Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2017
561. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the role his Department has in ensuring that there is a plan to address the risks on the findings in the national assessment of risk report regarding the prominence of some technological risks being increased including the potential for cyber attacks or data fraud and theft to cause serious disruption. [39104/17]
View answerThe Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment is home to the National Cyber Security Centre, and has responsibility for the National Cyber Security Strategy 2015-2017, which includes measures to improve the security of public sector infrastructure and services, to better protect critical national infrastructure and to formalise arrangements in law in order to comply with EU requirements on cyber security capabilities, co-operation and reporting.
To date, the NCSC has focused on developing capacity and engaging with national and international stakeholders around securing systems and responding to incidents. The NCSC has also worked to collate and analyse data from cyber-attacks and to coordinate with those targeted to introduce mitigation measures.
The Minister is aware of the risks posed by cyber-attacks and data fraud and theft and their potential to cause serious disruption to essential services. The NCSC continues to work with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and the Departments and Agencies that own these systems to mitigate and manage these risks.
