Below article was published in “WMB Now”‘s Newsflash on 9 September 2024.
The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has established an Online Health Taskforce to develop a public health response to harms caused to children and young people by certain types of online activity.
The Taskforce is being chaired by children’s rights advocate Jillian van Turnhout. It has been set up inn 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.
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.
“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.”
About Jillian van Turnhout
Jillian is a Chartered Director and is accredited in corporate governance by INSEAD. A former independent Senator, she influenced legislation on public health issues and advocated for the rights of children and young people. Her previous roles include serving as Chief Executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance, President of the National Youth Council of Ireland, Board Chair of Early Childhood Ireland and Co-founder of the European Youth Forum. Jillian has been awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite from France, an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, and the WAGGGS Medal of Service in 2023.
“It’s happening on our watch, and we have a responsibility to act.” Jillian van Turnhout
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.
The members of the Taskforce also include:
Professor Mary Horgan
Professor Mary Horgan is interim Chief Medical Officer and Professor of Infectious Diseases at University College Dublin (UCD) and Mater Misericordiae University Hospital.
Niamh Hodnett
Niamh is the Online Safety Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán. She oversees the organisation’s Policy Division and the development of the Online Safety Code is one of her main priorities.
Dr Brian Mac Namee
Dr Brian Mac Namee joined the School of Computer Science at UCD where he is an associate professor in 2015, and in 2024 became UCD Site Director at the Insight Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Data Analytics.
Professor Debbie Ging
Professor Debbie Ging is Professor of Digital Media and Gender in the School of Communications at DCU and Director of the DCU Institute for Research on Genders and Sexualities.
Alex Cooney
Alex co-founded Cybersafe Ireland, now known as CyberSafeKids, and is currently its CEO, helping to build the organisation to a level where it is providing its services to thousands of children each year.
Professor Philip Dodd
Professor Philip Dodd is Mental Health Policy and Clinical Specialist at the Department of Health and is also National Clinical Advisor with the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP).
Eoghan Cleary
Eoghan Cleary is an assistant principal, teacher and coordinator of SPHE and curricular wellbeing at Temple Carraig Secondary School in Greystones. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre.
Noeline Blackwell
Human Rights lawyer Noeline Blackwell joined the Children’s Rights Alliance last year as Online Safety Co-ordinator. She chairs the Independent Patient Safety Council and the Child Law Project. In 2023, she was appointed as a member of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.
Rachel Harper
Rachel is an experienced educational leader and school principal. She is a member of Oide’s leadership panel, mentoring newly appointed principals. She is the founder and campaign leader of ‘It Takes A Village’.
Professor Pete Lunn
Pete Lunn is the founder and head of the ERSI Behavioural Research Unit (BRU). He is a member of a European Commission expert group for a Fair and Sustainable Economy. He is an Adjunct Professor in the Dept. of Economics at TCD and teaches behavioural economics at both TCD and UCD.
Dr Abigail Collins
Abbey is a Consultant in Public Health Medicine and the National Clinical Lead for Child Health Public Health within the HSE. She leads on the HSE’s universal programme for children, the National Healthy Childhood Programme.
The Taskforce will also include two representatives of the National Youth Assembly of Ireland.
Pictured (left–right): Professor Mary Horgan, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, Chair of Online Health Taskforce, Jillian van Turnhout and CyberSafe Kids co-founder and CEO Alex Cooney.