The Taoiseach has said there is no "hidden agenda" behind the National Consultative forum on International Security Policy.
Leo Varadkar reiterated that Ireland's policy of military neutrality would not change, nor would the country sign-up to any military alliance.
It followed questions from People Before Profit's Richard Boyd Barrett, who told the Dáil that the list of speakers due to address the consultative forum was "dripping, packed to the rafters, with NATO employees, people who have worked with NATO, people associated with the military industrial complex".
Deputy Boyd Barrett insisted that the Government had seized on the "unjustifiable" war in Ukraine to move Ireland away from neutrality towards NATO.
However, in response Mr Varadkar told the house that the forum was being organised to reflect the fact that the nature of security threats against Ireland had changed in recent times, referring to cyber security, espionage, international terrorism and hybrid threats.
He told members that the defence budget would increase with further co-operation between EU allies through PESCO and other allies such as the US, UK and Canada.
Since the invasion of Ukraine, he said that every country in Europe has had to re-examine its foreign, security and defence policy.
Mr Varadkar said that there was a mix of people with different perspectives taking part.
Only one discussion is about NATO and two on neutrality, he said.
Opposition invited to 'participate'
The Taoiseach also told the Dáil that Opposition parties have been invited to participate in the security forum, but not to give key note addresses.
Leo Varadkar said that it "would be entirely appropriate" to debate the forum's report in the House.
All EU member states have been invited, he said, and others including Switzerland which is neutral, prompting Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy to shout that this is not the same as being invited to adderss the forum.
"It will be an interactive forum," Mr Varadkar insisted.
He was responding during Order of Business to Deputy Carthy, Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik, Social Democrats TD Cian O'Callaghan and Rural Independent TD Mattie McGrath, each of whom expressed their strong objections to the forum, particularly the roster of speakers.
