Quote Originally Posted by Crazed Rabbit
Well if the law is retroactive, then the fees are proper. Surely you knew of the possibility of such laws in the future when you set up those accounts?

Or is there some constitutional ban on such retroactive laws? If there is no ban, then you have no right to complain. It's the law and you should simply accept that.

CR
Dude, Tribsey has had money taken out of his accounts by the government. The least you can do is look sorry. What kind of American are you anyway? Why do you hate freedom?

Ireland

The imposition of retroactive criminal sanctions is prohibited by Article 15.5.1° of the constitution of the Republic of Ireland. Retroactive changes of the civil law have also been found to violate the constitution when they would have resulted in the loss in a right to damages before the courts, the Irish Supreme Court having found that such a right is a constitutionally protected property right.

Maybe someone can translate this. From wikipedia
Not exactly, but it sounds like they have written a bit of the case law from protocol 1 art 1 of the ECHR into the constitution (right to enjoyment of property)

Every natural or legal person is entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of his possessions. No one shall be deprived of his possessions except in the public interest and subject to the conditions provided for by law and by the general principles of international law

The preceding provisions shall not, however, in any way impair the right of a State to enforce such laws as it deems necessary to control the use of property in accordance with the general interest or to secure the payment of taxes or other contributions or penalties
There' s a Belgian case establishing that where you have a cause of action, legislation after the event removing your cause of action violates prot 1 art 1. Or did on the facts of that case anyway.