It is not agreed.

There is growing recognition that the consultative forum on security and defence is less about public debate and more about an attempt to reshape public opinion. Along with the legitimate concerns about the balance of panellists, the Taoiseach needs to provide an answer on why there is no formal role for the Opposition in this process. The Government will have no less than five opportunities during which people will be indulged with lengthy, uninterrupted speeches from the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Green Party leader, yet, all the while, opposition voices are expected to sit on their hands while the Government speaks from its taxpayer-funded pulpit. Why is the Opposition being excluded? The request on this Order of Business is that the Tánaiste come before the House today or tomorrow and answer questions in that regard.

I too want to raise the consultative forum on international security policy. I welcome the statement the Tánaiste issued just now, confirming that the Government does not intend to change Ireland's policy of military neutrality. It is important that the Tánaiste made that clear, and I welcome that. I want to know if the debate in recent days around the balance of participants in the forum will lead the Government to reconsider and ensure a more balanced level of participation. I refer in particular to representatives from Malta and Austria, the only two other militarily neutral states in the EU. Crucially, will the Dáil have a chance to debate and scrutinise the report when it is produced, rather than it just going to Government? My colleague, Deputy Howlin, has already raised this point. It is important that we have an opportunity to do that.

I raise the same issue. There is huge concern about the debate the Government is opening up on neutrality. It simply does not stack up for the Government to suddenly say, after decades in which there has been a lack of investment in security and defence and pay and conditions for our Defence Forces, that it is now interested in our security and defence. Clearly, there are issues with the composition of the panel. Will the Government address those to ensure there is balance? We need to have a discussion of this matter in the Dáil to ensure there is full input from everyone across the House.