Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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44. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the specific meetings over the past 18 months between his Department, the Defence Forces and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment in which the issue of developing civil and military co-operation as set out in the National Cyber Security Strategy 2015-2017 was on the agenda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18217/19]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The response to cyber threats remains a whole-of-Government challenge, with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment taking the lead role and with inputs in the security domain from both An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. Consequently, there is on-going cooperation and engagement between the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. As provided for in the National Cyber Security Strategy 2015-2017, a Memorandum of Understanding and Service Level Agreement have been signed, between the Defence Organisation and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, on civil and military cooperation.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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45. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 7 of 11 April 2019, if further clarification will be provided (details supplied); the reason this is not a priority; the obstacles to the provision of these critical resources; the specific measures he is taking to address these issues in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18218/19]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The response to cyber threats remains a whole-of-Government challenge, with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment taking the lead role and with inputs in the security domain from An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. The Department of Defence and the Defence Forces are committed to participating, under the leadership of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, in the delivery of measures to improve the Cyber Security of the State. 

Ireland’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which is located in the Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment provides a range of cyber security services to owners of Government IT infrastructure and Critical National Infrastructure. The NCSC is also home to the national Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT-IE) which acts as a national point of contact involving entities within Ireland, and as the point of contact for international discussions on issues of cyber security. 

The Department of Defence and the Defence Forces have a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide support in the area of national cyber security. 

The SLA includes arrangements for the provision of Defence Forces support to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) through secondment of personnel when resources allow. In addition, a number of suitably qualified Defence Forces members have been seconded to the NCSC and have subsequently transferred to the Centre to work there on a full time basis. The overall aim of the SLA is to improve the Cyber Security of the State through various types of assistance and support whilst also ensuring the operational requirements of the Defence Forces are prioritised.

From an operational perspective it would be inappropriate to comment on specific elements of the Cyber capability of the Defence Forces other than to say that there is on-going development of Cyber capabilities within the Defence Forces.