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LAST UPDATE | 14 Feb 2023
THE NATIONAL CYBER Security Centre is drafting formal procurement recommendations on the use of certain types of IT equipment for Government data services.
It comes as the The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) sought clarity around media reports that the Office of Public Works (OPW) will conduct a review of best practice regarding CCTV systems.
The human rights group last week raised concerns about the use of Hikvision surveillance cameras inside and outside the Houses of the Oireachtas in Dublin. Hikvision has been linked to the Chinese Communist Party.
A spokesperson for the Taoiseach told reporters today that they do not comment in detail on security matters, but added that the Oireachtas and An Garda Síochána work closely on security arrangements for Members of the Oireachtas and the parliamentary estate.
“The Government is fully conscious of the importance of technology security across Government and other State buildings.
“The National Cyber Security Centre works with Government Departments and Agencies to mitigate the risks associated with IT products and services,” they added.
RTÉ reported yesterday that the OPW, which has responsibility for public buildings, said that “in light of recent developments regarding CCTV” it is to review best practice.
The OPW said it would “implement any recommendations as necessary” after a review “in collaboration with industry experts”.
The ICCL has today written to the OPW and the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission seeking clarity around reports that a review of best practice will be carried out.
“While we acknowledge that the OPW has responded swiftly to the concerns we have raised, we currently have no information about the details of this review,” ICCL executive director Liam Herrick said.
“There are a number of outstanding questions relating to how and when the surveillance cameras currently in the Oireachtas were procured, and the processes and procedures relating to CCTV systems which the OPW and the Houses of the Oireachtas currently have in place,” he said.
Herrick said it is “essential the OPW makes public the intended scope and remit of the reported review and articulate publicly its Terms of Reference, who will conduct the review, what bodies will be consulted as part of the review and the review’s durations and timeline for publications”.
He added that the review needs to address how the OPW assesses questions of data protections, national security and human rights in its procurement processes.
“Finally, given the serious concerns regarding Hikvision, we have asked again whether the OPW and the Houses of the Oireachtas will now remove Hikvision cameras pending outcome of the review,” Herrick said.
Hikvision has been banned in several Western jurisdictions and institutions because of security concerns. This week, Australia removed hundreds of the firm’s cameras from its defence sites due to issues relating to national security.
In November, the US government said it was banning telecommunications and video surveillance equipment from several prominent Chinese brands, including Hikvision, in an effort to protect its communications network.
Security cameras made by Hikvision were also banned from British Government buildings in November.
In a letter to the Oireachtas commission earlier this month, along with the political party leaders, the ICCL raised concerns about the Chinese Communist Party being a controlling stakeholder in Hikvision, and said its devices in Italy had sent data back to China.
“In addition to the risk that cameras inside the Oireachtas may be reporting back to China, security researchers regularly find new security vulnerabilities that allow hackers to seize full control of various types of Hikvision cameras,” the ICCL’s technology fellow, Dr Kris Shrishak, said.
“Hackers can record what the cameras see and, potentially, what they hear.
“ICCL has directly observed Hikvision cameras inside the Oireachtas Buildings and about its grounds. The cameras are positioned at locations where they can capture video of TDs, senators and staff, and their private conversations. They may also capture what was said,” he added.
Speaking at the Foreign Affairs and Defence Oireachtas Committee today, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said that Hikvision security cameras have only been identified by the Department of Defence at a Civil Defence building in Rosscrea, Co Tipperary.
In a statement to The Journal, a spokesperson for Hikvision said “it is categorically ralse to represent Hikvision as a threat to national security”.
“No respected technical institution or assessment has come under this conclusion,” they said.
The spokesperson said that as a manufacturer, Hikvision “does not store end-users’ video data, does not offer cloud storage in the Republic of Ireland and therefore cannot transmit data from end-users to third parties”.
They said Hikvision cameras are “fully compliant with the applicable Irish laws and regulations and are subject to strict security requirements”.
“Hikvision takes all reports regarding human rights very seriously and recognises our responsibility for protecting people,” the spokesperson said.
“The company has been engaging with governments globally to clarify misunderstandings about the company and our business and address their concerns.”
With reporting by Tadgh McNally
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I nearly chocked on my steak after reading Joans glowing tribute to Pat.Comedy gold.
And Joan said that with a straight face too!
Of course she said it with a straight face because people in Labour actually believe the things they say. That’s why I’m so looking forward to Joan Burton’s post election reactions of bewilderment and tears when she loses her seat.
They couldn’t possibly believe what they say! They may be cynical feeders at the trough-of-State but surely they are not stupid?
She’s a good liar Andrew that’s why she holds the position she has.
If she thinks there’s a whiff of her losing her seat she’ll be announcing her retirement from politics to a nice cozy job with Topaz.
Sadly Dessie, some of them are. We have already heard them saying that they are been punished in the polls for “making the tough decisions”. I don’t blame Fine Gael, I blame the people that thought voting for Fine Gael was going to be different this time around. This is what Fine Gael do (remember trying to tax children’s shoes?)
Labour’s election campaign of 2011 was mostly based on stopping Fine Gael inflicting the sort of cuts and hikes they ended up supporting once they were in government. If the Labour members of government really believed that they have sold out the core principles of their party, they would have walked long ago.
I don’t think so Peter, her taking the leadership role and stepping down so soon, would be disastrous for the party.
I hope it wasn’t fillet streak – Joan wouldn’t be impressed ! I suppose you have a fancy mobile phone as well.
‘Huge loss to politics’
Well, maybe not a loss. But definitely huge. As Damon Albarn would say ‘You wanna cut dahn on the pork pies mate’ (rhyming slang intended!
It’s up to us to retire the lot of them
What was it he said?
‘Campaign in poetry, and govern in prose’?
A fancy way of admitting to having told porkies the last time out.
Away with you now Pat.
You, yer ‘poetry’, yer ‘Prose’, and yer lovely big fat pension!!
Good fkn riddance..a pompous, egotistical, arrogant snob that happily talked down to the people that put where he was… The proverbial fat cat.
YES
The one who muzzled RTE if I recall right – no opinion could be expressed when it came to govt making sure we all ran to – save the banks – and adopt the fiscal treaty into constitution .
As for Art 29 5 2 – DAIL APPROVAL before the term binding on the state – not at all government will do all that says Dail – and breach
* break election promises
* making dail a forum out of which claim are created by citizen against the state.
We pay more when we should be side by side with Greece .
Normally I would say good ridance but unfortunately the departure of Rabbit will make way for a young and enthusiastic crony criminal. Nothing will change, just the face.
Good start to the week anyway
A Rabbit from a sinking ship ..Jumped before he was pushed..
Great news. Cant remember him coming up with ONE memorable idea.The only downside might be that he will end up dishing out more of his mediocre punditry on radio and tv (for which he will not have to be elected. luckily for him, unluckily for us). An insufferable p….k
More of a comedisn than a politician.. His principles evolve with each dáil.
Hopefully he will be followed by iPhone Moanie Joanie and the rest of Liebor
#tiocfaidhárlá2016 #oxi
Wun wabbit wun. Enjoy your lump and pension. Loreal won’t be giving you an ad anytime soon.
no loss
Sure he’s as old as the hills.
Great news rats ship pity about the pension.
Labour TD’s wake up you ain’t going to be re-elected . Time to jump ship.
I will remember him as a politician who never actually answered a question he was asked.
Most of our media will be doing his political obituary tonight and tomorrow, while completely ignoring what he was doing in the 70′s. Rabbitte and Gilmore have a very very interesting past, but RTE and Co will never dare mentioning the truth.
He knows he hasn’t got a snowballs chance in he’ll of getting elected.I just hope we don’t have to listen to any more of his blatant telling of untruths.
OOOOOO. I Really Am disappointed you feel this way.
Joan said she is still gonna run so there will still be a punchline.
Former revolutionaries.
Only Gerry Adams has a past.
“Pat Rabbitte done the State distinguished service and will go down as one of the finest parliamentarians of this or any other generation”
Joan Burton, showing her high levels of delusion once again. That women should be in a nursing home not in The Dail.
can anyone tell me what he’s actually done for the state.
Injected a lot of money into the economy allegedly. Offset printing presses are great things.
ah sure he’ll only get a 140000 pension a year with increase on way about 2800 per week ,there robbing millions from nama and robbing the people’s wages for water charges and property tax hope he can live with the guilt
They have the cheek to analyse people’s shopping trolleys and there retired party colleagues take pension increases ah sure its only 1 euro a week for everybody like the water charges its only 3 euros a week the neck of them
He destroyed 3 political movements in his lifetime, thats some achievement.
Rabittes no idiot, he’s made it a habit of moving on from the wreck of every politcal entity he has helped to destroy, and Labours no different.
I was looking forward to not voting for him on polling day, now I’m just looking forward to watching him devolve further and crawl backwards into the sea, his political legacy being one of the main actors who destroyed the party of James Connolly on the centenary of his execution.
He was the case in point product of our election system.. The consummate populist.
Did he not criticise the Ff ministers for doing the same thing prior to the last general election. (getting out of dodge before they lost their seats).what a hypocrite .I wonder will he take his full pension .#leech
Of course he will he enjoys our money.
Job in Topaz probably.
Making breakfast rolls, hopefully.
He wasn’t getting back in anyway.
Delighted.. Good riddance to the unbearable smug pri#k !!
Sickens me a bit when they do this, they get to go on their own terms rather than being told where to go by the people. Rats from a sinking ship like FF of not long ago to come in Labour.
Ah pat :( you would have had my vote…..to get fcked!!!!
The humiliation of the downfall of the Labour party in the next General election would be a bit to much for Pat to take The Labour have no one to blame only themselves
Parasite.
Good riddance! Hopefully some more of his Labor colleagues will take the hint.
even if he wanted he wouldnt have contested
Useless fcuker
I could say a lot about Rabbite but I’d better not, they’ll just close the comments like they did with Dobby!
We’ve not been allowed to comment on Mick Wallace articles lately either for some reason. Would love to know the reason why…
Well eh, that’s what you would say in the run up to an election
No Denis Maher – Isn’t that what you do at election time … when you know ur a goner.
Keep an eye for his directorships!!! Eircode, Capita, BearingPoint An Post???
Good riddance to an arrogant, disgusting excuse for a human being. May his retirement bring him nothing but misery, might get a taste of some of the misery he helped inflict on countless people in this country.
Coward!!!!
Didn’t give us the opportunity to vote him out!!!
O don’t go pat we need you.you no good lump of nothing.
Seriously no loss.
Compare and contrast this man, who lied to get elected and/or trampled on his mandate in exchange for office, with Mr Varoufakis who was elected on manifesto, stuck to it, and after six months and political popularity Rabbite can only dream about – resigned in what he thought were the interests of his country.
One a hero, the ex-Stickie a zero……
Rabbitte was never going to get re-elected anyway. I’m sure he will be offered a nice cushy position somewhere in Europe and if all else fails he can get back into the printing business.
An oul’ spot on a state board or as head of an NGO. He won’t be stuck, but many will because of his policies.
Jumping from a sinking ship. Not a new concept.
Must’ve read the comments under his last article. Anyway, moving on.
Disgraceful fat Rabbit will make of into the sunset with a big fat pension after lying to the people repeatedly.. Should be stopped..
good riddence to bad rubbish.into the skip pat wabbit lols
THE COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER Pat Rabbitte has said reports suggesting a firm recently acquired by Denis O’Brien has been awarded the contract to install domestic water meters are incorrect.
In response to written Dáil questions, Rabbitte said suggestions that SiteServ – a company acquired by an investment vehicle part-owned by O’Brien earlier this year – had been awarded the contract to fit water meters were premature.
It was reported over the weekend that the company, whose subsidiaries include Sierra, had been awarded the contract for the installation and maintenance of about one million meters in homes over the coming years.
Sierra already holds the contract to be the sole installer and maintenance body for domestic boilers for Bord Gáis Energy, which is to become the parent company of Irish Water.
In response to parliamentary questions from Richard Boyd Barrett and John Halligan, however, Rabbitte said the tendering process for Irish Water had not yet commenced.
“This process will be rolled out in the coming months in line with Public Procurement Guidelines. This will be an entirely new and separate procurement process,” Rabbitte said.
“Any existing contractual arrangements in place by BGÉ have no relevance whatsoever to the process of tendering for water meters.”
Shareholders in SiteServ, which owed about €150 million to the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (formerly Anglo Irish Bank), agreed last month to sell the company to O’Brien’s Millington investment
Wondering if he is been truthful ???.
sure isn’t that what u do during elections. .”espically when u have no chance of getting re elected”
The Dail will be a poorer place without his wit and repartee
I’m sure there is an irony in that comment somewhere!
Goodbye thank God, come again, God forbid
Remember pat rooking the foundations of the state back in 1996. Typical of the man, a lot of stage managed sound bites and rhetoric backed up with nothing. Must have had his his own specially upholstered seat in RTE. Ideal opposition politician, yet very average as an entitled and arrogant minister-all sizzle and no sausage. His party in 1997 was in a government that did away with water charges yet now he is the biggest cheer leader for them. Remember him beating up on that decent man Pat Carey prior to the last election, filled with phoney rage, and then being totally useless when he had the levers of power.
The sad thing is, he will still be a permanent fixture on the media….
In this another election promise ? Hopefully he will keep this one.
Phat pat the Mayo dope with all his jowls is replacing Churchill the dog on insurance adverts
Pity because I would have moved to his constituency just to ensure l could have voted for someone else if he had run. Traitor.
Here was a politician whose talents, intelligence, and canniness were sadly negated by a lack of passion and conviction, empty of a true commitment to the public interest and the welfare of the people.
At some point, Rabbitte lost his political way and ended up cantankerous, grumpy, out of sorts with ordinary voters and devoted to the interests of the super powerful.
There was a Seneca quality about Rabbitte, nominal idealism, but a sad pragmatist with no true passion.
He developed a passion for feathering his nest at taxpayer expense, a passion he never betrayed.
THE COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER Pat Rabbitte has said reports suggesting a firm recently acquired by Denis O’Brien has been awarded the contract to install domestic water meters are incorrect.
In response to written Dáil questions, Rabbitte said suggestions that SiteServ – a company acquired by an investment vehicle part-owned by O’Brien earlier this year – had been awarded the contract to fit water meters were premature.
It was reported over the weekend that the company, whose subsidiaries include Sierra, had been awarded the contract for the installation and maintenance of about one million meters in homes over the coming years.
Sierra already holds the contract to be the sole installer and maintenance body for domestic boilers for Bord Gáis Energy, which is to become the parent company of Irish Water.
In response to parliamentary questions from Richard Boyd Barrett and John Halligan, however, Rabbitte said the tendering process for Irish Water had not yet commenced.
“This process will be rolled out in the coming months in line with Public Procurement Guidelines. This will be an entirely new and separate procurement process,” Rabbitte said.
“Any existing contractual arrangements in place by BGÉ have no relevance whatsoever to the process of tendering for water meters.”
Shareholders in SiteServ, which owed about €150 million to the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (formerly Anglo Irish Bank), agreed last month to sell the company to O’Brien’s Millington
The internet is such a nuisance isn’ it.
Good, he’s been as useful as a wart, unsightly to most and costing more to cure then it’s worth, good riddance to liebour
He is already in his natural home working for DOB while trying to scrape a living on a pension of 120k a year of a public pension.An odious smug bastwrd who should be sent to Coventry back all and sundry.
Gosh, what an enormous shock. This red faced, blustering windbag is due several (soon to be increased) pensions and, moreover, has not a hope of being re-elected.
What a deluded muppett he is to think that either he or anyone from labour will be re elected.
Ah sure that is what he says now, like he said on RTE about what you say before elections in order to get elected. HE LIES. So will he stay retired ?? Who cares as his replacement will also lie — that’s what they do! According to Pat.hopefully he fades away into private life not like the rest of the greedy retired politicians who seem determined to take jobs that young people could do with the opportunities.
Arrogant smug and disrespectful,he looked down on the ordinary people of Ireland and had no time for them.
Good riddance to him another fat rat jumping from the sinking labour ship.
He was so far removed from reality that he hadn’t a clue what was going on.
Good riddance to bad rubbish take the rest of the creeps with you
Rabbitte probably fancies his chances as the next president as he is that deluded. Just look at the neck on him, the man they could’nt hang.
I thought I could root that snot out. It was a really crusty green and red one….embedded in my top left nozzle…….I tried for ages to get at it….
But then the little fecker just blew out into a nice clean hankie
First rabbit I’ve come across that doesn’t run….
Hallelujah!!
great news, he will be a loss to politicians that want to learn about lying and keeping a straight face,and corruption. good riddance.
And so it begins. The cowards retiring. Enjoy your pension, you lying parasite.
The rabbit will be going down alright. He won’t need a coat
Carlsberg don’t do sneering , amoral sleveens
I for one am sad to see Pat go, I always voted for him. He is as smart as a whip and witty to boot. He has nothing to be ashamed of.
People like him never feel ashamed.It’s not in their genetics.
@Tracy… Hilarious comment
are you not ashamed to post that???
Ah here Tracey shur he was great at re-partee-The Workers Party,Democratic Left -all defunct , Now the Labour Party is on its way to oblivion worn out by Pats smart whip and squashed by his witty boot. Probably add to his ill gotten monetary gains by becoming a political pundit on R.t e. Help!!! . With this scenario a possibility I think I will desert this sinking ship as well.
No, im not ashamed at all guys but Id love to hear which hero’s you are going to vote for in the next election Turlough/Bowe/Nelly. Very easy to be in opposition though isnt it? Spit it out so, name your saviours or are you just slagging everyone without any idea of who you would vote in?
Maybe Greece would suit you better?
I’d vote for nelly.At least he got rhymes and keeps hot bitches.
‘Hero’s…Saviours….Maybe Greece would suit you better?’
What on earth are you rambling on about? (please don’t answer that question. i don’t think i would survive your explanation)
I thought my comments were quite clear Andrew. They in reply to other posters. the Greece one was for Nelly who said she wanted to jump ship. It was a retort for her post to me. I don’t particularly want to offend anyone but if she slings it at me I have a right to reply. I hope that clears it up for you. Aren’t people really brave on these forums though? All I said was I like PR and it was akin to saying I support ISIS! Some people gave no hesitation in being nasty to others. So have a pop if you want but it will say more about you than I.
Better than most
Well well I wonder why. Possibly because he knew he wouldn’t be re-elected. Enjoy your six figure pension you smug little prat.
He is as smart as a whip and witty to boot
Copyright: Fifty Shades of Grey. Pat the BDSM man, handy with the whip and boots. Probably looks great in his leathers lol
No loss to the country except for the pension he will take with him and live happily ever after
Pat needs to head out to grass!
Better for him to exit politics on a sort of high under his own terms than suffer the ignominy of being pushed by electorate, for that’s the racing certainty outcome most likely in next GE, given Labour’s perceived treachery against Irish Electorate since 2011, with their toadying up to the Krauts on all that austerity bolleau.
Me thinks the days of the smoked salmon socialists like Pat, are numbered.
You could not mark his neck with a blow torch, it will be interesting to see what board or guango he parks his ass on.
One down loads to GO
self serving lier. won’t be missed
And they said he was a turd that wouldn’t flush, how wrong they were!
Doubtless he’ll retire on a pension that’s almost as fat as he is. What a disappointment he turned out to be, for years and years he had been seen as a voice of common sense and a voice of the people. As soon as he got his snout in the trough, he was every bit as bad as any Fianna Fáil gombeen. We are not well served by our political class.
The former minister for smart ass one liners and put downs, but sadly little else finally bows out to widespread acclaim.
It’s time for Pat to go!
He was and is anti -Catholic!
Sad!
Hopefully we shall retire the whole lot of them after the next election.
Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out!
Jumping off a sinking ship with big fat pension. #Labour turncoats.
Bye bye
he’s right , he got he’s big fat pension , screw the peasants
Good
“Isn’t that what you tend to do during an election?”
Bahaha, sonny! True. A better option than most. I bet that nelly wouldn’t use a rainbow flag (a symbol of non judgement and understanding) and the slag off someone who thinks differently to them because that would hypocritical wouldn’t it.
I’ll miss him if only for his wit. Also lads, can we drop the rants and suggest genuine alternatives please?
Sure that’s what you say when people retire, eh Joan?
Newsflash: The real heading here should be: Seán O Rourke asks Pat Rabbitte *twice* will he work for Denis O’Brien’s Newscorp after the election, and Rabbitte refused to answer the question *twice* (Today with Seán O Rourke on RTÉ Radio 1 this morning)
* Conflict of interest alert* regarding the former Minister for Communications. Wake up, everybody.
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