\n<\/p>\n
Gordon-Levitt also shared about his own experiences with the organization in a post on Instagram, writing, \u201cAt the Dialog conferences I\u2019ve been to, there were a wide variety of people, with a wide variety of opinions, some I agreed with, some I didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c13 years ago I was invited to speak\u2014to an audience largely unfamiliar with the experiences of millions of Americans who grew up like me\u2014about my book The Other Wes Moore,\u201d the Maryland governor wrote on X. \u201cThat was my first and last appearance at Dialog. Never met Peter Thiel. Don\u2019t plan to in the future!\u201d<\/p>\n
But while the American press was interested in the list of invitees and the itinerary, the Irish media was more focused on its native host, the historic Powerscourt Estate in Dublin\u2019s shadow.<\/p>\n
Members of the opposition in the Oireachtas, Ireland\u2019s parliament, argued in statements to the press that the event should be canceled altogether and that the government should investigate which Irish citizens were planning to attend.<\/p>\n
Labour Party spokesperson Duncan Smith argued, \u201cGiven the prominence of those expected to attend, the public is entitled to know whether any government representatives have been invited or intend to participate,\u201d and that \u201cany deployment of state resources should be fully transparent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Senator Lynn Ruane was one of those government representatives who was indeed expected to attend, having accepted an invitation. \u201cI thought it was a space where organizers bring people together to discuss difficult topics,\u201d she told an Irish outlet, adding that she thought it might be a good learning opportunity about the technology space because she sits on the Oireachtas AI committee. Ruane, however, withdrew from the conference and apologized publicly, saying, \u201cIn agreeing to attend, I did not maintain my usual standards of due diligence. I take full responsibility for this error of judgement. It has reinforced the importance of thorough scrutiny.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe secrecy surrounding this event only heightens the need for clear answers,\u201d Smith added\u2014a point Klein indirectly countered on X, writing, \u201cI would not have described it as a secret or a society. No one ever asked me to keep it or my presence a secret.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in lawmaker John Brady went even further, saying, \u201cI do not believe this conference should be taking place anywhere in Ireland,\u201d due to Thiel\u2019s role as cofounder of software and defense contractor Palantir, which Brady claimed was \u201ccentral to facilitating Israel\u2019s genocide in Gaza.\u201d Brady continued, \u201cThey are using AI to automate the slaughter of Palestinians.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Irish people have consistently stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people and communities right across the country have demanded meaningful action,\u201d said Brady, argueing that \u201cit is entirely inappropriate that Ireland would host an exclusive gathering associated with an individual and a company so closely linked to the genocide in Gaza.\u201d<\/p>\n
For its part, Powerscourt Estate, the Wicklow property on which the retreat was to be held, said it had not been informed of the event until June, when it became public\u2014and that while it would \u201cunreservedly\u201d cancel if it could, it was bound by a lease agreement with the hotel\u2019s operator, the MHL Hotel Collection. \u201cPowerscourt Estate are currently taking legal advice as to whether or not they can affect the planned event,\u201d the estate said in a statement days after the news broke in June.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n