To: Darragh O'Brien (The minister of transport). Emer Higgins(The minister for digitalisation). Anne Graham (CEO of NTA). The Director of Government Communications

Public Info, Public Access - Stop providing public info on private social networks

We call on you to mandate that all live public service updates be published on official state-owned domains as the primary source, ending the practice of gating essential information behind private social media platforms. We demand new legislation to ensure platform-neutral communication, prioritizing accessible, account-free digital channels for all urgent public information.

Why is this important?

Why This Matters

1. Digital Fairness & Inclusion
Public information is paid for by the taxpayer and should be accessible to everyon, not just those with a social media account and app. Currently, people who choose to avoid certain platforms or those who struggle with tech (like some elderly citizens) are being left behind. Access to state information shouldn't be a "perk" for being on social media; it should be a baseline right.


2. The Danger of "Gated" Information
When a government agency posts an update only to a private site, they are "gating" public info. This forces you to navigate private algorithms and tracking cookies just to see a train delay or a weather warning. In an era where we are worried about data privacy and the power of Big Tech, our own government shouldn't be handing them a monopoly on our attention.

3. Reliability Over Hype
Official apps and websites often lag behind social media feeds. This creates a "two-tier" information system where the "correct" info is on a private feed while the "official" app is outdated. We deserve a single, reliable, and state-managed source of truth that is updated in real-time.

4. Safety and Sovereignty
Relying on a single private company for emergency and infrastructure updates is a massive risk. If a platform goes down or changes its rules, the Irish public loses its connection to vital services. We need to bring our public discourse back to public platforms that we citizens actually own.

Why You Should Join This Campaign

  • For the Commuter: To ensure the app you pay for actually tells you when the train is late.

  • For the Privacy-Conscious: To stop being tracked by Big Tech just to access state services.

  • For the Vulnerable: To ensure our parents and grandparents aren't excluded from vital updates because they aren't "online."

  • For the Future: To demand that the Irish government lives up to its "Digital Inclusion" promises and keeps public info in public hands.