Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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452. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has prepared a cyber security strategy to protect digital public services and the users of the services; and if there is an indicative timeframe for the implementation of the strategy's implementation. [47320/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Government, businesses and private individuals depend increasingly on information and communications technologies in day-to-day social and business transactions. It is important therefore that Government takes steps to minimise risks to infrastructure and services.

My Department has been active in building systems and competence in the cyber security area over the past number of years. Working across Government and with the energy and telecommunications industries, and EU partners, the Department carries out regular exercises to test the capability of key organisations to respond to cyber threats and to manage a cohesive and robust communications network. In addition, the Department assesses threats as they arise and issues advisory notices to Government Departments, energy and telecommunications companies, to assist these entities in addressing such threats.

Building on existing capacity, my Department is preparing a new national cyber security strategy that will focus on improved cybersecurity capabilities. This will include improved protection and resilience for digital public services and the users of the services, as well as plans to formalise a National Cyber Security Centre, based on structures that have been established over the last number of years. I intend to publish the draft strategy for public consultation early next year, in consultation with colleagues in the Departments Justice and Equality, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Public Expenditure and Reform, all of whom have specific roles in relation to cyber security and who are working collaboratively with my Department to develop the strategy.