THE HIGH COURT has granted leave for a challenge to be made against the household charge because the necessary legislation and the statutory instruments are in the English language only – and have yet to be published in Irish.
The High Court heard that Gaeltacht place-names are also in English only.
The leave to challenge was given to Fianna Fáil councillor Thomas Brabazon, reports RTÉ.
Brabazon, a solicitor, is a fluent Irish speaker and conducts many of his cases as gaeilge, according to his company’s website.
Following the decision, Sinn Féin has once more called on the government to withdraw their plans to levy the charge before the 31 March deadline.
“This is typical of a government that has forgotten that 500,000 daily Irish speakers exist,” said Sinn Féin TD Peadar Tóibín, who warned the government it could “end up with egg on its face with regards to this challenge”.
“Not only have 85 per cent of the population decided not to sign up so far but it now looks likely that the legislation will be unconstitutional.”
The matter will come before the court in two weeks time.
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