It would be embarrassing for the EU if Ireland introduced social media restrictions for children due to a lack of progress at European level, Ireland’s communications minister has warned, reports Breaking News.
Patrick O’Donovan spoke to reporters on Tuesday morning ahead of a Cabinet meeting at Government Buildings, reports Breaking News.
He said the Government is trying to “get Europe to move” on restricting young people’s access to social media.
At a meeting of EU communications ministers last week, O’Donovan said he “made it very clear” to the commissioner that if he did not feel adequate progress was being made by the European Union over the next six months, he would bring forward proposals in Ireland, reports Breaking News.
Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July, and O’Donovan said it would be “very embarrassing for the European institutions” if he, as chairman of the European Council of Communications Ministers, felt he “was left with no other option but to bring forward his own proposals in his own member state.”
“I’ve always said that we reserve the right to introduce restrictions like what the United Kingdom government are proposing,” he added, reports Breaking News.
On Monday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that restrictions on social media use by under-16s would be in place by next spring, with similar measures having been introduced in Australia in December 2025.
O’Donovan said he was working with “like-minded countries” including France, Spain and Luxembourg “to see if we can get unanimity,” reports Breaking News.
If that is not achieved, he said, “we can look to seek a majority because I think the majority of people across Europe at the moment are hugely concerned about this.”
The minister declined to clarify what proposals he would bring forward should Ireland act alone, or whether they would resemble the restrictions in Australia, saying: “I think it would be disingenuous of me not to go to the government first, rather than going to the media first,” reports Breaking News.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin was also asked about a potential ban on Tuesday morning.
He said the European Commission is “actively looking” at the issue but that Ireland can “progress” and is already doing so with measures including the proposed introduction of a “digital wallet,” reports Breaking News.
“If we can get a European Union-wide response, I think that would be a significant step forward because there is strength in unity, and I think it would have a significant impact,” he added.
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