The media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, has published new a new draft code and rules for video-on-demand services.
It includes measures to protect children from accessing inappropriate sexual or violent content.
The rules are aimed at content which may incite violence or hatred against a group, or a member of a group based on their characteristics, including sex, race, colour, disability, sexual orientation or membership of a national minority.
The code also targets content that could be viewed as provocation to commit a terrorist offence.
Measures would include providing on-screen warnings at the beginning of programmes for content which may be harmful to children.
Providers must also take appropriate measures to ensure that content containing pornography or gratuitous violence will not be shown to children.
The draft rules introduce obligations on video-on-demand service providers to progressively make their programming accessible to people with disabilities.
Once finalised, the new regulations will apply to video-on-demand service providers with their EU Headquarters in Ireland.
The regulator defines 'on-demand' as a media service that provides for the viewing of programmes at the moment chosen by the user and at their individual request on the basis of a catalogue of programmes selected by the media service provider.
The draft code and rules are currently open for public consultation and the closing date for submissions is 6 August.
"Once finalised, our new Code and Rules will for the first time allow for the statutory regulation of Video-On-Demand service providers based in Ireland," said Coimisiún na Meán Media Development Commissioner Rónán Ó Domhnaill.
"The Code will help efforts to ensure that people across Ireland can watch entertaining, informative and engaging programming on-demand, while ensuring that children do not access age-inappropriate programming."
"The Rules will ensure that every step is taken to ensure that programmes are accessible for people with disabilities and will oblige every audio-visual on-demand media service provider based in Ireland to establish an accessibility action plan," Mr Ó Domhnaill said.
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