Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

My colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, is devising a national cyber security policy aimed at protecting economic infrastructure and informing and assisting citizens in this regard. I understand his Department is also preparing an awareness campaign focused on cyber security and aimed at individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises, the education sector, the public sector and business. The Defence Forces have provided assistance to the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in the national cyber security response.

In the context of the roles of the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces, considerable resources are invested in minimising the threat associated with cyber attacks and malicious security breaches, including investment in training. The Defence Forces take comprehensive security measures in deploying their information and communications systems, whether in Ireland or overseas. Details of measures taken are not publicised for security reasons. The European Commission published a proposal for a directive on attacks against information systems in September 2010 and the Department of Justice and Equality is closely engaged in the progress of that proposal.

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