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National Advisory Council for Online Safety (NACOS)
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
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The National Advisory Council for Online Safety is a forum for non-governmental, industry, and academic stakeholders to discuss online safety issues.
The Council was formed as part of the Action Plan for Online Safety 2018-2019. The Council has 20 members and a chairperson. The membership of the Council is drawn from children's and parents' organisations, major online platforms, and experts on online safety issues.
The Council's role is to:
- provide advice to Government on online safety issues
- identify emerging issues where government intervention might be needed
- help in the creation of clear and easy to understand online safety guidance materials for all internet users
- examine national and international research and communicate key findings to Government, stakeholders and the wider public
As provided for in the Action Plan for Online Safety, the Council will have a core membership of up to 20, not including the chairperson. Membership of the Council will be refreshed every two to three years to involve other persons in the core membership.
The membership of NACOS is drawn from among the former Internet Safety Advisory Committee members, complemented by certain additions to broaden the membership and to ensure participation by key industry players.
The membership of the Council comprises:
- Minister Catherine Martin – Chair
- Brian O'Neill, DIT – Deputy Chair
- Chris Kelly, Department of Education and Skills Tríona Quill, Principal Officer, , Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
- D/Chief Superintendent, Declan Daly, Representative of An Garda Síochána
- Dr Karen McAuley, Representative of the Office of the Ombudsman for Children
- Jenny Dolan, Representative of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner
- John Church, CEO, Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
- Celine Clarke, Representative of Age Action Ireland
- Jane McGarrigle, Project Officer, Webwise.ie
- Ana Niculescu, Manager, Hotline.ie
- Áine Lynch, CEO, National Parents' Council (Primary)
- Ian Power, Executive Director, SpunOut.ie
- Dualta Ó’Broin, Head of Public Policy Ireland, Facebook Ireland
- Ryan Meade, Public Policy and Government Relations Manager, Google Ireland
- Una Fitzpatrick, Technology Ireland (IBEC)
- Liam O'Brien, Strategy and External Affairs Director, Vodafone Ireland
- Alex Cooney, CEO, Cybersafe Ireland
- Cormac Callanan, Aconite Internet Solutions
- Dr James O'Higgins Norman, UNESCO Chair on Tackling Bullying in Schools and Cyberspace, DCU National Anti-Bullying Research & Resource Centre
- Dr Maria Helen Murphy, Assistant Professor in Law, Representing Irish Council for Civil Liberties
Senior officials from each of the six Sponsor Group departments may attend meetings of the NACOS in an advisory capacity.
It is envisaged that key elements of the Council's work will be progressed through working groups. The Council may establish working groups to inform specific pieces of work, the membership of which can involve experts and industry representatives relevant to the topic beyond the core membership of the Council.
The Terms of Reference of the NACOS are as follows:
- provide advice to Government on Online Safety policy issues
- identify emerging issues where government intervention may be warranted, including in future iterations of the government's Action Plan
- input to the development of clear and easy to understand Online Safety guidance materials for all internet users, including targeted material for children and young people, persons with learning disabilities, parents, and older people
- to act as the national stakeholder forum for the purposes of EU funded programmes
- review national and international research and disseminate key findings to Government, stakeholders, and the wider public
- provide an annual report for Government to coincide with Safer Internet Day
Minutes of the Meeting of the National Advisory Council for Online Safety, 3 June 2021
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Minutes of the Meeting of the National Advisory Council for Online Safety, 12 February 2020
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Minutes of the Meeting of the National Advisory Council for Online Safety, 3 October 2019
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Minutes of the Meeting of the National Advisory Council for Online Safety, 8 May 2019
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Minutes of the Meeting of the National Advisory Council for Online Safety, 23 January 2019
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Minutes of the Meeting of the National Advisory Council for Online Safety, 22 November 2018
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Note of Meeting of the NACOS Research Subgroup, 1 November 2018
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Note of Meeting of the NACOS Guidance Subgroup, 18 October 2018
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Minutes of the Meeting of the National Advisory Council for Online Safety, 4 October 2018
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Report of a National Survey of Children, their Parents and Adults regarding Online Safety
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National Advisory Council for Online Safety: Progress Report - May 2020
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National Advisory Council for Online Safety: Progress Report - February 2019
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