State Bodies

Wednesday, 14 July 2021

Questions (21, 22, 23)

Gary Gannon

Question:

21. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach the current status of the national security analysis centre. [38701/21]

View answer

Gary Gannon

Question:

22. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach the remit and powers that the national security adviser and the national security analysis centre will have. [38702/21]

View answer

Gary Gannon

Question:

23. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach the annual budget for the national security adviser and the national security analysis centre. [38703/21]

View answer

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 to 23, inclusive, together.

The National Security Analysis Centre (NSAC) was established by the Government as part of the implementation of A Policing Service for the Future giving effect to recommendations in the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.

Its primary remit is to provide high-quality, strategic analysis to the Taoiseach and Government of the key threats to Ireland’s national security. The strategic analysis of threats is undertaken by personnel seconded from the various Departments and other State bodies with functions in the security area, and through liaison and close co-ordination with those partner Departments and agencies, including the National Cyber Security Centre. There is also ongoing liaison with EU and international counterparts and others.

The Director of the NSAC was appointed on establishment and a Deputy Director joined in 2020. The work of the Centre is supported also by administrative personnel from the Department of the Taoiseach with salaries and operational costs where needed, funded from the Departments’ Vote.

The Centre has been active over the last year in supporting aspects of the Government’s response to the public health emergency caused by Covid-19 and, recently, in support and co-ordination for the Ministerial group overseeing the response to the cyber-attack on the HSE.

Question No. 22 answered with Question No. 21.

Question No. 23 answered with Question No. 21.