Leo’s tsar delay excuse rubbished by TDs

OPPOSITION TDs have rejected the Taoiseach’s claims that a lack of Dáil support is preventing the creation of Digital Safety Commissioner.

Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil and Labour are all united on the need for a new social media tsar without delay, and several senior figures within the three major Opposition parties have hit out at Mr Varadkar’s claim.

In recent days, the Irish Daily Mail asked Leo Varadkar to say when a digital watchdog would be appointed. The Fine Gael leader’s response was that he was unable to give a timeline as the Government does not have ‘a majority in the Dáil or the Seanad’.

Sinn Féin justice spokesman Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire described the Taoiseach’s remarks as ‘plainly ridiculous’.

‘This ignores the fact that the initiative has come from the Opposition, in the form of my own Bill to establish a Digital Safety Commissioner, and is enthusiastically supported by all Opposition parties,’ he said. ‘He [the Taoiseach] says self-regulation [by tech giants] is at an end. Well, if so, he needs to put his money where his mouth is.’

Labour’s Seán Sherlock said Mr Varadkar’s comments about not having a majority in the Dáil or Seanad are a ‘cop-out’ and that ‘the will of the Dáil should be recognised’.

Fianna Fáil’s Timmy Dooley said ‘his notion that somehow he doesn’t have a majority flies in the face of reality’. He also accused Mr Varadkar of having a ‘fascination with the large digital platforms with their vast amount of money and their trendy leaders’. He said: ‘Fianna Fáil have made it clear that we want the introduction of a Digital Safety Commissioner, Sinn Féin are on board, the Labour Party are on board – what’s his problem?’

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