Iers rookverbod voor hoogste gerechtshof
Niet de Ierse horeca, maar een taxichauffeur gaat zich verzetten tegen het algehele rookverbod in Ierland. De man laat zich verdedigen door een belangrijke expert op het gebied van de Ierse grondwet.
De rechtszaak wordt gebaseerd op een artikel in de Ierse grondwet dat de persoonlijke vrijheid regelt.
Dublin – Ireland’s recently-introduced ban on smoking in public places, including pubs and restaurants, is to be challenged in a constitutional case before the High Court, a health ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.
The ministry has been served with legal papers in connection with the surprise challenge to the wide-ranging law, which came into force on March 29.
“We will be robustly fighting the case,” a spokesperson said.
In the lead up to the introduction of the ban, publicans and others in Ireland’s hospitality industry had taken legal advice about challenging it, but decided not to.
The challenge is being mounted by a taxi driver, and media reports said he will be represented by a former attorney general who is an expert on constitutional law.
It is expected that the challenge will be taken under section 40 of the 1937 Irish constitution that deals with the fundamental personal rights of citizens.