Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We implement a security-by-design, defence in-depth approach to cybersecurity. We are very conscious of the need for ongoing engagement with experts, particularly in the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and the National Cyber Security Centre to ensure best practice operates as it relates to all aspects of cybersecurity and information security. In the Department of the Taoiseach, we have factored in a significant review of our security posture in our plans for 2022.

Overall, for operational and security reasons we are advised by the national centre not to disclose details of systems and processes that could in any way compromise information systems.

More generally, we do not want to assist any criminals. It was clear to us following the cyber attack on the health service that there is a need for European solidarity. It was interesting how countries such as Poland and the UK came to our assistance very quickly. We will not do this on our own; European member states must share experience and knowledge and work together to combat cybersecurity problems, which will be a major threat in the future. The attack had an enormous impact on the health service. Considering the nature of the event, it could never be fully presented. I paid tribute to all the senior officials in the HSE who worked for 24 hours a day to try to get the system back. It took many weeks and months. It affected the front-line clinicians, who could not get scans. It was a very difficult time for all working in the HSE and the Department. I was critical regarding systems but I must pay tribute to the staff in this case. On top of Covid, the attack was the last straw for those on the ground and in the system. That people had to work so hard to save the system had an impact on their health. That is the truth, and that needs to be said too. I thank the staff for the work they did.

On inflation, the Government has said it is going to have a package of measures. Again, we must not fuel inflation inadvertently through our measures. Oil and gas prices have increased exponentially globally. The opening up of societies and the economic rebound across the world have meant an imbalance between the supply of products and demand, which is driving up inflation. Quantitative easing in America and Europe has been unprecedented during this pandemic. All of these factors combined are leading to inflationary spirals. We can see this in respect of both fertiliser and microchips for cars. It is manifesting itself in many ways, so we must now take measures to cushion the blow for affected people as best we can.

With regard to Brexit and the Northern Ireland protocol, the shared-island dialogue is working. Without prejudice to anyone’s constitutional views or perspectives, it is reaching out. The dialogues have been fantastic. There have been well over 1,000 participants. An All-Island Women’s Forum has been established on foot of the dialogues. An All-Island Climate and Biodiversity Network has been established as a result of them also. Great research has been done by the National Economic and Social Council and the ESRI on various systems, including primary care systems, and on educational curriculums etc. That is good and we will continue with that.

On the duty of care issue, I do not want to pre-empt the independent review, but my sense is that the review is important and not statutory because we need to safeguard serving and current members of the Defence Forces. We need to be satisfied that the duty of care is applied now. We cannot wait for a couple of years for a statutory inquiry that could take a long time. It will not give us the reassurance we need that existing systems in the Defence Forces are robust enough and that the culture is right. In that regard, the independent review led by the judge, human resources person and senior counsel is important.

Due process should always apply. Reference was made to public representatives, judgments and so on. Due process should always be allowed. I take the point that the pressures on politics sometimes create a shortcut through due process. As parliamentarians, we should guard against that.