INTERNET
Office for Internet Safety to be set up
20-09-2007
by Charlie Taylor
The Government is to establish an Office for Internet Safety and an Internet Safety Advisory Council to safeguard children online.
Speaking at the launch of two new booklets on internet safety on Thursday, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Brian Lenihan said his proposals had been approved by the Cabinet and would be enacted shortly.
"As Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform I felt it was time to meet some of those challenges with the establishment of an office dedicated to internet safety, located within my Department," said Minister Lenihan.
"Concern remains high about the appropriateness of certain material which is easily accessible on the internet, with particular concern about child pornography and the use of 'grooming' to target children. Those who misuse the internet are highly sophisticated and technically astute, and we must continually and pro-actively examine the effectiveness of our defences," he added.
Announcing the establishment of the Office for Internet Safety (OIS) the Minister explained that it will be an executive office of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform with responsibility for internet safety, safety awareness campaigns and the complaint hotline (www.hotline.ie). The OIS will also be charged with monitoring compliance with the Internet Service Provider (ISP) industry code of practice.
"It is incumbent on all involved in promoting the exciting resource which is the internet to ensure the best possible protection for the community and to reduce the risk of internet crime, particularly that involving the exploitation of children, in all situations," said Minister Lenihan.
"The establishment of a dedicated Office for Internet Safety is an important step in the process of building the best possible protection for the community at large and in particular for children from the downside of the internet."
In addition to placing internet safety issues squarely within the crime policy framework of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the OIS will also be in a position to encourage greater cohesion across state agencies and the industry generally, the Minister said.
The OIS is also expected to expand on the work that was carried out by the Internet Advisory Board, which is to be succeeded by a new Internet Safety Advisory Council, whose members will be drawn from statutory, industry and community sectors.
The two booklets launched by Minister Lenihan on Thursday -- a revised Parents' Guide to new media technologies and A Parents' Guide to filtering technologies -- have been produced by the Internet Advisory Board.
The booklets are available free of charge through libraries, community information centres, on request through a freefone number 1800 24 25 95, and on the websites of the Internet Advisory Board (www.iab.ie) and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform (www.justice.ie).
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