Patrick O’Donovan said that allowing children to view ‘heinous’ material online was the public health issue of our generation.

Ireland’s media minister has said he is “annoyed” that the EU cannot agree on how to take action on children accessing inappropriate material online.

Patrick O’Donovan said allowing young children on social media is the public health issue of our generation and that governments have a duty of care to protect children.

He compared allowing children “uncontrolled” access to the internet to giving them a gin and tonic at a bar or handing them a box of cigarettes and matches.

The Irish government is planning the rollout of a “digital wallet” which would include age-verification controls.

Mr O’Donovan said the wallet would be available as an app and allow the gover

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