273. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding Ireland’s preparedness for a significant cyber-attack on Department of Defence offices/ institutions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63029/26]

At national level, the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration leads on cyber security policy. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), an operational arm of the Department, is the State’s primary authority for cyber security and is supported by An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces in the security domain.

The NCSC leads the management of major cyber incidents across Government, provides guidance to citizens, businesses and the public sector, and supports international cooperation and information sharing.

I can confirm for the Deputy that both myself and my Department place a high priority on cyber security and the Department operates in line with NCSC guidance. The Department participates in the Government Cyber Security Coordination & Response (GovCORE) network to support information sharing and best practice across the public sector.

Core IT infrastructure in my Department is delivered by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) under the ‘Build to Share Managed Desktop’ shared service. In partnership with the OGCIO, the Department applies a defence?in?depth approach to cyber security, combining people, processes and technology. This includes an Information Security Management System aligned with ISO 27001:2022 to ensure a consistent and effective approach to managing cyber risks.

Separately, the Defence Forces have established a Joint Cyber Defence Command, as recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces, to strengthen the State’s capability in the cyber domain.

From an operational perspective, it would not be appropriate to comment on specific cyber security measures.