Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

782. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Ministerial phones have been hacked or attempted to be hacked during the term of office. [42919/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

ICT services are provided to the Department by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). The provision of ICT security is part of that service. 

The Department engages closely with the OGCIO on the issue of cyber security, who in turn engage with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to ensure best practice is followed as it relates to all aspects of cyber security, including hacking threats.

For operational and security reasons, the NCSC has advised not to disclose details of systems and processes which could in any way compromise those efforts.  In particular, it is not considered appropriate to disclose information which might assist criminals to identify potential vulnerabilities in departmental cyber security arrangements. Therefore it is not considered appropriate to disclose particular arrangements in place in relation to cyber security tools and services.

My Department does not comment on operational security matters.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

783. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has ever used his personal phones for Government business; and if so, if the personal phones have been hacked during his term of office. [42937/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I can confirm that I am not aware of any instance of 'hacking' or any unauthorised access to or unauthorised retrieval of information from my personal phone. I have on occasion used my personal phone to communicate with other Government Ministers via call and text message.