Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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318. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to respond to concerns about the closure of a consultation on maritime security strategy (details supplied). [41199/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the public consultation on the national maritime security strategy was launched on 12 June on a number of platforms. The purpose of the consultation was to gather as broad a range as possible of diverse opinions on the development of Ireland’s first such strategy.

The public consultation was discussed here in the Dáil, referenced in the media and was actively promoted on my Department's social media channels. Reflecting the extensive advertising of the consultation and the obvious interest in the issue, we are pleased that we have achieved significant public engagement with several hundred submissions received by close of business on 11 July.

My Department's next step will be to analyse all these contributions and they will help shape the development of the maritime security strategy. While it is not intended to reopen the public consultation, my department has already been in contact with the person who raised the issue and we have invited this person to forward their contribution for inclusion in the consultation process.