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Number 11 of 1972
RESTRICTIVE PRACTICES ACT, 1972
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Acts Referred to | |
1953, No. 14 | |
1959, No. 37 | |
1971, No. 24 | |
1932, No. 2 | |
1933, No. 8 | |
1946, No. 9 | |
Pilotage Act, 1913 | 1913, c. 31 |
Local Government Act, 1941 | 1941, No. 32 |
Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851 | 1851, c. 93 |
1956, No. 45 | |
Number 11 of 1972
RESTRICTIVE PRACTICES ACT, 1972
Interpretation.
1.—(1) In this Act—
“the Act of 1953” means the Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1953;
“the Act of 1959” means the Restrictive Trade Practices (Amendment) Act, 1959;
“the Commission” means the Restrictive Practices Commission established by section 2;
“fair practice rules” means rules under section 4;
“the Examiner” has the meaning assigned to it by section 13;
“the Minister” means the Minister for Industry and Commerce;
“service” includes any professional service but does not include—
(a) any service provided under a contract of employment,
(b) any service being banking business within the meaning of the Central Bank Act, 1971,
(c) the supplying of electricity,
(d) any transport service provided or operated by Córas Iompair Éireann,
(e) any air service or service ancillary thereto,
(f) any transport service provided by the holder of a licence under the Road Transport Act, 1932, or the Road Transport Act, 1933,
(g) any shipping service or any service provided by a harbour authority within the meaning of the Harbours Act, 1946, or by a pilotage authority constituted under the Pilotage Act, 1913,
(h) any service provided by a local authority within the meaning of section 2 of the Local Government Act, 1941.
(2) In this Act a reference to a section or schedule is to a section of, or schedule to, this Act unless it is indicated that reference to some other enactment is intended.
(3) In this Act a reference to a subsection, paragraph, subparagraph or other division is to the subsection, paragraph, subparagraph or other division of the provision (including a schedule) in which the reference occurs, unless it is indicated that reference to another provision is intended.
Restrictive Practices Commission.
2.—(1) Notwithstanding the repeals effected by section 26, the Fair Trade Commission shall continue in being but shall, from the passing of this Act, be known as the Restrictive Practices Commission and is in this Act referred to as the Commission.
(2) The First Schedule shall apply to the Commission.
(3) (a) Any enquiry under the Act of 1953 or the Act of 1959 by the Fair Trade Commission completed before the passing of this Act shall be deemed to be an enquiry by the Restrictive Practices Commission under section 5.
(b) Any enquiry under the Act of 1953 or the Act of 1959 by the Fair Trade Commission which is not completed at the passing of this Act shall be deemed to be an enquiry by the Restrictive Practices Commission under section 5.
Unfair practices.
3.—In the exercise of their functions under this Act the Commission and the Examiner shall have regard to the unfair practices listed in the Third Schedule.
Fair practice rules.
4.—(1) The Commission may, on the recommendation of the Examiner or at the request of an association representing persons engaged either in the supply and distribution of goods or in the provision of services, prepare and publish rules representing, in the opinion of the Commission, fair practice conditions with regard to the supply and distribution of such goods or the provision of such services.
(2) Before making fair practice rules the Commission shall cause to be published in such manner as they think fit notice of their intention to do so and shall give to any person desiring to make representations in relation to the making of the proposed rules an opportunity to do so, and the notice shall specify the time and manner in which any representations may be made.
Enquiries by Commission.
5.—(1) (a) The Commission shall, on the recommendation of the Examiner or at the request of the Minister transmitted by the Examiner, and may, on application by any person whose request for an enquiry has been refused by the Examiner, cause an enquiry to be held—
(i) into the conditions which obtain in regard to the supply and distribution of any kind of goods or to one or more aspects of the supply and distribution of one or more kinds of goods,
(ii) into the conditions which obtain in regard to the provision of any service or to one or more aspects of the provision of one or more kinds of service, or
(iii) into one or more aspects of the operation of an order under section 8.
(b) The Commission may at the request of any person, made after publication of a notice under section 10 (4) of their intention to hold a special review, hold the special review by means of an enquiry, but where they decide not to hold the special review by means of an enquiry, shall inform the person who made the request of the reasons for their decision.
(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), an enquiry may be held by one or more of the members of the Commission delegated by the Commission for the purpose.
(3) An enquiry shall not, without the consent of the Minister, be held by a temporary member acting alone.
(4) Not more than one temporary member may act for the purpose of a particular enquiry.
(5) An enquiry shall be held in public save in so far as, in the opinion of the member or members holding it, private sittings may be necessary solely to establish matters of fact the public disclosure of which might materially injure the legitimate interests of any person.
(6) The Commission shall submit to the Minister a report of every enquiry.
(7) Where the Commission, having received a request from any person (being a person whose request for an enquiry has been refused by the Examiner) to hold an enquiry, decide not to hold the enquiry, they shall inform the person of the reasons for their decision.
Notice of enquiries and Examiner's reports.
6.—(1) The Commission shall give such notice as they think fit of a decision to hold an enquiry.
(2) A notice under this section shall include a statement that a report on matters relevant to the proposed enquiry has been made to the Commission by the Examiner under section 16 and that a copy of the report may be obtained from the Commission on application by an interested person.
(3) Subject to subsection (4), the Commission shall furnish a copy of a report referred to in subsection (2) to an interested person who applies therefor.
(4) A copy of a report furnished under subsection (3) shall not contain any confidential information on a matter of fact which in the opinion of the Commission might materially injure the legitimate interests of any person if the information is not essential to the full understanding of the report.
(5) A report referred to in subsection (2) shall be admissible in evidence at an enquiry under section 5.
Report of enquiry.
7.—A report made by the Commission under section 5 (other than a report of an enquiry under section 5 (1) (b)) shall—
(a) describe the conditions which obtain in regard to the supply or distribution of the goods concerned or in regard to the provision of the services concerned, in so far as those conditions come within the scope of the enquiry to which the report relates,
(b) state whether (and, if so, how) any of those conditions involves restrictive practices including arrangements, agreements or understandings which prevent or restrict competition or restrain trade or the provision of any service or involve resale price maintenance,
(c) state whether, in the opinion of the Commission, any interference with competition or trade or with the provision of services such as is mentioned in paragraph (b) above is unfair or operates against the common good,
(d) state whether, in the opinion of the Commission, any of those conditions involves practices (including arrangements, agreements or understandings) or methods of competition (whether or not relating to price) which are unfair or operate against the common good,
(e) give the reasons for the conclusions stated in the report, and
(f) state whether the Commission are of the opinion that the Minister should make an order under section 8 and indicate the form of order which they recommend.
Orders relating to restrictive practices, etc.
8.—(1) The Minister, having considered a report of the Commission under section 5 (other than a report of an enquiry under section 5 (1) (b)), may, if he thinks that the exigencies of the common good so warrant, after consultation with any other Minister concerned, by order do, in relation to any goods or services to which the report relates, all or any of the following—
(a) prohibit restrictive practices including arrangements, agreements or understandings which prevent or restrict competition or restrain trade or the provision of any service or which involve resale price maintenance;
(b) prohibit unfair practices or unfair methods of competition (whether or not relating to price);
(c) make such provision as the Minister thinks necessary to ensure the equitable treatment of all persons in regard to the supply or distribution of goods or the provision of services;
(d) make such other provision in regard to restrictive practices or unfair practices or unfair methods of competition (whether or not relating to price) affecting the supply and distribution of goods or the provision of services as he thinks fit.
(2) The Minister may by order revoke or amend an order under this section.
(3) An order under this section shall not have effect unless it is confirmed by Act of the Oireachtas but, upon being so confirmed, it shall have the force of law in accordance with its terms.
(4) If the Commission, in a report to the Minister, recommend the making of an order and the Minister decides not to make any order, he shall, as soon as possible after he has received the report, lay before each House of the Oireachtas a statement giving the reasons for his decision.
Enquiries into refusal to use particular materials or methods for certain purposes.
9.—(1) The Commission shall, whenever so requested by the Minister, cause an enquiry to be held into the refusal or alleged refusal by employers or employees (or any combination of employers or of employees or of employers and employees) to use particular materials or particular methods for manufacturing or construction purposes.
(2) Subsections (2) to (6) of section 5, and paragraph 8 of the First Schedule, shall have effect in relation to an enquiry under this section.
Special review of order under section 8.
10.—(1) The Commission shall, on the recommendation of the Examiner or at the request of the Minister transmitted by the Examiner, hold a special review of the operation of an order under section 8.
(2) The Commission, on the request of a person whose request for a special review has been refused by the Examiner, may hold a special review of the operation of an order under section 8.
(3) A special review may relate to the operation of an order as a whole or to particular aspects of the operation of an order.
(4) The Commission shall cause to be published in such manner as they think fit notice of their intention to hold a special review and shall give to any person desiring to make submissions in relation to the subject matter of the review an opportunity to do so and the notice shall specify the time and manner in which submissions shall be made.
(5) The Commission shall submit to the Minister a report of every special review and the report shall state whether any request was made to the Commission under section 5 (1) (b) and, if so, give the reasons for a decision not to accede to the request.
(6) Where the Commission are of opinion that the Minister should amend the order which is the subject of a special review, they shall in their report of the review recommend accordingly and indicate the form of amending order they recommend.
(7) Where the Commission are of opinion that the Minister should revoke the order which is the subject of a special review, they shall in their report of the review recommend accordingly.
Examination by Commission of Examiner's reports under section 16(4).
11.—The Commission shall examine every report furnished to them by the Examiner under section 16 (4) and shall give observations on the report to the Minister and may make recommendations to the Minister as to what action should be taken on the report.
Studies and analyses by Commission.
12.—In addition to the functions conferred on the Commission by sections 4, 5, 7 and 9 to 11, the Commission shall study and analyse (and report to the Minister when requested by him the results of any such study or analysis) the effect on the common good of methods of competition, types of restrictive practice, monopolies, the structure of any markets, amalgamation of, or acquisition of control of, bodies corporate, the operation of multi-national enterprises and relevant legislation, and a study or analysis under this section may either include or consist of a study or analysis of any development outside the State relating to any of the above matters.
Examiner of Restrictive Practices.
13.—(1) The Minister shall from time to time appoint a person who shall be known as the Examiner of Restrictive Practices and is referred to in this Act as the Examiner.
(2) The Second Schedule shall apply to the Examiner.
Powers of Examiner.
14.—(1) The Examiner may and, at the request of the Minister, shall—
(a) investigate any aspect of the supply or distribution of goods or of the provision of a service,
(b) investigate any aspect of the operation of an order under this Act,
(c) investigate in the State any aspect of the supply or distribution of goods or the provision of a service by a person outside the State.
(2) The Examiner may investigate any aspect of the operation of fair practice rules.
Inspection of premises and records, etc.
15.—(1) For the purpose of obtaining any information necessary for the exercise by the Examiner of any of his functions under this Act, an authorised officer may, on production of his authorisation if so required—
(a) at all reasonable times enter and inspect premises at which any activity in connection with the business of supplying or distributing goods or providing a service, or in connection with the organisation or assistance of persons engaged in any such business, is carried on,
(b) require the person who carries on such activity and any person employed in connection therewith to produce to the authorised officer any books, documents or records relating to such activity which are in that person's power or control, and to give to the authorised officer such information as he may reasonably require in regard to any entries in such books, documents and records,
(c) inspect and copy or take extracts from any such books, documents and records,
(d) require a person mentioned in paragraph (b) to give to the authorised officer any information he may require in regard to the persons carrying on such activity (including in particular, in the case of an unincorporated body of persons, information in regard to the membership thereof and its committee of management or other controlling authority) or employed in connection therewith,
(e) require a person mentioned in paragraph (b) to give to the authorised officer any information which the officer may reasonably require in regard to such activity.
(2) Before exercising any powers conferred on him by virtue of this section, an authorised officer shall inform the owner of premises referred to in subsection (1) (a) or a person mentioned in subsection (1) (b) (as the case may be)—
(a) of the powers of an authorised officer under this section, and
(b) of the owner's or other person's right under subsection (3) to apply for a declaration under this section.
(3) (a) The owner of premises which an authorised officer proposes to enter and inspect, or a person on whom an authorised officer has made a requirement under this section, may apply to the High Court for a declaration under this section.
(b) Where the owner of premises which an authorised officer proposes to enter and inspect, or a person on whom an authorised officer has made a requirement under this section, refuses access to the officer or refuses to comply with the requirement (as the case may be), the owner or other person shall within seven days thereafter apply to the High Court for a declaration under this section.
(c) The High Court, having heard such evidence as may be adduced and any representations that may be made by the Examiner and a person referred to in paragraph (a), may at its discretion declare that the exigencies of the common good do not warrant the exercise by the Examiner of the powers conferred on him by this section, and upon the making of such a declaration the Examiner shall either cease to effect the relevant entry or inspection or (as the case may be) withdraw the relevant requirement under this section.
(4) Subject to subsection (3) a person who obstructs or impedes an authorised officer in the exercise of a power conferred by this section or does not comply with a requirement under this section shall be guilty of an offence.
(5) The authorisation of an authorised officer shall indicate the matters in respect of which he may act under this section.
(6) In this section “authorised officer” means a person authorised in writing by the Examiner for the purposes of this section.
Reports by Examiner.
16.—(1) Where, as a result of an investigation under section 14 (1) (a), 14 (1) (b) or 14 (2), the Examiner is of the opinion that the Commission should hold an enquiry under this Act or a special review under section 10 or should make fair practice rules, he shall furnish the Commission with a report of the investigation containing a recommendation to that effect.
(2) Where the Examiner carries out an investigation under section 14 (1) (a) or 14 (1) (b) at the request of the Minister, his report, in lieu of being furnished to the Commission, shall be furnished by him to the Minister and shall contain such facts as the Examiner considers relevant but shall not contain any expression of opinion by the Examiner.
(3) If in a report of an investigation under section 14 (1) (b) the Examiner expresses the opinion that there has been a breach or contravention of an order under this Act, the report, in lieu of being furnished to the Commission, shall be furnished by him to the Minister.
(4) The Examiner may furnish the Commission with a report of an investigation under section 14 (1) (c) and shall do so if the investigation has been carried out at the request of the Minister.
(5) Where the Minister makes a request under section 5 to hold an enquiry or under section 10 to hold a special review, the Examiner shall furnish the Commission with a copy of the relevant report by him.
Examiner's rights at enquiries.
17.—The Examiner may give evidence at an enquiry under section 5 and may call and examine witnesses at such an enquiry.
Laying of copies of reports before Houses of the Oireachtas.
18.—(1) The Minister shall lay before each House of the Oireachtas a copy of the report made by the Commission of every enquiry under section 5 or section 9 and of every special review under section 10.
(2) It shall be lawful for the Minister after consultation with the Commission to omit from the said copy any information contained in the report the publication of which would, in his opinion, materially injure the legitimate interests of any person, if such information is not essential to the full understanding of the report and a statement indicating the general character of any information so omitted shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas with the copy of the report so laid.
Jurisdiction of courts to grant injunction.
19.—It shall be lawful for a court of competent jurisdiction to grant an injunction on the motion of the Minister or of any other person to enforce compliance with the terms of an order under section 8 for the time being in force notwithstanding that any other proceedings, civil or criminal, may lie for that purpose.
Contravention of order.
20.—(1) A person who contravenes (whether by act or omission) any provision of an order under section 8 for the time being in force shall be guilty of an offence.
(2) Every person who aids, abets or assists another person, or conspires with another person, to do any thing (whether by way of act or of omission) the doing of which is declared by subsection (1) to be an offence shall himself be guilty of an offence.
Offence relating to evidence at enquiry.
21.—A person shall be guilty of an offence if, with intent to induce another person (in this section referred to as the complainant) not to give evidence at an enquiry under this Act, he does, threatens to do, causes another person to do or threatens that another person will do any of the following—
(a) cease to trade with, or provide services for, the complainant,
(b) restrict his trading with, or provision of services for, the complainant,
(c) discriminate against the complainant in his terms of trading with, or provision of services for, the complainant.
Offences in relation to bodies corporate and unincorporated bodies.
22.—(1) Where an offence under this Act which is committed by a body corporate or by a person purporting to act on behalf of a body corporate or an unincorporated body of persons is proved to have been so committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, any person being a director, manager, secretary, member of the committee of management or other controlling authority of any such body, or being any other similar officer of any such body, that person shall also be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
(2) (a) A body corporate may be sent forward for trial on indictment for an offence under this Act with or without recognisances.
(b) On arraignment before the Central Criminal Court or the Circuit Court, the body corporate may enter in writing by its representative a plea of guilty or not guilty and if it does not appear by a representative appointed by it for the purpose, or, though it does so appear, fails to enter any plea, the Court shall order a plea of not guilty to be entered and the trial shall proceed as though the body corporate had duly entered that plea.
(c) A statement in writing purporting to be signed by the secretary of the body corporate to the effect that the person named in the statement has been appointed as the representative of the body for the purpose of this subsection shall be admissible without further proof as evidence that that person has been so appointed.
(3) Any summons or other document required to be served for the purpose or in the course of proceedings under this section on a body corporate may be served by leaving it at or sending it by post to the registered office of that body or, if there be no such office in the State, by leaving it at, or sending it by post to, the body at any place in the State at which it conducts its business.
Penalties.
23.—(1) Every person who commits an offence under this Act for which no special penalty is provided shall—
(a) on summary conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding £200 (together with, in the case of a continuing offence, a fine not exceeding £10 for every day on which the offence is continued) or, at the discretion of the Court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment, or
(b) on conviction on indictment, be liable to a fine not exceeding £5,000 (together with, in the case of a continuing offence, a fine not exceeding £500 for every day on which the offence is continued) or, at the discretion of the Court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(2) (a) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this Act by reason of his failure, neglect or refusal to comply with a provision in an order requiring him to perform a specified act within a specified period or before a specified date, and the said act remains, after the date of such conviction, unperformed by him, such person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £10 for each day, after the date of such first-mentioned conviction, on which the act remains unperformed by him or, at the discretion of the Court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.
(b) An offence under this subsection shall be a continuing offence and accordingly fresh proceedings in respect thereof may be taken from time to time.
Summary proceedings.
24.—(1) Summary proceedings in relation to an offence under this Act may be prosecuted by the Minister.
(2) Notwithstanding section 10 (4) of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, summary proceedings for an offence under this Act may be instituted within twelve months from the latest day on which the offence was committed.
Saver for exercise of statutory duty.
25.—This Act shall not apply to anything done in the exercise of statutory duty.
Repeals and consequential provisions.
26.—(1) The Act of 1953 and the Act of 1959 are hereby repealed.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), every order under section 9 of the Act of 1953 in force at the passing of this Act shall continue in force and shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to be an order under section 8 thereof.
Expenses.
27.—The expenses incurred by the Minister or the Commission or the Examiner in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
Short title.
28.—This Act may be cited as the Restrictive Practices Act, 1972.
FIRST SCHEDULE
Restrictive Practices Commission
Constitution.
1. (1) The permanent members of the Commission shall consist of a chairman and not less than two and not more than four other members, all of whom shall be appointed by the Minister.
(2) Whenever it appears to the Minister that a permanent member is temporarily unable to discharge his duties, the Minister may appoint a temporary member to act in his place during such inability or for such shorter period as the Minister thinks proper.
(3) The Minister may also appoint additional temporary members.
Members.
2. (1) The term of office of a permanent member shall be fixed by the Minister when appointing him and shall not exceed five years.
(2) An outgoing permanent member shall be eligible for re-appointment.
(3) Each member shall hold office on such conditions as may be fixed by the Minister after consultation with the Minister for Finance.
(4) A member may be paid such remuneration as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, determines.
(5) The Civil Service Commissioners Act, 1956, and the Civil Service Regulation Acts, 1956 and 1958, shall not apply to the office of member.
Restriction on interested person acting as member.
3. If a member is personally interested in a particular matter with which the Commission is dealing, he shall inform the Minister accordingly and shall not act as a member during the consideration of the matter, unless the Minister, being of opinion that the member's interest is not such as to interfere with the impartial performance of his duties, authorises him to act.
Removals, resignation and disqualification.
4. (1) The Minister may remove from office a member who has become incapable through ill-health of performing efficiently his duties as such member or whose removal appears to the Minister to be necessary in the interests of the effective and economical performance of the functions of the Commission.
(2) Where the Minister removes a member from office he shall lay before each House of the Oireachtas a statement in writing of the reasons for such removal.
(3) A member may resign his office.
(4) Where a member of the Commission becomes a member of either House of the Oireachtas, he shall, upon his becoming entitled under the Standing Orders of that House to sit therein, cease to be a member of the Commission.
(5) A person who is for the time being entitled under the Standing Orders of either House of the Oireachtas to sit therein shall be disqualified from being a member of the Commission.
(6) A member shall be disqualified for holding and shall cease to hold office if he is adjudged bankrupt, or makes a composition or arrangement with his creditors, or is sentenced by a court of competent jurisdiction to suffer imprisonment or penal servitude or ceases to be ordinarily resident in the State.
Superannuation of members.
5. (1) The Minister shall, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, as soon as may be make and carry out according to its terms a non-contributory scheme for the granting of pensions, gratuities or other allowances to or in respect of members of the Commission ceasing to hold office other than members in respect of whom an award under the Superannuation Acts, 1834 to 1963, may be made.
(2) In the case of a member of the Commission who was appointed a member of the Fair Trade Commission on the 26th day of November, 1969, and who had before such appointment been a member of the Industrial Development Authority, a scheme under this paragraph shall provide for reckoning, as service as a member of the Commission, service by such person in a pensionable capacity as a member of the Industrial Development Authority.
(3) A scheme under this paragraph may provide that the termination of the appointment of a member of the Commission during that member's term of office shall not preclude the award to him of a pension, gratuity or other allowance
(4) The Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, amend a scheme made by him under this paragraph.
Procedure.
6. (1) The quorum for a meeting of the Commission shall be two permanent members unless the Minister otherwise directs.
(2) The Commission may act notwithstanding vacancies in their membership.
(3) The Commission may regulate their own procedure.
Power of Commission to summon witnesses, etc.
7. (1) The Commission may for the purposes of their functions when holding an enquiry under section 5 or section 9 do all or any of the following things:—
(a) summon witnesses to attend before them,
(b) examine on oath (which any member is hereby authorised to administer) the witnesses attending before them,
(c) require any such witness to produce to the Commission any document in his power or control.
(2) A witness before the Commission shall be entitled to the same immunities and privileges as if he were a witness before the High Court.
(3) A summons shall be signed by at least one member.
(4) Any person who—
(a) on being duly summoned as a witness before the Commission makes default in attending, or
(b) being in attendance as a witness refuses to take an oath legally required by the Commission to be taken, or to produce any document in his power or control legally required by the Commission to be produced by him, or to answer any question to which the Commission may legally require an answer, or
(c) does any other thing which would, if the Commission were a court, having power to commit for contempt of court, be contempt of such court,
shall be guilty of an offence.
Submissions by interested persons.
8. Any person may make a submission to the Commission in the manner prescribed by their rules in relation to the subject matter of an enquiry.
Prohibition of disclosure of confidential information.
9. (1) No person shall disclose information available to him by virtue of the powers of obtaining information conferred by this Act or through being present at a meeting of the Commission held in private.
(2) Subparagraph (1) does not apply to—
(i) a communication made by a member of the Commission in the execution of his duties under this Act, or
(ii) the disclosure of information in a report of the Commission or for the purpose of legal proceedings under this Act.
(3) If any person contravenes this paragraph he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or, at the discretion of the court, to both such fine and imprisonment.
Officers and servants.
10. (1) The Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may appoint such officers and servants as he thinks necessary to assist the Commission in the performance of their functions.
(2) The officers and servants so appointed shall hold office on such terms and receive such remuneration as the Minister for Finance determines.
SECOND SCHEDULE
Examiner of Restrictive Practices
Terms and conditions of office.
1. (1) The term of office of the Examiner shall be fixed by the Minister when appointing him and shall not exceed five years.
(2) On completion of a term of office the Examiner shall be eligible for re-appointment.
(3) The Examiner shall hold office on such conditions as may be fixed by the Minister after consultation with the Minister for Finance.
(4) The Examiner may be paid such remuneration as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, determines.
(5) The Civil Service Commissioners Act, 1956, and the Civil Service Regulation Acts, 1956 and 1958, shall not apply to the office of Examiner.
Temporary appointment.
2. (1) Whenever it appears to the Minister that the Examiner is temporarily unable to discharge his duties, the Minister may appoint a person to act in place of the Examiner during such inability or for such shorter period as the Minister thinks proper.
(2) A person appointed under subparagraph (1) shall have all the powers, rights and duties conferred on the Examiner by this Act and each reference in this Act to the Examiner shall be deemed to include a reference to such a person.
Restriction on Examiner.
3. If the Examiner is personally interested in a particular matter with which he is dealing, he shall inform the Minister accordingly and shall not act as Examiner during the consideration of the matter unless the Minister, being of opinion that such interest is not such as to interfere with the impartial performance of the Examiner's duties, authorises him to act.
Removal, resignation and disqualification.
4. (1) The Minister may remove the Examiner from office if he has become incapable through ill-health of performing efficiently his duties or if his removal appears to the Minister to be necessary in the interests of efficiency.
(2) Where the Minister removes the Examiner from office he shall lay before each House of the Oireachtas a statement in writing of the reasons for such removal.
(3) The Examiner may resign his office.
(4) Where the Examiner becomes a member of either House of the Oireachtas, he shall, upon his becoming entitled under the Standing Orders of that House to sit therein, cease to hold the office of Examiner.
(5) A person who is for the time being entitled under the Standing Orders of either House of the Oireachtas to sit therein shall be disqualified from being the Examiner.
(6) The Examiner shall be disqualified for holding and shall cease to hold office if he is adjudged bankrupt, or makes a composition or arrangement with his creditors, or is sentenced by a court of competent jurisdiction to suffer imprisonment or penal servitude or ceases to be ordinarily resident in the State.
Superannuation.
5. (1) The Minister shall, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, as soon as may be make and carry out according to its terms a non-contributory scheme for the granting of a pension, gratuity or other allowance to or in respect of the Examiner on his ceasing to hold office.
(2) A scheme under this paragraph may provide that the termination of the appointment of the Examiner during his term of office shall not preclude the award to him of a pension, gratuity or other allowance.
(3) The Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, amend a scheme made by him under this paragraph.
Officers and servants.
6. (1) The Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may appoint such officers and servants as he thinks necessary to assist the Examiner in the performance of his functions.
(2) The officers and servants so appointed shall hold office on such terms and receive such remuneration as the Minister for Finance determines.
Annual Report.
7. The Examiner shall, as soon as may be after the end of each year, make to the Minister a report of his proceedings during the year and the Minister shall lay the report before each House of the Oireachtas.
Prohibition of disclosure of confidential information.
8. (1) No person shall disclose information available to him through being present at an investigation held by the Examiner under section 14.
(2) Subparagraph (1) does not apply to a communication made by the Examiner or an authorised officer in the execution of his duties under this Act or to the disclosure of information in a report by the Examiner or for the purpose of legal proceedings under this Act.
(3) If any person contravenes this paragraph he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or, at the discretion of the court, to both such fine and imprisonment.
THIRD SCHEDULE
Unfair Practices
Any measures, rules, agreements or acts, whether put into effect (or intended to be put into effect) by a person alone, in combination or agreement (express or implied) with others or through a merger, trust, cartel, monopoly or other means or device whatsoever, which—
(a) have or are likely to have the effect of unreasonably limiting or restraining free and fair competition,
(b) are in unreasonable restraint of trade,
(c) have or are likely to have the effect of unjustly eliminating a competitor,
(d) unjustly enhance prices of goods or charges for services or promote unfairly at the expense of the public the advantage of suppliers or distributors of goods or of persons providing services,
(e) secure or are likely to secure, unfairly or contrary to the common good, a substantial or complete control of the supply or distribution of goods or any class of goods or the provision of services or any class of services,
(f) without just cause prohibit or restrict the supply of goods or the provision of services to any person or class of persons or give preference in regard to the supply of goods or the provision of services,
(g) restrict or are likely to restrict unjustly the exercise by any person of his freedom of choice as to what goods or services he will supply or provide or as to the area in which he will supply or provide goods or services,
(h) impose unjust or unreasonable conditions in regard to the supply or distribution of goods or the provision of services,
(i) without good reason exclude or are likely to exclude new entrants to any trade, industry or business,
(j) secure or are likely to secure unjustly the territorial division of markets between particular persons or classes of persons to the exclusion of others, or
(k) in any other respect operate against the common good or are not in accordance with the principles of social justice.
Uimhir 11 de 1972
AN tACHT UM CHLEACHTAIS SRIANTA, 1972
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
Léiriú.
1913, c. 31.
1941, Uimh. 32.
1.—(1) San Acht seo—
ciallaíonn “Acht 1953” an tAcht um Chleachtais Srianta Trádála, 1953;
ciallaíonn “Acht 1959” an tAcht um Chleachtais Srianta Trádála (Leasú), 1959;
ciallaíonn “an Coimisiún” an Coimisiún Cleachtas Srianta a bhunaítear le halt 2;
ciallaíonn “rialacha cóir-chleachtais” rialacha faoi alt 4;
tá le “an Scrúdaitheoir” an bhrí a shanntar dó le halt 13;
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála;
folaíonn “seirbhís” aon seirbhís ghairmiúil ach ní fholaíonn sé—
(a) aon seirbhís arna soláthar faoi chonradh fostaíochta,
(b) aon seirbhís is gnó baincéireachta de réir brí Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1971,
(c) soláthar leictreachais,
(d) aon seirbhís iompair arna soláthar nó arna hoibriú ag Córas Iompair Éireann,
(e) aon aersheirbhís nó seirbhís atá ag foghabháil léi,
(f) aon seirbhís iompair arna soláthar ag sealbhóir ceadúnais faoin Acht um Iompar ar Bhóithre, 1932, nó faoin Acht um Iompar ar Bhóithre, 1933,
(g) aon seirbhís loingseoireachta nó aon seirbhís arna soláthar ag údarás cuain de réir brí an Acht Cuanta, 1946, nó ag údarás píolótaíochta arna bhunú faoin Pilotage Act, 1913,
(h) aon seirbhís arna soláthar ag údarás áitiúil de réir brí alt 2 den Acht Rialtais Áitiúil, 1941.
(2) San Acht seo, aon tagairt d'alt nó do sceideal is tagairt í d'alt atá san Acht seo nó do sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo mura gcuirtear in iúl gur tagairt d'achtachán éigin eile atá ar intinn.
(3) San Acht seo, aon tagairt d'fho-alt, do mhír, d'fhomhír nó do roinn eile, is tagairt í don fho-alt, don mhír, don fhomhír nó don roinn eile den fhoráil (lena n-áirítear sceideal) ina bhfuil an tagairt, mura gcuirtear in iúl gur tagairt d'fhoráil éigin eile atá ar intinn.
An Coimisiún Cleachtas Srianta.
2.—(1) D'ainneoin na haisghairme a dhéantar le halt 26, leanfaidh an Coimisiún Cóir-Thrádála ar marthain ach ó dháta an Achta seo a rith is é a ghairfear de an Coimisiún Cleachtas Srianta agus is é a thabharfar air san Acht seo an Coimisiún.
(2) Beidh feidhm ag an gCéad Sceideal maidir leis an gCoimisiún.
(3) (a) Aon fhiosrúchán ag an gCoimisiún Cóir-Thrádála faoi Acht 1953 nó Acht 1959 a bheidh críochnaithe roimh dháta an Achta seo a rith measfar gur fiosrúchán é ag an gCoimisiún Cleachtas Srianta faoi alt 5.
(b) Aon fhiosrúchán ag an gCoimisiún Cóir-Thrádála faoi Acht 1953 nó Acht 1959 nach mbeidh críochnaithe ar dháta an Achta seo a rith measfar gur fiosrúchán é ag an gCoimisiún Cleachtas Srianta faoi alt 5.
Cleachtais neamhchóra.
3.—Ag feidhmiú a bhfeidhmeanna dóibh faoin Acht seo tabharfaidh an Coimisiún agus an Scrúdaitheoir aird ar na cleachtais neamhchóra atá sa liosta sa Tríú Sceideal.
Rialacha cóir-chleachtais.
4.—(1) Féadfaidh an Coimisiún, ar mholadh an Scrúdaitheora nó ar iarratas ó chomhlachas a bheidh ionadaitheach do dhaoine a bhíonn ag gabháil do sholáthar agus d'imdháil earraí nó do sholáthar seirbhísí, rialacha a ullmhú agus a fhoilsiú a dhéanann, dar leis an gCoimisiún, léiriú ar dhálaí cóir-thrádála maidir le soláthar agus imdháil na n-earraí sin nó le soláthar na seirbhísí sin.
(2) Sula ndéanfaidh an Coimisiún rialacha cóir-chleachtais cuirfidh siad faoi deara go bhfoilseofar i cibé slí is cuí leo fógra á rá go bhfuil sé ar intinn acu déanamh amhlaidh agus tabharfaidh siad do dhuine ar bith a dteastóidh uaidh uiríolla a dhéanamh maidir le déanamh na rialacha a bheartófar caoi chuige sin, agus sonrófar san fhógra an t-am agus an tslí ina bhféadfar aon uiríolla a dhéanamh.
Fiosrúcháin ag an gCoimisiún.
5.—(1) (a) Ar mholadh an Scrúdaitheora nó ar iarratas ón Aire arna tharchur ag an Scrúdaitheoir déanfaidh an Coimisiún agus, ar iarratas ó aon duine ar dhiúltaigh an Scrúdaitheoir d'iarratas uaidh féadfaidh an Coimisiún, a chur faoi deara go gcuirfear fiosrúchán ar bun—
(i) i dtaobh na ndálaí atá ann maidir le soláthar agus imdháil aon chineál earraí nó maidir le gné amháin nó níos mó de sholáthar agus d'imdháil cineál nó cineálacha earraí,
(ii) i dtaobh na ndálaí atá ann maidir le soláthar aon seirbhíse áirithe nó maidir le gné amháin nó níos mó de sholáthar cineál nó cineálacha seirbhíse, nó
(iii) i dtaobh gné amháin nó níos mó d'oibriú ordaithe faoi alt 8.
(b) Féadfaidh an Coimisiún, ar iarratas ó aon duine áirithe, arna dhéanamh tar éis foilsiú fógra faoi alt 10 (4) á rá go bhfuil ar intinn léirbhreithniú speisialta a dhéanamh, an léirbhreithniú speisialta a dhéanamh trí bhíthin fiosrúcháin, ach i gcás ina gcinnfidh siad gan an léirbhreithniú speisialta a dhéanamh trí bhíthin fiosrúcháin, cuirfidh siad na cúiseanna lena gcinneadh in iúl don duine a rinne an t-iarratas.
(2) Faoi réir fho-ailt (3) agus (4), féadfar fiosrúchán a dhéanamh ag duine amháin nó níos mó de chomhaltaí an Choimisiúin ar a gcuirfidh an Coimisiún sin de chúram.
(3) Ní dhéanfaidh comhalta sealadach, ag gníomhú ina aonar, fiosrúchán gan toiliú an Aire.
(4) Ní cead thar chomhalta sealadach amháin gníomhú chun críche aon fhiosrúcháin áirithe.
(5) Is go poiblí a dhéanfar fiosrúchán ach amháin sa mhéid gur dóigh leis an gcomhalta nó leis na comhaltaí a bheidh á dhéanamh gur gá suíonna príobháideacha d'aon toisc chun fíorais a bhunú a ndéanfadh sé díobháil ábhartha do leasanna dlisteanacha duine ar bith iad a nochtadh go poiblí.
(6) Cuirfidh an Coimisiún tuarascáil ar gach fiosrúchán faoi bhráid an Aire.
(7) I gcás an Coimisiún d'fháil iarratais ó dhuine ar bith (is duine a mbeidh an Scrúdaitheoir tar éis diúltú d'iarratas uaidh ar fhiosrúchán) á iarraidh orthu fiosrúchán a dhéanamh, agus go gcinnfidh siad gan an fiosrúchán a dhéanamh, cuirfidh siad na cúiseanna lena gcinneadh in iúl don duine sin.
Fógra faoi fhiosrúcháin agus tuarascálacha an Scrúdaitheora.
6.—(1) Tabharfaidh an Coimisiún cibé fógra is cuí leo faoi chinneadh chun fiosrúchán a dhéanamh.
(2) Beidh i bhfógra faoin alt seo ráiteas go ndearna an Scrúdaitheoir tuarascáil ar ábhair is iomchuí don fhiosrúchán beartaithe a thabhairt don Choimisiún faoi alt 16 agus go bhféadfaidh duine leasmhar cóip den tuarascáil a fháil ón gCoimisiún ar é dá hiarraidh.
(3) Faoi réir fho-alt (4), tabharfaidh an Coimisiún cóip de thuarascáil dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (2) do dhuine leasmhar a iarrfaidh í.
(4) Ní bheidh i gcóip de thuarascáil a thabharfar faoi fho-alt (3) aon eolas faoi rún ar fhíoras ar eolas é is dóigh leis an gCoimisiún a dhéanfadh díobháil ábhartha do leasanna dlisteanacha aon duine más rud é nach rud riachtanach do thuiscint iomlán na tuarascála an t-eolas sin.
(5) Beidh tuarascáil dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (2) inghlactha i bhfianaise i bhfiosrúchán faoi alt 5.
Tuarascáil faoi fhiosrúchán.
7.—In aon tuarascáil a dhéanfaidh an Coimisiún faoi alt 5 (seachas tuarascáil ar fhiosrúchán faoi alt 5 (1) (b))—
(a) tabharfar tuairisc ar na dálaí atá ann maidir le soláthar nó imdháil na n-earraí lena mbaineann nó maidir le soláthar na seirbhísí lena mbaineann, sa mhéid go dtagann na dálaí sin faoi raon an fhiosrúcháin lena mbaineann an tuarascáil,
(b) déarfar an bhfuil (agus má tá, conas atá) i gceist in aon cheann de na dálaí sin cleachtais srianta lena n-áirítear comhshocraíochtaí, comhaontuithe nó comhthuiscintí a choisceann nó a shrianann iomaíocht nó a choinníonn siar trádáil nó soláthar aon seirbhíse nó a bhfuil i gceist iontu praghas athdhíola a chothabháil,
(c) déarfar an bhfuil, i dtuairim an Choimisiúin, aon chur isteach ar iomaíocht nó trádáil nó ar sholáthar seirbhísí mar a luaitear i mír (b) thuas neamhchóir nó ag oibriú in aghaidh leas an phobail,
(d) déarfar an bhfuil i gceist in aon cheann de na dálaí sin, i dtuairim an Choimisiúin, cleachtais (lena n-áirítear comhshocraíochtaí, comhaontuithe nó comhthuiscintí) nó modhanna iomaíochta (cibé acu a bhaineann siad le praghas nó nach mbaineann) atá neamhchóir nó ag oibriú in aghaidh leas an phobail,
(e) tabharfar na cúiseanna leis na tátail a bheidh luaite sa tuarascáil, agus
(f) déarfar an é tuairim an Choimisiúin gur chóir don Aire ordú a dhéanamh faoi alt 8 agus luafaidh siad foirm an ordaithe a bheidh á mholadh acu.
Orduithe maidir le cleachtais srianta, etc.
8.—(1) Tar éis tuarascáil ón gCoimisiún faoi alt 5 (seachas tuarascáil ar fhiosrúchán faoi alt 5 (1) (b)) a bhreithniú dó féadfaidh an tAire, más dóigh leis gur gá sin ar mhaithe le leas an phobail agus tar éis dó dul i gcomhairle le haon Aire eile lena mbaineann, gach ní nó aon ní acu seo a leanas a dhéanamh, le hordú, maidir le haon earraí nó seirbhísí lena mbaineann an tuarascáil—
(a) cosc a chur le cleachtais srianta, lena n-áirítear comhshocraíochtaí, comhaontuithe nó comhthuiscintí a choisceann nó a shrianann iomaíocht nó a choinníonn siar trádáil nó soláthar aon seirbhíse nó a bhfuil i gceist iontu praghas athdhíola a chothabháil;
(b) cosc a chur le cleachtais neamhchóra nó le modhanna neamhchóra iomaíochta (cibé acu a bhaineann siad le praghas nó nach mbaineann);
(c) cibé foráil a dhéanamh a mheasann an tAire is gá chun cothrom a áirithiú do gach duine maidir le soláthar nó imdháil earraí nó le soláthar seirbhísí;
(d) cibé foráil eile is cuí leis a dhéanamh maidir le cleachtais srianta nó cleachtais neamhchóra nó modhanna neamhchóra iomaíochta (cibé acu a bhaineann siad le praghas no nach mbaineann) i dtaobh soláthar agus imdháil earraí nó soláthar seirbhísí.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, ordú faoin alt seo a chúlghairm nó a leasú.
(3) Ní bheidh éifeacht ag ordú faoin alt seo mura mbeidh sé daingnithe le hAcht ón Oireachtas ach, ar é a bheith daingnithe amhlaidh, beidh feidhm dlí aige de réir a théarmaí.
(4) Má mholann an Coimisiún, i dtuarascáil chun an Aire, go ndéanfaí ordú agus go gcinnfidh an tAire gan aon ordú a dhéanamh, déanfaidh sé, a luaithe is féidir tar éis dó an tuarascáil a fháil, ráiteas a leagan faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas ina luafar na cúiseanna lena chinneadh.
Fiosrúcháin i dtaobh diúltú ábhair nó modhanna áirithe a úsáid chun críocha áirithe.
9.—(1) Aon uair a iarrfaidh an tAire orthu sin a dhéanamh cuirfidh an Coimisiún faoi deara go ndéanfar fiosrúchán i dtaobh diúltú nó diúltú líomhnaithe ag fostóirí nó fostaithe (nó ag aon chuallaíocht d'fhostóirí nó d'fhostaithe nó d'fhostóirí agus d'fhostaithe) ábhair áirithe nó modhanna áirithe a úsáid chun críocha monaraíochta nó déanmhais.
(2) Beidh éifeacht ag fo-ailt (2) go (6) d'alt 5, agus ag mír 8 den Chéad Sceideal, maidir le fiosrúchán faoin alt seo.
Léirbhreithniú speisialta ar ordú faoi alt 8.
10.—(1) Ar mholadh ón Scrúdaitheoir nó ar iarratas ón Aire arna tharchur ag an Scrúdaitheoir, déanfaidh an Coimisiún léirbhreithniú speisialta ar oibriú ordaithe faoi alt 8.
(2) Féadfaidh an Coimisiún, ar iarratas ó dhuine a mbeidh an Scrúdaitheoir tar éis iarratas uaidh ar léirbhreithniú speisialta a dhiúltú, léirbhreithniú speisialta a dhéanamh ar oibriú ordaithe faoi alt 8.
(3) Féadfaidh baint a bheith ag léirbhreithniú speisialta le hoibriú ordaithe go hiomlán nó le gnéithe áirithe d'oibriú ordaithe.
(4) Cuirfidh an Coimisiún faoi deara go bhfoilseofar i cibé slí is oiriúnach leo fógra go bhfuil ar intinn acu léirbhreithniú speisialta a dhéanamh agus tabharfaidh siad caoi d'aon duine ar mian leis aighneachtaí a chur faoina mbráid maidir le hábhar an léirbhreithnithe déanamh amhlaidh agus sonrófar san fhógra an t-am agus an tslí chun aighneachtaí a dhéanamh.
(5) Cuirfidh an Coimisiún faoi bhráid an Aire tuarascáil ar gach léirbhreithniú speisialta agus luafar sa tuarascáil cé acu a rinneadh nó nach ndearnadh aon iarratas chun an Choimisiúin faoi alt 5 (1) (b) agus, má rinneadh, na fáthanna gur chinn siad gan géilleadh don iarratas.
(6) Más é tuairim an Choimisiúin gur cheart don Aire an t-ordú is ábhar do léirbhreithniú speisialta a leasú, déanfaidh siad moladh dá réir sin ina dtuarascáil ar an léirbhreithniú agus luafaidh siad foirm an ordaithe leasaithigh a bheidh á mholadh acu.
(7) Más é tuairim an Choimisiúin gur cheart don Aire an t-ordú is ábhar do léirbhreithniú speisialta a chúlghairm, déanfaidh siad moladh dá réir sin ina dtuarascáil ar an léirbhreithniú.
An Coimisiún do scrúdú tuarascálacha an Scrúdaitheora faoi alt 16 (4).
11.—Déanfaidh an Coimisiún scrúdú ar gach tuarascáil a thabharfaidh an Scrúdaitheoir dóibh faoi alt 16 (4) agus tabharfaidh siad tuairimí ar an tuarascáil don Aire agus féadfaidh siad moltaí a thabhairt don Aire i dtaobh cad ba cheart a dhéanamh faoin tuarascáil.
Staidéar agus taifeach ag an gCoimisiún.
12.—I dteannta na bhfeidhmeanna a thugtar don Choimisiún le hailt 4, 5, 7 agus 9 go 11, déanfaidh an Coimisiún staidéar agus taifeach (agus tuairisceoidh siad don Aire, ar é dá iarraidh sin, torthaí aon staidéir nó taifigh den sórt sin) ar an éifeacht ar leas an phobail atá ag modhanna iomaíochta, cineálacha cleachtais srianta, monaplachtaí, struchtúr aon mhargaí, cónascadh comhlachtaí corpraithe nó fáil urláimh orthu, oibriú fiontar ilnáisiúnta agus reachtaíocht iomchuí, agus féadfaidh go mbeadh ar áireamh nó gurb é a bheadh in aon staidéar nó taifeach faoin alt seo staidéar nó taifeach ar aon fhorbairt lasmuigh den Stát a bhaineann le haon cheann de na nithe thuas.
Scrúdaitheoir Cleachtas Srianta.
13.—(1) Déanfaidh an tAire ó am go ham duine a cheapadh ar a dtabharfar an Scrúdaitheoir Cleachtas Srianta agus dá ngairtear an Scrúdaitheoir san Acht seo.
(2) Beidh feidhm ag an Dara Sceideal maidir leis an Scrúdaitheoir.
Cumhachtaí an Scrúdaitheora.
14.—(1) Féadfaidh an Scrúdaitheoir imscrúdú a dhéanamh agus, ar iarratas ón Aire, déanfaidh sé—
(a) imscrúdú faoi aon ghné de sholáthar nó d'imdháil earraí nó de sholáthar seirbhíse,
(b) imscrúdú faoi aon ghné d'oibriú ordaithe faoin Acht seo,
(c) imscrúdú sa Stát faoi aon ghné de sholáthar nó d'imdháil earraí nó de sholáthar seirbhíse ag duine lasmuigh den Stát.
(2) Féadfaidh an Scrúdaitheoir imscrúdú a dhéanamh faoi aon ghné d'oibriú rialacha cóir-chleachtais.
Áitribh agus taifid, etc., a iniúchadh.
15.—(1) D'fhonn aon eolas a fháil is gá le haghaidh feidhmiú aon fheidhme dá chuid ag an Scrúdaitheoir faoin Acht seo féadfaidh oifigeach údaraithe, ar a údaraíocht a thabhairt ar aird má iarrtar sin air—
(a) dul isteach gach tráth réasúnach in áitreabh agus é a iniúchadh is áitreabh ina mbíonn aon ghníomhaíocht á seoladh i ndáil le gnó soláthair nó imdhála earraí nó soláthair seirbhíse, nó i ndáil le heagrú daoine nó le cabhrú le daoine atá ag gabháil d'aon ghnó den sórt sin,
(b) a cheangal ar an duine ag a mbíonn aon ghníomhaíocht den sórt sin á seoladh agus ar aon duine a bheidh fostaithe i ndáil léi aon leabhair, doiciméid nó taifid a bhaineann leis an ngníomhaíocht sin agus a mbeidh cumhacht nó urláimh ag an duine sin orthu a thabhairt ar aird don oifigeach údaraithe, agus cibé eolas a thabhairt don oifigeach údaraithe a bheidh ag teastáil uaidh go réasúnach i dtaobh aon iontrálacha i leabhair, doiciméid agus taifid den sórt sin,
(c) aon leabhair, doiciméid agus taifid den sórt sin a iniúchadh agus cóipeanna díobh a dhéanamh nó sleachta a bhaint astu,
(d) a cheangal ar dhuine a luaitear i mír (b) aon eolas a thabhairt don oifigeach údaraithe a bheidh ag teastáil uaidh maidir leis na daoine ag a mbeidh gníomhaíocht den sórt sin á seoladh (lena n-áirítear, go háirithe, i gcás comhlacht neamhchorpraithe daoine, eolas maidir lena chomh altas agus a choiste bainistíochta nó údarás rialúcháin eile) nó a bheidh fostaithe i ndáil léi,
(e) a cheangal ar dhuine a bheidh luaite i mir (b) aon eolas a thabhairt don oifigeach údaraithe a bheidh ag teastáil go réasúnach ón oifigeach maidir leis an ngníomhaíocht sin.
(2) Sula bhfeidhmeoidh oifigeach údaraithe aon chumhachtaí a thugtar dó de bhua an ailt seo, cuirfidh sé i bhfios d'úinéir áitribh dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (1) (a) nó do dhuine a luaitear i bhfo-alt (1) (b) (cibé acu é)—
(a) na cumhachtaí atá ag oifigeach údaraithe faoin alt seo, agus
(b) go bhfuil ceart ag an úinéir nó ag an duine eile faoi fho-alt (3) dearbhú faoin alt seo a iarraidh.
(3) (a) Féadfaidh úinéir áitribh a mbeartaíonn oifigeach údaraithe dul isteach ann agus é a iniúchadh nó féadfaidh duine a mbeidh oifigeach údaraithe tar éis ceanglas a chur air faoin alt seo, dearbhú faoin alt seo a iarraidh ar an Ard-Chúirt.
(b) I gcás ina ndéanfaidh úinéir áitribh a mbeartaíonn oifigeach údaraithe dul isteach ann agus é a iniúchadh, nó duine a mbeidh oifigeach údaraithe tar éis ceanglas a chur air faoin alt seo, diúltú oifigeach a ligean isteach nó diúltú déanamh de réir an cheanglais (cibé acu é), déanfaidh an t-úinéir nó an duine eile laistigh de sheacht lá ina dhiaidh sin dearbhú faoin alt seo a iarraidh ar an Ard-Chúirt.
(c) Ar cibé fianaise a bheidh tugtha ar aird agus aon uiríolla a bheidh déanta ag an Scrúdaitheoir agus duine dá dtagraítear i mír (a) a éisteacht di, féadfaidh an Ard-Chúirt, dá rogha féin, a dhearbhú nach gcuireann leas an phobail de cheangal ar an Scrúdaitheoir na cumhachtaí a fheidhmiú a thugtar dó leis an alt seo, agus ar dhearbhú den sórt sin a dhéanamh dó scoirfidh an Scrúdaitheoir den dul isteach nó den iniúchadh iomchuí a dhéanamh nó (de réir mar a bheidh) tarraingeoidh sé siar an ceanglas iomchuí faoin alt seo.
(4) Faoi réir fho-alt (3) duine a choiscfidh nó a bhacfaidh oifigeach údaraithe agus é ag feidhmiú cumhachta a thugtar leis an alt seo nó nach ndéanfaidh de réir ceanglas faoin alt seo beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
(5) Luafar in údaraíocht oifigigh údaraithe na nithe a bhféadfaidh sé gníomhú ina leith faoin alt seo.
(6) San alt seo ciallaíonn “oifigeach údaraithe” duine a bheidh údaraithe i scríbhinn ag an Scrúdaitheoir chun críocha an ailt seo.
Tuarascálacha ag an Scrúdaitheoir.
16.—(1) Más rud é, de thoradh imscrúdaithe faoi alt 14 (1) (a), 14 (1) (b) nó 14 (2), gur dóigh leis an Scrúdaitheoir gur chóir don Choimisiún fiosrúchán faoin Acht seo nó léirbhreithniú speisialta faoi alt 10 a dhéanamh nó gur chóir dóibh rialacha cóir-chleachtais a dhéanamh, tabharfaidh sé don Choimisiún tuarascáil ar an imscrúdú ina mbeidh moladh chuige sin.
(2) I gcás ina ndéanfaidh an Scrúdaitheoir imscrúdú faoi alt 14 (1) (a) nó 14 (1) (b) ar an Aire dá iarraidh sin déanfaidh sé, in ionad a thuarascáil a thabhairt don Choimisiún, í a thabhairt don Aire agus beidh inti cibé fíorais a mheasfaidh an Scrúdaitheoir is iomchuí ach ní luafar inti aon tuairim de chuid an Scrúdaitheora.
(3) Más rud é, i dtuarascáil ar imscrúdú faoi alt 14 (1) (b), go luafaidh an Scrúdaitheoir go ndearnadh ina thuairim sárú ar ordú faoin Acht seo déanfaidh sé, in ionad an tuarascáil a thabhairt don Choimisiún, í a thabhairt don Aire.
(4) Féadfaidh an Scrúdaitheoir tuarascáil ar imscrúdú faoi alt 14 (1) (c) a thabhairt don Choimisiún agus déanfaidh sé amhlaidh más ar iarratas ón Aire a rinneadh an t-imscrúdú.
(5) I gcás ina n-iarrfaidh an tAire faoi alt 5 imscrúdú a dhéanamh nó faoi alt 10 léirbhreithniú speisialta a dhéanamh, tabharfaidh an Scrúdaitheoir don Choimisiún cóip den tuarascáil iomchuí uaidh.
Cearta an Scrúdaitheora ag fiosrúcháin.
17.—Féadfaidh an Scrúdaitheoir fianaise a thabhairt ag fiosrúchán faoi alt 5 agus féadfaidh sé finnéithe a ghairm agus a cheistiú ag fiosrúchán den sórt sin.
Cóipeanna de thuarascálacha a leagan faoi bhráid Thithe an Oireachtais.
18.—(1) Leagfaidh an tAire os comhair gach Tí den Oireachtas cóip den tuarascáil a bheidh déanta ag an gCoimisiún ar gach fiosrúchán faoi alt 5 nó alt 9 agus ar gach léirbhreithniú speisialta faoi alt 10.
(2) Is dleathach don Aire tar éis dó dul i gcomhairle leis an gCoimisiún aon eolas sa tuarascáil a fhágáil ar lár as an gcóip sin ar dóigh leis go ndéanfadh a fhoilsiú díobháil ábhartha do leasanna dlisteanacha aon duine, mura mbeidh an t-eolas sin riachtanach do lán-tuiscint na tuarascála agus déanfar ráiteas ina luafar gné ginearálta aon eolais a bheidh fágtha ar lár amhlaidh a leagan faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas i dteannta na cóipe den tuarascáil a bheidh leagtha faoina bhráid amhlaidh.
Dlinse na gcúirteanna chun urghaire a dheonú.
19.—Is dleathach do chúirt dlínse inniúla urghaire a dheonú ar fhoriarratas an Aire nó aon duine eile d'fhonn tabhairt go ndéanfaí de réir téarmaí ordaithe faoi alt 8 a bheidh i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire d'ainneoin go mbeidh chuige sin ábhar ann d'imeachtaí éigin eile, sibhialta nó coiriúil.
Ordú a shárú.
20.—(1) Duine ar bith a sháróidh (trí ghníomh nó neamhghníomh) aon fhoráil d'ordú faoi alt 8 a bheidh i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
(2) Gach duine a chabhróidh nó a neartóidh le duine eile nó a thabharfaidh cúnamh dó nó a rachaidh i gcomhcheilg leis, d'fhonn aon rud a dhéanamh (trí ghníomh nó neamhghníomh) a ndearbhaítear le fo-alt (1) gur cion é a dhéanamh beidh sé ciontach i gcion é féin.
Cion maidir le fianaise ag fiosrúchán.
21.—Beidh duine ciontach i gcion más rud é, le hintinn duine eile (dá ngairtear an gearánach san alt seo) a aslú gan fianaise a thabhairt ag fiosrúchán faoin Acht seo, go ndéanfaidh sé, go mbagróidh sé go ndéanfaidh sé, go gcuirfidh sé faoi deara go ndéanfadh duine eile nó go mbagróidh sé go ndéanfadh duine eile, ní ar bith acu seo a leanas—
(a) scor de thrádáil leis an ngearánach nó de sheirbhísí a sholáthar dó,
(b) a thrádáil leis an ngearánach, nó a sholáthar seirbhísí dó, a shrianadh,
(c) leatrom a dhéanamh ar an ngearánach ina théarmaí trádála leis an ngearánach nó ina sholáthar seirbhísí dó.
Cionta maidir le comhlachtaí corpraithe agus comhlachtaí neamhchorpraithe.
22.—(1) Má dhéanann comhlacht corpraithe nó duine a airbheartóidh a bheith ag gníomhú thar ceann comhlachta chorpraithe nó comhlachta neamhchorpraithe daoine cion faoin Acht seo agus go gcruthófar go ndearnadh an cion sin le toiliú nó le cúlcheadú, nó go bhfuil sé inchurtha i leith mainneachtain ar thaobh, aon duine is stiúrthóir, bainisteoir, rúnaí, comhalta de choiste bainistí nó d'údarás rialaithe eile aon chomhlachta den sórt sin, nó is aon oifigeach eile dá shamhail do chomhlacht den sórt sin, beidh an duine sin freisin ciontach sa chion agus dlífear imeachtaí a thionsonamh ina choinne agus é a phionósú dá réir sin.
(2) (a) Féadfar comhlacht corpraithe a cur ar aghaidh chun é a thriail ar dhíotáil i leith cion faoin Acht seo faoi chúirtbhannaí nó dá n-éagmais.
(b) Ar é a dhíotchúiseamh os comhair na Príomh-Chúirte Coiriúla nó na Cúirte Cuarda, féadfaidh an comhlacht corpraithe pléadáil ciontach nó neamhchiontach a thaifeadadh i scríbhinn trína ionadaí agus mura láithreoidh sé trí ionadaí arna cheapadh aige chuige sin, nó, cé go láithreoidh sé amhlaidh, nach ndéanfaidh sé pléadáil ar bith a thaifeadadh, ordóidh an Chúirt pléadáil neamhchiontachta a thaifeadadh agus rachaidh an triail ar aghaidh ionann agus dá mbeadh an comhlacht corpraithe tar éis an phléadáil sin a thaifeadadh go cuí.
(c) Beidh ráiteas i scríbhinn a airbheartóidh a bheith sínithe ag rúnaí an chomhlachta chorpraithe á rá go ndearnadh an duine a bheidh luaite sa ráiteas a cheapadh mar ionadaí an chomhlachta chun críocha an fho-ailt seo inghlactha gan a thuilleadh cruthúnais mar fhianaise gur ceapadh an duine sin amhlaidh.
(3) Aon toghairm nó doiciméad eile is gá a sheirbheáil ar chomhlacht corpraithe chun críche nó i gcúrsa imeachtaí faoin alt seo féadfar é a sheirbheáil trína fhágáil ag oifig chláraithe an chomhlachta sin nó trína chur leis an bpost go dtí an oifig sin nó, mura bhfuil aon oifig den sórt sin sa Stát, trína fhágáil ag an gcomhlacht, nó trína chur leis an bpost go dtí an comhlacht, in aon áit sa Stát ina bhfuil gnó á sheoladh aige.
Pionóis.
23.—(1) Gach duine a dhéanfaidh cion faoin Acht seo nach bhforáiltear pionós speisialta ina leith—
(a) dlífear, ar a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil a chur air nach mó ná £200 (agus ina theannta sin, i gcás ciona leanúnaigh, fíneáil nach mó ná £10 in aghaidh gach lae a leanfar den chion) nó, de rogha na Cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná sé mhí nó an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile, nó
(b) dlífear, ar a chiontú ar dhíotáil, fíneáil a chur air nach mó ná £5,000 (agus ina theannta sin, i gcás ciona leanúnaigh, fíneáil nach mó ná £500 in aghaidh gach lae a leanfar den chion) nó, de rogha na Cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná dhá bhliain nó an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile.
(2) (a) I gcás duine a chiontú i gcion faoin Acht seo mar gheall ar é do mhainniú, d'fhaillí nó do dhiúltú déanamh de réir forála in ordú á cheangal air gníomh sonraithe a dhéanamh laistigh de thréimhse shonraithe nó roimh dháta sonraithe agus go bhfanfaidh an gníomh sin gan déanamh aige tar éis dáta an chiontaithe sin beidh an duine sin ciontach i gcion agus ar a chiontú ann go hachomair dlífear fíneáil a chur air nach mó ná £10 in aghaidh gach lae, tar éis dáta an chiontaithe chéadluaite sin, a fhanfaidh an gníomh gan déanamh aige nó, de rogha na Cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná sé mhí.
(b) Is cion leanúnach cion faoin bhfo-alt seo agus dá réir sin féadfar imeachtaí nua a thionscnamh ina leith ó am go ham.
Imeachtaí achomaire.
1851, c. 93.
24.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire imeachtaí achomhaire a thabhairt ar aghaidh i leith ciona faoin Acht seo.
(2) D'ainneoin alt 10 (4) den Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, féadfar imeachtaí achomaire i leith ciona faoin Acht seo a thionscnamh laistigh de dhá mhí dhéag ón lá is déanaí a rinneadh an cion.
Cosaint maidir le dualgas reachtúil a fheidhmiú.
25.—Ní bheidh feidhm ag an Acht seo maidir le haon ní a dhéanfar i bhfeidhmiú dualgais reachtúil.
Aisghairm agus forálacha iarmartacha.
26.—(1) Aisghairtear leis seo Acht 1953 agus Acht 1959.
(2) D'ainneoin fho-alt (1), gach ordú faoi alt 9 d'Acht 1953 a bheidh i bhfeidhm ar dháta an Achta seo a rith leanfaidh sé i bhfeidhm agus measfar, chun críocha an Achta seo, gur ordú é faoi alt 8 den Acht sin.
Caiteachais.
27.—Déanfar na caiteachais a thabhóidh an tAire nó an Coimisiún nó an Scrúdaitheoir ag riaradh an Achta seo a íoc, a mhéid a cheadóidh an tAire Airgeadais, as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas.
Gearrtheideal.
28.—Féadfar an tAcht um Chleachtais Srianta, 1972, a ghairm den Acht seo.
AN CHEAD SCEIDEAL
An Coimisiún Cleachtas Srianta
1. (1) Is iad buan-chomhaltaí a bheidh ar an gCoimisiún cathaoirleach agus beirt chomhalta eile ar a laghad agus ceathrar comhalta eile ar a mhéid, arb é an tAire a cheapfaidh iad go léir.
(2) Aon uair a fheicfear don Aire go bhfuil buan-chomhalta éagumasach go sealadach ar a dhualgais a chomhlíonadh, féadfaidh an tAire comhalta sealadach a cheapadh chun gníomhú ina ionad ar feadh an éagumais sin nó ar feadh cibé tréimhse is giorra ná sin is cuí leis an Aire.
(3) Féadfaidh an tAire comhaltaí sealadacha breise a cheapadh freisin.
2. (1) Socróidh an tAire téarma oifige buan-chomhalta nuair a bheidh sé á cheapadh agus ní bheidh an téarma sin níos faide ná cúig bliana.
(2) Féadfar buan-chomhalta a bheidh ag dul as oifig a athcheapadh.
(3) Beidh gach comhalta i seilbh oifige ar cibé coinníollacha a shocróidh an tAire tar éis dó dul i gcomhairle leis an Aire Airgeadais.
(4) Féadfar cibé luach saothair a chinnfidh an tAire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, a íoc le comhalta.
(5) Ní bheidh feidhm maidir le hoifig comhalta ag Acht Choimisinéirí na Stát-Sheirbhíse, 1956, ná ag Achtanna Rialaithe na Státseirbhíse, 1956 agus 1958.
3. Má bhíonn leas pearsanta ag comhalta in ábhar áirithe atá á phlé ag an gCoimisiún, cuirfidh sé é sin in iúl don Aire agus ní ghníomhóidh sé mar chomhalta le linn an t-ábhar sin a bheith á bhreithniú mura ndéanfaidh an tAire, ar bheith dhó ar an tuairim nach bhfuil leas an chomhalta ina leas de chineál a chuirfeadh isteach ar chomhlíonadh neamhchlaon a dhualgais, údarás a thabhairt dó gníomhú amhlaidh.
4. (1) Féadfaidh an tAire comhalta a chur as oifig má éiríonn sé éagumasach le dheasca easláinte ar a dhualgais mar chomhalta den sórt sin a chomhlíonadh go héifeachtach nó má fheictear don Aire gur gá é a chur as oifig ar mhaithe le comhlíonadh éifeachtach eacnamúil feidhmeanna an Choimisiúin.
(2) Má chuireann an tAire comhalta as oifig leagfaidh sé faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas ráiteas i scríbhinn ag lua na gcúiseanna a bhí aige lena chur as oifig.
(3) Féadfaidh comhalta éirí as a oifig.
(4) Má thagann comhalta den Choimisiún chun bheith ina chomhalta de cheachtar Teach den Oireachtas, ansin, ar é a theacht, faoi Bhuan-Orduithe an Tí sin, i dteideal suí sa Teach sin, scoirfidh sé de bheith ina chomhalta den Choimisiún.
(5) Aon duine a bheidh de thuras na huaire i dteideal, faoi Bhuan-Orduithe cheachtar Tí den Oireachtas, suí sa Teach sin, beidh sé dícháilithe chun bheith ina chomhalta den Choimisiún.
(6) Beidh comhalta dícháilithe chun bheith, agus scoirfidh sé de bheith, i seilbh oifige má bhreithnítear ina fhéimheach é nó má dhéanann sé imshocraíocht nó comhshocraíocht lena chreidiúnaithe nó má chuireann cúirt dlínse inniúla pianbhreith príosúnachta nó pianseirbhíse air nó má scoireann sé de bheith ina ghnáthchónaí sa Stát.
5. (1) Déanfaidh an tAire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, scéim neamhranníocach a cheapadh agus a chur i gcrích de réir a téarmaí a luaithe is féidir chun pinsin, aiscí nó liúntais eile a dheonú do chomhaltaí nó i leith comhaltaí an Choimisiúin a scoirfidh de bheith i seilbh oifige seachas comhaltaí a bhféadfar dámhachtain a dhéanamh ina leith faoi na hAchtanna Aoisliúntas, 1834 go 1963.
(2) I gcás comhalta den Choimisiún a ceapadh ina chomhalta den Choimisiún Cóir-Thrádála an 26ú lá de Shamhain, 1969, agus a bhí roimh an gceapadh sin ina chomhalta den Údarás Forbartha Tionscail, beidh foráil i scéim faoin mír seo chun go ndéanfar seirbhís ag an duine sin i gcáil inphinsin mar chomhalta den Údarás Forbartha Tionscail a áireamh mar sheirbhís mar chomhalta den Choimisiún.
(3) Féadfaidh foráil a bheith i scéim faoin mír seo nach ndéanfaidh foirceannadh ceapacháin chomhalta den Choimisiún le linn téarma oifige an chomhalta sin cosc a chur le pinsean, aisce nó liúntas eile a dhámhachtain dó.
(4) Féadfaidh an tAire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, scéim a bheidh déanta aige faoin mír seo a leasú.
6. (1) Beirt bhuan-chomhalta is córam ag cruinniú den Choimisiún mura n-ordóidh an tAire a mhalairt.
(2) Féadfaidh an Coimisiún gníomhú d'ainneoin folúntas ina gcomhaltas.
(3) Féadfaidh an Coimisiún a nós imeachta féin a rialú.
7. (1) Féadfaidh an Coimisiún chun críocha a bhfeidhmeanna nuair a bheidh fiosrúchán á dhéanamh acu faoi alt 5 nó alt 9 gach ceann nó aon cheann de na nithe seo a leanas a dhéanamh:—
(a) finnéithe a thoghairm chun láithriú os a gcomhair,
(b) na finnéithe a láithreoidh os a gcomhair a cheistiú faoi mhionn (agus údaraítear leis seo do chomhalta ar bith finnéithe a chur faoi mhionn),
(c) a cheangal ar aon fhinné den sórt sin aon doiciméad ar a chumas nó faoina urláimh a thabhairt ar aird don Choimisiún.
(2) Beidh teideal ag finné os comhair an Choimisiúin chun na ndíolúintí agus na bpribhléidí céanna chun a mbeadh teideal aige dá mba fhinné os comhair na hArd-Chúirte é.
(3) Ní foláir toghairm a bheith sínithe ag comhalta amháin ar a laghad.
(4) Duine ar bith—
(a) a thoghairfear go cuí mar fhinné os comhair an Choimisiúin agus a mhainneoidh teacht i láthair, nó
(b) a bheidh i láthair mar fhinné agus a dhiúltóidh mionn a thabhairt a cheanglóidh an Coimisiún air go dlíthiúil a thabhairt nó aon doiciméad ar a chumas nó faoina urláimh a thabhairt ar aird a cheanglóidh an Coimisiún air go dlíthiúil a thabhairt ar aird nó aon cheist a fhreagairt a cheanglóidh an Coimisiún air go dlíthiúil a fhreagairt, nó
(c) a dhéanfaidh aon ní eile a bheadh, dá mba chúirt ag a raibh cumhacht chimithe mar gheall ar dhíspeagadh cúirte an Coimisiún, ina dhíspeagadh ar an gcúirt sin,
beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
8. Féadfaidh duine ar bith aighneacht a chur faoi bhráid an Choimisiúin sa tslí a ordófar lena rialacha, maidir le hábhar fiosrúcháin.
9. (1) Ní nochtfaidh duine ar bith eolas a bhí ar fáil aige de bhua na gcumhachtaí chun eolas a fháil a thugtar leis an Acht seo nó trína bheith i láthair ag cruinniú den Choimisiún a comóradh go príobháideach.
(2) Níl feidhm ag fomhír (1)—
(i) maidir le cumarsáid ag comhalta den Choimisiún ag feidhmiú a dhualgas dó faoin Acht seo, ná
(ii) maidir le nochtadh eolais i dtuarascáil ón gCoimisiún nó chun críche imeachtaí dlí faoin Acht seo.
(3) Má sháraíonn duine ar bith an mhír seo beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus ar a chiontú go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná céad punt a chur air nó príosúnacht ar feadh tréimhse nach faide ná sé mhí nó, de rogha na cúirte, an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile.
10. (1) Féadfaidh an tAire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, cibé oifigigh agus seirbhísigh a cheapadh is dóigh leis is gá chun cuidiú leis an gCoimisiún ag comhlíonadh a bhfeidhmeanna.
(2) Beidh na hoifigigh agus na seirbhísigh a cheapfar amhlaidh i seilbh oifige ar cibé téarmaí agus gheobhaidh siad cibé luach saothair a chinnfidh an tAire Airgeadais.
AN DARA SCEIDEAL
Scrudaitheoir Cleachtas Srianta
1. (1) Socróidh an tAire téarma oifige an Scrúdaitheora nuair a bheidh sé á cheapadh agus ní rachaidh an téarma sin thar cúig bliana.
(2) Ar théarma oifige a chríochnú dó beidh an Scrúdaitheoir i dteideal a athcheaptha.
(3) Beidh an Scrúdaitheoir i seilbh oifige ar cibé coinníollacha a shocróidh an tAire tar éis dó dul i gcomhairle leis an Aire Airgeadais.
(4) Féadfar cibé luach saothair a íoc leis an Scrúdaitheoir a chinnfidh an tAire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais.
(5) Ní bheidh feidhm maidir le hoifig an Scrúdaitheora ag Acht Choimisinéirí na Stát-Sheirbhíse, 1956, ná ag Achtanna Rialaithe na Státseirbhíse, 1956 agus 1958.
2. (1) Aon uair a fheicfear don Aire go bhfuil an Scrúdaitheoir éagumasach go sealadach ar a dhualgais a chomhlíonadh, féadfaidh an tAire duine a cheapadh chun gníomhú in ionad an Scrúdaitheora ar feadh an éagumais sin nó ar feadh cibé tréimhse is giorra ná sin is cuí leis an Aire.
(2) Beidh ag duine a cheapfar faoi fhomhír (1) na cumhachtaí, na cearta agus na dualgais go léir a thugtar don Scrúdaitheoir leis an Acht seo agus measfar go bhfolaíonn gach tagairt don Scrúdaitheoir san Acht seo tagairt do dhuine den sórt sin.
3. Má bhíonn leas pearsanta ag an Scrúdaitheoir in ábhar áirithe lena mbeidh sé ag plé, cuirfidh sé é sin in iúl don Aire agus ní ghníomhóidh sé mar Scrúdaitheoir le linn an t-ábhar sin a bheith á bhreithniú mura ndéanfaidh an tAire, ar bheith dó ar an tuairim nach leas é de chineál a chuirfeadh isteach ar chomhlíonadh neamhchlaon a dhualgas ag an Scrúdaitheoir, údarás a thabhairt dó gníomhú amhlaidh.
4. (1) Féadfaidh an tAire an Scrúdaitheoir a chur as oifig má éiríonn sé éagumasach de dheasca easláinte ar a dhualgais a chomhlíonadh go héifeachtach nó má fheictear don Aire gur gá é a chur as oifig ar mhaithe le héifeachtúlacht.
(2) Má chuireann an tAire an Scrúdaitheoir as oifig leagfaidh sé faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas ráiteas i scríbhinn ag lua na gcúiseanna a bhí aige lena chur as oifig.
(3) Féadfaidh an Scrúdaitheoir éirí as a oifig.
(4) Má thagann an Scrúdaitheoir chun bheith ina chomhalta de cheachtar Teach den Oireachtas, ansin, ar é a theacht, faoi Bhuan-Orduithe an Tí sin, i dteideal suí sa Teach sin, scoirfidh sé de bheith i seilbh oifig an Scrúdaitheora.
(5) Aon duine a bheidh de thuras na huaire i dteideal, faoi Bhuan-Orduithe cheachtar Tí den Oireachtas, suí sa Teach sin, beidh sé dícháilithe chun bheith ina Scrúdaitheoir.
(6) Beidh an Scrúdaitheoir dícháilithe chun bheith, agus scoirfidh sé de bheith, i seilbh oifige má bhreithnítear ina fhéimheach é, nó má dhéanann sé imshocraíocht nó comhshocraíocht lena chreidiúnaithe, nó má chuireann cúirt dlínse inniúla pianbhreith príosúnachta nó pianseirbhíse air nó má scoireann sé de bheith ina ghnáthchónaí sa Stát.
5. (1) Déanfaidh an tAire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, scéim neamhranníocach a cheapadh agus a chur i gcrích de réir a téarmaí a luaithe is féidir le haghaidh pinsean, aisce nó liúntas eile a dheonú don Scrúdaitheoir nó ina leith ar é a scor de bheith i seilbh oifige
(2) Féadfaidh foráil a bheith i scéim faoin mír seo nach ndéanfaidh foirceannadh ceapacháin an Scrúdaitheora le linn a théarma oifige cosc a chur le pinsean, aisce nó liúntas eile a dhámhachtain dó.
(3) Féadfaidh an tAire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, scéim a bheidh déanta aige faoin mír seo a leasú.
6. (1) Féadfaidh an tAire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, cibé oifigigh agus seirbhísigh a cheapadh is dóigh leis is gá chun cuidiú leis an Scrúdaitheoir i bhfeidhmiú a fheidhmeanna.
(2) Beidh na hoifigigh agus na seirbhísigh a cheapfar amhlaidh i seilbh oifige ar cibé téarmaí agus gheobhaidh siad cibé luach saothair a chinnfidh an tAire Airgeadais.
7. A luaithe is féidir tar éis deireadh gach bliana tabharfaidh an Scrúdaitheoir don Aire tuarascáil ar a imeachtaí i gcaitheamh na bliana agus leagfaidh an tAire an tuarascáil faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas.
8. (1) Ní dhéanfadh duine ar bith eolas a nochtadh a bheidh ar fáil aige trína bheith i láthair ag imscrúdú a dhéanfaidh an Scrúdaitheoir faoi alt 14.
(2) Ní bhaineann fomhír 1 le cumarsáid ón Scrúdaitheoir nó ó oifigeach údaraithe i gcomhlíonadh a dhualgas dó faoin Acht seo ná le nochtadh eolais i dtuarascáil ag an Scrúdaitheoir ná chun críche imeachtaí dlíthiúla faoin Acht seo.
(3) Má sháraíonn duine ar bith an mhír seo beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus ar a chiontú go hachomair dlífear fíneáil a chur air nach mó ná céad punt nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná sé mhí nó, de rogha na Cúirte, an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile.
AN TRIU SCEIDEAL
Cleachtais Neamhchóra
Beartanna, rialacha, comhaontuithe nó gníomhartha ar bith, a bhfuil éifeacht á tabhairt dóibh (nó le tabhairt dóibh) ag duine ina aonar nó i gcuallaíocht nó i gcomhaontú (sainráite nó intuigthe) le daoine eile nó trí chumasc, iontaobhas, cairtéil, monaplacht nó meán nó sás eile d'aon sórt agus—
(a) a bhfuil d'éifeacht acu nó ar dóigh é a bheith d'éifeacht acu tórainn nó srian neamhréasúnach a chur le saoirse chóir iomaíochta,
(b) a chuireann srian neamhréasúnach le trádáil,
(c) a bhfuil d'eifeacht acu nó ar dóigh é a bheith d'éifeacht acu iomaitheoir a chur go míchóir ó iomaíocht,
(d) a ardaíonn go míchóir praghsanna earraí nó táillí i leith seirbhísí nó, chun éadairbhe an phobail, a chuireann go míchóir le tairbhe soláthróirí nó imdhálaithe earraí nó daoine a bhíonn ag soláthar seirbhísí,
(e) a fhaigheann nó is dóigh a gheobhaidh, go neamhchóir nó contrártha do leas an phobail, urlámhas go substainteach nó go hiomlán ar sholáthar nó imdháil earraí nó aon aicme earraí nó ar sholáthar seirbhísí ná aon aicme seirbhísí,
(f) a dhéanann, gan chúis chóir, toirmeasc nó srianadh ar sholáthar earraí nó seirbhísí d'aon duine nó aicme daoine nó fabhar a thabhairt maidir le soláthar earraí nó seirbhísí,
(g) a chuireann, nó is dóigh a chuirfidh, srian míchóir le feidhmiú saoirse roghan ag aon duine i dtaobh na n-earraí nó na seirbhísí a sholáthróidh sé nó i dtaobh an limistéir ina soláthróidh sé earraí nó seirbhísí,
(h) a fhorchuireann coinníollacha míchóra nó neamhréasúnacha maidir le soláthar nó imdháil earraí nó maidir le soláthar seirbhísí,
(i) a choinníonn nó is dóigh a choinneoidh, gan chúis mhaith, daoine ó ghabháil i gcéaduair le haon trádáil, tionscal nó gnó,
(j) a dhéanann nó is dóigh a dhéanfaidh, go míchóir, margaí a roinnt de réir críocha idir daoine áirithe nó aicmí áirithe daoine agus daoine eile a eisiamh, nó
(k) atá in aon slí eile in aghaidh leasa an phobail nó ar neamhréir le prionsabail an cheartais shóisialaigh.