Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies. The Government has invested considerably over the past number of years in the National Cyber Security Centre, which is currently operated at a high state of preparedness and response due to recent cyber incidents and the Russian invasion of Ukraine and related cyber and hybrid threats arising from that conflict. The NCSC monitors potential threats and is in ongoing contact with our counterparts in the European Union, the UK, the US and other countries to share information and monitor the impacts of possible threats. The NCSC continues to work particularly closely with the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána and is in frequent contact with operators of critical infrastructure and services to monitor potential malicious and cyber activities. The NCSC provides regular advice to Government Departments and agencies on cyber planning and emergency response requirements and through regular exercises.

Regarding the MTU attack mentioned by Deputy Clarke, cyber threats are an ever present and growing risk to the safe operation of information systems across all sectors and the economy. These attacks are crimes and must be dealt with as such. They very often have an international element.

MTU was subject to a cyberattack and, in conjunction with the NCSE and An Garda Síochána, MTU has worked to identify the extent of the breach, its impact and take actions to deal with the consequences. Specialist forensic services are viewing the nature of the attack and the impacts on the data. An interim High Court injunction has been granted which prohibits the sale, publication, possession or use of any data that may have been illegally taken from the university's systems. Contingency plans were in place for such an event and the MTU core systems, such as email, HR, finance and payroll, were not affected by the breach and have continued to operate.

The cyberattack on the HSE shows that neutrality does not protect us from cyberattacks, nor does it protect us from hybrid warfare. I spoke to a number of experts down the years about cyberattacks and even the most sophisticated and well resourced systems come under attack. That is why we need to co-operate and get help from our allies when it comes to security and defence, cybersecurity and dealing with potential international terrorist threats.

Deputy Smith's question is an important one but, unfortunately, I do not have a briefing on it in this group of questions. I will come back to her in writing.

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