Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Honan for a comprehensive and informative opening statement. It is very much appreciated by the committee as it gives us a good steer on what is at the moment only the heads of a Bill. That gives us an idea but we have to flesh out this process to ensure that we capture as many third-party views as possible, such as those of Cyber Ireland and the organisations it represents, as well as our own views with regard to what is an important Bill governing a very important institution within the State, the National Cyber Security Centre.

I have a few observations regarding Mr. Honan’s opening statement. He mentioned NIS2 and how the regulation of entities is to be carried out in the State. Separately, as committee Chair, I have written to the NCSC to ask it to outline how it is that it proposes to do that. Mr. Honan has put it in such a way in his paragraph that 180,000 companies will be regulated entities under NIS2. In Ireland, the number will be approximately 4,000. Fundamentally, my question is how is the NCSC to do that? In Mr. Honan’s opinion as a professional in the sphere, does it have the resources and competence to do that? I am not casting any aspersions on the NCSC but I appreciate we need to build up this resource. This is one of the many stepping stones in that process. I have a number of other questions and then the other members will come in. How does Mr. Honan envisage the NCSC regulating that very large number of companies?