An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 15 with ambiguity over the legal regime that applies in areas such as maritime security and cyber-attacks. The Seminar proceedings commenced on the 20th of May where a welcome reception was held, with welcome remarks by Professor Wolff Heintschel von Heinegg (European University Viadrina) who is also the Society's president. The Seminar was then addressed by Brig Gen Caimin Keogh (Irish Defence Forces) who as General Officer Commanding of the Irish Army's 1 Brigade, welcomed the Seminar's participants to Galway. Seminar proceedings commenced on the morning of the 21st May, with the opening ceremony being conducted by Col Richard Brennan (Irish Defence Forces Legal Service and the Society's Director of the Seminar for Legal Advisors) and Professor Siobhán Mulally (Irish Centre for Human Rights, University of Galway). The Seminar was then addressed remotely by the Irish Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy who stressed the importance of international humanitarian law to the Irish Defence Forces, particularly given Ireland's strong peacekeeping tradition. After a photo of the conference participants, the first panel commenced on Proportionality Under International Law in Today's World. The panel was chaired by Jessica Dorsey (Utrecht University) while the presenters were Dr Sigrid Redse Johansen (Norwegian Directorate of Public Prosecutions), Dr Rogier Bartels (the International Criminal Court) and Dr David Turns (Swedish Defence University). The next panel was on the Protection of Peacekeepers, Including in Case of a Robust Mandate of the Peace Force, or in Case of Resumption of Hostilities Between Former Parties to an Armed Conflict, chaired by Professor Ray Murphy (Irish Centre for Human Rights, University of Galway), with the first presentation by Dr. Barbara Sonczyk (Hague University of Applied Sciences). The panel was then given a presentation by Major General (Retired) Adrian Ó Murchú (Irish Defence Forces) who drew on his operational experience in peacekeeping and peace enforcement operations. The final panel of the day was on AI Applications in the Military Domain: Navigating Between Mitigating Risks and Using Opportunities. This panel was chaired by Professor Wolff Heintschel von Heinegg (European University Viadrina) with presentations by Jessica Dorsey (Utrecht University) Anna Rosalie Greipl (Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights). The following day, the morning commencing with a panel on Economic and Social Rights of the Members of the Armed Forces chaired by Emmanuel Jacob (Euromil). The presenters were Rebecca Petra Mikova (Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance), Lt Col Keith Reichert (Canadian Armed Forces) and Lt Col Conor King (RACO). Of particular note to the Irish Defence Forces was Lt Col King's presentation which highlighted the role of representative organisations in advocating for the economic and social rights of their members and PDFORRA and RACO's engagement with international organisations such as Euromil and the European Committee on Social Rights to ameliorate the pay and conditions of their members. The next panel of the day was International Law Perspectives on the Cyber Warrior in Hybrid and Full-Scale Conflict chaired by Professor Shane Darcy (Irish Centre for Human Rights, University of Galway). The presenters for this panel were Professor and Brigadier General Paul Ducheine (University of Amsterdam and Netherlands Defence Academy) and Commander Kat Aubrey-Horvath (Canadian Armed Forces). The next panel on The Legal Framework for Coast Guards and Navies to Protect Critical Infrastructure at Sea had a strong demonstration from the Irish Naval Service. It was chaired by Capt (NS) Patrick Burke (Irish Defence Forces Legal Services Branch), with presentations by Lt Cdr Shane Mulcahy (Irish Defence Forces Legal Services Branch), Frederik Rogiers (Ghent University) and Professor (Emeritus) Terry Gill (University of Amsterdam). A key focus of this panel was undersea critical infrastructure and the legality of protecting such critical undersea infrastructure from interference. The next event was a special presentation on the international Society for Military Law and the Law of War and its ongoing and future projects, presented by the Society's Assistant Secretary General, Alfons Vanheusden. This was followed by another special presentation on Enhancing Stabilisation and Strategic Partnership in a Post-Conflict Environment by Major Ludovica Glorioso (NATO Security Force Assistance Centre of Excellence) which focused on developments in security sector reform. Major Glorioso's presentation was followed by a presentation on water security by Dr. Mara Tignino (Geneva Water Hub), who highlighted the importance of maintaining water systems during peacebuilding operations. The conference was then brought to a close, with a concluding speech by Col Richard Brennan. The next day, conference participants were invited to take part in a hike of Diamond Hill in Connemara National Park or a day tour of Connemara, providing some physical activity after days of intense academic discussion. Overall, the Seminar was a fascinating event to attend, with the diversity of speakers and topics covering a range of challenges in international law and contemporary security. The strongly international aspect of the Seminar ensured participants could learn from a variety of experts from military personnel, diplomats and academics, with a particular focus on the complex environments within which international law operates. The 15th Seminar for the Society will be taking place in September in the Belgian city of Bruges. More information can be found at the Society's website, https://ISMLLW.org

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