Uimhir 11 de 1945.

ACHT NA bPINSEAN SEIRBHÍSE MÍLEATA (LEASÚ), 1945.

[An tionntó oifigiúil.]

Léiriú.

1.—(1) San Acht so, ciallaíonn an abairt “Acht 1934” Acht na bPinsean Seirbhíse Míleata, 1934 (Uimh. 43 de 1934).

(2) Léireofar an tAcht so agus Acht 1934 mar éinní amháin.

Leasú cúlghabhálach ar fhorála áirithe d'Acht 1934.

2.—(1) Beidh éifeacht ag alt 6 d'Acht 1934 fé is dá gcuirtí an fó-alt so leanas in ionad fó-ailt (1):—

“(1) Bunófar coiste ar a dtabharfar mar ainm agus mar theideal an Coiste Comhairlitheach (dá ngairmtear an Coiste san alt so), a ndéanfaidh gach comhalta dhe, má iarann an Réiteoir é, cabhair do thabhairt don Réiteoir, sa tslí a iarrfaidh sé, i bhfeidhmiú a fheadhmanna fán Acht so.”.

(2) Leasaítear leis seo fó-alt (4) d'alt 8 d'Acht 1934 trí na focail “os comhair an Réiteora” do scrios.

(3) Ní léireofar éinní dá bhfuil in Acht 1934 nó in aon riala cháin nó rialacha arna ndéanamh fé mar ní—

(a) cheanglas ar an Réiteoir, ag scrúdú iarratais ar dheimhniú seirbhíse dhó,—

(i) an t-iarratasóir do ghairm, ná

(ii) an t-iarratasóir d'éisteacht, ná

(iii) bheith i láthair aon tráth le linn an t-iarratasóir bheith á éisteacht, nó

(b) thoirmeascas ar an Réiteoir, ag scrúdú iarratais ar dheimhniú seirbhíse dhó, duine d'údarú nó do cheadú chun an t-iarratasóir d'éisteacht.

(4) Ní léireofar éinní dá bhfuil in Acht 1934 nó in aon rialacháin nó rialacha arna ndéanamh fé mar ní—

(a) cheanglas ar an Réiteoir, ag scrúdú iarratais ar dheimhniú seirbhíse dhó,—

(i) fiosrú do dhéanamh de dhuine ar bith, ná

(ii) duine ar bith seachas an t-iarratasóir do ghairm, ná

(iii) duine ar bith seachas an t-iarratasóir d'éisteacht, ná

(iv) bheith i láthair aon tráth le linn duine ar bith seachas an t-iarratasóir do bheith á éisteacht, nó

(b) thoirmeascas ar an Réiteoir scrúdú do dhéanamh agus tuarascáil do thabhairt ar iarratas ar dheimhniú seirbhíse, d'ainneoin—

(i) folúntas do bheith i líon comhaltaí an Choiste Chomhairlithigh, nó

(ii) comhalta den Choiste Comhairlitheach do bheith éagumasach go sealadach ar a dhualgais mar chomhalta den tsórt san do chomhlíonadh, nó

(c) thoirmeascas ar an Réiteoir, ag scrúdú iarratais ar dheimhniú seirbhíse dhó, duine d'údarú nó do cheadú chun duine ar bith seachas an t-iarratasóir d'éisteacht.

(5) Ní bheidh d'oblagáid ar an Réiteoir, ag scrúdú iarratais ar dheimhniú seirbhíse dhó,—

(a) fianaise ná eolas ar bith do chur in iúl don iarratasóir a gheobhfar de thoradh fiosruithe ag an Réiteoir nó thar a cheann nó bhéarfaidh duine ar bith uaidh, ná

(b) a cheadú do dhuine ar bith bheith i láthair aon tráth le linn duine ar bith eile bheith á éisteacht, ná

(c) caoi do thabhairt don iarratasóir fianaise bhréagnaitheach do thabhairt.

(6) Féadfaidh an Réiteoir, ag tabhairt a thuarascála dhó ar iarratas ar dheimhniú seirbhíse, áird do thabhairt ar fhianaise nó eolas ar bith is dóigh leis a bhaineas le habhar.

(7) (a) Léireofar na tagairtí atá i bhfó-ailt (3) agus (4) den alt so do dhuine d'éisteacht mar thagairtí fholaíos tagairtí—

(i) don duine sin do scrúdú,

(ii) do chúis-aithris ón duine sin nó thar a cheann do ghlacadh,

(iii) d'fhianaise (fá mhionn nó ar shlí eile) do ghlacadh ón duine sin.

(b) Léireofar na tagairtí atá i bhfó-ailt (3), (4) agus (5) den alt so do thráth a bheas duine á éisteacht mar thagairtí fholaíos tagairtí do thráth a bheas—

(i) an duine sin á scrúdú,

(ii) cúis-aithris á déanamh ag an duine sin nó thar a cheann,

(iii) fianaise (fá mhionn nó ar shlí eile) á glacadh ón duine sin.

(8) Is tuigthe na fó-ailt sin roimhe seo den alt so do theacht i ngníomh an 13ú lá de Mheán Fómhair, 1934, agus beidh éifeacht acu amhail ar an lá san agus ón lá san amach.

(9) I gcás ordú coinníollach certiorari, á ordú don Aire tuarascáil ón Réiteoir ar iarratas ar dheimhniú seirbhíse do chur fá bhráid na hArd-Chúirte chun í do chur ar neamhní, do bheith daingnithe le hordú ón gCúirt Uachtarach nó ón Ard-Chúirt do rinneadh roimh an 1ú lá d'Fheabhra, 1945, beidh éifeacht ag na forála so leanas—

(a) athscrúdóidh an Réiteoir an t-iarratas agus bhéarfaidh tuarascáil air fé is nár hachtaíodh fó-ailt (1), (2) agus (3) den alt so,

(b) más rud é—

(i) gur deonadh pinsean fá Acht 1934 don iarratasóir sara ndearnadh an t-ordú san na Cúirte Uachtaraí nó na hArd-Chúirte, agus

(ii) go ndeonfar pinsean fá Acht 1934 don iarratasóir de thoradh na tuarascála déanfar de bhun míre (a) den fhó-alt so,

ansan, íocaíochta ar bith bheas déanta ar scór an phinsin a céadluaitear áireofar iad mar íocaíochta ar scór an dara pinsean a luaitear.

Achomhairc i gcoinne orduithe áirithe ón Ard-Chúirt maidir le tuarascála ón Réiteoir.

3.—I gcás—

(a) ordú coinníollach certiorari do bheith deonta á ordú don Aire tuarascáil ón Réiteoir ar iarratas ar dheimhniú seirbhíse do chur fá bhráid na hArd-Chúirte chun í do chur ar neamhní, agus

(b) an t-ordú coinníollach do bheith daingnithe le hordú (dá ngairmtear an t-ordú daingniúcháin san alt so) ón Ard-Chúirt do rinneadh aon tráth i rith na tréimhse dár tosach an 1ú lá d'Fheabhra, 1945, agus dár críoch dáta an Achta so do rith,

ansan, pé acu bheas nó ná beidh aon ordú nó orduithe eile chun an tuarascáil sin do chur ar neamhní nó chun costais do lomháil nó eile déanta sa chás ag an Ard-Chúirt (roimh dháta an Achta so do rith nó dá éis), beidh éifeacht ag na forála so leanas—

(i) féadfaidh an tAire, d'ainneoin aon rialach cúirte, achomharc do dhéanamh, laistigh d'ocht lá fichead tar éis dáta an Achta so do rith, chun na Cúirte Uachtaraí i gcoinne an orduithe dhaingniúcháin agus an orduithe nó na n-orduithe breise sin (más ann),

(ii) má dhéanann an tAire achomharc amhlaidh agus go ngéillfear don achomharc, ní déanfar aon chostais san Ard-Chúirt ná sa Chúirt Uachtarach do mholadh don chúisitheoir ná ní bheidh aon chostais den tsórt san inbhainte aige den Aire, ach féadfaidh an Chúirt Uachtarach pé ordú is oiriúnach léi do dhéanamh chun go n-íocfaidh an cúisitheoir leis an Aire costais an Aire san Ard-Chúirt nó sa Chúirt Uachtarach nó sa dá chúirt.

Fó-ailt (3), (4), (5), (6), agus (7) d'alt 2 den Acht so do bhaint le hathscrúduithe fá ailt 8 agus 13 d'Acht 1934.

4.—(1) Bainfidh fó-ailt (3) (4), (5), (6) agus (7) d'alt 2 den Acht so le hathscrúdú ag an Réiteoir fá fhó-alt (5) d'alt 8 nó fó-alt (1) d'alt 13 d'Acht 1934 chomh hiomlán agus dá n-athachtaítí na fó-ailt sin (3), (4), (5), (6) agus (7) san alt so leis na modhnuithe seo leanas, sé sin le rá:—

(a) sna fó-alt sin (3), (4) agus (5),

(i) na focail agus na figiúirí “ag athscrúdú tuarascála dhó fá fhó-alt (5) d'alt 8 nó fó-alt (1) d'alt 13 d'Acht 1934,” do chur in ionad na bhfocal “ag scrúdú iarratais ar dheimhniú seirbhíse dhó” i ngach áit a bhfuil na focail deiridh sin, agus

(ii) na focail “an duine lena mbaineann an tuarascáil” do chur in ionad na bhfocal “an t-iarratasóir” i ngach áit a bhfuil na focail deiridh sin,

(b) na focail “athscrúdú do dhéanamh, fá fhó-alt (5) d'alt 8 nó fó-alt (1) d'alt 13 d'Acht 1934, ar thuarascáil agus an tuarascáil do dhaingniú nó d'athrú” do chur in ionad na bhfocal “scrúdú do dhéanamh agus tuarascáil do thabhairt ar iarratas ar dheimhniú seirbhíse” sa bhfó-alt san (4),

(c) na focail “ag daingniú nó ag athrú tuarascála dhó fá fhó-alt (5) d'alt 8 nó fó-alt (1) d'alt 13 d'Acht 1934” do chur in ionad na bhfocal “ag tabhairt a thuarascála dhó ar iarratas ar dheimhniú seirbhíse” sa bhfó-alt san (6).

(2) Is tuigthe fó-alt (1) den alt so do theacht i ngníomh an 13ú lá de Mheán Fómhair, 1934, agus beidh éifeacht aige amhail ar an lá san agus ón lá san amach.

Deireadh do chur le cumhachta an Aire fá ailt 8 (5) agus 13 (1) d'Acht 1934.

5.—Ar an 1ú lá d'Eanar, 1946, agus dá éis, scoirfidh an chumhacht do bheirtear don Aire le fó-alt (5) d'alt 8 d'Acht 1934 agus an chumhacht do bheirtear don Aire le fó-alt (1) d'alt 13 d'Acht 1934 de bheith infheidhmithe, ach amháin maidir le haon tuarascáil a mbeidh iarratas nó achainí chun an chumhacht san d'fheidhmiú ina leith faighte ag an Aire roimh an dáta san.

Gearr-theideal agus comhluadh.

6.—Féadfar Acht na bPinsean Seirbhíse Míleata (Leasú), 1945, do ghairm den Acht so, agus féadfar Achta na bPinsean Seirbhíse Míleata, 1924 go 1945, do ghairm d'Achta na bPinsean Seirbhíse Míleata, 1924 go 1944, agus den Acht so le chéile

Number 11 of 1945.

MILITARY SERVICE PENSIONS (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1945.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Number 11 of 1945.

MILITARY SERVICE PENSIONS (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1945.

Interpretation.

1.—(1) In this Act, the expression “the Act of 1934” means the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934 (No. 43 of 1934).

(2) This Act shall be construed as one with the Act of 1934.

Retrospective amendment of certain provisions of the Act of 1934.

2.—(1) Section 6 of the Act of 1934 shall have effect as if the following subsection were substituted for subsection (1):—

“(1) There shall be established a committee to be styled and known as the Advisory Committee (in this section referred to as the Committee), each member whereof shall, if so requested by the Referee, assist him, in such manner as he may request, in the exercise of his functions under this Act.”.

(2) Subsection (4) of section 8 of the Act of 1934 is hereby amended by the deletion of the words “before the Referee”.

(3) Nothing in the Act of 1934 or in any regulations or rules made thereunder shall be construed as—

(a) requiring the Referee, in investigating an application for a service certificate,—

(i) to summon the applicant, or

(ii) to hear the applicant, or

(iii) to be present at any time when the applicant is being heard, or

(b) prohibiting the Referee, in investigating an application for a service certificate, from authorising or permitting a person to hear the applicant.

(4) Nothing in the Act of 1934 or in any regulations or rules made thereunder shall be construed as—

(a) requiring the Referee, in investigating an application for a service certificate,—

(i) to make inquiries from any person, or

(ii) to summon any person who is not the applicant, or

(iii) to hear any person who is not the applicant, or

(iv) to be present a any time when any person who is not the applicant is being heard, or

(b) prohibiting the Referee from investigating and reporting on an application for a service certificate, notwithstanding that—

(i) there is a vacancy amongst the members of the Advisory Committee, or

(ii) a member of the Advisory Committee is temporarily incapacitated from performing his duties as such member, or

(c) prohibiting the Referee, in investigating an application for a service certificate, from authorising or permitting a person to hear any person who is not the applicant.

(5) The Referee, in investigating an application for a service certificate, shall not be obliged—

(a) to inform the applicant of any evidence or information obtained as the result of inquiries made by the Referee or on his behalf or furnished by any person, or

(b) to allow any person to be present at any time when any other person is being heard, or

(c) to afford the applicant an opportunity of tendering rebutting evidence.

(6) The Referee in making his report on an application for a service certificate may take into account any evidence or information which is in his opinion relevant.

(7) (a) References in subsections (3) and (4) of this section to hearing a person shall be construed as including references to—

(i) examining that person,

(ii) receiving representations made by, or on behalf of, that person,

(iii) taking evidence (whether on oath or otherwise) from that person.

(b) References in subsections (3), (4) and (5) of this section to a time when a person is being heard shall be construed as including references to a time when—

(i) that person is being examined,

(ii) representations are being made by or on behalf of that person,

(iii) evidence (whether on oath or otherwise) is being taken from that person.

(8) The preceding subsections of this section shall be deemed to have come into operation on, and shall have effect as on and from, the 13th day of September, 1934.

(9) Where a conditional order of certiorari, directing the Minister to send before the High Court for the purpose of being quashed a report of the Referee on an application for a service certificate, has been made absolute by order of the Supreme Court or the High Court made before the 1st day of February, 1945, the following provisions shall have effect—

(a) the application shall be again investigated and a report made thereon by the Referee as if subsections (1), (2) and (3) of this section had not been enacted,

(b) if—

(i) before the making of the said order of the Supreme Court or the High Court, a pension under the Act of 1934 was granted to the applicant, and

(ii) as a result of the report made in pursuance of paragraph (a) of this subsection a pension under the Act of 1934 is granted to the applicant,

then, any payments made on foot of the first-mentioned pension shall be treated as payments on foot of the second-mentioned pension.

Appeals against certain orders of the High Court relating to reports of the Referee.

3.—Where—

(a) a conditional order of certiorari has been granted directing the Minister to send before the High Court for the purpose of being quashed a report of the Referee on an application for a service certificate, and

(b) the conditional order has been made absolute by an order (in this section referred to as the absolute order) of the High Court made at any time during: the period commencing on the 1st day of February, 1945, and ending on the date of the passing of this Act,

then, whether or not any further order or orders to quash the said report or allowing costs or otherwise is or are made (whether before or after the passing of this Act) in the matter by the High Court, the following provisions shall have effect—

(i) the Minister may, notwithstanding any rule of court, appeal, within twenty-eight days after the date of the passing of this Act, to the Supreme Court against the absolute order and such further order or orders (if any),

(ii) if the Minister so appeals and the appeal is allowed, no costs in the High Court or the Supreme Court shall be awarded to, or recoverable from the Minister by, the prosecutor, but the Supreme Court may make such order as it thinks fit for the payment to the Minister by the prosecutor of the costs of the Minister in the High Court or the Supreme Court or in both.

Application of Subsections (3), (4), (5), (6) and (7) of section 2 of this Act to reviews under sections 8 and 13 of the Act of 1934.

4.—(1) Subsections (3), (4), (5), (6) and (7) of section 2 of this Act shall apply to a review by the Referee under subsection (5) of section 8 or subsection (1) of section 13 of the Act of 1934 as fully as if the said subsections (3), (4), (5), (6) and (7) were re-enacted in this section with the following modifications, that is to say:—

(a) the substitution, in the said subsections (3), (4) and (5), of

(i) the words and figures “reviewing, under subsection (5) of section 8 or subsection (1) of section 13 of the Act of 1934, a report” for the words “investigating an application for a service certificate” wherever the latter words occur, and

(ii) the words “the person to whom the report relates” for the words “the applicant” wherever the latter words occur,

(b) the substitution, in the said subsection (4) of the words “reviewing, under subsection (5) of section 8 or subsection (1) of section 13 of the Act of 1934, a report and confirming or varying the report” for the words “investigating and reporting on an application for a service certificate”,

(c) the substitution, in the said subsection (6), of the words “confirming or varying, under subsection (5) of section 8 or subsection (1) of section 13 of the Act of 1934, a report” for the words “making his report on an application for a service certificate”.

(2) Subsection (1) of this section shall be deemed to have come into operation on, and shall have effect as on and from, the 13th day of September, 1934.

Cesser of powers of Minister under sections 8 (5) and 13 (1) of the Act of 1934.

5.—On and after the 1st day of January, 1946, the power conferred on the Minister by subsection (5) of section 8 of the Act of 1934 and the power conferred on the Minister by subsection (1) of section 13 of the Act of 1934 shall cease to be exercisable, save in respect of any report in reference to which the Minister has, before the said date, received an application or request for the exercise of that power.

Short title and collective citation.

6.—This Act may be cited as the Military Service Pensions (Amendment) Act, 1945, and the Military Service Pensions Acts, 1924 to 1944, and this Act may be cited together as the Military Service Pensions Acts, 1924 to 1945.