Debate contribution: Online Harms: Impact on Young People

Debate contribution by Mr David Brooks on 13 May 2025.

MLA

Mr David Brooks

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

13 May 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Online Harms: Impact on Young People

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4948260

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Such is the nature of a pilot scheme. The phone pouch pilot is about building the evidential base and seeing where we go from there. The Minister has explained the logic behind it. Colleagues have rightly noted that, if we are to make a difference, banning phones in schools cannot be a cure-all. Protecting our children extends beyond the classroom into the community. At home, children should have appropriate supervision, and parameters should be set for device use and online access. We have also heard references made to RSE and how it relates to tackling online harms. I will not labour a point that has been repeated many times, other than to say that, although certain aspects of RSE can be more divisive in the House, the area of online harms, even during the Committee's mini-inquiry, was one on which all parties shared similar concerns, motivations and intentions. Again, I note that education and schools have an important role in that regard, but they are not solely responsible for the raising, forming and protection of our children. Other parts of society, most crucially, the family at home, must be at the core of that. Nevertheless, a curriculum that provides opportunities to develop a knowledge and understanding of e-safety and acceptable online behaviour, along with an ethos and school culture that fosters appropriate behaviours, attitudes and respect in schools, can play a key role. The motion references the Department of Education and the Department of Justice, but Members will know — certainly, this has been reflected in discussions at the Education Committee and elsewhere — that the cross-departmental working of which it speaks must go further. For example, we know that the mental health supports that young people can require in the modern age — counselling and so on — require joint working with the Department of Health. Pupils need to know that, whether in general or in response to a specific issue that they have encountered, they will be supported appropriately. The Education Committee has worked collectively on that point, and I am sure that the Chair would not challenge me for speaking about it on his behalf. He would have referenced the need to operate appropriately the Children's Services Co-operation Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 in that area. My party has long argued the need for greater resources for the PSNI and greater numbers of officers. Our amendment includes support for progressing the Chief Constable's recovery business case in that context, which would strengthen the motion. I realise that my time is drawing to a close, so I commend our amendment to the House.

434 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:36 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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