The committee receives threat assessments from the Garda Commissioner and the Chief of Staff, and reviews the overall security situation in the domestic and international environment.

[8] The constituents of the National Security Committee deliberate on Ireland's International Terror Threat Level.

Five levels are used to grade the international threat of a terrorist attack to Ireland; low, moderate, substantial, severe and critical.

[14] The National Security Committee is the conduit for officials to communicate with the Taoiseach and/or cabinet members if their minister – the normal channel – became unavailable (or was killed).

Its inaugural meeting was attended by the Tánaiste; the Minister of State at the Department of Defence; Ministers and senior officials from the Departments of Justice; Defence; Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform; Foreign Affairs; Health; Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Environment, Climate and Communications; and Transport, where senior Defence Forces and Garda officers briefed them on the international terrorism threat.