Law Commons^™

Education And The Equal Status Acts - Stokes -V- Christian Brothers High School Clonmel, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

This case involved a challenge under the Equal Status Act (ESA) to the admissions rules of a Clonmel secondary school which, it was argued, indirectly discriminated against children from the Traveller community. At first instance (before the Equality Tribunal) and on appeal to the Circuit Court it had been held that this rule did have a disproportionate impact on Travellers but the Court and Tribunal differed as to whether this was objectively justified or not. On further appeal to the High Court, McCarthy J. held that there was no disproportionate impact as, adopting a dictionary definition of the term ‘particular’, …

Social Assistance And The Right To Reside At The European Court Of Justice – Dano V Jobcenter Leipzig, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

This case involves an important decision of the Grand Chamber of the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) in relation to when Member States may refuse benefits to non-nationals who do not have a right of residence under EU law. The Court held that Article 24(1) of Directive 2004/38/EC on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States and Article 4 of Regulation No 883/2004 did not preclude a national law under which nationals of other Member States are excluded from entitlement to certain …

Surrogacy Leave And Eu Law: Case C 167/12, C.D. V S.T. And Case C 363/12, Z. V A Government Department, Judgements (Grand Chamber) Of 18 March 2014, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

Advances in reproductive technology have tended to outpace the capacity of legislators to respond to these changes, leading to difficult legal questions for the courts. Surrogacy is one particular area where advances in technology have led to many legal challenges and have highlighted the failure (in several jurisdictions) to enact appropriate legislation in response to technological developments and/or differing views about what is ‘appropriate’. Two recent cases before the European Court of Justice (CJEU) have raised the issues as to whether either EU secondary legislation (in particular the Pregnant Workers Directive 92/85/EEC and/or the Equal Treatment Directives 2006/54/EC and 2000/78/EC) …

Civis Europeus Sum? Social Assistance And The Right To Reside In Eu Law., Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

This article examines the current status of EU law as regards making a right to social assistance dependent on having a legal right to reside in the ‘host’ member state. In particular, it looks at the recent decision by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in Brey and discusses whether this ruling helps to clarify the legal position.

Habitual Residence: Fact Or (Legal) Fiction? Case C- C 255/13, I V. Health Service Executive, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

A2 Workers And The Right To Reside In Ireland – Genov And Gusa V Minister For Social Protection, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

Right To Reside Test Found Incompatible With Eu Law, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

In Patmalniece the UK Supreme Court ruled that in the case of state pension credit, where the right to reside test forms part of the habitual residence test, the right to reside test was not incompatible with EU law as it was objectively justified. However, the Chief Social Security Commissioner for Northern Ireland has recently ruled that the right to reside test is contrary to EU law in a case involving child benefit. This note analyses this decision. The EU Commission has also commenced infringement proceedings against the UK in relation to the compatibility of the test with EU law.

Overview Of Recent Cases Before The European Court Of Human Rights And The European Court Of Justice (January-March 2012), Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

Unusually, there were only a small number of significant rulings by either the Court of Justice or the Court of Human Rights in the period January-March 2012. In Markin v Russia the Court of Human Rights showed its positive side, ruling that the exclusion of servicemen from entitlement to parental leave, while servicewomen are entitled to such leave, was in violation of Article 14 taken in conjunction with Article 8. However, the other important case considered by the Court – B. v United Kingdom – unfortunately makes no contribution whatsoever to the protection of human rights. The Court of Human …

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 …

Overview Of Recent Cases Before The European Court Of Human Rights And The European Court Of Justice (September-December 2011), Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

In the period, there was an interesting case before the European Court of Justice concerning the equal treatment Directive (79/7), while the European Court of Human Rights has given some important judgements in a number of cases on social security as a property right. Finally, the Court of Human Rights has again addressed the position as to when and why an oral hearing is required in social security cases but without greatly clarifying anything.

The Impact Of Recent Cjeu Rulings On The Presence And Residence Rules For United Kingdom Disability Benefits, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

This article examines a number of recent decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU”) and their impact on the presence and residence rules for disability benefits, in particular the disability living allowance (“DLA”). It considers the approach which the courts may take to the export of disability benefits in the light of these recent decisions.

A2 Self-Employed Workers And Social Welfare Rights - Solovastru V Minister For Social And Family Affairs, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

This note examines the recent decision of the Irish High Court in Solovastru v Minister for Social and Family Affairs. The case concerned the rights of a Romanian migrant worker to benefits under the Irish social welfare scheme and, in particular, (i) whether a person who requires a work permit to take up employment can be considered to be ‘available for work’; and (ii) whether the applicant was habitually resident in Ireland. This, in turn, raised the issue as to whether, under EU law, a self-employed person retains a right to reside under Article 7 of Directive 2004/38/EC in the …

Overview Of Recent Cases Before The European Court Of Human Rights And The European Court Of Justice (April-June 2011), Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

In this article, we review developments in the case law of the European Court of Justice and Court of Human Rights in the period April to June 2011. In contrast to the last issue which focussed on a number of key judgments – mainly involving an interpretation of the Treaty provisions − that look likely to have an important impact on social security issues, this issue returns to the more mundane case law of the two courts on issues such as the co-ordination of social security for migrants and the application of the right to fair hearing and non-discrimination in …

Overview Of Recent Cases Before The European Court Of Human Rights And The European Court Of Justice (July-September 2011), Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

In this article, we consider two important decisions: one of the Court of Human Rights on the rights of prisoners which concerns access to pension insurance (Stummer); and one from the Court of Justice concerning the link between residence and social security (Stewart). On the legislative front, not much happened.

Patmalniece V Secretary Of State For Work And Pensions [2011] Uksc 11 Supreme Court, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

This Supreme Court decision concerns the right to reside test in UK social security law. In brief, UK law has since 1994 had a requirement that, in order to be entitled to various non-contributory benefits, one must be habitually resident in the country. In 2004 in response to the accession of a large number of new Member States to the EU, a new right to reside test was incorporated into the habitual residence test. This means that in order to be habitually resident it is necessary to have a legal right to reside in the United Kingdom. All UK citizens …

Overview Of Recent Cases Before The European Court Of Human Rights And The European Court Of Justice (November 2010-March 2011), Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

In this article, we review developments in the case law of the European Court of Justice and Court of Human Rights and EU legislative developments in the period November 2010 to March 2011. We focus on a number of key judgments – mainly involving an interpretation of the Treaty provisions − which look likely to have an important impact on social security issues: in particular, Test-Achats, concerning the incompatibility of secondary legislation allowing insurance products (including pension annuities) to be calculated by reference to gender-based actuarial factors, Casteels, concerning the impact of free movement on the co-ordination of occupational pensions …

The Developing Concept Of European Citizenship: Residence And Welfare Rights In Eu Law, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

The developing case law on European Union citizenship has attracted much attention in recent years. One of the most important aspects of this case law has been the implications of citizenship for the right of residence and, in particular, the relationship between the right of residence and access to social security benefits. This issue is particularly sensitive because of the concerns of Member States in relation to the potential costs involved arising from greatly extended residence rights for non-nationals. This article looks at a number of interrelated issues concerning the relationship between access to social security and (rights of) residence. …

Overview Of Recent Cases Before The European Court Of Human Rights And The European Court Of Justice (August-September 2010), Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

In this update, we look, in particular, at a number of recent decisions of the Court of Human Rights concerning the rights of same-sex couples and the rights of unmarried couples (Yiğit; Manenc; and J.M. v United Kingdom); and several decisions by the Court of Justice concerning free movement and the co-ordination of social security benefits, including cross-border access to health care and family benefits.

Overview Of Recent Cases Before The European Court Of Human Rights And The European Court Of Justice (January-April 2010), Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

In this review, we look at five recent decisions of the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights. The ECJ decided two interesting cases in the period, giving its first ruling on the IORP (Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision) Directive (Directive 2003/41/EC) and a judgement on the interpretation of Regulation 881/2002 which gives effect to Resolution 1390 (2002) of the UN Security Council setting out measures against persons and entities associated with Osama bin Laden, Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. In Carson, the Grand Chamber of the Court of Human Rights upheld the decision of the Chamber …

Patmalniece V. Secretary Of State For Work And Pensions, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

In Patmalniece the Court of Appeal has considered the compatibility of the UK right to reside requirement with Regulation 1408/71/EEC on co-ordination of social security for migrants. The Court earlier upheld the compatibility of the right to reside rule with the EU Treaty in Abdirahman. However, this case was different in that the claimant – unlike those in the previous cases - was within the personal scope of Regulation 1408/71.

Overview Of Recent Cases Before The European Court Of Human Rights And The European Court Of Justice (October-December 2009), Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

This note considers the decisions in Skugar v. Russia (40010 04) on freedom of religion and tax social security numbers; the Court of Human Rights decisions in Bladh v. Sweden (46125 06), Si Amer v France (29137 06) and Wieczorek v. Poland (18176 05); Case C-3 08 Leyman and Case C-314 08 Filipiak on free movement of workers and social security; and Case C-363 08 Slanina on family benefits.

Overview Of Recent Cases Before The European Court Of Human Rights And The European Court Of Justice (May-July 2010), Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

In this review, we look, inter alia, at a number of decisions of the Court of Human Rights including rulings concerning the rights of same-sex couples (Schalk and P.B. v Austria); a case which considers the position concerning the Convention and the transfer by a local authority of a resident to a new residential care home (Watts); and an interesting case concerning the scope of ‘other status’ under Article 14 of the Convention (Peterka). We also consider a number of ECJ cases including a further ‘development’ of the Court’s case law with regard to cross-border access to health care (Commission …

Overview Of Recent Cases Before The European Court Of Human Rights And The European Court Of Justice (January-March 2009), Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

In period covered there have been a number of interesting decisions of both the Court of Justice and the Court of Human Rights concerning social security issues. The Court of Human Rights addressed issues of gender and nationality discrimination in Weller and Andrejeva while the Court of Justice addressed further issues concerning cross-border health care and competition as it affects the organisation of social security. In part 2, we also examine the current Commission proposal which would extend protection against discrimination on the basis of religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation to social protection and provide an update …

Overview Of Recent Cases Before The European Court Of Human Rights And The European Court Of Justice (April-September 2009), Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

In the period covered there have been two interesting decisions of the Court of Justice and the Court of Human Rights concerning the current boundaries of the scope of equality as it applies to social security issues. The Court of Human Rights addressed issues of discrimination against homosexual couples in M.W., while the Court of Justice rejected a claim in relation to social security treatment while on parental leave in Gomez-Limon. Meanwhile, the concept of European citizenship continued to develop – if in a somewhat erratic manner. The Court of Justice, in Rüffler, ruled that national tax rules in relation …

Overview Of Recent Cases Before The European Court Of Human Rights And The European Court Of Justice (May-September 2008), Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

This note examines the decisions in Kehoe v United Kingdom (2010 06), I v Finland (20511 03) and Case C-228 07 Petersen.

Overview Of Recent Cases Before The European Court Of Human Rights And The European Court Of Justice (October-December 2008), Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

Recent cases before the Court of Justice and Human Rights have focussed on the issue of residence – highlighting once again the importance of this issue in a social security context. First, the Court of Justice has given what is, in effect, its first judgement on the relationship between the EU residence directive (2004/38), EU citizenship and the right to social provisions or social advantages (in this case an education maintenance grant). Given the importance of this case, it is reported in full below (Förster). Secondly, the Court of Justice has again considered the export of benefits for victims of …

Overview Of Recent Cases Before The European Court Of Human Rights And The European Court Of Justice (December 2007-February 2008), Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

This has been a relatively quiet period in the Court of Justice as concerns social security case law. There has been only one important 1408 case (Habelt) in which the Court reflects further on its case law on citizenship (albeit almost without mentioning the concept). The Court also decided the Klöppel case in which it ruled that Regulation 1408/71 required a Member State to take into account, for the purposes of family benefits, the period during which a comparable benefit was received in another Member State as though that period had been completed in its own territory. The Court might …

Overview Of Recent Cases Before The European Court Of Human Rights And The European Court Of Justice (March-May 2008), Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

This article looks at recent cases before the ECHR and ECJ concerning pensions and same-sex couples, citizenship and residence, UN sanctions and social security, and Regulation 1408/71.

The Right To Reside And Access To Social Security In The Courts Of Appeal, Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

This case note looks at two decisions of the English and Northern Irish Courts of Appeal in relation to the right to reside requirement for access to certain social security benefits. In brief, in the context of the expansion of the EU in 2004, the UK – unlike most other member states – allowed access to the UK labour market for the nationals of the Accession countries subject to a worker registration requirement. At the same time the UK government strengthened the existing habitual residence test by requiring that, in order to be considered habitually resident, a claimant must have …

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).