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

That is the key.

We are working very hard on national cybersecurity. I did not get a chance to address Deputy Flanagan’s earlier point because it was kind of an extensive contribution on European defence, but on the security defence issue, cybersecurity comes under that remit. We cannot deal with cybersecurity on our own. In fact, cybersecurity can only be dealt with on a collaborative basis. When we had a terrible attack on our health service, other countries came to give their own experiences - Poland being one and the Ukrainian Government being another.

I was in Estonia recently, where Ireland is now a participant on the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. It is named NATO but it was set up by Estonia way back. An increasing number of countries have joined it to learn collaboratively about cybersecurity threats, preparedness and all of that. More of that will be required into the future. We have beefed up our national cybersecurity team and will continue to do so. The national digital strategy is part of that. In addition, I will support primary radar services. Again, as Deputy Flanagan said along with Deputy O’Donnell, the Commission on the Defence Forces dealt with aviation, sea and conventional forces, as well as the cybersecurity piece. The Government will have a series of meetings on defence issues and the Commission on the Defence Forces’s report in terms of the resources that will be required and how we map that out and timeline that. It is clear that we need to enhance our defence capability for protection purposes.

We need a broader debate on the neutrality issue, in response to Deputy Flanagan’s points, through a citizens' assembly. Although he may not feel it is not optimal, I accept fully and respect his position on that. However, I feel, at the moment with the war in Ukraine, as much unity of purpose we can retain in the country can tackle that is preferable to having a debate on the neutrality question, which could divide people right now, when we need as many people as possible working to the same agenda in respect of our humanitarian response to the Ukraine war and supporting Ukraine’s application for EU membership.