Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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1. To ask the Taoiseach if he will develop a national security strategy and functioning security agency to deal with future security events. [2791/24]

Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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3. To ask the Taoiseach if he will develop a national security strategy and functioning security agency to deal with future security events. [6207/24]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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4. To ask the Taoiseach if he will develop a national security strategy and functioning security agency to deal with future security events. [7792/24]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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5. To ask the Taoiseach if he will develop a national security strategy and functioning security agency to deal with future security events. [8090/24]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together.

I can assure the House that the State’s security is a priority for the Government and, in this context, I would emphasise that we already have in place functioning services which carry out significant and important roles in protecting the State and the people, notably An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and the National Cyber Security Centre.

Much of the security-focused work our services do is, of its very nature, covert and simply cannot be elaborated on in detail without jeopardising it. However, it will not be a surprise that combatting terrorism and violent extremism, protecting the interests of our people at home and abroad, and counteracting the ever-present cyber threat rank highly in their priorities. Deputies should be in no doubt that our services are active and dedicated to protecting our national security.

The Government will continue to ensure our services are properly resourced and developed to continue to work effectively against the threats we face. This is clearly evidenced by the Government’s resourcing and reform programmes for policing, defence and cyber security. The Government is committed to the delivery of a national security strategy in the coming months. Work is ongoing in drawing up the strategy, co-ordinated by the National Security Analysis Centre in my Department, and integrating inputs from a range of relevant stakeholders, including the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Justice and Environment, Climate and Communications; An Garda Síochána; the National Cyber Security Centre; and the Defence Forces.

The preparation of a draft strategy covers a broad range of national security issues. This will include the implications of more recent security, defence and international developments and their related impacts, notably the serious deterioration in the European security environment and the related political and economic impacts that arise from the war in Ukraine; the deepening conflict in the Middle East; the growing impact and scale of cyber and hybrid threats; and the continued instability in the geopolitical environment. This work also takes account of the report of the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy and the ongoing implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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If the Deputy has any evidence of narcotics being consumed on this premises, I would be very glad if he would bring it to my attention. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh is next.

Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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For a long time, we have traded on the fact that we are physically very remote, and that insulates us from the kind of cross-border aggression we have seen in eastern Europe. However, cyberwarfare does not know boundaries in the same way. I would like to see that we are adequately supporting and resourcing the National Cyber Security Centre. I know it is difficult for the Taoiseach to elaborate on the work it does, and that is right and proper.

I would also like to mention the resourcing of the Data Protection Commissioner. I say this with a view to 2024 being a year of elections. We know that roughly half of the world's population is going to the polls this year. I fully expect there to be an unprecedented level of interference in terms of misinformation and disinformation. The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner in Ireland has an outsized role because of the presence of so many social media companies in our jurisdiction.

Parts 4 and 5 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022, which deal with outside interference in our electoral process, have yet to be commenced. I know we have brought that to the European Commission for ultimate sign-off. Ahead of next month's referendums, the local and European elections, and at some stage over the next 12 to 13 months a general election in this country, it is very important that we get this right and have ourselves protected from outside influence by malign actors.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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We often think of cyberattacks as only affecting major corporations and public services but to the contrary, a report last October showed that more than 70% of Irish businesses suffered cyberattacks in the previous 12 months, and that represented an increase of more than 20% on the previous year.

Cybersecurity and protection of IT systems, data systems and communication networks are vitally important to the economy and all of society. The trend towards an increase in the use of digital and cloud technologies in both the public and private sectors has been under way for some time. As we all know, Covid-19 has accelerated this trend, transforming much of how we live and work. I raised with the Minister, Deputy Harris, previously the need to have the trained personnel and infrastructure to protect these systems. The risk of failures in cybersecurity can lead to massive disruption to critical infrastructure. The necessity to address this risk rises as the extent to which society relies on digital technology increases.

The Taoiseach will have often heard me constantly repeat in this House the need for collaboration on an all-Ireland basis in the whole area of the further development of further and higher education. With the evolution of new cyberprogrammes, maybe we should be looking at it in the all-Ireland context. There is collaboration at further and higher education level but there is always scope to do more. I know from a visit to the college of further education in Enniskillen-----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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We are way over time.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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-----that it has a very modern course in cybersecurity. That is the type of course we need to be replicating in our jurisdiction. I thank the Leas Cheann-Comhairle.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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Since 2019, the Government has been preparing a national security strategy which is supposed to shape our approach to cybersecurity. A lack of urgency and priority from the Government is increasing our vulnerability as global volatility increases. The HSE attack, which was hugely disruptive for patients and staff, is estimated to have cost €144 million. Many smaller but harmful attacks happen regularly as well. In my own group water scheme in County Mayo, the digital board was hacked, disrupting the water supplies. Who would imagine that it happened from the Middle East, right into Belmullet? People were left for days without water.

We need to be sure our public services are protected. The State needs to be capable of preventing and responding effectively when attacks happen. We have to take a broad but comprehensive approach. The public sector is often vulnerable when it interacts with the private sector. Will the Taoiseach ensure that the national security strategy is finally published, and that we have a step-change in how we prepare for cyberattacks? Will he assure people that it will not take another HSE attack for this Government to act?

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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Seán Lemass did not go. Neither did Jack Lynch, and neither for that matter did Liam Cosgrave, Charlie Haughey, Garret FitzGerald, Albert Reynolds, John Bruton, Bertie Ahern or Enda Kenny. However, the Taoiseach went, the first Taoiseach to go to the Munich Security Conference, mixing and mingling with the generals and admirals, the NATO heads and the representatives of imperialism at the Davos of defence.

Pushing the envelope again, before the Taoiseach left, his Government came to an agreement with NATO, the details of which remain secret. There will be more co-operation but the areas of co-operation are confidential, pushing the envelope again, with no vote in the Dáil on the matter.

The direction in which the Taoiseach is taking the country is clear. Next up is the triple lock. I put it to the Taoiseach that on the issue of what he would call Irish neutrality - although there is little enough of it left; it is what I might call Ireland's relationship with military alliances - he should put his cards on the table and call a vote. Let us have a referendum. What does he say on that matter?

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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The evidence is mounting of a concerted campaign of intimidation and repression by the State against pro-Palestinian activists in this country. I raised with the Taoiseach before the case of Léna Seale, a PBP local election candidate who was arrested, held for more than ten hours and charged with criminal damage for allegedly putting washable red paint on the Department of Foreign Affairs.

More evidence emerged at the weekend when, in the aftermath of a massive pro-Palestinian protest at which Palestinian activists were doing a BDS action on Grafton Street, gardaí approached an activist demanding that they remove their Palestinian keffiyeh, which was partially covering their face. No legal justification was provided for it. The activist did respond and removed it, but nonetheless the gardaí then decided to arrest two people, charging them with a breach of the public order Act. One of those activists is another People Before Profit local election candidate, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin.

In that context, another activist - again, another local election candidate for People Before Profit, Conor Reddy - was intimidated with undisclosed information being revealed to them by the unit, and this appears to be headed by a former head of intelligence at the anti-terror unit, SDU. Why is this happening?

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Did Deputy Ó Murchú indicate that he wanted to come in?

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Yes. I apologise, Leas Cheann-Comhairle, if I did not indicate properly.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Deputy has 40 seconds.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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We obviously need an infrastructure to be able to make a determination with regard to the threats that we face. Again, we are talking about hybrid and cyberthreats, and we are talking right down to what was mentioned earlier with regard to the plague that is organised drug crime in the State.

We are also dealing with the fact that we have a genocidal slaughter in Gaza and the escalation there. We have had the effect of the brutal Russian aggression in Ukraine. Obviously, we still need our own independent foreign policy but we must have that infrastructure to allow us to mesh everything together: the NCSC, the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána and everything else. In this way we can see what the threats are and lay out our approach to dealing with them.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I want to put on the record that the Irish authorities have been very successful in recent months in stopping drugs being smuggled into the country. I want to recognise the contribution of An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and the Revenue Commissioners, which work in consort with counterparts in other parts of Europe and around the world. By acting on intelligence, they have stopped a lot of illegal drugs coming into the country in recent months. They deserve our compliments for that.

It seems that when drug smuggling is not stopped, it is seen as Ireland being a soft touch or being a weak underbelly. When drugs are interdicted, people seem to make the same case. I think there is very good evidence that An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and the Revenue Commissioners are doing a very good job in stopping illegal drugs coming into the country. We must always recognise that it will never be possible to stop it all. Only a proportion of it ever can be stopped. The US, with its enormous resources, power and equipment, has not been able to stop large amounts of drugs coming into its territory so there are clear limitations there.

Deputy Tóibín asked for figures on staff and budgets. I do not have those figures to hand, but I will provide them.

Deputy Ó Cathasaigh asked about cyberthreats and cybersecurity. The NCSC is situated in the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. It leads a strategic national incident response process that involves co-ordinating across government and internationally. It works closely with An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces, both through personnel secondments and continuous joint working and information sharing. It also maintains close contacts with a range of private sector enterprises in the State and third level institutions here. The Government is committed to delivering world-class connectivity and communications. This includes continuing to invest in cybersecurity. This commitment is reflected in the budget allocation of €10.7 million to the NCSC in 2024. Cyberthreats are a concern, both for Ireland and for international partners. Cyberattacks are now a constant and persistent feature of the security landscape. The NCSC works closely with An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces and across Departments to help to protect the security of Government networks and the State's critical infrastructure.

I agree with Deputy Ó Cathasaigh on the risk of electoral interference. While we have no solid evidence of outside bodies engaging in electoral interference in Ireland, it has happened in other jurisdictions and it is something we are concerned about. It is not necessarily that malign actors would want to change the result of an election or affect the result of a vote, but from experience in other countries we believe that creating destruction in any democracy is to their advantage. We have to watch out for this. The Electoral Commission is being given the powers to deal with it to the extent that we can. We need to make sure it is properly resourced as well.

Deputy Conway-Walsh mentioned the very real problem of cyberattacks on individual businesses, voluntary groups and community organisations. The NCSC is working closely with the Garda and the Defence Forces. It is currently engaged in a detailed risk assessment of critical infrastructure vulnerabilities for the State. It also provides public information on cybersecurity risks and best practice for bodies to follow. Cyberattacks are a constant and persistent security threat. We are working closely with the gardaí and the Defence Forces on this issue. We co-operate very closely with the EU and other international counterparts in combating this threat.

Regarding my attendance and that of the Tánaiste in Munich, we made a considered decision to attend. First of all, we thought it was important that Ireland be present. People talk about Ireland at these meetings. It is a good thing to have people from Ireland there to be able to respond to some of information requests and some of the odder ideas that float around about this country. I was able to inform one gentlemen who was very concerned about the massive Russian Embassy in Ireland that in fact it has only 15 people in it, including diplomats and staff. As a lot of misinformation about Ireland is being spread at events like this, it is good to have Irish people there to be able to give people the facts, if they are interested in the facts. It also allows us to set out what we are doing in terms of our own security, for example by increasing our defence budget, engaging with PESCO and updating our relationship with the Partnership for Peace. The nature of security threats has changed since the time of Charles Haughey, Seán Lemass, Éamon de Valera and others. At the time, the major international security threat was in the form of a physical invasion, something that our geography protected us from. The threats today are very different. They are international terrorism, cyberterrorism, disruption and interference, and attacks on cables and pipelines in our seas. It is a very different security landscape than was the case during the time in office of the former taoisigh the Deputy mentioned. We have to be part of the security discussion in this regard because it is a different threat. The world moves on. We have to move on as threats emerge and change.

My attendance in Munich also gave me an opportunity to make the case to a lot of people who would not normally hear it that security has to be about more than defence spending. It is not just about how many aircraft carriers a country has or how many planes or how much ammunition it has. At the conference, I made the very strong case that while countries are understandably increasing their defence budgets and have a target of reaching 2% of GDP, an alternative target that could be considered would be matching defence budgets with international development and climate finance budgets. This is precisely because dealing with underlying security threats such as climate change, conflict, lack of economic opportunity and supporting institutions are the things that drive conflict. These investments and this spending is as much about security as military spending is. A lot of people would not hear that argument. It was good to be able to make the case to people, many of whom appeared not to have heard it before and were almost flummoxed in trying to respond because they knew what they were hearing is inherently true.

We have no plans for a referendum on neutrality. I think it would be extremely difficult to define. It is a policy that has to be open to evolution. If we were attacked and we needed to call for support from others, quite frankly I do not think we would have time to organise a referendum.

Deputy Murphy mentioned some issues about party colleagues. I do not know anything about them, Deputy, and I prefer not to comment. He seemed to imply that some of them are under Garda investigation for possible criminality, but I trust the Garda to carry out any such investigation without fear or favour.