Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 June 2023
41. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if representatives from Austria, Cyprus or Malta were invited to address the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy; if not, to detail the reason why; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29901/23]
View answerThe objective of the upcoming Consultative Forum on International Security Policy is to build a deeper understanding of the international security environment and the policy options available to the State. The Forum has been designed to reach a broad audience with the aim of creating a national conversation that is informed and evidence-based.
The Forum will also hear from experts and practitioners from a number of European partners, in particular Finland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. We have chosen these countries deliberately, given the strong role they each play in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, as well as the varied approaches in each country to security and defence issues.
Rather than pointing to any one specific model for Ireland, we anticipate that the discussions with policy makers, academics and practitioners from these countries will allow us to explore the different ways that a variety of European countries have responded to the changing international security context.
In addition to these countries, representatives from the Embassies of all EU Member States, including Austria, Cyprus and Malta, as well as a number of other partner countries, have been invited to all four days of the Consultative Forum, so as to provide them with the opportunity to share their perspectives on the topics under discussion.
More broadly, attendance at the Forum will consist of the general public, representative organisations and invited guests, from Ireland and internationally, with expertise and experience in the areas to be discussed. Discussions will be live-streamed and there will be an option for online submissions. Anyone interested in engaging in the process will be able to do so.
