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interest or concern. Matters relating to devices in schools is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy McEntee. She is keenly aware of the challenges faced by parents and educators relating to the costs of digital technology, including tablets. Her Department is continuing … placed to identify the requirements of their own student cohort to meet those requirements in accordance with their digital learning planning. This can include the purchase of ICT devices, such as tablets or laptops and the implementation of loan schemes for same if needed. At this time

access to digital technologies and the opportunities they bring. When we talk about digital exclusion, what we are hearing more and more from people is that it is not about a lack of devices or a lack of access to the Internet, though that can sometimes

Bill brings important clarity in that regard by distinguishing between the seizure of a device, the capture of data, the screening of material for privilege and a full digital forensic examination. This will give gardaí much greater clarity as to what they are legally entitled

view women as objects. When victims are stalked, shamed or threatened through their own devices, they are left with no safe space. When the justice system fails to keep pace with digital abuse, perpetrators act with impunity. Government must take stronger action. We need strict enforcement of online

District Court and seek an authorisation in relation to a device that has already been lawfully seized. That authorisation can allow gardaí to capture data and carry out privileged screening or a digital forensic examination. The journalist is not there nor is the solicitor. Nobody is there … phone and there are messages between them and there are emails. There may be documents stored on the device which are accessible through it. That material is assessed and subsequently goes before the High Court. The High Court might ultimately decide it is privileged and the material might

their consultants are and what operations they have had, as well as any medical devices they are carrying. The national electronic health record forms part of that, as well as enhancing the broader digital health record. Rather than going on at length, I welcome the agreement. The Minister

Quirke, the court recognised that a phone or a computer is a separate digital space, and in Landeck, the Court of Justice of the European Union set out what is required before a device is examined. This Bill answers all three of those. The Bill also introduces important

quid. Some parents are now having to pay hundreds of euro for devices if their children are to just fully participate in school. As this motion states, we are at risk of creating a digital divide and new inequalities in our education system unless we put further supports

national development plan to increase Garda capabilities in the areas of digital transformation, technology and cybersecurity. We have seen the benefits of funding in this area in recent times. All gardaí are now equipped with mobile devices which allow them to, among other things, access the PULSE system

provide at least one European digital identity wallet by the end of 2026. The wallet will enable people to store various identity credentials, such as driving licences, EU health insurance cards and age verifiers, securely on their mobile phone or device and produce them, at their own discretion … implementing the regulation while the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation has responsibility for the development of the Government digital wallet. The wallet must meet EU technical, security, interoperability and certification requirements. My Department’s role is to use the existing MyGovID service

deciding to move to iPads or certain technologies, engages with parents first and makes sure that whatever it is doing is affordable. The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published in 2022. It is underpinned by funding of €200 million over the course of the strategy … loan schemes for devices for students as appropriate. I recognise that the back to school costs on parents can place real financial pressure on families. We need to make sure that we are providing as much support as possible. Schools are becoming more digital. They are becoming more

view, there are what amount to workarounds that have been found that mean that while we say there is a digital age of consent of 16, there are so many kids now on social media well before that. CyberSafeKids alarmingly reveals that 84% of under-12s have their … minimum age restriction being 13 on the most popular apps, and around 93% of eight-to-12-year-olds have their own smart device. This is a ticking timebomb. We need to get serious in terms of empowering and supporting parents. We need to tackle that FOMO

have these devices, instead of saying they are not mandatory, we should ensure everybody is on a level playing field as we head into the 2026-2027 school year. That is the way we should be looking at it. In many schools, there is a digital divide, which

Garda Síochána's technological capabilities by providing it with a statutory basis for the operation of recording devices. The type of recording devices that An Garda Síochána can use pursuant to the 2023 legislation are body-worn cameras, which have been of great assistance in public policing … with the ability to utilise biometric analysis, a tool that will allow An Garda Síochána to further upgrade its investigative tools for the digital age. This is generally referred to as facial recognition technology, FRT, but there is of course much more to biometric analysis than merely facial

understanding is that the Garda is taking this particularly seriously. It has increased capacity through the roll-out of apps on mobile devices and the deployment of high-performance unmarked cars, motorbikes, lorry tractor cabs and so on. On 1 January of this year, An Garda Síochána introduced … vehicles and intelligent transport systems, ITS, technologies to improve road safety outcomes. We are taking practical steps to create the legislative, regulatory and digital foundations needed to support the safe deployment of connected and automated mobility and ITS technologies. The Government will continue to support the deployment

digital society. Economic leadership in the 21st century requires absolute resilience in our physical and regulatory infrastructure. Our Presidency will advance work on digital networks, focusing critical investments on subsea telecom connectivity and the security of subsea cables. We will work to create an innovation-friendly regulatory environment … secondary concern but a central contributor to Europe's technological leadership. Accordingly, we will prioritise and advance vital legislation on biotechnology and medical devices, driving the long-term innovation, resilience and competitiveness of this indispensable sector. We will also continue to advocate, as I have in recent months

acting as a barrier. The circular specified that, wherever possible, generic rather than branded items should be specified, for example, uniforms, clothing, tablet devices and sports equipment. It provided that schools should also consult with parents regarding their views and suggestions on cost reduction initiatives. Schools should provide … further assist schools, the Office of Government Procurement, HEAnet and the Department of Education and Youth have established a framework of providers of digital services, including tablets, PCs and laptops, with appropriate specifications, agreed pricing and levels of service, as well as providing framework management. Schools are encouraged

would say that we need to be careful. I welcome the Grow Digital vouchers, but this would lead to businesses depending on those vouchers to get the expertise and skills to be talented with AI. The whole idea of AI is that it is going to be usable … have called for before, an AI hub for the west of Ireland is needed. We have an incredible medical technology and medical device sector in Galway. The Minister of State knows the huge investment Dexcom has made in Athenry. I would love to see a med tech

will also apply to Part 6A, which is being inserted by section 10. There is an express provision that states that the recording devices Act is without prejudice to what is in the Data Protection Acts. There are also clear limitations on searching already set out in section … consultation make it a lengthy and detailed process and would further delay the roll-out of what I believe is an essential, necessary digital tool for An Garda. A code may need to be reviewed earlier than the five years and there is nothing preventing this from happening

abused his six-year-old sister was given a tablet at the age of five. There was no parental controls on the device and he had totally unsupervised access to the Internet. By the age of just six he was viewing pornography for hours every day. This … solution, it amounts to putting a sticking plaster on a gaping wound. There are also huge privacy concerns about mandating something like a digital wallet to access services online. Each of us in this House knows we have to do more to protect children online. We know

levers under the National Training Fund will allow us to strengthen skills resilience and support adaption to AI as we move towards a digital world. People need the skills, confidence and training to be able to use those technologies effectively. We already have a website at aiready.ie that … competitive research in the year ahead. This includes seven new Rinn centres in the areas of advanced therapies, artificial intelligence, energy, medical devices, pharma and biopharma, quantum and semiconductors. On the tax side, the research and development tax credit is being expanded. This is being leveraged to enable

been established and a range of subsidised or fully funded eco-driving training courses are available to HGV drivers. The promotion of digital and operational efficiencies such as load sharing and logistics consolidation hubs are also being explored by my Department. The logistics and supply chain skills group … relation to the use of smart tachographs were introduced under EU law in recent years. This includes the need to retrofit such devices in older commercial vehicles if the vehicle is engaged in international commercial activity. The requirements have so far only applied to heavy goods vehicles

industries, as everyone in this House knows well. We export the products of those industries worldwide, namely, pharmaceuticals and medicines, semiconductors and medical devices. We are home to many leading multinationals, such as Microsoft, Intel, Pfizer, Google and Apple. In fact, we are home to nine … will happen to the research and those programmes. The potential to solve some of the biggest issues of our time, including in healthcare, digital technologies, the future of work and featuring modern skills, is being placed in jeopardy. Just this morning, the Cabinet approved my proposal to roll

complete, which is 56%, and a further 12 are partially complete or in progress, including the development and implementation of a medical device management system. Overall, more than 90% of the actions are complete or in progress. CHI has advised that updates on the quality improvement plan will … open? Crucially, what is really important in getting the new children's hospital open is that this will be a digital public hospital with an integrated care experience enabled and improved by supported technology. There will be 473 beds in total, as Deputies will be aware, including

month, the Government approved a significant €100 million package of military support for Ukraine including non-lethal elements of air defence, anti-drone devices, IT provision and demining. We are working to deliver this support in a timely manner. The Taoiseach met with President Zelenskyy and fellow … Ireland, maintaining and growing our trade connections, including expanding the suite of EU free trade agreements and other trade-related agreements, such as digital trade and trade in critical raw materials, is a core objective for us. This can be achieved without undermining our key principles while securing