of Government Action Plan for Online Safety 11.07.2018

Wed. 11th July 2018
Comhairle members attend launch of Action Plan for Online Safety, RHA Gallery, Dublin 2

On 11th July the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, joined by a number of Government Ministers, launched the Government’s Action Plan for Online Safety. This is the first plan of its kind in Ireland and was drawn up following engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including young people from Clare & Wicklow Comhairle na nÓg, both at the Open Policy Debate held in March, and the recent report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs.  In February 2018, young people from both Comhairlí presented on their work on this topic to the Joint Committee and based on their recent work in this area were invited to attend the launch. Rachel and Marco from Clare were MCs for the event and Sabrina and Adam from Wicklow were afterwards interviewed by Sandra Hurley, RTE News, about their recent cyber-bullying charter. You can read the press release here: Action Plan for Online Safety Press release July 11th 2018

Below is the official video which gives a snapshot of the Action Plan which includes

• A New National Advisory Council on Online Safety, chaired by Minister of State Seán Kyne, to provide advice to Government on online safety policy issues with stakeholder input and engagement
• Legislation for new criminal offences with the support of the Oireachtas
• A national communications campaign and single identity – Be Safe Online – with key online safety messages targeted at specific groups, including children and young people; parents, guardians and teachers
• The creation of a single online access point on www.gov.ie/besafeonline through which all available online safety resources can be accessed
• A coherent and united policy approach across Government through the establishment of a new Sponsors Group structure, chaired by the Department of Education and Skills.