Results 701-720 of 1,045,063 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Tom Kitt OR speaker:Eamon Ryan OR speaker:Bernard Durkan)

Pre-European Council: Statements (26 Jun 2024)

Seán Haughey: I have a recollection that pre and post European Council meeting statements were introduced in this House following the defeat of an EU referendum.

Pre-European Council: Statements (26 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: Correct.

Pre-European Council: Statements (26 Jun 2024)

Seán Haughey: It was done to bring about a greater awareness of European issues and to make the Taoiseach more accountable to the Dáil as regards his approach to European Council meetings. While they are helpful, the Dáil is a long way from mandating what the Taoiseach should do at European Council meetings, as is the case in some other EU member states. Be that as it may, I welcome the...

Pre-European Council: Statements (26 Jun 2024)

Matt Carthy: I thank the Minister of State for her opening statement. I do not know whether I have had an opportunity to wish her well since her new appointment but if not I do so now. I acknowledge that accession conferences have been held or are ongoing with Moldova, Ukraine and Montenegro. It is the right of states and the people of those states themselves to decide what the wherewithal of their...

Pre-European Council: Statements (26 Jun 2024)

Pre-European Council: Statements (26 Jun 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: The Taoiseach will participate in the June meeting of the European Council taking place in Brussels tomorrow and Friday. The agenda will cover Ukraine, the Middle East, security and defence, competitiveness, and the next institutional cycle. The meeting is also expected to adopt the EU's next strategic agenda and agree a roadmap for future EU internal reforms. There will also be...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach very much for the opportunity to present the 2024 Further Revised Estimate for the connectivity and communications delivery programme of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. This Further Revised Estimate was required due to the recent transfer of marine planning-related functions to my Department from the Department of...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I believe we have seen real success and progress in the area of communications. The investment by Eir and other operators like SIRO, Liberty Global and Virgin Media is very significant. That competition has delivered for the Irish people, particularly the universal aspect of that given that the national broadband plan is covering areas that would not otherwise be reached. The investment by...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: What the Deputy said is true. Some of the most significant connectivity issues are in cities. Many estates in south Dublin that might have been built in the 1980s do not have the ducting. It can be difficult to roll out high-speed gigabit broadband in these estates. The Department and ComReg are looking at working with local authorities to facilitate support for that specific problem and,...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: It will be a number of years but we do need to start now and we are starting to work with local authorities and the companies to see how we might make that possible.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The point the Deputy makes is a good one. It is not just in the National Cyber Security Centre. It also involves those bodies that will have the responsibility for overseeing the NIS directive. Many people will be looking in the same pool of talent. There is a very significant private sector in our country with an interest in cybersecurity so it is a competitive market for a relatively...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: That is already the case. Going back to the major attack on the HSE, there was very significant use of consultancy and international agencies to support us. You do not just rely on in-house resources. The skill involved in running the National Cyber Security Centre involves being able to have safe access to data and analysis from other agencies, so the answer to the Deputy's question is "Yes".

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Yes. It goes both ways. We also feed our data in and share information so we are not just relying on other agencies to provide expertise. We can also feed back. We have very explicitly scaled up that sharing of data and information as a security priority. The Commission on the Defence Forces report and others recognised cyber as one of our most important security issues. The Defence...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: There were, and I am trying to remember how even a few weeks ago, there was a significant attack on some of the Government networks - during the local and European elections, as I recall. It was mostly commercial, it would seem, and similar to what we saw in the attack on the HSE or the Munster Technological University about a year or two ago, if members recall. A lot of it is still ransom...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I think we should look at it, and I would not rule out that option of aggregating a number of different projects. It tends to be estate-specific and site-specific so how exactly you might do that might be slightly difficult. However, I would not rule that out. I agree with the Deputy. This is not anything like the scale of the national broadband plan. It tends to be very specific...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: It is built into the contract and in a sense, success here benefits everyone. It is successful in the volume of connections and the increase of revenue to NBI and, obviously, the householders themselves. It also reduces the overall cost of the programme. My understanding is that the level of connections has actually exceeded what was expected. I understand the question the Deputy asked...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: No. The contract is quite sophisticated in reducing the subsidy by the State in instances where there is greater uptake and success in roll-out.