Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)

I have had frequent meetings with the Garda Commissioner and the head of the NCSC in respect of the threats to which this country is exposed as a result of malign actors seeking to attack our cyber technology. It is important that I am updated on a continuing basis.

I regret to say that the Deputy is correct, in that the threat does exist. It is a threat not just to our national State-owned infrastructure, as he has indicated, but also to private enterprise within the country. The NCSC is to the forefront in this matter, as am I. There is an obligation on State agencies to ensure that each State agency has measures in place to ensure that it can withstand whatever form of cyberattack is forthcoming. I know it will be impossible for all cyberattacks to be withstood, but if we have preparedness and measures in place in State agencies, that at least will increase and strengthen our resilience.

The Deputy also indicated issues in respect of private sector companies. They all have an obligation to ensure, particularly if they are providing services to the public at large, that they have measures and protections in place so that, be they banks, communications providers or other agencies, their customers are protected in this respect. One of the reasons Ireland is an attractive location for malign State actors or persons who are involved in trying to extract data from private and public enterprises via ransomware is the important link between Europe and the United States. That is a very significant role, one that is now more apparent because of the success of the Irish economy, and we really need to defend it.

The cybersecurity Bill was approved for priority drafting and I hope it will be introduced in the not-too-distant future, but I will get back to the Deputy specifically on that.

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