A number of charities have joined forces to call for the establishment of a digital safety commissioner to protect children online.
The charities are looking to put pressure on the next government to do more for child safety on the web.
The Children's Rights Alliance - which includes the likes of Barnardos, ISPCC, CyberSafeIreland and SpunOut.ie - are concerned that children are being exposed to sexual exploitation, inappropriate content and extreme dieting online.
A new survey shows from CyberSafeIreland shows almost a third of young children have seen material online that has upset them.
Speaking at an event to mark Safer Internet Day, chief executive of the ISPCC John Church argued that a digital safety officer is crucial to protect children online.
He said: "We're looking for the next government to establish an online safety or digital safety commissioner - effectively that would be the online police, if you like.
"If you look at all broadcasting media... they're all regulated.
"You can't simply put up inappropriate or harmful communications through TVs and other forms of media - so why should the online environment be any different?"
The Alliance is also calling for a number of other measures to be put in place by the next government - including a 'comprehensive' digital literacy programme in schools.
Alex Cooney, CEO of CyberSafeIreland, observed: "There have been plenty of encouraging promises made in parties’ election manifestos, but the proof of their commitment will be seeing these translated into a Programme for Government with clear action points and timelines to both protect and empower our children in the online world.”
