Politics

Electoral Commission to be empowered to counter online misinformation under draft law to be considered by Cabinet

There was an expectation among some sources that the matter would be on the Cabinet agenda though others said this was not confirmed yesterday evening

Minister for Housing and Local Government Darragh O’Brien is expected to brief colleagues on a draft outline of a Bill aimed at bringing the proposals in line with European Union law. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos

Cormac McQuinn
Tue Jun 25 2024 - 06:00

Ireland’s Electoral Commission, An Coimisiún Toghcháin, is to be empowered to counter online misinformation and disinformation under draft legislation to be considered by Cabinet today.

Plans to give the Commission the ability to investigate and monitor and prevent “manipulative or inauthentic behaviours online” during election periods were delayed following concerns raised by the European Commission.

Now Minister for Housing and Local Government Darragh O’Brien is expected to brief colleagues on a draft outline of a Bill aimed at bringing the proposals in line with European Union law.

The legislation would also expand the Electoral Commission’s responsibilities for countering online misinformation and disinformation about the electoral process so that it could carry out this work at any time, not just during election periods as envisaged in the original plans.

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The draft law to be considered by ministers, the General Scheme of Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2024 (Part 5), is designed to ensure that the measures it contains are in harmony with the EU’s Digital Services Act and it is understood to address observations made by the European Commission.

It also provides for a co-operation agreement between the Electoral Commission and Coimisiún na Meán, the Media Commission, to facilitate the sharing of information between the two agencies.

It confirms that the Electoral Commission can communicate with the public in relation to electoral process misinformation, disinformation or the use of manipulative or inauthentic behaviour at any time, not just during an electoral campaign period.

Meanwhile, there is a possibility that Cabinet will consider RTÉ's plan to implement the recommendations of expert groups that examined governance and human resources issues at the broadcaster in the wake of various controversies that have arisen at RTÉ since last year.

There was an expectation among some sources that the matter would be on the Cabinet agenda though others said this was not confirmed yesterday evening.

Some of the recommendations were measures for Government to take like bringing RTÉ under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG). It is understood that this and other measures will require legislation.

Separately Mr O’Brien is expected to seek approval to progress plans to provide a new water source for the Eastern and Midlands regions through a pipeline from the river Shannon.

The Housing Commission report said a ‘clear delivery deadline of 2031 should be set’ and the regions the project will serve are ‘at high risk of major water shortages until the project is completed’

The recent Housing Commission report the Water Supply Project – Eastern and Midlands Region (WSP-EMER) is a strategic national project to meet the future water supply needs for housing, commercial and industrial growth.

The project to be delivered by Uisce Éireann would involve the abstraction of water from the lower river Shannon and piping treated water to the Dublin via the Midlands.

The Housing Commission report said a “clear delivery deadline of 2031 should be set” and the regions the project will serve are “at high risk of major water shortages until the project is completed”.

Cabinet approval is to be sought so that Uisce Éireann can proceed to planning and submit an application to An Bord Pleanála in 2025.

Minister for Education Norma Foley and Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton are to update Cabinet on plans for the first Special Needs Assistants (SNA) Workforce Development Plan which is to be completed by September 2025.

It comes following the publication of a survey of SNAs of which there are more than 21,000 in schools around the county.

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue is to update ministers on support schemes for the seafood industry.

The schemes – to be administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara – come under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) Seafood Development Programme which is funded to the tune of €258 million between 2021 and 2027.

Four of the seven planned schemes are to open for applications from Tuesday.

Cormac McQuinn

Cormac McQuinn

Cormac McQuinn is a Political Correspondent at The Irish Times

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