The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly TD has today announced the establishment of an Online Health Taskforce.
Chaired by children’s rights advocate Jillian van Turnhout, the Taskforce has been asked to develop a public health response to the harms caused to children and young people by certain types of online activity.
It has been set up in recognition of a growing body of evidence from Ireland and internationally, showing the link between online activity and physical and mental health harms including anxiety, sleep deprivation, eating disorders, self-harm and suicide ideation.
While there have been a number of legislative actions in recent months at Irish and EU level, aimed at regulating online activity and improving safety, it is clear that a comprehensive health-led approach is also required.
The Taskforce has been asked to consider the range of social, mental health, physical health and sexual harms and to recommend strategic responses to address these harms.
These recommendations may include national guidelines, regulation, legislation, education, awareness campaigns, as well as additional health and social care supports.
Minister Donnelly said:
“I firmly believe that the harms to young people as a result of online interactions constitute a public health crisis. While I recognise that technology and social media can have many benefits, we need to ensure that robust mechanisms are put in place that protect young people.
“We cannot be complacent in our response, which requires a comprehensive, cross-sectoral approach. We need to act now, to protect young people today and to safeguard future generations. That is why I have established this Taskforce. Its members are all experts in their fields and I am confident that their work will provide us with a clear roadmap. I am very pleased that Jillian Van Turnhout has agreed to Chair the Taskforce, which is holding its first meeting next week, and look forward to seeing the first interim report of the Taskforce in 6 months’ time.
“In recognition of the critical nature of this problem, I am allocating €1 million in annual funding for national awareness campaigns, aimed at increasing the knowledge and understanding of young people, parents and guardians about the potential harms associated with some online activity. An additional €200,000 will be allocated to CyberSafe Kids to facilitate the great work they do in supporting children, parents and educators.”
Chair of the Online Health Taskforce Jillian van Turnhout said:
“I am grateful to Minister Donnelly for initiating this important taskforce and for entrusting me with its leadership. I am excited by the opportunity that it presents to positively impact the lives of children and young people.
“While online access provides a multitude of benefits, I am concerned by the persistent and, all too often, harmful targeting of children and young people. The taskforce will consult, review evidence, and bring forward recommendations to provide robust protection and safeguarding mechanisms.
Interim Chief Medical Officer Professor Mary Horgan said:
“The digital world is relatively new, but evidence increasingly shows that its negative impacts can be devastating and long-lasting. The Online Health Taskforce has a very important remit in evaluating the harms caused by some types of online behaviours and in examining the most effective ways to address these harms.
“Its recommendations will be critical in shaping the development of robust policies to safeguard the health and wellbeing of children and young people in the digital space, benefitting overall population health. I look forward to commencing this work with colleagues in the very near future.”
The Taskforce will hold its first meeting this month and will deliver an interim report within six months. Its final report will be submitted in September 2025.
