Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

239. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to upgrade the IT system in his Department and bodies under his aegis with a view to maximising the protection against hackers. [28679/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department implements a security-by-design and defence-in-depth approach to IT security for DAFM and agencies that it carries out services for. Our technical staff continue to operate and monitor all relevant systems to the highest levels and are closely engaged with experts in the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and the National Cyber Security Centre to ensure that we follow best practice as it relates to all aspects of IT security.

For reasons of operational and national security, it is not be appropriate to disclose specific details of the Department’s IT Security arrangements, or those of State Agencies under my remit. Any specific information in relation to cyber security tools and services could assist criminals in identifying potential vulnerabilities in cybersecurity arrangements and therefore it is not considered appropriate to disclose any such detail or make comment which could in any way compromise the Department’s IT Security.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

240. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if additional security measures will be taken to impede and prevent the intrusion of hackers in his Department’s IT system and to ensure an early warning system is in place which will trigger an ultimate defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28697/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department implements a security-by-design and defence-in-depth approach to IT security for DAFM and agencies that it carries out services for. Our technical staff continue to operate and monitor all relevant systems to the highest levels and are closely engaged with experts in the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and the National Cyber Security Centre to ensure that we follow best practice as it relates to all aspects of IT security.

For reasons of operational and national security, it is not be appropriate to disclose specific details of the Department’s IT Security arrangements, or those of State Agencies under my remit. Any specific information in relation to cyber security tools and services could assist criminals in identifying potential vulnerabilities in cybersecurity arrangements and therefore it is not considered appropriate to disclose any such detail or make comment which could in any way compromise the Department’s IT Security.