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Gilmore addressing the UN General Assembly last September Richard Drew/AP/Press Association Images

'Internet freedom' is Government priority, Gilmore tells UN

The Tánaiste’s words to the Security Council come days after a controversy over the strengthening of online copyright legislation.

THE GOVERNMENT WILL make ‘internet freedom’ a priority during its time at the helm of an international security organisation, Eamon Gilmore has said.

“Freedom of expression and freedom of the media” online were highlighted as key aims by the the Tánaiste during an address to the UN Security Council in New York today.

He said the Government would organise a conference for 56 countries in Dublin next June on the issues at stake around online freedoms. Gilmore was speaking weeks after Ireland took up the chair of the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe.

His comments come days after the Government was caught up in controversy over the use of a statutory instrument to strengthen online copyright legislation.

The measure was dubbed ‘SOPA Ireland’ by opponents, who said it risked jeopardising the operations of online firms including social media.

Gilmore told delegates at the UN Security Council:

We intend to prioritise the issue of internet freedom.  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.  We will work to ensure that existing OSCE commitments in relation to freedom of expression and freedom of the media apply to all forms and means of their exercise.

He also highlighted measures which could be taken internationally to combat “corruption, money-laundering and terrorist financing”, saying the Criminal Assets Bureau could serve as a model for other nations to consider.

Referring to the need for action to deal with conflicts occurring within some of the 56 OSCE countries, he said the Government would organise a conference on how the lessons of the Northern Ireland peace process could be applied elsewhere.

More: Tánaiste to travel to US for United Nations meetings>

Read: Ireland’s ‘SOPA’ legislation: The big arguments for and against>

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39 Comments
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    Mute Mattress Dick
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    May 30th 2020, 8:20 PM

    Remember it well. Obviously a scam and everyone fell for it

    40
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    Mute Jimmy Nolan
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    May 31st 2020, 10:10 AM

    @Mattress Dick: Was asked by an investor my thoughts. Having a degree in engineering with thermodynamics as a specialty told him to keep his money for drink. 2nd Law always prevails. Not the first one I debunked all with same premise, free lunches with energy.

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    Mute Seamus McSpud
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    May 31st 2020, 3:58 PM

    @Mattress Dick:

    And now another scam artist wrote a book and is charging €16.99 for the pleasure

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    Mute Seymour business
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    May 30th 2020, 9:43 PM

    Matt Cooper gave the whole thing huge coverage could never understand why.

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    jl
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    Mute jl
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    May 31st 2020, 2:15 PM

    @Seymour business: everyone has a price

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    Mute David Jordan
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    May 30th 2020, 8:49 PM

    Way to complicated, all they needed do is this: https://i.imgur.com/aeFXrzF.jpg

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    Mute Rochey77
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    May 30th 2020, 9:02 PM

    Any basic understanding of the science told the story, it was just 21st century alchemy. But, then again, fools and their money are very easily parted and so it lasted a short but embarrassing while.

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    Mute Merlin
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    May 30th 2020, 10:54 PM

    I invested a few quid in it, sure it was chicken feed at the time. Wish I had it now!

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    Mute OConnelj
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    May 30th 2020, 11:24 PM

    @Merlin: Sell your pig in a poke. They are making good money these days.

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    Mute David cotter
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    May 31st 2020, 9:55 AM

    Coops…pat kenny and a few others were on McCarthy straight away…pretty shameful carry on really…

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    Mute Jimmy Nolan
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    May 31st 2020, 10:06 AM

    Was asked by an investor my thoughts. Having a degree in engineering with thermodynamics as a specialty told him to keep his money for drink. 2nd Law always prevails. Not the first one I debunked all with same premise, free lunches with energy.

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