Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said Ireland stands at a crossroads in terms of the role of the Defence Forces.
Mr Martin said the simple truth was that "we cannot naively assume that because we have good intentions towards others that we do not need to protect ourselves and our values".
He said it was absurd to assume that Ireland cannot question any of its policies.
"We are serving no higher purpose in by failing to be able to protect key infrastructure in our international waters, infrastructure which is central to supporting economic and social progress in our democracy," he said.
"That is why I have proposed that in the coming months, we hold an open discussion...a national conversation about the future of our foreign and defence policies."
Mr Martin was speaking at the launch of a book marking the centenary of the Irish Defence Forces.
He said that one of the most important aspects of being the Defence Forces of a democratic state was a "willingness to hold yourself to a high standard and to admit failures".
Mr Martin noted that this book (Irish Defence Forces 1922-2022 by Dr Eoin Kinsella) was written before the recent report about abuses within the Defence Forces was published.
But he said: "It does point to a serious failure to adapt the culture and behaviour that prevailed within the Defence Forces once we joined others in widening enlistment.
"This failure has had a terrible impact on volunteers who sought only to serve their country but were denied basic protections and support.
"What matters now is that we deal with the findings comprehensively and that we do so in accordance with the honourable values which are found throughout the history of our Defence Forces."
