The Government has insisted there is "no hidden agenda at play" or prejudged outcome on the consultative forum on security and defence. These are the words the Tánaiste used in this House on 18 May. In the following Sunday's newspaper editions, however, we were told that the three Government party leaders had reached a consensus that the triple lock mechanism that underpins Irish neutrality is to go. Today, the Taoiseach said that the Government is giving strong consideration to joining a NATO mission off the Irish coast. The reason we depend on others to monitor our skies and our seas is because of the historical and systemic underinvestment in our Defence Forces. Rather than continually seeking to undermine our neutrality, will the Government instead accelerate investment in our own defence capabilities? Will the Government provide for a citizens' forum that can lead to the principle of neutrality being enshrined in the Constitution?

There is no prejudged outcome to the consultative forum on international security policy. That has been convened with a view to initiating an open and evidence-based discussion on the State's foreign and security policy. The consultative forum will take place in three different locations across four days this month, that is, at University College Cork on 22 June; at University of Galway on 23 June; and at Dublin Castle on 26 and 27 June.

The Government is committed to investing in our Defence Forces and in our Defence Forces' capabilities and equipment. We have had a debate on this very recently. There is no prejudged outcome. It is not an excuse to abandon neutrality. There is no question of Ireland joining NATO or anything like it. It is about co-operation. We co-operate also with our European colleagues around the security of our continent in the EU. This consultative forum does not have any prejudged outcomes, nor should it be suggested that it does.