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ARTICLE · 09 JUNE 2026

Cyberattacks Are An Imminent Threat During Ireland’s EU Presidency

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As Ireland prepares to assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, cybersecurity concerns are escalating with warnings of increased cyberattacks targeting reputational damage. The National Cyber Security Centre anticipates sophisticated threats, including AI-powered attacks, while businesses face imminent compliance requirements under the NIS 2 Directive.

IrelandTechnology
Marie McGinley
Marie McGinley
Sarah Jayne Hanna
Sarah Jayne Hanna
Davinia Brennan
Davinia Brennan
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Cybersecurity is a key focus and business critical concern for Irish businesses at the highest level. Ireland’s imminent Presidency of the Council of the European Union is expected to increase exposure to cyberattacks as the government handles more sensitive data.

Accordingly, there will be an increased need for cybersecurity vigilance by businesses during the Presidency. It is essential that businesses take steps now to carry out a gap analysis and ensure compliance with relevant cybersecurity laws, including the NIS 2 Directive (“NIS 2”), which is due to be shortly implemented into Irish law.

Ireland’s director of the National Cyber Security Centre (“NCSC”), Richard Browne, has been reported as warning that he expects cyberattacks during the Irish EU presidency to focus on trying to cause “reputational” damage to the EU and Ireland. It is hoped that the NCSC will have the necessary enforcement powers to deal with these threats, including from increasingly sophisticated AI

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