Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 to 24, inclusive, together.

The programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, sets out a number of commitments relating to our national security and defence. The programme acknowledges that we live in a time of geopolitical upheaval and challenges to democracy and the international rules-based order with threats and challenges arising from a dynamic global geopolitical landscape. In this context, the Government will implement a number of measures relating to defence, justice and cybersecurity and improved co-ordination of national security.

I recently approved the establishment of a ministerial national security council, which will comprise the Taoiseach as chair, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Defence and Justice. The council will review strategic national security developments, review progress with delivery of the Government's national security commitments and measures and consider reports on the security situation and security threat levels and any other matters of importance to our national security. The council will met regulatory. Its meetings will be attended by the Secretaries General of the relevant Departments, the Commissioner for An Garda Síochána, the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, the director of the National Cyber Security Centre and the chiefs of staff of the Taoiseach and Tánaiste.

The current national security committee of officials will remain in place and report to the ministerial national security council for each of its meetings. In addition to its current responsibilities, the national security committee will steer and oversee progress with the delivery of the Government's strategic national security commitment and will report on progress to the ministerial national security council. To support the work of the council and the committee, a new national security secretariat will be established in my Department, which will provide reporting from meetings of the national security committee and the ministerial national security council. The new secretariat will also convene a number of new working groups of the national security committee to bring focused attention to bear on the delivery of actions in the primary areas of national security concern and to identify other matters requiring consideration by the ministerial national security council. The administrative arrangements to give effect to these commitments are currently being carried out.

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