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

In fairness, I think this Government is the first to set up a national security committee that meets frequently in respect of security issues affecting the State. There is collaboration across Government. There is a recognition that, when it comes to national security and protecting ourselves from cyber threats, there has to be an aligned, agreed response from the State. I would not like the impression to be created that there are separate agencies doing their own things such as the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána and the National Cyber Security Centre. There is collaboration through the Government to ensure that we have a national system of cyberdefence that is effective in protecting the State.

The National Cyber Security Centre was provided with very significant resources in the budget two days ago. I managed to secure a significant increase in the amount of resources for the National Cyber Security Centre. Regrettably, that is necessary. The reason it is necessary is because there are increasing threats to our cyber networks from malign actors.

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