The State has agreed to pay the legal costs of an unsuccessful High Court action by 10 elected Senators who contended a new Seanad can convene and pass legislation before an incoming taoiseach has nominated 11 of its 60 members. The action was initiated in mid-June and was fast-tracked due to uncertainty about the legal position and about whether a government would be formed in time for an incoming taoiseach to appoint senators. In their judgment, High Court president Ms Justice Mary Irvine, Mr Justice Denis McDonald and Ms Justice Niamh Hyland noted the case concerned constitutional issues of “exceptional public importance”. The court made the costs order as agreed and a formal order dismissing the plaintiffs’ claim. The 10 plaintiffs are elected Senators Ivana Bacik, Victory Boyhan, Gerard Craughwell, Annie Hoey, Sharon Keogan, Michael McDowell, Rebecca Moynihan, Rónán Mullen, Marie Sherlock and Mark Wall.

Source: The Irish Times July 02, 2020 09:58 UTC