Irish Medical Organisation

Lobbying Organisation Irish Medical Organisation

Date published 20 Sep, 2024

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 May, 2024 to 31 Aug, 2024

Specific Details Social media and Impact on Mental Health

Intended results to institute a ban on Smartphone use by pupils within all primary schools in Ireland. to urgently develop a well-funded public health strategy modelled on successful “tobacco free” policies to combat social media addiction, use and harm. in light of the case taken by 42 US Attorneys General against Meta for their product’s detrimental effect upon youth mental health to urgently investigate the allegations and publish opinion on whether a similar case should be taken in Ireland.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Ms Vanessa Hetherington, Assistant Director, Policy and International Affairs

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (1)

Letter to Taoiseach & Minister for Health

Submission (1)

Submission to the Oireachtas Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth - Protection of Children in the Use of Artificial Intelligence

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Simon Harris An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Stephen Donnelly Minister (Department of Health)

Patrick Costello TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Creed TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Simon Coveney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Brady TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Holly Cairns TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brendan Griffin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Claire Kerrane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Sherlock TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Tom Clonan Senator (Seanad)

Lynn Ruane Senator (Seanad)

Erin McGreehan Senator (Seanad)

Ned O'Sullivan Senator (Seanad)

Mary Seery Kearney Senator (Seanad)