Digital Commons Network^™

Surrogacy, Equal Status And Social Welfare Benefits, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

Farm Workers, Equal Treatment And Insurability: Griego V New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administration, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

The US courts have considered a number of cases where a person has argued that his or her exclusion from insurability (either in social security, unemployment insurance or workers compensation) was in breach of the guarantee of equal protection in federal and/or state constitutions. The Social Security Act had originally entirely excluded domestic and agricultural workers. Early cases upholding the constitutionality of the Social Security Act had, inter alia, held that the exclusion of certain classes of worker from the scope of coverage did not render the legislation unconstitutional. However, these cases had not involved claims of racial, economic or …

Travellers, Equality And School Admission In The High Court: Stokes V Christian Brothers High School Clonmel, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

This note examines the recent Irish High Court decision in Stokes v CBS High School which concerned whether the rules for admission to the school – in particular a rule giving priority to children whose parents had attended the school - were compatible with the Equal Status Acts 2000-2008. The case concerned the fact that Mr. Stokes, a member of the Traveller community, was refused access to the school which was oversubscribed. The admission criteria included a rule whereby priority was given to children whose parents had attended the school and it was argued that this was indirectly discriminatory against …

Equal Protection, Immigrants And Access To Health Care And Welfare Benefits, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

Travellers, Equality And School Admission: Christian Brothers High School Clonmel -V- Stokes, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

This note examines the recent Irish equality officer and Circuit Court decisions in CBS High School Clonmel v Stokes which concerned whether the rules for admission to the school – in particular a rule giving priority to children whose parents had attended the school - were compatible with the Equal Status Acts 2000-2008. The equality officer held that the rule was indirectly discriminatory and in breach of the Act. However, on appeal the Court held that while the rule had a disproportionate impact on Travellers, it was objectively justified.

Human Rights, Anti-Discrimination And Social Security Benefits: Recent Uk Case Law, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

Since the adoption of the Human Rights Act 1998, challenges to UK social security law on the basis of the European Convention on Human Rights have become common - especially under the anti-discrimination provisions of Article 14. However, few of these challenges have been successful and, in general, the English courts have shown a poor understanding of the principles of human rights law. The recent decisions of the European Court of Human Rights in Stec (2005) 41 EHRR SE 295 and the House of Lords in RJM (2008) UKHL 63 have clarified important issues including the material scope of the …

The European Convention On Human Rights, Non-Discrimination And Social Security: Great Scope, Little Depth?, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

This article examines the non-discrimination provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights in relation to social security law. There is a now a broad power of review under the ECHR as most social security payments fall within the scope of the Convention. There is also a more flexible approach to the grounds upon which discrimination can be challenged under Article 14. However, it is suggested that the European courts may need to adopt a more nuanced (or proportionate) approach to equality review rather than a binary approach.

Widow's Pension And Gender Equality: Runkee V. United Kingdom, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

The long litigation saga involving the compatibility of UK legislation on survivors’ benefits appears to have come to a (not particularly glorious) end with the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECtHR) decision in Runkee and White v United Kingdom. This case involved a challenge to the compatibility of national law on the payment of widows’ pensions solely to women, similar to that considered by the House of Lords in Hooper and the ECtHR came to a similar conclusion holding that UK law was not incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Asset Freezing, Social Security, And Human Rights, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

This case analysis discusses a recent decision of the Court of Appeal concerning restrictions placed on the payment of certain social security benefits in the context of the UN asset freezing regime. The case is an interesting example of the sort of new questions coming before the courts in the post-9 11 world and raises a number of issues worthy of note. In particular, it raises the question of the approach which national and supranational courts should adopt to balancing the implementation of anti-terrorism measures with the upholding of the principles of human rights (and their application in practice).

Citizenship, Residence And Social Security, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

In two recent cases the Court of Justice has considered the impact of Union citizenship on the long-standing issue of the exportability of social security payments. These decisions clarify (i) the position of the Court in relation to the material scope of the protection provided by Article 18 EC, i.e. that the exercise of free movement is itself sufficient to bring an issue within the scope of the Treaty regardless of whether the issue actually in dispute involves a question of Community law and (ii) that the Court will examine residence requirements as a restriction on the freedoms conferred by …