M9 crash aftermath: can the Government bring social media under control?

M9 crash aftermath: can the Government bring social media under control?

Author: The Irish Times August 26, 2026 Duration: 40:14

Inside Politics Live is coming to Cork on September 30th. Get your tickets here. 


Pat Leahy is joined by Ellen Coyne and Liz Carolan to talk about the response to the circumstances around the recent fatal M9 motorway crash. They examine Coimisiún na Meán’s response and the powers it has under the EU Digital Services Act, and the refusal of Tiktok to appear before a Dail committee. They consider proposals like making joyriding videos illegal and weigh up concerns about free speech and enforceability. 


In part two: the Government has u-turned on whether to pay for Skyclarys, a drug that treats Friedreich's ataxia, a rare neurodegenerative disease. Why did it take so long? 


Liz Carolan is a journalist, author and consultant. She writes The Briefing, a newsletter about technology and politics.

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