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

I propose to take Question Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together.

I can assure the House that the State’s security is a priority for the Government and, in this context, I would emphasise that we already have in place functioning services which carry out significant and important roles in protecting the State and the people, notably An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and the National Cyber Security Centre.

Much of the security-focused work our services do is, of its very nature, covert and simply cannot be elaborated on in detail without jeopardising it. However, it will not be a surprise that combatting terrorism and violent extremism, protecting the interests of our people at home and abroad, and counteracting the ever-present cyber threat rank highly in their priorities. Deputies should be in no doubt that our services are active and dedicated to protecting our national security.

The Government will continue to ensure our services are properly resourced and developed to continue to work effectively against the threats we face. This is clearly evidenced by the Government’s resourcing and reform programmes for policing, defence and cyber security. The Government is committed to the delivery of a national security strategy in the coming months. Work is ongoing in drawing up the strategy, co-ordinated by the National Security Analysis Centre in my Department, and integrating inputs from a range of relevant stakeholders, including the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Justice and Environment, Climate and Communications; An Garda Síochána; the National Cyber Security Centre; and the Defence Forces.

The preparation of a draft strategy covers a broad range of national security issues. This will include the implications of more recent security, defence and international developments and their related impacts, notably the serious deterioration in the European security environment and the related political and economic impacts that arise from the war in Ukraine; the deepening conflict in the Middle East; the growing impact and scale of cyber and hybrid threats; and the continued instability in the geopolitical environment. This work also takes account of the report of the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy and the ongoing implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

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