A much-anticipated joint select committee investigation into a crippling cyberattack on government systems last September is to come up for debate after the House of Assembly reconvenes next month.

The detail about the parliamentary group set up on the attack that severely disrupted services across the Government came this week from the Cabinet Office.

The Government has remained tight-lipped about the issue, including whether any ransom was paid to restore systems.

The setting up of a Parliamentary joint select committee to inquire into the cyberattack was announced in the 2023 Throne Speech.

Subsequently, a motion inviting Members of Parliament to support the appointment of the committee was tabled before the House of Assembly rose in March.

The Cabinet Office said on Tuesday that the appointment of the committee would follow after the motion was debated by MPs when the House reconvenes next month.

The targeted attack on September 20 swept across all government departments. It disrupted telephone, internet and e-mail systems.

Repercussions from the incident continued into October.

The attack was initially believed to have emerged from Russia and David Burt revealed that at least one other country was believed to have been targeted.

The Premier has repeatedly cited security concerns for the limited details released to the public.

The One Bermuda Alliance called for details about whether the public’s personal data was breached in the attack.

Mr Burt has also sparred with the Opposition over the most appropriate means of looking into the circumstances.

Jarion Richardson, the Leader of the Opposition, demanded last October that the “full scope” be revealed, along with details on safeguarding the island’s IT systems into the future.

Mr Richardson on that occasion called for the matter to be handled by a Commission of Inquiry. He argued that a parliamentary investigation could be subject to political manipulation on what was revealed.

However, Mr Burt has insisted a bipartisan parliamentary process was the most appropriate means for investigating the matter.