Flanagan won’t reveal stance on smartphones for children

JUSTICE Minister Charlie Flanagan has refused to reveal if he supports a minimum age for children owning smartphones.

However, he said the topic would form part of an interdepartmental Government discussion in the coming weeks.

When asked if he would throw his weight behind the Irish Daily Mail’s campaign for a minimum age for ownership – following three polls which backed the idea – he would only say that the issue would be examined as part of a cross-Government approach.

The minister was speaking yesterday at the launch of the Government’s Data Protection Bill 2018 in Government Buildings. ‘There is a high-level inter-departmental committee under the chairmanship of Minister Naughten. And we will be looking at that issue in the context of ongoing developments. It’s not one that will be particularly addressed under this Data Protection Bill,’ he said.

It comes just a day after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar moved to play down the possibility of introducing a minimum age for smartphone ownership, despite the recommendations of cyber experts and the concerns raised by parents and teachers.

Speaking to the Irish Daily Mail this week, the Taoiseach said: ‘We have to be open to any proposals that are made.’ But he added that if it was made illegal, penalties would have to be considered, saying he couldn’t ‘imagine prosecuting an 11-year-old for having a phone’.

But abuse survivor Fiona Doyle, who supports the campaign, said: ‘I think the Taoiseach is missing the point… nobody has said anything about locking children up or prosecutions.’ Ms Doyle suggested that phones could simply be taken off children. ‘It’s about creating awareness for our children and ensuring their safety,’ she said.

Dr Mary Aiken, one of the world’s leading cyber-psychologists, believes children under the age of 14 should have not have a smartphone.