Ireland and International Law 2021-22

As Ireland took up its seat on the United Nations Security Council at the start of 2021, one could hardly have predicted the range of challenges that the international legal system would face over the next two years. These included the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, a brutal civil war in Ethiopia, mass protests in Iran, and Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ireland continued to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic and the fall-out from Brexit. From its seat on the Security Council and during its six-month Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in 2022, Ireland found itself well positioned to emphasize an ethos of multilateralism, diplomacy, humanitarianism, and accountability in responding to these developments. This overview of Ireland’s engagement with international law during 2021-22 begins with the response to Russian aggression in Ukraine. It then surveys Ireland’s accomplishments at the Security Council and the Council of Europe before turning to Brexit and Covid-19. This is followed by sections on new international agreements, engagement with the international human rights mechanisms, and Irish practice across a range of foreign conflicts that raised questions of international law. The report concludes with thematic sections on disarmament, climate change, and peacekeeping.