Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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101. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to detail the State’s involvement in the global anti-spyware initiative that stops companies producing technologies (details supplied) operating in an unfair way in jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26967/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The threat posed by the proliferation and misuse of commercially available cyber intrusion capabilities, upon national security; human rights and fundamental freedoms; and a free, open, peaceful, stable, and secure cyberspace, is widely recognised.

This is a threat that must be approached multilaterally and also via multi-stakeholder methods, with participation of international organisations, private industry, academia, and civil society.

My Department has engaged and participated in international and multi-stakeholder fora to provide Ireland’s support to tackling the potential threat of the irresponsible use of these technologies.

In February, the State participated in the Pall Mall Process, an inclusive global process, hosted by the UK and France, that aims to establish guiding principles and highlight policy options for States, industry and civil society in relation to the development, facilitation, purchase, and use of commercially available cyber intrusion capabilities.

Remaining cognisant of the need for legitimate and responsible development and use of cyber intrusion capabilities, the Pall Mall Process resolves to explore the parameters of legitimate and responsible use, by State, civil society, legitimate cyber security, and industry actors alike.

During the Summit for Democracy, in March, Ireland joined 16 States in a joint statement on ‘Efforts to Counter the Proliferation and Misuse of Commercial Spyware’. This statement laid out our collective commitment to develop and implement policies to discourage the misuse of commercial spyware and encourage the development and implementation of responsible use principles that are consistent with respect for universal human rights, the rule of law, and civil rights.