Tanja Whelan

Glad to see Robert Dever's and my comments on the Apple State aid CJEU case included in this Sunday Times article. On a lighter note, this is probably the first time that, courtesy of our comments, the Sunday Times have used the word "flexibilisation". Luca Rubini I agree, flexibilisation is not a particularly nice (made-up) word but note that it has been used by the European Commission in a number of contexts over the past decade. It succinctly captures here the possibility of the European Commission rendering more flexible EU State aid regulation, partly as a response to greater global protectionism (including in the US) and as a means of helping achieve EU strategic autonomy. Not an uncontroversial issue, not least in light of the recommendations of the Draghi report but that's a different discussion altogether... #eu #stateaid #trade #globalisation #protectionism

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🔞Age Verification legislation in Ireland v the DSA ⚠️At the second reading of this Bill, Minister Martin indicated that the proposed Age Verification Bill is not compliant with the Digital Services Act … there are a number of significant legal and technical issues with the Bill's approach to addressing this matter. The main issue is that the Bill does not set out any role for Coimisiún na Meán Ireland's online safety and media regulator. An coimisiún is at the heart of Ireland's online safety framework which is built around the recent landmark legislative measures of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, the Digital Services Act and the terrorist content online regulation. The online safety framework requires online platforms to put in place systems and processes to reduce the availability of harmful online content and address access to age-inappropriate online content. It puts the onus on these platforms to ensure their services meet their obligations and there are severe penalties, up to and including criminal sanctions, for non-compliance. 🇪🇺It is important to note that Ireland is not alone in building this online safety framework. 🌐It is interwoven with related robust EU measures. This is important because Ireland alone cannot make the Internet safer for children. We must do it together, in collaboration with our fellow EU member states and the European Commission. Coimisiún na Meán has published a revised draft of its online safety code which it intends to adopt later this year. This is a major positive development. 🔰Crucially, the code will be binding and will focus in particular on ensuring the safety of children from harmful online content. It will oblige video-sharing platform services established in Ireland to protect children from harmful and age-inappropriate content like pornography. 🔰The measures these video-sharing platform services must take to deliver on this protection for children include the operation of age verification systems, which includes age assurance measures. 🔰The measures taken must be proportionate to the content and type of content permitted on particular services. 🔰For instance, those designated services that allow pornographic material to be uploaded by users must operate appropriate age assurance mechanisms to ensure children cannot encounter this type of material. 🚸The online safety code will also provide for requirements around the operation of content rating systems, parental controls, and effective reporting, flagging and complaint mechanisms. These measures will further safeguard children against harmful and age-inappropriate content such as pornography. 💰Once the code is applied, it can be enforced by Coimisiún na Meán, including through significant financial penalties of up to €20 million or 10% of turnover. 👮🏼 In addition, continued non-compliance can lead to criminal sanctions for company directors and senior managers. 👇🏻 See more here 👇🏻

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𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 '𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞' 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 ⚠️𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬, 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐜𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐝𝐮𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫. 🌟 Coimisiún na Meán -Ireland's media regulator, is working on a code of conduct for social media companies, which will be in place by the end of the year, according to the Taoiseach. 🗣️Simon Harris said Ireland was "ahead of many, many other European countries in our work in relation to this, and later this year, you'll see binding codes in place that will ... hit these companies where it hurts if they don't abide by the code, which is in the pocket, and will also have an ability to hold directors personally responsible because essentially, these social media companies aren't actually faceless, as people who make a hell of a lot of money from them and that's fine, but they also do need to abide by the laws of the land and accept their responsibility". ⬇️See more here ⬇️

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The Law Society of Ireland emphasizes the crucial role of "Dignity at Work" (DAW) in fostering mutual respect between employers and employees. By upholding DAW principles, it is possible to create a work environment that values each team member's qualities and differences while ensuring a workplace free from harassment. Let's all prioritize implementing DAW, following the guidance shared by the Law Society of Ireland. Take just twenty minutes a week to read more about it here: https://lnkd.in/erbJyDTT. #DignityAtWork #WorkplaceRespect #LawSocietyIreland

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The Law Society of Ireland's Budget 2025 priorities highlight critical issues in our justice system, but are they addressing the real problems? While calling for investment in civil legal aid, criminal legal aid, and digitalisation, key issues are overlooked. Despite the Law Society's call for reform, several crucial issues remain unaddressed in their proposal. These include the need for comprehensive criminal justice system reform, addressing the severely inadequate civil legal aid system, and tackling the persistent two-tier justice system that favours those with greater financial means.  These omissions raise serious concerns about the effectiveness of the proposed reforms in addressing systematic and generational failures within the Irish justice system.  https://lnkd.in/eYHuUt-8 #JusticeForAll #LegalReform #IrishLaw #LegalAid #JusticeSystem #LawSocietyIreland #Budget2025 #CriminalJustice #CivilLegalAid #LegalReformNeeded #AccessToJustice

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