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

It does have the same ambition. It is important to note that we do not try to divide up Ireland's protections into different spheres, whether it is the Defence Forces or what comes within the ambit of the Department of justice. Huge collaboration is ongoing across Government. At present, my Department is engaging with key stakeholders, including the Departments of foreign affairs, Defence and enterprise, trade and employment, to ensure alignment with a range of related national strategies such as the digital and AI strategy and the maritime strategy.

As the Deputy identified, these are now significant threats, not just to Departments and Government agencies, but also to the private sector. One of the consequences of the legislation that I will be bringing before the House in the near future is that, when enacted, it will impose obligations, not just on State agencies to be prepared, but on certain types of those in the private sector to be prepared as well. A cyberattack on a State agency can have enormously detrimental consequences. Similarly, a cyberattack on a private enterprise can have devastating consequences for Irish consumers.

See this speech in context