Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

For a long time, we have traded on the fact that we are physically very remote, and that insulates us from the kind of cross-border aggression we have seen in eastern Europe. However, cyberwarfare does not know boundaries in the same way. I would like to see that we are adequately supporting and resourcing the National Cyber Security Centre. I know it is difficult for the Taoiseach to elaborate on the work it does, and that is right and proper.

I would also like to mention the resourcing of the Data Protection Commissioner. I say this with a view to 2024 being a year of elections. We know that roughly half of the world's population is going to the polls this year. I fully expect there to be an unprecedented level of interference in terms of misinformation and disinformation. The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner in Ireland has an outsized role because of the presence of so many social media companies in our jurisdiction.

Parts 4 and 5 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022, which deal with outside interference in our electoral process, have yet to be commenced. I know we have brought that to the European Commission for ultimate sign-off. Ahead of next month's referendums, the local and European elections, and at some stage over the next 12 to 13 months a general election in this country, it is very important that we get this right and have ourselves protected from outside influence by malign actors.

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