Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the response, and while I appreciate she is answering on behalf of the Department of Defence, I am concerned by it. My question is on our defence capability. If we faced an air or sea incursion or a serious cyberattack on critical infrastructure in the State, can we be confident we would be able to address those attacks? As an independent, sovereign State, one of the marks of sovereignty is being able to defend and protect that sovereignty, but on the basis of the response and the evidence presented, it is very clear Ireland cannot defend its sovereignty in the event of an air incursion, an incident in the maritime space or a cyberattack. I appreciate that significantly more investment is happening, but if such attacks now happen, it is very clear from the response given here that we do not have the capability to deal with them. In terms of the role of the State, the defence of our sovereignty is one of the most important responsibilities. This has to be treated as a priority.