Among the 62 government amendments to the Online Safety and Media Regulation (OSMR) Bill are three amendments giving effect to the government’s commitment to explicitly provide for the role of online safety commissioner within the bill.

The effect of these amendments is to require that at least one of the commissioners within the regulator created by the bill, Coimisiún na Meán (the Media Commission), will be designated as an online safety commissioner.

Catherine Martin, the minister of tourism, culture, arts, Gaeltacht, sport and media, said: “I would like to thank Senators for their contribution to the debate on the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill as it is passing through the Seanad.

“I recognise the importance of a number of issues raised by Senators during Seanad committee stage. This is why I am tabling 62 government amendments to the bill today at Seanad Report Stage, which will address a range of these issues.

“Among these amendments are three which will explicitly provide for the role of online safety commissioner. This was a key recommendation of the joint Oireachtas committee and something which I had committed to addressing as the bill passes through the Oireachtas.

“The role of online safety commissioner will be a key post within Coimisiún na Meán and will have primary responsibility for enforcing the regulatory framework for online safety set down by the bill.”