The consultative forum, chaired by Louise Richardson, took place in June 2023 at various locations across Ireland. It took the form of panels and public debates and looked at Ireland’s place in global foreign affairs.  

Martin defended the holding of the forum at the time, stating that there was no preconceived outcome.

The report from the forum was published in October 2024 and said the State’s defence strategy will continue to “pose challenges” to Government and diplomats on the international stage.

However, the report also suggested that there is currently “no popular mandate” to change the State’s ongoing policy of neutrality.

Despite the identified problems regarding defence policy, the report also found: “It was frequently expressed, and rarely contradicted, that there is currently no popular mandate in Ireland to abandon the policy of neutrality”.

“Maintaining a policy of military nonalignment along with active political engagement in global forums will continue to pose a challenge for Irish governments and diplomats, as will the need to balance a values-based foreign policy with taking seriously the security concerns and responsibilities of our partners,” Richardson wrote.

A number of Opposition TDs hit out against the forum and questioned why a Citizens’ Assembly on Irish neutrality was not established instead.

Martin defended the forum, stating that he felt it was the more appropriate mechanism to discuss such issues.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was forced to defend the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy after Opposition TDs labelled it “rigged” and said they’ve been excluded from the debate.

Varadkar said that the forum was not about whether Ireland should join NATO or any other military alliance, but a “deep dive” into the state’s security policy.

He said the country faced “very different threats” today and that he believes it’s time to begin to look at upgrading Ireland’s Defence Forces and putting investments in place.

People Before Profit TD Mick Barry said the speakers list was biased and criticised the “audacity of the government” to choose such speakers, stating that there was not enough contrary voices speaking at the events.

At the time of the forum was taking place, President Michael D Higgins weighed in, much to the discomfort of those in government.  

In an interview with the Business Post Higgins spoke about his views on the impending Consultative Forum on international security policy.

In a strongly worded rebuke of the Government’s move ahead of the public engagement discussion on foreign policy the president said: “the most dangerous moment in the articulation and formulation of foreign policy and its practice, since the origin of diplomacy, has been when you’re drifting and not knowing what you’re doing”.

“I would describe our present position as one of drift.”  

In relation to the Consultative Forum he criticised the various panels claiming they were stocked with “the admirals, the generals, the air force, the rest of it” and also of formerly neutral countries that have now joined NATO.

Higgins asked why there was no representation from still-neutral countries such as Austria and Malta.

In somewhat of an unexpected announcement, Martin said in November 2023 he has instructed officials in the Department of Defence to prepare legislative proposals without delay that would govern any future overseas deployments of our Defence Forces.

Opposition TDs criticised the move, with some stating that a referendum on neutrality is the best path forward as it would allow the public to have their say.

Independent TD Catherine Connolly told the Dáil on that day that the consultative forum was dubbed as the start of the conversation and Martin has now ended that conversation.

Connolly said those that opposed the policy change have been ostracised and labelled as people that are not rational.

She said Martin should consider his position.

In this April 2023 episode of The Explainer, Diarmaid Ferriter, professor of Modern Irish History at UCD, looks at Irish neutrality and its opaque history.