Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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150. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the cost of hosting the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy; the costs of travel and accommodation for its participants; the cost of hiring rooms; the cost of AV equipment and any other costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30861/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Consultative Forum on International Security Policy started in Cork on 22nd June, it then moved to Galway, and finally to Dublin on the 26th and 27th June.

Costs related to the Forum will be split on an equal basis between the Department of Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs. The contribution by the Department of Defence will be made from within existing resources in Vote 36 (Defence).

Expenditure related to the Forum will be in line with the Public Spending Code to ensure value-for-money.

The figures presented in the table below reflect a broad estimate of costs with contingencies built in, and are subject to revision. It will be some time before the full and final costs will be known.

An honorarium will be paid to the Chairperson of the Consultative Forum at a per diem rate sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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151. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the criteria for deciding the topics of the different sessions of the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy; the criteria for inviting speakers; where the decisions were made in deciding the topics and the speakers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30862/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The security situation in Europe has changed fundamentally. In the space of just over a year, we have witnessed Russia’s illegal and unprovoked attack on Ukraine, resulting in major conflict returning to the European continent for the first time in decades, and millions of civilians forced to flee and take refuge across Europe.

This changed geopolitical context calls for consideration of the State’s approach to international security policy issues, through an honest and open debate to examine whether our current policy approach remains fit for purpose. The Consultative Forum on International Security Policy has been designed with this in mind. It provides an opportunity to engage a wide range of stakeholders, including members of the public, to explore and discuss our international security policy in detail.

The eighteen different Sessions over the four days provided an opportunity to reflect on the changed geopolitical context and the challenges to global peace and security; Ireland’s experiences in the UN; EU Common Security and Defence Policy; Emerging Threats; Research and Innovation for Security and Defence; Defence Forces Capability Development; Ireland’s relationship with NATO; experiences from other countries; and Neutrality.

Given the number and the variety of the sessions, a wide range of stakeholders, analysts and practitioners were invited to participate in the Forum. We have seen up to 80 different panellists and moderators over the course of the four days discuss and provide their views on the range of themes. They were selected based on their practical experience or academic expertise of working in a wide variety of issues.

These speakers are people who have on-the-ground experience of peacekeeping and peacebuilding in UN and EU missions in Chad, Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, Georgia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Lebanon. Academics from all over the island of Ireland, as well as from Sweden, Finland, Norway, Switzerland, Poland, Denmark and the UK; senior Irish officials working in the UN, EU, OSCE and NATO; as well as several civil society representatives, have all contributed to and participated in the Forum.

These individuals represent a range of views and collectively have an enormous wealth of experience. They have been open and honest in responding to the questions put to them over the course of the Forum. This is a Consultative Forum; a Forum where we have heard many different perspectives, a Forum for shared experiences and expertise.