Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Initial research and consultation suggests there is a considerable number of national and international operators within the areas of peace and support leadership and conflict resolution. Therefore, in order to identify and leverage Ireland's unique selling points, for example, our neutrality and the Northern Ireland peace process, I felt it appropriate when I was appointed as Minister to carry out a detailed evaluation and feasibility study to determine how best to proceed.

It is envisaged the study will assist in the validation, development or amendment of the existing concept. The successful development of an institute will require substantial investment of taxpayers' money and must be properly evaluated and planned. On my appointment in 2016, I did not want to go ahead with the peace and leadership institute for it to flop within two years because so many institutes are offering the same thing. That is why I wanted a scoping exercise to find out what kind of leadership courses we could offer that are not already available. Piggy-backing on our expertise in peacekeeping, the peace process in Northern Ireland and in neutrality, we will be able to offer courses in those areas.

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