Micheál Martin issues ultimatum to social media companies in Ard Fheis speech

Tanaiste Micheal Martin ahead of the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis, at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre. Picture date: Friday April 12, 2024.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has told social media companies to “take concrete steps to get underage children off your apps or we will impose those steps on you”.

In his Ard Fheis speech to the Fianna Fáil faithful at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre, Mr Martin, who also serves as Foreign Affairs Minister, appealed to Iran to “step back from escalation” amid rising tensions between the region and Iran.

Most of the Tánaiste’s speech pointed to Fianna Fáil’s success in the coalition Government with Fine Gael and the Green Party to date.

Building on comments made by Education Minister Norma Foley earlier on the day suggesting social media companies could be hit with fines worth millions of euros, Mr Martin warned that they must take action to exclude young people from their platforms.

“Wherever I go in the country I meet parents who are worried about what is becoming the new public health crisis of our time – the impact on children of social media and being constantly online,” he told the Ard Fheis.

“Research clearly shows mental health, educational and social damage to many children. But parents and schools struggle to know what to do.

“We’ve taken the first step by sending guidance to schools, but we must go much further. A joint initiative will be prepared by health and education.

“Clear, accessible guidance will be available to every parent on what to do concerning your child and the online world.

“Every school will be given funding to support the banning of smartphone use during school time.

“And to the social media companies, our message is clear. Take concrete steps to get underage children off your apps or we will impose those steps on you.

“Online safety – getting children off their screens and back talking to each other – these are objectives we should all share.”

A large part of Mr Martin’s speech also focused on the current global conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.

He accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of “trying to crush the desire of a nation to have a free, peaceful, democratic, and European future” and said that support for Ukraine must be “resolute”.

On the war in the Middle East, Mr Martin said that the “brutal savagery of Hamas on October 7 should be condemned by anyone with basic decency” and that “nothing could ever justify their objectives and actions”.

However, he also said that the war in Gaza is “causing a shocking humanitarian catastrophe and cannot be justified” as he called for a ceasefire.

Amid fears that an Iranian strike on Israel could be imminent, Mr Martin said: “We join with others in appealing to Iran to step back from an escalation which threatens millions more people in the region with conflict.”

Mr Martin also said that when it comes to tax changes, “ the priority must be families on low and average incomes who are feeling the most pressure from rising prices”.

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