Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 5 Nov 2003

Vol. 573 No. 4

Written Answers. - Information Technology Security.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

249 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the steps being taken by his Department to ensure that infrastructure, Government banking and finance industry communications which is totally dependent on information technology is protected against cyber terrorism or cyber crime, computer viruses and hacking; and the definite steps he proposes to take to safeguard against such threats or at least to provide a speedy response involving all relevant parties in both the public and private sector. [25651/03]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern)

The onus on security of information technology systems rests primarily with the providers who own and operate these systems as well as the individual users of these information technology systems. In order to promote awareness of the importance of network security my Department has recently published a brochure and created a compact disc on this subject. This brochure, with additional information, is publicly available on the web site www.netsecure.ie.

At a European level there are proposals currently being discussed at the European Council and European Parliament for the creation of a European network and information security agency. It is proposed that the agency will serve as a European centre of expertise on network and information security issues and thereby enhance the capability of the union and the member states to deal with problems in this area. It is envisaged that the agency will come into existence in early 2004. My Department is closely monitoring progress in this area.