272. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding Ireland’s preparedness for a significant cyber-attack on the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63030/26]

The Defence Forces have established a Joint Cyber Defence Command, representing a significant step forward in strengthening their cyber defence capability. This Command is designed to deliver full-spectrum cyber operations, enabling the Defence Forces to robustly defend against cyber threats, support their operations at home and overseas, and contribute to the enhancement resilience in the cyber domain.

In tandem with the establishment of this Command, the Defence Forces Cyber Defence Strategy 2024–2027 has been published. This Strategy provides a comprehensive and structured roadmap to guide the development of operational capability in this critical area, ensuring that the Defence Forces are equipped to meet current and future challenges.

My Department continues to support the development of this capability through the approval of specialist Defence Forces personnel to the Unit, which is commanded by an officer of Brigadier General rank. The Deputy will appreciate that for operational and security reasons, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.