Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
1099. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has been subjected to cyberattacks since he took office; if so, the nature of the cyberattacks; the impact they had on the operation of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1372/22]
View answerMy Department has not been subjected to a cyber attack since I have taken office.
ICT services are provided to my Department by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). The provision of ICT security is part of that service.
My ICT Staff engage closely with the OGCIO on the issue of cyber security, who in turn engage with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to ensure best practice is followed as it relates to all aspects of cyber security.
For operational and security reasons, the NCSC has advised not to disclose details of systems and processes which could in any way compromise those efforts. In particular, it is not considered appropriate to disclose information which might assist criminals to identify potential vulnerabilities in departmental cyber security arrangements. Therefore it is not considered appropriate to disclose particular arrangements in place in relation to cyber security tools and services or to comment on operational security matters.
