Vol. 529 No. 1
317 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the number of occasions on which viruses occurred in incoming e-mails in her Department in the past 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2538/01]
318 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the number of occasions on which hackers have attempted to breach her Department's e-mail security in the past 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2553/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 317 and 318 together.
My Department does not hold long-term statistical information on the instances of incoming viruses on e-mails. However, based on average instances recorded in any seven day period over the past six months, my Department would be in receipt of approximately 800 such e-mails over 12 months. As far as my Department is aware, there have not been any attempts by hackers to breach the security of the Department's e-mail systems in the past 12 months.
319 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Defence the e-mail address to which members of the public should send queries relating to his Department; if his Department routinely replies to e-mails sent by the public; the time-scale for such responses; if e-mail inquiries addressed to officials in his Department are also processed within that time-scale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1052/01]
My Department's website – www.irlgov.ie/defence – provides an e-mail address for all queries to the Department. The address is webmaster@defence.irlgov.ie. Replies to e-mails are subject to the same guidelines as written correspondence. These guidelines are set out in the Department's customer service action plan. Initial responses are usually issued within three days.
A separate e-mail address is provided for freedom of information requests. The address is foi@defence.irlgov.ie and all requests are processed in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
