Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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1495. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide an update on the provision of security clearance by the State for individuals to work in sensitive roles in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20599/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Security clearance of persons working in sensitive areas of the civil and public service or other persons requiring access to classified information or security-sensitive locations is an important aspect of the overall security apparatus of the State.

My Department administers the current system of personnel security clearance in association with An Garda Síochána, who have statutory responsibility for providing security services in the State. There is a significant and growing requirement for security clearance in the context of the fight against terrorism and organised crime, and the activities of hostile state and non-state actors more broadly. The developments in the aviation sector are illustrative of this. In 2022, in order to meet the requirements of EU Regulation 2019/103 security vetting was extended to all personnel working in the aviation sector with airside access to mitigate against terrorism and radicalisation threats. The growing need is cross-sectoral and includes commercial entities, both private and semi-state, where they access or control critical infrastructure, or wish to be in a position to tender for funding or contracts from the EU and other international organisations and other states that require clearance to access classified information.

The Deputy will be aware of the Programme for Government commitment to bring the National Security Authority (NSA) under the remit of my Department to ensure proper alignment of the State's national security infrastructure. The NSA is currently supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and exists on an administrative basis only. In the context of implementing the Programme for Government commitment it is my intention to bring forward legislation to establish the NSA on a statutory footing and ensure that it has the legal authority and resources to provide the full spectrum of security clearances to meet the current and future needs of Government Departments, public bodies and commercial entities. This is a large scale project that will involve a number of Department and their agencies and will take some years to come to fruition.

As a first step, work is underway in my Department to develop a comprehensive project plan for consideration by Government in due course. In parallel with progressing the overall project my Department is also examining what improvements can be made to the existing security clearance system in the shorter term.