Public Consultation on International Security Policy

In April 2023, theTánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin, announced his intention to convene the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy to start a discussion on Ireland’s foreign and security policy. The Forum was designed to build public understanding and generate discussions on our foreign, security, and defence policies.

It focused on a wide range of issues, including Ireland’s efforts to protect the rules-based international order through peacekeeping and crisis management, disarmament and non-proliferation, international humanitarian law, and conflict prevention and peacebuilding as well as allowing for a discussion on Ireland’s policy of military neutrality.

It looked at our current international partnerships in the area of peace and security, particularly as a member of the UN and the EU, as well as with our engagement with NATO through the Partnership for Peace framework.

New and emerging threats were also discussed, including cyber and hybrid attacks, the use of disinformation and growing concerns over the protection of critical offshore infrastructure. The Forum also provided an opportunity to examine the experiences and choices of other partners in responding to the new security environment in Europe.

An important component of this discussion was a public consultation process which aimed to gauge concerns and priorities in relation to international security policy.

As part of the consultation, the public were invited to consider Ireland’s needs and capabilities in the context of the current global security environment. It sought views on Ireland’s international partnerships in the area of peace and security, particularly as a member of the UN and the EU, as well as with our engagement with NATO through the Partnership for Peace framework. It also asked whether there are steps we should take to safeguard our security and resilience, including in relation to how we define our neutrality.

The consultation exercise was open for submissions both in advance of and after the discussions at the Forum. Once the consultation period concluded, the responses were shared with the Chair for consideration in the context of the overall report of the Consultative Forum.

The links below contain submissions made to the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy as part of the public consultation process. Where permission could not be obtained to publish the participant’s personal details, the submissions have been anonymised to comply with data protection requirements. Some submissions, or part thereof, have been omitted at the participant’s request, or due to the use of inappropriate, offensive or potentially defamatory language.

Online submissions

Submissions from individuals

Submissions from organisations and public representatives

Any personal information submitted will be treated strictly in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 and the Data Protection Act 2018. In accordance with Article 26, GDPR, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Defence are Joint Controllers in respect of the data collected. In order to exercise your rights under the GDPR for the purpose of any personal data submitted, you may contact either department, however the departments have agreed that the Department of Foreign Affairs will process your request on behalf of the Joint Controllers. Access the Department of Foreign Affairs' Privacy Policy.

All submissions will be retained until such time as they are appraised by the National Archives to determine whether they warrant permanent retention as archives in accordance with the department’s obligations under the terms of the National Archives Act, 1986 (as amended).

Please note people can request to see the submissions we received under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014 and therefore submissions may be released in response to an FOI request. This is more likely to happen for submissions from organisations. This means that the requestor might get your answers to the questionnaire, however, any personal information included in submissions would be redacted prior to release.