Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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61. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the role her Department and the agencies under its remit play in cyber security; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24338/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The national response to cyber security is led by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment under the stewardship of my colleague Minister Naughten.

That Department published the first National Cyber Security Strategy in 2015.

The Strategy sets out the Government's vision for a secure and reliable cyberspace and includes many actions which seek to address cyber threats and protect against them.

Under the Strategy, my Department and An Garda Síochána are identified as key partners in the implementation of a number of core measures, particularly those relating to cybercrime and national security and policing.

As outlined in the Strategy, my Department is bringing forward legislative measures supporting cybercrime investigation.

In this regard, key legislation implementing the EU Directive on attacks on information systems was passed by the Houses last week. The legislation provides significant new powers to facilitate the investigation and prosecution of unlawful activities relating to information systems and their data. It also establishes strong and dissuasive penalties for commission of the offences it contains. The legislation also gives effect to many of the key provisions of the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime known as the "Budapest Convention".

With regard to the protection of critical infrastructure, my Department sits on the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning which oversees the National Emergency Management System.

Of course, the role of An Garda Síochána in the provision of policing and security services is also highlighted in the Strategy.

An Garda Síochána has established links with the National Cyber Security Centre established in the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. The Centre encompasses the State’s national Computer Security Incident Response Team.