Constitutional Law
Woof, Woof
Ireland has strange Regulators, as we have learned. For example, what is the Irish Data Protection Commissioner doing about the Google “Street View” scandal? The scandal involved the deliberate collection, by Google, of wi-fi data, through its Street View vehicles. Google Street View is part of Google Maps and Google Earth. It uses adapted vehicles (mostly cars) to travel through public locations in at least thirty countries in the world. The vehicles have cameras to record a 360 degree view […]
Digital Rights Ireland: High Court Submissions
The High Court is seeking submissions from the parties to the Digital Rights Ireland case. See the Pleadings HERE. See the most recent post on the issue HERE The Court is seeking suggestions as to the form of questions to be submitted to the European Court of Justice. DRI has, in its Statement of Claim, suggested a form of question or questions to be submitted. Currently, DRI has furnished its expanded draft of the terms of the Reference to be […]
Digital Rights Ireland Data Retention Case
DRI’s case is brought in its own name, but it is an action with implications for every citizen of Ireland, whether they know it or not.
Digital Rights Ireland update
On 5th May 2010 the High Court delivered its (unapproved) judgment. The Court confirmed its agreement to refer the EU law issue in the case to the European Court of Justice. The Court refused the State’s applications seeking denial of locus standi to the Plaintiff and/or seeking security for costs.
WAR! WAR?
Of course, Article 28 (3) is out of date; no State actor in international affairs follows the convention and legal obligation to “declare” war – they just wage it. Nevertheless, as a purely internal Irish affair, to take a hands-off approach to Executive action on such a question, where the Executive can seek the assent of the Dail, but does not, is not in the national interest.
The Club of One
The decision has had bad effects. It endorses a damaging idea of Government; one where the freedom of the Executive to act without challenge and with impunity is put at a higher value than the principle that the interests of the electorate are paramount.
Judge School
Either way, it behooves the media to at least ask what is taught at Judge school. It might tell us something about Ireland we need to know, and God knows, we know very little.
Habeas Corpus
McGarr Solicitors act for Jonathan O’Donnell. Jonathan O’Donnell was, apparently, arrested on the morning of 25th June 2009 in Broadhaven Bay, County Mayo by Gardai from Mayo Division.