National security committee
Deputy Kelly asked why the Cabinet subcommittee on national security had been removed and argued that modern threats require broader scrutiny. The Taoiseach said he had not abolished committees, noted that policy committees were established, and agreed there was a need for wider debate on security.
The Taoiseach’s predecessor, the current Tánaiste, set up a Cabinet subcommittee on national security, but the Taoiseach got rid of it. Why did he get rid of it? Recent events have shown us the real and serious concerns we have as a nation in modern times about security in all its facets. I say, “Well done” to Patrick Murphy and all his colleagues in west Cork for what they have achieved over the last number of weeks. However, we cannot outsource our security, whether that is online, offline, on land or on sea. We cannot outsource it.
The cyberattack on the HSE has shown our digital weaknesses. The Taoiseach set up a senior committee on national security, which does not have the Minister for Defence, the Minister for Justice, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Taoiseach or the Tánaiste on it. The Taoiseach got rid of the Cabinet subcommittee on security. When will the report on the Commission on the Defence Forces be published? Will he, on the foot of my request now, re-establish the Cabinet subcommittee on security?
Comment on this
I hope the report will be brought to the Government shortly. That will be an important report for the broader defence and security debate that we need in this House in respect of the modern threats to any country that are not just military but, as the Deputy said, are in the realms of cybersecurity, terrorism and so on.
There are significant issues on which we have to deliver. I did not get rid of any committees-----
Comment on this
You did. It does not exist anymore.
Comment on this
It existed as part of the previous Government and does not exist in this one. That is just a fact.