Court seeks submission from Pringle over ESM objections

INDEPENDENT TD Thomas Pringle has said the European Court of Justice has sought a written submission relating to his objections to the ratification of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) treaty.

The Supreme Court refused to grant Mr Pringle an injunction restraining the Government from ratifying the ESM treaty before the European Court ruled on its lawfulness. The treaty provides for a bailout fund for distressed euro zone states.

A statement released by Mr Pringle’s solicitors yesterday said the European Court had set October 23rd as a date for an oral hearing. The court required written submissions from Mr Pringle and the State’s legal representatives by September 14th, the statement said.

Mr Pringle has argued that by adopting the treaty Ireland would undertake obligations which would contravene provisions of the EU treaties concerning economic and monetary policy and would directly encroach on the exclusive competences of the EU in the matter of the euro and related policies.