Joint Committee on Transport and Communications to meet Minister of State Ossian Smyth for update on capacity review of National Cyber Security Centre

Ahead of the meeting at 12.30pm in Committee Room 2 of Leinster House, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Kieran O’Donnell said: “The cyber attack on the HSE systems earlier this year was one of the most serious security breaches in the history of the State. It was a wake-up call to how important effective cyber security of our critical systems and infrastructure is to our national security and economic wellbeing.

“Following the HSE attack, the Government and Minister Smyth committed to the expansion of the National Cyber Security Centre to counter these sinister and increasingly regular threats from criminal gangs and other sources. These commitments included increasing the budget and staff numbers in the NCSC, and the recruitment of a new head of the NCSC on a higher salary than previously advertised.

“A capacity review of the NCSC by an independent third party was already under way at the time of the HSE cyber attack in May and we understand this has been completed and is now with the Department. The Committee would like an update on this capacity review and the progress made in expanding the NCSC. We look forward to discussing these and related matters with Minister Smyth.”

The Joint Committee on Transport and Communications has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 2 can be viewed live on Oireachtas.ie.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.