Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It was Pat Larkin. He said that €1 billion should be invested here. Thankfully, and without getting into the politics of it, through prudent management of our economy and incentivisation of FDI over the years, we are in the happy position that we have the kind of money to do this. It is necessary expenditure. I agree with Senator Craughwell. We need to be very avant-garde and proactive in the area and to take the necessary steps. As the Senator has said, the cybercrime industry is a cleaner issue than the drug industry. We need to act on that. I support the Senator on the matter and I think it should be debated here. I also support it being debated at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence. I will support it from the Floor the next time the Senator raises it. The Leader is listening. I do not have to promise Senators that I am going to inform the Leader, because the Leader is listening acutely to what is going on. I presume she is taking that on board. The Leader could not but be aware of the risk of cyberattacks. They are a very real risk and they are happening all over Europe as we speak. We need to be very vigilant. I commend the Senator on raising the issue.