Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the organisational capacity review undertaken by the external consultants for the NCSC last year. When are we likely to see the report on that and the draft recommendations? We had a disappointing private meeting of the transport committee earlier, where we could ask questions but not receive any answers. We understand this is a live issue and there are concerns, so we were respectful of that but the resourcing of this branch of government has been the subject of much debate prior to this ransomware attack. It would be interesting to know what work the Ministers had done on this prior to the attack.

Can they give any commitments to the workers in the HSE regarding them getting paid this week and the systems the payroll is on? What volume of attacks have been taking place that we are unaware of in the past two or three years? This is a status-red, high-level attack causing significant damage but how persistent have the attacks been and what level have they been? Has it been flagged that this would happen to such a degree? Are there any measures the Ministers believe could have been taken to flag it earlier and prevent it, given that the resourcing of the NCSC has not been to the required level?

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