Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2023
149. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason he has established a consultative forum to discuss future Irish foreign policy instead of proposing the establishment of a citizens’ assembly; the reason he feels that a citizens’ assembly would not have been conducive to discussion of these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29752/23]
View answerThe international security environment has changed significantly over the last year. We have seen blatant disregard by Russia of international law and Europe’s collective security architecture, bringing war to the European continent. Ireland’s commitment to a rules-based international order and our traditional policy of military neutrality, do not inure us from the need to respond to this new reality.
Against this backdrop, I hope that the upcoming Consultative Forum on International Security Policy will build a deeper understanding of the international security environment and the policy options available to the State.
As I have said on several occasions, I am conscious that two other important Citizens’ Assemblies are already under way; the first on drugs policy and the second on the future of education policy. My view was that discussions on our international security policy could not be delayed, particularly given the increasingly complex and challenging security context across Europe.
The Consultative Forum will draw on the principles underlying the Citizens’ Assembly model but, importantly, will be an open discussion which any member of the public can access and participate in. The Forum has been designed to reach a broad audience with the aim of creating a national conversation, in a way which is not be possible through a Citizens Assembly, that is informed and evidence-based.
In total, there is capacity for almost one thousand people to attend the Forum in person. All discussions will be live-streamed, allowing members of the public full access to the all the discussions across the four days. In addition, the public consultation process in now open for submissions. Information on registration and details of the written consultation are available on the Gov.ie website.
