Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

The Taoiseach will recall that in 2021 the HSE experienced a cyberattack. The estimated cost to the HSE was in the region €102 million. The upgrade costs on its security amounted to an estimated €657 million. With the rise of artificial intelligence, we are now seeing far more sophisticated cyberattacks. I have asked the Deputy Malcolm Byrne, the chair of the Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence, whether the committee could look at cyberattacks, particularly from an AI perspective. Is the ministerial council on national security assessing how cyberattacks will change with the rise of artificial intelligence? AI is far more sophisticated and has changed dramatically over the past number of years. It will continue to change. It will not be static. The ministerial council meets once every two or three months. It might get to a stage where it needs to meet a little more frequently.

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