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Uimhir 29 de 1986
ACHT AN GHARDA SÍOCHÁNA (GEARÁIN), 1986
RIAR NA nALT
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10. | An Bord Achomhairc um Ghearáin i gcoinne an Gharda Síochána. |
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14. | Comhaltas de Thithe an Oireachtais nó de Thionól na gComhphobal Eorpach. |
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An Bord um Ghearáin i gCoinne an Gharda Síochána
Binsí
An Bord Achomhairc um Ghearáin i gCoinne an Gharda Síochána
Na hAchtanna dá dTagraítear | |
Achtanna Rialaithe na Státseirbhíse, 1956 agus 1958 | |
Achtanna Rialaithe na Státseirbhíse, 1956 agus 1958 | |
Uimhir 29 de 1986
ACHT AN GHARDA SÍOCHÁNA (GEARÁIN), 1986
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
Léiriú.
1.—(1) San Acht seo ach amháin mar a n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt—
ciallaíonn “Acht 1925” Acht Có-nasctha na bhFórsaí Póilíneachta, 1925;
ciallaíonn “gearán inghlactha” gearán lena mbaineann alt 4 (3) (c) den Acht seo agus forléireofar “inghlactha” dá réir sin;
ciallaíonn “an Bord Achomhairc” an Bord Achomhairc um Ghearáin i gcoinne an Gharda Síochána a bhunaítear le halt 10 den Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “an Bord” an Bord um Ghearáin i gcoinne an Gharda Síochána a bhunaítear le halt 3 den Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “sárú araíonachta” iompar a shonraítear sa Cheathrú Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo agus folaíonn sé, seachas i gcás lena
mbaineann mír (e) d'alt 7 (9) den Acht seo, neamhchomhlíonadh mhír (d) den alt sin 7 (9) agus, freisin, iompar ar cion é a ndearna cúirt an comhalta lena mbaineann a chúiseamh ina leith tar éis an dáta a rinneadh gearán a bhaineann leis an iompar sin agus forléireofar “de shárú ar an araíonacht” dá réir sin;
tá le “an príomhfheidhmeannach” an bhrí a shanntar dó le mír 4 (2) den Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “an Coimisinéir” Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána;
ciallaíonn “gearánaí” duine a dhéanann gearán ó bhéal leis an mBord nó le comhalta den Gharda Síochána nó a sheolann gearán chucu nó a thugann gearán i scríbhinn dóibh agus i gcás gearán a bheidh arna dhéanamh, arna sheoladh nó arna thabhairt amhlaidh ag duine trína aturnae nó trí thuismitheoir, trí chaomhnóir nó trí dhuine eile folaíonn sé, má éilíonn an comhthéacs é, aturnae an duine nó tuismitheoir, caomhnóir nó duine eile, de réir mar a bheidh;
ciallaíonn “gearán” gearán faoi alt 4 (1) (a) den Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “iompar” iompar (cibé acu ab éard atá ann gníomh a dhéanamh nó a fhágáil gan déanamh) ar an lá bunaithe nó dá éis;
ciallaíonn “lá bunaithe” an lá a cheapfar faoi alt 2 den Acht seo chun bheith ina lá bunaithe chun críocha an Achta seo;
ciallaíonn “oifigeach imscrúdúcháin” comhalta den Gharda Síochána a cheapfar faoi alt 6 den Acht seo chun gearán inghlactha a imscrúdú;
ciallaíonn “ionadaí dlíthiúil” abhcóide nó aturnae;
ciallaíonn “comhalta” comhalta den Gharda Síochána seachas an Coimisinéir nó leaschoimisinéir, má bhíonn sé, agus aon uair a bhíonn sé, ag feidhmiú nó ag comhlíonadh aon chumhacht nó dualgas de chuid an Choimisinéara le linn a asláithreachta nó a éagumais, de bhun údarú ón Aire faoi alt 8 (2) d'Acht 1925;
ciallaíonn “duine den phobal” duine seachas comhalta den Gharda Síochána;
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Dlí agus Cirt;
ní fholaíonn “de bhéal‘teachtaireacht ó bhéal a tharchuirtear go leictreonach;
ciallaíonn “binse” binse a cheapfar faoi alt 8 den Acht seo.
(2) Maidir le feidhmeanna de chuid an Choimisinéara faoin Acht seo féadfaidh aon chomhalta den Gharda Síochána a bheidh údaraithe chuige sin ag an gCoimisinéir iad a chomhlíonadh agus déanfar tagairtí san Acht seo don Choimisinéir a fhorléiriú dá réir sin.
An lá bunaithe.
2.—Déanfaidh an tAire le hordú lá a cheapadh chun bheith ina lá bunaithe chun críocha an Achta seo.
An Bord um Ghearáin i gcoinne an Gharda Síochána.
3.—(1) Déanfar, de bhua an ailt seo, bord, ar a dtabharfar an Bord um Ghearáin i gcoinne an Gharda Síochána agus dá ngairtear an Bord san Acht seo, a bhunú ar an lá bunaithe chun na feidhmeanna a shanntar dó leis an Acht seo a chomhlíonadh.
(2) Beidh éifeacht le forálacha an Chéad Sceidil a ghabhann leis an Acht seo i ndáil leis an mBord.
Gearáin leis an mBord.
4.—(1) (a) Má fhearann aon iompar de chuid comhalta go díreach ar dhuine den phobal nó má bhíonn sé ina fhinné ar iompar den sórt sin agus más mian leis go mbreithneodh an Bord gearán i dtaobh an iompair sin, ní mór dó, laistigh de shé mhí ó dháta an iompair sin, é féin nó trína aturnae nó, i gcás duine faoi bhun seacht mbliana déag d'aois, trí thuismitheoir nó trí chaomhnóir nó, i gcás duine a bhfuil meabhairéislinn nó galar meabhrach air, trí thuismitheoir, trí chaomhnóir nó trí dhuine éigin eile ar cás leis a leas, gearán a dhéanamh ó bhéal i ndáil leis sin leis an mBord in oifig an Bhoird, le comhalta i stáisiún den Gharda Síochána nó le comhalta is airde céim ná príomhcheannfort in áit seachas stáisiún den Gharda Síochána, nó gearán i scríbhinn a sheoladh chuig na daoine sin nó a thabhairt do na daoine sin sna háiteanna sin.
(b) Gearánaí a dhéanfaidh gearán le comhalta faoi mhír (a) den fho-alt seo measfar, chun críche na míre sin, gur mian leis go mbreithneodh an Bord a ghearán mura rud é, tráth déanta an ghearáin, go n-iarrfaidh sé féin nó an duine trína mbeidh sé ag déanamh an ghearáin a mhalairt i scríbhinn.
(2) (a) Nuair a gheobhaidh an Bord gearán déanfaidh oifigeach don Bhord é a thaifeadadh láithreach mar aon leis an dáta agus an t-am a fuarthas é, tabharfaidh sé admháil i scríbhinn go bhfuarthas é don ghearánaí agus tabharfaidh sé scéala faoin ngearán don Choimisinéir (mura dealraitheach don oifigeach go mbeidh an scéala faoi mhír (b) nó an scéala faoi mhír (c) d'fho-alt (3) den alt seo i ndáil leis an ngearán tugtha laistigh de 24 uaire an chloig ón tráth a fuarthas an gearán).
(b) Nuair a gheobhaidh comhalta i stáisiún den Gharda Síochána gearán—
(i) déanfaidh sé é a thaifeadadh láithreach mar aon leis an dáta agus an t-am a fuarthas é, agus tabharfaidh sé admháil i scríbhinn go bhfuarthas é don ghearánaí, agus
(ii) déanfaidh an comhalta a bhí i gceannas an stáisiúin an tráth a fuarthas an gearán ann scéala faoin ngearán a thabhairt, nó a chur faoi deara é a thabhairt, don phríomhfheidhmeannach agus don Choimisinéir a luaithe is féidir tar éis dó é a fháil agus cuirfidh sé cóip den ghearán nó, murarbh i scríbhinn a bhí an gearán, cóip den taifead air, chuig gach duine acu sin.
(c) Nuair a gheobhaidh comhalta den Gharda Síochána is airde céim ná príomhcheannfort gearán in áit seachas i stáisiún den Gharda Síochána—
(i) taifeadfaidh sé é láithreach mar aon leis an dáta agus an t-am a fuarthas é, agus tabharfaidh sé admháil i scríbhinn go bhfuarthas é don ghearánaí, agus
(ii) tabharfaidh sé scéala faoin ngearán don phríomhfheidhmeannach a luaithe is féidir tar éis dó é a fháil agus déanfaidh sé cóip den ghearán nó, murarbh i scríbhinn a bhí an gearán, cóip den taifead air, a chur chuige.
(3) (a) Nuair a gheobhaidh an Bord gearán nó scéala faoi fho-alt (2) den alt seo, breithneoidh an príomhfheidhmeannach an bhfuil an gearán inghlactha agus beidh an gearán inghlactha má shásaítear na coinníollacha seo a leanas—
(i) gur dhuine den phobal an gearánaí,
(ii) gur fhear an t-iompar a líomhnaítear sa ghearán go díreach ar an ngearánaí nó go raibh sé ina fhinné air,
(iii) gur cion nó iompar a shonraítear sa Cheathrú Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo a bheadh san iompar sin,
(iv) gur ar an lá bunaithe nó ar dháta dá éis agus laistigh de shé mhí roimh an dáta a rinneadh an gearán a thit an dáta a líomhnaítear gur air a rinneadh an cion sin,
(v) nach raibh feidhmiú an Achta seo maidir leis an iompar sin eisiata, de bhua alt 15 den Acht seo, ar an dáta a rinneadh an gearán, agus
(vi) nach gearán suaibhreosach nó cráiteach an gearán.
(b) Más é tuairim an phríomhfheidhmeannaigh nach bhfuil gearán inghlactha, tabharfaidh sé scéala i scríbhinn faoi sin don ghearánaí agus don Choimisinéir agus léireoidh sé sa scéala cad é an coinníoll a shonraítear i mír (a) den fho-alt seo nach bhfuil, ina thuairim, comhlíonta maidir leis an ngearán agus, faoi réir mhír (c) den fho-alt seo, ní dhéanfaidh sé aon ghníomh eile faoin ábhar.
(c) Más é tuairim an phríomhfheidhmeannaigh go bhfuil gearán inghlactha, nó má chinneann an Bord go bhfuil gearán lena mbaineann mír (b) den fho-alt seo inghlactha, déanfaidh an príomhfheidhmeannach a luaithe is féidir scéala faoi sin a thabhairt i scríbhinn don ghearánaí agus don Choimisinéir agus, más leis an mBord a rinneadh an gearán nó más chuige a seoladh nó más dó a tugadh é, déanfaidh sé cóip den ghearán nó, murarbh i scríbhinn a bhí an gearán cóip den taifead air, a sheoladh chuig an gCoimisinéir.
(4) Nuair a gheobhaidh an Coimisinéir scéala faoi fho-alt (3) (c) den alt seo, tabharfaidh sé, a luaithe is féidir, scéala i scríbhinn don chomhalta lena mbaineann go ndearna duine sonraithe gearán (agus sonrófar sa scéala cad é an gearán é) ina choinne.
(5) Beidh sé de dhualgas ar an gCoimisinéir agus ar aon chomhalta (cibé acu atá sé údaraithe faoi alt 1 (2) den Acht seo nó nach bhfuil), nuair a gheobhaidh sé amach go bhfuil gearán ann, cibé bearta dleathacha a dhéanamh a dhealraítear dó is gá nó is fóirsteanach chun fianaise ar an iompar a ghearántar nó fianaise a bhaineann leis an iompar sin a fháil nó a chaomhnú agus, i gcás go mbeartaíonn an Coimisinéir aon bhearta den sórt sin a dhéanamh, féadfaidh sé an scéala faoin ngearán don chomhalta lena mbaineann faoi fho-alt (4) den alt seo a chur siar go dtí go mbeidh na bearta déanta.
(6) Ní choiscfidh aon ní san Acht seo comhalta a chúiseamh i gcion d'ainneoin go bhféadfadh an t-iompar lena mbaineann an cion a bheith ina ábhar gearáin; ina choinne sin áfach i gcás gearán a bheith déanta, seolta nó tugtha faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo i ndáil le hiompar comhalta, ní chúiseofar an comhalta i gcion maidir leis an iompar sin ach amháin le toiliú an Stiúrthóra Ionchúiseamh Poiblí.
Gearáin a réiteach go neamhfhoirmiúil.
5.—(1) Nuair a gheobhaidh an Coimisinéir scéala faoi alt 4 (3) (c) den Acht seo, ní mór dó, faoi réir fhorálacha an Achta seo—
(a) tar éis dó cibé fiosruithe (más ann) a dhéanamh a dhealraítear dó a bheith riachtanach, a bhreithniú an bhfuil an gearán oiriúnach lena réiteach go neamhfhoirmiúil, agus
(b) más dóigh leis go bhfuil an gearán oiriúnach lena réiteach go neamhfhoirmiúil, scéala faoi sin a thabhairt don Bhord agus tabhairt faoin ngearán a réiteach de réir fhorálacha an ailt seo.
(2) I gcás gearán a réiteach faoin alt seo coimeádfar taifead den réiteach a fuarthas agus den mhodh a réitíodh é amhlaidh agus seolfar cóip den taifead sin chuig an mBord.
(3) Ní réiteofar gearán faoin alt seo más rud é—
(a) gur cion é an t-iompar a líomhnaítear sa ghearán agus gur cúisíodh an comhalta lena mbaineann ann nó, murar cúisíodh amhlaidh é, gur cion é ar dócha, i dtuairim an Choimisinéara, dá mbeadh dóthain fianaise ann go ndearna an comhalta é, go gcúiseofaí é ann dá toradh, nó
(b) nach dtoilíonn an gearánaí nó an comhalta lena mbaineann i scríbhinn le réiteach an ghearáin faoin alt seo.
(4) Féadfaidh an Bord nósanna imeachta a fhorordú a bheidh le hurramú nuair a bheidh gearáin á réiteach faoin alt seo.
(5) Más rud é roimh, le linn nó tar éis gearán a réiteach faoin alt seo, gurb é tuairim an Bhoird nach bhfuil nó nach raibh an gearán oiriúnach lena réiteach amhlaidh, ansin, a luaithe is féidir, iarrfaidh sé i scríbhinn ar an gCoimisinéir go ndéanfaí an gearán a imscrúdú faoi alt 6 den Acht seo agus air sin beidh feidhm agus éifeacht dá réir leis an alt sin i ndáil leis an ngearán agus, má réitíodh an gearán faoin alt seo, measfar chun críocha an Achta seo nár réitíodh amhlaidh é; agus déanfaidh an Bord, a luaithe is féidir, scéala faoin iarraidh sin a thabhairt i scríbhinn don ghearánaí agus don chomhalta lena mbaineann.
(6) (a) Faoi réir mhír (b) den fho-alt seo, ní bheidh ráiteas a rinne an gearánaí nó an comhalta lena mbaineann i dtaca le gearán a réiteach faoin alt seo nó chun críche gearán a réiteach amhlaidh inghlactha i bhfianaise in aon imeachtaí ar chor ar bith.
(b) Ráiteas ab éard atá ann, nó ina bhfuil, admháil maidir le haon ábhar seachas an gearán a bheidh le réiteach faoin alt seo, ní bheidh sé neamh-inghlactha de dhroim mhír (a) den fho-alt seo.
Gearáin a imscrúdú.
6.—(1) (a) Ceapfaidh an Coimisinéir comhalta den Gharda Síochána (dá ngairtear oifigeach imscrúdúcháin san Acht seo)—
(i) nach ísle céim ná ceannfort, nó
(ii) más dóigh leis go ndlíonn na himthosca sin, a bhfuil céim cigire aige,
chun gearán inghlactha (seachas gearán a réitíodh faoi alt 5 den Acht seo) a imscrúdú agus déanfaidh duine a cheaptar amhlaidh an t-imscrúdú a sheoladh ina aonar nó le cúnamh cibé comhaltaí eile a chinnfidh sé, de réir mar is cuí leis.
(b) I gcás gur dealraitheach d'oifigeach imscrúdúcháin go bhféadfadh gur cion é an t-iompar a líomhnaítear i ngearán, ansin, faoi réir alt 4 (6) den Acht seo, beidh feidhm i ndáil leis an imscrúdú ag an dlí agus ag an gcleachtas is infheidhme maidir le cionta a imscrúdú.
(c) Féadfaidh an Bord prionsabail ghinearálta a fhorordú a bheidh le hurramú nuair a bheidh oifigigh imscrúdúcháin á gceapadh faoi mhír (a) den fho-alt seo.
(2) (a) Déanfaidh oifigeach imscrúdúcháin imscrúdú faoin alt seo a chur i gcrích a luaithe is féidir agus, mura mbíonn sé in ann sin a dhéanamh laistigh den tréimhse 30 lá ó dháta a cheaptha, déanfaidh sé—
(i) a luaithe is féidir tar éis don tréimhse sin a bheith caite, tuarascáil scríofa eatramhach air a thabhairt don phríomhfheidhmeannach, agus
(ii) a luaithe is féidir tar éis dó iarraidh a fháil ón bpríomhfheidhmeannach á iarraidh sin air, cibé tuarascálacha scríofa eatramhacha breise ar an imscrúdú a iarrfaidh an príomhfheidhmeannach a thabhairt don phríomhfheidhmeannach, go dtí go gcuirfear an t-imscrúdú i gcrích.
(b) Déanfaidh oifigeach imscrúdúcháin, a luaithe is féidir tar éis dó imscrúdú a chur i gcrích faoin alt seo, tuarascáil scríofa air a thabhairt don phríomhfheidhmeannach agus, aon uair a iarrfaidh an príomhfheidhmeannach air é, déanfaidh sé, a luaithe is féidir tar éis an iarraidh sin a dhéanamh, tuarascáil scríofa fhorlíontach air a thabhairt don phríomhfheidhmeannach.
(c) Déanfaidh an t-oifigeach imscrúdúcháin, nuair a bheidh tuarascáil nó tuarascálacha mar a dúradh á dtabhairt aige don phríomhfheidhmeannach, cóip den chéanna a sheoladh chuig an gCoimisinéir.
(3) (a) Déanfaidh an Bord maoirseacht ghinearálta ar imscrúdú gearán faoin alt seo agus faoi réir fho-alt (7) (a) den alt seo féadfaidh sé cibé orduithe a thabhairt d'oifigeach imscrúdúcháin i ndáil le himscrúdú aige faoin alt seo is dóigh leis is gá nó is fóirsteanach.
(b) Féadfaidh an Bord a fheidhmeanna faoi mhír (a) den fho-alt seo a tharmligean don phríomhfheidhmeannach.
(c) Déanfaidh oifigeach imscrúdúcháin de réir cibé orduithe a thabharfar dó faoin bhfo-alt seo.
(4) Déanfaidh an príomhfheidhmeannach, a luaithe is féidir, gach tuarascáil eatramhach ar an imscrúdú a tugadh dó faoi mhír (a) d'fho-alt (2) den alt seo agus an tuarascáil nó na tuarascálacha ar an imscrúdú a tugadh dó faoi mhír (b) den fho-alt sin (2) a chur faoi bhráid an Bhoird mar aon lena thráchtaí i scríbhinn orthu agus moladh scríofa uaidh maidir le gníomh ar bith (más aon ghníomh) a d'fhéadfadh an Bord a dhéanamh go cuí i ndáil leis an ngearán lena mbaineann.
(5) (a) D'ainneoin aon ní san Acht seo, féadfaidh an Bord, tráth ar bith, a iarraidh ar an bpríomhfheidhmeannach imscrúdú a dhéanamh nó a chur faoi deara imscrúdú a dhéanamh ar ghearán más dóigh leis an mBord gur gá ar mhaithe le leas an phobail go ndéanfaí imscrúdú amhlaidh ar an ngearán nó nár seoladh nó nach bhfuiltear ag seoladh imscrúdú faoin Acht seo mar is cóir ar an ngearán agus, i gcás go ndéanfar iarraidh den sórt sin, scoirfidh air sin aon imscrúdú faoi aon fhoráil eile den Acht seo ar an ngearán lena mbaineann.
(b) Beidh feidhm ag fo-alt (1) (b) den alt seo maidir le himscrúdú faoin bhfo-alt seo amhail is dá mba thagairt don phríomhfheidhmeannach agus d'aon duine a gcuirfidh sé faoi deara air an gearán lena mbaineann a imscrúdú an tagairt san fho-alt sin (1) (b) d'oifigeach imscrúdúcháin.
(c) Cuirfidh an príomhfheidhmeannach tuarascáil scríofa faoi bhráid an Bhoird maidir le toradh aon imscrúdaithe a seoladh de bhun iarraidh faoi mhír (a) den fho-alt seo.
(6) (a) I gcás imeachtaí sibhialta nó imeachtaí coiriúla a bheith tionscanta agus nach mbeidh cinneadh críochnaitheach déanta orthu agus gur dóigh leis an mBord gur dócha sna himeachtaí sin go gcinnfidh an chúirt saincheist a bhfuil ábharthacht nó baint aici leis an iompar a líomhnaítear i ngearán, féadfaidh an Bord aon ghníomh nó gníomh breise faoin Acht seo i ndáil leis an ngearán a chur siar go dtí go mbeidh cinneadh críochnaitheach déanta ar na himeachtaí sibhialta, nó ar na himeachtaí coiriúla, de réir mar a bheidh.
(b) Más dóigh leis an mBord go ndearna cúirt an t-iompar a líomhnaítear i ngearán a imscrúdú in imeachtaí sibhialta agus go bhfuil an chúirt tar éis cinneadh ar na saincheisteanna arb iad, ina substaint, na sainceisteanna iad atá i gceist sa ghearán, a dhéanamh sna himeachtaí sin, arna gcinneadh go críochnaitheach, i bhfabhar an chomhalta lena mbaineann, ní dhéanfaidh an Bord aon ghníomh nó gníomh breise faoin Acht seo i ndáil leis an ngearán.
(c) Ní mheasfar go mbeidh cinneadh críochnaitheach chun críocha mhír (a) nó (b) den fho-alt seo déanta ar imeachtaí go dtí go mbeidh cinneadh déanta ar aon achomharc (lena n-áirítear achomharc ar mhodh cáis shonraithe), athéisteacht nó atriail i ndáil leis na himeachtaí sin.
(7) I gcás gur cion é an t-iompar a líomhnaítear i ngearán—
(a) má bhíonn an gearán á imscrúdú faoi fho-alt (1) (a) den alt seo, ní thabharfar ordú faoi fho-alt (3) (a) den alt seo i ndáil leis an imscrúdú gan toiliú an Stiúrthóra Ionchúiseamh Poiblí, agus
(b) má bhíonn an gearán á imscrúdú faoi fho-alt (5) den alt seo, rachaidh an príomhfheidhmeannach i gcomhairle leis an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí i ndáil leis an modh ina bhfuil an t-imscrúdú á sheoladh.
(8) (a) Faoi réir mhír (d) den fho-alt seo, más rud é le linn imscrúdú faoin alt seo, gurb é tuairim an oifigigh imscrúdúcháin gur dócha go bhfearfadh sé ar shlándáil an Stáit nó gur shárú tromaí agus dochosanta ar chearta duine éigin eile é dá nochtfaí in aon tuarascáil faisnéis arbh iomchuí í a bheith thairis sin sa tuarascáil sin, tarchuirfidh sé an t-ábhar chun an Choimisinéara.
(b) Faoi réir mhír (d) den fho-alt seo, más rud é, i gcás ábhar a bheith tarchurtha chun an Choimisinéara faoi mhír (a) den fho-alt seo, go n-aontaíonn an Coimisinéir, tar éis dó cibé fiosruithe (más ann) a dhéanamh is dóigh leis is gá, le tuairim an oifigigh imscrúdúcháin i leith na faisnéise i gceist nó aon chuid di, déanfaidh sé an t-ábhar a thuairisciú don Aire agus má aontaíonn an tAire leis an tuairim sin, nó a mhéid a aontaíonn sé léi, agus a ordaíonn sé amhlaidh, ní áireofar an fhaisnéis ábhartha in aon tuarascáil de chuid an oifigigh imscrúdúcháin.
(c) I gcás go dtabharfaidh an tAire ordú faoi mhír (b) den fho-alt seo, luafar i dtuarascáil an oifigigh imscrúdúcháin gur tugadh an t-ordú sin, agus luafar ann freisin cibé faisnéis (más ann) i dtaobh an ábhair a údaróidh an tAire a thabhairt chun cuidiú leis an mBord an gearán a bhreithniú.
(d) Ní choiscfidh aon ní san fho-alt seo comhshocraíochtaí a dhéanamh idir an Bord agus an Coimisinéir ar dá réir a fhéadfar, i gcás ar leith nó go ginearálta, déileáil le hábhar dá dtagraítear i mír (a) den fho-alt seo ar mhodh gnáthaimh éigin eile.
(e) Tagairtí san fho-alt seo d'oifigeach imscrúdúcháin, folaíonn siad, i gcás imscrúdú faoi fho-alt (5) den alt seo, tagairtí don phríomhfheidhmeannach agus d'aon duine a gcuirfidh sé faoi deara air an gearán lena mbaineann a imscrúdú.
Feidhmeanna an Bhoird ar imscrúdú gearán a chur i gcrích.
7.—(1) Más rud é, tar éis don Bhord—
(a) tuarascáil nó tuarascálacha ó oifigeach imscrúdúcháin a cuireadh faoi bhráid an Bhoird faoi alt 6 den Acht seo agus tráchtaí agus moladh ábhartha an phríomhfheidhmeannaigh a cuireadh faoi bhráid an Bhoird amhlaidh, nó
(b) tuarascáil an phríomhfheidhmeannaigh ar thoradh imscrúdaithe faoi fho-alt (5) den alt sin,
a bhreithniú go bhfuil sé den tuairim gur gearán inghlactha an gearán lena mbaineann agus, maidir leis an iompar a líomhnaítear sa ghearán, go bhféadfadh sé gur cion é arna dhéanamh ag an gcomhalta lena mbaineann, tarchuirfidh sé an t-ábhar chuig an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí.
(2) Más rud é, tar éis dó an tuarascáil nó na tuarascálacha ar imscrúdú mar a dúradh agus (más iomchuí) na tráchtaí nó an moladh sin a dúradh a bhreithniú, gurb é tuairim an Bhoird nach ábhar lena mbaineann fo-alt (1) den alt seo an t-ábhar, ní mór don Bhord, faoi réir alt 6 (6) den Acht seo, déileáil leis an ábhar de réir na bhforálacha ina dhiaidh seo den alt seo.
(3) Má bhíonn an Bord den tuairim nach nochtar cion ná sárú araíonachta ag an gcomhalta lena mbaineann nó nach bhfuil an gearán inghlactha ar shlí eile, ní mór dó, a luaithe is féidir, scéala faoina thuairim a thabhairt don Choimisinéir, don ghearánaí agus don chomhalta lena mbaineann agus ní dhéanfaidh sé aon ghníomh breise maidir leis an ábhar.
(4) (a) Faoi réir fho-alt (7) den alt seo, má bhíonn an Bord den tuairim go bhféadfadh go nochtfaí sárú araíonachta ag an gcomhalta lena mbaineann ach gur mionsárú é arbh iomchuí don Choimisinéir déileáil leis go neamhfhoirmiúil ar bhonn comhairle, ceartú nó fainice, tarchuirfidh sé an t-ábhar chuig an gCoimisinéir.
(b) Ní dhéanfar tarchur faoi mhír (a) mura rud é gur tugadh deis don chomhalta lena mbaineann uiríll a dhéanamh chuig an mBord i ndáil leis an tarchur beartaithe agus gur bhreithnigh an Bord aon uiríll a rinneadh amhlaidh.
(5) Faoi réir fho-alt (7) den alt seo, má bhíonn an Bord den tuairim go bhféadfadh go nochtfaí sárú araíonachta ag an gcomhalta lena mbaineann (seachas sárú dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (4) den alt seo), tarchuirfidh sé an t-ábhar chuig binse.
(6) Déanfaidh an Bord, a luaithe is féidir—
(a) scéala faoi aon ghníomh de chuid an Bhoird faoi fho-alt (4) nó (5) den alt seo, a thabhairt don ghearánaí agus don chomhalta lena mbaineann, agus
(b) scéala faoi aon ghníomh de chuid an Bhoird faoin bhfo-alt sin (5) a thabhairt don Choimisinéir.
(7) (a) I gcás comhalta a chiontú nó a éigiontú i gcion, ní tharchuirfear sárú araíonachta chuig an gCoimisinéir nó chuig binse más ionann, go substaintiúil, an sárú agus an cion inar ciontaíodh nó inar éigiontaíodh é.
(b) (i) Ní fhorléireofar mír (a) den fho-alt seo mar mhír a bhfuil feidhm aici i ndáil le sárú araíonachta arb éard atá ann iompar is cion a ndearna cúirt ciontú ina leith.
(ii) An tagairt sa mhír sin (a) do chomhalta a éigiontaíodh i gcion, forléireofar í, maidir le cion ar déileáladh leis go hachomair, mar thagairt do chomhalta a ndearnadh gearán nó cúiseamh ina choinne a dhíbhe de bhua tuillteanais.
(8) Faoi réir alt 6 (6) den Acht seo, i gcás gur chinn an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí cibé acu ba chóir nó nár chóir imeachtaí mar gheall ar chion a thionscnamh i leith gearáin a tarchuireadh chuige faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo, féadfaidh an Bord, más dóigh leis gur cóir déanamh amhlaidh, déileáil leis an ábhar faoi fho-alt (4) nó (5) den alt seo nó a chinneadh gan aon ghníomh breise a dhéanamh maidir leis an ábhar.
(9) (a) Más rud é—
(i) gur bhreithnigh an Bord tuarascáil nó tuarascálacha a cuireadh faoina bhráid faoi alt 6 den Acht seo agus (más iomchuí) na tráchtaí agus an moladh ábhartha a cuireadh faoina bhráid amhlaidh, agus
(ii) (I) gur tharchuir an Bord an t-ábhar chuig an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí agus gur chinn seisean nár cheart imeachtaí mar gheall ar chion a thionscnamh i leith an ghearáin lena mbaineann, nó
(II) go bhfuil an Bord den tuairim nach cion arna dhéanamh ag an gcomhalta lena mbaineann, an t-iompar atá faoi bhreithniú (is iompar a líomhnaíodh sa ghearán), agus
(iii) gur dhiúltaigh an comhalta, le linn an imscrúdaithe, ceist a fhreagairt, faisnéis a thabhairt, nó doiciméad nó ní a thabhairt ar aird, a bhaineann go hábhartha le himscrúdú an ghearáin lena mbaineann,
féadfaidh an Bord, sula ndéileálfaidh sé leis an ábhar de réir fho-ailt (3) go (8) den alt seo, ordú a thabhairt d'oifigeach imscrúdúcháin an gearán a imscrúdú tuilleadh de réir an fho-ailt seo.
(b) Ní thabharfar ordú faoin bhfo-alt seo mura rud é, maidir leis an iompar a líomhnaítear sa ghearán lena mbaineann, gur tharla sé i dtaca leis an gcomhalta lena mbaineann do chomhlíonadh nó d'fheidhmiú feidhmeanna nó cumhachtaí a thugtar dó mar chomhalta den sórt sin nó i dtaca le comhlíonadh nó feidhmiú airbheartaithe na bhfeidhmeanna nó na gcumhachtaí sin ag an gcomhalta sin.
(c) I gcás ordú faoin bhfo-alt seo le haghaidh imscrúdú a bheith tugtha, féadfaidh an t-oifigeach imscrúdúcháin lena mbaineann, chun críocha an imscrúdaithe, a cheangal ar chomhalta (seachas comhalta arb é céile an chomhalta lena mbaineann é) ceist a fhreagairt, faisnéis a thabhairt, nó doiciméad nó ní a thabhairt ar aird, a bhaineann go hábhartha leis an ngearán lena mbaineann a imscrúdú tuilleadh.
(d) Beidh sé de dhualgas ar chomhalta déanamh de réir ceanglas de chuid oifigigh imscrúdúcháin faoi mhír (c) den fho-alt seo ach ní bheidh an freagra a sholáthrófar, an fhaisnéis a thabharfar, nó an doiciméad nó an ní a thabharfar ar aird, de bhun an cheanglais, inghlactha i bhfianaise in aghaidh an chomhalta ná in aghaidh a chéile in aon imeachtaí ar bith seachas imeachtaí in aghaidh an chomhalta mar gheall ar shárú araíonachta nó i ndáil le sárú araíonachta.
(e) Ní sárú araíonachta é neamhchomhlíonadh mhír (d) den fho-alt seo ag comhalta mura rud é, nuair a bheidh an t-oifigeach imscrúdúcháin lena mbaineann ag déanamh an cheanglais faoi mhír (c) den fho-alt seo, go gcuirfidh sé i bhfios dó i scríbhinn go bhfuil sé ag gníomhú de réir ordú faoin bhfo-alt seo agus go gcuirfidh sé ábhar mhíreanna (c) agus (d) ar a iúl don chomhalta.
(f) Más rud é, le linn imscrúdú breise de bhun ordú faoin bhfo-alt seo—
(i) gur gá d'oifigeach imscrúdúcháin comhalta (seachas an comhalta ar ina aghaidh atá gearán lena mbaineann á dhéanamh nó comhalta arb é céile an chomhalta sin é) a cheistiú,
(ii) go ndiúltóidh an comhalta a bheidh á cheistiú ceist a fhreagairt, faisnéis a thabhairt, nó doiciméad nó ní a thabhairt ar aird, a bhaineann go hábhartha leis an ngearán lena mbaineann a imscrúdú tuilleadh, agus
(iii) gur dealraitheach don oifigeach imscrúdúcháin go bhféadfadh sé go ndearna an comhalta a bheidh á cheistiú cion,
féadfaidh an t-oifigeach imscrúdúcháin, má chuathas i gcomhairle leis an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí i ndáil leis an ábhar agus má chinn seisean nár chóir imeachtaí a thionscnamh in aghaidh an chomhalta a bheidh á cheistiú mar gheall ar chion, a cheangal ar an gcomhalta, de bhun mhír (c) den fho-alt seo, an cheist a fhreagairt, an fhaisnéis a thabhairt nó an doiciméad nó an ní a thabhairt ar aird.
(g) Beidh feidhm ag alt 6 den Acht seo, fara aon mhodhnuithe is gá, i ndáil le himscrúdú de bhun ordú faoin bhfo-alt seo agus ní mór don Bhord, tar éis dó breithniú a dhéanamh ar an tuarascáil nó ar na tuarascálacha ar an imscrúdú sin a cuireadh faoina bhráid faoin alt sin agus ar na tráchtaí agus an moladh ábhartha a cuireadh faoina bhráid amhlaidh, mar aon leis an doiciméad nó na doiciméid ábhartha a cuireadh faoina bhráid faoin alt sin i ndáil leis an imscrúdú bunaidh ar an ngearán lena mbaineann, déileáil leis an ábhar de réir fho-ailt (3) go (8) den alt seo.
(h) Tagairtí san fho-alt seo d'oifigeach imscrúdúcháin folóidh siad, i gcás gurb é an príomhfheidhmeannach a rinne, nó a chuir faoi deara go ndéanfaí, imscrúdú ar an ngearán lena mbaineann, tagairtí don phríomhfheidhmeannach nó, de réir mar a bheidh, don duine ar chuir sé faoi deara air an gearán a imscrúdú.
Binsí.
8.—(1) (a) Déanfaidh an Bord ó am go ham binse a cheapadh chun breithniú a dhéanamh ar cibé ábhar nó ábhair a tharchuirfidh an Bord chuige faoi alt 7 (5) den Acht seo le linn cibé tréimhse a shonróidh an Bord tráth an cheaptha.
(b) Féadfar níos mó ná binse amháin a cheapadh faoi mhír (a) den fho-alt seo i leith na tréimhse céanna.
(2) Beidh éifeacht le forálacha an Dara Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo maidir le binse.
Gearáin a tharchur chun binsí agus beart araíonachta.
9.—(1) I gcás ábhar a tharchur chun binse faoi alt 7 (5) den Acht seo—
(a) cinnfidh an príomhfheidhmeannach cad é an sárú araíonachta nó na sáruithe araíonachta ar leithligh a bheidh le líomhain ar an gcomhalta lena mbaineann os comhair an bhinse.
(b) déanfaidh an príomhfheidhmeannach scéala faoin sárú nó faoi na sáruithe araíonachta sin a dúradh agus faoi ainmneacha agus seoltaí na bhfinnéithe ar mian leis go bhfreastalóidís os comhair an bhinse a thabhairt do gach comhalta den bhinse, agus
(c) seolfaidh an binse fiosrú ar an ábhar mura rud é go n-admhóidh an comhalta i gceist an t-iompar a líomhnaítear sa ghearán lena mbaineann, nó iompar arb ionann é go substaintiúil agus an t-iompar sin.
(2) Beidh sé d'fheidhm ag binse a chinneadh i ndáil le hábhar a tharchuirtear chuige mar a dúradh—
(a) nach ndearna an comhalta lena mbaineann an araíonacht a shárú, nó
(b) go ndearna an comhalta sin an araíonacht a shárú mar a líomhnaíodh, nó
(c) gur sárú araíonachta eile atá sna fíorais mar a suíodh iad:
Ar choinníoll nach ndéanfar cinneadh faoi mhír (c) den fho-alt seo mura deimhin leis an mbinse nach bhfuil an sárú eile chomh tromaí leis an sárú a líomhnaíodh (is é sin le rá, gur sárú é a thuilleann, in imthosca an cháis ar leithligh, beart araíonachta nach bhfuil chomh tromaí leis an mbeart araíonachta a thuillfeadh an sárú a líomhnaíodh) agus nach mbeadh an cinneadh sin éagothrom ar an gcomhalta lena mbaineann ag cur san áireamh nach é an sárú a líomhnaíodh an sárú eile lena mbaineann.
(3) I gcás go n-admhaíonn comhalta sárú araíonachta nó go bhfionnann binse gur sháraigh sé an araíonacht, cinnfidh an binse ar chóir beart araíonachta a dhéanamh in aghaidh an chomhalta agus, má chinneann sé gur chóir beart araíonachta a dhéanamh amhlaidh, cinnfidh sé cé acu de na bearta araíonachta a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (4) den alt seo ba chóir a dhéanamh amhlaidh.
(4) Is iad na bearta araíonachta, i ndáil le comhalta, dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (3) den alt seo—
(a) an comhalta a bhriseadh as an nGarda Síochána,
(b) a cheangal ar an gcomhalta dul ar scor ón nGarda Síochána nó éirí as mar mhalairt ar é a bhriseadh as,
(c) an comhalta a ísliú go dtí cibé céim eile sa Gharda Síochána a chinnfidh an binse,
(d) laghdú de cibé méid agus go ceann cibé tréimhse a chinnfidh an binse, a dhéanamh ar a phá,
(e) iomardú,
(f) rabhadh.
(5) Ní rachaidh laghdú ar phá faoi fho-alt (4) den alt seo thar ph ceithre seachtaine agus ní asbhainfear, i leith aon laghdú den sórt sir ó aon íocaíocht le comhalta i leith pá, níos mó ná 10 faoin gcéad de mhéid na híocaíochta sin.
(6) (a) Maidir le cinneadh ag binse faoi fho-alt (3) den alt seo gur chóir comhalta is airde céim ná cigire a bhriseadh as an nGarda Síochána déanfaidh an binse an cinneadh sin a pháirtiú leis an Aire agus déanfaidh seisean é a pháirtiú leis an Rialtas agus déanfaidh an binse é a pháirtiú leis an gCoimisinéir freisin.
(b) Maidir le cinneadh ag binse faoin bhfo-alt sin (3) gur chóir comhalta nach airde céim ná cigire a bhriseadh as an nGarda Síochána nó gur chóir aon bheart araíonachta eile a dhéanamh in aghaidh comhalta de chéim ar bith, déanfaidh an binse an cinneadh sin a pháirtiú leis an gCoimisinéir.
(7) Beidh cumhacht ag an gCoimisinéir cinntí dá dtagraítear i mír (b) d'fho-alt (6) den alt seo a chur i bhfeidhm agus cuirfear na cinntí sin i bhfeidhm de réir a dtéarmaí faoin gcumhacht sin a dúradh agus déanfar cinntí dá dtagraítear i mír (a) den fho-alt sin (6) a chur i bhfeidhm de réir a dtéarmaí faoi alt 7 (2) nó 10 (4), de réir mar is iomchuí, d'Acht 1925.
An Bord Achomhairc um Ghearáin i gcoinne an Gharda Síochána.
10.—(1) Déanfar, de bhua an ailt seo, bord a bhunú, ar a dtabharfar an Bord Achomhairc um Ghearáin i gcoinne an Gharda Síochána agus dá ngairtear an Bord Achomhairc san Acht seo, chun achomhairc faoi alt 11 den Acht seo a éisteacht agus a chinneadh.
(2) Beidh éifeacht maidir leis an mBord Achomhairc le forálacha an Tríú Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo.
(3) Tiocfaidh an t-alt seo agus alt 11 den Acht seo i ngníomh cibé lá a cheapfaidh an tAire le hordú.
Achomhairc leis an mBord Achomhairc.
11.—(1) Féadfaidh comhalta achomharc a dhéanamh leis an mBord Achomhairc i gcoinne cinneadh binse a d'fhionn gur sháraigh sé an araíonacht nó i gcoinne cinneadh binse gur chóir beart araíonachta a dhéanamh ina aghaidh nó i gcoinne an dá chinneadh.
(2) Féadfaidh an Bord Achomhairc—
(a) cinneadh de chuid binse a d'fhionn gur sháraigh comhalta an araíonacht a dhaingniú nó a chur ar ceal nó cinneadh den sórt sin a chur ar ceal agus a fhionnadh gur sháraigh an comhalta lena mbaineann an araíonacht ar shlí seachas mar a d'fhionn an binse,
(b) más rud é go ndearna comhalta achomharc i gcoinne cinneadh de chuid binse a d'fhionn gur sháraigh sé an araíonacht ach nach ndearna sé achomharc i gcoinne cinneadh de chuid an bhinse, i ndáil leis an ábhar céanna, gur chóir beart araíonachta sonraithe a dhéanamh ina aghaidh, an cinneadh is deireanaí a luadh a chur ar ceal, agus a chinneadh gur chóir aon bheart araíonachta a shonraítear in alt 9 (4) den Acht seo, seachas an beart araíonachta a sonraíodh i gcinneadh an bhinse, a dhéanamh in aghaidh an chomhalta,
(c) i ndáil le hachomharc ag comhalta i gcoinne cinneadh de chuid binse gur chóir beart araíonachta sonraithe a dhéanamh ina aghaidh, an cinneadh a dhaingniú nó a chur ar ceal nó an cinneadh a chur ar ceal agus a chinneadh gur chóir aon bheart araíonachta a shonraítear in alt 9 (4) den Acht seo, seachas an beart araíonachta a sonraíodh i dtuairim an bhinse, a dhéanamh in aghaidh an chomhalta,
(d) cinneadh de chuid binse nár chóir beart araíonachta a dhéanamh in aghaidh comhalta, a dhaingniú nó a chinneadh in aon chás den sórt sin gur chóir aon bheart araíonachta a shonraítear san alt sin 9 (4) a dhéanamh in aghaidh comhalta.
(3) (a) Maidir le cinneadh de chuid an Bhoird Achomhairc faoi fho-alt (2) den alt seo (cibé acu is cinneadh é a dhaingníonn cinneadh de chuid binse nó nach ea) gur chóir comhalta is airde céim ná cigire a bhriseadh as an nGarda Síochána déanfaidh an Bord Achomhairc an cinneadh sin a pháirtiú leis an Aire agus déanfaidh seisean é a pháirtiú leis an Rialtas agus déanfaidh an Bord Achomhairc é a pháirtiú leis an gCoimisinéir freisin.
(b) Maidir le cinneadh de chuid an Bhoird Achomhairc faoin bhfo-alt sin (2) (cibé acu is cinneadh é a dhaingníonn cinneadh de chuid binse nó nach ea) gur chóir comhalta nach airde céim ná cigire a bhriseadh as an nGarda Síochána nó gur chóir aon bheart araíonachta eile a dhéanamh in aghaidh comhalta d'aon chéim, déanfaidh an Bord Achomhairc é a pháirtiú leis an gCoimisinéir.
(4) Beidh de chumhacht ag an gCoimisinéir cinntí dá dtagraítear i mír (b) d'fho-alt (3) den alt seo a chur i bhfeidhm agus cuirfear na cinntí sin i bhfeidhm de réir a dtéarmaí faoin gcumhacht sin a dúradh agus cuirfear cinntí dá dtagraítear i mír (a) den fho-alt sin (3) i bhfeidhm de réir a dtéarmaí faoi alt 7 (2) nó 10 (4), de réir mar is iomchuí, d'Acht 1925.
Toirmeasc ar fhaisnéis a nochtadh gan údarás.
12.—(1) Ní nochtfaidh duine faisnéis rúnda a gheobhaidh sé le linn dó feidhmeanna a chomhlíonadh mar chomhalta den Bhord, de bhinse nó den Bhord Achomhairc, nó mar chomhalta d'fhoireann an Bhoird, mura mbeidh sé údaraithe go cuí é sin a dhéanamh.
(2) San alt seo—
ciallaíonn “faisnéis rúnda” faisnéis a deirtear a bheith rúnda cibé acu an i dtaca le faisnéis faoi leith nó le faisnéis de chineál nó de thuairisc faoi leith í;
ciallaíonn “údaraithe go cuí”, i gcás comhalta den Bhord Achomhairc, údaraithe ag an mBord Achomhairc agus in aon chás eile, údaraithe ag an mBord.
(3) Duine a sháróidh fo-alt (1) den alt seo beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus dlífear, ar é a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £700 nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná sé mhí, nó an fhíneáil agus an phríosúnacht le chéile, a chur air.
Tuarascálacha ag an mBord.
13.—(1) Déanfaidh an Bord, tráth nach déanaí ná sé mhí tar éis dheireadh gach bliana, tuarascáil a thabhairt don Aire i dtaobh a ghníomhaíochtaí le linn na bliana sin agus féadfaidh sé a áireamh sa tuarascáil faisnéis agus tráchtadh i ndáil le haon ábhair a tháinig ar a iúl faoin Acht seo agus ar dóigh leis gur chóir aird an Aire a tharraingt orthu.
(2) Déanfaidh an Bord, ar iarraidh ón Aire, tuairisc a thabhairt dó i dtaobh cibé ábhair ghinearálta a bhaineann lena fheidhmeanna a shonróidh an tAire.
(3) Coinneoidh an Bord oibriú an chórais imscrúdúcháin agus breithnithe gearán faoi athbhreithniú agus tabharfaidh sé tuarascáil ar an gcéanna don Aire tráth nach déanaí ná trí bliana tar éis an lae bunaithe agus uair amháin ar a laghad le linn gach tréimhse trí bliana ina dhiaidh sin.
(4) Cuirfidh an tAire faoi deara cóip de gach tuarascáil a gheobhaidh sé faoin alt seo a leagan faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas.
Comhaltas de Thithe an Oireachtais nó de Thionól na gComhphobal Eorpach.
14.—(1) I gcás go ndéanfar comhalta den Bhord nó den Bhord Achomhairc a ainmniú mar chomhalta de Sheanad Éireann nó mar iarrthóir lena thoghadh chun ceachtar Tí den Oireachtas nó chun Tionól na gComhphobal Eorpach nó go measfar, de bhun alt 15 den Acht um Thoghcháin do Thionól na hEorpa, 1977, é a bheith tofa chun an Tionóil sin chun folúntas a líonadh, scoirfidh sé air sin de bheith ina chomhalta den Bhord nó den Bhord Achomhairc.
(2) Duine a bheidh de thuras na huaire i dteideal faoi Bhuan-Orduithe ceachtar Tí den Oireachtas suí sa Teach sin nó is comhalta de Thionól na gComhphobal Eorpach beidh sé, fad a bheidh sé i dteideal amhlaidh, nó ina chomhalta den sórt sin, dícháilithe chun bheith ina chomhalta den Bhord nó den Bhord Achomhairc.
Srian ar fheidhmiú an Achta agus srian ar fheidhmiú na Rialachán agus Acht Póilíneachta Bhaile Atha Cliath, 1924, agus leasú orthu.
15.—(1) (a) Ní bheidh feidhm ag an Acht seo i ndáil le hiompar a líomhnaítear i ngearán más rud é roimh an dáta a fuarthas an gearán—
(i) gur cheap an Coimisinéir comhalta nó comhaltaí den Gharda Síochána chun fiosrúchán a sheoladh faoi na Rialacháin ar an iompar, nó
(ii) gur ainmnigh an tAire duine faoi alt 12 d'Acht Póilíneachta Bhaile Atha Cliath, 1924, chun fiosrúchán a sheoladh ar an iompar.
(b) (i) Féadfaidh an Coimisinéir duine nach airde céim ná cigire a bhriseadh de réir na Rialachán d'ainneoin gearán inghlactha a bheith déanta in aghaidh an chomhalta agus beidh feidhm chun na críche seo ag forálacha ábhartha na Rialachán fara aon mhodhnuithe is gá; agus in aon chás den sórt sin ní bheidh feidhm ag an Acht seo nó, de réir mar a bheidh, scoirfidh sé d'fheidhm a bheith aige i ndáil leis an iompar a líomhnaíodh sa ghearán.
(ii) Ní dhéanfaidh aon ní san Acht seo difear—
(I) do chumhacht an Choimisinéara faoi na Rialacháin comhalta a fhionraí ó dhualgas ar feadh tréimhse sonraithe; nó
(II) do chumhacht an Rialtais faoi alt 7 (2) nó 10 (4) d'Acht 1925 i ndáil le duine a chur as oifig nó, de réir mar a bheidh, oifigeach a bhriseadh nó a chéim a ísliú agus, i gcás go bhfeidhmeoidh an Rialtas cumhacht den sórt sin, ní bheidh feidhm ag an Acht seo nó, de réir mar a bheidh, scoirfidh sé d'fheidhm a bheith aige i ndáil leis an iompar a líomhnaíodh sa ghearán d'ainneoin gearán inghlactha a bheith déanta in aghaidh an chomhalta lena mbaineann.
(2) Más rud é—
(a) go bhfuil imscrúdú á dhéanamh nó go ndearnadh imscrúdú faoi na Rialacháin ar iompar comhalta,
(b) nár cheap an Coimisinéir comhalta nó comhaltaí den Gharda Síochána chun fiosrúchán a sheoladh faoi na Rialacháin ar an iompar, agus
(c) go ndéantar gearán i ndáil leis an iompar,
déanfar imscrúdu ar an ngearán faoin Acht seo agus measfar an t-imscrúdú faoi na Rialacháin, agus aon ráiteas a rinneadh i ndáil leis sin, a bheith déanta faoin Acht seo agus chun críocha an Achta seo.
(3) Ní bheidh feidhm ag na Rialacháin ná ag an alt sin 12 i ndáil le hiompar a líomhnaíodh i ngearán inghlactha más rud é, roimh an dáta a rinneadh an gearán, nach raibh duine ceaptha faoi na Rialacháin nó ainmnithe faoin alt sin 12, de réir mar a bheidh, chun fiosrúchán a sheoladh ar an iompar.
(4) Leasaítear leis seo an t-alt sin 12—
(a) i bhfo-alt (1) trí “don Choimisinéir no d'aon bhall eile de Phóilíneacht Chathrach Bhaile Atha Cliath, nách ísle céim ná cigire agus a ainmneoidh an Coimisinéir chun na críche sin, no” a scriosadh, agus
(b) i bhfo-alt (2), trí “fíneáil nach mó ná £700 nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná sé mhí nó an fhíneáil agus an phríosúnacht le chéile, a chur air” a chur in ionad “é chur fé fhíneáil nách mó na fiche punt, no fé phríosuntacht i dteanta no d'éamais daor-oibre, ar feadh tréimhse nách sia ná trí mhí”.
(5) Féadfar a fhoráil leis na Rialacháin, maidir le duine ar tugadh scéala go cuí dó go bhfuil air freastal ag fiosrúchán atá á sheoladh nó le seoladh faoi na Rialacháin i ndáil le sárú araíonachta líomhnaithe ag comhalta agus a mhainníonn nó a dhiúltaíonn freastal ag an bhfiosrúchán sin nó, i gcás duine seachas an comhalta sin a dúradh nó a chéile, a dhiúltaíonn fianaise a thabhairt ag an bhfiosrúchán sin, go ndlífear, ar é a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £700 nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná sé mhí nó an fhíneáil agus an phríosúnacht le chéile, a chur air.
(6) Tagairtí sna fo-ailt roimhe seo den alt seo don alt sin 12 is tagairtí iad don alt sin arna oiriúnú le halt 18 d'Acht 1925.
(7) San alt seo ciallaíonn “na Rialacháin” aon rialacháin faoi alt 14 d'Acht 1925 i ndáil le haraíonacht a bheidh i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire.
Leasú ar an Acht um Cheartas Coiriúil, 1984.
16.—Leasaítear leis seo an tAcht um Cheartas Coiriúil, 1984, trí “comhaltaí (de réir bhrí Acht an Gharda Síochána (Gearáin), 1986)” a chur, in alt 1 (2), in ionad “comhaltaí den Gharda Síochána nach airde céim ná ard-cheannfort”.
Caiteachais.
17.—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.
Gearrtheideal.
18.—Féadfar Acht an Gharda Síochána (Gearáin), 1986, a ghairm den Acht seo.
AN CHÉAD SCEIDEAL
An Bord um Ghearáin i gCoinne an Gharda Síochána
1. (1) Beidh an Bord ina chomhlacht corpraithe agus comharbas suthain aige agus cumhacht agartha aige agus beidh sé inagartha faoina ainm féin agus, le toiliú an Aire, beidh cumhacht aige talamh nó leas i dtalamh nó cearta ar thalamh nó i leith talaimh a fháil, a theachtadh agus a dhiúscairt.
(2) Beidh an Bord neamhspleách ag feidhmiú a fheidhmeanna.
2. (1) Is iad a bheidh ar an mBord cathaoirleach agus ochtar gnáthchomhaltaí.
(2) Is é an Rialtas a cheapfaidh comhaltaí an Bhoird ó am go ham de réir mar is gá sa chás agus, faoi réir fhorálacha an Sceidil seo, beidh siad i seilbh oifige de réir cibé téarmaí agus coinníollacha a chinnfidh an Rialtas.
(3) Cúig bliana a bheidh i dtéarma oifige comhalta den Bhord agus, faoi réir fhorálacha an Sceidil seo, beidh comhalta den Bhord inathcheaptha mar chomhalta den sórt sin.
(4) (a) Déanfar triúr daoine ar a laghad ar abhcóide cleachtach nó aturnae cleachtach a bhfuil seasamh deich mbliana ar a laghad aige gach duine acu, a cheapadh chun bheith ina ngnáthchomhaltaí den Bhord agus má scoireann comhalta den sórt sin le linn a théarma oifige mar chomhalta den sórt sin de bheith ina abhcóide cleachtach nó ina aturnae cleachtach, de réir mar a bheidh, scoirfidh sé air sin de bheith ina chomhalta den Bhord.
(b) (i) Déanfar an Coimisinéir nó cibé oifigeach eile den Gharda Síochána nach ísle céim ná coimisinéir cúnta a bheidh ainmnithe ag an gCoimisinéir a cheapadh mar ghnáthchomhalta den Bhord.
(ii) Más rud é, maidir leis an gcomhalta den Bhord arb é an Coimisinéir nó an t-oifigeach eile den Gharda Síochána nach ísle céim ná coimisinéir cúnta arna ainmniú chuige sin ag an gCoimisinéir é, go scoirfidh sé le linn a théarma oifige mar chomhalta den sórt sin de bheith ina Choimisinéir nó de chéim a bheith aige sa Gharda Síochána nach ísle céim ná coimisinéir cúnta, de réir mar a bheidh, scoirfidh sé air sin de bheith ina chomhalta den Bhord.
(c) Ní bheidh ina chomhalta den Bhord aon duine ar comhalta nó ar chomhalta den Gharda Síochána é seachas an comhalta den Gharda Síochána a bheidh ceaptha faoi chlásal (b) den fhomhír seo chun bheith ina ghnáthchomhalta den Bhord.
(d) Má bhaineann gearán le hiompar leaschoimisinéara nó coimisinéara chúnta—
(i) gníomhóidh an Coimisinéir ar an mBord i ndáil le haon ghnó a bhaineann leis an ngearán in ionad aon leaschoimisinéara nó coimisinéara chúnta is comhalta den Bhord agus, d'ainneoin aon ní san Acht seo, measfar chun na críche sin gur comhalta den Bhord an Coimisinéir, agus
(ii) más rud é, ag éirí as an ngearán, go dtarchuirfidh an Bord ábhar chun binse de bhun alt 7 (5) den Acht seo, beidh an Coimisinéir, d'ainneoin mhír 1 (c) den Dara Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo, ina chomhalta den bhinse.
(5) Féadfaidh comhalta den Bhord éirí as a oifig mar chomhalta den sórt sin tráth ar bith trí litir a bheidh dírithe chuig Rúnaí an Rialtais agus beidh éifeacht leis an éirí-as ar an agus ón dáta a gheofar an litir.
(6) I gcás go n-éireoidh corrfholúntas i measc chomhaltaí an Bhoird déanfaidh an Rialtas, a luaithe is féidir, cibé bearta is gá chun an folúntas a líonadh agus sealbhóidh an duine a cheapfar chun an folúntas a líonadh oifig ar feadh a bhfuil gan chaitheamh den téarma oifige dár ceapadh a réamhtheachtaí.
(7) Íocfar le comhaltaí den Bhord (seachas le comhalta is sealbhóir ar oifig bhreithiúnachta) cibé luach saothair (más ann), agus íocfar le comhaltaí den Bhord cibé liúntais i leith caiteachas, a chinnfidh an tAire le toiliú Aire na Seirbhíse Poiblí, ó am go ham.
(8) Féadfaidh an Rialtas aon chomhalta den Bhord a chur as oifig, má bhíonn sé, i dtuairim an Rialtais, neamhinniúil de dheasca drochshláinte ar a fheidhmeanna a chomhlíonadh go héifeachtach nó má mhí-iompair sé é féin mar a bheidh luaite.
3. (1) Déanfaidh an Rialtas ó am go ham de réir mar is gá sa chás, comhalta den Bhord a cheapadh chun bheith ina chathaoirleach ar an mBord.
(2) Is abhcóide cleachtach, nó aturnae cleachtach, a bhfuil seasamh deich mbliana ar a laghad aige a bheidh ina chathaoirleach ar an mBord agus, má scoireann sé de bheith ina abhcóide cleachtach nó ina aturnae cleachtach le linn a théarma oifige mar chathaoirleach den sórt sin, scoirfidh sé air sin de bheith ina chathaoirleach den sórt sin agus de bheith ina chomhalta den Bhord.
(3) I gcás go scoirfidh cathaoirleach an Bhoird le linn a théarma oifige mar chathaoirleach den sórt sin de bheith ina chomhalta den Bhord scoirfidh sé air sin freisin de bheith ina chathaoirleach ar an mBord.
(4) Beidh cathaoirleach an Bhoird i seilbh oifige mar chathaoirleach den sórt sin go dtí go rachaidh a théarma oifige mar chomhalta den Bhord in éag, mura túisce a éagfaidh sé, a éireoidh sé as nó a scoirfidh sé ar shlí eile de bheith ina chathaoirleach ach, má athcheaptar é mar chomhalta den Bhord, beidh sé in-athcheaptha mar chathaoirleach ar an mBord.
4. (1) Féadfaidh an Bord cibé daoine agus cibé líon daoine a cheapadh chun bheith ina n-oifigigh agus ina seirbhísigh don Bhord a cheadóidh an tAire ó am go ham le toiliú Aire na Seirbhíse Poiblí.
(2) (a) Beidh príomhoifigeach feidhmiúcháin ar an mBord (dá ngairtear an príomhfheidhmeannach san Acht seo).
(b) Is ar mholadh ó Choimisiún na Státseirbhíse a cheapfar an príomhfheidhmeannach.
(c) Comhlíonfaidh an príomhfheidhmeannach na feidhmeanna a thugtar dó leis an Acht seo agus cibé feidhmeanna eile (más ann) a shannfaidh an Bord dó.
(d) Féadfaidh cibé oifigeach don Bhord a bheidh údaraithe chuige sin ag an bpríomhfheidhmeannach feidhmeanna sonraithe de chuid an phríomhfheidhmeannaigh faoin Acht seo a chomhlíonadh, le toiliú an Bhoird.
(e) Féadfaidh cibé oifigeach don Bhord a bheidh ainmnithe chun na críche sin ag an mBord feidhmeanna an phríomhfheidhmeannaigh faoin Acht seo a chomhlíonadh le linn dó a bheith as láthair go sealadach.
(3) (a) Is státseirbhísigh i Státseirbhís an Stáit a bheidh in oifigigh agus i seirbhísigh an Bhoird.
(b) Is é an tAire a bheidh, chun críocha Acht Choimisinéirí na Stát-Sheirbhíse, 1956, agus Achtanna Rialaithe na Státseirbhíse, 1956 agus 1958, ina údarás iomchuí (de réir bhrí na nAchtanna sin) i ndáil le hoifigigh agus le seirbhísigh don Bhord.
(c) Féadfaidh an tAire na cumhachtaí is infheidhmithe aige faoi alt 5 d'Acht Choimisinéirí na Stát-Sheirbhíse, 1956, agus Achtanna Rialaithe na Státseirbhíse, 1956 agus 1958, ina cháil mar údarás iomchuí i ndáil le hoifigigh agus seirbhísigh don Bhord a tharmligean chuig an mBord agus, má dhéanann sé amhlaidh, ansin, fad a leanfaidh an tarmligean i bhfeidhm—
(i) beidh na cumhachtaí sin, in ionad a bheith infheidhmithe ag an Aire, infheidhmithe ag an mBord, agus
(ii) is é an Bord, in ionad an Aire, a bheidh, chun críocha an ailt sin 5 agus na nAchtanna sin, ina údarás iomchuí i ndáil le hoifigigh agus seirbhísigh don Bhord.
(d) Féadfaidh an tAire tarmligean a rinne sé faoin mír seo a chúlghairm ach ní dhéanfaidh an chúlghairm difear d'aon ní a rinneadh de bhua an tarmligin faoin alt sin 5 nó faoi na hAchtanna sin agus leanfaidh aon ní a rinneadh amhlaidh i bhfeidhm agus, chun críocha an ailt sin 5 agus na nAchtanna sin, beidh éifeacht leis amhail is dá mba é an tAire a rinne é.
5. (1) Tionólfaidh an Bord cibé cruinnithe is gá chun a fheidhmeanna a chomhlíonadh go cuí.
(2) Is é is córam do chruinniú den Bhord triúr nó cibé líon eile (nach lú ná triúr) a chinnfidh an Bord ó am go ham.
(3) Ag cruinniú den Bhord—
(a) is é cathaoirleach an Bhoird, má bhíonn sé i láthair, a bheidh ina chathaoirleach ar an gcruinniú,
(b) mura mbeidh agus fad nach mbeidh cathaoirleach an Bhoird i láthair nó má bhíonn oifig an chathaoirligh folamh, roghnóidh na comhaltaí den Bhord a bheidh i láthair duine dá líon chun bheith ina chathaoirleach ar an gcruinniú.
(4) Déanfar gach ceist ag cruinniú den Bhord a chinneadh le tromlach de vótaí na gcomhaltaí a bheidh i láthair agus a vótálfaidh ar an gceist agus, i gcás comhionannas vótaí, beidh dara vóta nó vóta réitigh ag cathaoirleach an chruinnithe.
(5) Féadfaidh an Bord gníomhú d'ainneoin folúntas nó folúntais i measc a chomhaltaí.
(6) Faoi réir fhorálacha an Achta seo, cinnfidh an Bord, le buanorduithe nó ar shlí eile, nós imeachta agus gnó an Bhoird.
6. (1) Féadfar deontas nó deontais ina mbeidh cibé méid nó méideanna a chinnfidh an tAire, le ceadú an Aire Airgeadais, a íoc leis an mBord gach bliain airgeadais de chuid an Bhoird as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas.
(2) Déanfaidh an Bord, i ndáil le gach bliain airgeadais de chuid an Bhoird, meastachán ar a chaiteachas don bhliain sin a ullmhú agus a chur chuig an Aire (tráth nach déanaí ná dáta a bheidh sonraithe ag an Aire) agus is i cibé foirm a shonróidh an tAire a bheidh an meastachán sin.
7. (1) Coimeádfaidh an Bord, i cibé foirm a cheadóidh an tAire, na cuntais go léir is cuí agus is gnách ar an airgead go léir a gheobhaidh an Bord nó a chaithfidh sé, lena n-áirítear na cuntais speisialta sin go léir (más ann) a ordóidh an tAire.
(2) Déanfaidh an Bord cuntais a choimeádfar de bhun na míre seo a chur gach bliain (tráth nach déanaí ná dáta a bheidh sonraithe ag an Aire) faoi bhráid an Ard-Reachtaire Cuntas agus Ciste lena n-iniúchadh agus, a luaithe is féidir tar éis an iniúchta, déanfaidh an Bord cóip de cibé de na cuntais sin, nó de cibé sleachta as na cuntais sin, a shonróidh an tAire agus cóip de thuarascáil an Ard-Reachtaire Cuntas agus Ciste ar na cuntais, a thíolacadh don Aire agus cuirfidh seisean faoi deara cóipeanna de na doiciméid a bheidh tíolactha dó a leagan faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas.
8. (1) Soláthróidh an Bord séala dó féin a luaithe is féidir tar éis an lae bunaithe.
(2) Fíordheimhneoidh cathaoirleach an Bhoird nó comhalta éigin eile den Bhord a bheidh údaraithe ag an mBord gníomhú chuige sin séala an Bhoird.
(3) Tabharfar aird bhreithiúnach ar shéala an Bhoird agus gach doiciméad a airbheartóidh gur ionstraim é a rinne an Bord agus a bheith séalaithe le séala (a airbheartóidh a bheith fíordheimhnithe de réir fhomhír (2) den mhír seo) an Bhoird glacfar i bhfianaise é agus measfar gurb é an ionstraim sin é gan chruthúnas, mura suífear a mhalairt.
9. (1) Comhalta den Bhord a bhfuil leas díreach nó indíreach aige in aon chonradh a bheartaíonn an Bord a dhéanamh—
(a) nochtfaidh sé don Bhord go bhfuil an leas sin aige, agus cad é an leas é, ag an gcruinniú den Bhord ag a mbreithneofar den chéad uair an ndéanfar an conradh sin nó, mura mbeidh leas den sórt sin aige an tráth sin, a luaithe is féidir tar éis dó an leas sin a fháil,
(b) ní ghlacfaidh sé aon pháirt in aon phlé a dhéanfaidh an Bord i ndáil leis an gconradh sin ach amháin a mhéid a cheadóidh cathaoirleach an Bhoird,
(c) ní vótálfaidh sé ar chinneadh i ndáil leis an gconradh sin, agus
(d) ní áireofar é ar an gcóram a bheidh i láthair ag aon chruinniú le linn an conradh sin a bheith á bhreithniú.
(2) Taifeadfar i miontuairiscí an Bhoird nochtadh faoin mír seo.
(3) I gcás ar deimhin leis an Aire go bhfuil loicthe ag comhalta den Bhord déanamh de réir ceanglais atá i bhfomhír (1) den mhír seo, féadfaidh an Rialtas, ar mholadh ón Aire, an comhalta sin a chur as oifig, agus má chuirtear duine as oifig de bhun na fomhíre seo, beidh sé dícháilithe feasta chun bheith ina chomhalta den Bhord.
10. Aon chonradh nó ionstraim nár ghá a bheith faoi shéala dá mba dhuine nár chomhlacht corpraithe a dhéanfadh nó a d'fhorghníomhódh é, féadfaidh aon duine é a dhéanamh nó a fhorghníomhú thar ceann an Bhoird ar duine é a bheidh údaraithe go ginearálta nó go speisialta ag an mBord chuige sin.
AN DARA SCEIDEAL
Binsí
1. (a) Triúr a bheidh ar bhinse.
(b) I gcás beirt de chomhaltaí an bhinse, is comhaltaí den Bhord a bheidh iontu (seachas an comhalta den Gharda Síochána is comhalta den Bhord) nach raibh baint acu leis an ábhar a tarchuireadh chuig an mbinse agus is abhcóide cleachtach, nó aturnae cleachtach, a bhfuil seasamh deich mbliana ar a laghad aige a bheidh i nduine amháin acusan ar a laghad.
(c) Maidir leis an tríú comhalta den bhinse, is comhalta den Gharda Síochána (seachas an comhalta den Gharda Síochána is comhalta den Bhord) a bheidh ann, faoi réir mhír 2 (4) (d) den Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo agus is comhalta é—
(i) nach ísle céim ná príomhcheannfort,
(ii) nach raibh bainteach le himscrúdú an ábhair a tarchuireadh chuig an mbinse, agus
(iii) a bheidh ainmnithe chuige sin ag an gCoimisinéir.
2. Is é a bheidh ina chathaoirleach ar bhinse cibé comhalta den bhinse a chinnfidh tromlach a chomhaltaí.
3. (a) Féadfaidh an Bord comhalta den Bhord (seachas an comhalta den Gharda Síochána is comhalta den Bhord) nach raibh bainteach leis an ábhar a tarchuireadh chuig an mbinse a cheapadh chun bheith ina chomhalta den bhinse le linn do chomhalta den bhinse (seachas an comhalta a bheidh ainmnithe ag an gCoimisinéir faoi mhír 1 den Sceideal seo) a bheith as láthair go sealadach.
(b) Féadfaidh an Bord comhalta den Gharda Síochána (seachas an comhalta den Gharda Síochána is comhalta den Bhord) is comhalta—
(i) nach ísle céim ná príomhcheannfort,
(ii) nach raibh bainteach le himscrúdú an ábhair a tarchuireadh chuig an mbinse, agus
(iii) a bheidh ainmnithe chuige sin ag an gCoimisinéir,
a cheapadh chun bheith ina chomhalta de bhinse le linn don chomhalta den bhinse a bheidh ainmnithe ag an gCoimisinéir faoi mhír 1 den Sceideal seo a bheith as láthair go sealadach.
4. (1) Tionólfaidh binse suíonna agus féadfaidh sé, ag na suíonna sin, fianaise a thógáil agus aighneachtaí a ghlacadh ó na daoine lena mbaineann (lena n-áirítear an príomhfheidhmeannach) nó thar a gceann.
(2) Is go príobháideach a thionólfar suíonna binse.
5. I gcás ábhar a tharchur chuig binse faoi alt 7 (5) den Acht seo, is é an príomhfheidhmeannach a dhéanfaidh an cás i gcoinne an chomhalta lena mbaineann a chur i láthair an bhinse.
6. Beidh finné ar tugadh a fhianaise nó a bhfuil a fhianaise á tabhairt nó le tabhairt os comhair binse i dteideal na bpribhléidí agus na ndíolúintí céanna a bheadh ag finné i gcúirt.
7. Féadfaidh gur cinneadh ag tromlach a chomhaltaí cinneadh ag binse.
8. Féadfaidh cathaoirleach binse—
(a) ordú i scríbhinn a thabhairt don chomhalta lena mbaineann freastal os comhair an bhinse ar dháta, ag am agus in ionad a bheidh sonraithe san ordú,
(b) ordú i scríbhinn a thabhairt d'aon duine eile a dteastaíonn a fhianaise ón mbinse freastal os comhair an bhinse ar dháta, ag am agus in ionad a bheidh sonraithe san ordú agus fianaise a thabhairt ann agus aon doiciméad nó ní a bheidh ina sheilbh nó faoina urláimh agus a bheidh sonraithe san ordú a thabhairt ar aird ann,
(c) a ordú don duine eile sin aon doiciméad nó ní sonraithe a bheidh ina sheilbh nó faoina urláimh a thabhairt ar aird don bhinse,
(d) cibé orduithe eile a thabhairt chun críche na n-imeachtaí is dóigh leis a bheith réasúnach agus cóir.
9. Íocfar as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas caiteachais réas únacha finnéithe a dtugtar ordú dóibh faoi mhír 8 den Sceideal seo freastal os comhair binse.
10. Más rud é—
(a) gur tugadh ordú do dhuine faoin mír sin 8 freastal os comhair binse agus, i gcás duine (seachas comhalta den Gharda Síochána) ar tugadh ordú dó amhlaidh faoi fhomhír (b) den mhír sin, gur tairgeadh aon suim dó i leith na gcaiteachas a bhain lena fhreastal ar suim í a mbeadh finné a thoghairfí chun freastal os comhair na Cúirte Dúiche i dteideal í a thairiscint dó agus go mainníonn sé, gan cúis ná leithscéal cóir, déanamh de réir an ordaithe,
(b) go mbíonn duine ag freastal os comhair binse de bhun ordú faoin bhfomhír sin (b), agus go ndiúltaíonn sé an mionn a ghlacadh ar an mbinse dá cheangal air é sin a dhéanamh nó go ndiúltaíonn sé aon cheist a fhreagairt a dteastaíonn freagra uirthi go dleathach ón mbinse,
(c) go mainníonn duine gan cúis ná leithscéal cóir déanamh de réir ordú faoi fhomhír (b) den mhír sin 8 i ndáil le fianaise a thabhairt nó doiciméad nó ní a thabhairt ar aird nó déanamh de réir ordú faoi fhomhír (c) nó (d) den mhír sin 8, nó
(d) go ndéanann duine aon ní eile i ndáil leis na himeachtaí os comhair binse ar dhíspeagadh cúirte é dá ndéanfadh finné i gcúirt é i ndáil le himeachtaí os comhair na cúirte sin,
beidh an duine sin ciontach i gcion agus dlífear, ar é a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £700 nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná sé mhí nó an fhíneáil agus an phríosúnacht le chéile, a chur air.
11. Má thugann duine fianaise bhréagach os comhair binse in imthosca ina mbeadh sé ciontach i mionnú éithigh dá mba gur os comhair cúirte a thabharfadh sé an fhianaise, beidh sé ciontach sa chion sin.
12. Faoi réir fhorálacha an Achta seo, is é an nós imeachta a bheidh ag binse cibé nós imeachta a chinnfidh an Bord le rialacha a dhéanfaidh sé le toiliú an Aire agus, gan dochar do ghinearáltacht an méid sin roimhe seo, déanfaidh na rialacha foráil le haghaidh na nithe seo a leanas—
(a) scéala faoi dháta, am agus ionad shuí iomchuí an bhinse a thabhairt don ghearánaí, don chomhalta lena mbaineann agus don phríomhfheidhmeannach,
(b) ráiteas i dtaobh an tsáraithe araíonachta nó na sáruithe araíonachta a líomhnaíodh a thabhairt don chomhalta lena mbaineann, mar aon le hainmneacha na bhfinnéithe a bheartaítear a ghairm chun fianaise a thabhairt os comhair an bhinse i ndáil leis an ngearán, cóip de gach ráiteas a bheartaítear a úsáid ag an mbinse agus léiriú i scríbhinn i dtaobh cineál agus foinse aon fhaisnéise i ndáil leis an ábhar a tháinig chun solais le linn don ghearán a bheith á imscrúdú, a d'fhéadfadh a bheith fabhrach don chomhalta lena mbaineann agus a bhféadfadh nach mbeadh eolas aige ina thaobh,
(c) gur féidir leis an gcomhalta lena mbaineann agus leis an ngearánaí a bheith i láthair ag suí iomchuí an bhinse agus gur féidir leis an gcomhalta lena mbaineann a chás a chur i láthair an bhinse go pearsanta nó trí chomhalta eile nó trí ionadaí dlíthiúil,
(d) gur féidir le ráitis scríofa a bheith inghlactha mar fhianaise ag an mbinse le toiliú an chomhalta lena mbaineann,
(e) maidir le haon síniú a bheidh ar dhoiciméad a thabharfar ar aird os comhair binse, gur féidir, in éagmais fianaise dá mhalairt, glacadh leis gurb é síniú an duine é a n-airbheartaíonn sé gurb é a shíniú é,
(f) finnéithe os comhair an bhinse a cheistiú (faoi mhionn nó ar shlí eile de réir mar a chinnfidh an binse) ag an mbinse,
(g) finnéithe os comhair an bhinse a cheistiú agus a chroscheistiú (faoi mhionn nó ar shlí eile de réir mar a chinnfidh an binse) ag an bpríomhfheidhmeannach agus ag an gcomhalta lena mbaineann nó thar a gceann,
(h) an binse do chinneadh an cóir fianaise ag an mbinse a thabhairt faoi mhionn,
(i) cathaoirleach an bhinse do chur finnéithe os comhair an bhinse faoi mhionn,
(j) cinneadh nó cinntí an bhinse i ndáil le hábhar a tarchuireadh chuige a fhógairt ag suí de chuid an bhinse, agus
(k) taifead dóthanach a dhéanamh ar imeachtaí an bhinse.
AN TRÍÚ SCEIDEAL
An Bord Achomhairc um Ghearáin i gCoinne an Gharda Síochána
1. (1) Is iad a bheidh ar an mBord Achomhairc cathaoirleach agus beirt ghnáthchomhaltaí.
(2) Is é an Rialtas a cheapfaidh comhaltaí an Bhoird Achomhairc ó am go ham de réir mar is gá sa chás agus, faoi réir fhorálacha an Sceidil seo, beidh siad i seilbh oifige de réir cibé téarmaí agus coinníollacha a chinnfidh an Rialtas.
(3) Cúig bliana a bheidh i dtéarma oifige comhalta den Bhord Achomhairc agus, faoi réir fhorálacha an Sceidil seo, beidh comhalta den Bhord Achomhairc in-athcheaptha mar chomhalta den sórt sin.
(4) (a) Is breitheamh den Chúirt Chuarda a bheidh ina chathaoirleach ar an mBord Achomhairc agus is abhcóide cleachtach, nó aturnae cleachtach, a bhfuil seasamh deich mbliana ar a laghad aige, a bheidh i nduine amháin ar a laghad de ghnáthchomhaltaí an Bhoird Achomhairc.
(b) Má scoireann cathaoirleach an Bhoird Achomhairc le linn a théarma oifige mar chathaoirleach den sórt sin de bheith ina bhreitheamh den Chúirt Chuarda nó más rud é, maidir le gnáthchomhalta den Bhord Achomhairc ar abhcóide cleachtach nó aturnae cleachtach é tráth a cheaptha, go scoireann sé, le linn a théarma oifige mar chomhalta den sórt sin, de bheith ina abhcóide cleachtach nó ina aturnae cleachtach, scoirfidh sé air sin, i gcás cathaoirleach den sórt sin, de bheith ina chathaoirleach den sórt sin agus de bheith ina chomhalta den Bhord Achomhairc agus, i gcás gnáthchomhalta den sórt sin, de bheith ina chomhalta den Bhord Achomhairc.
(c) Ní áireofar ar chomhaltaí an Bhoird Achomhairc aon duine is comhalta den Gharda Síochána nó aon duine a bhíodh ina chomhalta den Gharda Síochána.
(5) Féadfaidh comhalta den Bhord Achomhairc éirí as a oifig mar chomhalta den sórt sin tráth ar bith trí litir a sheolfar chuig Rúnaí an Rialtais agus beidh éifeacht leis an éirí-as ar an agus ón dáta a gheofar an litir.
(6) I gcás go scoirfidh cathaoirleach an Bhoird Achomhairc le linn a théarma oifige mar chathaoirleach den sórt sin de bheith ina chomhalta den Bhord Achomhairc, scoirfidh sé freisin de bheith ina chathaoirleach ar an mBord Achomhairc.
(7) Beidh cathaoirleach an Bhoird Achomhairc i seilbh oifige mar chathaoirleach den sórt sin go dtí go rachaidh a théarma oifige mar chomhalta den Bhord Achomhairc in éag, mura túisce a éagfaidh sé, a éireoidh sé as nó a scoirfidh sé ar shlí eile de bheith ina chathaoirleach.
(8) I gcás go n-éireoidh corrfholúntas i measc chomhaltaí an Bhoird Achomhairc, déanfaidh an Rialtas, a luaithe is féidir, cibé bearta is gá chun an folúntas a líonadh agus beidh an duine a cheapfar chun an folúntas a líonadh i seilbh oifige ar feadh a bhfuil gan chaitheamh den téarma oifige dár ceapadh a réamhtheachtaí.
(9) Íocfar le comhaltaí den Bhord Achomhairc (seachas leis an gcathaoirleach) cibé luach saothair (más ann), agus íocfar le comhaltaí den Bhord Achomhairc cibé liúntais i leith caiteachas, a chinnfidh an tAire, le toiliú Aire na Seirbhíse Poiblí, ó am go ham.
(10) Féadfaidh an Rialtas aon chomhalta den Bhord Achomhairc a chur as oifig, má bhíonn sé, i dtuairim an Aire, neamhinniúil de dheasca drochshláinte ar a fheidhmeanna a chomhlíonadh go héifeachtach nó má mhí-iompair sé é féin mar a bheidh luaite.
2. (1) Tionólfaidh an Bord Achomhairc suíonna agus féadfaidh sé, ag na suíonna sin, aighneachtaí ó na daoine lena mbaineann (lena n-áirítear an príomhfheidhmeannach) nó thar a gceann agus cibé fianaise (más ann) is cuí leis, a ghlacadh.
(2) Is go príobháideach a thionólfar suíonna den Bhord Achomhairc.
3. (1) Comhalta a bheartaíonn achomharc a dhéanamh i gcoinne cinneadh de chuid binse, ní mór dó, laistigh de lá is fiche ón dáta a fógraíodh an cinneadh, scéala a thabhairt i scríbhinn don Bhord Achomhairc go bhfuil sé i gceist aige achomharc a dhéanamh i gcoinne an chinnidh agus sonróidh sé sa scéala an cinneadh lena mbaineann an t-achomharc.
(2) Cuirfidh an Bord Achomhairc faoi deara cóip den taifead a rinneadh de bhun mhír 12 (k) den Dara Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo ar imeachtaí binse a bhfuil achomharc á thabhairt ag comhalta i gcoinne a chinnidh a thabhairt don chomhalta lena mbaineann 21 lá ar a laghad sula dtosóidh éisteacht an achomhairc.
(3) Beidh achomharc chun an Bhoird Achomhairc bunaithe ar an taifead sin a dúradh ar imeachtaí an bhinse a mbaineann an t-achomharc lena chinneadh, ar cibé fianaise (más ann), seachas an fhianaise lena mbaineann an taifead sin a dúradh, is cuí leis an mBord Achomhairc agus ar aon tagairtí de chuid an bhinse sin a bhaineann le haon ábhar a éiríonn as an taifead sin a dúradh agus a iarrann an Bord Achomhairc ar an mbinse a thabhairt.
(4) Féadfaidh comhalta, tráth ar bith sula dtosóidh éisteacht achomhairc a rinne sé, an t-achomharc ina iomláine nó cuid de a tharraingt siar trí scéala a thabhairt don Bhord Achomhairc i scríbhinn go bhfuil sé i gceist aige sin a dhéanamh agus sonróidh sé sa scéala an cinneadh nó na cinntí lena mbaineann an tarraingt siar.
(5) Nuair a gheobhaidh an Bord Achomhairc scéala faoi fhomhír (1) nó (4) den mhír seo, déanfaidh sé, a luaithe is féidir, an scéala agus an cinneadh nó na cinntí lena mbaineann sé a chur i bhfios don Choimisinéir, don ghearánaí agus don Bhord agus i gcás gur cinneadh é gur chóir comhalta is airde céim ná cigire a bhriseadh as an nGarda Síochána, cuirfidh sé an scéala agus an cinneadh lena mbaineann sé i bhfios don Aire freisin agus cuirfidh seisean faoi deara an céanna a chur i bhfios don Rialtas.
4. Beidh finné ar tugadh a fhianaise nó a bhfuil a fhianaise á tabhairt nó le tabhairt os comhair an Bhoird Achomhairc i dteideal na bpribhléidí agus na ndíolúintí céanna a bheadh ag finné i gcúirt.
5. Féadfaidh gur cinneadh ag tromlach a chomhaltaí cinneadh ag an mBord Achomhairc.
6. Féadfaidh cathaoirleach an Bhoird Achomhairc—
(a) ordú i scríbhinn a thabhairt don chomhalta lena mbaineann freastal os comhair an Bhoird Achomhairc ar dháta, ag am agus in áit a bheidh sonraithe san ordú,
(b) ordú i scríbhinn a thabhairt d'aon duine eile a dteastaíonn a fhianaise ón mBord Achomhairc freastal os comhair an Bhoird Achomhairc ar dháta, ag am agus in áit a bheidh sonraithe san ordú agus fianaise a thabhairt ansin, agus aon doiciméad nó ní a bheidh ina sheilbh nó faoina urláimh agus a bheidh sonraithe san ordú a thabhairt ar aird,
(c) a ordú don duine eile sin aon doiciméad nó ní sonraithe a bheidh ina sheilbh nó faoina urláimh a thabhairt ar aird don Bhord Achomhairc,
(d) cibé orduithe eile a thabhairt chun críche na n-imeachtaí is dóigh leis a bheith réasúnach agus cóir.
7. Íocfar as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas caiteachais réasúnacha finnéithe a dtugtar ordú dóibh faoi mhír 6 den Sceideal seo freastal os comhair an Bhoird Achomhairc.
8. Más rud é—
(a) gur tugadh ordú do dhuine faoin mír sin 6 freastal os comhair an Bhoird Achomhairc agus, i gcás duine (seachas comhalta den Gharda Síochána) ar tugadh ordú dó amhlaidh faoi fhomhír (b) den mhír sin, gur tairgeadh aon suim dó i leith na gcaiteachas a bhain lena fhreastal ar suim í a mbeadh finné a thoghairfí chun freastal os comhair na Cúirte Dúiche i dteideal í a thairiscint dó, agus go mainníonn sé, gan cúis ná leithscéal cóir, déanamh de réir an ordaithe,
(b) go mbíonn duine ag freastal os comhair an Bhoird Achomhairc de bhun ordú faoin bhfomhír sin (b), agus go ndiúltíonn sé an mionn a ghlacadh ar an mBord Achomhairc dá cheangal air é sin a dhéanamh, nó go ndiúltaíonn sé aon cheist a fhreagairt a dteastaíonn freagra uirthi go dleathach ón mBord Achomhairc,
(c) go mainníonn duine, gan cúis ná leithscéal cóir, déanamh de réir ordú faoi fhomhír (b) den mhír sin 6 i ndáil le fianaise a thabhairt nó doiciméad nó ní a thabhairt ar aird nó déanamh de réir ordú faoi fhomhír (c) nó (d) den mhír sin 6, nó
(d) go ndéanann duine aon ní eile i ndáil leis na himeachtaí os comhair an Bhoird Achomhairc ar dhíspeagadh cúirte é dá ndéanfadh finné i gcúirt é i ndáil le himeachtaí os comhair na cúirte sin,
beidh an duine sin ciontach i gcion agus dlífear, ar é a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £700 nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná sé mhí, nó an fhíneáil agus an phríosúnacht le chéile, a chur air.
9. Má thugann duine fianaise bhréagach os comhair an Bhoird Achomhairc in imthosca ina mbeadh sé ciontach i mionnú éithigh dá mba gur os comhair cúirte a thabharfadh sé an fhianaise, beidh sé ciontach sa chion sin.
10. Faoi réir fhorálacha an Achta seo, is é an nós imeachta a bheidh ag an mBord Achomhairc cibé nós imeachta a chinnfidh an Bord Achomhairc le rialacha a dhéanfaidh sé le toiliú an Aire agus, gan dochar do ghinearáltacht an méid sin roimhe seo, déanfaidh na rialacha foráil le haghaidh na nithe seo a leanas—
(a) scéala faoi dháta, am agus ionad shuí iomchuí an Bhoird Achomhairc a thabhairt don ghearánaí, don chomhalta lena mbaineann agus don phríomhfheidhmeannach,
(b) gur féidir leis an gcomhalta lena mbaineann agus leis an ngearánaí a bheith i láthair ag suí iomchuí an Bhoird Achomhairc agus gur féidir leis an gcomhalta lena mbaineann a chás a chur i láthair an Bhoird Achomhairc go pearsanta nó trí chomhalta eile nó trí ionadaí dlíthiúil,
(c) achoimre i scríbhinn ar na haighneachtaí a bheartaíonn an príomhfheidhmeannach agus an comhalta lena mbaineann a dhéanamh, nó a bheartaítear a dhéanamh thar a gceann, chun an Bhoird Achomhairc, a thabhairt don Bhord Achomhairc, má iarrann sé sin, laistigh den tréimhse a bheidh sonraithe san iarraidh,
(d) finnéithe os comhair an Bhoird Achomhairc a cheistiú (faoi mhionn nó ar shlí eile de réir mar a chinnfidh an Bord Achomhairc) ag an mBord Achomhairc,
(e) finnéithe os comhair an Bhoird Achomhairc a cheistiú agus a chroscheistiú (faoi mhionn nó ar shlí eile de réir mar a chinnfidh an Bord Achomhairc) ag an bpríomhfheidhmeannach agus ag an gcomhalta lena mbaineann nó thar a gceann,
(f) an Bord Achomhairc do chinneadh an cóir fianaise os comhair an Bhoird Achomhairc a thabhairt faoi mhionn,
(g) cathaoirleach an Bhoird Achomhairc do chur finnéithe os comhair an Bhoird Achomhairc faoi mhionn,
(h) cinneadh nó cinntí an Bhoird Achomhairc i ndáil le hachomharc a fhógairt ag suí de chuid an Bhoird Achomhairc, agus
(i) taifead dóthanach a dhéanamh ar imeachtaí an Bhoird Achomhairc.
AN CEATHRÚ SCEIDEAL
1. Míchúirtéiseacht, is é sin le rá, gan cúirtéis chuí a thaispeáint i leith duine den phobal.
2. Faillí dualgais, is é sin le rá—
(a) mainniú nó failliú, gan cúis mhaith dhóthanach—
(i) cuntas cóir a thabhairt in aon airgead nó maoin a gheobhaidh sé ina cháil mar chomhalta, nó
(ii) aon ní a dhéanamh go pras arb é a dhualgas é mar chomhalta é a dhéanamh.
nó
(b) aon ní den chineál a luaitear i bhfomhír (a) (ii) den mhír seo a dhéanamh go faillíoch, gan cúis mhaith dhóthanach.
3. Falsacht nó fiaradh fírinne, is é sin le rá, aon ní de na nithe seo a leanas a dhéanamh ina cháil mar chomhalta—
(a) (i) aon ráiteas ó bhéal nó i scríbhinn a dhéanamh nó a chur faoi deara é a dhéanamh, nó
(ii) aon iontráil a dhéanamh nó a chur faoi deara é a dhéanamh i ndoiciméad nó i dtaifead oifigiúil,
arb eol don chomhalta é a bheith bréagach nó míthreorach, nó
(b) d'fhonn meabhlú a dhéanamh, aon doiciméad nó taifead oifigiúil a dhíothú nó a lot nó aon iontráil sa chéanna a athrú nó a scriosadh nó cur léi.
4. Anúsáid údaráis, is é sin le rá, iompar leatromach i leith duine den phobal, ar a n-áirítear—
(a) duine a ghabháil gan cúis mhaith dhóthanach, nó
(b) foréigean neamhriachtanach a imirt ar aon duine a dtiocfaidh an comhalta i dteagmháil leis le linn comhlíonadh nó comhlíonadh airbheartaithe a dhualgais.
5. Cleachtas éillitheach nó míchóir, is é sin le rá—
(a) aon aisce, bronntanas, síntiús nó teistiméireacht (seachas gnáthbhailiúcháin chun críocha fearacht toirbheartas le comhaltaí ar iad d'aistriú, do phósadh nó do scor) a shireadh nó a ghlacadh mar chomhalta agus in éagmais thoiliú an Choimisinéara,
(b) é féin a chur sa riocht go bhfuil sé, mar chomhalta, faoi chomaoin ó thaobh airgid ag aon duine i slí a d'fhéadfadh difear a dhéanamh dá chumas a dhualgas mar chomhalta a urscaoileadh,
(c) úsáid mhíchóir a bhaint (nó féachaint lena baint) as a shuíomh mar chomhalta chun tairbhe phríobháideach a fháil dó féin, nó
(d) mainniú go toiliúil agus gan cúis mhaith dhóthanach aon fhiach dleathach a íoc in imthosca ar dóigh dóibh difear a dhéanamh dá chumas a dhualgas a urscaoileadh mar chomhalta nó ar dóigh dóibh amhras a tharraingt ar chomhaltaí eile.
6. Mí-úsáid airgid nó maoine a bheidh faoi choimeád an Gharda Síochána agus ar le duine den phobal é, is é sin le rá, aon airgead nó maoin den sórt sin a mhídhílsiú nó a mhí-úsáid, a chailleadh nó a dhamáistiú, go toiliúil nó go míchúramach.
7. Meisce, is é sin le rá, a bheith neamhinniúil le haghaidh dualgais le linn dó bheith ar dualgas nó tráth nach mbeidh sé ar dualgas ach go mbeidh sé ag caitheamh éide in áit phoiblí, de dheasca drochthionchar dí meisciúla nó drugaí nó drochthionchar dí meisciúla agus drugaí in éineacht.
8. Iompar míchlúiteach, is é sin le rá, é féin a iompar ar shlí arb eol dó nó ar chóir gurbh eol dó, gur dócha le réasún go dtarraingeodh sé míchlú ar an nGarda Síochána.
9. Bheith ina chúlpháirtí le hiompar a shonraítear sa Sceideal seo, is é sin le rá, cúlcheadú le hiompar den sórt sin nó bheith ina chúlpháirtí leis an gcéanna go feasach.
Number 29 of 1986
GARDA SÍOCHÁNA (COMPLAINTS) ACT, 1986
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
The Garda Síochána Complaints Board
Tribunals
The Garda Síochána Complaints Appeal Board
Acts Referred to | |
1956, No. 45 | |
Civil Service Regulation Acts, 1956 and 1958 | |
1984, No. 22 | |
1924, No. 31 | |
1977, No. 30 | |
1925, No. 7 | |
Number 29 of 1986
GARDA SÍOCHÁNA (COMPLAINTS) ACT, 1986
Interpretation.
1.—(1) In this Act, save where the context otherwise requires—
“the Act of 1925” means the Police Forces Amalgamation Act, 1925;
“admissible complaint” means a complaint to which section 4 (3) (c) of this Act applies and “admissible” shall be construed accordingly;
“the Appeal Board” means the Garda Síochána Complaints Appeal Board established by section 10 of this Act;
“the Board” means the Garda Síochána Complaints Board established by section 3 of this Act;
“breach of discipline” means conduct specified in the Fourth Schedule to this Act and includes, other than in a case where paragraph (e) of section 7 (9) of this Act applies, non-compliance with paragraph (d) of the said section 7 (9) and also conduct constituting an offence in respect of which, after the date on which a complaint relating to that conduct was made, there is a conviction by a court of the member concerned and “in breach of discipline” shall be construed accordingly;
“the chief executive” has the meaning assigned to it by paragraph 4 (2) of the First Schedule to this Act;
“the Commissioner” means the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána;
“complainant” means a person who makes a complaint orally, or sends or gives a complaint in writing, to the Board or to a member of the Garda Síochána and, in the case of a complaint so made, sent or given by a person through his solicitor or a parent, guardian or other person includes, where the context so requires, the solicitor of the person or a parent, guardian or other person, as the case may be;
“complaint” means a complaint under section 4 (1) (a) of this Act;
“conduct” means conduct (whether consisting of the doing of an act or the making of an omission) on or after the establishment day;
“establishment day” means the day appointed under section 2 of this Act to be the establishment day for the purposes of this Act;
“investigating officer” means a member of the Garda Síochána appointed under section 6 of this Act to investigate an admissible complaint;
“legal representative” means a barrister or a solicitor;
“member” means a member of the Garda Síochána other than the Commissioner or a deputy commissioner, if and whenever he is exercising or performing any power or duty of the Commissioner during his absence or incapacity, pursuant to an authorisation of the Minister under section 8 (2) of the Act of 1925;
“member of the public” means a person other than a member of the Garda Síochána;
“the Minister” means the Minister for Justice;
“orally” does not include an oral communication transmitted by electronic means;
“tribunal” means a tribunal appointed under section 8 of this Act.
(2) Functions of the Commissioner under this Act may be performed by any member of the Garda Síochána authorised in that behalf by the Commissioner and references in this Act to the Commissioner shall be construed accordingly.
Establishment day.
2.—The Minister shall by order appoint a day to be the establishment day for the purposes of this Act.
The Garda Síochána Complaints Board.
3.—(1) There shall, by virtue of this section, be established on the establishment day a board, to be known as the Garda Síochána Complaints Board and in this Act referred to as the Board, to perform the functions assigned to it by this Act.
(2) The provisions of the First Schedule to this Act shall have effect in relation to the Board.
Complaints to Board.
4.—(1) (a) A member of the public who is directly affected by, or who witnesses, any conduct of a member and who wishes to have a complaint concerning that conduct considered by the Board shall himself or through his solicitor or, in the case of a person under the age of seventeen years, through a parent or guardian or, in the case of a person who is mentally handicapped or mentally ill, through a parent or guardian or some other person interested in his welfare make a complaint in relation thereto orally, or send or give it in writing, to the Board at the office of the Board, to a member at a Garda Síochána station or to a member above the rank of chief superintendent at a place other than a Garda Síochána station within six months of the date of the conduct.
(b) A complainant who makes a complaint to a member under paragraph (a) of this subsection shall be presumed, for the purpose of that paragraph, to wish to have his complaint considered by the Board unless, at the time of the making of the complaint, he himself or the person through whom he makes the complaint requests otherwise in writing.
(2) (a) On receipt of a complaint by the Board, an officer of the Board shall record it forthwith, together with the date and time of its receipt, furnish an acknowledgment in writing of its receipt to the complainant and notify the Commissioner of the complaint (unless it appears to the officer that the notifications under paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection (3) of this section in relation to the complaint will have been effected within 24 hours of the receipt of the complaint).
(b) On receipt of a complaint by a member at a Garda Síochána station—
(i) he shall record it forthwith, together with the date and time of its receipt, and furnish an acknowledgment in writing of its receipt to the complainant, and
(ii) the member in charge of the station at the time the complaint was received there shall notify, or cause to be notified, the chief executive and the Commissioner of the complaint as soon as may be after such receipt and send to each of them a copy of the complaint or, if the complaint was not in writing, a copy of the record of it.
(c) On receipt of a complaint by a member of the Garda Síochána above the rank of chief superintendent at a place other than a Garda Síochána station, he shall—
(i) record it forthwith, together with the date and time of its receipt, and furnish an acknowledgment in writing of its receipt to the complainant, and
(ii) notify the chief executive of the complaint as soon as may be after such receipt and send to him a copy of the complaint or, if the complaint was not in writing, a copy of the record of it.
(3) (a) On receipt by the Board of a complaint or of a notification under subsection (2) of this section, the chief executive shall consider whether the complaint is admissible and the complaint shall be admissible if the following conditions are satisfied—
(i) the complainant was a member of the public,
(ii) the complainant was directly affected by or witnessed the conduct alleged in the complaint,
(iii) the said conduct would constitute an offence or be conduct specified in the Fourth Schedule to this Act,
(iv) the date on which the said conduct was alleged to have occurred was on or after the establishment day and within six months before the date on which the complaint was made,
(v) the application of this Act to the said conduct did not, by virtue of section 15 of this Act, stand excluded on the date on which the complaint was made, and
(vi) the complaint is not frivolous or vexatious.
(b) If the chief executive is of opinion that a complaint is not admissible, he shall so notify in writing the complainant and the Commissioner and shall indicate in the notification the condition specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection that, in his opinion, is not satisfied as respects the complaint and shall, subject to paragraph (c) of this subsection, take no further action in the matter.
(c) If the chief executive is of opinion that a complaint is admissible, or the Board decides that a complaint to which paragraph (b) of this subsection applies is admissible, the chief executive shall, as soon as may be, so notify in writing the complainant and the Commissioner and, if the complaint was made, sent or given to the Board, send to the Commissioner a copy of the complaint, or, if the complaint was not in writing, a copy of the record of it.
(4) On receipt by the Commissioner of a notification under subsection (3) (c) of this section, he shall, as soon as may be, notify in writing the member concerned that a complaint (the nature of which shall be specified in the notification) has been made against him by a specified person.
(5) It shall be the duty of the Commissioner and of any member (whether authorised under section 1 (2) of this Act or not), on becoming aware of a complaint, to take any lawful measures that appear to him to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of obtaining or preserving evidence of or relating to the conduct complained of and, in a case where the Commissioner proposes to take any such measures, he may postpone notification of the complaint to the member concerned under subsection (4) of this section until the measures have been taken.
(6) Nothing in this Act shall preclude the charging of a member with an offence notwithstanding that the conduct to which the offence relates could be the subject of a complaint; however, where a complaint has been made, sent or given under subsection (1) of this section in relation to the conduct of a member, the member shall not be charged with an offence relating to such conduct except by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Informal resolution of complaints.
5.—(1) On receipt by the Commissioner of a notification under section 4 (3) (c) of this Act, he shall, subject to the provisions of this Act—
(a) having made such inquiries (if any) as appear to him to be necessary, consider whether the complaint is suitable for informal resolution, and
(b) if he considers that the complaint is suitable for informal resolution, so inform the Board and undertake the resolution of the complaint in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(2) Where a complaint is resolved under this section a record shall be kept of the resolution arrived at and of the manner of such resolution and a copy thereof shall be sent to the Board.
(3) A complaint shall not be resolved under this section if—
(a) the conduct alleged in the complaint constitutes an offence and either the member concerned has been charged with it or, if he has not been so charged, it is one which would, if there was sufficient evidence of the commission of it by the member, be likely, in the opinion of the Commissioner, to lead to the member being charged with it, or
(b) the complainant or the member concerned does not consent in writing to the resolution of the complaint under this section.
(4) The Board may prescribe procedures to be observed in the resolution of complaints under this section.
(5) Where before, during or after the resolution of a complaint under this section, the Board is of opinion that the complaint is or was not suitable for such resolution, it shall, as soon as may be, request the Commissioner in writing to have the complaint investigated under section 6 of this Act and that section shall thereupon apply and have effect accordingly in relation to the complaint and, if the complaint has been resolved under this section, it shall be deemed for the purposes of this Act not to have been so resolved; and the Board shall, as soon as may be, notify in writing the complainant and the member concerned of such a request.
(6) (a) Subject to paragraph (b) of this subsection, a statement made by the complainant or the member concerned in connection with or for the purpose of the resolution of a complaint under this section shall not be admissible in evidence in any proceedings whatsoever.
(b) A statement which consists of or includes an admission relating to any matter other than the complaint which falls to be resolved under this section is not rendered inadmissible by paragraph (a) of this subsection.
Investigation of complaints.
6.— (1) (a) The Commissioner shall appoint a member of the Garda Síochána (in this Act referred to as an investigating officer)—
(i) not below the rank of superintendent, or
(ii) if he considers that the circumstances so warrant, of the rank of inspector,
to investigate an admissible complaint (other than a complaint resolved under section 5 of this Act) and a person so appointed shall carry out the investigation either, as he thinks fit, alone or with the assistance of such other members as he may determine.
(b) Where it appears to an investigating officer that the conduct alleged in a complaint may constitute an offence, the law and practice applicable to the investigation of offences shall, subject to section 4 (6) of this Act, apply in relation to the investigation.
(c) The Board may prescribe general principles to be observed in the appointment of investigating officers under paragraph (a) of this subsection.
(2) (a) An investigating officer shall complete an investigation under this section as soon as may be and, if he is unable to do so within the period of days from the date of his appointment, he shall—
(i) as soon as may be after the expiration of that period, furnish an interim report in writing thereon to the chief executive, and
(ii) as soon as may be after the receipt by him of a request from the chief executive therefor, furnish, until the completion of the investigation, such further interim reports in writing thereon to the chief executive as the chief executive may request.
(b) An investigating officer shall, as soon as may be after the completion of an investigation by him under this section, furnish a report in writing thereon to the chief executive and, whenever so requested by the chief executive, shall, as soon as may be after the making of such request, furnish a supplementary report in writing thereon to the chief executive.
(c) The investigating officer shall, when furnishing a report or reports as aforesaid to the chief executive, send a copy thereof to the Commissioner.
(3) (a) The Board shall supervise generally the investigation of complaints under this section and, subject to subsection (7) (a) of this section, may give such directions to an investigating officer in relation to an investigation by him under this section as appear to it to be necessary or expedient.
(b) The Board may delegate to the chief executive its functions under paragraph (a) of this subsection.
(c) An investigating officer shall comply with any directions given to him under this subsection.
(4) The chief executive shall, as soon as may be, submit to the Board every interim report of the investigation furnished to him under paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of this section and the report or reports of the investigation made to him under paragraph (b) of the said subsection (2) together with his comments in writing thereon and a recommendation in writing by him of the action (if any) that might appropriately be taken by the Board in relation to the complaint concerned.
(5) (a) Notwithstanding anything in this Act, the Board may, at any time, request the chief executive to investigate, or cause to be investigated, a complaint if the Board considers that the public interest requires that the complaint should be so investigated or that the investigation of the complaint under this Act has not been or is not being properly carried out and, where such a request is made, any investigation under any other provision of this Act of the complaint concerned shall thereupon cease.
(b) Subsection (1) (b) of this section shall apply to an investigation under this subsection as if the reference in the said subsection (1) (b) to an investigating officer was a reference to the chief executive and any person caused by him to investigate the complaint concerned.
(c) The chief executive shall submit a report in writing to the Board on the result of any investigation carried out in pursuance of a request under paragraph (a) of this subsection.
(6) (a) Where civil proceedings or criminal proceedings are instituted and have not been finally determined and the Board considers that in those proceedings it is likely that the court will determine an issue relevant to or concerning the conduct alleged in a complaint, the Board may postpone the taking of any action or further action under this Act in relation to the complaint until the civil proceedings or criminal proceedings, as the case may be, have been finally determined.
(b) If the Board considers that the conduct alleged in a complaint has been investigated by a court in civil proceedings and a determination of the issues which are, in substance, the issues involved in the complaint has been made by the court in those proceedings, when finally determined, in favour of the member concerned, no action or further action shall be taken by the Board under this Act in relation to the complaint.
(c) Proceedings shall not be regarded as finally determined for the purposes of paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection until any appeal (including an appeal by way of case stated), rehearing or retrial in relation to those proceedings has been determined.
(7) Where the conduct alleged in a complaint constitutes an offence—
(a) if the complaint is being investigated under subsection (1) (a) of this section, a direction shall not be given under subsection (3) (a) of this section in relation to the investigation without the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and
(b) if the complaint is being investigated under subsection (5) of this section, the chief executive shall consult with the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the manner in which the investigation is carried out.
(8) (a) Subject to paragraph (d) of this subsection, if in the course of an investigation under this section the investigating officer is of opinion that the disclosure in any report of information that would otherwise be appropriate for inclusion in that report would be liable to affect the security of the State or to constitute a serious and unjustifiable infringement of the rights of some other person, he shall refer the matter to the Commissioner.
(b) Subject to paragraph (d) of this subsection, where a matter is referred to the Commissioner under paragraph (a) of this subsection, if the Commissioner, having made such inquiries (if any) as he considers necessary, agrees with the opinion of the investigating officer in regard to the information in question or any portion of it, he shall report the matter to the Minister and, if or in so far as the Minister agrees with that opinion and so directs, the relevant information shall not be included in any report of the investigating officer.
(c) Where a direction has been given by the Minister under paragraph (b) of this subsection, the fact that such a direction has been given shall be stated in the report of the investigating officer, together with such information (if any) about the matter as the Minister may have authorised to be given for the assistance of the Board in its consideration of the complaint.
(d) Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the making of arrangements between the Board and the Commissioner whereby, in a particular case or more generally, a matter referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection may be dealt with by some other procedure.
(e) References in this subsection to an investigating officer include, in the case of an investigation under subsection (5) of this section, references to the chief executive and any person caused by him to investigate the complaint concerned.
Functions of Board on completion of investigation of complaints.
7.—(1) If, after consideration of—
(a) a report or reports of an investigating officer submitted to the Board under section 6 of this Act and the relevant comments and recommendation of the chief executive so submitted to the Board, or
(b) the report of the chief executive on the result of an investigation under subsection (5) of that section,
the Board is of opinion that the complaint concerned is admissible and that the conduct alleged in the complaint may constitute an offence committed by the member concerned, it shall refer the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
(2) If after consideration of such a report or reports of an investigation as aforesaid and (where appropriate) of such comments and recommendation as aforesaid, the Board is of opinion that the matter is not one to which subsection (1) of this section applies, the Board shall, subject to section 6 (6) of this Act, deal with the matter in accordance with the subsequent provisions of this section.
(3) If the Board is of opinion that neither an offence nor a breach of discipline on the part of the member concerned is disclosed or that the complaint is otherwise not admissible, it shall, as soon as may be, notify the Commissioner, the complainant and the member concerned of its opinion and shall take no further action in the matter.
(4) (a) Subject to subsection (7) of this section, if the Board is of opinion that a breach of discipline on the part of the member concerned may be disclosed but that any such breach is of a minor nature appropriate to be dealt with informally by the Commissioner by way of advice, admonition or warning, it shall refer the matter to the Commissioner.
(b) A reference under paragraph (a) of this subsection shall not be made unless the member concerned has been given an opportunity to make representations to the Board in relation to the proposed reference and any representations so made have been considered by the Board.
(5) Subject to subsection (7) of this section, if the Board is of opinion that a breach of discipline on the part of the member concerned (other than a breach referred to in subsection (4) of this section) may be disclosed, it shall refer the matter to a tribunal.
(6) The Board shall, as soon as may be—
(a) notify the complainant and the member concerned of any action of the Board under subsection (4) or (5) of this section, and
(b) notify the Commissioner of any action of the Board under the said subsection (5).
(7) (a) Where a member has been convicted or acquitted of an offence, a breach of discipline shall not be referred to the Commissioner or a tribunal if the breach is in substance the same as the offence of which he has been convicted or acquitted.
(b) (i) Paragraph (a) of this subsection shall not be construed as applying in relation to a breach of discipline which consists of conduct constituting an offence in respect of which there has been a conviction by a court.
(ii) The reference in the said paragraph (a) to a member who has been acquitted of an offence shall, as respects an offence dealt with summarily, be construed as a reference to a member who has had a complaint or charge against him dismissed on the merits.
(8) Subject to section 6 (6) of this Act, where the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided whether proceedings for an offence should or should not be instituted in respect of a complaint referred to him under subsection (1) of this section, the Board may either, if it thinks it proper to do so, deal with the matter under subsection (4) or (5) of this section or decide to take no further action in the matter.
(9) (a) Where—
(i) the Board has considered a report or reports submitted to it under section 6 of this Act and (where appropriate) the relevant comments and recommendation so submitted to it, and
(ii) (I) the Board has referred the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions and he has decided that proceedings for an offence should not be instituted in respect of the complaint concerned, or
(II) the Board is of opinion that the conduct under consideration (being conduct alleged in the complaint) does not constitute an offence committed by the member concerned, and
(iii) in the course of the investigation the member has refused to answer a question, furnish information, or produce a document or thing, relevant to the investigation of the complaint concerned,
the Board may, before dealing with the matter in accordance with subsections (3) to (8) of this section, give a direction to an investigating officer to investigate the complaint further in accordance with this subsection.
(b) A direction shall not be given under this subsection unless the conduct alleged in the complaint concerned arose in connection with the performance or exercise, or the purported performance or exercise, by the member concerned of functions or powers conferred on him as such member.
(c) Where a direction under this subsection for an investigation is given, the investigating officer concerned may, for the purposes of the investigation, require a member (other than a member who is the spouse of the member concerned) to answer a question, furnish information, or produce a document or thing, relevant to the further investigation of the complaint concerned.
(d) It shall be the duty of a member to comply with a requirement of an investigating officer under paragraph (c) of this subsection, but the answer given, the information furnished, or the document or thing produced, in pursuance of the requirement shall not be admissible in evidence against the member or his spouse in any proceedings whatsoever other than proceedings against the member for or in relation to a breach of discipline.
(e) Non-compliance by a member with paragraph (d) of this subsection shall not be a breach of discipline unless the investigating officer concerned, when making the requirement concerned under paragraph (c) of this subsection, informs him in writing that he is acting in accordance with a direction under this subsection and brings the substance of paragraphs (c) and (d) to the notice of the member.
(f) If, in the course of a further investigation pursuant to a direction under this subsection—
(i) an investigating officer finds it necessary to question a member (other than the member against whom the complaint concerned is being made or a member who is the spouse of that member),
(ii) the member being questioned refuses to answer a question, furnish information, or produce a document or thing, relevant to the further investigation of the complaint concerned, and
(iii) it appears to the investigating officer that there is a possibility that the member being questioned may have committed an offence,
the investigating officer may, if the Director of Public Prosecutions has been consulted in relation to the matter and has decided that proceedings against the member being questioned for an offence should not be instituted, require the member, in pursuance of paragraph (c) of this subsection, to answer the question, furnish the information or produce the document or thing.
(g) Section 6 of this Act shall, with any necessary modifications, apply in relation to an investigation pursuant to a direction under this subsection and the Board, after consideration of the report or reports of that investigation submitted to it under that section and the relevant comments and recommendation so submitted to it, together with the relevant document or documents submitted to it under that section in relation to the original investigation of the complaint concerned, shall deal with the matter in accordance with subsections (3) to (8) of this section.
(h) References in this subsection to an investigating officer shall, in a case where the complaint concerned was investigated, or caused to be investigated, by the chief executive, include references to the chief executive or, as the case may be, to the person whom he caused to investigate the complaint.
Tribunals.
8.— (1) (a) The Board shall from time to time appoint a tribunal to consider such matter or matters as may be referred to it by the Board under section 7 (5) of this Act during such period as may be specified by the Board at the time of the appointment.
(b) More than one tribunal may be appointed under paragraph (a) of this subsection in respect of the same period.
(2) The provisions of the Second Schedule to this Act shall have effect in relation to a tribunal.
Reference of complaints to tribunals and disciplinary action.
9.— (1) Where a matter is referred to a tribunal under section 7 (5) of this Act—
(a) the chief executive shall determine the particular breach or breaches of discipline to be alleged against the member concerned before the tribunal,
(b) the chief executive shall notify each member of the tribunal of the breach or breaches of discipline aforesaid and the names and addresses of the witnesses whom he wishes to attend before the tribunal, and
(c) the tribunal shall hold an inquiry into the matter unless the conduct alleged in the complaint concerned, or conduct which is in substance the same, is admitted by the member concerned.
(2) It shall be the function of a tribunal to decide in relation to a matter referred to it as aforesaid—
(a) that the member concerned has not been in breach of discipline, or
(b) that such member has been in breach of discipline as alleged, or
(c) that the facts established constitute another breach of discipline:
Provided that a decision under paragraph (c) of this subsection shall not be made unless the tribunal is satisfied that the other breach concerned is less serious than the breach alleged (that is, that it is one which in the circumstances of the particular case merits disciplinary action of a less serious nature than that warranted by the breach alleged) and that such a decision would not be unfair to the member concerned having regard to the fact that the other breach concerned is not the breach that was alleged.
(3) Where a breach of discipline is admitted by a member or a member is found by a tribunal to be in breach of discipline, the tribunal shall decide whether disciplinary action should be taken against the member and, if it decides that disciplinary action should be so taken, shall decide which of the disciplinary actions specified in subsection (4) of this section should be so taken.
(4) The disciplinary actions, in relation to a member, referred to in subsection (3) of this section are—
(a) dismissal from the Garda Síochána,
(b) requirement to retire or resign from the Garda Síochána as an alternative to dismissal therefrom,
(c) reduction to such other rank in the Garda Síochána as the tribunal may determine,
(d) reduction in pay of such amount and for such period as the tribunal may determine,
(e) reprimand,
(f) caution.
(5) A reduction in pay under subsection (4) of this section shall not exceed in amount four weeks' pay and there shall not be deducted, in respect of any such reduction, from any payment to a member in respect of pay more than 10 per cent. of the amount of such payment.
(6) (a) A decision of a tribunal under subsection (3) of this section that a member above the rank of inspector should be dismissed from the Garda Síochána shall be communicated by the tribunal to the Minister and by him to the Government and shall also be communicated by the tribunal to the Commissioner.
(b) A decision of a tribunal under the said subsection (3) that a member not above the rank of inspector should be dismissed from the Garda Síochána or that any other disciplinary action should be taken against a member of any rank shall be communicated by the tribunal to the Commissioner.
(7) The Commissioner shall have power to implement decisions referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (6) of this section and those decisions shall be implemented in accordance with their terms under the power aforesaid and decisions referred to in paragraph (a) of the said subsection (6) shall be implemented in accordance with their terms under section 7 (2) or 10 (4), as may be appropriate, of the Act of 1925.
The Garda Síochána Complaints Appeal Board.
10.—(1) There shall, by virtue of this section, be established a board, to be known as the Garda Síochána Complaints Appeal Board and in this Act referred to as the Appeal Board, to hear and decide appeals under section 11 of this Act.
(2) The provisions of the Third Schedule to this Act shall have effect in relation to the Appeal Board.
(3) This section and section 11 of this Act shall come into operation on such day as the Minister may by order appoint.
Appeals to Appeal Board.
11.—(1) A member may appeal to the Appeal Board from a decision of a tribunal finding him to be in breach of discipline or a decision of a tribunal that disciplinary action should be taken against him or from both.
(2) The Appeal Board may—
(a) affirm or set aside a decision of a tribunal finding a member to be in breach of discipline or set aside such a decision and find that the member concerned was in breach of discipline otherwise than as found by the tribunal,
(b) if a member has appealed from a decision of a tribunal finding him to be in breach of discipline but has not appealed from a decision of the tribunal in relation to the same matter that specified disciplinary action should be taken against him, set aside the decision, and decide that any disciplinary action specified in section 9 (4) of this Act other than that specified in the decision of the tribunal should be taken against the member,
(c) in relation to an appeal by a member from a decision of a tribunal that specified disciplinary action should be taken against him, affirm or set aside the latter decision or set aside the decision and decide that any disciplinary action specified in section 9 (4) of this Act other than that specified in the opinion of the tribunal should be taken against the member,
(d) affirm a decision of a tribunal that disciplinary action should not be taken against a member or decide in any such case that any disciplinary action specified in the said section 9 (4) should be taken against a member.
(3) (a) A decision of the Appeal Board under subsection (2) of this section (whether affirming a decision of a tribunal or otherwise) that a member above the rank of inspector should be dismissed from the Garda Síochána shall be communicated by the Appeal Board to the Minister and by him to the Government and shall also be communicated by the Appeal Board to the Commissioner.
(b) A decision of the Appeal Board under the said subsection (2) (whether affirming a decision of a tribunal or otherwise) that a member not above the rank of inspector should be dismissed from the Garda Síochána or that any other disciplinary action should be taken against a member of any rank shall be communicated by the Appeal Board to the Commissioner.
(4) The Commissioner shall have power to implement decisions referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of this section and those decisions shall be implemented in accordance with their terms under the power aforesaid and decisions referred to in paragraph (a) of the said subsection (3) shall be implemented in accordance with their terms under section 7 (2) or 10 (4), as may be appropriate, of the Act of 1925.
Prohibition on unauthorised disclosure of information.
12.—(1) A person shall not disclose confidential information obtained by him while performing functions as a member of the Board, a tribunal or the Appeal Board, or as a member of the staff of the Board, unless he is duly authorised to do so.
(2) In this section—
“confidential” means that which is expressed to be confidential either as regards particular information or as regards information of a particular class or description;
“duly authorised” means, in the case of a member of the Appeal Board, authorised by the Appeal Board and, in any other case, authorised by the Board.
(3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £700 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.
Reports of Board.
13.—(1) The Board shall, not later than six months after the end of each year, make a report to the Minister of its activities during that year and may include in the report information and comment in relation to any matters coming to its notice under this Act to which it considers that his attention should be drawn.
(2) The Board shall, at the request of the Minister, report to him on such general matters relating to its functions as the Minister may specify.
(3) The Board shall keep under review the working of the system of investigation and adjudication of complaints and shall make a report thereon to the Minister not later than three years after the establishment day, and at least once in every subsequent period of three years.
(4) The Minister shall cause a copy of every report received by him under this section to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.
Membership of Houses of Oireachtas or Assembly of European Communities.
14.—(1) Where a member of the Board or the Appeal Board is nominated as a member of Seanad Éireann or as a candidate for election to either House of the Oireachtas or to the Assembly of the European Communities or is regarded, pursuant to section 15 of the European Assembly Elections Act, 1977, as having been elected to such Assembly to fill a vacancy, he shall thereupon cease to be a member of the Board or the Appeal Board.
(2) A person who is for the time being entitled under the Standing Orders of either House of the Oireachtas to sit therein or who is a member of the Assembly of the European Communities shall, while he is so entitled or is such a member, be disqualified for becoming a member of the Board or the Appeal Board.
Restriction of application Act and restriction of application and amendment of Regulations and Dublin Police Act, 1924.
15.— (1) (a) This Act shall not apply in relation to conduct alleged in a complaint if, before the date on which the complaint is received—
(i) the Commissioner had appointed a member or members of the Garda Síochána to hold an inquiry under the Regulations into the conduct, or
(ii) a person had been nominated by the Minister under section 12 of the Dublin Police Act, 1924, to hold an inquiry into the conduct.
(b) (i) The Commissioner may dismiss a member not above the rank of inspector in accordance with the Regulations notwithstanding that an admissible complaint has been made against the member and for this purpose the relevant provisions of the Regulations shall apply with any necessary modifications; and in any such case this Act shall not apply or, as the case may be, shall cease to apply in relation to the conduct alleged in the complaint.
(ii) Nothing in this Act shall affect—
(I) the power of the Commissioner under the Regulations to suspend from duty for a specified period; or
(II) the power of the Government under section 7 (2) or 10 (4) of the Act of 1925 in relation to removal from office or, as the case may be, dismissal or reduction in rank and, where the Government exercise such a power, this Act shall not apply or, as the case may be, shall cease to apply in relation to the conduct alleged in the complaint notwithstanding that an admissible complaint has been made against the member concerned.
(2) Where—
(a) conduct of a member is being or has been investigated under the Regulations,
(b) the Commissioner has not appointed a member or members of the Garda Síochána to hold an inquiry under the Regulations into the conduct, and
(c) a complaint is made in relation to the conduct,
the complaint shall be investigated under this Act and the investigation under the Regulations, and any statement made in connection therewith, shall be deemed to have been made under and for the purposes of this Act.
(3) Neither the Regulations nor the said section 12 shall apply in relation to conduct alleged in an admissible complaint if, before the date on which the complaint was made, a person had not been appointed under the Regulations or nominated under the said section 12, as the case may be, to hold an inquiry into the conduct.
(4) The said section 12 is hereby amended—
(a) in subsection (1), by the deletion of “for the Commissioner or for any other member of the Dublin Metropolitan Police not being of lower rank than Inspector nominated for that purpose by the Commissioner, or”, and
(b) in subsection (2), by the substitution of “a fine not exceeding £700 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both” for “a fine not exceeding twenty pounds or to imprisonment with or without hard labour for a period not exceeding three months”.
(5) The Regulations may provide that a person who is duly notified that he is required to attend at an inquiry being or to be held under the Regulations in relation to an alleged breach of discipline by a member and who neglects or refuses to attend at such inquiry or, in the case of a person other than the member aforesaid or his spouse, refuses to give evidence thereat shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £700 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.
(6) References in the preceding subsections of this section to the said section 12 are references to that section as adapted by section 18 of the Act of 1925.
(7) In this section “the Regulations” means any regulations under section 14 of the Act of 1925 in relation to discipline for the time being in force.
Amendment of Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
16.— The Criminal Justice Act, 1984, is here by amended by the substitution, in section 1 (2), of “members (within the meaning of the Garda Síochána (Complaints) Act, 1986)” for “members of the Garda Síochána not above the rank of chief superintendent”.
Expenses.
17.—The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
Short title.
18.—This Act may be cited as the Garda Síochána (Complaints) Act, 1986.
FIRST SCHEDULE
The Garda Síochána Complaints Board
1. (1) The Board shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and power to sue and be sued in its own name and, with the consent of the Minister, to acquire, hold and dispose of land or an interest in or rights over or in respect of land.
(2) The Board shall be independent in the exercise of its functions.
2. (1) The Board shall consist of a chairman and eight ordinary members.
(2) The members of the Board shall be appointed from time to time as occasion requires by the Government and, subject to the provisions of this Schedule, shall hold office upon such terms and conditions as the Government may determine.
(3) The term of office of a member of the Board shall be five years and, subject to the provisions of this Schedule, a member of the Board shall be eligible for re-appointment as such member.
(4) (a) At least three persons each of whom is a practising barrister, or a practising solicitor, of not less than ten years' standing shall be appointed to be ordinary members of the Board and if such a member ceases during his term of office as such member to be a practising barrister or a practising solicitor, as the case may be, he shall thereupon cease to be a member of the Board.
(b) (i) The Commissioner or such other officer of the Garda Síochána not below the rank of assistant commissioner as the Commissioner may nominate shall be appointed an ordinary member of the Board.
(ii) If the member of the Board who is the Commissioner or other officer of the Garda Síochána not below the rank of assistant commissioner nominated in that behalf by the Commissioner ceases during his term of office as such member to be the Commissioner or to hold a rank in the Garda Síochána not below that of assistant commissioner, as the case may be, he shall thereupon cease to be a member of the Board.
(c) The membership of the Board shall not include any person who is or has been a member of the Garda Síochána other than the member of the Garda Síochána appointed under clause (b) of this subparagraph to be an ordinary member of the Board.
(d) If a complaint concerns the conduct of a deputy commissioner or an assistant commissioner—
(i) the Commissioner shall act on the Board in relation to any business concerned with the complaint in the place of any deputy commissioner or assistant commissioner who is a member of the Board and, notwithstanding anything in this Act, the Commissioner shall be deemed for that purpose to be a member of the Board, and
(ii) if, arising out of the complaint, a matter is referred by the Board to a tribunal pursuant to section 7 (5) of this Act, the Commissioner shall, notwithstanding paragraph 1 (c) of the Second Schedule to this Act be a member of the tribunal.
(5) A member of the Board may at any time resign his office as such member by letter addressed to the Secretary to the Government and the resignation shall take effect on and from the date of receipt of the letter.
(6) Where a casual vacancy occurs among the members of the Board, the Government shall, as soon as may be, take such steps as are necessary to fill the vacancy and the person appointed to fill the vacancy shall hold office for the remainder of the term of office for which his predecessor was appointed.
(7) Members of the Board (other than a member who is the holder of a judicial office) shall be paid such remuneration (if any), and members of the Board shall be paid such allowances for expenses, as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for the Public Service, may from time to time determine.
(8) The Government may remove from office any member of the Board who, in the opinion of the Government, has become incapable through ill-health of effectively performing his functions or has committed stated misbehaviour.
3. (1) The Government shall from time to time as occasion requires appoint a member of the Board to be chairman thereof.
(2) The chairman of the Board shall be a practicing barrister, or a practising solicitor, of not less than ten years' standing and, if he ceases to be a practicing barrister or a practicing solicitor during his term of office as such chairman, he shall thereupon cease to be such chairman and to be a member of the Board.
(3) Where the chairman of the Board ceases during his term of office as such chairman to be a member of the Board, he shall thereupon also cease to be chairman of the Board.
(4) The chairman of the Board shall, unless he sooner dies, resigns or otherwise ceases to be chairman, hold office as such chairman until the expiration of his term of office as a member of the Board but, if he is re-appointed as a member of the Board, he shall be eligible for re-appointment as chairman of the Board.
4. (1) The Board may appoint such and so many persons to be officers and servants of the Board as may be approved of from time to time by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for the Public Service.
(2) (a) There shall be a chief executive officer of the Board (who is referred to in this Act as the chief executive).
(b) The chief executive shall be appointed on the recommendation of the Civil Service Commission.
(c) The chief executive shall perform the functions conferred on him by this Act and such other functions (if any) as may be assigned to him by the Board.
(d) Specified functions of the chief executive under this Act may, with the consent of the Board, be performed by such officer of the Board as may be authorised in that behalf by the chief executive.
(e) The functions of the chief executive under this Act may be performed during his temporary absence by such officer of the Board as may be designated for that purpose by the Board.
(3) (a) Officers and servants of the Board shall be civil servants in the Civil Service of the State.
(b) The appropriate authority (within the meaning of the Civil Service Commissioners Act, 1956, and the Civil Service Regulation Acts, 1956 and 1958) in relation to officers and servants of the Board shall, for the purposes of those Acts, be the Minister.
(c) The Minister may delegate to the Board the powers exercisable by him under section 5 of the Civil Service Commissioners Act, 1956, and the Civil Service Regulation Acts, 1956 and 1958, as the appropriate authority in relation to officers and servants of the Board and, if he does so, then, so long as the delegation remains in force—
(i) those powers shall, in lieu of being exercisable by the Minister, be exercisable by the Board, and
(ii) The Board shall, in lieu of the Minister, be, for the purposes of the said section 5 and the said Acts, the appropriate authority in relation to officers and servants of the Board.
(d) The Minister may revoke a delegation made by him under this paragraph but such revocation shall not affect anything done by virtue of the delegation under the said section 5 or the said Acts and anything so done shall continue in force and shall, for the purposes of the said section 5 and the said Acts, have effect as if done by the Minister.
5. (1) The Board shall hold such meetings as may be necessary for the due fulfilment of its functions.
(2) The quorum for a meeting of the Board shall be three or such other number (being not less than three) as may be determined from time to time by the Board.
(3) At a meeting of the Board—
(a) the chairman of the Board shall, if present, be chairman of the meeting,
(b) if and so long as the chairman of the Board is not present or if the office of chairman is vacant, the members of the Board who are present shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.
(4) Every question at a meeting of the Board shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting on the question and, in the case of an equal division of votes, the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
(5) The Board may act notwithstanding one or more than one vacancy among its members.
(6) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Board shall determine, by standing orders or otherwise, the procedure and business of the Board.
6. (1) There may be paid to the Board in each financial year of the Board, out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas, a grant or grants of such amount or amounts as the Minister, with the approval of the Minister for Finance, may determine.
(2) The Board shall, in relation to each financial year of the Board, prepare and send to the Minister (on a date not later than a date specified by the Minister) an estimate in such form as the Minister may specify of its expenditure for that year.
7. (1) The Board shall keep, in such form as may be approved of by the Minister, all proper and usual accounts of all moneys received or expended by it and all such special accounts (if any) as the Minister may direct.
(2) Accounts kept in pursuance of this paragraph shall be submitted annually (on a date not later than a date specified by the Minister) by the Board to the Comptroller and Auditor General for audit and, as soon as may be after the audit, a copy of such of those accounts, or of such extracts from such accounts, as the Minister may specify and a copy of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on the accounts shall be presented by the Board to the Minister who shall cause copies of the documents presented to him to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.
8. (1) The Board shall, as soon as may be after the establishment day, provide itself with a seal.
(2) The seal of the Board shall be authenticated by the chairman of the Board or some other member of the Board authorised by the Board to act in that behalf.
(3) Judicial notice shall be taken of the seal of the Board and every document purporting to be an instrument made by the Board and to be sealed with the seal (purporting to be authenticated in accordance with subparagraph (2) of this paragraph) of the Board shall be received in evidence and be deemed to be such instrument without proof, unless the contrary is shown.
9. (1) A member of the Board who is either directly or indirectly interested in any contract which the Board proposes to make—
(a) shall disclose to the Board the fact and the nature of such interest at the meeting of the Board at which the question of entering into such a contract is first considered or, if he has no such interest at that time, as soon as may be after he has acquired such interest,
(b) shall take no part in any deliberations of the Board relating to such a contract save to such extent as the chairman of the Board may permit,
(c) shall not vote on a decision relating to such a contract, and
(d) shall not be counted in the quorum present at any meeting while such a contract is being considered.
(2) A disclosure under this paragraph shall be recorded in the minutes of the Board.
(3) Where the Minister is satisfied that a member of the Board has failed to comply with a requirement of subparagraph (1) of this paragraph, the Government may, on the recommendation of the Minister, remove that member from office, and, if a person is removed from office pursuant to this subparagraph, he shall thenceforth be disqualified for membership of the Board.
10. Any contract or instrument which, if entered into or executed by a person not being a body corporate, would not require to be under seal may be entered into or executed on behalf of the Board by any person generally or specially authorised by the Board in that behalf.
SECOND SCHEDULE
Tribunals
1. (a) A tribunal shall consist of three persons.
(b) Two of the members of the tribunal shall be members of the Board (other than the member of the Garda Síochána who is a member of the Board) who have not been concerned with the matter referred to the tribunal and one, at least, of them shall be a practising barrister, or a practising solicitor, of not less than ten years' standing.
(c) The third member of the tribunal shall, subject to paragraph 2 (4) (d) of the First Schedule to this Act, be a member of the Garda Síochána (other than the member of the Garda Síochána who is a member of the Board) who—
(i) is not below the rank of chief superintendent,
(ii) has not been involved in the investigation of the matter referred to the tribunal, and
(iii) is nominated in that behalf by the Commissioner.
2. The chairman of a tribunal shall be such member of the tribunal as a majority of the members thereof may determine.
3. (a) The Board may appoint a member of the Board (other than the member of the Garda Síochána who is a member of the Board) who has not been concerned with the matter referred to the tribunal to be a member of a tribunal during the temporary absence of a member of the tribunal (other than the member nominated by the Commissioner under paragraph 1 of this Schedule).
(b) The Board may appoint a member of the Garda Síochána (other than the member of the Garda Síochána who is a member of the Board) who—
(i) is not below the rank of chief superintendent,
(ii) has not been involved in the investigation of the matter referred to the tribunal, and
(iii) is nominated in that behalf by the Commissioner,
to be a member of a tribunal during the temporary absence of the member of the tribunal nominated by the Commissioner under paragraph 1 of this Schedule.
4. (1) A tribunal shall hold sittings and at the sittings may take evidence and may receive submissions by or on behalf of the persons concerned (including the chief executive).
(2) Sittings of a tribunal shall be held in private.
5. Where a matter is referred to a tribunal under section 7 (5) of this Act, the chief executive shall present the case against the member concerned to the tribunal.
6. A witness whose evidence has been or is being or is to be given before a tribunal shall be entitled to the same privileges and immunities as a witness in a court.
7. A decision of a tribunal may be that of a majority of its members.
8. The chairman of a tribunal may—
(a) direct in writing the member concerned to attend before the tribunal on a date and at a time and place specified in the direction,
(b) direct in writing any other person whose evidence is required by the tribunal to attend before the tribunal on a date and at a time and place specified in the direction and there to give evidence and to produce any document or thing in his possession or power specified in the direction,
(c) direct that other person to produce to the tribunal any specified document or thing in his possession or power,
(d) give any other directions for the purpose of the proceedings that appear to him reasonable and just.
9. The reasonable expenses of witnesses directed under paragraph 8 of this Schedule to attend before a tribunal shall be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
10. A person who—
(a) having been directed under the said paragraph 8 to attend before a tribunal and, in the case of a person (other than a member of the Garda Síochána) so directed under subparagraph (b) of that paragraph, having had tendered to him any sum in respect of the expenses of his attendance which a witness summoned to attend before the District Court would be entitled to have tendered to him, without just cause or excuse disobeys the direction,
(b) being in attendance before a tribunal pursuant to a direction under the said subparagraph (b), refuses to take the oath on being required by the tribunal to do so or refuses to answer any question to which the tribunal may legally require an answer,
(c) without just cause or excuse disobeys a direction under subparagraph (b) of the said paragraph 8 in relation to the giving of evidence or the production of a document or thing or a direction under subparagraph (c) or (d) of the said paragraph 8, or
(d) does any other thing in relation to the proceedings before a tribunal which, if done in relation to proceedings before a court by a witness in the court, would be contempt of that court,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £700 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.
11. If a person gives false evidence before a tribunal in such circumstances that, if he had given the evidence before a court, he would be guilty of perjury, he shall be guilty of that offence.
12. The procedure of a tribunal shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be such as shall be determined by the Board by rules made by it with the consent of the Minister and the rules shall, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, make provision for—
(a) notifying the complainant, the member concerned and the chief executive of the date, time and place of the relevant sitting of the tribunal,
(b) giving the member concerned a statement of the breach or breaches of discipline alleged, the names of the witnesses whom it is proposed to call to give evidence before the tribunal relating to the complaint, a copy of each statement intended to be used at the tribunal and an indication in writing of the nature and source of any information relating to the matter which has come to notice in the course of the investigation of the complaint, which may be favourable to the member concerned and of which he may be unaware,
(c) enabling the member concerned and the complainant to be present at the relevant sitting of the tribunal and enabling the member concerned to present his case to the tribunal in person or through another member or a legal representative,
(d) enabling written statements to be admissible as evidence by the tribunal with the consent of the member concerned,
(e) enabling any signature appearing on a document produced before the tribunal to be taken, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, to be that of the person whose signature it purports to be,
(f) the examination (on oath or otherwise as the tribunal may determine) of witnesses before the tribunal by the tribunal,
(g) the examination and cross-examination (on oath or otherwise as the tribunal may determine) of witnesses before the tribunal by or on behalf of the chief executive and the member concerned,
(h) the determination by the tribunal whether evidence at the tribunal should be given on oath,
(i) the administration by the chairman of the tribunal of the oath to witnesses before the tribunal,
(j) the announcement at a sitting of the tribunal of the decision or decisions of the tribunal in relation to a matter referred to it, and
(k) the making of a sufficient record of the proceedings of the tribunal.
THIRD SCHEDULE
The Garda Síochána Complaints Appeal Board
1. (1) The Appeal Board shall consist of a chairman and two ordinary members.
(2) The members of the Appeal Board shall be appointed from time to time as occasion requires by the Government and, subject to the provisions of this Schedule, shall hold office upon such terms and conditions as the Government may determine.
(3) The term of office of a member of the Appeal Board shall be five years and, subject to the provisions of this Schedule, a member of the Appeal Board shall be eligible for re-appointment as such member.
(4) (a) The chairman of the Appeal Board shall be a judge of the Circuit Court and at least one of the ordinary members of the Appeal Board shall be a practising barrister, or a practising solicitor, of at least ten years' standing.
(b) If the chairman of the Appeal Board ceases during his term of office as such chairman to be as judge of the Circuit Court or if an ordinary member of the Appeal Board who is a practising barrister or a practising solicitor at the time of his appointment ceases during his term of office as such member to be a practising barrister or a practising solicitor, he shall thereupon cease, in the case of such chairman, to be such chairman and to be a member of the Appeal Board and, in the case of such ordinary member, to be a member of the Appeal Board.
(c) The membership of the Appeal Board shall not include any person who is or has been a member of the Garda Síochána.
(5) A member of the Appeal Board may at any time resign his office as such member by letter sent to the Secretary to the Government and the resignation shall take effect on and from the date of receipt of the letter.
(6) Where the chairman of the Appeal Board ceases during his term of office as such chairman to be a member of the Appeal Board, he shall also cease to be chairman of the Appeal Board.
(7) The chairman of the Appeal Board shall, unless he sooner dies, resigns or otherwise ceases to be chairman, hold office as such chairman until the expiration of his term of office as a member of the Appeal Board.
(8) Where a casual vacancy occurs among the members of the Appeal Board, the Government shall, as soon as may be, take such steps as are necessary to fill the vacancy and the person appointed to fill the vacancy shall hold office for the remainder of the term of office for which his predecessor was appointed.
(9) Members of the Appeal Board (other than the chairman) shall be paid such remuneration (if any), and members of the Appeal Board shall be paid such allowances for expenses, as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for the Public Service, may from time to time determine.
(10) The Government may remove from office any member of the Appeal Board who, in the opinion of the Government, has become incapable through ill-health of effectively performing his functions or who has committed stated misbehaviour.
2. (1) The Appeal Board shall hold sittings and at the sittings may receive submissions by or on behalf of the persons concerned (including the chief executive) and such evidence (if any) as it thinks fit.
(2) Sittings of the Appeal Board shall be held in private.
3. (1) A member proposing to appeal from a decision of a tribunal shall, within twenty-one days of the date upon which the decision was announced, notify in writing the Appeal Board of his intention to appeal from the decision and shall specify in the notification the decision to which the appeal relates.
(2) The Appeal Board shall cause a copy of the record made pursuant to paragraph 12 (k) of the Second Schedule to this Act of the proceedings of a tribunal from whose decision an appeal is brought by a member to be furnished to the member concerned not less than 21 days before the commencement of the hearing of the appeal.
(3) An appeal to the Appeal Board shall be grounded on the record aforesaid of the proceedings of the tribunal to whose decision the appeal relates, on such evidence (if any), other than evidence to which the record aforesaid relates, as the Appeal Board thinks fit and on any observations of the said tribunal which relate to any matter arising on the record aforesaid and which the Appeal Board requests the tribunal to furnish.
(4) A member may at any time before the commencement of the hearing of an appeal brought by him withdraw the appeal in whole or in part by notifying the Appeal Board in writing of his intention to do so and shall specify in the notification the decision or decisions to which the withdrawal relates.
(5) On receipt by it of a notification under subparagraph (1) or (4) of this paragraph, the Appeal Board shall, as soon as may be, inform the Commissioner, the complainant and the Board of the notification and of the decision or decisions to which it relates and, where the decision is that a member above the rank of inspector should be dismissed from the Garda Síochána, shall also inform the Minister who shall cause the Government to be informed of the notification and the decision to which it relates.
4. A witness whose evidence has been or is being or is to be given before the Appeal Board shall be entitled to the same privileges and immunities as a witness in a court.
5. A decision of the Appeal Board may be that of a majority of its members.
6. The chairman of the Appeal Board may—
(a) direct in writing the member concerned to attend before the Appeal Board on a date and at a time and place specified in the direction,
(b) direct in writing any other person whose evidence is required by the Appeal Board to attend before the Appeal Board on a date and at a time and place specified in the direction and there to give evidence and to produce any document or thing in his possession or power specified in the direction,
(c) direct that other person to produce to the Appeal Board any specified document or thing in his possession or power,
(d) give any other directions for the purpose of the proceedings that appear to him reasonable and just.
7. The reasonable expenses of witnesses directed under paragraph 6 of this Schedule to attend before the Appeal Board shall be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
8. A person who—
(a) having been directed under the said paragraph 6 to attend before the Appeal Board and, in the case of a person (other than a member of the Garda Síochána) so directed under subparagraph (b) of that paragraph, having had tendered to him any sum in respect of the expenses of his attendance which a witness summoned to attend before the District Court would be entitled to have tendered to him, without just cause or excuse disobeys the direction,
(b) being in attendance before the Appeal Board pursuant to a direction under the said subparagraph (b), refuses to take the oath on being required by the Appeal Board to do so, or refuses to answer any question to which the Appeal Board may legally require an answer,
(c) without just cause or excuse disobeys a direction under subparagraph (b) of the said paragraph 6 in relation to the giving of evidence or the production of a document or thing or a direction under subparagraph (c) or (d) of the said paragraph 6, or
(d) does any other thing in relation to the proceedings before the Appeal Board which, if done in relation to proceedings before a court by a witness in the court, would be contempt of that court,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £700 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.
9. If a person gives false evidence before the Appeal Board in such circumstances that, if he had given the evidence before a court, he would be guilty of perjury, he shall be guilty of that offence.
10. The procedure of the Appeal Board shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be such as shall be determined by the Appeal Board, by rules made by it with the consent of the Minister, and the rules shall, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, make provision for—
(a) notifying the complainant, the member concerned and the chief executive of the date, time and place of the relevant sitting of the Appeal Board,
(b) enabling the member concerned and the complainant to be present at the relevant sitting of the Appeal Board and enabling the member concerned to present his case to the Appeal Board in person or through another member or a legal representative,
(c) giving to the Appeal Board, if it should so request, within the period specified in the request, a summary in writing of the submissions proposed to be made to the Appeal Board by or on behalf of the chief executive and the member concerned,
(d) the examination (on oath or otherwise as the Appeal Board may determine) of witnesses before the Appeal Board by the Appeal Board,
(e) the examination and cross-examination (on oath or otherwise as the Appeal Board may determine) of witnesses before the Appeal Board by or on behalf of the chief executive and the member concerned,
(f) the determination by the Appeal Board whether evidence before the Appeal Board should be given on oath,
(g) the administration by the chairman of the Appeal Board of the oath to witnesses before the Appeal Board,
(h) the announcement at a sitting of the Appeal Board of the decision or decisions of the Appeal Board in relation to an appeal, and
(i) the making of a sufficient record of the proceedings of the Appeal Board.
FOURTH SCHEDULE
1. Discourtesy, that is to say, failing to behave with due courtesy towards a member of the public.
2. Neglect of duty, that is to say, without good and sufficient cause—
(a) failing or neglecting—
(i) properly to account for any money or property received by him in his capacity as a member, or
(ii) promptly to do any thing which it is his duty as a member to do,
or
(b) doing any such thing as is mentioned in subparagraph (a) (ii) of this paragraph in a negligent manner.
3. Falsehood or prevarication, that is to say, in his capacity as a member—
(a) making or procuring the making of—
(i) any oral or written statement, or
(ii) any entry in an official document or record,
which is, to the member's knowledge, false or misleading, or
(b) with a view to deceiving, destroying or mutilating any official document or record or altering or erasing or adding to any entry therein.
4. Abuse of authority, that is to say, oppressive conduct towards a member of the public, including—
(a) without good and sufficient cause, making an arrest, or
(b) using unnecessary violence towards any person with whom the member is brought into contact in the execution, or purported execution, of his duty.
5. Corrupt or improper practice, that is to say—
(a) soliciting or receiving as a member and without the consent of the Commissioner any gratuity, present, subscription or testimonial (other than customary collections for such purposes as presentations to members on the occasion of transfer, marriage or retirement),
(b) placing himself as a member under a pecuniary obligation to any person in a manner that might affect his ability to discharge his duty as a member,
(c) improperly using (or attempting to use) his position as a member for his private advantage, or
(d) failing wilfully and without good and sufficient cause to pay any lawful debt in such circumstances as to be liable to affect his ability to discharge his duty as a member or as to be liable to compromise other members.
6. Misuse of money or property in the custody of the Garda Síochána belonging to a member of the public, that it to say, misappropriating, or wilfully or carelessly misusing, losing or damaging, any such money or property.
7. Intoxication, that is to say, owing to the effects of intoxicating liquor or drugs or a combination thereof, being unfit for duty either while on duty or while not on duty but wearing a uniform in a public place.
8. Discreditable conduct, that is to say, conducting himself in a manner which the member knows, or ought to know, would be reasonably likely to bring discredit on the Garda Síochána.
9. Accessory to conduct specified in this Schedule, that is to say, conniving at or knowingly being an accessory to such conduct.