Written Answers Nos. 366-385
366. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated number of properties that he believes will become available in the next five years in County Clare through the Lease & Repair Scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52058/22]
View answer367. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the targets for the repair and leasing scheme over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52059/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 366 and 367 together.
The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) brings vacant properties in need of repair back into use for social housing. The scheme is a crucial initiative in tackling vacancy under Housing for All as, in addition to providing social housing, it also has additional benefits in terms of regeneration, employment and investment in local areas. It assists private property owners, local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in utilising existing vacant housing stock throughout the country.
As RLS is a demand led scheme, it is not possible to predict the numbers of units which will be delivered in a particular area. The national targets to year 2026 are set out in the table below. All local authorities are encouraged and supported to maximise delivery under the scheme. My Department will shortly commence work with the vacant homes officers in each local authority to set targets that are both ambitious and achievable.
|
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
|
|
Units |
120 |
130 |
130 |
140 |
140 |
368. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the powers that local authorities have with regards to derelict properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52061/22]
View answerLocal authorities have been provided with a number of powers and measures to deal with the issue of derelict properties, both in larger urban conglomerations and in smaller rural towns and villages. There also exists a framework of overarching policy and capital funding which provides support to development, including urban regeneration.
The Derelict Sites Act 1990 imposes a general duty on every owner and occupier of land to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the land does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site. The Act also imposes a duty on local authorities to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site.
Local authority powers include requiring owners or occupiers to take appropriate measures on derelict sites, acquiring derelict sites by agreement, or compulsorily, and applying a derelict sites levy on derelict sites. It is a matter for local authorities to determine the most appropriate use of the legislation within their respective functional areas.
My Department continues to liaise with local authorities on the implementation of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 (the Act) with a view to improving its effectiveness. In this regard, my Department initiated a review of the Act in November 2021 and has sought initial submissions from local authorities on potential improvements to the legislative provisions and the way they are applied. My Department has now established a focused working group to progress this matter further.
369. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the total spend by his Department and the agencies under his remit on cybersecurity measures since 2019 to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51173/22]
View answerMy Department’s Digital Transformation Strategy 2022-2025 has a central focus on strengthening the security of all our information and communications technology (ICT) systems. Our cyber security approach is multi-dimensional and in line with the advice of the National Cyber Security Centre, with whom we have a deep partnership.
The expenditure on cyber security defence is integrated within overall ICT costs. Details of total expenditure on ICT for the years 2019 - 2021 are as follows:
2019 €12,011,065
2020 €12,858,109
2021 €13,609,894
Outlay for 2022 will be available later this year, following end of year payments and rebalancing of figures between votes. We will forward that information to the Deputy in due course.
370. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the proportion of his Department’s IT data that is stored in the cloud; the proportion of the data held by all agencies and subsidiaries of his Department in the cloud; if this represents an improvement; if so, the development that has been made towards cloud storage since 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51197/22]
View answerCloud migration is an important feature of my Department’s Digital Transformation Strategy. My Department substantially avails of ‘build to share’ services delivered by the OGCIO Government cloud. Only a very small number of systems are delivered using a cloud platform..
There are no agencies or subsidiaries under the remit of my Department.
371. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is concerned in relation to the continuous silencing of critical voices regarding the Palestinian struggle for justice, in the name of combating antisemitism; his views on whether these efforts infringe on freedom of expression and the right to be informed; his views on whether antisemitism, which does exist, is being used to try to silence Palestinian political consciousness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51243/22]
View answerIreland strongly condemns all forms of racial discrimination, religious intolerance, including antisemitism, and hate speech based on the fundamental principles of human rights. Ireland is a signatory of the Stockholm Declaration of the International Forum on the Holocaust, and is a member of the Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. In October 2021, Ireland co-signed a Joint Statement on Combating Antisemitism at the 48th Session of the Human Rights Council, along with all other EU member states. At the 51st Session of the Human Rights Council, Ireland joined a cross-regional statement on Combatting Antisemitism and Online Hatred.
Support for the Palestinian people, or criticism of the Israeli occupation, is not something that can or should be equated with antisemitism. Criticism of Israeli Government policy is not in itself anti-Semitic, and to conflate these things is counter-productive, and potentially damaging.
More broadly, Ireland consistently underlines the importance of maintaining space for civil society in the occupied Palestinian territory. We are alarmed by the shrinking of civil society space, which we have raised recently at UN Security Council and UN Human Rights Council. Civil Society Organisations and human rights defenders play a critical role in promoting international law, peace, human rights and democratic values. In this context, I remain seriously concerned by the designation by Israel of six Palestinian NGOs as terrorist organisations, including Irish Aid and EU partner organisations, as terrorist entities. Ireland, along with several other partners providing support to the organisations, has made its views clearly known to Israel, including as regards the unacceptability of the raids carried out on these organisations in August.
372. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the names of all special advisors working in his Department; the Minister and Junior Minister who each advisor is associated with and their respective salaries, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51256/22]
View answerMy Special Advisers are Chris Donoghue and Laura McGonigle and they are paid on the Principal Officer payscale.
Minister of State Thomas Byrne's Special Adviser is Daniel Griffin.
Minister of State Colm Brophy does not have a Special Adviser.
Special Advisers to Ministers of State are paid at the Assistant Principal Officer payscale.
373. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on two foreign birth registration applications (details supplied);; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51312/22]
View answerMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. In 2015, prior to Brexit, a total of 6,000 entries were made to the register. In 2019, a peak number of 19,000 entries were made to the Foreign Births Register. Demand for this service from applicants in England, Scotland and Wales continues to be strong with over 8,000 applications received to date this year.
The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen to date in 2022.
The current waiting time for FBR applications is approximately 2 years from receipt of supporting documentation. My Department is currently putting in place a number of measures that will address the volume of FBR applications currently on hand with a view to significantly reducing the processing time for these citizenship applications by the end of this year.
The Passport Service has been scaling up resources to deal with anticipated demand for passports and FBRs since June of last year. Staffing numbers in the Passport Service have doubled since June 2021. There are currently 817 staff. My Department ran several competitions in 2021/22 to address staffing needs in the Passport Service. New office space on the Balbriggan campus is now open and provides over 200 additional workstations to accommodate the increase in staff numbers.
The unprecedented level of staff currently working in the Passport Service will be maintained in the months ahead, allowing for the reassignment of additional staff to the processing of FBR applications.
Supporting documentation for the applications to which the Deputy has referred was received on 13 July 2022, and is being stored in a secure environment as it awaits entitlement checking.
374. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on a foreign birth registration application (details supplied).; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51451/22]
View answerMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. In 2015, prior to Brexit, a total of 6,000 entries were made to the register. In 2019, a peak number of 19,000 entries were made to the Foreign Births Register. Demand for this service from applicants in England, Scotland and Wales continues to be strong with over 8,000 applications received to date this year.
The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen to date in 2022.
The current waiting time for FBR applications is approximately 2 years from receipt of supporting documentation. My Department is currently putting in place a number of measures that will address the volume of FBR applications currently on hand with a view to significantly reducing the processing time for these citizenship applications by the end of this year.
The Passport Service has been scaling up resources to deal with anticipated demand for passports and FBRs since June of last year. Staffing numbers in the Passport Service have doubled since June 2021. There are currently 817 staff. My Department ran several competitions in 2021/22 to address staffing needs in the Passport Service. New office space on the Balbriggan campus is now open and provides over 200 additional workstations to accommodate the increase in staff numbers.
The unprecedented level of staff currently working in the Passport Service will be maintained in the months ahead, allowing for the reassignment of additional staff to the processing of FBR applications.
Supporting documentation for the application to which the Deputy has referred was received on 5 October 2022, and is being stored in a secure environment as it awaits entitlement checking.
375. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on the processing of the backlog of applications to the foreign birth registry; when an application will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51519/22]
View answerMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. In 2015, prior to Brexit, a total of 6,000 entries were made to the register. In 2019, a peak number of 19,000 entries were made to the Foreign Births Register. Demand for this service from applicants in England, Scotland and Wales continues to be strong with over 8,000 applications received to date this year.
The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen to date in 2022.
The current waiting time for FBR applications is approximately 2 years from receipt of supporting documentation. My Department is currently putting in place a number of measures that will address the volume of FBR applications currently on hand with a view to significantly reducing the processing time for these citizenship applications by the end of this year.
The Passport Service has been scaling up resources to deal with anticipated demand for passports and FBRs since June of last year. Staffing numbers in the Passport Service have doubled since June 2021. There are currently 817 staff. My Department ran several competitions in 2021/22 to address staffing needs in the Passport Service. New office space on the Balbriggan campus is now open and provides over 200 additional workstations to accommodate the increase in staff numbers.
The unprecedented level of staff currently working in the Passport Service will be maintained in the months ahead, allowing for the reassignment of additional staff to the processing of FBR applications.
Supporting documentation for the application to which the Deputy has referred was received on 7 July 2020, and is currently being processed. A member of the FBR team has been in contact with the applicant in this regard.
376. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a foreign birth registry application will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51520/22]
View answerMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. In 2015, prior to Brexit, a total of 6,000 entries were made to the register. In 2019, a peak number of 19,000 entries were made to the Foreign Births Register. Demand for this service from applicants in England, Scotland and Wales continues to be strong with over 8,000 applications received to date this year.
The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen to date in 2022.
The current waiting time for FBR applications is approximately 2 years from receipt of supporting documentation. My Department is currently putting in place a number of measures that will address the volume of FBR applications currently on hand with a view to significantly reducing the processing time for these citizenship applications by the end of this year.
The Passport Service has been scaling up resources to deal with anticipated demand for passports and FBRs since June of last year. Staffing numbers in the Passport Service have doubled since June 2021. There are currently 817 staff. My Department ran several competitions in 2021/22 to address staffing needs in the Passport Service. New office space on the Balbriggan campus is now open and provides over 200 additional workstations to accommodate the increase in staff numbers.
The unprecedented level of staff currently working in the Passport Service will be maintained in the months ahead, allowing for the reassignment of additional staff to the processing of FBR applications.
Supporting documentation for the application to which the Deputy has referred was received on 26 November 2021, and is being stored in a secure environment as it awaits entitlement checking.
377. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if consular assistance is being provided to Irish citizens in Russia since the invasion of Ukraine; if any Irish citizens in Russia have sought advice from his Department or embassies; and if there are plans to issue advice regarding travel to Russia. [51731/22]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs is closely monitoring the situation in Russia in consultation with the Embassy of Ireland in Moscow. The Department currently advises against all travel to Russia. The security status of our travel advice for Russia was raised to ‘Do not travel’, the Department’s highest level of warning, on 28 February 2022.
On 7 March 2022, Irish citizens in Russia were advised to carefully consider their presence in Russia and those who wished to leave were advised to do so as quickly as possible. On 7 April 2022, two diplomats from the Embassy of Ireland were instructed to leave Russia. This has limited the ability of the Embassy to provide services and assistance to Irish citizens in Russia.
In light of ongoing developments, the Department’s advice to citizens was further strengthened on 14 April 2022, when Irish citizens in Russia were advised to carefully consider the necessity of their continued stay, and to make plans to leave.
Irish citizens currently in Russia are advised to be vigilant about their own safety and to avoid mass gatherings, including protests or demonstrations. Citizens should be aware that new laws that affect media freedom of expression can be used to impose severe and arbitrary sentences. Irish citizens should be mindful this includes posting or sharing banned content on social media.
We also recommend that Irish citizens should be mindful that increasingly severe limitations on banking, including the withdrawal of Visa and Mastercard services, may directly affect their ability to access their money for the foreseeable future.
Any Irish citizens remaining in Russia are recommended to register their details with our Embassy in Moscow, and they can contact the Embassy should they require assistance. The Embassy will continue to maintain contact with citizens remaining in Russia and to provide consular assistance, where requested and appropriate. The Embassy currently has reduced capacity to provide support in crisis scenarios, particularly for citizens situated far from Moscow.
The Department’s travel advice for Russia is set out on the following website:
www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/a-z-list-of-countries/russian-federation/.
378. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a list of the names of each special advisor employed by his Department since 2015, the relevant Minister they worked under and the date that their employment with the Department/Minister ceased where applicable. [51780/22]
View answerI was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs on 14 June 2017. The details of my Special Advisers, those of my predecessor, Charles Flanagan, and those of the Ministers of State since 2015 are set out in tabular form below:
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney
|
Special Adviser |
Date of Commencement |
Date of Cessation |
|
Caitriona Fitzpatrick |
14 June 2017 |
1 February 2019 |
|
Matthew Lynch |
4 December 2017 |
5 August 2020 |
|
Christopher Donoghue |
4 December 2017 |
Still serving |
|
Laura McGonigle |
22 July 2019 |
Still serving |
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charles Flanagan
|
Special Adviser |
Date of Commencement |
Date of Cessation |
|
Susie O’Connor |
11 July 2014 |
7 May 2016 |
|
Sarah Kavanagh |
11 July 2014 |
15 June 2017 |
|
Tom Fabozzi |
27 May 2016 |
16 June 2017 |
Minister of State Thomas Byrne
|
Special Adviser |
Date of Commencement |
Date of Cessation |
|
Charlotte Simpson |
1 July 2020 |
21 March 2022 |
|
Marguerite O’Loughlin |
7 October 2020 |
28 August 2021 |
|
Daniel Griffin |
19 April 2022 |
Still serving |
Minister of State Helen McEntee
|
Special Adviser |
Date of Commencement |
Date of Cessation |
|
Paul Fox |
11 September 2017 |
28 June 2020 |
Minister of State Dara Murphy
|
Special Adviser |
Date of Commencement |
Date of Cessation |
|
Conor Gouldsbury |
6 May 2016 |
21 June 2017 |
Ministers of State Colm Brophy, Ciaran Cannon, Joe McHugh, Jimmy Deenihan, and Seán Sherlock did not have Special Advisers.
All appointments were made in line with the Guidelines on staffing of Ministerial offices issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Every appointment in my Department is subject to the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour.
379. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the applications to the foreign births registry for two siblings can be linked to their third sibling’s application (details supplied) as they are all using the same documents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51842/22]
View answerMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. In 2015, prior to Brexit, a total of 6,000 entries were made to the register. In 2019, a peak number of 19,000 entries were made to the Foreign Births Register. Demand for this service from applicants in England, Scotland and Wales continues to be strong with over 8,000 applications received to date this year.
The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen to date in 2022.
The current waiting time for FBR applications is approximately 2 years from receipt of supporting documentation. My Department is currently putting in place a number of measures that will address the volume of FBR applications currently on hand with a view to significantly reducing the processing time for these citizenship applications by the end of this year.
The Passport Service has been scaling up resources to deal with anticipated demand for passports and FBRs since June of last year. Staffing numbers in the Passport Service have doubled since June 2021. There are currently 817 staff. My Department ran several competitions in 2021/22 to address staffing needs in the Passport Service. New office space on the Balbriggan campus is now open and provides over 200 additional workstations to accommodate the increase in staff numbers.
The unprecedented level of staff currently working in the Passport Service will be maintained in the months ahead, allowing for the reassignment of additional staff to the processing of FBR applications.
FBR applications that rely on shared documents are processed together if submitted at the same time. It is not possible to associate a related application at a later date, as all supporting documents for each individual application must be returned to the original applicant. In these circumstances, the applicants would be advised to wait until the supporting documentation for the January 2021 application is returned to the applicant once it has been processed, and resubmit the documentation with a cover letter for the November 2021 applications, which will be processed together as they were submitted simultaneously.
380. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will support the rights of Palestinian refugees living in refugee camps across Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to return to their homes from which they were forcibly displaced; if he is of the opinion that the biggest obstacle to their return is the Israeli settler-colonial movement that wants to continue to remove the Palestinians from their lands; the new attempts that he intends to make at EU and UN level to ensure that the rights of these refugees, which are firmly based in international humanitarian, human rights, and refugee law are upheld; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51935/22]
View answerIreland remains firmly committed to a negotiated two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that ends the occupation that began in 1967, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States, on the basis of international law, including relevant UN Security Council resolutions. A lasting settlement must include the resolution of all permanent status issues. This includes the issue of refugees, which only the parties can resolve through negotiations, with the support of the international community.
The renewed acknowledgement by both Prime Minister Lapid and Palestinian President Abbas, at the United Nations General Assembly in September, of the need to work towards a two-State solution was welcome. I also assured President Abbas, during the course of our meeting in Dublin last September, that Ireland stands ready to support all efforts to help resume credible negotiations aimed at achieving a just and lasting two-State solution. This was an issue that I discussed in a number of my bilateral engagements during UN High Level Week in September, including with my counterparts from Algeria, Qatar, Norway, Egypt and Jordan.
Regrettably, we also continue to witness a situation where Israeli actions on the ground undermine the prospects for progress, including the ongoing threat of evictions and demolitions in Masafer Yatta and the expansion of illegal Israel settlements. Ireland will continue to raise our concerns regarding discriminatory practices towards the Palestinian people on a regular basis directly with the Israeli authorities as well as at EU and UN level.
It is also vital to address the immediate needs of Palestinian refugees. Ireland is a longstanding supporter of the work of UNRWA, which provides vital services, including education, to 5.7 million registered Palestine refugees in the occupied Palestinian territory, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. Last year, Ireland signed an agreement with UNRWA to provide predictable financial support to the Agency, pledging €6 million per annum over three year. During the recent visit to Dublin of the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, I was pleased to announce an additional €2 million in funding for UNRWA, bringing our total contribution in 2022 to €8 million.
381. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the current waiting times for processing foreign birth registration applications; and if there are plans in place to further resource the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51980/22]
View answerMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. In 2015, prior to Brexit, a total of 6,000 entries were made to the register. In 2019, a peak number of 19,000 entries were made to the Foreign Births Register. Demand for this service from applicants in England, Scotland and Wales continues to be strong with over 8,000 applications received to date this year.
The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen to date in 2022.
The current waiting time for FBR applications is approximately 2 years from receipt of supporting documentation. My Department is currently putting in place a number of measures that will address the volume of FBR applications currently on hand with a view to significantly reducing the processing time for these citizenship applications by the end of this year.
The Passport Service has been scaling up resources to deal with anticipated demand for passports and FBRs since June of last year. Staffing numbers in the Passport Service have doubled since June 2021. There are currently 817 staff. My Department ran several competitions in 2021/22 to address staffing needs in the Passport Service. New office space on the Balbriggan campus is now open and provides over 200 additional workstations to accommodate the increase in staff numbers.
The unprecedented level of staff currently working in the Passport Service will be maintained in the months ahead, allowing for the reassignment of additional staff to the processing of FBR applications.
382. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the person who is responsible for inviting four separate NATO-connected warships to visit Cork harbour in recent months; the reason that such invitations were issued; if these warships having been welcomed into Irish ports or allowed to use Ireland’s seas violates the Hague Convention on Neutrality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52044/22]
View answer383. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the State has ratified or signed the Hague Convention on Neutrality (V); the plans that exist for Ireland to come into full compliance with the Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52045/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 383 together.
Visits from foreign naval vessels are a long-standing and common practice in Ireland and worldwide. It is therefore normal and welcome for foreign naval vessels to visit Irish ports, whether that be to carry out joint training with the Irish Naval Service or simply to take crew rest. Port visits like those of recent months are also indicative of our desire for friendly relations with our neighbours and our desire for the Irish Naval Service to be equipped to communicate with other navies where necessary. The Irish Naval Service regularly visits foreign ports in the same manner. Foreign naval vessels are only granted permission to visit Irish ports on condition that they meet the necessary policy stipulations. In particular, these require that naval vessels visiting Irish ports do not carry nuclear weapons and do not engage in military exercises. These are the standard stipulations for any naval vessel to visit an Irish port.
Ireland’s longstanding policy of neutrality is characterised by non-membership of military alliances and means that we do not participate in common or mutual defence arrangements. As I have noted previously, our policy of military neutrality continues to inform our active approach towards peace support operations and crisis management, and our contributions to conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Ireland is not a party to the Hague Convention (V) respecting the Rights and Duties of Neutral Powers and Persons in Case of War on Land, and there are no plans for it to become one. Incorporation of its provisions into domestic law accordingly does not arise.
384. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Defence the total spend by his Department and the agencies under his remit on cybersecurity measures since 2019 to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51168/22]
View answerMy Department implements a programme of continuous review in relation to ICT security in order to keep up to date with current threat levels given that cyber security is a multi-faceted challenge that is constantly evolving.
In line with best practice, the Department of Defence fully cooperates and collaborates with and takes guidance from Ireland’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which is part of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.
In 2020, my Department migrated its core IT infrastructure to the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) under the 'Build to Share Managed Desktop' shared service. An Information Security Management System (ISMS) has been established within the OGCIO that has been certified as meeting the requirements of ISO27001:2013. The ISMS provides an overall governance framework for information security of which cyber security is a key element.
My Department places a high priority on cyber security and implements a security-by-design and defence-in-depth approach to cyber security. The defence-in-depth security strategy is achieved through the effective combination of people, processes, and technology to support the implementation of appropriate security measures and provisions. From an operational and security perspective, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on details of overall spend or specific measures taken in relation to cyber security.
385. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Defence the proportion of his Department’s IT data that is stored in the cloud; the proportion of the data held by all agencies and subsidiaries of his Department in the cloud; if this represents an improvement; if so, the development that has been made towards cloud storage since 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51192/22]
View answerIn 2020, my Department migrated its core IT infrastructure to the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) under the 'Build to Share Managed Desktop' shared service.
OGCIO produced a Cloud Computing Advice Note in October 2019. My department follows this advice and is making use of cloud services.
From an operational and security perspective, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific details of measures taken in relation to data storage.
