RTÉ: European Court of Justice hearing Thomas Pringle’s ESM challenge

The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg has begun considering legal argument regarding the lawfulness of the EU’s permanent bailout fund, the European Stability Mechanism.

It stems from a case taken by Donegal South-West TD Thomas Pringle.

The Independent TD argued in the Irish courts that the ESM treaty breached both the Irish Constitution and European Union law.

The Supreme Court refused to grant an injunction in July preventing the Government from ratifying the treaty.

However, the seven-judge court did refer a series of questions for determination to the European Court of Justice.

These included whether EU leaders acted legally when they established the ESM in March of last year.

The ECJ will deal with this case under what are called “accelerated procedures”.

That fast-track process should result in a judgment before the end of the year.

Mr Pringle is being represented by Senior Counsel John Rogers.

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