Panelists discussed questions such as; How do we balance the civil freedom of expression that online provides while protecting the common good? What is the balance of responsibilities of the Internet global companies behind social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook and how well is Ireland facing up to these challenges?
The group of panelists brought together academics and practitioners who contributed their expertise, insight and academic research to the discussion.

• Dr Maria Helen Murphy, Lecturer in Law at Maynooth University.
• Professor Brian O’Neill, Director of Research and Dean of the Graduate Research School at TU Dublin, City Campus.
• Gavin Sheridan is CEO and co-founder of Vizlegal—a global API and intelligence tool for law. He is the former Director of Innovation at Storyful.
• Professor Eugenia Siapera is Professor of Information and Communication Studies and Head of the School of Information and Communication Studies, UCD.

The panel discussion was facilitated by Helen Shaw, CEO Athena Media and member of the RIA’s Social Sciences Committee

The series provides a discussion forum for rural development stakeholders and takes place in three cluster regions: the west, the north-east and the south-east. The three separate themes beings discussed at the individual cluster venues are economic development, social inclusion, and sustainable rural communities.

Each conversation will stimulate three to five recommendations from a variety of rural, regional and national stakeholders attending the conversations. They will be recorded in a rapporteur’s report, which will be used to help inform rural policy.