It is always useful and informative to keep an eye on what is happening in Asian markets as more and more of the world moves online. Distributed computing technologies are a particularly hot area to watch as the global pandemic pushed more and more businesses to beef up their online performance. OceanBase, an Ant Group company have evolved to provide services as an enterprise-level distributed relational database provider.

OceanBase have grown quickly and recently declared at a recent industry event, the Distributed Database Developer Conference that they saw strong growth in terms of their customer base. This technology helps companies with an upgrade to core IT systems. As often happens they have also identified other relevant use cases too, and this has seen them attract business and new clients from other industries too.

This has enabled OceanBase to expand beyond the financial services sector to also find new partnerships and business within a range of other sectors, afterall who doesn’t want an effective database management system. New areas of business have included the travel sector, telecoms, which of course use increasing amounts of data, and also energy, which again can offer better business solutions with more micro data insights. This diversification in terms of business cases has also helped to grow revenue by 35% from non traditional sources.

An awareness of this business potential inspired OceanBase to then also research and target the the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector. It makes sense too, as these types of companies are large in number, wide in scope, and could always grow and become the next Alipay or Antgroup. OceanBase have found this to be a successful approach and now nearly 70% of it’s customers are from the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector. Their technology stack solutions have also led to productive partnerships with regional banks, insurers, security brokers, and wealth management companies, which again offers promising potential for future growth too.

OceanBase have named this a ‘product-driven growth’ business model, and it could be a driver to future growth and avenues of revenue too. Yang Bing, OceanBase CEO was quoted as saying “we look forward to working with partners, customers, developers, and other industry participants to accelerate the development of database technology with continuous technology and product innovations.”

A recent report from Gartner suggests OceanBase have further potential for growth too, as their technology is scalable, can be implemented as and where it is needed, with strong scope for adaptation, customisation and personalisation too.

More about OceanBase

Launched in 2010, OceanBase is an enterprise-level distributed relational database developed by Ant Group. OceanBase’s benefits over alternative solutions include strong data consistency, high availability, high performance, low cost, online scalability, and high compatibility with SQL standards and other mainstream relational databases. Its performance has been proven in many Alipay large-scale business scenarios, as well as at the annual 11.11 Global Shopping Festival. In May 2020, OceanBase set the world record for online transaction processing performance, with 707 million transactions per minute in a TPC-C benchmark test. OceanBase was officially registered as a separate company in June 2020.

To learn more, please visit:

Data presented by tradingplatforms.com show that the energy consumption by one ethereum transaction is about 238.22 kilowatts per hour.

This energy consumption is significantly higher than that of 100,000 VISA transactions, which would use about 149 kWh.

The network’s global energy consumption rose drastically in 2021. Recent findings indicate that the global consumption is 106.33 TWh as of 11th January 2022.

Edith Reads from Tradingplatforms commented on the findings by saying, “The high energy consumption by the Ethereum network currently is largely due to the PoW validation method.

“The foundation has already announced plans to transition to PoS, which will reduce consumption significantly. I think that will be quite crucial, especially as the tech world readies itself for the Web 3.0 era.”

Ethereum’s upgrade to solve environmental concerns

Energy consumption by Ethereum and Bitcoin networks has always raised concerns among environmentalists. Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum’s co-founder, argues that the upgrade to ETH 2.0 will provide the much-awaited solution.

Switching to a PoS consensus network will eliminate the miners needed to validate network transactions under the current PoW model. In doing so, there will be no more need for high computational power to validate blocks.

Concerns over Web3 energy consumption

Ethereum’s upgrade to Eth 2.0 will eliminate the excessive energy expenditure, becoming about 2000x more energy efficient.

The Ethereum Foundation has been working on this for several years. It had initially set the upgrade to ETH 2.0 for December but pushed it forward to June 2022.

The full story and statistics can be found here.

Lord Mayor of Belfast Kate Nicholl with RESPONSIBLE founder Mark Dowds (centre) and garment technician Marianne Connolly

Belfast-based RESPONSIBLE raises $6.6M Seed Round led by Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital, including Techstart Ventures, Rafa Brzoska, and Next Door’s Sarah Friar to power a circular future for fashion.

RESPONSIBLE, creators of the world’s first embedded finance platform in fashion, today announced it has raised a $6.6 million Seed Round of investment capital. Led by Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital and Techstart Ventures, participants include InPost founder Rafa Brzoska and Nextdoor CEO Sarah Friar.

This round of funding will be used to expand RESPONSIBLE’s reach throughout Europe and extend its network of brand partnerships. This marks the largest seed round of capital to be secured to date within the reCommerce sector, giving RESPONSIBLE the opportunity to make a meaningful change in the industry.

Andy Challis, co-Head of Principal Investments, Barclays, said: “Innovation in the fashion industry is critical in reducing global carbon emissions, and Barclays is delighted to support RESPONSIBLE as it continues to scale and address this issue. RESPONSIBLE.US has developed an innovative model which enables circularity in the fashion industry, partnering directly with brands to extend the life of garments and impact sector-wide change”

InPost was founded with a mission to make modern logistics convenient, cheaper and more environmentally friendly”, said Rafa Brzoska. “I am excited to be investing in the future of RESPONSIBLE and to potentially open new frontiers by leveraging the InPost technology, infrastructure and network of partnerships across the UK and Europe, building competitive advantages for fashion retailers.”

“Investing in community means thinking holistically about how our actions impact the community around us. For example, most of us know that it is better to buy previously worn clothes instead of new,” said Sarah Friar, founder of NextDoor. “RESPONSIBLE is now making this more convenient and easier. I am excited to see another company from Northern Ireland step up with a global solution to help our planet.”

Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Kate Nicholl said: “I’m delighted that the Responsible team chose to locate their innovative, sustainable business in Belfast – and retain this significant investment in our city, helping to further build upon Belfast’s competitive advantage. “Our energetic and ambitious city is full of talent and creativity, and coupled with our rich textiles heritage, it’s wonderful to learn of new and future employment opportunities within this industry.”

RESPONSIBLE have developed a technology solution called Buy Back that can be easily integrated into a brand’s eCommerce and physical stores. The technology is integrated at the point of purchase to inform shoppers of the residual value of the item they are about to buy. The shopper is free to wear the garment and return the product at any point in the future in exchange for credit at the Buy Back price stated at purchase.

The Buy Back plugin is immediately available within the the Shopify eco-system and will soon support other eCommerce Platforms. Not only does RESPONSIBLE provide their technology to fashion brands to keep products in circulation, but they also provide the infrastructure and operational capability to ensure this remains a seamless and low-touch way for brands to embrace a circular future.

“The fashion industry manufactures billions of items every year and only 5-7% of these clothes are sold for a second time,” said Mark Dowds, Founder and CEO, RESPONSIBLE. “We are enabling brands to not only become accountable for everything they produce, but also to financially benefit from a more circular and sustainable business model. Data sources like Black Book and Glass’s Guide transformed the automotive industry, we plan to do the same in fashion.”

RESPONSIBLE have launched with several partners including ...

Irish medical device company, Neuromod Devices Ltd, has launched Ótologie, a specialist healthcare service for people living with tinnitus. This new service will enable tinnitus patients, in Ireland and throughout Europe, to avoid waiting lists and give them immediate access to treatment for tinnitus.

The establishment of Ótologie follows a successful pilot of a telehealth service for tinnitus patients by Neuromod and the publication of analysis by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association which found that approximately 77,000 patients were on waiting lists for public ENT services. Through engagement with consultant ENTs, Neuromod estimates up to 15,000 of these are tinnitus patients.

In 2021, Neuromod piloted a telehealth service to treat tinnitus patients in Ireland and throughout Europe. This pilot complemented Neuromod’s in-person treatment services at its clinic in Dublin, allowing patients to attend appointments and proceed with treatment at the clinic or via video call according to their preference.

Due to the success of the pilot, which allowed patients to progress to treatment within days of contacting the service and avoid waiting lists for public ENT appointments, Neuromod established Ótologie to provide quick access to tinnitus care from qualified healthcare professionals who can prescribe a range of proven treatments including Lenire, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and hearing aids.

The service streamlines the typical healthcare journey for tinnitus patients, offering them next day appointments which they can attend online or in-clinic. Neuromod’s clinic, located at the Hermitage clinic in Dublin, has been renamed from Neuromod Medical to Ótologie in preparation for the launch of the service.

Tinnitus, a condition commonly known as ‘ringing in the ears’, affects between 10 and 15% of the global population and could affect up to 500,000 people in Ireland.

However, in a recent study more than 60% of GPs reported that they do not follow routine criteria for onward referral of tinnitus patients[ii] and expressed a need for more access to specialist resources for these patients, demonstrating the need for specialist care services for tinnitus, such as Ótologie, which people seeking treatment can contact directly or be referred to by their current physician.

Speaking on the launch of Ótologie, Dr Ross O’Neill, CEO of Neuromod Devices said: “Waiting lists for tinnitus patients are not only stressful for the patients themselves but they are also a burden on the health system. From publicly available figures and our engagement with the healthcare system we estimate that today, there are 15,000 people suffering from tinnitus on a waiting list to access specialist public ENT care.”

“Furthermore, recent research has shown that waiting times for an ENT referral can be up to four years in some parts of Ireland. This study also highlighted the distress these lengthy waiting lists put on people living with tinnitus. It also showed that GPs and ENTs alike acknowledged the need for better access to ENT or audiology services for tinnitus. With Ótologie, our vision is to tackle this significant healthcare challenge by enabling patients to get started with treatment as soon as possible from anywhere in the country or indeed Europe. Our long-term aim is to create the first globally recognised approach to tinnitus care and management.”

Ótologie’s team of audiologists and therapists, specifically trained in treating tinnitus, have extensive experience treating patients with evidence-based treatments. Following clinical best practices, they assess each patient and recommend a personalised treatment plan from options which include the Lenire tinnitus treatment device; Tinnitus Therapy (a form of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or CBT); or hearing aids suitable for people with tinnitus.

Ótologie’s Head of Tinnitus Care, audiologist Anita Sayers said: “Our experience, since we opened the Neuromod Medical clinic in 2019, from talking ...

Flipdish, Europe’s leading online ordering and digital experience platform for hospitality, has received a c.$100m investment led by Tencent. The funding values the company at over $1.25bn and follows a $48.5m investment from Tiger Global Management in February 2021.

The investment will be used to grow global operations, fund R&D in products that improve the hospitality industry’s digital experience for consumers and support new customers like cinemas, stadia and airports.

Founded by brothers Conor and James McCarthy in 2015, Flipdish allows hospitality businesses to deliver seamless consumer digital experiences which drive business growth. The unicorn provides technology that powers QR code order & pay at table, online ordering for collection & delivery, self-service kiosks, customer loyalty, and digital marketing.

Conor McCarthy, Co-Founder and CEO of Flipdish comments: “Digitisation has been transforming the hospitality sector for years. The ongoing pandemic has further accelerated the trend with hospitality businesses becoming increasingly dependent on digital experiences to attract and retain customers. Our investment will help us to empower more hospitality businesses around the world to grow with the best-in-class technology.”

Tencent will join existing Flipdish investors Tiger Global, Global Founders Capital, Elkstone, Enterprise Ireland and Growing Capital.

Flipdish operates in 25 countries including France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, the UK and the US, with thousands of independent restaurant customers including some well known Irish brand leaders such as Dunnes Stores, Romayo’s, Base Pizza, Bombay Pantry, The White Moose Cafe and Mao as well as major international brands like Subway, Cojean, and Galeries Lafayette. Flipdish also works with some of the world’s largest ghost kitchen companies, which partner with the likes of TGI Friday’s, White Castle, Dickey’s BBQ Pit, and many more.

Flipdish has seen rapid revenue growth across multiple markets in 2021, fueled by restaurant owners bringing their online ordering capability in house, rather than relying on a food delivery marketplace, the rapid adoption of their on-premise solutions like QR Code Order & Pay, and the growth of exciting new verticals like dark kitchens.

As part of the investment, Flipdish will be hiring 700 people in 2022. The majority are technology roles such as software architects, data scientists, engineers and product designers. Others include a host of commercial roles.

See more Stories here.

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Irish Tech News are Ireland’s No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland’s No.1 Tech Podcast too.

You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here:

If you’d like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at [email protected] now to discuss.

Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at [email protected] now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.

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The Morgan McKinley 2022 Irish Salary Guide anticipates that salaries will increase this year by 5-10% in certain sectors, rising up to a 15-20% increase for certain niche skills in demand.

Upward pressure on salaries has been driven by the reduction in mobility of international talent and the corresponding demand for individuals already in location.

To gain an understanding of current hiring realities, Morgan McKinley also surveyed key hiring decision-makers from 62 companies and 4,134 professionals across a range of industries.

People were surveyed across Ireland, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Japan, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Trayc Keevans, Global FDI Director, Morgan McKinley Ireland, said: “We’re currently seeing the most demanding employment markets of our time. The Great Resignation of the past year appears to be still in full swing.

“The experience of the sustained public health emergency has prompted countless workers to re-evaluate their work options, fine-tuning a better work-life balance and making deliberate choices as to where their careers are heading next.”

Key Findings

Sectoral Highlights

Technology/ IT

Technology advancements are not resulting in the displacement of jobs, rather they are creating more jobs as the drive for developing capability in AI, Robotics, Machine Learning requires human input. In 2022, the most in-demand positions for IT will be in Data Analytics, namely Data Analysts, Data Engineers and Data Scientists.

There is strong demand for DevOps talent also, with requirements for companies to flex on the experience level required to enable them to hire at the pace they wish to. Demand for Software engineers continues unabated with the core development languages .Net, Java and Python most in demand, while Ruby on Rails and PHP have somewhat of a resurgence on the market.

There has also been a growth in demand for cloud engineers, not specific to front or back end engineering, with full-stack engineers combining knowledge of cloud engineering proving most popular in today’s market.

Science

The Irish pharma talent is at the coalface for opportunities resulting from emerging trends in Cell & Gene Therapy (CGT), Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), novel vaccines, and medtech, as well as the opportunities for Ireland to retain its place as a global leader in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Advanced Therapeutics represents the next opportunity for Ireland.

Engineering

The best performing sectors presenting opportunities for engineering talent through 2022 continue to be data centres, pharma, energy, medical devices, automotive and food production.

There will be a number of opportunities for engineering talent to embrace as companies are fast re-developing their Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) policies.

In an engineering context, these opportunities are best reflected in the growth in demand for sustainability engineers, primarily within the energy sector which provides the easiest way to get your foot in the door to working with a career in sustainability.

Financial Services

There has been an ongoing growth in demand for talent in this sector that is expected to continue into 2022 and beyond.

While Brexit may have been the catalyst for a number of ManCo’s and SuperManco’s setting up operations in Ireland, the rise of Irish management companies (Mancos) shows few signs of abating, with assets under management continuing to grow.

This, coupled with an expected increase in surveillance of these companies’ adherence to CP86 by the Central Bank of Ireland through 2022, is resulting in very high demand for Designated Person roles and other Pre-Approval Control Function (PCF) talent, particularly in areas of Risk and Compliance.

Accountancy & Finance

The future is bright for the careers of accountancy and finance professionals in Ireland across all levels in 2022. The areas of interest to candidates where there is a marked and continued growth are those that o...

Marieta talks to Louisa Mesnard, chief marketing officer at Elaia company.

Why deep tech investments will always pay off, Louisa Mesnard, Elaia

Elaia is a leading European Digital & Deep Tech VC firm. Louisa explains more about how the company chooses what start-ups to invest in and why they believe deep tech investments will always pay off.

Louisa talks about seed funding unicorns and how they determine a start-up will be worth over $1 billion. The company’s values are also discussed as well as the importance of a diverse team and how it helps them in decision making.

About Marieta:

Marieta is a student journalist, currently pursuing a degree in Coventry University. She is from Bulgaria and moved to the United Kingdom three years ago to prepare for a career in journalism since she believes it best suits her interests and strength. Marieta has a passion for writing and is keen on producing digital content. She is a driven and creative aspiring journalist who is always on the lookout for a good story.

See more podcasts here.

More about Irish Tech News

Irish Tech News are Ireland’s No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland’s No.1 Tech Podcast too.

You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here:

If you’d like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at [email protected] now to discuss.

Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at [email protected] now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.

You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Cashless payment technology developed by Irish fintech company Facilipay is powering Ireland’s first ‘Fast Track Pass’ system at Dublin Airport, and now the service is set to expand further with the planned rollout of three additional kiosks across terminals 1 and 2.

In partnership with AIB Merchant Services, and on behalf of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), Facilipay’s software enables passengers to purchase tickets through a self-service kiosk, which facilitates them to bypass security queues and travel through the airport safely.

The implementation of this technology is the latest innovation by the Irish fintech, who specialises in complex payment solutions across a multitude of sectors to include corporate offices, education and live events.

Originally passengers could only avail of the ‘‘Fast Track Pass’ up to 3 hours before departure – however using Facilipay’s cutting-edge technology, the service is now available online and at the airport concourse.

In recent times, the DAA has expanded the offering to allow passengers to also purchase ‘Lounge Passes’ in addition to a Fast Track Pass, affording quick access to the Airport’s private lounges and business centres.

Following an increase in passenger activity over the festive period, Dublin Airport has embraced Facilipay’s technology as it is designed to negate the need for physical contact while offering passengers greater convenience and reduced waiting times.

Facilipay’s integration into the DAA’s existing systems, allows the DAA to control the volume of Fast Track tickets available for sale online and offline at any time throughout the day, which in turn guarantees an efficient and safe service.

Given that the Fast Track terminals are cashless and unattended, and in light of increasing passenger numbers, Facilipay anticipates that the solution may be rolled out across a number of other Irish airports in Europe in the months ahead.

Managing Director of Facilipay, Barry Bruen said: “At Facilipay, we are driven by a desire to provide innovative digital solutions that enable businesses and organisations to streamline their existing payment channels and create an enhanced experience for their customers.

“Working with the DAA has allowed us to demonstrate the numerous benefits associated with integrated payment systems – for both the Airport itself and the thousands of passengers who travel through it each day.”

“Through implementing the ‘Fast Track Pass’ payment solution, departing passengers have been able to optimise their travel experience, by by-passing long queues – allowing them to travel safely through the airport, at a time when this is of paramount importance to many.

“Consumer enthusiasm for the service is evident, and we look forward to the solution being further expanded in the months ahead.

“Our aim is to provide innovative payment solutions that help businesses shape the way they accept payments while generating additional revenue streams at the same time, and the ‘Fast Track Pass’ and ‘Lounge Pass’ kiosks serve as a magnificent example of this.”

Managing Director of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), Vincent Harrison added: “Our Fast-Track service delivers speed and efficiency which are particularly important for our business passengers. We are delighted to partner with Facilipay to enhance this product, making it even easier for passengers to tailor their travel experience.”

Enterprise Ireland has announced that net jobs created in companies supported by Enterprise Ireland increased by 11,911 in 2021, the highest annual increase in net employment recorded.

Employment increased across all economic sectors, with particularly strong jobs growth reported in Life Sciences (14%), Business Services (12%) and Digital Technology (10%).

The positive jobs figures saw increases in employment across all regions in Ireland, with, for example, employment increasing by 9% in the North West and by 7% in the South East. In total, 68% of new jobs created were outside of Dublin.

In total, 20,342 new jobs were created by companies supported by Enterprise Ireland, resulting in a net job increase of 11,911 when job losses are taken into account. Total employment by companies supported by Enterprise Ireland in 2021 was 207,894.

Speaking at the launch, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar, TD, said: “Over 200,000 people now work in Enterprise Ireland client companies. That’s almost as many people working for multi-nationals.

“It’s great to see Irish exporting companies performing so strongly last year notwithstanding the disruption to trade caused by Brexit and the pandemic. There was a net increase in employment of almost 12,000.”

Commenting on the launch Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail Damien English, stated: “The positive job creation results announced today are a testament to the talent, resilience and innovation of businesses operating in Ireland today.

“In conjunction with the dedicated and determined Enterprise Ireland team, they have tackled head on the impact of the pandemic to support and grow employment opportunities throughout the country. The strong regional performance evident in these results is very welcome news.”

In welcoming Enterprise Ireland’s end of year positive results, Minister of State for Trade Promotion Digital and Company Regulation, Robert Troy said: “Enterprise Ireland has been a stalwart in sustaining enterprise throughout a very difficult year for business.

“Together we managed to overcome these barriers by commencing once again a number of important physical trade missions throughout 2021 to the Eurozone area, the Gulf region and the U.K. and reignited our transatlantic relationships with Canada and the U.S.”

“In collaboration with the Local Enterprise Offices, great strides have also been made in accelerating the pace of innovation, digitalisation, and transition to a low carbon economy.”

Commenting on the job results Enterprise Ireland CEO, Leo Clancy, said: “Enterprise Ireland has been working with businesses throughout the country to ensure they can quickly recover from the impact of Covid-19 and continue to adapt to the new trading relationship with the UK. It is very important and welcome to see job growth in every key economic sector and every region.”

More about Irish Tech News

Irish Tech News are Ireland’s No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland’s No.1 Tech Podcast too.

You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here:

If you’d like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at [email protected] now to discuss.

Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at [email protected] now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.

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Today the Department of Tourism, Culture Arts, Gaeltacht Sport and Media published the Online Safety and Media Regulation (OSMR) Bill. The Children’s Rights Alliance has united 16 of its members as part of the #123OnlineSafety Campaign to urge legislators to make critical changes to the Bill to ensure it is fit for purpose.

Responding to today’s publication, Chief Executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance, Tanya Ward stated:

“For too long, Governments have been playing catch-up with big tech when it comes to regulation. This Bill (OSMR) needs to be a firm line in the sand that the law will step in to protect individuals when platforms fail to do so. The OSMR Bill has every potential to put an end to the age of self-regulation by the big tech and social media giants and create a level of accountability that is sorely needed.

“It could open the window to a safer online world for children and young people in this country. The political will to ensure that it does this will need to be carried from publication today through amendment stages to ensure that key gaps in the General Scheme are addressed going forward.”

When it comes to the Individual Complaints Mechanism Campaign members said:

“Our line on online safety has been clear from the start – the Government needs to take a firm stand against illegal and harmful content that online platforms have allowed to fester in the age of self-regulation. The root of our concern lies with platforms alone being the sole gatekeepers of how complaints are handled and what safety codes they need to abide by.

“We emphasised the need for an individual complaints mechanism that would offer all individuals, but particularly vulnerable children and young people, an accessible solution when online services and platforms fail to protect them.

“With this mechanism, a person could raise a complaint with the Online Safety Commissioner when a platform fails to give them a satisfactory response, or any at all. An individual complaints mechanism represents a vital safety net for children and young people and would place a responsibility on platforms to make their services a safer space for children.

“Young people are calling out for more protection online. At our recent conference, Aisling (17, representative of SpunOut.ie) stated ‘if the kind of harassment that children are experiencing online was happening offline, there would be an uproar’. Children and young people cannot be left in the position again where harms build up online before any action is taken.

“As the Bill published today does not yet include provisions for an individual complaints mechanism, the importance of the Expert Group, announced by the Minister today, cannot go unstated. It is encouraging that the issue will be reviewed in detail and we are hopeful that the voices of young people, and the concerns of those who have experienced harm online, will be heard through this Expert Group in the coming months.”

Regarding an Online Safety Commissioner campaign members commented:

“It is going to be very difficult to enforce any changes in behaviour in the Wild West of the online world without appointing a sheriff. It is not news that very harmful content can circulate on online platforms and the reality of the situation is, online harms can have a devastating impact in the lives of children and young people offline as well.

“They want the assurance that there is someone looking out for them and their interests in the online world. There is also huge support amongst the Irish public for the establishment of an Online Safety Commissioner and one with the weight of the law behind them to hold platforms accountable.

“It is great to see Government delivering on its commitment to provide for a commissioner whose sole responsibility will be focused on online safety. It is also very positive to hear Minister Martin’s intention to seek approval to recruit for the office without delay. We have seen from other jurisdictions, the establishment of a...