Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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802. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans for dealing with cyber threats, online scams and dealing with spyware such as predator and pegasus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47615/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department continuously evaluates and adapts its strategies to deal with ongoing cyber threats to Irish citizens and our essential national infrastructure. We are at an advanced stage of drafting the National Cyber Security Bill which will ensure a significant increase in the cyber security and resilience of the most essential sectors of Irish society. The National Cyber Security Centre, which now comes under the remit of my Department, published Ireland’s National Cyber Emergency Plan in August 2024. The plan sets out the national approach for responding to serious cyber security incidents that affect nationally important systems and networks and as the plan has been developed in alignment with the Strategic Emergency Management National Structure and Framework, it establishes the structures for co-ordinating a "whole of society" approach to preparing for and responding to a cyber emergency.

As the Deputy will appreciate, under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, the detection and investigation of any form of criminal activity, including online cyber dependant crimes or cyber enabled crimes, is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner who is independent in the performance of his functions under section 34(1) of that Act. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. If anyone suspects that they have been the victim of a cyber crime or fraud, I would encourage them to contact Gardaí to report this at the earliest possible time. I assure people that members of An Garda Síochána will be best placed to advise them.