A cyberattack to Ireland’s water supply could be “devastating” and threaten lives, the Dáil has heard.
Speaking during a parliamentary exchange this week, a Sinn Féin TD said that the State cannot afford to underestimate the “potentially devastating consequences” of such an event.
“Recent alarming reports from the United States confirm that hackers have targeted water infrastructure across 12 states, highlighting the growing threat to critical national infrastructure,” Mayo TD Rose Conway-Walsh said.
“I raised this with the Taoiseach in December 2023 and again in February 2024 when a local group water scheme in Mayo was hacked.”
Conway-Walsh, who serves as Chair of the defence and national security committee, warned of the need to invest in Ireland’s preparedness against hybrid warfare.
“Water security is a national security issue,” she continued.
“A successful attack could compromise drinking water quality, disrupt essential services and endanger public life. We cannot afford complacency or to underestimate the likelihood and potentially devastating consequences of such an attack.”
Conway-Walsh then questioned the Government on its strategy for dealing with the growing threat.
“I want to know what proactive measures the Taoiseach is taking,” she said.
Responding to the questions, Taoiseach Micheál Martin stated that all utilities are vulnerable in an era of rapidly advancing technology.
Speaking in the Dáil, the Fianna Fáil leader said that the State was treating the cybersecurity of public infrastructure as a priority.
“Deputy Conway-Walsh referred to a group water scheme that had been hacked in County Mayo and cybersecurity,” Martin said.
“We are very alive to this. That National Cyber Security Centre guides both public utilities and private companies.”
He then outlined the reporting protocols for organisations that find themselves targeted by criminals.
“It provides guidance and advice,” he added.
“If anyone suffers an incident, he or she should immediately refer it to the Garda and the National Cyber Security Centre.”
Martin also acknowledged the specific difficulties presented by the integration of artificial intelligence into cyber warfare.
“We are building resilience in cybersecurity,” he continued.
“It is very challenging and the Deputy is correct in saying that all utilities are vulnerable, particularly in an AI-enabled world. AI-enabled cyberattacks can be far more dangerous.”
The Taoiseach asserted that the Government is prepared to meet these evolving threats.
“We have to be very resilient in response to that,” Martin said.
“We have built up a very strong National Cyber Security Centre in a relatively short period of time and I have a lot of confidence in the leadership of that centre.”
The exchange follows a politically motivated cyberattack on a private group water scheme in the Erris area of Mayo in December 2023.
Anti-Israeli hackers targeted the Binghamstown/Drum scheme, leaving 180 homes without their water supply for two days.