Check against delivery
Launch by Minister Shatter of 2Centre - Cybercrimes Centres of Excellence for Training Research and Education
31 May 2011
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.