June University of Galway hosts Government security forum

University of Galway will host the Government’s Consultative Forum on International Security Policy on Friday June 23. 

The Forum aims to build public understanding and generate discussions on Ireland’s foreign, security and defence policies. It will focus on a wide range of issues, including Ireland’s efforts to protect the rules-based international order through peacekeeping and crisis management, international humanitarian law, and conflict prevention and peacebuilding as well as allowing for a discussion on Ireland’s policy of military neutrality.

The Forum opens on Thursday June 22 in Cork, before coming to University of Galway, and then moving on to Dublin Castle for two days, Monday and Tuesday, June 26 and 27.

All four days are open to the public and will involve panel discussions with civilian and military experts and practitioners. The Forum is being live streamed and people can have their say on the issues being discussed by using the public consultation process.

Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Micheál Martin TD, opens the event at University of Galway in conversation with Professor Louise Richardson DBE.

The day will also see Professor Ray Murphy, University of Galway School of Law and Irish Centre for Human Rights, engage in discussions around Ireland and peacekeeping, while Professor Siobhán Mullally, Professor of Human Rights Law and Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at University of Galway, will moderate a discussion on Ireland’s foreign policy including conflict resolution, peacebuilding, international law and accountability.

Professor Lokesh Joshi, Stokes Professor of GlycoSciences at University of Galway, will take part in a discussion on Irish research and innovation in security and defence. 

Announcing the Forum, the Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Micheál Martin TD, said: “The Consultative Forum on International Security Policy is the first time any Irish government has established such a debate. It will discuss a wide range of issues relating to the global and European security environment and how Ireland’s defence policy is responding. The Forum will allow for an open and informed discussion on the issues involved and I look forward to the engagement in Galway and over the course of the four days.” 

Professor Martin Hogg, Dean of the School of Law at University of Galway, which has been liaising with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Defence to organise the Forum, said: "In the wake of the invasion and war in Ukraine and other geopolitical developments in the world, as well as Ireland’s tradition as a neutral country with a valued approach to peacekeeping, the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy is an important opportunity to engage in a national conversation on these and related issues. At University of Galway we encourage action on our values, one of which is openness, and we place great store in being able to support discourse in this way.”

The Forum will involve a wide range of stakeholders, with participation from civilian and military experts and practitioners representing a breadth of experience and views.

For more information on the live stream and the public consultation process, please visit the Forum website here.

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