Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 April 2025
171. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Taoiseach to provide an update on the examination of national security structures as promised in the Programme for Government; the agencies and Departments involved in that review; if there will be external participation in the review; if expertise will be sought from outside the State; and the timeframe envisioned. [19051/25]
View answerThe Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland's Future, sets out a number of commitments relating to national security and defence, and the work of reviewing and enhancing our national security structures is already underway.
As a part of this process, I have established a Ministerial Council on National Security, which will comprise the Taoiseach as chair, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and for Defence, and the Minister for Justice. The Council will review strategic national security developments, oversee progress with delivery of the Government's national security commitments and measures, and review the security situation and other matters of importance to our national security.
The current National Security Committee will undertake the review of our national security structures and report to the Ministerial Council on National Security before year end. In addition to its current responsibilities, the National Security Committee will steer progress with the delivery of the Government's strategic national security commitments and regularly report progress to the Ministerial Council.
To support this work a new national security secretariat is being established in my Department, which will convene a number of new working groups to bring focused attention to bear on the delivery of actions in the primary areas of national security concern.
Cyber security is a particular focus. Work is already underway to bring the National Cyber Security Centre under the remit of the Minister for Justice as an important part of the realignment of our national security infrastructure, and the new National Cyber Security Bill, which will provide a statutory footing for the NCSC, is a priority in the Government’s Legislation Programme for this session. The Government is continuing to invest in resourcing the NCSC to further expand its capacity.
The Government will also prioritise the ongoing work to deliver the Defence Forces’ Joint Cyber Defence Command Strategy, an important aspect of building capability and modernising our Defence Forces. In addition, work is progressing as a priority on legislation to modernise the high-level command and control structures in the Defence Forces and to place the current arrangements for our Military Intelligence service on a revised legislative footing.
