Security forum attendance
Réada Cronin said the security forum had been too exclusive and asked for more places for public attendees. The Taoiseach replied that over 900 people had registered and 300 submissions had been received, and said extra space would be made if possible.
I have a question on the consultative forum on international security, which starts this week. Up until the welcome intervention from our Uachtarán, this was very much a conference for the select few by the selected few. I have already expressed concern around that. I thank the President formally for his intervention on behalf of all the people. I would also-----
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Deputy, let me stop you. We will leave the President out of this. Under the Constitution, he is not answerable to the House.
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Okay. I have made the point several times in the Dáil that this forum would be over by the time people knew about it, as opposed to a citizens' assembly. Now that the necessary public attention has been brought to the matter, I have been contacted by some doves, as opposed to hawks, who have told me they would like to attend but there are no spaces available. Is there any chance the Government could make more spaces available so that we can at least get more doves into the audience, if not on the panels?
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Far from being select, over 900 people have already registered to attend at the three sites. We have received 300 written submissions. That is quite a lot of people. I know the Dublin meeting is full. It may well be the case that Cork and Galway are full as well. I am not sure if it is possible to create more space, but if it is, we will.