Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

7. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on the recent Brussels seminar on cybersecurity, hosted by the Irish Presidency of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35738/13]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As part of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, this country, in association with the Estonian Ministry of Defence and the European Defence Agency, hosted a high level conference on cybersecurity co-operation in the European Union in Brussels on 20 June last. The conference was attended by representatives of EU member states, the External Action Service, the European Commission, EUROPOL and NATO, as well as non-governmental and private sector participants. The objective of the conference was to advance the debate on the preparedness of EU member states to face cybersecurity threats at national level and across the EU as a whole. In his address at the conference, the Minister, Deputy Shatter, said it was his ambition to ensure the work embarked on during the conference would help to set the parameters for the implementation of an effective framework of collaboration on cybersecurity and defence among EU member states. He also said he hoped it would support the implementation of the recently published EU cybersecurity strategy. The conference determined that a failure to co-operate in the area of cybersecurity would undermine our collective security and demonstrate a lack of understanding of the escalating threat we face. It was acknowledged that no one organisation or state has the capacity to address the cybersecurity issue on its own. As such, a co-ordinated approach involving the Commission and the justice and home affairs and Common Foreign and Security Policy bodies, working through the relevant Councils and the Council working group on a common and shared agenda, is essential if a comprehensive EU approach to cybersecurity and defence is to be pursued at national and EU levels. The conference concluded that the scale and complexity of cybersecurity threats demand a cohesive application of all the instruments available to the EU. Various sectors of society in the public and private spheres need to be engaged and responsible. The conference also concluded that there is a need to ensure there is co-operation and co-ordination between the relevant authorities of the member states.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I commend the Minister for Justice and Equality, the Estonian Ministry of Defence and the European Defence Agency on convening this conference. Clearly, the Minister's task during the Presidency was to try to adopt a pan-European approach to the cybersecurity threat. Can the Minister of State tell me whether the Minister achieved any success in that regard? I wish to ask a specific question about the local situation. How many members of our Defence Forces have been or will be trained to deal with cybersecurity issues? Is there a dedicated unit dealing with the matter within the defence organisation? Were any proposals made at the conference on how to develop increased information-sharing and early warning and crisis management systems? Is it intended to step up co-operation between the EU and NATO on these matters?

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has asked a number of questions. I was not in attendance at the conference. I do not have the exact details sought by the Deputy in some of his questions. It is important for everyone to take a collective view of collaboration. People need to work together. It was important for the Minister, Deputy Shatter, to attend the cybersecurity conference in his capacity as Minister for Defence and also in his capacity as Minister for Justice and Equality. Can the Deputy repeat his first question?

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I was asking whether the Minister made progress in getting a pan-European approach to this problem.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I spoke to him about this issue when I learned that I would be answering questions on it. Progress was made at the conference. There will be follow-up interaction regarding this issue going along. Ireland's participation in cybersecurity matters will be reviewed on a continual basis.

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe has been working on this area as well. I have been pursuing it at that organisation's parliamentary assembly. I have been surprised to learn that people do not realise Ireland is very strong in this area. There is an excellent Centre for Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Investigation at UCD, which is in the Acting Chairman's constituency. As the Minister, Deputy Shatter, travels around and speaks to his colleagues, he should promote that world-class centre, which needs to build links with other centres in other countries if EU member states are to address this threat together.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I remind the House that the conference aimed to advance the debate on the preparedness of member states to face cybersecurity threats at national level and across the EU as a whole. I am aware of Deputy Eoghan Murphy's work on the European committee he mentioned, which is doing a great deal of work on this issue. It is important for Ireland to make an input into this area. I assure the House that the fact that the Minister, Deputy Shatter, holds both the defence and justice portfolios gives this country a huge opportunity to make a major input into further policy in this area.

Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am also conscious that UCD is in my constituency.