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Uimhir 1 de 1977
AN tACHT RIALTAIS ÁITIÚIL (TRUAILLIÚ UISCE), 1977
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
Léiriú.
1.—(1) San Acht seo—
folaíonn “talmhaíocht” beostoc (lena n-áirítear muca, éanlaith chlóis agus aon chréatúr a choimeádtar chun bia, olann, seithí nó fionnadh a tháirgeadh) a phórú, a choinneáil agus a dhíol, agus sadhlas a dhéanamh agus a stóráil:
ciallaíonn “uiscíoch” aon stratam nó comhstratam a stórálann nó a thugann dóthain uisce chun fónamh mar fhoinse do sholáthar uisce;
ciallaíonn “bord coimeádaithe” bord coimeádaithe faoi na hAchtanna Iascaigh, 1959 go 1976, agus folaíonn sé Coimisiún Iascaigh an Fheabhail;
tá le “iasc” an bhrí chéanna atá leis sna hAchtanna Iascaigh, 1959 go 1976;
folaíonn “ceadúnas”, i ndáil le ceadúnais faoi alt 4 nó 16, mar a gceadaíonn an comhthéacs é, ceadúnas den sórt sin arna athchóiriú faoi alt 7 nó 17:
ciallaíonn “údarás áitiúil” (ach amháin in alt 25 (5) (b))—
(a) i gcás contae riaracháin Bhaile Átha Cliath, gan buirg Dhún Laoghaire a áireamh, comhairle chontae Bhaile Átha Cliath.
(b) i gcás buirg Dhún Laoghaire, bardas na buirge,
(c) i gcás contae-bhuirge, bardas na contae-bhuirge, agus
(d) i gcás aon chontae riaracháin eile, comhairle an chontae.
agus, mar a gceadaíonn an comhthéacs é, folaíonn sé údarás rialaithe cáilíochta uisce arna bhunú faoi alt 25, agus déanfar tagairtí do limistéar feidhmiúcháin údaráis áitiúil a fhorléiriú dá réir sin;
ciallaíonn “muirdhéanmhas” ardán nó déanmhas eile de dhéantús an duine i bhfarraige;
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Rialtais Áitiúil;
folaíonn “faireachán” iniúchadh, tomhas, samplóireacht nó anailísiú, a dhéantar go tréimhsiúil nó go leanúnach;
folaíonn “ábhar truailliúcháin” aon ábhar nimhiúil nó urchóideach agus aon substaint (lena n-áirítear aon phléascach, leacht nó gás) a d'fhéadfadh, ar í do dhul amach nó ar í a scardadh in aon uiscí, na huiscí sin nó aon uiscí eile a dhéanamh nimhiúil nó dochrach d'iasc, do leapacha sceite nó do bhia aon éisc, nó dochar a dhéanamh d'iasc ó thaobh a luachmhaireachta mar bhia don duine, nó laghdú a dhéanamh ar thairbhe grinneall agus ithir aon uiscí mar leapacha sceite nó ar a gcumas bia éisc a tháirgeadh nó a d'fhéadfadh na huiscí sin a dhéanamh díobhálach do shláinte an phobail nó d'úsáidí tís, tráchtála, tionscail, talmhaíochta nó áineasa;
folaíonn “áitreabh” talamh, bíodh nó ná bíodh déanmhais ar an talamh;
ciallaíonn “feidhm fhorchoimeádta”, i gcás comhairle contae nó Bardais Dhún Laoghaire, feidhm fhorchoimeádta chun críocha na nAchtanna um Bainistí Chontae, 1940 go 1972, nó, i gcás bardais chontae-bhuirge, feidhm fhorchoimeádta chun críocha na nAchtanna a bhaineann le bainistí na contae-bhuirge;
ciallaíonn “údarás sláintíochta” údarás sláintíochta chun críocha na nAchtanna Rialtais Áitiúil (Seirbhísí Sláintíochta), 1878 go 1964;
folaíonn “séaracht” séaracht tís, agus séaracht tís agus uisce báistí le chéile;
ciallaíonn “eisilteach séarachta” aon eisilteach ó aon oibreacha,
gaireas, gléasra nó píopa siltin a úsáidtear chun séaracht, cóireáilte nó neamhchóireáilte, a ligean amach in uiscí;
tá le “séarach” an bhrí chéanna atá leis sna hAchtanna Rialtais Áitiúil (Seirbhísí Sláintíochta), 1878 go 1964, agus folaíonn sé oibreacha cóireála nó diúscartha séarachta de chuid údaráis sláintíochta;
folaíonn “uiscí taoide” an fharraige agus aon inbhear aníos go dtí marc barrláin meántaoide agus aon duga iata i dtadhall le huiscí taoide:
folaíonn “trádáil” talmhaíocht, dobharshaothrú, gairneoireacht agus aon taighde nó turgnamh eolaíoch;
ciallaíonn “eisilteach trádála” eisilteach ó aon oibreacha, gaireas, gléasra nó píopa siltin a úsáidtear chun aon leacht (cóireáilte nó neamhchóireáilte) a dhiúscairt amach in uiscí nó i séarach, bíodh nó ná bíodh ábhar cáithníneach ar fuaidreamh ann, a scairdtear as áitreabh a úsáidtear ag seoladh aon trádála nó tionscail (lena n-áirítear mianadóireacht), ach ní fholaíonn sé séaracht tís ná uisce báistí;
ciallaíonn “soitheach” árthach snámha d'aon chineál, cibé acu uathghluaisteach di nó nach ea, agus folaíonn sé árthach aerchúisíneach;
folaíonn “uiscí”—
(a) aon abhainn, sruthán, loch, canáil, taiscumar, uiscíoch, linn, sruthchúrsa nó uiscí intíre eile, nádúrtha nó saorga (nó aon chuid den chéanna),
(b) aon uiscí taoide, agus
(c) mar a gceadaíonn an comhthéacs é, aon trá, bruach abhann agus riasc goirt nó aon limistéar eile atá tadhlach le haon ní dá luaitear i mír (a) nó (b), agus cainéal nó leaba aon ní dá luaitear i mír (a) atá tirim de thuras na huaire,
ach ní fholaíonn sé séarach.
(2) Aon tagairt san Acht seo d'alt is tagairt í d'alt den Acht seo mura gcuirtear in iúl gur tagairt d'achtachán éigin eile atá beartaithe.
(3) Aon tagairt san Acht seo d'fho-alt nó do mhír is tagairt í don fho-alt nó don mhír den fhoráil ina bhfuil an tagairt, mura gcuirtear in iúl gur tagairt d'fhoráil éigin eile atá beartaithe.
An Chomhairle um Thruailliú Uisce.
2.—(1) Déanfaidh an tAire, le hordú, tar éis dó comhairle a ghlacadh le haon Aire eile ar dealraitheach dó leas a bheith aige san ábhar, comhlacht a cheapadh dá ngairfear an Chomhairle um Thruailliú Uisce, agus an Chomhairle a ghairtear di san alt seo.
(2) Féadfaidh an Chomhairle, dá toil féin nó ar iarratas ón Aire, moltaí a dhéanamh chun an Aire i ndáil le haon ábhar a bhaineann lena fheidhmeanna nó a fhreagrachtaí i leith truailliú uisce a shrianadh agus tabharfaidh sí comhairle dó faoi aon ábhar a chuirfidh an tAire faoina bráid ag comhlíonadh a fheidhmeanna agus a fhrcagrachtaí dó faoin Acht seo.
(3) Déanfaidh an tAire cibé bearta is iomchuí leis chun faisnéis a choimeád leis an gComhairle i dtaobh ábhair i ndáil le truailliú uisce a shrianadh arb é a thuairim gur dóigh dóibh bheith ina gcabhair don Chomhairle ag comhlíonadh na bhfeidhmeanna a shanntar di le fo-alt (2) den alt seo.
(4) Beidh ar an gComhairle cibé líon daoine a cheapfar go ceann cibé tréimhse is oiriúnach leis an Aire.
(5) Ainmneoidh an tAire ó am go ham comhalta den Chomhairle chun gníomhú mar chathaoirleach ar an gComhairle.
(6) Féadfaidh an tAire tráth ar bith aon chomhalta den Chomhairle (lena n-áirítear an cathaoirleach) a chur as oifig.
(7) Íocfar le haon chomhalta den Chomhairle cibe caiteachais a chinnfidh an tAire le toiliú Aire na Seirbhíse Poiblí.
(8) Tabharfaidh an Chomhairle tuarascáil gach bliain don Aire ar a gníomhaíochtaí i gcaitheamh na bliana roimhe sin, agus cuirfidh an tAire faoi deara cóipeanna den tuarascáil a leagan faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas.
(9) Féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, ordú faoin alt seo a leasú nó a chúlghairm.
Toirmeasc ginearálta ar ábhar truailliúcháin do dhul amach in uiscí.
3.—(1) Faoi réir fho-alt (5), ní chuirfidh duine faoi deara ná ní cheadóidh sé ábhar truailliúcháin do dhul amach in uiscí.
(2) Duine a sháróidh fo-alt (1), beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus dlífear—
(a) ar é a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £250 (agus ina theannta sin, i gcás sárú leanúnach, fíneáil nach mó ná £100 in aghaidh gach lae a leanfar den sárú) nó príosúnacht ar feadh aon téarma nach faide ná sé mhí nó, de rogha na cúirte, an fhíneáil nó na fíneálacha sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile, a chur air, nó
(b) ar é a chiontú ar díotáil, fíneáil nach mó ná £5,000 (agus ina theannta sin, i gcás sárú leanúnach, fíneáil nach mó ná £500 in aghaidh gach lae a leanfar den sárú) nó príosúnacht ar feadh aon téarma nach faide ná dhá bhliain nó, de rogha na cúirte, an fhíneáil nó na fíneálacha sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile, a chur air.
(3) Is cosaint mhaith é ar ionchúiseamh faoin alt seo a chruthú chun sástacht na cúirte gur ghlac an duine cúisithe gach cúram réasúnach chun an dul amach atá toirmiscthe faoi fho-alt (1) a chosc.
(4) Féadfaidh údarás áitiúil, bord coimeádaithe, an tAire Iascaigh nó aon duine eile ionchúiseamh i gcion faoin alt seo a thionscnamh.
(5) Ní bhaineann fo-alt (1)—
(a) le scardadh eisiltigh thrádála nó eisiltigh shéarachta (seachas scardadh is ábhar do rialacháin faoi alt 4 (10), mura rud é, i gcás caighdeán iomchuí a bheith forordaithe faoi alt 26, go bhfuil an scardadh de réir an chaighdeáin sin);
(b) le haon ábhar do dhul amach in uiscí taoide as soithí nó as gaireas chun aon ábhar a aistriú isteach i soithí nó amach as soithí nó as muirdhéanmhais;
(c) le haon ábhar a chur mar a údaraítear faoi alt 3 nó 13 den Acht Imeall Trágha, 1933, nó alt 48 den Acht Cuanta, 1946;
(d) le haon ábhar nó ní a údaraítear faoi alt 88 den Acht Cuanta, 1946, a chur amach in uiscí;
(e) le haon oibreacha a údaraítear le hordú faoi alt 134 den Acht Cuanta, 1946;
(f) le haon dul isteach a údaraítear faoi na hAchtanna Iascaigh, 1959 go 1976.
(6) Chun an díolúine a thugtar le gach achtachán a luaitear sa Tábla a ghabhann leis an alt seo a bhuanú d'ainneoin na haisghairme a dhéantar le halt 34 (c), déanfar tagairt in aon achtachán díobh sin do na Fisheries (Ireland) Acts, 1842 to 1909, do na hAchtanna Iascaigh, 1842 go 1935, nó do na hAchtanna Iascaigh, 1842 go 1944, a fhorléiriú mar thagairt a fholaíonn tagairt d'fho-alt (1).
AN TABLA |
Alt 16 d'acht Leictreachais na Sionainne, 1925. Alt 16 d'Acht Taisc-Iomar na Life, 1936. Alt 10 den Acht Siltin Airtéirigh, 1945. Alt 11 den Acht Leictreachais (Soláthar) (Leasú), 1945. |
Eisilteach trádála agus eisilteach séarachta a cheadúnú.
4.—(1) (a) Faoi réir fho-alt (2), ní dhéanfaidh duine, tar éis cibé dáta a shocrófar chun críche an fho-ailt seo le hordú ón Aire, aon eisilteach trádála ná aon eisilteach séarachta a scardadh amach in aon uiscí ná ní chuirfidh sé faoi deara ná ní cheadóidh sé é sin a dhéanamh ach amháin faoi réim agus de réir ceadúnas faoin alt seo.
(b) Féadfar ceadúnas faoin alt seo a dheonú—
(i) i gcás scardadh amach in uiscí i limistéar feidhmiúcháin údaráis áitiúil, ag an údarás áitiúil sin, agus
(ii) in aon chás eile, ag údarás áitiúil ar ina limistéar feidhmiúcháin atá aon áitreabh, oibreacha, gaireas, gléasra nó píopa siltin as a scairdtear an t-eisilteach.
(2) Ní bhaineann fo-alt (1) le scardadh—
(a) amach in uiscí taoide as soithí nó muirdhéanmhais,
(b) as séarach, nó
(c) is ábhar do rialacháin faoi fho-alt (10).
(3) (a) Féadfaidh údarás áitiúil dá rogha féin diúltú ceadúnas faoin alt seo a dheonú nó féadfaidh sé ceadúnas den sórt sin a dheonú faoi réir cibé coinníollacha is cuí leis agus a shonróidh sé sa cheadúnas.
(b) Le linn d'údarás áitiúil bheith á bhreithniú an ndeonóidh nó nach ndeonóidh sé ceadúnas faoin alt seo beidh aird aige ar na haidhmeanna in aon phlean iomhcuí faoi alt 15.
(4) Ní dheonóidh údarás áitiúil ceadúnas faoin alt seo i ndáil le scardadh eisiltigh nach mbeadh ar comhréir, nó a mbeadh de thoradh air go mbeadh na huiscí a scairdfí an t-eisilteach amach iontu ar neamhréir, le haon chaighdeán iomchuí a bheidh forordaithe faoi alt 26.
(5) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht fho-alt (3), féadfaidh coinníollacha a bheidh ag gabháil le ceadúnas faoin alt seo—
(a) baint—
(i) le nádúr, comhdhéanamh, teocht, toilleadh, ráta, modh cóireála agus láthair scardaidh, leis na tréimhsí a fhéadfar nó nach bhféadfar scardadh a dhéanamh, le héifeacht scardaidh ar uiscí glactha agus le dearadh agus déanamh asraonta scardaidh;
(ii) le méadair, tomhasairí, gaireas eile, dúnphoill agus liosanna iniúchóireachta a sholáthar agus a chothabháil;
(iii) le samplaí a thógáil agus a anailísiú, taifid a choimeád agus faisnéis a thabhairt don údarás áitiúil;
(iv) le scardadh a chosc i gcás gléasra loiceadh;
(b) a cheangal an costas a thabhaigh an t-údarás áitiúil i ndáil le faireachán scardaidh a íoc nó ranníoc a dhéanamh ina leith,
(c) dáta a shonrú arb é an dáta is déanaí é chun aon choinníollacha a chomhlíonadh, agus
(d) a cheangal go n-íocfar leis an údarás áitiúil a dheonaigh an ceadúnas táille nó táillí a bheidh forordaithe, nó a ríomhfar de réir an mhodha a bheidh forordaithe, faoi alt 6 (2) (e).
(6) Beidh aon choinníollacha a ghabhann le ceadúnas faoin alt seo ina gceangal ar aon duine a dhéanfaidh, nó a chuirfidh faoi deara nó a cheadóidh, eisilteach lena mbaineann an ceadúnas a scardadh.
(7) I gcás, tar éis trí bliana ón dáta a deonaíodh ceadúnas faoin alt seo, nach mbeidh aon scardadh den chineál a údaraítear leis an gceadúnas déanta, nó i gcás gan aon scardadh den sórt sin a dhéanamh in imeacht tréimhse trí bliana, scoirfidh an ceadúnas d'éifeacht a bheith leis.
(8) Duine a sháróidh fo-alt (1) beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus dlífear—
(a) ar é a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £250 (agus ina theannta sin, i gcás ciona leanúnaigh, fíneáil nach mó ná £100 in aghaidh gach lae a leanfar den sárú) nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná sé mhí nó, de rogha na cúirte, an fhíneáil nó na fíneálacha sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile, a chur air, nó
(b) ar é a chiontú ar díotáil, fíneáil 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 sárú) nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná dhá bhliain nó, de rogha na cúirte, an fhíneáil nó na fíneálacha sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile, a chur air.
(9) Féadfaidh údarás áitiúil, bord coimeádaithe, an tAire Iascaigh nó aon duine eile ionchúiseamh i gcion faoin alt seo a thionscnamh.
(10) Féadfaidh an tAire le rialacháin, tar éis dó comhairle a ghlacadh leis an Aire Iascaigh agus leis an gComhairle um Thruailliú Uisce, cibé eisilteach nó cineálacha eisiltigh a shonróidh sé sna rialacháin, lena n-áirítear eisilteach nó cineálacha eisiltigh a scairdtear amach in uiscí sonraithe nó i gcineálacha sonraithe uiscí nó amach in uiscí i limistéir shonraithe nó amach in uiscí a shonrófar faoi threoir a n-úsáide, a dhíolmhú ó fho-alt (1).
(11) Is cosaint mhaith é ar ionchúiseamh i gcion faoi aon achtachán seachas an tAcht seo an gníomh arb é an cion líomhnaithe é a bheith údaraithe le ceadúnas faoin alt seo.
(12) Ní bheidh duine i dteideal, go heisiatach de bhíthin ceadúnas faoin alt seo, go ndéanfaidh sé, ná go gcuirfidh sé faoi deara nó go gceadóidh sé, eisilteach trádála ná eisilteach séarachta a scardadh amach in uiscí.
Forálacha de dhroim alt 4.
5.—(1) Measfar nach mbeidh alt 4 (1) sáraithe ag duine i ndáil le scardadh láithreach eisiltigh thrádála nó eisiltigh shéarachta a bheidh déanta sula ndearnadh nó sular diúltaíodh ceadúnas a dheonú dó faoi alt 4 más rud é, roimh an dáta iomchuí, go mbeidh ceadúnas den sórt sin iarrtha aige agus ceanglais aon rialacháin faoi alt 6 maidir le faisnéis a thabhairt d'údarás áitiúil comhlíonta aige.
(2) In ionchúiseamh i gcion faoi alt 4, toimhdeofar, nó go suífidh an duine cúisithe a mhalairt, nach scardadh láithreach eisiltigh thrádála nó eisiltigh shéarachta arna dhéanamh sna dálaí a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (1) an scardadh áirithe.
(3) I gcás a mbaineann rialacháin faoi alt 26 le scardadh láithreach eisiltigh thrádála nó eisiltigh shéarachta atá á dhéanamh sna dálaí a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (1) nó le huiscí a bhfuil an scardadh sin á dhéanamh amach iontu amhlaidh, déanfaidh nó diúltóidh an t-údarás áitiúil áirithe (de réir mar is gá sa chás) ceadúnas faoi alt 4 a dheonú a luaithe is féidir tar éis na rialacháin a dhéanamh, i ndáil leis an scardadh.
(4) San alt seo—
ciallaíonn “scardadh láithreach” scardadh arb ionann dó maidir lena nádúr, lena chomhdhéanamh, lena theocht, lena thoilleadh agus le ráta a dhéanta agus do scardadh a rinneadh i rith aon tréimhse comhréire sa tréimhse dhá mhí dhéag dar críoch an dáta iomchuí;
ciallaíonn “an dáta iomchuí” an dáta a bheidh socraithe le hordú faoi alt 4 (1).
Rialacháin chun críche ailt 4 agus 8.
6.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh chun críche ailt 4 agus 8.
(2) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht fho-alt (1), féadfaidh rialacháin faoin alt seo foráil a dhéanamh do gach ní nó d'aon ní díobh seo a leanas:
(a) foirm ceadúnais;
(b) é a bheith de cheangal ar iarratasóirí faisnéis shonraithe a thabhairt nó fógraí a fhoilsiú;
(c) é a bheith de cheangal fianaise a thabhairt ar aird a fhíoróidh aon fhaisnéis a thug iarratasóir;
(d) é a bheith de cheangal ar údaráis áitiúla aon fhaisnéis shonraithe a thabhairt don Aire agus d'aon daoine sonraithe eile i ndáil le haon iarratais agus leis an modh ar déiléaladh leo, nó aon fhógraí sonraithe a fhoilsiú i ndáil le hiarratais ar cheadúnais agus i ndáil le ceadúnais a dheonú nó lena dhiúltú iad a dheonú;
(e) táillí, nó modh ríofa táillí, a fhorordú chun eisilteach nó cineálacha áirithe eisiltigh a scardadh;
(f) é a bheith de cheangal ar iarratasóir costas aon imscrúdaithe a rinne údarás áitiúil i ndáil le hiarratas a íoc nó ranníoc ina leith.
(3) (a) Duine a dhéanfaidh, i ndáil le hiarratas ar cheadúnas faoi alt 4 nó le hachomharc faoi alt 8, le linn dó faisnéis a thabhairt faoin alt seo nó aon fhaisnéis den sórt sin a fhíorú, ráiteas i scríbhinn a bheidh bréagach nó is feasach dó a bheith míthreorach i bponc ábhartha, beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus ar é a chiontú go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná £100 a chur air.
(b) I gcás a gciontófar duine i gcion faoin bhfo-alt seo, beidh aon cheadúnas a eisíodh chuig an duine sin de dhroim an iarratais nó an achomhairc ar i ndáil leis a tugadh an fhaisnéis arna chúlghairm ó dháta an chiontaithe.
(4) Táille a bheidh le híoc faoi alt 4 (5) (d) nó íocaíocht nó ranníocaíocht faoi fho-alt (2) (f) nó faoi alt 4 (5) (b), beidh sé iníoctha ar éileamh agus, mura n-íocfar amhlaidh é, féadfar é a ghnóthú mar fhiach conartha shimplí i gcúirt dlínse inniúla.
(5) Féadfaidh an tAire nó údarás áitiúil ionchúiseamh i gcion faoin alt seo a thionscnamh.
Ceadúnas faoi alt 4 a athbhreithniú.
7.—(1) Féadfaidh údarás áitiúil ceadúnas faoi alt 4 a athbhreithniú i gceann tréimhsí nach giorra ná trí bliana ó dháta an cheadúnais nó ón tráth deiridh a athbhreithníodh an ceadúnas, nó tráth ar bith le toiliú an duine a bheidh ag déanamh, ag cur faoi deara nó ag ceadú an scardaidh.
(2) A luaithe is féidir tar éis d'údarás áitiúil athbhreithniú faoin alt seo a chríochnú, féadfaidh sé aon choinníoll a bheidh ag gabháil leis an gceadúnas a leasú nó a scriosadh nó coinníollacha nua a chur ag gabháil leis an gceadúnas, agus i gcás ar iomchuí é deonóidh sé ceadúnas athchóirithe faoi alt 4 in ionad an cheadúnais a athbhreithníodh.
(3) D'ainneoin aon fhorála eile den Acht seo nó aon fhorála i gceadúnas faoi alt 4—
(a) féadfaidh an t-údarás áitiúil a dheonaigh aon cheadúnas den sórt sin an ceadúnas sin a athbhreithniú tráth ar bith i gcás cúis réasúnach a bheith ag an údarás a chreidiúint gur mórbhaol do shláinte an phobail an scardadh a údaraítear leis an gceadúnas nó i gcás athrú ábhartha a bheith tagtha ar dhálaí sna huiscí glactha nárbh fhéidir le réasún a shamhlú nuair a deonaíodh an ceadúnas,
(b) i gcás a mbaineann rialacháin faoi alt 26 le heisilteach a údaraítear a scardadh le ceadúnas den sórt sin nó le huiscí ina ndéantar an t-eisilteach sin a scardadh, déanfaidh an t-údarás áitiúil a dheonaigh an ceadúnas é a athbhreithniú a luaithe is féidir tar éis na rialacháin a dhéanamh,
agus bainfidh fo-alt (2) le hathbhreithniú faoin bhfo-alt seo.
(4) (a) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh chun críche an ailt seo.
(b) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht mhír (a), féadfaidh rialacháin faoin bhfo-alt seo foráil a dhéanamh i ndáil le gach ní nó aon ní díobh seo a leanas:
(i) údarás áitiúil do thabhairt fógra do dhuine a bhfuil scardadh á dhéanamh aige nó a chuireann faoi deara nó a cheadaíonn scardadh a dhéanamh á chur i bhfios dó go mbeartaítear ceadúnas a athbhreithniú,
(ii) é a bheith de cheangal go ndéarfar i bhfógra den sórt sin go bhféadfar uiríolla i ndáil leis an athbhreithniú a dhéanamh laistigh de thréimhse shonraithe, agus
(iii) é a bheith de cheangal ar údaráis áitiúla aon fhógraí sonraithe a fhoilsiú i ndáil le haon choinníoll a ghabhann le ceadúnas a leasú nó a scriosadh nó le haon choinníollacha nua a chur ag gabháil le ceadúnas.
Achomhairc i ndáil le hailt 4 agus 7.
8.—(1) Féadfaidh aon duine achomharc a dhéanamh chun an Aire roimh dheireadh na tréimhse forordaithe i ndáil le ceadúnas faoi alt 4 a dheonú nó diúltú é a dheonú, leis na coinníollacha a ghabhann le ceadúnas den sórt sin nó le leasú nó scriosadh coinníollacha a ghabhann le ceadúnas, nó i ndáil le coinníollacha nua a chur ag gabháil le ceadúnas, ar athbhreithniú a dhéanamh faoi alt 7.
(2) Tar éis don Aire achomharc faoin alt seo a bhreithniú, diúltóidh sé don achomharc nó (de réir mar is cuí leis) tabharfaidh sé orduithe iomchuí don údarás áitiúil áirithe i ndáil le ceadúnas a dheonú nó a chúlghairm nó i ndáil le coinníollacha a chur ag gabháil le ceadúnas nó coinníollacha a leasú nó a scriosadh, agus, i gcás a dtabharfar orduithe den sórt sin, comhlíonfaidh an t-údarás na horduithe sin a luaithe is féidir tar éis iad a fháil.
Cláir de cheadúnais faoi ailt 4 agus 16 agus de astógálacha uisce.
9.—(1) Cuirfidh gach údarás áitiúil faoi deara go mbunófar agus go gcoimeádfar clár de na ceadúnais go léir faoi alt 4 a dheonaigh sé.
(2) Cuirfidh gach údarás áitiúil faoi deara go mbunófar agus go gcoimeádfar clár de astógálacha as uiscí ina limistéar feidhmiúcháin.
(3) Cuirfidh gach údarás sláintíochta faoi deara go mbunófar agus go gcoimeádfar clár de na ceadúnais go léir faoi alt 16 a dheonaigh sé.
(4) Coimeádfar clár faoin alt seo in oifigí an údaráis áitiúil nó an údaráis sláintíochta agus beidh sé ar fáil gach tráth réasúnach lena iniúchadh ag aon duine.
(5) Beidh aon duine i dteideal cóip d'aon taifead i gclár faoin alt seo a fháil ó údarás áitiúil nó ó údarás sláintíochta ar an táille fhorordaithe a íoc.
(6) Gach doiciméad a airbheartaíonn gur cóip é de thaifead i gclár faoin alt seo agus a airbheartaíonn a bheith deimhnithe mar chóip dhílis den taifead ag oifigeach d'údarás áitiúil nó d'údarás sláintíochta, glacfar leis, gan cruthúnas ar shíniú an duine a d'airbheartaigh a dheimhnigh amhlaidh nó gurbh é an t-oifigeach sin é, mar fhianaise in aon imeachtaí dlíthiúla agus measfar, nó go gcruthófar a mhalairt, gur cóip dhílis é den taifead agus gur fianaise é ar théarmaí an taifid.
(7) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh chun críche an ailt seo.
(8) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht fho-alt (7), féadfaidh rialacháin faoin alt seo a fhoráil go mbeidh cineálacha sonraithe astógálacha díolmhaithe ó fho-alt (2).
Forálacha a bhaineann le sáruithe áirithe faoin Acht.
10.—(1) I gcás ar dealraitheach d'údarás áitiúil, don Aire Iascaigh nó do bhord coimeádaithe go bhfuil sárú déanta nó á dhéanamh ar alt 3 (1) nó 4 (1), féadfaidh an t-údarás, an tAire Iascaigh nó an bord ordú a iarraidh ar an gCúirt Dúiche á ordú do cibé duine a bheidh ainmnithe san ordú aon iardaí ón sárú a mhaolú nó a leigheas laistigh de cibé tréimhse agus i cibé slí a bheidh sonraithe san ordú.
(2) Duine nach gcomhlíonfaidh ordú faoi fho-alt (1) beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus dlífear, ar é a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £250 (agus ina theannta sin, i gcás ciona leanúnaigh, fíneáil nach mó ná £100 in aghaidh gach lae a leanfar den sárú) nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná sé mhí nó, de rogha na cúirte, an fhíneáil nó na fíneálacha sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile, a chur air.
(3) Ní dhéanfar ordú faoi fho-alt (1) gan caoi a thabhairt don duine atá le hainmniú san ordú éisteacht a fháil sa Chúirt Dúiche, agus féadfaidh cibé téarmaí agus coinníollacha i dtaobh íoc costas is iomchuí leis an gcúirt a bheith san ordú.
(4) I gcás nach gcomhlíonfaidh duine ordú faoi fho-alt (1) laistigh den tréimhse a bheidh sonraithe san ordú, féadfaidh údarás áitiúil aon bheart a dhéanamh is dóigh leis is gá chun iardaí ón sárú a mhaolú nó a leigheas agus costas an bhirt sin a ghnóthú mar fhiach conartha shimplí i gcúirt dlínse inniúla ón duine a bheidh ainmnithe san ordú.
(5) Féadfaidh údarás áitiúil fógra i scríbhinn a sheirbheáil ar aon duine a dhéanfaidh, a chuirfidh faoi deara nó a cheadóidh scardadh nó dul amach a sháróidh alt 3 (1) nó 4 (1), á cheangal deireadh a chur leis an sárú laistigh de cibé tréimhse a shonrófar san fhógra agus á cheangal aon iardaí ón sárú a mhaolú nó a leigheas laistigh de cibé tréimhse agus i cibé slí a bheidh sonraithe amhlaidh.
(6) I gcás nach gcomhlíonfaidh duine fógra faoi fho-alt (5) laistigh den tréimhse a bheidh sonraithe san fhógra, féadfaidh an t-údarás áitiúil a sheirbheáil an fógra aon bheart a dhéanamh a mheasann sé is gá chun an dul amach nó an scardadh a chosc nó chun aon iardaí ón sárú a mhaolú nó a leigheas agus féadfaidh sé costas an bhirt sin a ghnóthú ón duine ar ar seirbheáladh an fógra mar fhiach conartha shimplí i gcúirt dlínse inniúla ar a dheimhniú don chúirt go bhfuil an duine sin freagrach sa sárú.
(7) Féadfar iarratas a dhéanamh faoi fho-alt (1) agus fógra a sheirbheáil faoi fho-alt (5) cibé acu a tionscnaíodh nó nár tionscnaíodh ionchúiseamh faoi alt 3 nó faoi alt 4.
(8) Féadfar iarratas faoi fho-alt (1) a dhéanamh chun breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche ina shuí dó sa Cheantar Cúirte Dúiche ina ndearnadh an sárú.
(9) Féadfaidh údarás áitiúil, bord coimeádaithe nó an tAire Iascaigh ionchúiseamh i gcion faoin alt seo a thionscnamh.
Cumhacht na hArd-Chúirte sárú leanúnach ar alt 3(1) nó 4(1) a thoirmeasc.
11.—(1) I gcás sárú a bheith déanta nó á dhéanamh ar alt 3 (1) nó 4 (1), féadfaidh an Ard-Chúirt, ar iarratas ó údarás áitiúil nó ó aon duine eile, cibé acu atá nó nach bhfuil leas ag an duine sin sna huiscí, a thoirmeasc le hordú go leanfaí den sárú.
(2) Is trí fhoriarratas a dhéanfar iarratas ar ordú faoin alt seo, agus féadfaidh an Ard-Chúirt, nuair a bheidh sí ag breithniú an ábhair, cibé ordú eatramhach nó idirbhreitheach is cuí léi a déanamh.
(3) Féadfaidh cibé téarmaí agus coinníollacha maidir le costais a íoc is cuí leis an Ard-Chúirt a bheith san ordú trína gcinnfear iarratas faoin alt seo.
Cumhacht údaráis áitiúil a chur faoi deara bearta a dhéanamh chun truailliú uisce a chosc.
12.—(1) I gcás ar dealraitheach d'údarás áitiúil gur gá beart a dhéanamh chun truailliú uiscí a chosc nó a shrianadh, féadfaidh sé fógra i scríbhinn a sheirbheáil faoin alt seo ar aon duine a bhfuil ábhar truailliúcháin ina choimeád nó faoina rialú in áitreabh i limistéar feidhmiúcháin an údaráis sin.
(2) Maidir le fógra faoin alt seo—
(a) sonróidh sé na bearta a mheasann an t-údarás áitiúil a sheirbheálfaidh an fógra is gá chun an t-ábhar sin a chosc ar dhul amach in uiscí.
(b) ordóidh sé don duine ar a seirbheálfar an fógra cibé bearta a dhéanamh a bheidh sonraithe san fhógra, agus
(c) sonróidh sé tréimhse ina mbeidh na bearta sin le déanamh.
(3) Féadfaidh duine ar ar seirbheáladh fógra faoin alt seo uiríolla a dhéanamh chun an údaráis áitiúil áirithe maidir le téarmaí an fhógra laistigh de cibé tréimhse a bheidh sonraithe san fhógra agus féadfaidh an t-údarás, tar éis aon uiríolla den sórt sin a bhreithniú, an fógra a leasú.
(4) I gcás nach gcomhlíonfar fógra faoin alt seo sa tréimhse a bheidh sonraithe san fhógra, beidh an duine ar ar seirbheáladh é ciontach i gcion agus ar é a chiontú go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná £250, agus ina theannta sin, i gcás ciona leanúnaigh, fíneáil bhreise nach mó ná £100 in aghaidh gach lae a leanfar den chion, a chur air.
(5) I gcás nach gcomhlíonfaidh duine fógra faoin alt seo laistigh den tréimhse a bheidh sonraithe san fhógra, féadfaidh an t-údarás áitiúil a sheirbheáil an fógra aon bheart a dhéanamh a mheasfaidh sé is gá chun ábhar truailliúcháin ar i ndáil leis a seirbheáladh an fógra a chosc ar dhul amach in uiscí agus féadfaidh sé costas an bhirt sin a ghnóthú ón duine ar ar seirbheáladh an fógra mar fhiach conartha shimplí i gcúirt dlínse inniúla.
(6) Féadfaidh údarás áitiúil ionchúiseamh i gcion faoin alt seo a thionscnamh.
Cumhacht údaráis áitiúil truailliú a chosc agus a laghdú in imthosca áirithe.
13.—(1) I gcás ar dealraitheach d'údarás áitiúil gur gá beart a dhéanamh láithreach chun truailliú aon uiscí ina limistéar feidhmiúcháin a chosc, nó chun ábhar truailliúcháin a thógáil as uiscí sa limistéar sin, nó, le linn d'ábhar den sórt sin a bheith in uiscí lasmuigh den limistéar sin, chun é a chosc ar aon chuid den limistéar sin a dhochrú, féadfaidh an t-údarás áitiúil cibé beart nó oibríochtaí a dhéanamh nó cibé cúnamh a thabhairt a mheasfaidh sé is gá chun an t-ábhar sin a chosc ar dhul amach sna huiscí, nó féadfaidh sé an t-ábhar a thógáil as na huiscí, é a dhiúscairt mar is cuí leis agus iardaí aon truaillithe de chionn an ábhair sin a mhaolú nó a leigheas.
(2) I gcás a ndéanfaidh údarás áitiúil beart nó oibríochtaí nó a dtabharfaidh sé cúnamh faoin alt seo, féadfaidh sé costas an bhirt, na n-oibríochtaí nó an chúnaimh sin a ghnóthú mar fhiach conartha shimplí i gcúirt dlínse inniúla ó cibé duine a ndeimhneoidh an t-údarás áitiúil don chúirt gurb é an duine é arbh é a ghníomh nó a neamhghníomh a thug gur ghá an beart, na hoibríochtaí nó an cúnamh sin.
Fógra faoi scardadh de thaisme.
14.—(1) A luaithe is féidir tar éis aon ábhar truailliúcháin scardadh nó doirteadh nó a leagan de thaisme, is ábhar a rachaidh amach, nó ar dóigh dó dul amach, in aon uiscí nó i séarach, tabharfaidh an duine a bheidh freagrach fógra don údarás áitiúil ar ina limistéar feidhmiúcháin a tharla an scardadh, an doirteadh nó an leagan nó, i gcás séaraigh, don údarás sláintíochta a bhfuil an séarach dílsithe dó nó faoina rialú.
(2) Duine a mhainneoidh fo-alt (1) a chomhlíonadh beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus ar é a chiontú go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná £250 a chur air.
(3) Féadfaidh údarás áitiúil nó údarás sláintíochta ionchúiseamh i gcion faoin alt seo a thionscnamh.
Pleananna bainistithe cáilíochta uisce.
15.—(1) Féadfaidh údarás áitiúil plean bainistithe cáilíochta uisce le haghaidh aon uiscí ina limistéar feidhmiúcháin nó atá tadhlach leis an limistéar sin a dhéanamh agus déanfaidh sé plean den sórt sin má ordaíonn an tAire dó é.
(2) Beidh i bplean faoin alt seo cibé cuspóirí chun truailliú na n-uiscí is ábhar don phlean a chosc nó a laghdú agus cibé forálacha eile a mheasfaidh an t-údarás áitiúil is gá.
(3) Féadfar ó am go ham plean faoin alt seo a athchóiriú nó plean eile a chur ina ionad.
(4) Féadfaidh baint a bheith ag plean faoin alt seo leis an bhfarraige a mhéid a cheadóidh an tAire tar éis dó comhairle a ghlacadh leis an Aire Iascaigh.
(5) Ní bheidh aon fhoráil ar neamhréir le rialacháin faoi alt 26 i bplean faoin alt seo.
(6) A luaithe is féidir tar éis plean faoin alt seo a dhéanamh nó a athchóiriú nó plean eile a chur ina ionad, déanfaidh an t-údarás áitiúil áirithe cóip den phlean a rinneadh nó a athchóiríodh nó cóip den phlean a cuireadh ina ionad a thabhairt don Aire, don Aire Iascaigh, d'údaráis áitiúla a bhfuil a limistéir fheidhmiúcháin tadhlach le limistéar an údaráis a rinne nó a d'athchóirigh an plean nó a chuir plean eile ina ionad, d'údaráis sláintíochta agus do bhoird choimeádaithe i limistéar feidhmiúcháin an údaráis sin.
(7) Féadfaidh an tAire—
(a) a cheangal go ndéanfar pleananna faoin alt seo ó dhá údarás áitiúla nó níos mó a chomhoirdniú i ndáil le hábhair agus ar dhóigh a shonróidh sé,
(b) a cheangal ar údarás áitiúil plean faoin alt seo a athchóiriú i ndáil le hábhair agus ar mhodh a shonróidh sé agus sin i gceann cibé tréimhsí a ordóidh sé, nó plean eile a chur in ionad an phlean sin,
(c) a ordú do dhá údarás áitiúla nó níos mó plean faoin alt seo a dhéanamh nó a athchóiriú, nó plean eile a chur ina ionad, i gcomhar,
agus comhlíonfaidh údaráis áitiúla aon cheanglas nó ordú den sórt sin.
(8) Is feidhm fhorchoimeádta plean faoin alt seo a dhéanamh, a athchóiriú nó plean eile a chur ina ionad.
(9) Cinnfidh an tAire aon díospóid idir dhá údarás áitiúla nó níos mó i dtaobh cé acu a dhéanfaidh plean faoin alt seo le haghaidh aon uiscí.
(10) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh chun críche an ailt seo agus, gan dochar do ghinearáltacht a bhfuil anseo roimhe seo, féadfaidh foráil a bheith sna rialacháin sin do gach ní nó d'aon ní díobh seo a leanas:
(a) fógra a fhoilsiú i nuachtáin a léitear i limistéar feidhmiúcháin údaráis áitiúil go bhfuil beartaithe plean faoin alt seo a dhéanamh nó a athchóiriú nó plean eile a chur ina ionad,
(b) ráiteas a bheith i bhfógra den sórt sin á chur i bhfios cá háit agus cathain a fhéadfar cóip den phlean beartaithe a iniúchadh agus go bhféadfar uiríolla i ndáil leis an bplean a dhéanamh chuig an údarás áitiúil laistigh de thréimhse shonraithe.
(11) Féadfaidh aon duine, de réir rialacháin faoi fho-alt (10), uiríolla a dhéanamh chuig údarás áitiúil i ndáil le plean a bheartaítear a dhéanamh nó a athchóiriú nó a mbeartaítear plean eile a chur ina ionad faoin alt seo, agus breithneoidh an t-údarás áitiúil gach uiríoll den sórt sin, agus féadfaidh sé ansin, mar is cuí leis, an plean a dhéanamh nó a athchóiriú nó plean eile, leasaithe nó gan leasú, a chur ina ionad.
Scardadh chun séarach a cheadúnú.
16.—(1) Ní dhéanfaidh duine seachas údarás sláintíochta, tar éis cibé dáta a cheapfar chun críche an ailt seo le hordú ón Aire, aon eisilteach trádála nó aon ábhar eile (seachas séaracht tís nó uisce báistí) a scardadh, ná a chur faoi deara ná a cheadú é a scardadh, chun séaraigh, ach amháin faoi réim agus de réir ceadúnas faoin alt seo arna dheonú ag an údarás sláintíochta a bhfuil an séarach dílsithe dó nó faoina rialú.
(2) (a) Féadfaidh údarás sláintíochta, dá rogha féin, diúltú ceadúnas faoin alt seo a dheonú nó féadfaidh sé ceadúnas den sórt sin a dheonú faoi réir cibé coinníollacha is cuí leis agus a shonróidh sé sa cheadúnas.
(b) Le linn d'údarás sláintíochta bheith á bhreithniú an ndeonóidh nó nach ndeonóidh sé ceadúnas faoin alt seo beidh aird aige ar na cuspóirí in aon phlean iomchuí faoi alt 15.
(3) Ní dheonóidh údarás sláintíochta ceadúnas faoin alt seo maidir le scardadh eisiltigh thrádála nach gcomhlíonfadh aon chaighdeán iomchuí a fhorordaítear faoi alt 26.
(4) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht fho-alt (2), féadfaidh coinníollacha a bheidh ag gabháil le ceadúnas faoin alt seo—
(a) baint—
(i) le nádúr, comhdhéanamh, teocht, toilleadh, ráta, modh cóireála agus láthair scardaidh agus leis na tréimhsí a fhéadfar nó nach bhféadfar scardadh a dhéanamh;
(ii) le méadair, tomhasairí, gaireas eile, dúnphoill agus liosanna iniúchóireachta a sholáthar agus a chothabháil;
(iii) le samplaí a thógáil agus a anailísiú, taifid a choimeád agus faisnéis a thabhairt don údarás sláintíochta;
(b) a cheangal costas a thabhaigh an t-údarás sláintíochta i ndáil le faireachán, cóireáil nó diúscairt scardaidh a íoc nó ranníoc a dhéanamh ina leith (trí shuim chaipitiúil nó muirear bliantúil nó iad araon a íoc), agus
(c) dáta a shonrú arb é an dáta is déanaí é chun aon choinníollacha a chomhlíonadh.
(5) Beidh aon choinníollacha a bheidh ag gabháil le ceadúnas faoin alt seo ina gceangal ar aon duine a dhéanfaidh, nó a chuirfidh faoi deara nó a cheadóidh, eisilteach trádála nó ábhar eile lena mbaineann an ceadúnas a scardadh.
(6) I gcás, tar éis trí bliana ón dáta a deonaíodh ceadúnas faoin alt seo, nach mbeidh aon scardadh den chineál a údaraítear leis an gceadúnas déanta, nó i gcás gan aon scardadh den chineál sin a dhéanamh in imeacht tréimhse trí bliana, scoirfidh an ceadúnas d'éifeacht a bheith leis.
(7) Ní cheadóidh duine ná ní chuirfidh sé faoi deara aon ábhar truailliúcháin, lena n-áirítear séaracht, do dhul amach in aon draein nó séarach a cuireadh ar fáil d'aon turas chun uisce báistí a ghlacadh nó a dhiúscairt.
(8) Duine a sháróidh fo-alt (1) nó (7) beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus dlífear—
(a) ar é a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £250 (agus ina theannta sin, i gcás ciona leanúnaigh, fíneáil nach mó na £100 in aghaidh gach lae a leanfar den sárú) nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná sé mhí nó, de rogha na cúirte, an fhíneáil nó na fíneálacha sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile, a chur air, nó
(b) ar é a chiontú ar díotáil, fíneáil 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 sárú) nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná dhá bhliain nó, de rogha na cúirte, an fhíneáil nó na fíneálacha sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile, a chur air.
(9) Féadfaidh údarás sláintíochta ionchúiseamh i gcion faoin alt seo a thionscnamh.
(10) Féadfaidh an tAire, le rialacháin, tar éis dó comhairle a ghlacadh leis an Aire Iascaigh, cibé cineálacha scardaidh a shonróidh sé sna rialacháin a dhíolmhú ó fho-alt (1).
(11) Is cosaint mhaith é ar ionchúiseamh i gcion faoi aon achtachán seachas an tAcht seo an gníomh arb é an cion líomhnaithe é a bheith údaraithe le ceadúnas faoin alt seo.
(12) Ní bheidh duine i dteideal, go heisiatach de bhíthin ceadúnas faoin alt seo, scardadh a dhéanamh chun séaraigh ná a chur faoi deara ná a cheadú é a dhéanamh.
(13) Féadfaidh údarás sláintíochta fógra i scríbhinn a sheirbheáil ar aon duine a dhéanfaidh nó a chuirfidh faoi deara nó a cheadóidh scardadh nó dul amach a sháróidh fo-alt (1) nó (7), á cheangal deireadh a chur leis an sárú laistigh de cibé tréimhse a shonrófar san fhógra agus á cheangal aon iardaí ón sárú sin a mhaolú nó a leigheas laistigh de cibé tréimhse agus i cibé slí a bheidh sonraithe amhlaidh.
(14) I gcás nach gcomhlíonfaidh duine fógra faoi fho-alt (13) laistigh den tréimhse a bheidh sonraithe san fhógra, féadfaidh an t-údarás sláintíochta a sheirbheáil an fógra aon bheart a mheasann sé is gá a dhéanamh chun an scardadh nó an dul amach a chosc nó chun aon iardaí ón sárú a mhaolú nó a leigheas agus féadfaidh sé costas an bhirt sin a ghnóthú ón duine ar ar seirbheáladh an fógra mar fhiach conartha shimplí i gcúirt dlínse inniúla ar a dheimhniú don chúirt go bhfuil an duine sin freagrach sa sárú.
(15) Féadfar fógra a sheirbheáil faoi fho-alt (13) cibé acu a tionscnaíodh nó nár tionscnaíodh ionchúiseamh faoin alt seo.
Ceadúnas faoi alt 16 a athbhreithniú.
17.—(1) Féadfaidh údarás sláintíochta ceadúnas faoi alt 16 a athbhreithniú i gceann tréimhsí nach giorra ná trí bliana ó dháta an cheadúnais nó ón tráth deiridh a athbhreithníodh an ceadúnas, nó tráth ar bith le toiliú an duine a bheidh ag déanamh, ag cur faoi deara nó ag ceadú an scardaidh.
(2) A luaithe is féidir tar éis d'údarás sláintíochta athbhreithniú faoin alt seo a chríochnú, féadfaidh sé aon choinníoll a bheidh ag gabháil leis an gceadúnas a leasú nó a scriosadh nó coinníollacha nua a chur ag gabháil leis an gceadúnas, agus i gcás ar iomchuí é deonóidh sé ceadúnas athchóirithe faoi alt 16 in ionad an cheadúnais a athbhreithníodh.
(3) D'ainneoin aon fhorála eile den Acht seo nó aon fhorála i gceadúnas faoi alt 16—
(a) féadfaidh an t-údarás sláintíochta a dheonaigh aon cheadúnas den sórt sin an ceadúnas sin a athbhreithniú tráth ar bith i gcás cúis réasúnach a bheith ag an údarás a chreidiúint gur mórbhaol do shláinte an phobail an scardadh a údaraítear leis an gceadúnas nó i gcás athrú ábhartha (nach bhféadfaí, le réasún, a shamhlú nuair a deonaíodh an ceadúnas) ar dhálaí sna huiscí chun a scairdeann an tséaracht,
(b) i gcás a mbaineann rialacháin faoi alt 26 le heisilteach trádála a údaraítear a scardadh le ceadúnas den sórt sin, déanfaidh an t-údarás sláintíochta a dheonaigh an ceadúnas é a athbhreithniú a luaithe is féidir tar éis na rialacháin a dhéanamh,
(c) i gcás a mbaineann rialacháin faoi alt 26 le heisilteach séarachta ó shéarach nó le huiscí chun a ndéantar eisilteach séarachta ó shéarach a scardadh, déanfaidh an t-údarás sláintíochta a dheonaigh aon cheadúnas den sórt sin a údaraíonn eisilteach trádála a scardadh chun an tséaraigh an ceadúnas sin a athbhreithniú a luaithe is féidir tar éis na rialacháin a dhéanamh,
agus bainfidh fo-alt (2) le hathbhreithniú faoin bhfo-alt seo.
(4) (a) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh chun críche an ailt seo.
(b) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht mhír (a), féadfaidh rialacháin faoin bhfo-alt seo foráil a dhéanamh i ndáil le gach ní nó aon ní díobh seo a leanas:
(i) údarás sláintíochta do thabhairt fógra do dhuine a bhfuil scardadh á dhéanamh aige nó a chuireann faoi deara nó a cheadaíonn scardadh a dhéanamh á chur i bhfios dó go mbeartaítear ceadúnas a athbhreithniú, agus
(ii) é a bheith de cheangal go ndéarfar i bhfógra den sórt sin go bhféadfar uiríolla i ndáil leis an athbhreithniú a dhéanamh laistigh de thréimhse shonraithe.
Forálacha de dhroim alt 16.
18.—(1) Measfar nach mbeidh alt 16 (1) sáraithe ag duine i ndáil le scardadh láithreach eisiltigh thrádála nó ábhair eile a bheidh déanta sula ndearnadh nó sular diúltaíodh ceadúnas a dheonú dó faoi alt 16 más rud é, roimh an dáta iomchuí, go mbeidh ceadúnas den sórt sin iarrtha aige agus na ceanglais in aon rialacháin faoi alt 19 maidir le faisnéis a thabhairt d'údarás sláintiochta comhlíonta aige.
(2) In ionchúiseamh i gcion faoi alt 16, toimhdeofar, nó go suífidh an duine cúisithe a mhalairt, nach scardadh láithreach eisiltigh thrádála nó ábhair eile arna dhéanamh sna dálaí a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (1) an scardadh áirithe.
(3) I gcás a mbaineann rialacháin faoi alt 26 le scardadh láithreach eisiltigh thrádála atá á dhéanamh sna dálaí a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (1), déanfaidh nó diúltóidh an t-údarás sláintíochta áirithe (de réir mar is gá sa chás) ceadúnas faoi alt 16 a dheonú, a luaithe is féidir tar éis na rialacháin a dhéanamh, i ndáil leis an scardadh.
(4) San alt seo—
ciallaíonn “scardadh láithreach” scardadh arb ionann dó maidir lena nádúr, lena chomhdhéanamh, lena theocht, lena thoilleadh agus le ráta a dhéanta agus do scardadh a rinneadh i rith aon tréimhse comhréire sa tréimhse dhá mhí dhéag dar críoch an dáta iomchuí;
ciallaíonn “an dáta iomchuí” an dáta a bheidh socruithe le hordú faoi alt 16 (1).
Rialacháin chun críche ailt 16 agus 20.
19.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh chun críche ailt 16 agus 20.
(2) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht fho-alt (1), féadfaidh rialacháin faoin alt seo foráil a dhéanamh do gach ní nó d'aon ní díobh seo a leanas:
(a) foirm ceadúnais;
(b) é a bheith de cheangal ar iarratasóirí faisnéis shonraithe a thabhairt;
(c) é a bheith de cheangal fianaise a thabhairt ar aird a fhíoróidh aon fhaisnéis a thug iarratasóir;
(d) é a bheith de cheangal ar údaráis sláintíochta aon fhaisnéis shonraithe a thabhairt don Aire agus d'aon daoine sonraithe eile i ndáil le haon iarratais agus leis an modh ar déileáladh leo;
(e) é a bheith de cheangal ar iarratasóir costas aon imscrúdaithe a rinne údarás sláintíochta i ndáil le hiarratas a íoc nó ranníoc ina leith.
(3) (a) Duine a dhéanfaidh, i ndáil le hiarratas ar cheadúnas faoi alt 16 nó le hachomharc faoi alt 20, le linn dó faisnéis a thabhairt faoin alt seo nó aon fhaisnéis den sórt sin a fhíorú, ráiteas i scríbhinn a bheidh bréagach nó is feasach dó a bheith míthreorach i bponc ábhartha, beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus ar é a chiontú go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná £100 a chur air.
(b) I gcás a gciontófar duine i gcion faoin bhfo-alt seo, beidh aon cheadúnas a eisíodh chun an duine sin de dhroim an iarratais nó an achomhairc ar i ndáil leis a tugadh an fhaisnéis arna chúlghairm ó dháta an chiontaithe.
(4) Beidh íocaíocht nó ranníoc faoi fho-alt (2) (e) nó alt 16 (4) (b) iníoctha ar éileamh agus, mura n-íocfar amhlaidh é, féadfar é a ghnóthú mar fhiach conartha shimplí i gcúirt dlínse inniúla.
(5) Féadfaidh an tAire nó údarás sláintíochta ionchúiseamh i gcion faoin alt seo a thionscnamh.
Achomhairc i ndáil le hailt 16 agus 17.
20.—(1) Féadfaidh duine ar diúltaíodh ceadúnas faoi alt 16 a dheonú dó, nó ar deonaíodh ceadúnas den sórt sin dó faoi réir coinníollacha, achomharc a dhéanamh chun an Aire i ndáil leis an diúltú ceadúnas den sórt sin a dheonú, leis na coinníollacha a ghabhann le ceadúnas den sórt sin nó le coinníollacha a ghabhann le ceadúnas den sórt sin a leasú nó a scriosadh nó le coinníollacha nua a chur ag gabháil le ceadúnas den sórt sin ar athbhreithniú.
(2) Tar éis don Aire achomharc faoin alt seo a bhreithniú, diúltóidh sé don achomharc nó (de réir más cuí leis) tabharfaidh sé orduithe iomchuí don údarás sláintíochta áirithe i ndáil le ceadúnas a dheonú nó coinníollacha a chur ag gabháil le ceadúnas, nó le coinníollacha a leasú nó a scriosadh, agus, i gcás a dtabharfar orduithe den sórt sin comhlíonfaidh an t-údarás na horduithe sin a luaithe is féidir tar éis iad a fháil.
Achomhairc áirithe a aistriú chuig an mBord Pleanála.
21.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, a fhoráil gur chuig an mBord Pleanála a dhéanfar na hachomhairc go léir faoi ailt 8 agus 20 (nó cibé aicmí d'achomhairc den sórt sin a shonróidh sé san ordú) in ionad iad a dhéanamh chun an Aire.
(2) I gcás a ndéanfar ordú faoin alt seo, déanfar tagairtí in ailt 8 agus 20 don Aire i ndáil le hachomhairc is ábhar don ordú a fhorléiriú mar thagairtí don Bhord Pleanála agus is feidhm de chuid an Bhord Pleanála achomhairc den sórt sin a chinneadh.
(3) Féadfaidh ordú faoin alt seo cibé forálacha foghabhálacha, forlíontacha, iarmhartacha agus eatramhacha a bheith ann (lena n-áirítear modhnú aon fhorála den Acht seo agus modhnú nó feidhmiú aon fhorála de na hAchtanna Rialtais Áitiúil (Pleanáil agus Forbairt), 1963 agus 1976) a mheasfaidh an tAire is gá chun críche nó de dhroim an ordaithe nó chun lánéifeacht a thabhairt don ordú.
(4) Féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, ordú faoin alt seo a leasú nó a chúlghairm.
(5) Gach ordú faoin alt seo leagfar é faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta agus, má dhéanann ceachtar Teach acu sin, laistigh den 21 lá a shuífidh an Teach sin tar éis an t-ordú a leagan faoina bhráid, rún a rith ag neamhniú an ordaithe, beidh an t-ordú ar neamhní dá réir sin, ach sin gan dochar do bhailíocht aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin ordú.
Faireachán, etc. ag údaráis áitiúla agus údaráis sláintíochta.
22.—(1) Údarás áitiúil nó údarás sláintíochta—
(a) seolfaidh sé, nó cuirfidh sé faoi deara nó socróidh sé go seolfar, cibé faireachán ar uiscí agus ar scardadh eisilteach trádála agus eisilteach séarachta agus ábhar eile amach in uiscí (i gcás údaráis áitiúil) nó chun séarach (i gcás údaráis sláintíochta) a mheasfaidh sé is gá chun aon fheidhm dá chuid faoin Acht seo a chomhlíonadh nó mar a ordóidh an tAire,
(b) féadfaidh sé cibé faisnéis a bhailiú a mheasfaidh sé is gá chun aon fheidhm dá chuid faoin Acht seo a chomhlíonadh nó mar a ordóidh an tAire nó a chur faoi deara nó a shocrú sin a bhailiú amhlaidh.
(2) Féadfaidh údarás áitiúil nó údarás sláintíochta méadair, tomhasairí, dúnphoill nó liosanna iniúchóireachta nó aon ghaireas eile a sholáthar chun aon cheann de chríocha an ailt seo.
Oibleagáid faisnéis a thabhairt d'údaráis áitiúla agus d'údaráis sláintíochta.
23.—(1) Féadfaidh údarás áitiúil, chun aon chríche a bhaineann lena fheidhmeanna faoin Acht seo, trí fhógra i scríbhinn, a cheangal ar aon duine a thógann uisce as aon uiscí, nó a scairdeann, nó a chuireann faoi deara nó a cheadaíonn go scairdtear, eisilteach nó ábhar eile amach in aon uiscí, cibé sonraí i dtaobh na hastógála sin nó an scardaidh sin a shonrófar san fhógra a chur in iúl i scríbhinn don údarás laistigh de thréimhse shonraithe nach giorra ná 14 lá tar éis an duine sin a chur faoi cheangal amhlaidh.
(2) Féadfaidh údarás sláintíochta, chun aon chriche a bhaineann lena fheidhmeanna faoin Acht seo, trí fhógra i scríbhinn, a cheangal ar aon duine a dhéanann, nó a chuireann faoi deara nó a cheadaíonn go ndéantar, scardadh chun séaraigh, cibé sonraí i dtaobh an scardaidh a shonrófar san fhógra a chur in iúl i scríbhinn don údarás laistigh de thréimhse shonraithe nach giorra ná 14 lá tar éis an duine sin a chur faoi cheangal amhlaidh.
(3) Gach duine a gceanglófar air faoin alt seo aon ábhar nó ní a chur in iúl d'údarás áitiúil nó d'údarás sláintíochta agus a mhainneoidh sin a dhéanamh laistigh den tréimhse a bheidh ceaptha faoin alt seo nó, nuair a bheidh sé á chur sin in iúl, a dhéanfaidh ráiteas i scríbhinn a bheidh bréagach nó is feasach dó a bheith míthreorach i bponc ábhartha, beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus ar é a chiontú go hachomair dlífear fineáil nach mó ná £100 a chur air.
(4) Féadfaidh údarás áitiúil nó údarás sláintíochta ionchúiseamh i gcion faoin alt seo a thionscnamh.
Údaráis áitiúla, údaráis sláintíochta agus boird choimeádaithe do ghlacadh comhairle.
24.—Féadfaidh an tAire, tar éis comhairle a ghlacadh leis an Aire Iascaigh, leis an Aire Tionscail agus Tráchtála, le haon Aire eile ar dealraitheach dó leas a bheith aige agus leis an gComhairle um Thruailliú Uisce, rialacháin a dhéanamh á cheangal ar údaráis áitiúla, ar údaráis sláintíochta agus ar bhoird choimeádaithe comhairle a ghlacadh le cibé daoine agus ar cibé modh i ndáil le feidhmiú cibé cumhachtaí agus dualgais faoin Acht seo a fhorordófar.
Údaráis rialaithe cáilíochta uisce a bhunú.
25.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire le hordú, tar éis dó comhairle a ghlacadh le hAire na Seirbhíse Poiblí agus leis an gComhairle um Thruailliú Uisce, údarás rialaithe cáilíochta uisce a bhunú maidir le cibé limistéar a bheidh sonraithe san ordú.
(2) Comhlíonfaidh údarás rialaithe cáilíochta uisce cibé feidhmeanna faoin Acht seo de chuid údaráis áitiúil i ndáil le truailliú uisce a bheidh sonraithe san ordú ag bunú an údaráis.
(3) Féadfaidh ordú faoin alt seo cibé forálacha foghabhálacha, forlíontacha agus iarmhartacha a bheith ann a mheasfaidh an tAire is gá chun an t-údarás a bhunú, lena n-áirítear forálacha i ndáil le comhaltas d'údarás rialaithe cáilíochta uisce, feidhmeanna sonraithe faoin Acht seo de chuid údarás áitiúil i ndáil leis an limistéar (nó le cuid den limistéar) a bhfuil údarás den sórt sin bunaithe ina leith a aistriú chuig an údarás sin, agus aon mhodhnú is gá ar aon fhorálacha reachtúla a bhaineann le húdarás áitiúil.
(4) Beidh údarás rialaithe cáilíochta uisce ina chomhlacht corpraithe agus comharbas suthain agus séala aige agus féadfaidh sé agairt agus bheith inagartha faoina ainm corpraithe agus féadfaidh sé talamh a theachtadh agus a dhiúscairt.
(5) (a) Beidh údarás rialaithe cáilíochta uisce ina chomhchomlacht de réir brí agus chun críocha na nAchtanna um Bainistí Chontae, 1940 go 1972.
(b) Beidh údarás rialaithe cáilíochta uisce ina údarás áitiúil de réir brí agus chun críocha na nAchtanna seo a leanas—
(i) na hAchtanna Rialtais Áitiúil, 1925 go 1974,
(ii) Achtanna na nUdarás nAitiúil (Oifigigh agus Fostaithe), 1926 agus 1940,
(iv) an tAcht Rialtais Áitiúil (Aoisliúntas), 1956, agus
(v) Achtanna na nUdarás nAitiúil (Comhar-Arachas), 1926 go 1935.
(6) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht fho-alt (1) nó (3), féadfaidh ordú faoin alt seo—
(a) a fhoráil go n-aisíocfar (ar cibé modh a shonrófar san ordú) caiteachais uile, nó cuid de chaiteachais, údarás rialaithe cáilíochta uisce agus, i gcás a mainneoidh údarás áitiúil nó duine eile aisíoc den sórt sin a dhéanamh, go mbainfear as airgead is iníoctha ag aon Aire leis an údarás áitiúil nó leis an duine eile sin agus go n-íocfaidh an tAire sin leis an údarás rialaithe cáilíochta uisce as an airgead sin cóimhéid na suime a bheidh le haisíoc, agus
(b) forálacha a bheith ann a bhainfidh le gach ní nó le haon ní díobh seo a leanas—
(i) comhaltaí (lena n-áirítear cathaoirleach) a cheapadh,
(ii) deireadh le comhaltas,
(iii) cruinnithe (lena n-áirítear nós imeachta, imeachtaí agus córam),
(iv) aon ábhair atá coimhdeach nó foghabhálach i ndáil le haon ábhar de na hábhair sin roimhe seo.
(7) I gcás a mbeartófar ordú faoin alt seo a dhéanamh cuirfidh an tAire faoi deara dréacht de a leagan faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas, agus ní dhéanfar an t-ordú go dtí go mbeidh rún ag ceadú an dréachta rite ag gach Teach.
Caighdeáin cháilíochta, etc.
26.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire, tar éis comhairle a ghlacadh leis an Aire Iascaigh, leis an Aire Tionscail agus Tráohtála, le haon Aire eile ar dealraitheach dó leas a bheith aige agus leis an gComhairle um Thruailliú Uisce, caighdeáin cháilíochta a fhorordú chun críocha an Achta seo d'uiscí, d'eisiltigh thrádála agus d'eisiltigh shéarachta maille le caighdeáin i ndáil le modhanna cóireála na n-eisilteach sin.
(2) Féadfaidh baint a bheith ag rialacháin faoin alt seo—
(i) le gach uile uisce, eisilteach trádála nó eisilteach séarachta nó le cinn shonraithe nó cineálacha sonraithe díobh,
(ii) le huiscí, eisiltigh thrádála nó eisiltigh shéarachta i limistéir shonraithe, nó
(iii) le huiscí a shonrófar faoi threoir a n-úsáide.
(3) I gcás a mbainfidh rialacháin faoin alt seo le heisilteach séarachta ó shéarach nó le huiscí a scairdtear eisilteach séarachta amach iontu as séarach, is é dualgas an údaráis sláintíochta a bhfuil an séarach dílsithe dó nó faoina rialú beart a dhéanamh a luaithe is féidir chun a áirithiú go gcomhlíonann an t-eisilteach trádála aon chaighdeán iomchuí a bheidh forordaithe faoin alt seo nó nach mbeidh de thoradh air nach gcomhlíonann na huisci a scairdtear an t-eisilteach amach iontu aon chaighdeán den sórt sin.
Rialacháin chun úsáid soithí áirithe a shrianadh.
27.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire, tar éis comhairle a ghlacadh leis an Aire Iompair agus Cumhachta, le Coimisinéirí na nOibreacha Poiblí in Éirinn agus leis an gComhairle um Thruailliú Uisce, rialacháin a dhéanamh lena chumasú d'údaráis áitiúla do thoirmeasc soithí go bhfearas sláintíochta a choimeád nó a úsáid i cibé uiscí (seachas uiscí taoide) a shonrófar sna rialacháin, is soithí a ngabhann, nó a bhféadfadh go ngabhfadh, ábhar truailliúcháin uathu amach sna huiscí, nó coimeád nó úsáid soithí den sórt sin sna huiscí sin a shrianadh nó a rialáil.
(2) Féadfaidh údarás sláintíochta saoráidí a sholáthar chun séaracht a ghlacadh agus a dhiúscairt ó shoithí agus féadfaidh sé táillí nó muirir eile a ghearradh as na saoráidí sin a úsáid.
(3) Duine a sháróidh foráil i rialachán faoin alt seo beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus ar é a chiontú go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná £250, agus ina theannta sin, i gcás sárú leanúnach, fíneáil bhreise £100 in aghaidh gach lae a leanfar den sárú, a chur air.
(4) Féadfaidh údarás áitiúil ionchúiseamh i gcion faoin alt seo a thionscnamh.
Cumhachtaí dul isteach, iniúchóireachta. etc.
28.—(1) Faoi réir an ailt seo, féadfaidh duine údaraithe dul isteach aon tráth réasúnach in áitribh nó i soithí—
(a) chun feidhm a chomhlíonadh a thugtar faoin Acht seo d'údarás áitiúil, d'údarás sláintíochta, don Aire, don Aire Iascaigh nó do bhord coimeádaithe,
(b) chun a fhionnadh ar cheart feidhm den sórt sin a chomhlíonadh,
(c) chun a fhionnadh an bhfuil sárú á dhéanamh nó déanta ar aon fhoráil de chuid an Achta seo nó de chuid aon rialacháin faoin Acht seo, nó
(d) chun cibé iniúchóireacht a dhéanamh ar uiscí, eisiltigh nó ábhar eile nó samplaí díobh a thógáil, de réir mar is gá chun feidhm den sórt sin faoin Acht seo a chomhlíonadh.
(2) D'ainneoin aon ní i bhfo-alt (1), féadfar an chumhacht dul isteach in áitribh nó i soithí a thugtar leis an bhfo-alt sin a fheidhmiú tráth ar bith i ndáil le feidhm a thugtar le halt 13.
(3) In aon imeachtaí dlíthiúla faoin Acht seo toimhdeofar, go dtí go suífear a mhalairt, maidir le haon sampla d'eisilteach a thógfaidh duine údaraithe i lios iniúchóireachta, dúnpholl nó áit eile a bheidh curtha ar fáil faoi réim agus de réir ceadúnas faoin Acht seo, gur sampla é dá raibh ag dul ón áitreabh, ó na hoibreacha, ón bhfearas, ón ngléasra nó ón bpíopa siltin áirithe amach in uiscí nó go dtí séarach an tráth a tógadh an sampla.
(4) Duine a bhacfaidh duine údaraithe a bheidh ag comhlíonadh a dhualgas faoin alt seo beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus ar é a chiontú go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná £250 nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná sé mhí nó an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile a chur air.
(5) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh chun críche an ailt seo agus, gan dochar do ghinearáltacht a bhfuil anseo roimhe seo, féadfaidh na rialacháin sin—
(a) socrú a dhéanamh le haghaidh samplaí a thógáil agus tástáil, scrúdú agus anailísiú a dhéanamh ar shamplaí a tógadh faoin alt seo,
(b) na haicmí daoine a fhorordú a bheidh freagrach as samplaí den sórt sin a thógáil agus as tástáil, scrúdú agus anailísiú den sórt sin a dhéanamh,
(c) an deimhniú nó an fhianaise eile a fhorordú a thabharfar ar thoradh aon tástála, scrúdaithe nó anailísithe den sórt sin agus na haicmí daoine a fhorordú a thabharfaidh nó dá dtabharfar an deimhniú nó an fhianaise sin,
(d) a fhoráil go mbeidh aon deimhniú nó fianaise eile a bheidh forordaithe faoi mhír (c) agus a tugadh maidir leis an tástáil, leis an scrúdú nó leis an anailísiú ar shampla ina leorfhianaise, i ndáil leis an sampla sin, ar thoradh na tastála, an scrúdaithe nó an anailísithe go dtí go suífear a mhalairt.
(6) (a) Duine a n-údaraítear dó faoin alt seo dul isteach in áitribh nó i soithí, tabharfaidh sé ar aird fianaise ar a údarás, má éilítear é, roimh dhul isteach amhlaidh agus féadfaidh sé cibé daoine eile agus cibé trealamh is gá a thabhairt leis.
(b) Ní rachfar, ach amháin chun feidhm a thugtar le halt 13 a chomhlíonadh, isteach faoin alt seo in aon áitreabh nó soitheach a úsáidtear go heisiatach chun críocha cónaithe, ná isteach le trealamh trom ar aon talamh eile, mura mbeidh fógra seacht lá i scríbhinn tugtha don áititheoir á rá go bhfuil beartaithe dul isteach.
(c) Aon duine a rachaidh, i bhfeidhmiú a chumhachtaí faoin alt seo, isteach in aon áitreabh nó soitheach nach bhfuil áitithe nó a bhfuil a áititheoir as láthair go sealadach, fágfaidh sé an t-áitreabh nó an soitheach chomh daingean in aghaidh foghlaithe is a fuair sé é.
(7) (a) I gcás a suífear chun sástacht breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche ar fhaisnéis i scríbhinn a bheith tugtha faoi mhionn—
(i) gur diúltaíodh cead isteach in aon áitreabh nó soitheach a thabhairt do dhuine atá i dteideal dul isteach ann faoin alt seo nó gur dócha go ndiúltófar an cead sin a thabhairt, agus
(ii) go bhfuil cúis réasúnach ann le dul isteach chun na críche ar chuici a iarrtar dul isteach;
féadfaidh an breitheamh, le barántas faoina láimh, a údarú don duine sin dul isteach san áitreabh nó sa soitheach.
(b) Fanfaidh barántas a deonaíodh faoin bhfo-alt seo i bhfeidhm go dtí go mbeidh an chríoch ar chuici a iarrtar dul isteach comhlíonta.
(8) Féadfaidh an tAire Iascaigh, údarás áitiúil, údarás sláintíochta, bord coimeádaithe nó an tAire ionchúiseamh i gcion faoin alt seo a thionscnamh.
(9) San alt seo—
ciallaíonn “duine údaraithe” duine arna cheapadh ag údarás áitiúil, ag údarás sláintíochta, ag an Aire, ag an Aire Iascaigh nó ag bord coimeádaithe chun bheith ina dhuine údaraithe chun críocha an Achta seo.
Taighde, etc. ar thruailliú uisce.
29.—Féadfaidh údarás áitiúil ranníoc i leith cistí duine a bheidh ag gabháil, nó a bheartóidh dul ag gabháil, do thaighde, suirbhéireachtaí nó fiosrúcháin i ndáil le truailliú uisce, ach ní rachaidh aon ranníoc den sórt sin thar aon teorainn, ná ní sháróidh sé aon choinníoll, a fhorordófar ó am go ham.
Rialacháin i gcoitinne.
30.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh d'fhorordú aon ní dá dtagraítear san Acht seo mar ní atá forordaithe nó le forordú nó i ndáil le haon ní dá dtagraítear san Acht seo mar ní is ábhar do rialacháin.
(2) Gach rialachán a dhéanfar faoin Acht seo leagfar é faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta agus, má dhéanann ceachtar Teach acu sin, laistigh den 21 lá a shuífidh an Teach sin tar éis an rialachán a leagan faoina bhráid, rún a rith ag neamhniú an rialacháin, beidh an rialachán ar neamhní dá réir sin, ach sin gan dochar do bhailíocht aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin rialachán.
Cumhacht ag údarás áitiúil ionchúiseamh a thionscnamh.
31.—I gcás a bhféadfaidh údarás áitiúil faoin Acht seo ionchúiseamh i gcion a thionscnamh, féadfaidh an t-údarás an t-ionchúiseamh a thionscnamh amhlaidh cibé acu i limistéar feidhmiúcháin an údaráis (nó i leith uiscí sa limistéar sin) nó nach ea a tharla an cion.
Fógraí a sheirbheáil faoin Acht.
32.—(1) Aon fhógra a cheanglaítear leis an Acht seo nó faoi a thabhairt nó a sheirbheáil díreofar é chun an duine lena mbaineann agus tabharfar nó seirbheálfar é i slí acu seo a leanas—
(a) trína dhíriú chuige faoina ainm agus é a sheachadadh dó,
(b) trína fhágáil ag an seoladh ag a bhfuil gnáthchónaí air,
(c) trína chur leis an bpost i litir chláraithe réamhíoctha a bheidh dírithe chuige ag an seoladh ag a bhfuil gnáthchónaí air,
(d) i gcás nach féidir an seolodh ag a bhfuil gnáthchónaí air a fhionnadh ó fhiosrú réasúnach agus go gceanglaítear an fógra a thabhairt i leith aon áitribh nó soithigh, trína sheachadadh do dhuine os cionn 16 bliana d'aois a chónaíonn nó atá ar fostú san áitreabh nó sa soitheach nó trína dhaingniú in áit fheiceálach ar an áitreabh nó ar an soitheach nó ina aice.
(2) I gcás nach féidir ainm an áititheora a fhionnadh ó fhiosrú réasúnach féadfar fógra faoin alt seo a dhíriú go dtí “an t-áititheoir”.
(3) Chun críche an ailt seo, measfar gnáthchónaí a bheith ina hoifig chláraithe ar chuideachta atá cláraithe faoi Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963, agus measfar gnáthchónaí a bheith ina phríomh-oifig nó ina phríomh-áit ghnó ar gach comhlacht corpraithe eile agus ar gach comhlacht neamhchorpraithe.
Tosach feidhme.
33.—Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i ngníomh cibé lá nó laethanta a cheapfar chuige sin le hordú nó le horduithe ón Aire, go ginearálta nó faoi threoir críche nó forála áirithe, agus féadfar laethanta éagsúla a cheapadh chun críocha éagsúla agus forálacha éagsúla den Acht seo.
Aisghairm.
1876, c.75.
1893, c.31.
34.—Aisghairtear leis seo iad seo a leanas—
(a) the Rivers Pollution Prevention Act, 1876,
(b) the Rivers Pollution Prevention Act, 1893,
(c) ailt 171 agus 172 den Acht Iascaigh (Comhdhlúthú), 1959.
Caiteachais.
35.—(1) Déanfar na caiteachais a thabhóidh an tAire ag riaradh an Achta seo a íoc, a mhéid a cheadóidh an tAire Airgeadais, as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas.
(2) Déanfar na caiteachais a bhainfidh faoin Acht seo do chomhairle chontae Bhaile Átha Cliath a mhuirearú ar an gcontae sin gan buirg Dhún Laoghaire a áireamh.
Gearrtheideal.
36.—Féadfar an tAcht Rialtais Áitiúil (Truailliú Uisce), 1977, a ghairm den Acht seo.
Number 1 of 1977
LOCAL GOVERNMENT (WATER POLLUTION) ACT, 1977
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Acts Referred to | |
1933, No. 12. | |
1946, No. 9. | |
1925, No. 26. | |
1936, No. 54. | |
1945, No. 3. | |
1945, No. 12. | |
1946, No. 10. | |
1949, No. 17. | |
1939, No. 14. | |
1956, No. 10. | |
1963, No. 33. | |
Rivers Pollution Prevention Act, 1876 | 1876, c.75. |
Rivers Pollution Prevention Act, 1893 | 1893, c.31. |
1959, No. 14. | |
Number 1 of 1977
LOCAL GOVERNMENT (WATER POLLUTION) ACT, 1977
Interpretation.
1.—(1) In this Act—
“agriculture” includes the breeding, keeping and sale of livestock (including pigs, poultry and any creature kept for the production of food, wool, skins or fur) and the making and storage of silage;
“aquifer” means any stratum or combination of strata that stores or transmits sufficient water to serve as a source of water supply;
“board of conservators” means a board of conservators under the Fisheries Acts, 1959 to 1976, and includes the Foyle Fisheries Commission;
“fish” has the same meaning as in the Fisheries Acts, 1959 to 1976;
“licence”, in relation to licences under section 4 or 16, includes, where the context permits, such a licence revised under section 7 or 17;
“local authority” (except in section 25 (5) (b)), means—
(a) in the case of the administrative county of Dublin, excluding the borough of Dun Laoghaire, the council of the county of Dublin,
(b) in the case of the borough of Dun Laoghaire, the corporation of the borough,
(c) in the case of a county borough, the corporation of the county borough, and
(d) in the case of any other administrative county, the council of the county,
and, where the context permits, includes a water quality control authority established under section 25, and references to the functional area of a local authority shall be construed accordingly;
“marine structure” means a platform or other man-made structure at sea;
“the Minister” means the Minister for Local Government;
“monitoring” includes inspection, measurement, sampling or analysis, whether periodically or continuously;
“polluting matter” includes any poisonous or noxious matter, and any substance (including any explosive, liquid or gas) the entry or discharge of which into any waters is liable to render those or any other waters poisonous or injurious to fish, spawning grounds or the food of any fish, or to injure fish in their value as human food, or to impair the usefulness of the bed and soil of any waters as spawning grounds or their capacity to produce the food of fish or to render such waters harmful or detrimental to public health or to domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural or recreational uses:
“premises” includes land, whether or not there are structures on the land;
“reserved function” means, in the case of the council of a county or the Corporation of Dun Laoghaire, a reserved function for the purposes of the County Management Acts, 1940 to 1972, or, in the case of the corporation of a county borough, a reserved function for the purposes of the Acts relating to the management of the county borough;
“sanitary authority” means a sanitary authority for the purposes of the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Acts, 1878 to 1964;
“sewage” includes domestic sewage and a combination of domestic sewage and storm water;
“sewage effluent” means effluent from any works, apparatus, plant or drainage pipe used for the disposal to waters of sewage, whether treated or untreated;
“sewer” has the same meaning as in the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Acts, 1878 to 1964, and includes sewage treatment or disposal works of a sanitary authority;
“tidal waters” includes the sea and any estuary up to high water mark medium tide and any enclosed dock adjoining tidal waters;
“trade” includes agriculture, aquaculture, horticulture and any scientific research or experiment;
“trade effluent” means effluent from any works, apparatus, plant or drainage pipe used for the disposal to waters or to a sewer of any liquid (whether treated or untreated), either with or without particles of matter in suspension therein, which is discharged from premises used for carrying on any trade or industry (including mining), but does not include domestic sewage or storm water;
“vessel” means a waterborne craft of any type, whether self-propelled or not, and includes an air-cushion craft;
“waters” includes—
(a) any (or any part of any) river, stream, lake, canal, reservoir, aquifer, pond, watercourse or other inland waters, whether natural or artificial,
(b) any tidal waters, and
(c) where the context permits, any beach, river bank and salt marsh or other area which is contiguous to anything mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b), and the channel or bed of anything mentioned in paragraph (a) which is for the time being dry,
but does not include a sewer.
(2) In this Act a reference to a section is to a section of this Act unless it is indicated that reference to some other enactment is intended.
(3) In this Act a reference to a subsection or paragraph is to the subsection or paragraph of the provision in which the reference occurs, unless it is indicated that reference to some other provision is intended.
Water Pollution Advisory Council.
2.—(1) The Minister shall by order, after consultation with any other Minister who appears to him to be interested, appoint a body which shall be known as the Water Pollution Advisory Council and is in this section referred to as the Council.
(2) The Council may, either of its own volition or at the request of the Minister, make recommendations to the Minister in relation to any matter relevant to his functions or responsibilities concerning control of water pollution and shall advise him on any matter referred to it by the Minister in discharge of his functions and responsibilities under this Act.
(3) The Minister shall take such steps as he considers appropriate to keep the Council informed of matters relating to the control of water pollution which are, in his opinion, likely to assist the Council in performing the functions assigned to it by subsection (2) of this section.
(4) The Council shall consist of such number of persons appointed for such period as the Minister thinks fit.
(5) The Minister shall from time to time nominate one member of the Council to act as chairman thereof.
(6) The Minister may at any time remove any member (including the chairman) of the Council from office.
(7) There shall be paid to any member of the Council such expenses as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for the Public Service, may determine.
(8) The Council shall in each year make a report to the Minister of its activities during the preceding year, and the Minister shall cause copies of the report to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.
(9) The Minister may by order amend or revoke an order under this section.
General prohibition on entry of polluting matter to waters.
3.—(1) Subject to subsection (5), a person shall not cause or permit any polluting matter to enter waters.
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable—
(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £250 (together with, in the case of a continuing contravention, a fine not exceeding £100 for every day on which the contravention is continued) or to imprisonment for any term not exceeding six months or, at the discretion of the court, to both such fine or fines and such imprisonment, or
(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding £5,000 (together with, in the case of a continuing contravention, a fine not exceeding £500 for every day on which the contravention is continued) or to imprisonment for any term not exceeding two years or, at the discretion of the court, to both such fine or fines and such imprisonment.
(3) It shall be a good defence to a prosecution under this section to prove to the satisfaction of the court that the person charged took all reasonable care to prevent the entry prohibited under subsection (1).
(4) A prosecution for an offence under this section may be taken by a local authority, a board of conservators, the Minister for Fisheries or any other person.
(5) Subsection (1) does not apply to—
(a) discharges of trade effluents or sewage effluents (other than a discharge the subject of regulations under section 4 (10), unless where a relevant standard is prescribed under section 26 the discharge complies with that standard);
(b) entry to tidal waters of any matter from vessels, from apparatus for transferring any matter to or from vessels, or from marine structures;
(c) any deposit authorised under section 3 or 13 of the Foreshore Act, 1933, or section 48 of the Harbours Act, 1946;
(d) any substance or thing authorised under section 88 of the Harbours Act, 1946, to be put into waters;
(e) any works authorised by an order under section 134 of the Harbours Act, 1946;
(f) any entry authorised under the Fisheries Acts, 1959 to 1976.
(6) For the purpose of continuing, notwithstanding the repeal effected by section 34 (c), the exemption conferred by each enactment mentioned in the Table to this section, a reference in any such enactment to the Fisheries (Ireland) Acts, 1842 to 1909, the Fisheries Acts, 1842 to 1935, or the Fisheries Acts, 1842 to 1944, shall be construed as including a reference to subsection (1).
TABLE
Section 16 of the Liffey Reservoir Act, 1936.
Section 11 of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act, 1945.
Section 27 of the Turf Development Act, 1946.
Licensing of trade and sewage effluents.
4.—(1) (a) Subject to subsection (2), a person shall not, after such date as may be fixed for the purpose of this subsection by order made by the Minister, discharge or cause or permit the discharge of any trade effluent or sewage effluent to any waters except under and in accordance with a licence under this section.
(b) A licence under this section may be granted—
(i) in the case of a discharge to waters in the functional area of a local authority, by that local authority, and
(ii) in any other case, by a local authority in whose functional area any premises, works, apparatus, plant or drainage pipe from which the effluent is discharged is situated.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to discharges—
(a) to tidal waters from vessels or marine structures,
(b) from a sewer, or
(c) the subject of regulations under subsection (10).
(3) (a) A local authority may at its discretion refuse to grant a licence under this section or may grant such a licence subject to such conditions as it thinks appropriate and specifies in the licence.
(b) In considering whether or not to grant a licence under this section a local authority shall have regard to the objectives contained in any relevant plan under section 15.
(4) A local authority shall not grant a licence under this section in respect of the discharge of an effluent which would not comply with, or would result in the waters to which the discharge is made not complying with, any relevant standard prescribed under section 26.
(5) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (3), conditions attached to a licence under this section may—
(a) relate to—
(i) the nature, composition, temperature, volume, rate, method of treatment and location of a discharge, the periods during which a discharge may be made or may not be made, the effect of a discharge on receiving waters and the design and construction of outlets for a discharge;
(ii) the provision and maintenance of meters, gauges, other apparatus, manholes and inspection chambers;
(iii) the taking and analysis of samples, the keeping of records and furnishing of information to the local authority;
(iv) the prevention of a discharge in the event of breakdown in plant;
(b) require defrayment of or contribution towards the cost incurred by the local authority in monitoring a discharge,
(c) specify a date not later than which any conditions shall be complied with, and
(d) require the payment to the local authority which granted the licence of a charge or charges prescribed under, or calculated in accordance with the method prescribed under, section 6 (2) (e).
(6) Any conditions attached to a licence under this section shall be binding on any person discharging, or causing or permitting the discharge of, effluent to which the licence relates.
(7) Where after three years from the date on which a licence under this section is granted no discharge of the type authorised by the licence has been made, or where such a discharge has ceased for a period of three years, the licence shall cease to have effect.
(8) A person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable—
(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £250 (together with, in the case of a continuing offence, a fine not exceeding £100 for every day on which the contravention is continued) or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or, at the discretion of the court, to both such fine or fines and such imprisonment, or
(b) on conviction on indictment, 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 contravention is continued) or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or, at the discretion of the court, to both such fine or fines and such imprisonment.
(9) A prosecution for an offence under this section may be taken by a local authority, a board of conservators, the Minister for Fisheries or any other person.
(10) The Minister may, after consultation with the Minister for Fisheries and the Water Pollution Advisory Council, by regulations exempt from subsection (1) such effluent or classes of effluent as he specifies in the regulations, including effluent or classes of effluent discharged to specified or specified classes of waters or to waters in specified areas or to waters specified by reference to their use.
(11) It shall be a good defence to a prosecution for an offence under any enactment other than this Act that the act constituting the alleged offence is authorised by a licence under this section.
(12) A person shall not be entitled solely by reason of a licence under this section to discharge, or cause or permit the discharge of, trade effluent or sewage effluent to waters.
Provisions consequential on section 4.
5.—(1) A person shall be deemed not to have contravened section 4 (1) in relation to an existing discharge of trade effluent or sewage effluent made before he is granted or refused a licence under section 4 if, before the relevant date, he applies for such a licence and complies with the requirements of any regulations under section 6 regarding the furnishing of information to a local authority.
(2) In a prosecution for an offence under section 4 it shall be presumed, until the contrary is shown by the person charged, that the discharge concerned is not an existing discharge of trade effluent or sewage effluent made in the circumstances specified in subsection (1).
(3) Where regulations under section 26 relate to an existing discharge of trade effluent or sewage effluent being made in the circumstances specified in subsection (1) or to waters to which such discharge is being so made, the local authority concerned shall grant or refuse (as the case may require) a licence under section 4 in respect of the discharge as soon as may be after the regulations are made.
(4) In this section—
“existing discharge” means a discharge which is similar in nature, composition and temperature to, and is of a similar volume and is made at a similar rate to, a discharge made during any corresponding period in the period of twelve months ending on the relevant date;
“relevant date” means the date fixed by order under section 4 (1).
Regulations for the purpose of section 4 and 8.
6.—(1) The Minister may make regulations for the purpose of sections 4 and 8.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), regulations under this section may make provision for all or any of the following:
(a) the form of licence;
(b) requiring the furnishing by applicants of specified information or the publication of notices;
(c) requiring the production of evidence to verify any information given by an applicant;
(d) requiring local authorities to furnish to the Minister and to any other specified persons any specified information in relation to any applications and the manner in which they have been dealt with, or to publish any specified notices in relation to applications for, and the granting or refusing of, licences;
(e) prescribing charges for, or the method of calculation of charges for, the discharge of effluents or classes of effluents;
(f) requiring an applicant to defray or contribute towards the cost of any investigation carried out by a local authority in relation to an application.
(3) (a) A person who, in relation to an application for a licence under section 4 or an appeal under section 8, when furnishing information under this section or when verifying any such information, makes a statement in writing which is false or to his knowledge misleading in a material respect shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £100.
(b) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this subsection, any licence issued to that person consequent on the application or appeal in relation to which the information was furnished shall stand revoked from the date of the conviction.
(4) A charge the payment of which is required under section 4 (5) (d) or a defrayment or contribution under subsection (2) (f) or section 4 (5) (b) shall be payable on demand and, in default of being so paid, shall be recoverable as a simple contract debt in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(5) A prosecution for an offence under this section may be taken by the Minister or a local authority.
Review of licence under section 4.
7.—(1) A local authority may review a licence under section 4 at intervals of not less than three years from the date of the licence or the last review of the licence, or at any time with the consent of the person making, causing or permitting the discharge.
(2) As soon as may be after it has completed a review under this section, a local authority may amend or delete any condition attached to the licence or attach new conditions to the licence, and where appropriate shall grant a revised licence under section 4 in substitution for the licence reviewed.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act or any provision in a licence under section 4—
(a) any such licence may be reviewed at any time by the local authority which granted it where the authority has reasonable grounds for believing the discharge authorised by the licence to be a significant threat to public health or where a material change has taken place in conditions in the receiving waters which could not reasonably have been foreseen when the licence was granted,
(b) where regulations under section 26 relate to an effluent the discharge of which is authorised by such a licence or to the waters to which such effluent is discharged, the licence shall be reviewed by the local authority which granted it as soon as may be after the regulations are made,
and subsection (2) shall apply to a review under this subsection.
(4) (a) The Minister may make regulations for the purpose of this section.
(b) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (a), regulations under this subsection may make provision in relation to all or any of the following matters:
(i) the giving of notice by a local authority to a person discharging or causing or permitting a discharge of intention to review a licence,
(ii) requiring a statement in such a notice that representations relating to the review may be made within a specified period, and
(iii) requiring local authorities to publish any specified notices with respect to amendment or deletion of any condition attached, or attachment of new conditions, to a licence.
Appeals in relation to sections 4 and 7.
8.—(1) Any person may, before the expiration of the prescribed period, appeal to the Minister in relation to the granting or refusing of a licence under section 4, the conditions attached to such a licence or amendment or deletion of conditions attached to or attachment of new conditions to a licence on a review under section 7.
(2) The Minister, after consideration of an appeal under this section, shall either (as he thinks proper) refuse the appeal or give appropriate directions to the local authority concerned relating to the granting or revoking of a licence or the attachment, amendment or deletion of conditions, and, where such directions are given, the authority shall, as soon as may be after receipt of the directions, comply with them.
Registers of licences under sections 4 and 16 and of water abstractions.
9.—(1) Each local authority shall cause to be established and kept a register of all licences under section 4 granted by it.
(2) Each local authority shall cause to be established and kept a register of abstractions from waters in its functional area.
(3) Each sanitary authority shall cause to be established and kept a register of all licences under section 16 granted by it.
(4) A register under this section shall be kept at the offices of the local authority or sanitary authority and shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by any person.
(5) Any person shall be entitled to obtain from a local authority or sanitary authority a copy of any entry in a register under this section on payment of a prescribed fee.
(6) Every document purporting to be a copy of an entry in a register under this section and purporting to be certified by an officer of a local authority or sanitary authority to be a true copy of the entry shall, without proof of the signature of the person purporting so to certify or that he was such officer, be received in evidence in any legal proceedings and shall, until the contrary is proved, be deemed to be a true copy of the entry and to be evidence of the terms of the entry.
(7) The Minister may make regulations for the purpose of this section.
(8) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (7), regulations under this section may provide that specified classes of abstractions shall be exempt from subsection (2).
Provisions relating to certain contraventions under Act.
10.—(1) Where it appears to a local authority, the Minister for Fisheries or a board of conservators that a contravention of section 3 (1) or 4 (1) has occurred or is occurring, the authority, the Minister for Fisheries or the board may apply to the District Court for an order directing such person as may be named in the order to mitigate or remedy any effects of the contravention within such period and in such manner as may be specified in the order.
(2) A person who does not comply with an order under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £250 (together with, in the case of a continuing offence, a fine not exceeding £100 for every day on which the contravention is continued) or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or, at the discretion of the court, to both such fine or fines and such imprisonment.
(3) An order under subsection (1) shall not be made without the person proposing to be named in the order being given an opportunity of being heard by the District Court, and may contain any terms and conditions as to the payment of costs as the court considers appropriate.
(4) Where a person does not comply with an order under subsection (1) within the period specified in the order a local authority may take any steps it considers necessary to mitigate or remedy any effects of the contravention and may recover the cost of such steps as a simple contract debt in a court of competent jurisdiction from the person named in the order.
(5) A local authority may serve on any person making, causing or permitting a discharge or entry in contravention of section 3 (1) or 4 (1) a notice in writing requiring the ceasing of the contravention within such period as may be specified in the notice and requiring mitigation or remedying of any effects of the contravention within such period and in such manner as may be so specified.
(6) Where a person does not comply with a notice under subsection (5) within the period specified in the notice, the local authority which served the notice may take any steps it considers necessary to prevent the entry or discharge or to mitigate or remedy any effects of the contravention and may recover the cost of such steps from the person on whom the notice is served as a simple contract debt in a court of competent jurisdiction on satisfying the court that that person is responsible for the contravention.
(7) An application may be made under subsection (1) and a notice served under subsection (5) whether or not there has been a prosecution under section 3 or section 4.
(8) An application under subsection (1) may be made to a justice of the District Court sitting within the District Court District in which the contravention occurs.
(9) A prosecution for an offence under this section may be taken by a local authority, a board of conservators or the Minister for Fisheries.
High Court's power to prohibit continuance of contravention of section 3 (1) or 4 (1).
11.—(1) Where a contravention of section 3 (1) or 4 (1) has occurred or is occurring, the High Court may, on the application of a local authority or any other person, whether or not the person has an interest in the waters, by order prohibit the continuance of the contravention.
(2) An application for an order under this section shall be by motion, and the High Court when considering the matter may make such interim or interlocutory order as it considers appropriate.
(3) The order by which an application under this section is determined may contain any terms and conditions as to the payment of costs as the High Court considers appropriate.
Local authority's power to require measures to be taken to prevent water pollution.
12.—(1) Where it appears to a local authority that it is necessary to do so in order to prevent or control pollution of waters, it may serve a notice in writing under this section on any person having the custody or control of any polluting matter on premises in its functional area.
(2) A notice under this section shall—
(a) specify the measures which appear to the local authority serving the notice to be necessary in order to prevent such matter from entering waters,
(b) direct the person on whom the notice is served to take such measures as are specified in the notice, and
(c) specify a period within which such measures are to be taken.
(3) A person on whom a notice under this section is served may make representations to the local authority concerned regarding the terms of the notice within such period as may be specified in the notice and the authority, after consideration of any such representations, may amend the notice.
(4) Where a notice under this section is not complied with in the period specified in the notice, the person on whom it was served shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £250, together with, in the case of a continuing offence, a further fine not exceeding £100 for every day on which the offence is continued.
(5) Where a person does not comply with a notice under this section within the period specified in the notice, the local authority which served the notice may take any steps it considers necessary to prevent polluting matter in relation to which the notice is served from entering waters, and may recover the cost of such steps from the person on whom the notice is served as a simple contract debt in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(6) A prosecution for an offence under this section may be taken by a local authority.
Local authority's power to prevent and abate pollution in certain circumstances.
13.—(1) Where it appears to a local authority that urgent measures are necessary to prevent pollution of any waters in its functional area, to remove polluting matter from waters in that area, or, while such matter is in waters outside that area, to prevent it affecting any part of that area, the local authority may take such steps, carry out such operations or give such assistance as it considers necessary to prevent such matter from entering the waters, to remove the matter from the waters, to dispose of it as it thinks fit and to mitigate or remedy the effects of any pollution caused by the matter.
(2) Where a local authority takes steps, carries out operations or gives assistance under this section it may recover the cost of such steps, operations or assistance as a simple contract debt in a court of competent jurisdiction from such person as the local authority satisfies the court is the person whose act or omission necessitated such steps, operations or assistance.
Notification of accidental discharges.
14.—(1) As soon as practicable after the occurrence of an accidental discharge, spillage or deposit of any polluting matter which enters or is likely to enter any waters or a sewer, the person responsible shall notify the local authority in whose functional area the discharge, spillage or deposit occurs or, in the case of a sewer, the sanitary authority in which the sewer is vested or by which it is controlled.
(2) A person who fails to comply with subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £250.
(3) A prosecution for an offence under this section may be taken by a local authority or a sanitary authority.
Water quality management plans.
15.—(1) A local authority may and, if so directed by the Minister, shall make a water quality management plan for any waters situated in its functional area or which adjoin that area.
(2) A plan under this section shall contain such objectives for the prevention and abatement of pollution of the waters the subject of the plan and such other provisions as appear to the local authority to be necessary.
(3) A plan under this section may be revised or replaced from time to time.
(4) A plan under this section may relate to the sea to such extent as the Minister, after consultation with the Minister for Fisheries, may approve.
(5) A plan under this section shall not contain any provision inconsistent with regulations under section 26.
(6) As soon as practicable after a plan under this section is made, revised or replaced, a copy of the plan as so made, revised or replaced shall be furnished by the local authority concerned to the Minister, to the Minister for Fisheries, to local authorities whose functional areas adjoin that of the authority making, revising or replacing the plan, to sanitary authorities and to boards of conservators in the functional area of that authority.
(7) The Minister may—
(a) require plans under this section by two or more local authorities to be co-ordinated in relation to matters and in a manner specified by him,
(b) require a local authority to revise a plan under this section in relation to matters and in a manner specified by him and at such intervals as he may direct, or to replace such a plan,
(c) direct two or more local authorities jointly to make, revise or replace a plan under this section,
and local authorities shall comply with any such requisition or direction.
(8) The making, revision or replacement of a plan under this section shall be a reserved function.
(9) Any dispute between two or more local authorities as to which of them shall make a plan under this section for any waters shall be determined by the Minister.
(10) The Minister may make regulations for the purpose of this section and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, such regulations may provide for all or any of the following:
(a) the publication in newspapers circulating in the functional area of a local authority of notice that a plan under this section is proposed to be made, revised or replaced,
(b) a statement in such a notice indicating where and when a copy of the proposed plan may be inspected and that representations relating to the plan may be made to the local authority within a specified period.
(11) Any person may, in accordance with regulations under subsection (10), make representations to a local authority in relation to a plan proposed to be made, revised or replaced under this section, and every such representation shall be considered by the local authority, which may then, as it thinks fit, make, revise or replace the plan with or without amendment.
Licensing of discharges to sewers.
16.—(1) A person other than a sanitary authority shall not, after such date as may be fixed for the purpose of this section by order made by the Minister, discharge or cause or permit the discharge of any trade effluent or other matter (other than domestic sewage or storm water) to a sewer, except under and in accordance with a licence under this section granted by the sanitary authority in which the sewer is vested or by which it is controlled.
(2) (a) A sanitary authority may at its discretion refuse to grant a licence under this section or may grant such a licence subject to such conditions as it thinks appropriate and specifies in the licence.
(b) In considering whether or not to grant a licence under this section a sanitary authority shall have regard to the objectives contained in any relevant plan under section 15.
(3) A sanitary authority shall not grant a licence under this section in respect of the discharge of a trade effluent which would not comply with any relevant standard prescribed under section 26.
(4) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2), conditions attached to a licence under this section may—
(a) relate to—
(i) the nature, composition, temperature, volume, rate, method of treatment and location of a discharge and the periods during which a discharge may be made or may not be made;
(ii) the provision and maintenance of meters, gauges, other apparatus, manholes and inspection chambers;
(iii) the taking and analysis of samples, the keeping of records and furnishing of information to the sanitary authority;
(b) require defrayment of or contribution towards (by the payment of a capital sum or an annual charge or both) the cost incurred by the sanitary authority in monitoring, treating or disposing of a discharge, and
(c) specify a date not later than which any conditions shall be complied with.
(5) Any conditions attached to a licence under this section shall be binding on any person discharging, or causing or permitting the discharge of, trade effluent or other matter to which the licence relates.
(6) Where after three years from the date on which a licence under this section is granted no discharge of the type authorised by the licence has been made, or where such a discharge has ceased for a period of three years, the licence shall cease to have effect.
(7) A person shall not permit or cause the entry of any polluting matter, including sewage, to any drain or sewer provided solely for the reception or disposal of storm water.
(8) A person who contravenes subsection (1) or (7) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable—
(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £250 (together with, in the case of a continuing offence, a fine not exceeding £100 for every day on which the contravention is continued) or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or, at the discretion of the court, to both such fine or fines and such imprisonment, or
(b) on conviction on indictment, 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 contravention is continued) or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or, at the discretion of the court, to both such fine or fines and such imprisonment.
(9) A prosecution for an offence under this section may be taken by a sanitary authority.
(10) The Minister may, after consultation with the Minister for Fisheries, by regulations exempt from subsection (1) such classes of discharge as he specifies in the regulations.
(11) It shall be a good defence to a prosecution for an offence under any enactment other than this Act that the act constituting the alleged offence is authorised by a licence under this section.
(12) A person shall not be entitled solely by reason of a licence under this section to make, cause or permit a discharge to a sewer.
(13) A sanitary authority may serve on any person making, causing or permitting a discharge or entry in contravention of subsection (1) or (7) a notice in writing requiring the ceasing of the contravention within such period as may be specified in the notice and requiring mitigation or remedying of any effects of the contravention within such period and in such manner as may be so specified.
(14) Where a person does not comply with a notice under subsection (13) within the period specified in the notice, the sanitary authority which served the notice may take any steps it considers necessary to prevent the discharge or entry or to mitigate or remedy any effects of the contravention and may recover the cost of such steps from the person on whom the notice is served as a simple contract debt in a court of competent jurisdiction on satisfying the court that that person is responsible for the contravention.
(15) A notice may be served under subsection (13) whether or not there has been a prosecution under this section.
Review of licence under section 16.
17.—(1) A sanitary authority may review a licence under section 16 at intervals of not less than three years from the date of the licence or the last review of the licence, or at any time with the consent of the person making, causing or permitting the discharge.
(2) As soon as may be after it has completed a review under this section, a sanitary authority may amend or delete any condition attached to the licence or attach new conditions to the licence, and where appropriate shall grant a revised licence under section 16 in substitution for the licence reviewed.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act or any provision in a licence under section 16—
(a) any such licence may be reviewed at any time by the sanitary authority which granted it where the authority has reasonable grounds for believing the discharge authorised by the licence to be a significant threat to public health or where a material change (which could not reasonably have been foreseen when the licence was granted) has taken place in conditions in the waters to which the sewer discharges,
(b) where regulations under section 26 relate to a trade effluent the discharge of which is authorised by such a licence, the licence shall be reviewed by the sanitary authority which granted it as soon as may be after the regulations are made,
(c) where regulations under section 26 relate to sewage effluent from a sewer or to waters to which sewage effluent from a sewer discharges, any such licence which authorises the discharge of trade effluent to the sewer shall be reviewed by the sanitary authority which granted it as soon as may be after the regulations are made,
and subsection (2) shall apply to a review under this subsection.
(4) (a) The Minister may make regulations for the purpose of this section.
(b) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (a), regulations under this subsection may make provision in relation to all or any of the following matters:
(i) the giving of notice by a sanitary authority to a person discharging or causing or permitting a discharge of intention to review a licence, and
(ii) requiring a statement in such a notice that representations relating to the review may be made within a specified period
Provisions consequential on section 16.
18.—(1) A person shall be deemed not to have contravened section 16 (1) in relation to an existing discharge of trade effluent or other matter made before he is granted or refused a licence under section 16 if, before the relevant date, he applies for such a licence and complies with the requirements of any regulations under section 19 regarding the furnishing of information to a sanitary authority.
(2) In a prosecution for an offence under section 16 it shall be presumed, until the contrary is shown by the person charged, that the discharge concerned is not an existing discharge of trade effluent or other matter made in the circumstances specified in subsection (1).
(3) Where regulations under section 26 relate to an existing discharge of trade effluent being made in the circumstances specified in subsection (1), the sanitary authority concerned shall grant or refuse (as the case may require) a licence under section 16 in respect of the discharge as soon as may be after the regulations are made.
(4) In this section—
“existing discharge” means a discharge which is similar in nature, composition and temperature to, and is of a similar volume and is made at a similar rate to, a discharge made during any corresponding period in the period of twelve months ending on the relevant date;
“relevant date” means the date fixed by order under section 16 (1).
Regulations for the purpose of sections 16 and 20.
19.—(1) The Minister may make regulations for the purpose of sections 16 and 20.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), regulations under this section may make provision for all or any of the following:
(a) the form of licence;
(b) requiring the furnishing by applicants of specified information;
(c) requiring the production of evidence to verify any information given by an applicant;
(d) requiring sanitary authorities to furnish to the Minister and to any other specified persons any specified information in relation to any applications and the manner in which they have been dealt with;
(e) requiring an applicant to defray or contribute towards the cost of any investigation carried out by a sanitary authority in relation to an application.
(3) (a) A person who, in relation to an application for a licence under section 16 or an appeal under section 20, when furnishing information under this section or when verifying any such information, makes a statement in writing which is false or to his knowledge misleading in a material respect shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £100.
(b) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this subsection, any licence issued to that person consequent on the application or appeal in relation to which the information was furnished shall stand revoked from the date of the conviction.
(4) A defrayment or contribution under subsection (2) (e) or section 16 (4) (b) shall be payable on demand and, in default of being so paid, shall be recoverable as a simple contract debt in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(5) A prosecution for an offence under this section may be taken by the Minister or a sanitary authority.
Appeals in relation to sections 16 and 17.
20.—(1) A person to whom a licence under section 16 has been refused, or granted subject to conditions, may appeal to the Minister in relation to the refusal to grant such a licence, the conditions attached to such a licence or amendment or deletion of conditions attached to or attachment of new conditions to such a licence on review.
(2) The Minister, after consideration of an appeal under this section, shall either (as he thinks proper) refuse the appeal or give appropriate directions to the sanitary authority concerned relating to the granting of a licence or the attachment, amendment or deletion of conditions, and, where such directions are given, the authority shall, as soon as may be after receipt of the directions, comply with them.
Transfer of certain appeals to An Bord Pleanála.
21.—(1) The Minister may by order provide that all appeals under sections 8 and 20 (or such classes of such appeals as he specifies in the order) shall, in lieu of being brought to the Minister, be brought to An Bord Pleanála.
(2) Where an order under this section is made references in sections 8 and 20 to the Minister in relation to appeals the subject of the order shall be construed as references to An Bord Pleanála and the determination of such appeals shall be a function of An Bord Pleanála.
(3) An order under this section may contain such incidental, supplementary, consequential and transitional provisions (including modification of any provision of this Act and modification or application of any provision of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Acts, 1963 and 1976) as appear to the Minister to be necessary for the purpose of, in consequence of or to give full effect to the order.
(4) The Minister may by order amend or revoke an order under this section.
(5) Every order under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the order is passed by either such House within the next 21 days on which that House has sat after the order is laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.
Monitoring, etc. by local authorities and sanitary authorities.
22.—(1) A local authority or sanitary authority—
(a) shall carry out or cause to be carried out or arrange for such monitoring of waters and discharges of trade effluents and sewage effluents and other matter to waters (in the case of a local authority) or to sewers (in the case of a sanitary authority) as it considers necessary for the performance of any of its functions under this Act or as may be directed by the Minister,
(b) may collect, cause to be collected or arrange for the collection of such information as it considers necessary for the performance of any of its functions under this Act or as may be directed by the Minister.
(2) A local authority or a sanitary authority may provide meters, gauges, manholes or inspection chambers or any other apparatus for any of the purposes of this section.
Obligation to give information to local authorities and sanitary authorities.
23.—(1) A local authority may, for any purpose relating to its functions under this Act, by notice in writing require any person who is abstracting water from or discharging, or causing or permitting the discharge of, effluent or other matter to any waters to state in writing to the authority, within a specified time not less than 14 days after being so required, such particulars of the abstraction or discharge as may be specified in the notice.
(2) A sanitary authority may, for any purpose relating to its functions under this Act, by notice in writing require any person making, causing or permitting a discharge to a sewer to state in writing to the authority, within a specified time not less than 14 days after being so required, such particulars of the discharge as may be specified in the notice.
(3) Every person who is required under this section to state any matter or thing to a local authority or sanitary authority and either fails to do so within the time appointed under this section or, when so stating, makes a statement in writing which is false or to his knowledge misleading in a material respect, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £100.
(4) A prosecution for an offence under this section may be taken by a local authority or a sanitary authority.
Consultation by local authorities, sanitary authorities and boards of conservators.
24.—The Minister may, after consultation with the Minister for Fisheries, the Minister for Industry and Commerce, any other Minister who appears to him to be interested and the Water Pollution Advisory Council, make regulations requiring local authorities, sanitary authorities and boards of conservators to consult with such persons and in such manner in relation to the exercise of such powers and duties under this Act as may be prescribed.
Establishment of water quality control authorities.
25.—(1) The Minister may, after consultation with the Minister for the Public Service and the Water Pollution Advisory Council, by order establish, in respect of such area as is specified in the order, a water quality control authority.
(2) A water quality control authority shall perform such functions under this Act of a local authority relating to water pollution as may be specified in the order establishing the authority.
(3) An order under this section may contain such incidental, supplemental and consequential provisions as appear to the Minister to be necessary for the establishment of the authority, including provisions relating to the membership of a water quality control authority, the transfer to such an authority of specified functions under this Act of a local authority in relation to the area (or part of the area) in respect of which the authority is established, and any necessary modification of any statutory provisions relating to a local authority.
(4) A water quality control authority shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a seal and may sue and be sued in its corporate name and may hold and dispose of land.
(5) (a) A water quality control authority shall be a joint body within the meaning and for the purposes of the County Management Acts, 1940 to 1972.
(b) A water quality control authority shall be a local authority within the meaning and for the purposes of—
(i) the Local Government Acts, 1925 to 1974,
(ii) the Local Authorities (Officers and Employees) Acts, 1926 and 1940,
(iii) the Local Authorities (Combined Purchasing) Act, 1939,
(iv) the Local Government (Superannuation) Act, 1956, and
(v) the Local Authorities (Mutual Assurance) Acts, 1926 to 1935.
(6) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) or (3), an order under this section may—
(a) provide for the recoupment (in such manner as may be specified in the order) of all or part of the expenses of a water quality control authority and, where a local authority or other person fails to make such a recoupment, the deduction from moneys payable to the local authority or other person by any Minister and the payment to the water quality control authority by that Minister out of such moneys of an amount equal to that to be recouped, and
(b) include provisions relating to all or any of the following matters—
(i) appointment of members (including chairman),
(ii) cessation of membership,
(iii) meetings (including procedure, proceedings and quorum),
(iv) any matters ancillary or incidental to any of the foregoing matters.
(7) Where an order under this section is proposed to be made the Minister shall cause a draft thereof to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas, and the order shall not be made until a resolution approving of the draft has been passed by each House.
Quality standards, etc.
26.—(1) The Minister may, after consultation with the Minister for Fisheries, the Minister for Industry and Commerce, any other Minister who appears to him to be interested and the Water Pollution Advisory Council, prescribe for the purposes of this Act quality standards for waters, trade effluents and sewage effluents and standards in relation to methods of treatment of such effluents.
(2) Regulations under this section may relate to—
(i) all or specified, or specified classes of, waters, trade effluents or sewage effluents,
(ii) waters, trade effluents or sewage effluents in specified areas, or
(iii) waters specified by reference to their use.
(3) Where regulations under this section relate to sewage effluent from a sewer or to waters to which sewage effluent from a sewer discharges, it shall be the duty of the sanitary authority in which the sewer is vested or by which it is controlled to take steps as soon as practicable to ensure that the sewage effluent complies with, or does not result in the waters to which the effluent is discharged not complying with, any relevant standard prescribed under this section.
Regulations restricting use of certain vessels.
27.—(1) The Minister may, after consultation with the Minister for Transport and Power, the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland and the Water Pollution Advisory Council, make regulations to enable local authorities to prohibit, restrict or regulate the keeping or use, in such waters (other than tidal waters) as may be specified in the regulations, of vessels with sanitary appliances from which polluting matter passes or can pass into the waters.
(2) A sanitary authority may provide facilities for the reception and disposal of sewage from vessels and may impose fees or other charges for the use of such facilities.
(3) A person who contravenes a provision in a regulation under this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £250, together with, in the case of a continuing contravention, a further fine of £100 for every day on which the contravention is continued.
(4) A prosecution for an offence under this section may be taken by a local authority.
Powers of entry, inspection etc.
28.—(1) Subject to this section, an authorised person may at any reasonable time enter premises or vessels for the purposes of—
(a) performance of a function conferred under this Act on a local authority, a sanitary authority, the Minister, the Minister for Fisheries or a board of conservators,
(b) ascertaining whether such a function should be performed,
(c) ascertaining whether there is or has been a contravention of any provision of this Act or of any regulations under this Act, or
(d) carrying out such inspection and taking such samples of waters, effluents or other matter as may be necessary for the performance of such a function under this Act.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (1), the power of entry to premises or vessels conferred by that subsection may be exercised at any time in relation to a function conferred by section 13.
(3) In any legal proceedings under this Act it shall be presumed until the contrary is shown that any sample of effluent taken by an authorised person at an inspection chamber or manhole or other place provided under and in accordance with a licence under this Act is a sample of what was passing from the premises, works, apparatus, plant or drainage pipe concerned to waters or a sewer at the time the sample was taken.
(4) A person who obstructs an authorised person in the performance of his duties under this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £250 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(5) The Minister may make regulations for the purpose of this section and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, such regulations may—
(a) provide for the taking of samples and the carrying out of tests, examinations and analyses of samples taken under this section,
(b) prescribe the classes of persons to be responsible for taking such samples and for the carrying out of such tests, examinations and analyses,
(c) prescribe the certificate or other evidence to be given of the result of any such test, examination or analysis and the classes of persons by and to whom such certificate or evidence is to be given,
(d) provide that any certificate or other evidence prescribed under paragraph (c) and given in respect of the test, examination or analysis of a sample shall in relation to that sample be sufficient evidence of the result of the test, examination or analysis until the contrary is shown.
(6) (a) A person authorised under this section to enter premises or vessels shall, if so required, produce evidence of his authority before so entering and may take with him such other persons and such equipment as may be necessary.
(b) Entry to any premises or vessel used exclusively for residential purposes, and entry with heavy equipment to any other land, shall not, except for the purpose of exercising a function conferred by section 13, be made under this section unless seven days' notice in writing of the intended entry has been given to the occupier.
(c) Any person who in the exercise of his powers under this section enters any premises or vessel which is unoccupied or from which the occupier is temporarily absent shall leave the premises or vessel as effectually secured against trespassers as he found it.
(7) (a) Where it is shown to the satisfaction of a justice of the District Court on sworn information in writing—
(i) that admission to any premises or vessel which any person is entitled to enter under this section has been refused to that person or that refusal is apprehended, and
(ii) that there is reasonable ground for the entry for the purpose for which entry is required;
the justice may by warrant under his hand authorise that person to enter the premises or vessel.
(b) A warrant granted under this subsection shall continue in force until the purpose for which entry is required has been satisfied.
(8) A prosecution for an offence under this section may be taken by the Minister for Fisheries, a local authority, a sanitary authority, a board of conservators or the Minister.
(9) In this section—
“authorised person” means a person who is appointed by a local authority, a sanitary authority, the Minister, the Minister for Fisheries or a board of conservators to be an authorised person for the purposes of this Act.
Research, etc. into water pollution.
29.—A local authority may contribute to the funds of a person engaged in or proposing to engage in research, surveys or investigations in relation to water pollution, but any such contribution shall not exceed any limit or contravene any condition which may from time to time be prescribed.
Regulations generally.
30.—(1) The Minister may make regulations for prescribing any matter referred to in this Act as prescribed or to be prescribed or in relation to any matter referred to in this Act as the subject of regulations.
(2) Every regulation made under this Act shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the regulation is passed by either such House within the next 21 days on which that House has sat after the regulation is laid before it, the regulation shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.
Local authority's power to prosecute.
31.—Where under this Act a local authority may prosecute for an offence, the authority may so prosecute whether or not the offence occurred in (or in respect of waters in) the authority's functional area.
Service of notices under Act.
32.—(1) Any notice required to be given or served by or under this Act shall be addressed to the person concerned and given or served in one of the following ways—
(a) by addressing it to him by name and delivering it to him,
(b) by leaving it at the address at which he ordinarily resides,
(c) by sending it by post in a prepaid registered letter addressed to him at the address at which he ordinarily resides,
(d) where the address at which he ordinarily resides cannot be ascertained by reasonable inquiry and the notice is required to be given in respect of any premises or vessel, by delivering it to a person over 16 years of age resident or employed on the premises or vessel or by affixing it in a conspicuous position on or near the premises or vessel.
(2) Where the name of the occupier cannot be ascertained by reasonable inquiry a notice under this section may be addressed to “the occupier”.
(3) For the purpose of this section a company registered under the Companies Act, 1963, shall be deemed to be ordinarily resident at its registered office, and every other body corporate and every unincorporated body shall be deemed to be ordinarily resident at its principal office or place of business.
Commencement.
33.—This Act shall come into operation on such day or days as may be appointed by order or orders of the Minister, either generally or with reference to a particular purpose or provision, and different days may be fixed for different purposes and different provisions of this Act.
Repeals.
34.—The following are hereby repealed—
(a) the Rivers Pollution Prevention Act, 1876.
(b) the Rivers Pollution Prevention Act, 1893.
(c) sections 171 and 172 of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959.
Expenses.
35.—(1) The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance.
(2) The expenses under this Act of the council of the county of Dublin shall be charged on that county exclusive of the borough of Dun Laoghaire.
Short title.
36.—This Act may be cited as the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977.