{"id":585,"date":"2021-04-10T11:08:51","date_gmt":"2021-04-10T11:08:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ichr.ie\/?p=585"},"modified":"2022-01-12T16:19:27","modified_gmt":"2022-01-12T16:19:27","slug":"article-15-constitutional-challenge-against-the-covid-19-laws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ichr.ie\/article-15-constitutional-challenge-against-the-covid-19-laws\/","title":{"rendered":"Article 15 Constitutional Challenge against the Covid-19 Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='av-layout-grid-1'  class='av-layout-grid-container av-jpewe-04e19ddb9c13a829e15ba67e3b938150 entry-content-wrapper main_color av-flex-cells  avia-builder-el-0  avia-builder-el-no-sibling   container_wrap fullsize'  >\n<div class='flex_cell av-dn43q-ec55631260665078b46dd50e2e1380af av-gridrow-cell av_one_fifth no_margin  avia-builder-el-1  el_before_av_cell_three_fifth  avia-builder-el-first '  ><div class='flex_cell_inner'><\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kiaebrcb-84b020b35174f19a7a794986cfaa1960\">\n.flex_cell.av-kiaebrcb-84b020b35174f19a7a794986cfaa1960{\nvertical-align:top;\n}\n.responsive #top #wrap_all .flex_cell.av-kiaebrcb-84b020b35174f19a7a794986cfaa1960{\npadding:0px 0px 30px 0px !important;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_cell av-kiaebrcb-84b020b35174f19a7a794986cfaa1960 av-gridrow-cell av_three_fifth no_margin  avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_cell_one_fifth  el_before_av_cell_one_fifth '  ><div class='flex_cell_inner'><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kj2z71cz-d89f67bb506d4015baf4624ed7380d70\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-kj2z71cz-d89f67bb506d4015baf4624ed7380d70{\nheight:10px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-kj2z71cz-d89f67bb506d4015baf4624ed7380d70 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-3  el_before_av_heading  avia-builder-el-first  av-small-hide av-mini-hide'><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-9n6wp-e5bf9e60f1eca0ef0092edada6335f8f\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-9n6wp-e5bf9e60f1eca0ef0092edada6335f8f{\npadding-bottom:20px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-9n6wp-e5bf9e60f1eca0ef0092edada6335f8f .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-9n6wp-e5bf9e60f1eca0ef0092edada6335f8f .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-9n6wp-e5bf9e60f1eca0ef0092edada6335f8f av-special-heading-h3  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_hr '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Article 15 Constitutional Challenge against the Covid-19 Laws<\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kj2z71cz-645b771fc4e6374c1957209d4d65b5a1\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-kj2z71cz-645b771fc4e6374c1957209d4d65b5a1{\nheight:20px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-kj2z71cz-645b771fc4e6374c1957209d4d65b5a1 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_image  av-desktop-hide av-medium-hide'><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kiaea5zn-6594240fcd53f4c5ea3036da6c0d2a55\">\n.avia-image-container.av-kiaea5zn-6594240fcd53f4c5ea3036da6c0d2a55 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-kiaea5zn-6594240fcd53f4c5ea3036da6c0d2a55 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-kiaea5zn-6594240fcd53f4c5ea3036da6c0d2a55 av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_hr '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class='wp-image-586 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-586 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/ichr.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/high-court-challenge.jpg\" alt='Image of a court house' title='high-court-challenge'  height=\"539\" width=\"1200\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichr.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/high-court-challenge.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/ichr.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/high-court-challenge-300x135.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ichr.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/high-court-challenge-1030x463.jpg 1030w, https:\/\/ichr.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/high-court-challenge-768x345.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ichr.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/high-court-challenge-705x317.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kiaebndu-f1087c94582ea4d8bfd418e5b24bf9d7\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-kiaebndu-f1087c94582ea4d8bfd418e5b24bf9d7{\nheight:20px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-kiaebndu-f1087c94582ea4d8bfd418e5b24bf9d7 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_image  el_before_av_textblock '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-kiae35dz-722c528016c51254f3186fc23fe2049c '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>I confirm that we have initiated a peoples challenge against the unlawfulness of the Covid-19 laws \u2013 so first and foremost, we wish to thank the 2,300 odd people who have generously donated to our Go Fund Me campaign because without your support this legal challenge would not have been possible. Also, it is fair to say that given the number of donors to this campaign, that this legal action is in the public interest.<\/p>\n<p>The Plaintiff in this legal action is Tracey O\u2019Mahony and the Defendants are The Minister for Health, Ireland and the Attorney General.<\/p>\n<p>Section 31A of the Health Act as amended by the Health Preservation and Protection and Other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2020 empowers the Minister for Health to make regulations for the purpose of limiting, minimising or slowing the spread of Covid-19 \u2013 it is under this authority that the Minister for Health has enacted into law regulations which have closed businesses, decided what businesses are essential and non essential, restricted travel, stopped people being legally able to visit with family, closed churches, required the wearing of face coverings and so on. The issue that we take with the Minister drafting and enacting all of these regulations is that we say it is on breach of Article 15.2.1 of the Constitution as the Oireachtas cannot delegate its legislative function to the Minister for Health.<\/p>\n<p>Why do we say this? We say this because Article 15.2.1 of the Constitution states:-<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cThe sole and exclusive power of making laws for the State is hereby vested in the Oireachtas: no other legislative authority has power to make laws for the State.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>In Ireland we have the concept of the separation of powers. In this regard we have 3 organs of the state who are legally required to remain separate and independent from one another, in order that no one organ of the state has too much power.<\/p>\n<p>The 3 branches of the state are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Legislature \u2013 which consists of Dail Eireann, Seanad Eireann and the President;<\/li>\n<li>The Judiciary \u2013 which is the courts; and<\/li>\n<li>The Executive \u2013 which is the Government.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In summary, this legal action challenges the authority conferred on the Minister for Health (who is part of the Executive) to make secondary legislation pursuant to section 31A of the Health Act 1947.<\/p>\n<p>To date, the Minister for Health has promulgated in excess of 70 regulations using this authority and in circumstances where these regulations are some of the most far reaching in the history of the State, we say that section 31A of the Health Act 1947 is repugnant to Bunreacht na h\u00c9ireann in that it:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>a) confers on the Minister for Health an unconstitutional power to amend primary legislation; and<\/li>\n<li>b) confers on the Minister for Health an unconstitutional power to author legislation that is unrestricted by principles and polices.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>This legal action has been initiated through Plenary Proceedings and could easily take 12 months or more to come before the Courts.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, on behalf of Tracey O\u2019Mahony, the ICHR and those that sit on the board of advisors to the ICHR, we wish to sincerely thank you for your support.<\/p>\n<p>You have made today possible and you are the reason that tomorrow will be different.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-button-wrap av-kps8sxh5-ad491a7e13ba9448ca0946c3695ce5b3-wrap avia-button-center  avia-builder-el-9  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock '><a href='https:\/\/ichr.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Status-of-Legal-Proceedings-01.12.2021-Update.docx'  class='avia-button av-kps8sxh5-ad491a7e13ba9448ca0946c3695ce5b3 av-link-btn avia-icon_select-yes-left-icon avia-size-large avia-position-center avia-color-theme-color'  ><span class='avia_button_icon avia_button_icon_left' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue887' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >Status Update<\/span><\/a><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-ksypsgkq-c283c1da9b57171dbe410cbe2779a17f\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-ksypsgkq-c283c1da9b57171dbe410cbe2779a17f .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:14px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-ksypsgkq-c283c1da9b57171dbe410cbe2779a17f '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Updated: January 1st 2022<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<div  class='hr av-f0qda-2d8f3712b89d3a7b8fc8b7baa82b1205 hr-default  avia-builder-el-11  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_social_share '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='av-social-sharing-box av-9bvda-cae499ddf2aa782a0cde3ba47cd56910 av-social-sharing-box-default  avia-builder-el-12  el_after_av_hr  avia-builder-el-last  av-social-sharing-box-fullwidth'><div class=\"av-share-box\"><h5 class='av-share-link-description av-no-toc '>Share this entry<\/h5><ul class=\"av-share-box-list noLightbox\"><li class='av-share-link av-social-link-facebook' ><a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook\" href='https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/ichr.ie\/article-15-constitutional-challenge-against-the-covid-19-laws\/&#038;t=Article%2015%20Constitutional%20Challenge%20against%20the%20Covid-19%20Laws' aria-hidden='false' data-av_icon='\ue8f3' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello' title='' data-avia-related-tooltip='Share on Facebook' rel=\"noopener\"><span class='avia_hidden_link_text'>Share on Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class='av-share-link av-social-link-twitter' ><a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Share on X\" href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=Article%2015%20Constitutional%20Challenge%20against%20the%20Covid-19%20Laws&#038;url=https:\/\/ichr.ie\/?p=585' aria-hidden='false' data-av_icon='\ue932' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello' title='' data-avia-related-tooltip='Share on X' rel=\"noopener\"><span class='avia_hidden_link_text'>Share on X<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class='av-share-link av-social-link-square-x-twitter' ><a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Share on X\" href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=Article%2015%20Constitutional%20Challenge%20against%20the%20Covid-19%20Laws&#038;url=https:\/\/ichr.ie\/?p=585' aria-hidden='false' data-av_icon='\ue933' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello' title='' data-avia-related-tooltip='Share on X' rel=\"noopener\"><span class='avia_hidden_link_text'>Share on X<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class='av-share-link av-social-link-whatsapp' ><a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Share on WhatsApp\" href='https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=https:\/\/ichr.ie\/article-15-constitutional-challenge-against-the-covid-19-laws\/' aria-hidden='false' data-av_icon='\uf232' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello' title='' data-avia-related-tooltip='Share on WhatsApp' rel=\"noopener\"><span class='avia_hidden_link_text'>Share on WhatsApp<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class='av-share-link av-social-link-linkedin' ><a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Share on LinkedIn\" href='https:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&#038;title=Article%2015%20Constitutional%20Challenge%20against%20the%20Covid-19%20Laws&#038;url=https:\/\/ichr.ie\/article-15-constitutional-challenge-against-the-covid-19-laws\/' aria-hidden='false' data-av_icon='\ue8fc' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello' title='' data-avia-related-tooltip='Share on LinkedIn' rel=\"noopener\"><span class='avia_hidden_link_text'>Share on LinkedIn<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class='av-share-link av-social-link-mail' ><a  aria-label=\"Share by Mail\" href='mailto:?subject=Article%2015%20Constitutional%20Challenge%20against%20the%20Covid-19%20Laws&#038;body=https:\/\/ichr.ie\/article-15-constitutional-challenge-against-the-covid-19-laws\/' aria-hidden='false' data-av_icon='\ue805' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello' title='' data-avia-related-tooltip='Share by Mail'><span class='avia_hidden_link_text'>Share by Mail<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-6v0am-edd4284606f8ba11bc238be475ab615a\">\n.flex_cell.av-6v0am-edd4284606f8ba11bc238be475ab615a{\nvertical-align:top;\n}\n.responsive #top #wrap_all .flex_cell.av-6v0am-edd4284606f8ba11bc238be475ab615a{\npadding:30px 30px 30px 30px !important;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_cell av-6v0am-edd4284606f8ba11bc238be475ab615a av-gridrow-cell av_one_fifth no_margin  avia-builder-el-13  el_after_av_cell_three_fifth  avia-builder-el-last '  ><div class='flex_cell_inner'><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":586,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ichr.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/585"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ichr.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ichr.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ichr.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ichr.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=585"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ichr.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/585\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":881,"href":"https:\/\/ichr.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/585\/revisions\/881"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ichr.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/586"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ichr.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=585"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ichr.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=585"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ichr.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=585"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}