Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am delighted to be here today to officially launch the 2Centre project.
This is my first visit to UCD to observe the work of the Centre for
Cyber-crime Investigation, and it gives me great pleasure that my visit is
on such a special occasion,
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all who have joined us
here today – representatives from law enforcement, academia and industry -
and, of course, those who are joining us by live video link from Paris, in
particular, our French colleagues who are partners in this Project.
We are also joined by the French Ambassador, the Garda Commissioner and the
President of UCD, and representatives from the European Commission and the
other organisations who also support the project.
There are many here today who have worked hard to bring about this crucial
step in achieving a shared vision for the future in cyber-crime
investigation and education. It represents a huge collaborative effort by
Irish and French industries, police forces and academia - an effort for
which you are to be congratulated. It is an occasion that gives expression
to one of the key messages that we hear, time and again, when we discuss
the challenges facing law enforcement and industry in tackling complex and
high tech crime - that working together in partnership and bringing
together the expertise and skills that we have all gained through our
respective roles - is the way forward.
As with many good ideas, this project emerged from a meeting of a group of
committed stakeholders who sought a means through which their idea for a
transnational and multi-disciplinary project of this nature could be
developed. Through the priority that has been afforded to tackling
cyber-crime by all sectors, and across the Member States of the European
Union, this project will now progress to implementation.
That the UCD Centre is to lead and manage the 2centre project is no doubt
a matter of great pride to the University and its dedicated staff – and so
it should be. It will be of little surprise to those who have witnessed
UCD’s commitment and support for law enforcement cyber-crime investigation.
As far back as 1997 they were developing a training programme for An Garda
Síochána and, in particular, the Garda Computer Crime Investigation Unit,
in order to enhance their ability to fight technology related crime in this
jurisdiction.
Indeed this commitment to tackling cyber-crime was solidified in 2006 when
the UCD Centre was formally established and commenced training for law
enforcement officers from Europol, Interpol and various Member and
non-Member States involved in cyber-crime investigation. Further testament
to this commitment is evidenced by the Masters Degree in Forensic computing
and cyber-crime investigation that is now provided by UCD.
Indeed this reputation in the field of applied research in cyber-crime
issues, and a flexible approach in supporting the development of law
enforcement education training programmes, has meant that UCD has
established a unique and special relationship with key organisations within
Europe and further afield.
The presence of the Garda Commissioner here today demonstrates the unique
and well respected position the UCD Centre holds within our law
enforcement cyber-crime investigation community. For more than 10 years, An
Garda Síochána has been initiating and managing EU funded training
projects. To date over 1,000 police officers from cyber-crime units
throughout the globe have received training via projects initially
conceived by An Garda Síochána. The UCD Centre has supported these
initiatives, especially in the delivery of training programmes to high tech
crime investigators and by providing technical and educational expertise
when required.
Of course, I am also delighted to say that this project, costing approx 4
million euro, will contribute to job creation. I understand, 20 new staff
posts are to be created, 14 of which will be based here in UCD. In the
current economic climate, job creation – particularly in such a vibrant
sector, is most certainly to be lauded.
With regard to the aims and objectives of the 2 Centre Project, it is the
needs and requirements of cybercrime investigators that are at the core of
the project’s objectives. The project will have concrete deliverables that
will be of direct benefit to law enforcement and industry stakeholders.
These deliverables will consist of online and classroom based training
programmes, forensic software tools, research publications and best
practice guidelines. All project deliverables from the project will be
available free of charge to law enforcement.
Furthermore, to ensure material relevance, cyber-crime investigators have
had a key input into determining the project outputs of the 2Centre
project. This has ensured that the partners to the project will undertake
relevant research and development of software solutions, and create
relevant specialist training programmes, to facilitate the practical needs
and requirements of cyber-crime investigators.
The value of this collaborative approach to dealing with such a
sophisticated crime can not be overstated.
The growing threat of a potential cyber attack against an individual
organisation or group of organisations has seen stakeholders acknowledge
the need for scientific support and well trained staff to deal with this
potential threat, as well as seeing the benefits that can be derived from
such a shared approach to problem solving. So much can be achieved when
representatives from all fields work together in a collaborative way.
The 2Centre project can promote such a mutually beneficial working
relationship, by providing a platform in which all stakeholders can engage
and share information in a collaborative manner with law enforcement
cyber-crime agencies.
It must also be acknowledged that by signing up as partners to the 2Centre
project, those engaged in the project have demonstrated a clear commitment
to supporting the objectives outlined in the EU Internal Security Strategy
in Action for Member States.
The Strategy encourages Member States, in conjunction with academia and
industry, to develop their national cyber-crime awareness and training
capabilities, and set up centres of excellence at national level or in
partnership with other Member States. It is hoped, through this partnership
process, such EU wide standards can be achieved.
The fight against cyber-crime is a priority, not just for the various
sectors or at national level but across all of the international bodies –
the European Union, the United Nations, the Council of Europe. It is a
common concern of the international communities and will remain so for some
time.
The Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime - the ‘Budapest Convention’
is the legal framework of reference for fighting cyber crime at a
global
level. To enable Ireland’s ratification of this Convention , my
Department is currently engaged in the preparation of a Criminal Justice
(Cybercrime) Bill. The Bill will create a range of offences relating to
information systems and data, including illegally accessing a system,
interference with systems or data and Illegal interception of data.
Offences will also be created in relation to hacker tools used for the
commission of these offences. It is intended to incorporate any
legislative requirements arising from the new EU Directive on Attacks
against Information Systems, which is currently being negotiated, into the
Bill. Negotiations on the draft Directive are ongoing. Ireland fully
supports this important EU initiative and I recently had the opportunity to
discuss some of the issues in the draft directive with other Ministers at
the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg.
Internet facilitated organised crime today has shown unprecedented mobility
and dynamism and operates on a scale which places substantial and
increasing demands on our law enforcement agencies. The global nature of
this type of criminality and the capabilities of criminal groups requires
highly responsive and internationally coordinated measures.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my view and a view that I think is shared by
all in this room that no Government, no police force, no industry or
organisation can tackle cyber-crime on its own. Looking around this room
it is obvious to see that we can bring together law enforcement, industry
and academia so as to work hand in hand to tackle the issue of cyber-crime.
The 2Centre project will be to the fore in our international efforts in
the field of law enforcement investigation, education and research.
With the help of the 2Centre project it is my hope that this successful
model will be replicated throughout the EU to ensure a network of
cyber-crime centres of excellence with the appropriate skills, awareness
and training capabilities that are needed.
In closing, I would like to wish all of the project partners well in their
endeavours. There is no doubt that we will all reap the rewards of these
efforts in the years to come.
Thank you.