Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister of State said, cybersecurity is the protection of Internet-connected systems, hardware, software and data from cyberattacks. The risks are growing in presence and destructive potential. The World Economic Forum's top ten risks lists cybersecurity after natural disasters and extreme weather. In recent days, we have learned from the Comptroller and Auditor General that the overall strategic direction of the national cybersecurity centre is not clear. No strategic plan is in place and not all objectives in the previous strategy were achieved.

Despite the high-level objectives in the White Paper, there are clearly issues with regard to cybersecurity. The fact it is in the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment means it is seen more as an IT management issue rather than an issue of national security. I suggest, respectfully, that the Minister of State with responsibility for defence should try to have the unit removed from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and brought into the Department of Defence so he can lead policy on cybersecurity as it grows in the coming years. The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General shows a clear need for this to become functional again. The oversight body set up to monitor its performance has not even met since 2015. We need action on this and it is the responsibility of the Minister of State to get a departmental change.

See this speech in context