Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

132. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the current status of the National Cyber Security Bill; and when this Bill will progress. [54952/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Directive (EU) 2022/2555 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022 on measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union, amending Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 and Directive (EU) 2018/1972, and repealing Directive (EU) 2016/1148, also known as the NIS 2 Directive was agreed last December and published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 27 December 2022. The NIS 2 Directive is a major step forward for cyber resilience in Europe and will enhance cyber risk management across the Union including generating significant improvements in our capacity to respond to major incidents and developing the information-sharing platforms which are proving effective to date.

Following a Government decision last June, officials in my Department are drafting Heads of a Bill for the transposition of the Directive. Separately Government agreed in 2021 to establish the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) on a statutory basis and provide for related matters including clarity around its mandate and role in general and in relation to other actors in the cyber area. The NCSC will also require additional powers to implement the provisions of the NIS2 Directive.

Therefore, transposing of the NIS2 Directive and the additional statutory powers required for the NCSC will be taken forward as a single legislative instrument: The National Cyber Security Bill.

Work has begun on the preparation of a general scheme which will be considered by Government, with a view to meeting a transposition deadline of 17th October 2024.