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Number 3 of 1982
TRANSPORT (TOUR OPERATORS AND TRAVEL AGENTS) ACT, 1982
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Preliminary and General
Section | |
Licences
The Bond
Travellers' Protection Fund
Miscellaneous
Payments to Fund and Bond not part of tour operator's or travel agent's assets. | |
Acts Referred to | |
1967, No. 12 | |
Public Offices Fees Act, 1879 | 1879, c. 58 |
Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851 | 1851, c. 93 |
Number 3 of 1982
TRANSPORT (TOUR OPERATORS AND TRAVEL AGENTS) ACT, 1982
PART I
Preliminary and General
Short title and commencement.
1.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Transport (Tour Operators and Travel Agents) Act, 1982.
(2) This Act shall come into operation on such day or days as may be fixed therefor by order or orders of the Minister, either generally or by reference to a particular purpose or provision or mode of transport and different days may be so fixed for different purposes and different provisions of this Act.
Interpretation.
2.—(1) In this Act—
“the Bond” has the meaning specified in section 13 of this Act;
“carrier” means a person whose principal business is the provision of transport by land, sea or air on aircraft, vessels or other modes of transport owned and operated by such person;
“the Fund” means the Travellers' Protection Fund established pursuant to section 15 of this Act;
“the Minister” means the Minister for Transport;
“overseas travel contract” means a contract for the carriage of a party to the contract (with or without any other person) by air, sea or land transport to a place outside Ireland, whether the provision of the carriage is the sole subject matter of the contract or is associated with the provision thereunder of any accommodation, facilities or services;
“tour operator” means a person other than a carrier who arranges for the purpose of selling or offering for sale to the public accommodation for travel by air, sea or land transport to destinations outside Ireland, or who holds himself out by advertising or otherwise as one who may make available such accommodation, either solely or in association with other accommodation, facilities or services;
“travel agent” means a person other than a carrier who, as agent, sells or offers to sell to, or purchases or offers to purchase on behalf of, the public accommodation on air, sea or land transport to destinations outside Ireland or who holds himself out by advertising or otherwise as one who may make available such accommodation, either solely or in association with other accommodation, facilities or services.
(2) For the purpose of this Act, a person shall be deemed to be a customer of a tour operator or travel agent if he has made any payment, either directly or indirectly, to the tour operator or travel agent, under or with the intention of entering into an overseas travel contract.
(3) For the purposes of this Act, a loss or liability incurred by a customer of a tour operator or travel agent is a loss or liability incurred in connection with an overseas travel contract if it results from the inability or failure of the tour operator or travel agent to meet his financial or contractual obligations in relation to the overseas travel contract.
(4) For the purposes of this Act “the inability or failure of a tour operator or travel agent to meet his financial or contractual obligations” means that, in relation to that tour operator or travel agent, one or more of the following events has occurred—
(a) a petition is granted by a court for the compulsory winding up of the business of the tour operator or travel agent,
(b) the tour operator or travel agent by reason of being unable to fulfil his financial obligations seeks a voluntary winding up of his business or has convened a meeting of his creditors for the purpose of considering a settlement of his liabilities to such creditors,
(c) a receiver is appointed over the assets of the tour operator or travel agent,
(d) the tour operator or travel agent has failed to discharge his debts or is unable to discharge his debts or has ceased to carry on business by reason of his inability to discharge his debts,
(e) the tour operator or travel agent has committed an act of bankruptcy,
(f) the Minister has reasonable grounds for believing that, having regard to all the circumstances, the tour operator or travel agent is unable to, or has failed to, carry out his obligations to his customers in relation to an overseas travel contract.
Expenses.
3.—Any 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.
PART II
Licences
Restriction on carrying on business as tour operator.
4.—A person shall not carry on business as a tour operator or hold himself out, by advertisement or otherwise, as carrying on such business unless he is the holder of a licence under this Act authorising the carrying on of such business.
Restriction on carrying on business as travel agent.
5.—A person shall not carry on business as a travel agent or hold himself out, by advertisement or otherwise, as carrying on such business unless he is the holder of a licence under this Act authorising the carrying on of such business.
Licences.
6.—(1) The Minister shall grant a licence to carry on business as a tour operator or as a travel agent to a person if he is satisfied that such person complies with the requirements of this Act.
(2) The Minister shall refuse a licence to carry on business as a tour operator or as a travel agent if he is not satisfied that such person complies with the requirements of this Act.
(3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2) of this section, the Minister shall refuse a licence under this Act to a person if he is not satisfied that—
(a) the financial, business and organisational resources of such person and any financial arrangements made or to be made by him are adequate for discharging his actual and potential obligations in respect of the activities (if any) in which he is engaged or in which he proposes to engage if the licence is granted, or
(b) having regard to the past activities of such person or of any person employed by him or, if such person is a body corporate, having regard to the past activities of any director, secretary, shareholder, officer or servant of the body corporate, such person is a fit and proper person to carry on business as a tour operator or travel agent, as the case may be.
(4) A licence granted under this Act may contain such terms and conditions as the Minister may think appropriate and specifies in the licence.
(5) A licence granted under this Act shall remain in force for such period as the Minister thinks fit and specifies in the licence.
Power to make regulations in relation to licences.
7.—The Minister may by regulations made under this section specify—
(a) the conditions that shall be complied with before a licence is granted under this Act,
(b) the manner in which applications for the grant of a licence under this Act shall be made,
(c) the nature and extent of the information required to be furnished by an applicant for the grant of a licence under this Act,
(d) the form in which an application for a licence under this Act shall be made,
(e) the form of licence to be granted under this Act,
(f) the manner in which members of the public shall be made aware that a tour operator or travel agent is the holder of a licence granted under this Act,
(g) the books, accounts and other records required to be maintained by the holder of a licence granted under this Act,
(h) the place where any books, accounts or other records required to be maintained pursuant to this Act shall be kept.
Revocation and varying of terms and conditions of licences.
8.—(1) Where the holder of a licence is in breach of, or fails, neglects or refuses to comply with any term or condition of a licence under this Act, the Minister may—
(a) revoke the licence, or
(b) vary any term or condition of the licence.
(2) Notwithstanding the generality of subsection (1) of this section, the Minister may revoke, or vary the terms and conditions of, a licence granted under this Act if he is no longer satisfied that—
(a) the financial, business and organisational resources of the holder of the licence or any financial arrangements made by him are adequate for discharging his actual and potential obligations in respect of the business for which he has been granted a licence, or
(b) having regard to the manner in which the holder of the licence is carrying on his business, he is a fit and proper person to carry on business as a tour operator or travel agent.
Appeals.
9.—(1) Whenever the Minister proposes to revoke, other than pursuant to section 10 of this Act, or to vary the terms and conditions of, a licence granted under this Act, he shall notify the holder of the licence of his proposal and of the reasons for such proposal and shall, if any representations are made in writing by such holder within seven days, consider the representations.
(2) Whenever the Minister refuses to grant a licence or decides, having considered any representations that may have been made by the holder of a licence, to revoke the licence or to vary any term or condition of the licence, he shall notify the applicant for, or as the case may be, the holder of, the licence of the refusal or decision and such applicant or such holder may within seven days appeal to the High Court against such refusal or such decision.
(3) On the hearing of an appeal under this section in relation to a refusal to grant a licence under this Act or in relation to a decision of the Minister to revoke, or vary the terms and conditions of, a licence granted under this Act, the High Court may either confirm the refusal or decision or may allow the appeal and, where an appeal is allowed, the Minister shall grant the licence or shall not revoke, or vary the terms and conditions of the licence as the case may be.
(4) A decision of the High Court on an appeal under this section shall be final save that, by leave of that Court, an appeal from the decision shall lie to the Supreme Court on a specified question of law.
(5) An appeal shall not lie in any case where the Minister refuses to grant a licence to an applicant who does not comply with the provisions of section 13 of this Act or in any case where the Minister revokes a licence pursuant to section 10 of this Act.
(6) Where, after the commencement of Part III of this Act, a person appeals against a decision of the Minister to revoke or vary any term or condition of a licence or appeals against a refusal of the Minister to grant a licence, such person shall not, pending the determination of the appeal, carry on business as a tour operator or travel agent unless he complies with the provisions of section 13 of this Act.
Revocation of licence in certain circumstances.
10.—Where, owing to the failure or inability of a tour operator or travel agent to meet his financial or contractual obligations, any payment is or falls to be made pursuant to the Bond or from the Fund to a customer, the Minister shall forthwith revoke any licence granted under this Act.
Power of entry and inspection.
11.—A person authorised by the Minister may at any time enter into any premises in which the Minister has reason to believe that a person is carrying on business as a tour operator or travel agent and there inspect and examine books, accounts or records required to be maintained pursuant to this Act.
Fees.
12.—(1) The Minister may, by regulations, made with the consent of the Minister for Finance, specify the scale of fees payable in respect of applications for licences under this Act.
(2) The Minister may make such charges as he considers appropriate in relation to any matter connected with a licence under this Act and the amount of any such charge shall be determined by the Minister, after consultation with the Minister for Finance, and shall be specified in regulations made under subsection (1) of this section.
(3) All fees and charges payable under this Act shall be paid into, or disposed of for the benefit of, the Exchequer in accordance with the directions of the Minister for Finance.
(4) The Public Offices Fees Act, 1879, shall not apply in respect of fees payable pursuant to this Act.
PART III
The Bond
The Bond.
13.—(1) A tour operator or travel agent shall, before a licence is granted to him under this Act, furnish evidence acceptable to the Minister that the tour operator or travel agent, as the case may be, has entered into an arrangement satisfactory to the Minister for the protection of persons who, during the period of validity of the licence, enter into contracts with him relating to overseas travel.
(2) The arrangement referred to in subsection (1) of this section is in this Act referred to as “the Bond”.
(3) The Bond shall provide that, in the event of the inability or failure of the tour operator or travel agent concerned to meet his financial or contractual obligations in relation to overseas travel contracts, a sum of money will become available to the Minister, or to any person nominated or approved of by the Minister, as trustee, to be applied for the benefit of any customer of the tour operator or travel agent concerned who has incurred loss or liability because of such inability or failure to meet financial or contractual obligations.
(4) The sum of money referred to in subsection (3) of this section may be applied for all or any of the following purposes—
(a) to provide travel facilities for any customer of the tour operator or travel agent concerned who is outside Ireland and who is unable to make the return journey provided for in the overseas travel contract by reason of the inability or failure of the tour operator or travel agent concerned to fulfil his financial or contractual obligations in relation to such overseas travel contract;
(b) to reimburse a customer of a tour operator or travel agent for any reasonable expenses necessarily incurred by such customer by reason of the inability or failure of the tour operator or travel agent to meet his financial or contractual obligations in relation to an overseas travel contract;
(c) to refund, as far as possible, to a customer of a tour operator or travel agent any payments made by him to the tour operator or travel agent in respect of an overseas travel contract which could not be completed by reason of the inability or failure of the tour operator or travel agent to meet his financial or contractual obligations in relation to such overseas travel contract;
(d) to defray any reasonable expenses incurred by the Minister, or provide for any payments by the Minister, on behalf of a customer of a tour operator or travel agent in respect of an overseas travel contract which could not be completed by reason of the inability or failure of the tour operator or travel agent to meet his financial or contractual obligations in relation to such overseas travel contract.
(5) The Minister or, as the case may be, the person nominated or approved of by the Minister, as trustee, shall keep all proper and usual accounts, including an income and expenditure account and a balance sheet, of all moneys received by him on foot of a bond and of all disbursements made by him from any such moneys.
(6) As soon as may be after the end of each year, accounts kept in pursuance of this section shall be submitted to the Comptroller and Auditor General for audit and, immediately after the audit, a copy of the income and expenditure account and of the balance sheet and a copy of the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the accounts shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.
(7) Without prejudice to any existing right of a customer of a tour operator or travel agent to recover damages in relation to the standard of accommodation or service provided pursuant to an overseas travel contract, nothing in this section shall be construed as enabling such customer to recover any damages out of any sum of money made available under the Bond.
Requirements in relation to the Bond.
14.—The Minister may, by regulations, provide that—
(a) arrangements in relation to the Bond shall be entered into only with persons of a class or classes specified in the regulations, and
(b) the Bond shall be for such minimum sum and valid for such minimum period as may be specified in the regulations.
PART IV
Travellers' Protection Fund
Travellers' Protection Fund.
15.—(1) The Minister shall establish a fund to be known as the Travellers' Protection Fund (in this Act referred to as “the Fund”) from which payments may be made in accordance with the provisions of section 18 of this Act in respect of losses or liabilities incurred by customers of tour operators or travel agents who held a licence under this Act or whose licence has been revoked and the revocation is the subject of an appeal to the court, in consequence of the inability or failure of the tour operators or travel agents to meet their financial or contractual obligations in respect of overseas travel contracts.
(2) The collection, retention and disbursement of the resources of the Fund shall be a function of the Minister.
(3) The Minister may by regulations made under this section nominate any person specified in the regulations to carry out any or all of the functions conferred on the Minister by this section.
Contributions to Fund.
16.—(1) A tour operator shall make contributions to the Fund of such amounts and at such times on such basis as may be specified in regulations made by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance.
(2) Regulations made by the Minister under this section may—
(a) provide that contributions for the Fund may be paid to the Minister or to such other person as may be specified in the regulations;
(b) provide that different contributions may be made by different classes of tour operators having regard to the scale of business of the tour operator and may specify the manner for determining the amounts of different contributions;
(c) specify the time and manner in which payments of sums due in respect of contributions to the Fund may be made.
Resources of the Fund.
17.—(1) The resources of the Fund shall be maintained and administered by the Minister or, as the case may be, by a person nominated by him pursuant to section 15 of this Act.
(2) The costs of administration of the Fund shall be defrayed from the resources of the Fund.
(3) The Minister or, as the case may be, the person nominated by him pursuant to section 15 of this Act, shall keep all proper and usual accounts of all moneys paid into the Fund and of all disbursements from the Fund including an income and expenditure account and a balance sheet.
(4) As soon as may be after the end of each year, accounts kept in pursuance of this section shall be submitted to the Comptroller and Auditor General for audit and, immediately after the audit, a copy of the income and expenditure account and of the balance sheet and a copy of the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the accounts shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.
Disbursements from Fund.
18.—(1) Payments may be made from the Fund for all or any of the following purposes—
(a) to provide travel facilities for any customer of a tour operator or travel agent who is outside Ireland and who is unable to make the return journey provided for in an overseas travel contract by reason of the inability or failure of the tour operator or travel agent concerned to fulfil his financial or contractual obligations in relation to such overseas travel contract;
(b) to reimburse a customer of a tour operator or travel agent for any reasonable expenses necessarily incurred by such customer by reason of the inability or failure of the tour operator or travel agent to meet his financial or contractual obligations in relation to an overseas travel contract;
(c) to refund, as far as possible, to a customer of a tour operator or travel agent any payments made by him to the tour operator or travel agent in respect of an overseas travel contract which could not be completed by reason of the inability or failure of the tour operator or travel agent to meet his financial or contractual obligations in relation to such overseas travel contract;
(d) to defray any reasonable expenses incurred by the Minister, or provide for any payments by the Minister, on behalf of a customer of a tour operator or travel agent in respect of an overseas travel contract which could not be completed by reason of the inability or failure of the tour operator or travel agent to meet his financial or contractual obligations in relation to such overseas travel contract.
(2) Payments may not be made from the Fund to a person in respect of any loss or liability incurred in connection with an overseas travel contract unless the tour operator or travel agent concerned held, at the time such person entered into the contract, a licence under this Act, or unless the licence of such operator or travel agent was, at that time, revoked and the revocation is the subject of an appeal to the court.
(3) Where money is payable on foot of the Bond to, or for the benefit of, a customer of a tour operator or travel agent for the purpose of compensating such customer for losses or liabilities incurred by him in connection with an overseas travel contract—
(a) a payment shall not be made out of the Fund until all moneys payable under the Bond have been paid to, or for the benefit of, such person, and
(b) a payment shall not be made out of the Fund to any person in respect of losses or liabilities incurred by him in any case where such person has already been reimbursed in full from moneys payable pursuant to the Bond.
(4) If any event occurs which may affect or delay payments pursuant to the Bond, the Minister or any person nominated by him pursuant to this Act, at his discretion, may make payments from the Fund to or for the benefit of any customer of a tour operator or travel agent who may be affected and any amount so paid shall be repaid to the Fund as soon as may be after any funds payable pursuant to the Bond have been realised.
(5) Without prejudice to any existing right of a customer of a tour operator or travel agent to recover damages in relation to the standard of accommodation or service provided pursuant to an overseas travel contract, nothing in this section shall be construed as enabling such customer to recover any such damages from the Fund.
(6) Regulations made by the Minister under this section may—
(a) provide for the determination of the amounts of payments from the Fund,
(b) provide for the terms on which and the manner in which any payments from the Fund may be made in any particular case or classes of case,
(c) specify the manner in which payments are to be made in any case where the amount of the Fund and any sums due pursuant to the Bond of a tour operator or travel agent are insufficient to satisfy the claims of all persons concerned, and, in particular, may specify that in any such case payments shall be made in proportion to the amount established to be due in respect of each claim.
Investment of money of Fund.
19.—(1) Moneys of the Fund shall be maintained in a current account to be managed and controlled by the Minister or in an investment account to be managed and controlled by the Minister for Finance.
(2) Sums payable into the Fund shall be paid into the current account thereof and sums payable out of the Fund shall be paid out of that account.
(3) Moneys standing to the credit of the current account and not required to meet current expenditure shall be transferred to the investment account of the Fund.
(4) Whenever the moneys in the current account of the Fund are insufficient to meet the liabilities of that account, there shall be transferred to that account from the investment account of the Fund such sums as may be necessary for the purpose of discharging those liabilities.
(5) Subject to subsection (4) of this section, moneys standing to the credit of the investment account of the Fund shall be invested by the Minister for Finance, and income arising from any such investment shall be paid into that account.
(6) An investment pursuant to subsection (5) of this section may be in any securities in which trustees are for the time being by law empowered to invest trust funds or in any of the stocks, funds and securities as are for the time being authorised by law as investments for Post Office Savings Bank funds.
PART V
Miscellaneous
Offences and penalties.
20.—(1) Any person who carries on business, or holds himself out as carrying on business, as a tour operator in contravention of section 4 of this Act, or as a travel agent in contravention of section 5 of this Act, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable, on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding £100,000 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, or to both the fine and the imprisonment.
(2) Any person who obstructs or impedes a person authorised by the Minister in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 11 of this Act, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding £10,000 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or, to both such fine and imprisonment.
(3) Any person who, for the purpose of obtaining for himself or for any other person, a licence under this Act, makes a statement which he knows to be false, or who recklessly makes a statement which is false in a material particular shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding £5,000 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or to both the fine and the imprisonment.
(4) A Justice of the District Court shall have jurisdiction to try summarily an offence under this section if—
(a) that Justice is of opinion that the facts proved or alleged against a defendant charged with such an offence constitute a minor offence fit to be tried summarily,
(b) the Director of Public Prosecutions consents, and
(c) the defendant (on being informed by the Justice of his right to be tried by a jury) does not object to being tried summarily,
and, upon conviction under this subsection, the said defendant shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £500 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to both the fine and the imprisonment.
(5) Section 13 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1967, shall apply in relation to an offence under this section as if, in lieu of the penalties specified in subsection (3) of the said section 13, there were specified therein the penalty provided for in this section, and the reference in subsection (2) (a) of the said section 13 to the penalties provided for in the said subsection (3) shall be construed and have effect accordingly.
Provisions in relation to offences.
21.—(1) Summary proceedings in respect of an offence under this Act may be brought and prosecuted by the Minister.
(2) Notwithstanding section 10 (4) of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, summary proceedings for an offence under this Act may be instituted—
(a) in every case, within two years from the date of the offence, and
(b) if at the expiry of that period, the person to be charged is outside the State, within six months of the date on which he enters the State.
(3) Where an offence under this Act is committed by a body corporate and the offence is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body or any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, he, as well as the body, shall be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
Indictment of bodies corporate.
22.—(1) A body corporate may be sent forward for trial on indictment for an offence under section 20 of this Act with or without recognisances.
(2) On arraignment before the Circuit Court, the body corporate may enter in writing by its representative a plea of guilty or not guilty and, if it does not appear by a representative appointed by it for the purpose, or, though it does so appear, fails to enter any plea, the court shall order a plea of not guilty to be entered and the trial shall proceed as though the body corporate had duly entered that plea.
Provisions as to proceedings in court or in liquidation.
23.—In determining, in proceedings in any court, or in any liquidation, a claim by a person in respect of an overseas travel contract against a tour operator or travel agent, the extent, if any, to which such person may have benefited pursuant to the provisions of this Act shall be taken into account by the court or, as the case may be, by the liquidator.
Payments to Fund and Bond not part of tour operator's or travel agent's assets.
24.—Neither payments made to the Fund pursuant to section 15 of this Act by a tour operator nor any moneys payable on foot of the Bond entered into by such tour operator or by a travel agent pursuant to section 13 of this Act shall be reckoned to be part of the assets of such tour operator or travel agent and none of such moneys shall be used to discharge any liability of the tour operator or travel agent otherwise than in accordance with this Act.
Orders and regulations.
25.—(1) Any order or regulation made by the Minister under this Act may contain such incidental or consequential provisions as appear to the Minister to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this Act.
(2) The Minister may make such orders or regulations as appear to him to be necessary or expedient to implement the provisions of this Act and the Minister may amend or revoke any order made under this section.
(3) Every order and regulation made by the Minister under this Act shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made, and if a resolution annulling the order or regulation, as the case may be, is passed by either House, within the next subsequent twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the order or regulation is laid before it, the order or regulation shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.
Uimhir 3 de 1982
AN tACHT IOMPAIR (TIONSCNÓIRÍ TURAS AGUS GNÍOMHAIRÍ TAISTIL), 1982.
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
CUID I
Réamhráiteach Agus Ginearálta
Gearrtheideal agus tosach feidhme.
1.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht Iompair (Tionscnóirí Turas agus Gníomhairí Taistil), 1982, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i ngníomh cibé lá nó laethanta a shocrófar chuige sin le hordú nó le horduithe ón Aire, go ginearálta nó faoi threoir aon chríche nó fhorála nó mhodha iompair áirithe agus féadfar laethanta éagsúla a shocrú amhlaidh chun críocha éagsúla agus forálacha éagsúla den Acht seo.
Léiriú.
2.—(1) San Acht seo—
tá le “an Banna” an bhrí a shonraítear in alt 13 den Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “iompróir” duine arb é a phríomhghnó iompar a sholáthar ar talamh, ar muir nó san aer ar aerárthaigh, ar shoithí nó ar mhodhanna eile iompair atá ar úinéireacht agus á n-oibriú ag an duine sin;
ciallaíonn “an Ciste” an Ciste Cosanta Taistealaithe atá arna bhunú de bhun alt 15 den Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Iompair;
ciallaíonn “conradh taistil thar lear” conradh chun páirtí sa chonradh (i dteannta nó d'éagmais aon duine eile) a iompar le haeriompar, le muiriompar nó d'iompar talún go dtí áit lasmuigh d'Éirinn, cibé acu is é soláthar an iompair is ábhar go huile don chonradh nó go bhfuil baint aige le haon chóiríocht, saoráidí nó seirbhísí a sholáthar faoi;
ciallaíonn “tionscnóir turas” duine seachas iompróir a shocraíonn cóiríocht chun a díola, nó ar tairiscint chun a díola, leis an bpobal, ar cóiríocht í chun taisteal le haeriompar, le muiriompar nó d'iompar talún go dtí ceannionaid lasmuigh d'Éirinn nó a thugann le tuiscint trí fhógraíocht nó ar shlí eile gur duine é a d'fhéadfadh an chóiríocht sin a chur ar fáil, inti féin nó i dteannta cóiríochta, saoráidí nó seirbhísí eile;
ciallaíonn “gníomhaire taistil” duine seachas iompróir a dhéanann, mar ghníomhaire, cóiríocht ar aeriompar, muiriompar nó d'iompar talún go dtí ceannionaid lasmuigh d'Éirinn a dhíol, nó a thairiscint chun a díola, leis an bpobal, nó a cheannach, nó a thairiscint lena ceannach, thar ceann an phobail, nó a thugann le tuiscint trí fhógraíocht nó ar shlí eile gur duine é a d'fhéadfadh an chóiríocht sin a chur ar fáil, inti féin nó i dteannta cóiríochta, saoráidí nó seirbhísí eile.
(2) Chun críche an Achta seo, measfar gur custaiméir de chuid tionscnóra turas nó ghníomhaire taistil duine má bhíonn aon íocaíocht déanta aige, go díreach nó go neamhdhíreach, leis an tionscnóir turas nó leis an ngníomhaire taistil faoi chonradh taistil thar lear nó d'fhonn conradh taistil thar lear a dhéanamh.
(3) Chun críocha an Achta seo, caillteanas nó dliteanas a thabhóidh custaiméir de chuid tionscnóra turas nó ghníomhaire taistil, is caillteanas nó dliteanas é a thabhófar i ndáil le conradh taistil thar lear má thig sé as neamhábaltacht nó ó mhainneachtain an tionscnóra turas nó an ghníomhaire taistil a oibleagáidí airgeadais nó conarthacha a chomhlíonadh i ndáil leis an gconradh taistil thar lear.
(4) Chun críocha an Achta seo ciallaíonn “neamhábaltacht nó mainneachtain tionscnóra turas nó ghníomhaire taistil a oibleagáidí airgeadais nó conarthacha a chomhlíonadh” go mbeidh, i ndáil leis an tionscnóir turas nó leis an ngníomhaire taistil sin, teagmhas amháin nó níos mó de na teagmhais seo a leanas tar éis tarlú—
(a) go mbeidh achainí deonaithe ag cúirt chun gnó an tionscnóra turas nó an ghníomhaire taistil a fhoirceannadh go héigeantach,
(b) go mbeidh an tionscnóir turas nó an gníomhaire taistil, de bhrí nach bhfuil sé in ann a oibleagáidí airgeadais a chomhlíonadh, ag iarraidh foirceannadh toilteanach ar a ghnó nó go mbeidh sé tar éis cruinniú dá chreidiúnaithe a chomóradh d'fhonn socrú ar a dhliteanais i leith na gcreidiúnaithe sin a bhreithniú,
(c) go mbeidh glacadóir ceaptha ar shócmhainní an tionscnóra turas nó an ghníomhaire taistil,
(d) go mbeidh mainnithe ag an tionscnóir turas nó ag an ngníomhaire taistil a fhiacha a ghlanadh nó nach mbeidh sé in ann a fhiacha a ghlanadh nó go mbeidh scortha aige de ghnó a sheoladh de bhrí nach bhfuil sé in ann a fhiacha a ghlanadh,
(e) go mbeidh gníomh féimheachta déanta ag an tionscnóir turas nó ag an ngníomhaire taistil,
(f) go mbeidh forais réasúnacha ag an Aire chun a chreidiúint, ag féachaint do na himthosca go léir, nach bhfuil an tionscnóir turas nó an gníomhaire taistil in ann, nó go mbeidh mainnithe aige, a chuid oibleagáidí a chomhlíonadh i leith a chustaiméirí i ndáil le conradh taistil thar lear.
Caiteachais.
3.—Déanfar aon chaiteachais a thabhóidh an tAire ag riaradh an Achta seo a íoc, a mhéid a cheadóidh an tAire Airgeadais, as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas.
CUID II
Ceadúnais
Srian le gnó a sheoladh mar thionscnóir turas.
4.—Ní sheolfaidh duine gnó mar thionscnóir turas ná ní thabharfaidh sé le tuiscint, trí fhógraíocht nó ar shlí eile, gur duine é a sheolann gnó den sórt sin mura sealbhóir é ar cheadúnas faoin Acht seo a údaraíonn dó gnó den sórt sin a sheoladh.
Srian le gnó a sheoladh mar ghníomhaire taistil.
5.—Ní sheolfaidh duine gnó mar ghníomhaire taistil ná ní thabharfaidh sé le tuiscint, trí fhógraíocht nó ar shlí eile, gur duine é a sheolann gnó den sórt sin mura sealbhóir é ar cheadúnas faoin Acht seo a údaraíonn dó gnó den sórt sin a sheoladh.
Ceadúnais.
6.—(1) Deonóidh an tAire ceadúnas chun gnó a sheoladh mar thionscnóir turas nó mar ghníomhaire taistil do dhuine más deimhin leis go gcomhlíonann an duine sin ceanglais an Achta seo.
(2) Diúltóidh an tAire ceadúnas a dheonú chun gnó a sheoladh mar thionscnóir turas nó mar ghníomhaire taistil mura deimhin leis go gcomhlíonann an duine sin ceanglais an Achta seo.
(3) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht fho-alt (2) den alt seo, diúltóidh an tAire ceadúnas faoin Acht seo a dheonú do dhuine mura deimhin leis—
(a) gur leor acmhainní airgeadais, gnó agus eagraíochta an duine sin agus aon socruithe airgeadais a bheidh déanta nó le déanamh aige chun a chuid oibleagáidí iarbhír agus a chuid oibleagáidí ionchasacha a chomhlíonadh i leith na ngníomhaíochtaí (más ann) atá á ndéanamh aige, nó atá beartaithe aige a dhéanamh má dheonaítear an ceadúnas, nó
(b) ag féachaint do ghníomhaíochtaí a rinne an duine sin nó a rinne aon duine ar fostú aige nó, i gcás gur comhlacht corpraithe an duine sin, ag féachaint do ghníomhaíochtaí a rinne aon stiúrthóir, rúnaí, scairshealbhóir, oifigeach nó seirbhíseach de chuid an chomhlachta chorpraithe, gur duine ceart oiriúnach an duine sin chun gnó a sheoladh mar thionscnóir turas nó mar ghníomhaire taistil, de réir mar a bheidh.
(4) Maidir le ceadúnas a dheonófar faoin Acht seo féadfaidh cibé téarmaí agus coinníollacha is iomchuí leis an Aire agus a shonróidh sé sa cheadúnas a bheith ann.
(5) Fanfaidh ceadúnas a dheonófar faoin Acht seo i bhfeidhm go ceann cibé tréimhse is cuí leis an Aire agus a shonróidh sé sa cheadúnas.
Cumhacht chun rialacháin a dhéanamh i ndáil le ceadúnais.
7.—Féadfaidh an tAire le rialacháin a dhéanfar faoin alt seo na nithe seo a leanas a shonrú—
(a) na coinníollacha a bheidh le comhlíonadh sula ndeonófar ceadúnas faoin Acht seo,
(b) an modh ina ndéanfar iarratais chun go ndeonófar ceadúnas faoin Acht seo,
(c) an cineál faisnéise agus méid na faisnéise a bheidh le tabhairt ag iarratasóir ar dheonú ceadúnais faoin Acht seo,
(d) an fhoirm ina ndéanfar iarratas ar cheadúnas faoin Acht seo,
(e) an fhoirm ina mbeidh ceadúnas a dheonófar faoin Acht seo,
(f) an tslí ina gcuirfear in iúl don phobal gur duine is sealbhóir ar cheadúnas a deonaíodh faoin Acht seo tionscnóir turas nó gníomhaire taistil,
(g) na leabhair, na cuntais agus na taifid eile a bheidh le coimeád ag an duine is sealbhóir ar cheadúnas faoin Acht seo,
(h) an áit ina gcoinneofar aon leabhair, cuntais nó taifid eile a bheidh le coimeád de bhun an Achta seo.
Téarmaí agus coinníollacha ceadúnas a chúlghairm agus a athrú.
8.—(1) Má sháraíonn duine is sealbhóir ar cheadúnas aon téarma nó aon choinníoll a bhaineann le ceadúnas faoin Acht seo, nó má mhainníonn, má fhaillíonn nó má dhiúltaíonn sé é a chomhlíonadh, féadfaidh an tAire—
(a) an ceadúnas a chúlghairm, nó
(b) aon téarma nó coinníoll a bhaineann leis an gceadúnas a athrú.
(2) D'ainneoin ghinearáltacht fho-alt (1) den alt seo, féadfaidh an tAire ceadúnas a deonaíodh faoin Acht seo a chúlghairm, nó féadfaidh sé na téarmaí agus na coinníollacha a bhaineann leis an gceadúnas sin a athrú mura deimhin leis a thuilleadh—
(a) gur leor acmhainní airgeadais, gnó agus eagraíochta an duine is sealbhóir ar an gceadúnas nó aon socruithe airgeadais a bheidh déanta aige chun a chuid oibleagáidí iarbhír agus a chuid oibleagáidí ionchasacha a chomhlíonadh i leith an ghnó ar deonaíodh ceadúnas dó ina leith, nó
(b) ag féachaint don tslí ina bhfuil an duine is sealbhóir ar an gceadúnas ag seoladh a ghnó, gur duine ceart oiriúnach é chun gnó a sheoladh mar thionscnóir turas nó mar ghníomhaire taistil.
Achomhairc.
9.—(1) Aon uair a bheartóidh an tAire ceadúnas a deonaíodh faoin Acht seo a chúlghairm, seachas de bhun alt 10 den Acht seo, nó na téarmaí agus na coinníollacha a bhaineann leis an gceadúnas sin a athrú, cuirfidh sé i bhfios don duine is sealbhóir ar an gceadúnas cad atá beartaithe aige a dhéanamh agus cad iad na fáthanna atá leis, agus, má dhéanann an sealbhóir sin aon uiríoll i scríbhinn laistigh de sheacht lá, breithneoidh an tAire na huiríolla sin.
(2) Aon uair a dhiúltóidh an tAire ceadúnas a dheonú nó a chinnfidh sé, tar éis dó aon uiríolla a bheidh déanta ag an duine is sealbhóir ar cheadúnas a bhreithniú, an ceadúnas a chúlghairm nó aon téarma nó coinníoll a bhaineann leis an gceadúnas a athrú, tabharfaidh sé scéala don té a d'iarr an ceadúnas nó, de réir mar a bheidh, don duine is sealbhóir ar an gceadúnas, faoin diúltú nó faoin gcinneadh agus féadfaidh an t-iarratasóir sin nó an sealbhóir sin, laistigh de sheacht lá, achomharc a dhéanamh chun na hArd-Chúirte i gcoinne an diúltaithe nó an chinnidh sin.
(3) Ar achomharc a éisteacht faoin alt seo i ndáil le diúltú ceadúnas a dheonú faoin Acht seo nó i ndáil le cinneadh an Aire ceadúnas a deonaíodh faoin Acht seo a chúlghairm nó na téarmaí agus na coinníollacha a bhaineann le ceadúnas a athrú, féadfaidh an Ard-Chúirt an diúltú nó an cinneadh a dhaingniú nó an t-achomharc a cheadú agus, i gcás ina gceadófar achomharc, deonóidh an tAire an ceadúnas, nó ní chúlghairfidh sé an ceadúnas, nó ní athróidh sé na téarmaí agus na coinníollacha a bhaineann leis an gceadúnas, de réir mar a bheidh.
(4) Ní bheidh dul thar bhreith na hArd-Chúirte ar achomharc faoin alt seo ach amháin go bhféadfar, le cead ón gCúirt sin, achomharc i gcoinne na breithe a dhéanamh chun na Cúirte Uachtaraí ar cheist shonraithe dlí.
(5) Ní fhéadfar achomharc a dhéanamh in aon chás ina ndiúltóidh an tAire ceadúnas a dheonú d'iarratasóir nach gcomhlíonann forálacha alt 13 den Acht seo ná in aon chás ina gcúlghairfidh an tAire ceadúnas de bhun alt 10 den Acht seo.
(6) Más rud é, tar éis tosach feidhme Chuid III den Acht seo, go ndéanfaidh duine achomharc i gcoinne chinneadh an Aire ceadúnas a chúlghairm nó aon téarma nó coinníoll a bhaineann le ceadúnas a athrú nó go ndéanfaidh sé achomharc i gcoinne an tAire do dhiúltú ceadúnas a dheonú, ní dhéanfaidh an duine sin, go dtí go gcinnfear an t-achomharc, gnó a sheoladh mar thionscnóir turas nó mar ghníomhaire taistil mura gcomhlíonfaidh sé forálacha alt 13 den Acht seo.
Ceadúnas a chúlghairm in imthosca áirithe.
10.—Más rud é, mar gheall ar mhainneachtain nó neamhábaltacht tionscnóra turas nó ghníomhaire taistil a oibleagáidí airgeadais nó conarthacha a chomhlíonadh, go mbeidh aon íocaíocht déanta nó le déanamh, de bhun an Bhanna nó as an gCiste, le custaiméir, déanfaidh an tAire aon cheadúnas a deonaíodh faoin Acht seo a chúlghairm láithreach.
Cumhacht chun dul isteach in áitreabh agus iniúchadh a dhéanamh.
11.—Féadfaidh duine a bheidh údaraithe ag an Aire dul isteach gach tráth in aon áitreabh a bhfuil cúis ag an Aire chun a chreidiúint go bhfuil duine ag seoladh gnó ann mar thionscnóir turas nó mar ghníomhaire taistil agus leabhair, cuntais nó taifid a cheanglaítear a choimeád de bhun an Achta seo a iniúchadh agus a scrúdú ann.
Táillí.
12.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire, le rialacháin, a dhéanfar le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, an scála táillí is iníoctha maidir le hiarratais le haghaidh ceadúnas faoin Acht seo a shonrú.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire cibé muirir is iomchuí leis a dhéanamh i ndáil le haon ábhar a bhaineann le ceadúnas faoin Acht seo agus cinnfidh an tAire méid aon mhuirir den sórt sin, tar éis dul i gcomhairle leis an Aire Airgeadais, agus sonrófar é i rialacháin a dhéanfar faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo.
(3) Déanfar na táillí agus na muirir go léir is iníoctha faoin Acht seo a íoc isteach sa Státchiste, nó a chur chun tairbhe don Státchiste, de réir ordachán ón Aire Airgeadais.
(4) Ní bhainfidh an Public Offices Fees Act, 1879, le haon táillí is iníoctha de bhun an Achta seo.
CUID III
An Banna
An Banna.
13.—(1) Beidh ar thionscnóir turas nó ar ghníomhaire taistil, sula ndeonófar ceadúnas dó faoin Acht seo, fianaise is inghlactha ag an Aire a chur ar fáil chun a thaispeáint go ndearna an tionscnóir turas nó an gníomhaire taistil, de réir mar a bheidh, socrú, atá sásúil don Aire, do chosaint daoine a dhéanann, le linn ré bhailíochta an cheadúnais, conarthaí leis maidir le taisteal thar lear.
(2) “An Banna” a ghairfear san Acht seo den socrú dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo.
(3) Forálfaidh an Banna, i gcás neamhábaltacht nó mainneachtain an tionscnóra turas nó an ghníomhaire taistil áirithe a oibleagáidí airgeadais nó conarthacha a chomhlíonadh i ndáil le conarthaí taistil thar lear, go mbeidh suim airgid ar fáil ag an Aire, nó ag aon duine a bheidh ainmnithe nó ceadaithe ag an Aire, mar iontaobhaí, lena cur chun tairbhe d'aon chustaiméir de chuid an tionscnóra turas nó an ghníomhaire taistil áirithe a thabhaigh caillteanas nó dliteanas mar gheall ar an neamhábaltacht nó ar an mainneachtain sin oibleagáidí airgeadais nó conarthacha a chomhlíonadh.
(4) Féadfar an tsuim airgid dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (3) den alt seo a úsáid chun gach críche nó chun aon chríche díobh seo a leanas—
(a) chun saoráidí taistil a sholáthar d'aon chustaiméir de chuid an tionscnóra turas nó an ghníomhaire taistil áirithe atá lasmuigh d'Éirinn agus nach bhfuil in ann an turas ar ais dá bhforáiltear sa chonradh taistil thar lear a dhéanamh mar gheall ar neamhábaltacht nó mainneachtain an tionscnóra turas nó an ghníomhaire taistil áirithe a oibleagáidí airgeadais nó conarthacha i ndáil leis an gconradh taistil thar lear sin a chomhlíonadh;
(b) chun aisíoc a dhéanamh le custaiméir de chuid tionscnóra turas nó ghníomhaire taistil ar scór aon chaiteachas réasúnach a thabhaigh an custaiméir sin de riachtanas mar gheall ar neamhábaltacht nó mainneachtain an tionscnóra turas nó an ghníomhaire taistil a oibleagáidí airgeadais nó conarthacha i ndáil le conradh taistil thar lear a chomhlíonadh;
(c) chun go n-aisíocfar, a mhéid is féidir, le custaiméir de chuid tionscnóra turas nó ghníomhaire taistil, aon íocaíochtaí a rinne sé leis an tionscnóir turas nó leis an ngníomhaire taistil i leith conradh taistil thar lear nach bhféadfaí a chomhlánú mar gheall ar neamhábaltacht nó mainneachtain an tionscnóra turas nó an ghníomhaire taistil a oibleagáidí airgeadais nó conarthacha i ndáil leis an gconradh taistil thar lear sin a chomhlíonadh;
(d) chun go n-íocfar aon chaiteachais réasúnacha a thabhaigh an tAire, nó chun go bhforálfar d'aon íocaíochtaí ón Aire, thar ceann custaiméir de chuid tionscnóra turas nó ghníomhaire taistil i leith conradh taistil thar lear nach bhféadfaí a chomhlánú mar gheall ar neamhábaltacht nó mainneachtain an tionscnóra turas nó an ghníomhaire taistil a oibleagáidí airgeadais nó conarthacha i ndáil leis an gconradh taistil thar lear sin a chomhlíonadh.
(5) Coimeádfaidh an tAire nó, de réir mar a bheidh, an duine a bheidh ainmnithe nó ceadaithe ag an Aire, mar iontaobhaí, na cuntais go léir is cuí agus is gnách, lena n-áirítear cuntas ioncaim agus caiteachais agus clár comhardaithe, ar an airgead go léir a bheidh faighte aige ar scór banna agus ar gach eisíocaíocht a bheidh déanta aige as aon airgead den sórt sin.
(6) A luaithe is féidir tar éis deireadh gach bliana déanfar na cuntais a bheidh á gcoimeád de bhun an ailt seo a chur faoi bhráid an Ard-Reachtaire Cuntas agus Ciste lena n-iniúchadh agus, díreach tar éis an iniúchta, déanfar cóip den chuntas ioncaim agus caiteachais agus den chlár comhardaithe agus cóip de thuarascáil an Ard-Reachtaire Cuntas agus Ciste ar na cuntais a leagan faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas.
(7) Gan dochar d'aon cheart láithreach atá ag custaiméir de chuid tionscnóra turas nó ghníomhaire taistil damáistí a ghnóthú i ndáil le caighdeán na cóiríochta nó na seirbhíse a bheidh curtha ar fáil de bhun chonradh taistil thar lear, ní fhorléireofar aon ní san alt seo mar ní a chuirfidh ar chumas an chustaiméara sin aon damáistí a ghnóthú as aon suim airgid a bheidh curtha ar fáil faoin mBanna.
Ceanglais i ndáil leis an mBanna.
14.—Féadfaidh an tAire, le rialacháin, a fhoráil—
(a) nach ndéanfar socruithe i ndáil leis an mBanna ach amháin le daoine d'aicme nó d'aicmí a shonrófar sna rialacháin, agus
(b) gur Banna a bheidh ann, i leith cibé suim íosta, agus gur bailí dó ar feadh cibé tréimhse íosta, a shonrófar sna rialacháin.
CUID IV
An Ciste Cosanta Taistealaithe
An Ciste Cosanta Taistealaithe.
15.—(1) Bunóidh an tAire ciste ar a dtabharfar an Ciste Cosanta Taistealaithe (dá ngairtear “an Ciste” san Acht seo) as a ndéanfar íocaíochtaí de réir fhorálacha alt 18 den Acht seo maidir le caillteanais nó dliteanais a thabhaigh custaiméirí de chuid tionscnóirí turas nó ghníomhairí taistil a shealbhaigh ceadúnas faoin Acht seo nó ar cúlghaireadh a gceadúnas agus go bhfuil achomharc á dhéanamh acu chun na Cúirte maidir leis an gcúlghairm sin, mar gheall ar neamhábaltacht nó mainneachtain na dtionscnóirí turas nó na ngníomhairí taistil a n-oibleagáidí airgeadais nó conarthacha i ndáil le conarthaí taistil thar lear a chomhlíonadh.
(2) Is feidhm de chuid an Aire acmhainní an Chiste a bhailiú, a choimeád agus a eisíoc.
(3) Féadfaidh an tAire le rialacháin arna ndéanamh faoin alt seo aon duine a shonraítear sna rialacháin a ainmniú chun aon cheann nó gach ceann de na feidhmeanna a thugtar don Aire leis an alt seo a chomhlíonadh.
Ranníocaí leis an gCiste.
16.—(1) Déanfaidh tionscnóir turas cibé méideanna a shonrófar i rialacháin arna ndéanamh ag an Aire le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais a ranníoc leis an gCiste, agus déanfar na ranníocaí sin cibé tráthanna agus ar cibé foras a shonrófar sna rialacháin.
(2) Féadfaidh rialacháin a dhéanfaidh an tAire faoin alt seo—
(a) a fhoráil go bhféadfar ranníocaí i leith an Chiste a íoc leis an Aire nó le cibé duine eile a shonrófar sna rialacháin;
(b) a fhoráil go bhféadfaidh aicmí éagsúla tionscnóirí turas ranníocaí éagsúla a dhéanamh ag féachaint do scála gnó an tionscnóra turas agus féadfaidh siad a shonrú conas a dhéanfar méideanna na ranníocaí éagsúla a chinneadh;
(c) a shonrú cathain agus conas a fhéadfar suimeanna a bheidh dlite maidir le ranníocaí leis an gCiste a íoc.
Acmhainní an Chiste.
17.—(1) Déanfaidh an tAire nó, de réir mar a bheidh, duine a bheidh ainmnithe aige de bhun alt 15 den Acht seo, acmhainní an Chiste a chothabháil agus a riaradh.
(2) Déanfar costais riaracháin an Chiste a íoc as acmhainní an Chiste.
(3) Coimeádfaidh an tAire nó, de réir mar a bheidh, an duine a bheidh ainmnithe aige de bhun alt 15 den Acht seo, na cuntais go léir is cuí agus is gnách ar an airgead go léir a bheidh íoctha isteach sa Chiste agus ar gach eisíocaíocht as an gCiste lena n-áirítear cuntas ioncaim agus caiteachais agus clár comhardaithe.
(4) A luaithe is féidir tar éis deireadh gach bliana, déanfar na cuntais a bheidh á gcoimeád de bhun an ailt seo a chur faoi bhráid an Ard-Reachtaire Cuntas agus Ciste lena n-iniúchadh agus, díreach tar éis an iniúchta, déanfar cóip den chuntas ioncaim agus caiteachais agus den chlár comhardaithe agus cóip de thuarascáil an Ard-Reachtaire Cuntas agus Ciste ar na cuntais a leagan faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas.
Eisíocaíochtaí as an gCiste.
18.—(1) Féadfar íocaíochtaí a dhéanamh as an gCiste chun gach críche nó chun aon chríche de na críocha seo a leanas—
(a) chun saoráidí taistil a sholáthar d'aon chustaiméir de chuid tionscnóra turas nó ghníomhaire taistil atá lasmuigh d'Éirinn agus nach bhfuil in ann an turas ar ais dá bhforáiltear sa chonradh taistil thar lear a dhéanamh mar gheall ar neamhábaltacht nó mainneachtain an tionscnóra turas nó an ghníomhaire taistil áirithe a oibleagáidí airgeadais nó conarthacha i ndáil leis an gconradh taistil thar lear sin a chomhlíonadh;
(b) chun aisíoc a dhéanamh le custaiméir de chuid tionscnóra turas nó ghníomhaire taistil ar scór aon chaiteachas réasú nach a thabhaigh an custaiméir sin de riachtanas mar gheall ar neamhábaltacht nó mainneachtain an tionscnóra turas nó an ghníomhaire taistil a oibleagáidí airgeadais nó conarthacha i ndáil le conradh taistil thar lear a chomhlíonadh;
(c) chun go n-aisíocfar, a mhéid is féidir, le custaiméir de chuid tionscnóra turas nó ghníomhaire taistil, aon íocaíochtaí a rinne sé leis an tionscnóir turas nó leis an ngníomhaire taistil i leith conradh taistil thar lear nach bhféadfaí a chomhlánú mar gheall ar neamhábaltacht nó mainneachtain an tionscnóra turas nó an ghníomhaire taistil a oibleagáidí airgeadais nó conarthacha i ndáil leis an gconradh taistil thar lear sin a chomhlíonadh;
(d) chun go n-íocfar aon chaiteachais réasúnacha a thabhaigh an tAire, nó chun go bhforálfar d'aon íocaíochtaí ón Aire, thar ceann custaiméir de chuid tionscnóra turas nó ghníomhaire taistil i leith conradh taistil thar lear nach bhféadfaí a chomhlánú mar gheall ar neamhábaltacht nó mainneachtain an tionscnóra turas nó an ghníomhaire taistil a oibleagáidí airgeadais nó conarthacha i ndáil leis an gconradh taistil thar lear sin a chomhlíonadh.
(2) Ní ceadmhach íocaíochtaí a dhéanamh as an gCiste le duine i leith aon chaillteanas nó dliteanas a tabhaíodh i ndáil le conradh taistil thar lear murar shealbhaigh an tionscnóir turas nó an gníomhaire taistil áirithe, san am a ndearna an duine sin an conradh, ceadúnas faoin Acht seo, nó mura rud é gur cúlghaireadh ceadúnas an tionscnóra nó an ghníomhaire taistil sin san am sin agus go bhfuil achomharc á dhéanamh aige chun na cúirte maidir leis an gcúlghairm.
(3) I gcás airgead a bheith iníoctha ar scór an Bhanna le custaiméir, nó chun tairbhe do chustaiméir, de chuid tionscnóra turas nó ghníomhaire taistil d'fhonn an custaiméir sin a chúiteamh as caillteanais nó dliteanais a thabhaigh sé i ndáil le conradh taistil thar lear—
(a) ní dhéanfar íocaíocht as an gCiste go dtí go mbeidh an t-airgead go léir is iníoctha faoin mBanna íoctha leis an duine sin nó curtha chun tairbhe don duine sin, agus
(b) ní dhéanfar íocaíocht as an gCiste le haon duine i leith caillteanais nó dliteanais a thabhaigh sé in aon chás ina bhfuil aisíoc iomlán déanta cheana féin leis an duine sin as airgead is iníoctha de bhun an Bhanna.
(4) Má tharlaíonn aon teagmhas a d'fhéadfadh difear a dhéanamh d'íocaíochtaí de bhun an Bhanna nó iad a mhoilliú, féadfaidh an tAire nó aon duine a bheidh ainmnithe aige de bhun an Achta seo, mar is rogha leis, íocaíochtaí a dhéanamh as an gCiste le haon chustaiméir, nó a chur chun tairbhe d'aon chustaiméir, de chuid tionscnóra turas nó ghníomhaire taistil dá bhféadfar difear a dhéanamh agus déanfar aon suim a íocadh amhlaidh a aisíoc leis an gCiste a luaithe is féidir tar éis aon chistí is iníoctha de bhun an Bhanna a réadú.
(5) Gan dochar d'aon cheart láithreach atá ag custaiméir de chuid tionscnóra turas nó ghníomhaire taistil damáistí a ghnóthú i ndáil leis an gcaighdeán cóiríochta nó seirbhíse a bheidh curtha ar fáil de bhun chonradh taistil thar lear, ní fhorléireofar aon ní san alt seo mar ní a chuirfidh ar chumas an chustaiméara sin aon damáistí den sórt sin a ghnóthú as an gCiste.
(6) Féadfar le rialacháin arna ndéanamh ag an Aire faoin alt seo—
(a) a fhoráil go gcinnfear méideanna na n-íocaíochtaí as an gCiste,
(b) a fhoráil cad iad na téarmaí ar a bhféadfar agus cad é an modh ina bhféadfar aon íocaíochtaí as an gCiste a dhéanamh in aon chás áirithe nó i gcineálacha áirithe cáis.
(c) a shonrú conas a dhéanfar íocaíochtaí in aon chás nuair nach leor méid an Chiste agus aon suimeanna a bheidh dlite de bhun an Bhanna ó thionscnóir turas nó ó ghníomhaire taistil chun éilimh gach duine lena mbaineann a shásamh agus, go háirithe, a shonrú go ndéanfar, in aon chás den sórt sin, íocaíochtaí i gcomhréir leis an méid a shuífear a bheith dlite maidir le gach éileamh.
Airgead an Chiste a infheistiú.
19.—(1) Coimeádfar airgead an Chiste i gcuntas reatha a bheidh le bainistí agus le rialú ag an Aire nó i gcuntas infheistíochta a bheidh le bainistí agus le rialú ag an Aire Airgeadais.
(2) Déanfar suimeanna is iníoctha isteach sa Chiste a íoc isteach i gcuntas reatha an Chiste sin agus déanfar suimeanna is iníoctha amach as an gCiste a íoc amach as an gcuntas sin.
(3) Déanfar airgead a bheidh chun creidiúna don chuntas reatha, agus nach mbeidh ag teastáil leis an gcaiteachas reatha a íoc, a aistriú go dtí cuntas infheistíochta an Chiste.
(4) Aon uair nach leor an t-airgead i gcuntas reatha an Chiste chun dliteanais an chuntais sin a íoc, aistreofar go dtí an cuntas sin ó chuntas infheistíochta an Chiste cibé suimeanna is gá chun na dliteanais sin a ghlanadh.
(5) Faoi réir fho-alt (4) den alt seo infheisteoidh an tAire Airgeadais airgead a bheidh chun creidiúna do chuntas infheistíochta an Chiste agus íocfar ioncam ó aon infheistíocht den sórt sin isteach sa chuntas sin.
(6) Féadfar infheistíocht de bhun fho-alt (5) den alt seo a dhéanamh in aon urrúis a mbeidh cumhacht dlí de thuras na huaire ag iontaobhaithe cistí iontaobhais a infheistiú iontu nó in aon cheann de na stoic, na cistí agus na hurrúis a bheidh údaraithe de thuras na huaire le dlí mar infheistíochtaí do chistí Bhanc Taisce an Phoist.
CUID V
Ilghnéitheach
Cionta agus pionóis.
20.—(1) Aon duine a sheolann gnó nó a thugann le fios go seolann sé gnó mar thionscnóir turas de shárú ar alt 4 den Acht seo, nó mar ghníomhaire taistil de shárú ar alt 5 den Acht seo, beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus ar é a chiontú ar díotáil, dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná £100,000 nó, de rogha na cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná 5 bliana, nó an fhíneáil agus an phríosúnacht le chéile, a chur air.
(2) Aon duine a chuirfidh cosc nó bac le duine a bheidh údaraithe ag an Aire agus é ag feidhmiú na gcumhachtaí a thugtar dó le halt 11 den Acht seo, beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus, ar é a chiontú ar díotáil, dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná £10,000 nó, de rogha na cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná 2 bhliain, nó an fhíneáil agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile, a chur air.
(3) Aon duine a dhéanfaidh ráiteas chun ceadúnas faoin Acht seo a fháil dó féin nó d'aon duine eile ar feasach dó gur ráiteas bréagach é nó a dhéanfaidh, go meargánta, ráiteas a bheidh bréagach i bponc ábhartha, beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus ar é a chiontú ar díotáil, dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná £5,000 nó, de rogha na cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná 2 bhliain, nó an fhíneáil agus an phríosúnacht le chéile, a chur air.
(4) Beidh dlínse ag Breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche cion faoin alt seo a thriail go hachomair—
(a) más é tuairim an Bhreithimh sin gur mionchion is intriailte go hachomair na fíorais a cruthaíodh nó a líomhnaíodh i gcoinne cosantóir a bheidh cúisithe i gcion den sórt sin,
(b) má thoilíonn an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí leis, agus
(c) mura ndéanfaidh an cosantóir (ar an mBreitheamh á chur in iúl dó go bhfuil de cheart aige go dtrialfadh giúiré é) agóid i gcoinne é a thriail go hachomair,
agus, ar é a chiontú faoin bhfo-alt seo, dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná £500 nó, de rogha na cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná 12 mhí, nó an fhíneáil agus an phríosúnacht le chéile, a chur ar an gcosantóir sin.
(5) Beidh feidhm ag alt 13 den Acht um Nós Imeachta Coiriúil, 1967, i ndáil le cion faoin alt seo ionann is dá ndéanfaí, in ionad na bpionós a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (3) den alt sin 13, an pionós dá bhforáiltear san alt seo a shonrú ann, agus déanfar an tagairt i bhfo-alt (2) (a) den alt sin 13 do na pionóis dá bhforáiltear san fho-alt sin (3) a fhorléiriú agus beidh éifeacht leo dá réir sin.
Forálacha i ndáil le cionta.
21.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire imeachtaí achomaire maidir le cion faoin Acht seo a thabhairt ar aghaidh agus a ionchúiseamh.
(2) D'ainneoin alt 10 (4) den Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, féadfar imeachtaí achomaire mar gheall ar chion faoin Acht seo a thionscnamh—
(a) i ngach cás, laistigh de dhá bhliain ó dháta an chiona, agus
(b) más rud é, ar dhul in éag don tréimhse sin, go mbeidh an duine a bheidh le cúiseamh lasmuigh den Stát, laistigh de shé mhí ó dháta a theachta isteach sa Stát.
(3) I gcás comhlacht corpraithe do dhéanamh ciona faoin Acht seo agus go gcruthófar go ndearnadh an cion le toiliú nó le cúlcheadú, nó gur inchurtha é i leith aon fhaillí ar thaobh, aon duine is stiúrthóir ar an gcomhlacht nó arb é bainisteoir, nó rúnaí nó a shamhail d'oifigeach eile de chuid an chomhlachta é, nó aon duine a d'airbheartaigh a bheith ag gníomhú in aon cháil den sórt sin, beidh an duine sin chomh maith leis an gcomhlacht ciontach sa chion sin agus dlífear imeachtaí a shaothrú ina choinne agus é a phionósú dá réir sin.
Comhlachtaí corpraithe a dhíotáil.
22.—(1) Féadfar comhlacht corpraithe a chur ar aghaidh lena thriail ar díotáil mar gheall ar chion faoi alt 20 den Acht seo le cúirtbhannaí nó gan iad.
(2) Ar chomhlacht corpraithe a dhíotchúiseamh os comhair na Cúirte Cuarda féadfaidh sé pléadáil ciontach nó neamhchiontach a thaifeadadh i scríbhinn trína ionadaí agus, mura láithreoidh sé trí ionadaí a bheidh ceaptha aige chun na críche, nó, cé go láithreoidh sé amhlaidh, nach dtaifeadfaidh sé aon phléadáil, ordóidh an Chúirt pléadáil neamhchiontach a thaifeadadh agus rachaidh an triail ar aghaidh amhail is dá mbeadh an comhlacht corpraithe tar éis an phléadáil sin a thaifeadadh go cuí.
Forálacha maidir le himeachtaí i gcúirt nó i leachtú.
23.—Le linn cinneadh a bheith á dhéanamh in imeachtaí in aon chúirt, nó in aon leachtú, ar éileamh ó dhuine i leith conradh taistil thar lear i gcoinne tionscnóra turas nó ghníomhaire taistil, cuirfidh an chúirt, nó, de réir mar a bheidh, an leachtaitheoir, san áireamh a mhéad a thairbhigh an duine sin, má thairbhigh, de bhun fhorálacha an Achta seo.
Ní bheidh íocaíochtaí leis an gCiste agus leis an mBanna ina gcuid de shócmhainní tionscnóra turas nó ghníomhaire taistil.
24.—Ní áireofar íocaíochtaí a dhéanfaidh tionscnóir turas leis an gCiste de bhun alt 15 den Acht seo ná aon airgead is iníoctha de bhun an Bhanna faoina rachaidh an tionscnóir turas sin nó gníomhaire taistil de bhun alt 13 den Acht seo mar chuid de shócmhainní an tionscnóra turas sin nó an ghníomhaire taistil agus ní dhéanfar aon chuid den airgead sin a úsáid chun aon dliteanas de chuid an tionscnóra turas nó an ghníomhaire taistil a urscaoileadh ar dhóigh ar bith ach amháin de réir an Achta seo.
Orduithe agus rialacháin.
25.—(1) Féadfaidh cibé forálacha teagmhasacha nó cibé forálacha iarmhartacha a bheith in aon ordú nó rialachán a dhéanfaidh an tAire faoin Acht seo a mheasfaidh an tAire is gá nó is fóirsteanach chun forálacha an Achta seo a chur i ngníomh.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire cibé orduithe nó rialacháin a dhéanamh a mheasfaidh sé is gá nó is fóirsteanach chun forálacha an Achta seo a chur i ngníomh agus féadfaidh an tAire aon ordú a dhéanfar faoin alt seo a leasú nó a chúlghairm.
(3) Gach ordú agus rialachán a dhéanfaidh an tAire faoin Acht seo leagfar é faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta agus, má dhéanann ceachtar Teach acu sin laistigh den lá is fiche a shuífidh an Teach sin tar éis an t-ordú nó an rialachán a leagan faoina bhráid rún a rith ag neamhniú an ordaithe nó an rialacháin, beidh an t-ordú nó an rialachán ar neamhní dá réir sin ach sin gan dochar do bhailíocht aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin ordú nó faoin rialachán.
Na hAchtanna Dá dTagraítear | |
Public Offices Fees Act, 1879 | 1879, c. 58 |
Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851 | 1851, c. 93 |