A Bill requiring online providers of pornography to carry out strict age verification to ensure that under-18s cannot access their material will come before the Seanad on Thursday

The Protection of Children (Online Age Verification) Bill 2024 has been introduced by Independent Senator, Ronan Mullen, and co-sponsored by Senators Michael McDowell, Sharon Keogan and Gerard Craughwell, and three Government Senators — Fianna Fáil’s Erin McGreehan, Diarmuid Wilson and Aidan Davitt.

In a statement, Senator Mullen said: “We all know that access to pornography online is a serious problem for our society and especially for young people. It harms them and affects their development on many levels”.

While the media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, is producing a Code and Rules on this matter, it does not make robust age verification procedures mandatory for online providers of pornography.

“Without separate primary legislation — including criminal sanctions for breaches, the problem will continue to be tackled ineffectively”, he said.