Arms lobbyists told clients to take part ‘to fullest extent’ in government neutrality forum

An Irish arms lobbying group urged clients to participate in the government's controversial neutrality forum – while one of its co-founders moderated a discussion with her lobbying role undisclosed in event literature.

In June 2023 government ran the forum instead of a citizens' assembly on neutrality as originally suggested by Micheál Martin in 2022. Critics of the event, including Michael D. Higgins, accused government of trying to bypass public opinion on neutrality.

A month before the event the Irish Defence and Security Association (IDSA) told its clients – which now includes Lockheed Martin and Saab as well as Irish companies producing dual-use goods – to maximise their involvement in the forum.

Internal correspondence seen by The Ditch shows IDSA telling clients to engage "to the fullest extent possible", whether attending sessions in person, watching online, or making submissions. The Ditch has previously reported on the group's plans to influence Irish defence policy by targeting media and politicians – despite acknowledging the public has "no appetite" to buy more arms.  

Co-founder and director of IDSA Caitríona Heinl moderated a session on maritime security and critical infrastructure. Official literature for the event, including speaker biographies and its programme, didn't disclose her role as a defence industry lobbyist.

Heinl is also executive director of the Azure Forum for Contemporary Security Strategy, which IDSA's internal strategy documents identify as integral to its own project. The Azure Forum arranged meetings with the Department of Defence and connected IDSA with NATO industry advisory groups, according to internal records previously obtained by The Ditch.

‘The fullest extent possible’

IDSA operations manager Oisín Green – who also works as director of flight operations for ASL Airlines Ireland, a company that has transported munitions to Israel – told members the group had been invited to attend and been "allotted five places at the Galway event and one each at Cork and Dublin."

Green encouraged all IDSA members to "partake in this forum to the fullest extent possible" and told them about government websites where they could apply to attend sessions or make online submissions. The forum took place across three locations in June 2023, with sessions in Cork, Galway and Dublin discussing “security policy” and Irish neutrality.

IDSA chairperson Pat O'Connor, who is also managing director of military training company VRAI, attended Dublin sessions to represent the lobbying group, according to the correspondence.

Also participating was Carlo Webster from Tyndall National Institute, whose biography noted the research centre "was a founding member of the Irish Defence and Security Association (IDSA)”.

The forum included officials like Nato director of security policy and partnerships James Mackey and multiple Irish military officers including brigadier general Seán White.

IDSA has lobbied government officials at least 16 times since its foundation in 2021.

The Ditch has previously reported that IDSA held secret meetings with government officials, with attendees instructed to maintain secrecy about their participation. 

The Department of Defence has admitted to keeping its interactions with IDSA "confidential" and has facilitated meetings between the lobbying group and European Defence Agency officials.

The forum’s final report, written by chair Louise Richardson, suggested Ireland increase its defence spending and participate more actively in EU defence initiatives.

Heinl and IDSA declined to comment.