‘The ESM treaty? But we’ve already voted on it?’
An address by Thomas Pringle TD
In The Ireland Institute Pearse St, Dublin on
TOMORROW – THURSDAY November 22nd at 7:30pm.
Chair: Seamas O’ Tuathail SC
(Counsel for Raymond Crotty in the Crotty Case)
The Raymond Crotty Lecture 2012.
Crotty v. An Taoiseach (1986) was a landmark decision of the Irish Supreme Court which found that Ireland could not ratify the Single European Act unless the Irish Constitutionwas first changed to permit its ratification. The case established that significant changes to EU treaties required an amendment to the Irish constitution – always done by means of a referendum – before they could be ratified by Ireland.
| ‘The question therefore is whether the State in attempting to ratify this Treaty is endeavoring to act free from the restraints of the Constitution.’ | ||
| —Walsh J | ||
Now, twenty – five years later, Thomas Pringle has challenged the ratification of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), in the Supreme Court. Though this case has received very little publicity here, the importance of it was underlined last week by the media scrum surrounding the hearing at the EU Court of Justice in Luxembourg which considered three questions referred to it by the Irish Supreme Court on foot of the challenge. This is an opportunity to hear an outline of the basis for and the importance of the case first – hand from the appellant; Thomas Pringle.
Please also note that there will be a pre-budget March against Austerity on Saturday next (24th Nov.)
Assemble under the People’s Movement banner at 12:45 outside Barry’s Hotel
Great Denmark St., Dublin (just up from Findlater’s Church at Parnell Sq.)
Placards will be provided.
