Ireland to promote OSCE web liberty

THE ISSUE of internet freedom will be a priority for Ireland when the State assumes the chair of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) for the first time next year.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore will bear overall responsibility for the executive action of the body and the co-ordination of its activities.

David Donoghue, political director of the Department of Foreign Affairs, addressed the Oireachtas committee on foreign affairs and trade yesterday. He said new digital media would be at the centre of a conference in Dublin next June for OSCE states.

“As in other parts of the world, the threat to freedom of expression online is ever-present in the OSCE region, and appears to be growing,” he said. “Ireland will work to highlight the simple fact that human rights and fundamental freedoms do not change with new technologies, but extend into the digital age.” The conference will also “seek to showcase Ireland as the internet capital of Europe”.

Meanwhile, the “successful example of conflict resolution” in the Northern Ireland peace process would be used “to draw on common themes applicable to conflict situations in the OSCE area”.

The work of the Criminal Assets Bureau will also be highlighted as a model for other OSCE members.