The President of Ireland and former Labour Party TD, Michael D Higgins signed the new legislation to ban people who are not vaccinated from dining indoors in Ireland.
There are some concerns that this may be just the start of more discrimination against people who do not want or cannot get the Covid-19 vaccination.
There was an expectation amongst some people who are not vaccinated and some who are vaccinated that this legislation would lead to discrimination, segregation and a “divided society”.
There was also a call on social media for the President of Ireland to refuse to sign the legislation on the basis that if the President believes there is a potential conflict with the Constitution – as outlined in Article 26 he can decline to sign the legislation reports Breakingnews.ie
The signing of the Covid-19 Vaccine Pass legislation by the President of Ireland has seen #notmypresident trending across social media.
Article 26.1.1 of the Irish Constitution states;
“The President may, after consultation with the Council of State, refer any Bill to which this Article applies to the Supreme Court for a decision on the question as to whether such Bill or any specified provision or provisions of such Bill is or are repugnant to this Constitution or to any provision thereof”.
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