David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senators for giving their time to consider this relatively concise but significant Bill. This is the first time legislation has been introduced in this jurisdiction which is specifically dedicated to combating cybercrime. The general and strong support for the Bill shows the Legislature is committed to dealing with cybercrime. It will prove of immense benefit to An Garda Síochána in its ever increasing work in this area. As Senators noted, it will be a very important addition to the Statute Book.Modern technology is such that systems have changed how we carry out our business, facilitating push-button, touchscreen interaction through time and space. The benefits of this new and evolving technology are evident, but reliance on such technology can unfortunately mean vulnerability. New technology creates opportunities for new forms of crime, or at least crime committed in an online environment in cyberspace rather than in physical space as was traditionally the case. The widely reported global cyberattack last weekend served as a real reminder of the insidious threat of cybercrime. The unprecedented attack affected some 200,000 systems across more than 150 countries worldwide. The scale of the problem should not be underestimated.

Europol's European cybercrime centre reports that cybercrime costs EU member states approximately €265 billion per year, with the figure growing to around €900 billion for the global economy. That is just the financial side of things. The inherent nature of cybercrime means that it transcends geographical boundaries and is a transnational problem which recognises no borders. Senator Higgins is on the button when she talks about the international problem. By strengthening and harmonising our laws across and even beyond Europe, we present a united front against cybercrime to counter its transnational dimension. As explained previously during the progress of the Bill, this legislation allows Ireland to give effect to an EU directive on attacks against information systems. The Bill will also give effect to many of the key provisions of the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime, known as the Budapest Convention. The legislation before us reflects these international instruments in that it provides for criminal offences in respect of attacks against information systems and establishes effective, proportional and dissuasive penalties for such offences. The offences provided for relate to information systems and their data. I will not got through what those offences are.

It is incumbent on the Government and the Legislature to seek to safeguard these systems, which are part of our daily lives in the modern world, as the Senator has said. These systems are increasingly relied upon by governments, businesses and individual citizens alike. It is vital that we seek to protect them and maintain users' confidence in their safety and reliability. The legislation ensures that unlawful activities relating to information systems are criminalised and that strong penalties are in place to both deter and punish offenders, of up to ten years' imprisonment in the most serious cases. The Bill seeks to protect vital infrastructures for the benefit of all and to ensure there are no legislative gaps that can be exploited by those who seek to undermine information systems and their data.

I thank the Senators for their support and agree with them that we have to keep this area under observation and scrutiny. It is changing by the hour and more threats are emerging and will emerge. This is an important step and the first piece of legislation in this area. It is very pertinent given what has taken place just this weekend.