Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The bottom line is that it is a new Department but other Ministers had responsibility in that area and we never saw the movement we are seeing now. Credit where credit is due. I am just back from Tallinn, where I was involved in the Tallinn Digital Summit. One of the issues I am concerned about is the overemphasis on academic qualifications in the area of cybersecurity. We need to develop skills-based programmes at a lower level. That is something I am hoping to see the further education sector develop over the coming years. It is extremely important we have people with skills. Coming out of college with an academic qualification does not necessarily mean you have the skills to actually do the job. There needs to be a two-pronged approach. I would like a debate in the near future in this House on cybersecurity and cyber defence.

One final point that affects all of us in this Chamber is the issue of local authority members who work mainly in the public sector not being provided with time off to attend council meetings. A democratically elected position is something that should be cherished. My colleague Deputy Berry and I discussed the matter earlier and I know the Deputy will be raising the issue in the Dáil today. It is simply not right that those who are elected to local authorities are being impeded from attending meetings or having to make alternative arrangements to attend meetings. It is an issue we should debate in this House and we should look at the legislation with respect to how local authority members are treated by their employers.