CYBER SECURITY IS KEY RISK TO STATE

» Main threat is from Russia » Martin flags up challenges

CYBER criminals are a key threat to Ireland, especially since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Tanaiste has warned.

And Micheal Martin admitted that the infamous cyber-attack on the HSE almost three years ago paralysed the health system for weeks.

Mr Martin, who is Minister for Defence, also warned yesterday that Ireland had to collaborate with other nations to protect vital subsea data cables off our west coast.

The Tanaiste made his comments as he launched the latest national risk assessment, which details every possible threat to the country, from bad weather to a terror attack.

Mr Martin said: “Cyber security is a key risk. Since the war in Ukraine and the Russian invasion of Ukraine cyber attacks have increased exponentially.” Experts say as much as 75% of all cyber attacks in the world originate from Russia and it’s suspected the May 2021 ransomware onslaught against the HSE came from there.

It took weeks for experts to regain control of the HSE computer system – and the Tanaiste said the attack was devastating.

He added: “We experienced our own cyber-attack on our health service, which basically paralysed our health service for a number of weeks and entailed extraordinary human cost and financial cost.

“A number of other public entities, the Technological University in Cork had a cyber-attack, that is a very significant concern.”

The Tanaiste also said he was worried about the threat posed by climate change. He continued: “We need to adapt more quickly to climate because climate is happening right now.

“And we have witnessed that in terms of the flooding. Our water levels are very high. Will that affect our food production system issue in terms of tillage? I see climate as very high [risk].”

Ireland has also been warned by experts that subsea data cables off our west coast could be vulnerable to attack and Mr Martin said the state was working to protect them.

The Tanaiste said: “I’ve spoken to other military outside of the country who say that the whole area of subsea cables is about collaborating with the private sector with other countries.”

The report also identified the potential of a war in a European country to cause “a significant mass inward population influx, coupled with an increase in International Protection applicants, impacting the carrying capacity of the economy.” Ireland has already accepted more than 100,000 refugees from Ukraine.

I spoke to other military outside of the country MICHEAL MARTIN YESTERDAY