Ryanair and State agree accelerated hearing of challenge to travel restrictions

Ryanair and the State have agreed to an accelerated hearing of the airline’s High Court challenge against the Government’s international travel restrictions. In an action launched last week, Ryanair claims that the ‘restrictions’, arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic, are unlawful, amount to a disproportionate interference of individual’s rights and are detrimental to its business. In its action against An Taoiseach, Ireland and the Attorney General the airlines seeks and order setting aside the measures. Aer Lingus is a notice party to the action. The State, which opposes the action, says the measures are advisory, and not mandatory in nature, as alleged by Ryanair. The State also claims that there is no basis for a legal challenge against the measures. The High Court had directed last week that Ryanair make its application for permission to bring its challenge on notice to, or in the presence, of lawyers for the State. That application was due to be heard next week. However, on Wednesday evening lawyers for the parties told Mr Justice Mark Sanfey that they had reached an agreement that will accelerate the process. Eoin O’Shea BL for Ryanair said it had been agreed that there would be what is known as a ‘telescoped’ hearing, where the application for leave and the full challenge itself would be heard at the same time.<br/>