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Number 16 of 1974
MAINTENANCE ORDERS ACT, 1974
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PART I
Preliminary and General
Section | |
PART II
Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement of Maintenance Orders
Acts Referred to | |
1971, No. 36 | |
Married Women (Maintenance in case of Desertion) Act, 1886 | 1886, c. 52 |
1930, No. 17 | |
1940, No. 23 | |
1964, No. 11 | |
Number 16 of 1974
MAINTENANCE ORDERS ACT, 1974
PART I
Preliminary and General
Short title.
1.—This Act may be cited as the Maintenance Orders Act, 1974.
Commencement.
2.—This Act shall come into operation on such day as the Minister for Justice by order appoints.
Interpretation.
3.—(1) In this Act—
“appropriate authority” means the person who, in a reciprocating jurisdiction, has a function corresponding to that of the Master of the High Court under section 19 (3);
“enforcement order” has the meaning assigned to it in section 6;
“maintenance creditor”, in relation to a maintenance order, means the person entitled to the payments for which the order provides;
“maintenance debtor”, in relation to a maintenance order, means the person liable to make payments under the order;
“maintenance order” means—
(a) an order (including an affiliation order or an order consequent thereon) which provides for the periodical payment of sums of money towards the maintenance of any person, being a person whom the person liable to make payments under the order is, in accordance with the law of the jurisdiction in which the order was made, liable to maintain, or
(b) an affiliation order or an order consequent thereon, being an order which provides for the payment by a person adjudged, found or declared to be a child's father of expenses incidental to the birth of the child or, where the child has died, of the funeral expenses,
and, in the case of a maintenance order which has been varied, means that order as varied;
“maintenance proceedings” means proceedings in relation to the making, variation or revocation of a maintenance order;
“notice of the institution of the proceedings”, in relation to maintenance proceedings, means—
(a) where the proceedings were instituted in the State, a copy of the summons or other originating document served in the State or a notice of the issue of the summons or other originating document,
(b) where the proceedings were instituted in Northern Ireland or in England and Wales, a copy of the summons or other originating document served in a reciprocating jurisdiction, a notice that a provisional maintenance order has been made or a notice of an application to a court for a maintenance order,
(c) where the proceedings were instituted in Scotland, a copy of the writ, summons or other originating document, together with a copy of the warrant for service and a copy of the citation;
“reciprocating jurisdiction” means Northern Ireland, England and Wales, or Scotland;
“revocation”, in relation to a maintenance order, includes the discharge of such order or the termination of a weekly sum payable thereunder and cognate words shall be construed accordingly.
(2) For the avoidance of doubt, a maintenance order includes—
(a) such an order which is incidental to a decision as to the status of natural persons,
(b) such an order obtained by or in favour of a public authority in connection with the provision of maintenance or other benefits in respect of a person whom the maintenance debtor is, in accordance with the law of the jurisdiction in which the order was made, liable to maintain, and
(c) a provision in an agreement in writing between spouses for the making by one spouse of periodical payments towards the maintenance of the other or of any of their children or of any child to whom either is in loco parentis, being an agreement which has been embodied in or approved by a court order or made a rule of court.
(3) A reference in this Act to a section is to a section of this Act unless it is indicated that reference to some other enactment is intended.
(4) A reference in this Act to a subsection, paragraph or other division is to the subsection, paragraph or other division of the provision in which the reference occurs unless it is indicated that reference to some other provision is intended.
Scope of Act.
4.—This Act shall have effect in relation to maintenance orders whether made before or after the commencement of this Act but shall not have effect in relation to arrears accrued before such commencement.
Expenses.
5.—The expenses incurred in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
PART II
Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement of Maintenance Orders
Maintenance orders made in a reciprocating jurisdiction
Recognition and enforcement.
[C 31, 32.1, 33.3, 34.1 (part) and 35]
6.—(1) Subject to and in accordance with this Act, a maintenance order made in a reciprocating jurisdiction and enforceable therein shall be recognised and enforceable in the State when, on receipt by the Master of the High Court from an appropriate authority of a request for the enforcement of the order, an order is made under subsection (4).
(2) The documents referred to in section 13 (1) shall be attached to the request.
(3) The maintenance debtor shall not, at this stage, be entitled to make any submission on the request.
(4) The Master shall consider the request privately and shall make an order (in this Act referred to as an enforcement order) for the enforcement of the maintenance order to which the request relates, unless it appears to him from the documents before him or from his own knowledge that its recognition and enforcement is prohibited by section 9.
(5) The Master shall cause his decision on the request to be brought to the notice of the maintenance creditor and, if an enforcement order has been made, shall cause notice thereof to be served on the maintenance debtor.
(6) (a) The notice to be served on a maintenance debtor under subsection (5) shall include a statement of his right of appeal under section 7 (1), the restriction imposed by section 7 (3) on the taking of measures of execution against his property and the provisions of section 9.
(b) Service of the notice may be effected personally or in any manner in which service of a superior court document within the meaning of section 23 of the Courts Act, 1971, may be effected.
Appeal against enforcement order.
[C 36.1, 37.1, 38.1, 39.1 and 37.2]
7.—(1) Where an enforcement order is made, the maintenance debtor may appeal to the High Court against the order within one month of service of notice thereof on him.
(2) The Court may, on the application of the appellant, stay the proceedings if either enforcement of the maintenance order has been suspended in the reciprocating jurisdiction in which it was made pending the determination of any form of appeal or the time for an appeal has not yet expired and enforcement has been suspended pending the making of an appeal; in the latter case, the Court may lay down the time for which it will stay the proceedings.
(3) During the time allowed for an appeal under subsection (1) and until the appeal is determined, no measures of execution may be taken against the property of the maintenance debtor other than measures ordered by a court and designed to protect the interests of the maintenance creditor.
(4) The judgment given on the appeal may be contested only on a point of law.
Appeal against refusal of enforcement order.
[C 40.1, 40.2 (part) and 41]
8.—(1) If a request to which section 6 (1) relates is refused, the maintenance creditor may appeal to the High Court against the refusal.
(2) Notice of the appeal shall be served on the maintenance debtor.
(3) The judgment given on the appeal may be contested only on a point of law.
Prohibition of recognition and enforcement.
[C 27 (part) and 34.2 (part)]
9.—A maintenance order made in a reciprocating jurisdiction shall not be recognised or enforceable if, but only if—
(a) recognition or enforcement would be contrary to public policy,
(b) where it was made in default of appearance, the person in default was not served with notice of the institution of the proceedings in sufficient time to enable him to arrange for his defence, or
(c) it is irreconcilable with a judgment given in a dispute between the same parties in the State.
Jurisdiction, substance not to be examined.
[C 28.3 (part), 29 and 34.3]
10.—In any proceedings under this Act for the recognition and enforcement of a maintenance order—
(a) the jurisdiction of the court which made the order may not be examined, and
(b) the order may not be examined as to its substance.
Partial enforcement.
[C 42]
11.—(1) Where, in a maintenance order made in a reciprocating jurisdiction, there are provisions in respect of which enforcement cannot be ordered, an enforcement order may be made in respect of any other provision of the maintenance order.
(2) Where partial enforcement of a maintenance order is sought in a request to which section 6 (1) relates, the enforcement order may provide accordingly.
Restriction on security for costs.
[C 45]
12.—No security or deposit, however described, may be required from a person seeking enforcement of a maintenance order made in a reciprocating jurisdiction solely on the ground that he is not residing in the State.
Documents required to accompany request for enforcement order.
[C 46, 47 and 48]
13.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), the documents which shall be attached to a request to which section 6 (1) relates are—
(a) a certified copy of the maintenance order concerned,
(b) in the case of a maintenance order made in default of appearance, the original or a certified copy of the document which establishes that notice of the institution of the proceedings was served on the person in default,
(c) documents which establish that the order is enforceable according to the law of the jurisdiction in which it was made and that notice of the order has been served on the maintenance debtor outside the State or sent by registered post to him at an address within the State, and
(d) where appropriate, a document showing that the maintenance creditor is receiving legal aid in that jurisdiction.
(2) If the documents specified in subsection (1) (b) or (1) (d) are not produced, the Master of the High Court may allow time for their production, accept equivalent documents or, if he considers that there is sufficient information available, dispense with their production.
(3) If the Master so requires, a translation of the documents shall be produced; the translation shall be certified as correct by a person competent to do so.
(4) Where the Master receives a document containing a request for the enforcement in the State of a maintenance order made in a reciprocating jurisdiction and purporting to have been transmitted by or at the instance of an appropriate authority, he may, without further proof, accept the document as being a request to which section 6 (1) relates and as having been received from an appropriate authority.
(5) A document which purports to be—
(a) a copy of a maintenance order made by a court in a reciprocating jurisdiction, or of the document specified in subsection (1) (b), and to be certified by a judge, magistrate or officer of that court to be a true copy thereof,
(b) any other document specified in subsection (1), or any equivalent document to which subsection (2) relates, and to be signed by a judge, magistrate or officer of such court, or
(c) a translation required under subsection (3) and to be certified as correct by a person competent to do so,
may, without further proof, be accepted by the Master as being such copy, document or translation, as the case may be.
Enforcement by District Court.
14.—(1) In this section “enforceable maintenance order” means—
(a) a maintenance order in respect of which an enforcement order has been made, or
(b) in the case of a maintenance order to which section 11 relates, the maintenance order to the extent to which it is ordered to be enforced in accordance with that section.
(2) (a) The District Court shall have jurisdiction to enforce an enforceable maintenance order and for that purpose the order shall, from the date on which the maintenance order was made, be deemed to be an order made by the District Court under section 1 of the Married Women (Maintenance in case of Desertion) Act, 1886, or section 3 of the Illegitimate Children (Affiliation Orders) Act, 1930, as the case may be.
(b) Paragraph (a) shall have effect notwithstanding that any amount payable under the enforceable maintenance order concerned exceeds the maximum amount which the District Court has jurisdiction to award under the said Acts.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Acts referred to in subsection (2), as extended by that subsection, an enforceable maintenance order may not be varied or revoked by a court in the State.
(4) Where an enforceable maintenance order is varied by a court in a reciprocating jurisdiction and a certified copy of the variation order is sent to the District Court, the enforceable maintenance order shall, from the date on which the variation order takes effect, be enforceable in the State as so varied.
(5) Where an enforceable maintenance order is revoked by a court in a reciprocating jurisdiction and a certified copy of the revocation order is sent to the District Court, the enforceable maintenance order shall, from the date on which the revocation order takes effect, cease to be enforceable in the State except in relation to any arrears accrued at that date.
(6) Any arrears under an enforceable maintenance order and any costs in respect of such order awarded against the maintenance debtor by a court in a reciprocating jurisdiction shall, for the purposes of subsection (2) and subject to section 4, be regarded as a sum payable by virtue of an order made under the enactments referred to in the said subsection (2), as extended by that subsection.
(7) The jurisdiction vested in the District Court by this section shall be exercised by the justice of the District Court for the time being assigned to the district court district in which the maintenance debtor under the maintenance order concerned resides.
(8) (a) Any sum payable by virtue of an enforceable maintenance order shall, notwithstanding anything to the contrary therein, be paid by the maintenance debtor to the district court clerk for the district court area in which the debtor for the time being resides for transmission to the maintenance creditor or, where a public authority has been authorised by the creditor to receive such sum, to that public authority.
(b) The district court clerk shall, if any sum payable by virtue of an enforceable maintenance order is not duly paid and if the maintenance creditor so requests in writing, make an application under section 8 (which relates to the enforcement of certain maintenance orders) of the Enforcement of Court Orders Act, 1940, and for that purpose the references in that section (other than subsections (4) and (5)) to the applicant shall be construed as references to the district court clerk.
(c) Nothing in this subsection shall affect the right of a maintenance creditor to proceed for the recovery of any sum payable to a district court clerk under paragraph (a).
(9) A maintenance debtor under an enforceable maintenance order shall give notice to the district court clerk for the district court area in which he has been residing of any change of address and, if he fails without reasonable cause to do so, he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds.
(10) In this section, a reference to a district court clerk shall, where there are two or more district court clerks for the district court area concerned, be construed as a reference to any of those clerks.
(11) For the purposes of this section, the Dublin Metropolitan District shall be deemed to be a district court area.
Service of certain documents.
15.—Service of a document relating to maintenance proceedings in a reciprocating jurisdiction which is received by the Master of the High Court from an appropriate authority for service on the person against whom the proceedings have been instituted may be effected in any manner in which service of a District Court document within the meaning of section 7 of the Courts Act, 1964, may be effected.
Saving.
16.—Nothing in this Act (other than section 9) shall be taken as preventing the recognition of a maintenance order which is made in a reciprocating jurisdiction and which, apart from this Act, would be recognised in the State.
Maintenance orders made in the State
Jurisdiction where defendant resides in reciprocating jurisdiction and transmission of documents.
17.—(1) Where proceedings are instituted under the Married Women (Maintenance in case of Desertion) Act, 1886, or the Illegitimate Children (Affiliation Orders) Act, 1930, against a person residing in a reciprocating jurisdiction for the making, variation or revocation of a maintenance order, the court shall have the like jurisdiction to hear and determine the proceedings as it would have if that person were residing in the State and a summons to appear before the court had been served on him.
(2) The jurisdiction conferred by subsection (1) shall, in so far as it vests in the District Court, be exercised by the justice of the District Court for the time being assigned to the district court district in which the person instituting the proceedings resides.
(3) (a) On the institution of proceedings to which subsection (1) relates, the registrar or clerk of the court shall send the documents specified in paragraph (b) to the Master of the High Court, who shall transmit them to the appropriate authority in the reciprocating jurisdiction concerned if it appears to him that the statement referred to in paragraph (b) (ii) gives sufficient information to justify that being done.
(b) The documents referred to in paragraph (a) are—
(i) notice of the institution of the proceedings, which shall include a statement of the substance of the complaint or application, as the case may be,
(ii) a statement signed by the registrar or clerk giving such information as he possesses as to the whereabouts of the person against whom the proceedings have been instituted,
(iii) a statement signed by the registrar or clerk giving such information as he possesses for facilitating the identification of that person,
(iv) where available, a photograph of that person, and
(v) any other relevant document.
Restriction on making, etc., of maintenance orders.
18.—In any proceedings under the enactments referred to in section 17 (1) against a person residing in a reciprocating jurisdiction, a maintenance order shall not be made, varied or revoked unless—
(a) notice of the institution of the proceedings has been served on him in accordance with the law of that jurisdiction and in sufficient time to enable him to arrange for his defence, and
(b) the notice included a statement of the substance of the complaint or application, as the case may be.
Transmission of maintenance order to reciprocating jurisdiction for enforcement.
19.—(1) Where the maintenance debtor under a maintenance order made in the State is residing in a reciprocating jurisdiction, the maintenance creditor may apply to have the order transmitted to that jurisdiction for enforcement.
(2) The application shall be made to the registrar or clerk of the court which made the order.
(3) (a) If it appears to the registrar or clerk that the maintenance debtor is residing in a reciprocating jurisdiction,
(i) notice of the order shall be sent by him to such debtor by registered post, and
(ii) the documents specified in paragraph (b) shall be sent by him to the Master of the High Court, who shall transmit them to the appropriate authority in that jurisdiction if it appears to him that the statement referred to in paragraph (b) (v) gives sufficient information to justify that being done.
(b) The documents referred to in paragraph (a) (ii) are—
(i) a certified copy of the maintenance order,
(ii) in the case of a maintenance order made in default of appearance, the original or a certified copy of the document which establishes that notice of the institution of the proceedings was served on the person in default,
(iii) a certificate signed by the registrar or clerk certifying that the maintenance order is enforceable in the State and that notice thereof has been sent to the maintenance debtor by registered post,
(iv) a certificate signed by the registrar or clerk of any arrears under the order,
(v) a statement signed by the registrar or clerk giving such information as he possesses as to the whereabouts of the maintenance debtor,
(vi) a statement signed by the registrar or clerk giving such information as he possesses for facilitating the identification of the maintenance debtor,
(vii) where available, a photograph of the maintenance debtor, and
(viii) any other relevant document.
Evidence
Obtaining of evidence from reciprocating jurisdiction.
20.—A court may, for the purpose of any proceedings under this Act or proceedings to which section 17 (1) relates, send to the Master of the High Court for transmission to the appropriate authority in a reciprocating jurisdiction a request for the taking in that jurisdiction of the evidence of a person residing therein in relation to such matters as may be specified in the request.
Taking of evidence for court in reciprocating jurisdiction.
21.—(1) Where, for the purpose of any maintenance proceedings in a court in a reciprocating jurisdiction or proceedings in such court for the enforcement of a maintenance order, a request is received by the Master of the High Court from an appropriate authority for the taking in the State of the evidence of a person residing therein relating to matters specified in the request, the Master shall request a justice of the District Court to take such evidence.
(2) The justice shall, after giving notice of the time and place at which the evidence is to be taken to such persons and in such manner as he thinks fit, take the evidence and cause a record thereof to be sent to the Master for transmission to the appropriate authority from which the request was received.
(3) The justice shall have the same powers in relation to compelling the attendance of persons and the production of documents and in relation to the taking of evidence as the District Court has on the hearing of an action.
(4) A person whose evidence is requested to be taken under subsection (1) shall, in relation to the taking of the evidence, have the same rights as he would have on the hearing of an action in the District Court.
(5) Where any person, not being a party to proceedings referred to in subsection (1), attends pursuant to a request under that subsection, the justice concerned may order that there shall be paid to him out of public funds such sum by way of expenses as the District Court may order to be paid in respect of a witness on the hearing of an action.
Evidence in proceedings.
22.—(1) In any proceedings under this Act or proceedings to which section 17 (1) relates, unless the court sees good reason to the contrary—
(a) a document containing a request for the enforcement in the State of a maintenance order made in a reciprocating jurisdiction and purporting to have been transmitted to the Master of the High Court by or at the instance of an appropriate authority may, without further proof, be admitted as evidence that it is a request to which section 6 (1) relates and has been received by the Master from an appropriate authority;
(b) a document which purports to be a copy of a maintenance order, or of an order varying or revoking a maintenance order, made by a court in a reciprocating jurisdiction and to be certified by a judge, magistrate or officer of that court to be a true copy thereof may, without further proof, be admitted as evidence of the order;
(c) a statement contained in a document which purports to be certified by a judge, magistrate or officer of a court in a reciprocating jurisdiction to be—
(i) a document setting out or summarising evidence given in proceedings in that court or evidence taken in that jurisdiction for the purpose of maintenance proceedings in the State, whether in response to a request made under section 20 or otherwise, or a true copy of such document,
(ii) a document which has been received in evidence in proceedings in that court, or a true copy of a document so received, or
(iii) a true copy of the document specified in section 13 (1) (b),
may, without further proof, be admitted as evidence of any fact stated therein to the same extent as oral evidence of that fact by the maker of the statement would be admissible in those proceedings;
(d) a statement contained in a document which purports to be signed by a judge, magistrate or officer of a court in a reciprocating jurisdiction and to be—
(i) a document specified in section 13 (1) (other than paragraph (a)),
(ii) an equivalent document to which section 13 (2) relates,
(iii) a document which establishes that notice of the institution of proceedings in a reciprocating jurisdiction for the variation or revocation of a maintenance order made in that jurisdiction was served on the person against whom the proceedings were instituted, or
(iv) a certificate of any arrears under a maintenance order,
may, without further proof, be admitted as evidence of any fact stated or certified therein to the same extent as oral evidence of that fact by the maker of the statement would be admissible in those proceedings;
(e) a statement contained in a document which purports to be—
(i) a tax assessment or other statement or certificate relating to tax,
(ii) a statement or certificate of earnings,
(iii) a medical certificate,
(iv) a statement or certificate that a person was employed or was unemployed for a specified period,
(v) a statement or certificate that the notice referred to in section 18 (a) has been served in accordance with the law of the reciprocating jurisdiction concerned,
(vi) a letter written by a party to maintenance proceedings who is residing in a reciprocating jurisdiction, or
(vii) an affidavit or other document made or signed by such a party,
may, without further proof, be admitted as evidence of any fact stated or certified therein to the same extent as oral evidence of that fact by the maker of the statement would be admissible in those proceedings.
(2) The provisions of subsection (1) shall apply to a translation of any document referred to therein if it purports to be certified as correct by a person competent to do so.
(3) A statement which is admissible as evidence by virtue of subsection (1) (d), (1) (e) or (2) may be proved by the production of a copy (authenticated in such manner as the court may approve) of the document which contains the statement or of the material part thereof, whether or not the document is still in existence.
(4) In estimating the weight (if any) to be attached to a statement admitted as evidence by virtue of subsection (1) (c), (1) (d) or (1) (e), regard shall be had to any other evidence available to the court and to any circumstances from which any inference can reasonably be drawn as to the accuracy or otherwise of the statement, including the question whether the maker of the statement had any incentive to conceal or misrepresent facts and whether or not the statement was made on oath.
Uimhir 16 de 1974
AN tACHT UM ORDUITHE COTHABHÁLA, 1974
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
CUID I
Réamhráiteach agus Ginearálta
Gearrtheideal.
1.—Féadfar an tAcht um Orduithe Cothabhála, 1974, a ghairm den Acht seo.
Tosach feidhme.
2.—Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i ngníomh cibé lá a cheapfaidh an tAire Dlí agus Cirt le hordú.
Léiriú.
3.—(1) San Acht seo—
ciallaíonn “údarás iomchuí” an duine, i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin, ag a bhfuil feidhm ar comhréir le feidhm Mháistir na hArd-Chúirte faoi alt 19 (3);
tá le “ordú feidhmiúcháin” an bhrí a shanntar dó in alt 6;
ciallaíonn “creidiúnaí cothabhála”, maidir le hordú cothabhála, an duine atá i dteideal na n-íocaíochtaí dá bhforálann an t-ordú;
ciallaíonn “féichiúnaí cothabhála”, maidir le hordú cothabhála, an duine a dhlíonn íocaíochtaí a dhéanamh faoin ordú;
ciallaíonn “ordú cothabhála”—
(a) ordú (lena n-áirítear ordú atharthachta nó ordú dá dhroim sin) a fhorálann suimeanna airgid a íoc go tréimhsiúil i leith cothabháil aon duine, is é sin, duine a bhfuil an duine a bhfuil sé dlite de suimeanna a íoc faoin ordú faoi dhliteanas, de réir dlí na dlínse ina ndearnadh an t-ordú, é a chothabháil, nó
(b) ordú atharthachta nó ordú dá dhroim sin, is é sin, ordú a fhorálann duine a mbeidh breithnithe, cinnte nó dearbhaithe gurb é athair linbh áirithe é d'íoc caiteachais i ndáil le breith an linbh nó, i gcás an leanbh d'fháil bháis, d'íoc na gcaiteachas adhlactha,
agus, i gcás ordú cothabhála a athraíodh, ciallaíonn sé an t-ordú sin arna athrú;
ciallaíonn “imeachtaí cothabhála” imeachtaí i ndáil le hordú cothabhála a dhéanamh, a athrú nó a chúlghairm;
ciallaíonn “fógra faoi thionscnamh na n-imeachtaí”, maidir le himeachtaí cothabhála—
(a) más sa Stát a tionscnaíodh na himeachtaí, cóip den toghairm nó den doiciméad tionscnaimh eile a seirbheáladh sa Stát nó fógra gur eisíodh an toghairm nó an doiciméad tionscnaimh eile,
(b) más i dTuaisceart Éireann nó i Sasana agus sa Bhreatain Bheag a tionscnaíodh na himeachtaí, cóip den toghairm nó den doiciméad tionscnaimh eile a seirbheáladh i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin, fógra go ndearnadh ordú cothabhála sealadach nó fógra gur iarradh ordú cothabhála ar chúirt,
(c) más in Albain a tionscnaíodh na himeachtaí, cóip den eascaire, den toghairm nó den doiciméad tionscnaimh eile, mar aon le cóip den bharántas i gcóir seirbheála agus cóip den lua;
ciallaíonn “dlínse chómhalartúcháin” Tuaisceart Éireann, Sasana agus an Bhreatain Bheag, nó Albain;
folaíonn “cúlghairm”, maidir le hordú cothabhála, an t-ordú sin a urscaoileadh nó suim sheachtainiúil is iníoctha faoi a fhoirceannadh agus forléireofar focail ghaolmhara dá réir sin.
(2) D'fhonn amhras a sheachaint, folaíonn ordú cothabhála—
(a) ordú den sórt sin a ghabhann le cinneadh i dtaobh stádas daoine nádúrtha,
(b) ordú den sórt sin a fuair údarás áitiúil nó a fuarthas ina fhabhar i ndáil le cothabháil nó sochair eile a sholáthar maidir le duine a ndlíonn an féichiúnaí cothabhála, de réir dlí na dlínse ina ndearnadh an t-ordú, é a chothabháil, agus
(c) foráil i gcomhaontú scríofa idir céilí faoina n-íocfaidh céile amháin díobh suim thréimhsiúil i leith cothabháil an chéile eile nó aon linbh dá gcuid nó i leith aon linbh a bhfuil ceachtar díobh in loco parentis dó, is é sin, comhaontú a cuireadh in ordú cúirte nó a ceadaíodh le hordú cúirte nó a ndearnadh riail chúirte de.
(3) 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.
(4) Aon tagairt san Acht seo d'fho-alt, do mhír nó do roinn eile, is tagairt í don fho-alt, don mhír nó don roinn den fhoráil ina bhfuil an tagairt mura gcuirtear in iúl gur tagairt d'fhoráil éigin eile atá beartaithe.
Réim an Achta.
4.—Beidh éifeacht ag an Acht seo maidir le horduithe cothabhála cibé acu roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo nó dá éis a rinneadh iad ach ní bheidh éifeacht acu maidir le riaráiste a d'fhaibhrigh roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo.
Caiteachais.
5.—Déanfar na caiteachais a thabhófar ag riaradh an Achta seo a íoc, a mhéid a cheadóidh an tAire Airgeadais é, as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas.
CUID II
Orduithe Cothabhála a Aithint agus a Fheidhmiú go Cómhalartach
Orduithe cothabhála a dhéantar i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin
Aithint agus feidhmiú.
[C 31, 32.1, 33.3, 34.1 (cuid) agus 35]
6.—(1) Faoi réim agus de réir an Achta seo, aon ordú cothabhála a rinneadh i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin agus is infheidhmithe ansin tabharfar aitheantas dó sa Stát agus beidh sé infheidhmithe sa Stát nuair a dhéanfar ordú faoi fho-alt (4) tar éis do Mháistir na hArd-Chúirte iarratas a fháil ó údarás iomchuí á iarraidh go bhfeidhmeofaí an t-ordú.
(2) Cuirfear na doiciméid dá dtagraítear in alt 13 (1) ag gabháil leis an iarratas.
(3) Ní bheidh an féichiúnaí cothabhála i dteideal, ag an gcéim seo, aon aighneacht a dhéanamh maidir leis an iarratas.
(4) Breithneoidh an Máistir an t-iarratas go príobháideach agus déanfaidh sé ordú (dá ngairtear ordú feidhmiúcháin san Acht seo) chun an t-ordú cothabhála lena mbaineann an t-iarratas a fheidhmiú, mura measfaidh sé ó na doiciméid os a chomhair nó óna eolas féin go bhfuil a aithint agus a fheidhmiú toirmiscthe le halt 9.
(5) Cuirfidh an Máistir faoi deara a chinneadh ar an iarratas a chur i bhfios don chreidiúnaí cothabhála agus, má bhíonn ordú feidhmiúcháin déanta, cuirfidh sé faoi deara fógra faoi sin a sheirbheáil ar an bhféichiúnaí cothabhála.
(6) (a) San fhógra a bheidh le seirbheáil ar fhéichiúnaí cothabhála faoi fho-alt (5) beidh ráiteas ag insint a chirt achomhairc faoi alt 7 (1), an tsriain a chuireann alt 7 (3) le bearta a fhorghníomhú in aghaidh a mhaoine agus forálacha alt 9.
(b) Féadfar an fógra a sheirbheáil go pearsanta nó in aon slí inar féidir doiciméad uaschúirte a sheirbheáil de réir brí alt 23 d'Acht na gCúirteanna, 1971.
Achomharc in aghaidh ordaithe feidhmiúcháin.
C 36.1, 37.1, 38.1, 39.1 agus 37.2]
7.—(1) I gcás ina ndéanfar ordú feidhmiúcháin, féadfaidh an féichiúnaí cothabhála achomharc a dhéanamh chun na hArd-Chúirte in aghaidh an ordaithe laistigh de mhí tar éis fógra ina thaobh a sheirbheáil air.
(2) Féadfaidh an Chúirt, ar iarratas ón achomharcóir, na himeachtaí a bhac má bhíonn feidhmiú an ordaithe cothabhála curtha ar fionraí sa dlínse chómhalartúcháin ina ndearnadh é go dtí go mbeidh cinneadh déanta maidir le haon chineál achomhairc nó má bhíonn an t-am chun achomharc a dhéanamh gan a bheith caite agus go mbeidh an feidhmiú curtha ar fionraí go dtí go ndéanfar achomharc; sa chás deiridh sin, féadfaidh an Chúirt an tréimhse ama a leagan síos ina mbeidh bac ar na himeachtaí aici.
(3) Le linn an ama a lamháiltear d'achomharc faoi fho-alt (1) agus go dtí go gcinnfear an t-achomharc, ní fhéadfar aon bhearta forghníomhaithe a dhéanamh in aghaidh mhaoin an fhéichiúnaí cothabhála seachas bearta a bheidh ordaithe ag cúirt agus a bheidh ceaptha chun leasanna an chreidiúnaí cothabhála a chosaint.
(4) Is ar phointe dlí amháin a fhéadfar an breithiúnas a tugadh ar an achomharc a chonspóid.
Achomharc in aghaidh diúltú d'ordú feidhmiúcháin.
[C 40.1, 40.2 (cuid) agus 41]
8.—(1) Má dhiúltaítear d'iarratas lena mbaineann alt 6 (1), féadfaidh an creidiúnaí cothabhála achomharc a dhéanamh chun na hArd-Chúirte in aghaidh an diúltaithe.
(2) Seirbheálfar fógra faoin achomharc ar an bhféichiúnaí cothabhála.
(3) Is ar phointe dlí amháin a fhéadfar an breithiúnas a tugadh ar an achomharc a chonspóid.
Toirmeasc ar aithint agus ar fheidhmiú.
[C 27 (cuid) agus 34.2 (cuid)]
9.—Ní thabharfar aitheantas d'ordú cothabhála a rinneadh i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin ná ní bheidh sé infheidhmithe más rud é, agus ach amháin más rud é—
(a) go mbeadh aithint nó feidhmiú in aghaidh beartais phoiblí,
(b) nach ndearnadh, i gcás gur de mhainneachtain láithriú a rinneadh é, fógra faoi na himeachtaí a thionscnamh a sheirbheáil ar an duine a rinne an mhainneachtain sách luath le go bhféadfadh sé socrú a dhéanamh i dtaobh é féin a chosaint, nó
(c) go bhfuil sé ar neamhréir le breithiúnas a tugadh i ndíospóid idir na páirtithe céanna sa Stát.
Dlínse; ní scrúdófar brí.
[C 28.3 (cuid), 29 agus 34.3]
10.—In aon imeachtaí faoin Acht seo chun aitheantas a thabhairt d'ordú cothabhála agus é a fheidhmiú—
(a) ní bheidh dlínse na cúirte a rinne an t-ordú inscrúdaithe, agus
(b) ní bheidh an t-ordú inscrúdaithe maidir lena bhrí.
Páirtfheidhmiú.
[C 42]
11.—(1) Má bhíonn forálacha nach féidir feidhmiú a ordú ina leith in ordú cothabhála a rinneadh i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin, féadfar ordú feidhmiúcháin a dhéanamh maidir le haon fhoráil eile a bheidh san ordú cothabhála.
(2) Má iarrtar in iarratas lena mbaineann alt 6 (1) ordú cothabhála a fheidhmiú go páirteach, féadfaidh foráil dá réir a bheith san ordú feidhmiúcháin.
Srian le hurrús i leith costas.
[C 45]
12.—Ní fhéadfar aon urrús ná éarlais de chineál ar bith a éileamh ar dhuine a iarrfaidh go bhfeidhmeofaí ordú cothabhála a rinneadh i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin ar an aon-fhoras nach sa Stát a chónaíonn sé.
Doiciméid nach foláir a bheith ag gabháil le hiarratas ar ordú feidhmiúcháin.
[C 46, 47 agus 48]
13.—(1) Faoi réir fho-alt (2), is iad na doiciméid a chuirfear ag gabháil le hiarratas lena mbaineann alt 6 (1)—
(a) cóip dheimhnithe den ordú cothabhála iomchuí,
(b) i gcás ordú cothabhála a rinneadh de mhainneachtain láithriú, an doiciméad bunaidh, nó cóip dheimhnithe den doiciméad bunaidh, a chruthaíonn gur seirbheáladh fógra faoi thionscnamh na n-imeachtaí ar an duine a rinne an mhainneachtain,
(c) doiciméid a chruthaíonn go bhfuil an t-ordú infheidhmithe de réir dlí na dlínse ina ndearnadh é agus gur seirbheáladh fógra faoin ordú ar an bhféichiúnaí cothabhála lasmuigh den Stát nó gur cuireadh chuige é leis an bpost cláraithe go dtí seoladh sa Stát, agus
(d) más iomchuí, doiciméad á shuíomh go bhfuil cúnamh dlí á fháil sa dlínse sin ag an gcreidiúnaí cothabhála.
(2) Mura dtabharfar na doiciméid a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (1) (b) nó (1) (d) ar aird, féadfaidh Máistir na hArd-Chúirte am a thabhairt lena dtabhairt ar aird, nó glacadh le doiciméid choibhéiseacha nó, más dóigh leis dóthain faisnéise a bheith ar fáil, a dtabhairt ar aird a ligean thar ceal.
(3) Tabharfar tiontú ar na doiciméid ar aird má iarrann an Máistir é; deimhneoidh duine a bheidh inniúil ar sin a dhéanamh an tiontú a bheith ceart.
(4) I gcás ina bhfaighidh an Máistir doiciméad ina mbeidh iarratas go bhfeidhmeofaí sa Stát ordú cothabhála a rinneadh i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin agus a airbheartaíonn a bheith arna tharchur ag údarás iomchuí nó ar thionscnamh uaidh, féadfaidh sé, gan a thuilleadh cruthúnais, glacadh leis an doiciméad mar iarratas lena mbaineann alt 6 (1) agus mar dhoiciméad a fuarthas ó údarás iomchuí.
(5) Doiciméad a airbheartaíonn—
(a) gur cóip é d'ordú cothabhála a rinne cúirt i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin, nó den doiciméad a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (1) (b), agus a mbeidh deimhnithe ag breitheamh, giúistís nó oifigeach den chúirt sin gur cóip dhílis den chéanna í,
(b) gur aon doiciméad eile é dá sonraítear i bhfo-alt (1), nó gur aon doiciméad coibhéiseach é lena mbaineann fo-alt (2) agus go bhfuil sé sínithe ag breitheamh, giúistís nó oifigeach den chúirt sin, nó
(c) gur tiontú é a iarradh faoi fho-alt (3) agus ar dheimhnigh duine a bhí inniúil ar sin dhéanamh gur tiontú ceart é,
féadfaidh an Máistir, gan a thuilleadh cruthúnais, glacadh leis gurb é an chóip, an doiciméad nó an tiontú sin é, de réir mar a bheidh.
Feidhmiú ag an gCúirt Dúiche.
1886, c. 52.
14.—(1) San alt seo ciallaíonn “ordú cothabhála infheidhmithe”—
(a) ordú cothabhála a bhfuil ordú feidhmiúcháin déanta ina leith, nó
(b) i gcás ordú cothabhála lena mbaineann alt 11, an t-ordú cothabhála a mhéid a bhfuil ordaithe é a fheidhmiú de réir an ailt sin.
(2) (a) Beidh dlínse ag an gCúirt Dúiche ordú cothabhála infeidhmithe a fheidhmiú agus chun na críche sin measfar, ón dáta a rinneadh an t-ordú cothabhála, gur ordú é a rinne an Chúirt Dúiche faoi alt 1 den Married Women (Maintenance in case of Desertion) Act, 1886, nó faoi alt 3 d'Acht na Leanbhaí Tabhartha (Orduithe Athairíochta), 1930, cibé acu é.
(b) Beidh éifeacht ag mír (a) d'ainneoin gur mó aon mhéid is iníoctha faoin ordú cothabhála infheidhmithe iomchuí ná an t-uasmhéid a bhfuil dlínse ag an gCúirt Dúiche é a dhámhadh faoi na hAchtanna sin.
(3) D'ainneoin aon ní sna hAchtanna dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (2), arna leathnú leis an bhfo-alt sin, ní fhéadfaidh cúirt sa Stát ordú cothabhála infheidhmithe a athrú ná a chúlghairm.
(4) I gcás ina ndéanfaidh cúirt i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin ordú cothabhála infheidhmithe a athrú agus go gcuirfear cóip dheimhnithe den athrú go dtí an Chúirt Dúiche, beidh an t-ordú cothabhála infheidhmithe, arna athrú amhlaidh, infheidhmithe sa Stát ón dáta a ghlacfaidh an t-ordú athraithe éifeacht.
(5) I gcás ina ndéanfaidh cúirt i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin ordú cothabhála infheidhmithe a chúlghairm agus go gcuirfear cóip dheimhnithe den ordú cúlghairme go dtí an Chúirt Dúiche, scoirfidh an t-ordú cothabhála infheidhmithe, amhail ón dáta a ghlacfaidh an t-ordú cúlghairme éifeacht, de bheith infheidhmithe sa Stát ach amháin maidir le haon riaráiste a bheidh faibhrithe ar an dáta sin.
(6) Measfar, chun críocha fho-alt (2) agus faoi réir alt 4, gur suim is iníoctha de bhua ordú a rinneadh faoi na hachtacháin dá dtagraítear san fho-alt sin (2), arna leathnú leis an bhfo-alt sin, aon riaráiste faoi ordú cothabhála infheidhmithe agus aon chostais i leith an ordaithe sin a dhámhaigh cúirt i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin in aghaidh an fhéichiúnaí cothabhála.
(7) Is é an breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche a bheidh sannta de thuras na huaire don dúiche cúirte dúiche ina gcónaíonn an féichiúnaí cothabhála faoin ordú cothabhála iomchuí a fheidhmeoidh an dlínse a dhílsítear don Chúirt Dúiche leis an alt seo.
(8) (a) Déanfaidh an féichiúnaí cothabhála aon suim is iníoctha de bhua ordú cothabhála infheidhmithe a íoc, d'ainneoin aon ní contrártha dó sin san ordú, leis an gcléireach cúirte dúiche don cheantar cúirte dúiche ina gcónaíonn an féichiúnaí de thuras na huaire lena tarchur go dtí an creidiúnaí cothabhála nó, i gcás údarás poiblí a bheith údaraithe ag an gcreidiúnaí an tsuim sin a ghlacadh, go dtí an t-údarás poiblí sin.
(b) Mura ndéanfar aon suim is iníoctha de bhua ordú cothabhála infheidhmithe a íoc go cuí agus má iarrann an creidiúnaí cothabhála i scríbhinn é, déanfaidh an cléireach cúirte dúiche iarratas faoi alt 8 (a bhaineann le feidhmiú orduithe cothabhála áirithe) den Acht um Fheidhmiú Orduithe Cúirte, 1940, agus chun na críche sin déanfar na tagairtí san alt sin (seachas fo-ailt (4) agus (5)) don iarratasóir a fhorléiriú mar thagairtí don chléireach cúirte dúiche.
(c) Ní dhéanfaidh aon ní san fho-alt seo difear do cheart creidiúnaí cothabhála dul ar aghaidh chun aon suim is iníoctha le cléireach cúirte dúiche faoi mhír (a) a ghnóthú.
(9) Tabharfaidh féichiúnaí cothabhála faoi ordú cothabhála infheidhmithe fógra faoi aon athrú ar a sheoladh do chléireach cúirte dúiche an cheantair chúirte dúiche ina raibh cónaí air agus, má mhainníonn sé gan cúis réasúnach é sin a dhéanamh, beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus dlífear ar é a chiontú go hachomair fíneáil nach mó ná fiche punt a chur air.
(10) Má bhíonn dhá chléireach cúirte dúiche nó níos mó ann don cheantar cúirte dúiche iomchuí, forléireofar tagairt san alt seo do chléireach cúirte dúiche mar thagairt d'aon duine de na cléirigh sin.
(11) Chun críocha an ailt seo, measfar gur ceantar cúirte dúiche Dúiche Chathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath.
Doiciméid áirithe a sheirbheáil.
15.—Féadfar doiciméad maidir le himeachtaí cothabhála i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin a gheobhaidh Máistir na hArd-Chúirte ó údarás iomhcuí lena sheirbheáil ar an duine ar tionscnaíodh na himeachtaí ina aghaidh a sheirbheáil in aon slí inar féidir doiciméad Cúirte Dúiche a sheirbheáil de réir brí alt 7 d'Acht na gCúirteanna, 1964.
Cosaint.
16.—Ní mheasfar go gcoiscfidh aon ní san Acht seo (seachas alt 9) aitheantas a thabhairt d'ordú cothabhála a rinneadh i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin agus a gheobhadh, ar leith ón Acht seo, aitheantas sa Stát.
Orduithe cothabhála a rinneadh sa Stát
Dlínse nuair is i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin a chónaíonn an cosantóir agus doiciméid a tharchur.
17.—(1) I gcás ina dtionscnófar imeachtaí faoin Married Women (Maintenance in case of Desertion) Act, 1886, nó faoi Acht na Leanbhaí Tabhartha (Orduithe Athairíochta), 1930, in aghaidh duine a chónaíonn i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin chun go ndéanfar, go n-athrófar nó go gcúlghairfear ordú cothabhála, beidh an dlínse chéanna ag an gcúirt na himeachtaí a éisteacht agus a chinneadh a bheadh aici dá mba sa Stát a chónaigh an duine sin agus gur seirbheáladh toghairm air láithriú os comhair na cúirte.
(2) Is é an breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche a bheidh sannta de thuras na huaire don dúiche cúirte dúiche ina gcónaíonn an duine a thionscain na himeachtaí a fheidhmeoidh an dlínse a thugtar le fo-alt (1), a mhéid a bheidh an dlínse sin dílsithe don Chúirt Dúiche.
(3) (a) Ar imeachtaí lena mbaineann fo-alt (1) a thionscnamh, cuirfidh cláraitheoir nó cléireach na cúirte na doiciméid a shonraítear i mír (b) chuig Máistir na hArd-Chúirte agus tarchuirfidh seisean iad chuig an údarás iomchuí sa dlínse chómhalartúcháin iomchuí más dóigh leis go bhfuil dóthain faisnéise sa ráiteas dá dtagraítear i mír (b) (ii) chun gur chóir é sin a dhéanamh.
(b) Is iad na doiciméid dá dtagraítear i mír (a)—
(i) fógra faoi na himeachtaí a thionscnamh ina mbeidh ráiteas ag insint brí an ghearáin nó an iarratais, cibé acu é,
(ii) ráiteas faoi láimh an chláraitheora nó an chléirigh ag tabhairt a bhfuil d'eolas aige i dtaobh cá bhfuil an duine ar tionscnaíodh na himeachtaí ina aghaidh,
(iii) ráiteas faoi láimh an chláraitheora nó an chléirigh ag tabhairt a bhfuil d'eolas aige lena urasú an duine sin a aithint,
(iv) grianghraf den duine sin, má tá sin ar fáil, agus
(v) aon doiciméad iomchuí eile.
Srian le horduithe cothabhála a dhéanamh, etc.
18.—In aon imeachtaí faoi na hachtacháin dá dtagraítear in alt 17 (1) in aghaidh duine a chónaíonn i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin, ní dhéanfar, ní athrófar ná ní chúlghairfear ordú cothabhála mura rud é—
(a) go ndearnadh fógra faoi na himeachtaí a thionscnamh a sheirbheáil air de réir dlí na dlínse sin sách luath le go bhféadfadh sé socrú a dhéanamh i dtaobh é féin a chosaint, agus
(b) go raibh ráiteas san fhógra ag insint brí an ghearáin nó an iarratais, cibé acu é.
Ordú cothabhála a tharchur go dtí dlínse chómhalartúcháin lena fheidhmiú.
19.—(1) I gcás gur i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin a chónaíonn an féichiúnaí cothabhála faoi ordú cothabhála a rinneadh sa Stát, féadfaidh an creidiúnaí cothabhála a iarraidh go ndéanfaí an t-ordú a tharchur go dtí an dlínse sin lena fheidhmiú.
(2) Is chuig cláraitheoir nó cléireach na cúirte a rinne an t-ordú a dhéanfar an t-iarratas.
(3) (a) Más dealraitheach don chláraitheoir nó don chléireach gur i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin a chónaíonn an féichiúnaí cothabhála,
(i) cuirfidh sé fógra faoin ordú chuig an bhféichiúnaí sin leis an bpost cláraithe, agus
(ii) cuirfidh sé na doiciméid a shonraítear i mír (b) chuig Máistir na hArd-Chúirte agus tarchuirfidh seisean iad chuig an údarás iomchuí sa dlínse sin más dóigh leis go bhfuil dóthain faisnéise sa ráiteas dá dtagraítear i mír (b) (v) chun gur chóir é sin a dhéanamh.
(b) Is iad na doiciméid dá dtagraítear i mír (a) (ii)—
(i) cóip dheimhnithe den ordú cothabhála,
(ii) i gcás ordú cothabhála a rinneadh de mhainneachtain láithriú, an doiciméad bunaidh nó cóip dheimhnithe den doiciméad bunaidh a chruthaíonn gur seirbheáladh fógra faoi thionscnamh na n-imeachtaí ar an duine a rinne an mhainneachtain,
(iii) deimhniú faoi láimh an chláraitheora nó an chléirigh á dheimhniú go bhfuil an t-ordú cothabhála infheidhmithe sa Stát agus gur cuireadh fógra faoi go dtí an féichiúnaí cothabhála leis an bpost cláraithe,
(iv) deimhniú faoi láimh an chláraitheora nó an chléirigh ag deimhniú aon riaráiste faoin ordú,
(v) ráiteas faoi láimh an chláraitheora nó an chléirigh ag tabhairt a bhfuil d'eolas aige i dtaobh cá bhfuil an féichiúnaí cothabhála,
(vi) ráiteas faoi láimh an chláraitheora nó an chléirigh ag tabhairt a bhfuil d'eolas aige lena urasú an féichiúnaí cothabhála a aithint,
(vii) grianghraf den fhéichiúnaí cothabhála, má tá sin ar fáil, agus
(viii) aon doiciméad iomchuí eile.
Fianaise
Fianaise a fháil ó dhlínse chómhalartúcháin.
20.—Féadfaidh cúirt, chun críche aon imeachtaí faoin Acht seo nó imeachtaí lena mbaineann alt 17 (1), iarratas a chur chuig Máistir na hArd-Chúirte lena tharchur go dtí an t-údarás iomchuí i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin go nglacfaí fianaise sa dlínse sin ó dhuine a chónaíonn ansin maidir le cibé ábhair a bheidh sonraithe san iarratas.
Fianaise a ghlacadh do chúirt i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin.
21.—(1) Má fhaigheann Máistir na hArd-Chúirte, chun críche aon imeachtaí cothabhála i gcúirt i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin nó aon imeachtaí i gcúirt den sórt sin chun ordú cothabhála a fheidhmiú, iarratas ó údarás iomchuí go nglacfaí fianaise sa Stát ó dhuine a chónaíonn ansin maidir le hábhair a bheidh sonraithe san iarratas, iarrfaidh an Máistir ar bhreitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche an fhianaise sin a ghlacadh.
(2) Déanfaidh an breitheamh, tar éis dó fógra faoin am agus faoin áit a nglacfar an fhianaise a thabhairt do cibé daoine agus i cibé slí is oiriúnach leis, an fhianaise a ghlacadh agus cuirfidh sé faoi deara taifead di a chur go dtí an Máistir lena tharchur go dtí an t-údarás iomhcuí óna bhfuarthas an t-iarratas.
(3) Beidh na cumhachtaí céanna ag an mbreitheamh maidir le iallach a chur ar dhaoine freastal agus doiciméid a thabhairt ar aird agus maidir le fianaise a ghlacadh is atá ag an gCúirt Dúiche le linn caingean a bheith á héisteacht.
(4) Duine a n-iarrfar go nglacfaí a fhianaise faoi fho-alt (1), beidh aige, i ndáil le glacadh na fianaise, na cearta céanna a bheadh aige le linn caingean a bheith á héisteacht sa Chúirt Dúiche.
(5) I gcás aon duine nach páirtí in imeachtaí dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (1) freastal de bhun iarratais faoin bhfo-alt sin, féadfaidh an breitheamh lena mbainfidh a ordú go n-íocfar leis an duine sin as cistí poiblí cibé suim i modh caiteachas ar féidir leis an gCúirt Dúiche a ordú í a íoc i leith finné le linn caingean a bheith á héisteacht.
Fianaise in imeachtaí.
22.—(1) In aon imeachtaí faoin Acht seo nó in aon imeachtaí lena mbaineann alt 17 (1), mura léir leis an gcúirt cúis mhaith dá mhalairt—
(a) aon doiciméad ina mbeidh iarratas go bhfeidhmeofaí sa Stát ordú cothabhála a rinneadh i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin agus a airbheartóidh a bheith arna tharchur chuig Máistir na hArd-Chúirte ag údarás iomchuí nó ar thionscnamh údaráis iomchuí féadfar glacadh leis, gan a thuilleadh cruthúnais, mar fhianaise gur iarratas é lena mbaineann alt 6 (1) agus gur ó údarás iomchuí a fuair an Máistir é;
(b) aon doiciméad a airbheartóidh gur cóip é d'ordú cothabhála, nó d'ordú ag athrú nó ag cúlghairm ordú cothabhála, a rinne cúirt i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin agus a bheith deimhnithe ag breitheamh, giúistís nó oifigeach den chúirt sin gur cóip dhílis den ordú é, féadfar glacadh leis, gan a thuilleadh cruthúnais, mar fhianaise ar an ordú;
(c) aon ráiteas i ndoiciméad a airbheartóidh a bheith deimhnithe ag breitheamh, giúistís nó oifigeach cúirte i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin—
(i) gur doiciméad é ina bhfuil fianaise nó coimriú ar fhianaise a tugadh in imeachtaí sa chúirt sin nó fianaise nó coimriú ar fhianaise a glacadh sa dlínse sin le haghaidh imeachtaí cothabhála sa Stát, cibé acu de thoradh iarratais faoi alt 20 nó eile é, nó gur cóip dhílis den doiciméad sin é,
(ii) gur doiciméad é a fuarthas i bhfianaise in imeachtaí sa chúirt sin, nó gur cóip dhílis é de dhoiciméad a fuarthas amhlaidh, nó
(iii) gur cóip dhílis é den doiciméad a shonraítear in alt 13 (1) (b),
féadfar, gan a thuilleadh cruthúnais, glacadh leis mar fhianaise ar aon fhíoras a bheidh luaite ann an méid céanna a bheadh fianaise bhéil ar an bhfíoras sin ó dhéantóir an ráitis inghlactha sna himeachtaí sin;
(d) aon ráiteas i ndoiciméad a airbheartóidh a bheith sínithe ag breitheamh, giúistís nó oifigeach de chúirt i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin agus—
(i) gur doiciméad é a shonraítear in alt 13 (1) (seachas mír (a)),
(ii) gur doiciméad coibhéiseach é lena mbaineann alt 13 (2),
(iii) gur doiciméad é a shuíonn go ndearnadh fógra i dtaobh imeachtaí a thionscnamh i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin chun ordú cothabhála a rinneadh sa dlínse sin a athrú nó a chúlghairm a sheirbheáil ar an duine ar ina aghaidh a tionscnaíodh na himeachtaí, nó
(iv) gur deimhniú é ar aon riaráiste faoi ordú cothabhála,
féadfar, gan a thuilleadh cruthúnais, glacadh leis mar fhianaise ar aon fhíoras a bheidh luaite nó deimhnithe ann an méid céanna is a bheadh fianaise bhéil ar an bhfíoras sin ó dhéantóir an ráitis inghlactha sna himeachtaí sin;
(e) aon ráiteas i ndoiciméad a airbheartóidh—
(i) gur measúnacht chánach é nó ráiteas eile nó deimhniú a bhaineann le cáin,
(ii) gur ráiteas nó deimhniú ar thuilleamh é,
(iii) gur deimhniú dochtúra é,
(iv) gur ráiteas nó deimhniú é go raibh duine fostaithe nó dífhostaithe ar feadh tréimhse sonraithe,
(v) gur ráiteas nó deimhniú é gur seirbheáladh an fógra dá dtagraítear in alt 18 (a) de réir dlí na dlínse cómhalartúcháin iomchuí,
(vi) gur litir í a scríobh páirtí in imeachtaí cothabhála a chónaíonn i ndlínse chómhalartúcháin, nó
(vii) gur mionnscríbhinn nó doiciméad eile é a rinne nó a shínigh páirtí den sórt sin,
féadfar, gan a thuilleadh cruthúnais, glacadh leis mar fhianaise ar aon fhíoras a bheidh luaite nó deimhnithe ann an méid céanna is a bheadh fianaise bhéil ar an bhfíoras sin ó dhéantóir an ráitis inghlactha sna himeachtaí sin.
(2) Bainfidh forálacha fho-alt (1) le tiontú ar aon doiciméad dá dtagraítear ann má airbheartaíonn sé a bheith deimhnithe ag duine a bhí inniúil ar sin a dhéanamh an tiontú sin a bheith ceart.
(3) Féadfar ráiteas is inghlactha mar fhianaise de bhua fho-alt (1) (d), (1) (e) nó (2) a chruthú trí chóip (arna fíordheimhniú i cibé slí a cheadóidh an chúirt) den doiciméad ina bhfuil an ráiteas nó den chuid ábhartha de a thabhairt ar aird, cibé acu a bheidh nó nach mbeidh an doiciméad ar marthain.
(4) Nuair a bheifear ag meas na creidiúnachta (más aon chreidiúnacht í) is cóir a thabhairt do ráiteas a ghlacfar mar fhianaise de bhua fho-alt (1) (c), (1) (d) nó (1) (e), tabharfar aird ar aon fhianaise eile a bheidh ar fáil ag an gcúirt agus ar aon imthosca as a bhféadfar, le réasún, aon tátal a bhaint faoi chruinneas nó neamhchruinneas an ráitis, lena n-áirítear aon chúis a bheith ag déantóir an ráitis lena thabhairt air fíorais a cheilt nó a mhífhaisnéisiú agus cibé acu faoi mhionn nó nárbh ea a rinneadh an ráiteas.