Tánaiste Simon Coveney has said the Government has sought advice on how to protect the electoral system from negative online advertising.

Simon Coveney was responding to Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan who said there was "unfinished business" arising from the recent referendum on the Eighth Amendment.

He said there was a "real issue about having transparency around online advertising."

Mr Coveney said there were questions about how to ensure future elections are not being influenced inappropriately.

He said this was an issue that every country in the western world was grappling with, and the Government had asked a number of people to look at this issue to take advice on how to protect the electoral system into the future.