According to reports today the Government are said to be considering proposals that will make it illegal for shop owners to sell internet enabled smartphones to children under the age of 14.
The latest motion which is being drafted up by Fine Gael’s Jim Daly, will see a law being implemented that would prevent parents from allowing their children to own an internet enabled phone or tablet.
Mr Daly who is chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs, has claimed that the new laws would work and would in turn protect the nation’s children from unsafe and unsuitable content.
Speaking about the Bill Mr Daly told RTE’s Morning Ireland programme: “The proposed regulation will also force parents to take responsibility for their children’s access to internet.”
“It’s not about unsupervised access, we do need to regulate. Essentially you are allowing a child of seven or eight years of age to have a mobile device that allows them to access unlimited pornography of every type, they can go gambling, or be part of cyber bullying.”
“We protect our children from things like sunbeds by law, just like alcohol [and] tobacco.”