Minister Byrne visits NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence
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The Minister of State at the Department of Defence, Thomas Byrne TD, today (Friday, 17 April), visited the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, in Tallinn.
The NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence is a multi-national cyber defence hub, with a total membership of 38 states, including both NATO and non-NATO members. It allows members to work together, and to pool knowledge, to combat the threat of cyber-crime and enhance cyber defence.
Commenting on his visit, the Minister of State for Defence, Thomas Byrne TD said:
“We live in an age of global instability, when pragmatism is required in facing up to the threats we are under, and pragmatism is required in taking on those threats. Ireland has greatly benefitted from our membership of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, with the Irish Defence Forces provided with direct access to one of the world’s leading international hubs for cyber defence expertise, research, and training.”
Minister Byrne continued: “By working alongside both NATO and non-NATO members, Ireland’s membership of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence ensures that Ireland, and our Defence Forces, remain connected to the most current international thinking on cyber defence. In working to tackle cyber threats, Ireland’s membership of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence since 2023, has enhanced our ability to protect critical national communications infrastructure and Defence Forces networks, as well as providing a forum to share best practice.”
During his visit to Tallinn, Minister Byrne also met with the Chair of the Estonian Parliamentary National Defence Committee, Grigore-Kalev Stoicescu.
Commenting on his meeting with the Chair, Minister Byrne said: “During my meeting with Chair of the Estonian Parliamentary National Defence Committee, Grigore-Kalev Stoicescu, I set out Ireland’s intention to constructively take forward the security and defence agenda, at EU level, during our EU Presidency. We also discussed support for Ukraine in the face of continued Russian aggression, including through bilateral donations, via our membership of the Ukraine-Defence Contact Group, and through the provision of continued non-lethal military support and engagement in the EU’s Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine.”
Minister Byrne continued: “During our meeting, I commended the work that the Estonian-led IT Ukraine-Defence Contact Group Coalition, of which Ireland is a member, is doing in support of Ukraine. Ireland and Estonia are both members of the current UNIFIL mission, and I welcomed the opportunity to exchange thoughts on the challenges facing the mission at this time.”