She made the announcement as Vodafone, Three, Eir, Tesco Mobile, Virgin Media and An Post Mobile all announced they are backing her 'keep childhood smartphone free' plan
Education Minister Norma Foley has vowed that she will bring in legislation to ban the sale of smartphones to children under the age of 13 if it is required.
“ have indicated that it is their policy that they would not sell mobile smartphones to over 13s,” she explained. Asked if she would be willing to introduce legislation to restrict phone companies from selling phones to parents or children, Ms Foley stated that all options are on the table. “We now have the endorsement of the mobile phone operators. I think that is enormously significant that they're stepping forward and saying, 'Yes, there's an issue here. And yes, we will support it and the work that you choose to do - with parents, with students and with young people - we will support that’.
The Minister said that many schools and parents across the country have led on the initiative, with many deciding not to buy their children phones.
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