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Uimhir 20 de 1972
AN tACHT PRAGHSANNA (LEASÚ), 1972
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
Léiriú.
1.—(1) San Acht seo—
ciallaíonn “ an Príomh-Acht ” an tAcht Praghsanna, 1958;
ciallaíonn “ na hAchtanna ” na hAchtanna Praghsanna, 1958 agus 1965.
(2) Forléireofar tagairtí san Acht seo d'aon achtachán mar thagairtí don achtachán sin arna leasú le haon achtachán ina dhiaidh sin, lena n-áirítear an tAcht seo.
Feidhm na nAchtanna maidir le hearraí agus seirbhísí áirithe a bhí eisiata roimhe seo.
2.—(1) Beidh feidhm ag na hAchtanna—
(a) maidir le gníomhaíochtaí a dhéanann gnóthais iarnróid agus gnóthais ród-iompair, agus
(b) maidir le praghsanna earraí a ndéantar nó a bhféadfaí na praghsanna orthu a rialú, a rialáil nó a shonrú faoi aon achtachán eile nó faoi aon ionstraim arna déanamh faoi sin, nó i gcomhlíonadh aon chumhachta, dualgais nó feidhme reachtúla, agus
(c) maidir le táillí i leith seirbhísí a ndéantar nó a bhféadfaí na táillí ina leith a rialú, a rialáil nó a shonrú faoi aon achtachán eile nó faoi aon ionstraim arna déanamh faoi sin, nó i gcomhlíonadh aon chumhachta, dualgais nó feidhme reachtúla, agus
(d) maidir le táillí i leith seirbhísí ar seirbhísí gairmiúla go hiomlán nó go páirteach iad agus luach saothair faoi chonradh seirbhíse ar obair is obair ghairmiúil go hiomlán nó go páirteach, agus
(e) maidir le táillí ar sheirbhísí a rinneadh i ndáil le hárachas,
agus, dá réir sin, i mír (a) d'alt 5 den Phríomh-Acht, scriosfar “ d'iarnród, de bhóthar,”, agus aisghairtear leis seo míreanna (b), (c) agus (g) agus na focail “ nó árachas ” i mír (h) den alt sin 5.
(2) (a) Cumhacht—
(i) faoi aon achtachán, seachas na hAchtanna, nó faoi aon ionstraim faoi achtachán den sórt sin, nó
(ii) a thiocfaidh de bhun cumhachta, dualgais nó feidhme reachtúla,
chun praghas earra nó an táille ar sheirbhís a rialú, a rialáil nó a shonrú atá dílsithe do dhuine seachas an tAire Stáit a bhfuil aon chumhacht den sórt sin faoi na hAchtanna maidir leis an earra nó leis an tseirbhís dílsithe dó ní fheidhmeofar í gan toiliú an Aire sin.
(b) Ní bheidh feidhm ag an bhfo-alt seo maidir le cumhacht atá dílsithe don Rialtas ná maidir le haon chumhacht chun táillí a rialú, a rialáil nó a shonrú ar cumhacht í is infheidhme le hionstraim reachtúil arna déanamh—
(i) faoi na hAchtanna Toghcháin, 1923 go 1963,
(ii) faoi Acht Toghacháin an tSeanaid (Baill Phríomh-Scoile), 1937,
(iii) faoi Acht Toghachán an Uachtaráin, 1937,
nó
(iv) faoi Acht an Reifrinn, 1942.
Fiosrú i dtaobh méaduithe áirithe ar phraghsanna agus iad a rialú.
3.—Leasaítear an Príomh-Acht leis seo tríd an alt seo a leanas a chur isteach i gCuid IIIA i ndiaidh alt 22E (a cuireadh isteach leis an Acht Praghsanna (Leasú), 1965):
“ 22F. (1) (a) Féadfaidh an tAire fiosrú a dhéanamh i dtaobh na suimeanna ar mó na praghsanna ar a ndíoltar aon earra sonraithe i gcúrsa gnó ag daoine atá ag gabháil do thrádáil nó do thráchtáil, ar allmhaireoirí, monaróirí, dáileoirí, mórdhíoltóirí nó miondíoltóirí an earra sin nó ar aon aicme shonraithe eile de na daoine sin iad, ná na praghsanna ar a gceannaíonn na daoine sin an t-earra sin agus féadfaidh sé le hordú uasmhéid na suimeanna sin a shocrú, agus féadfar suimeanna éagsúla a shocrú maidir le haicmí éagsúla de na daoine sin.
(b) Féadfar suimeanna dá dtagraítear i mír (a) a shonrú in ordú faoin bhfo-alt seo i cibé slí (lena n-áirítear forálacha a leagan amach lena bhféadfar iad a fhionnadh) agus faoi threoir cibé nithe is cuí leis an Aire.
(2) (a) Féadfaidh an tAire le hordú an tsuim uasta a shocrú is féidir a chur leis na praghsanna ar earraí nó leis na táillí ar sheirbhísí de dhroim aon chánach ar na hearraí nó ar na seirbhísí sin ag daoine is inchuntais chun na gCoimisinéirí Ioncaim sa cháin sin agus féadfaidh an tAire suimeanna éagsúla den sórt sin a shocrú d'earraí nó do sheirbhísí éagsúla nó d'aicmí éagsúla daoine den sórt sin nó dóibh araon, nó féadfaidh sé suimeanna éagsúla den sórt sin a shocrú i leith cainníochtaí éagsúla, arna dtomhas de réir luacha, d'earra nó d'earraí nó do sheirbhís nó do sheirbhísí a dhíol nó a rinne an duine sin.
(b) Féadfar suimeanna a shonrú in ordú faoin alt seo ar cibé modh (lena n-áirítear forálacha a leagan amach lena bhféadfar iad a fhionnadh) agus faoi threoir cibé nithe is cuí leis an Aire.”.
Feidhm na nAchtanna maidir le hús agus le muirir eile faoi chomhaontuithe fruilcheannaigh agus diola creidmheasa.
4.—(1) Beidh feidhm ag na hAchtanna maidir le hús a muirearaíodh agus le haon táillí eile a gearradh faoi chomhaontuithe fruilcheannaigh nó comhaontuithe díola creidmheasa i ndáil le hearraí a ligean nó a dhíol faoi na comhaontuithe sin agus measfar, chun críocha na nAchtanna sin, gur seirbhís aon ligean nó díol faoi chomhaontú fruilcheannaigh nó faoi chomhaontú díola creidmheasa agus measfar, chun na gcríocha sin, maidir le húinéir earraí agus duine eile do dhéanamh comhaontaithe fruilcheannaigh nó comhaontaithe díola creidmheasa, gur seirbhís í á déanamh ag an úinéir don duine eile.
(2) San alt seo tá le “ comhaontú fruilcheannaigh ” agus “ comhaontú díola creidmheasa ” na bríonna céanna atá leo san Acht Fruilcheannaigh, 1960, agus le “ comhaontú fost-cheannaigh ” agus “ comhaontú díola-ar-cairde ” san Acht Fost-Cheannaigh, 1946.
Leasuithe ilghnéitheacha ar an bPríomh-Acht.
5.—(1) Leasaítear leis seo alt 18 den Phríomh-Acht trí “ nó le haicme áirithe daoine ” a chur isteach i mír (c) i ndiaidh “ sa Stát ”.
(2) Leasaítear leis seo alt 19 den Phríomh-Acht—
(a) trí “ nó ag déanamh aon seirbhíse ” a chur in ionad “ a shonraítear sa Tríú Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo ”,
(b) tríd an méid seo a leanas a chur in ionad “ an praghas mionreaca a bheidh á éileamh aige ar an earra sin a thaispeáint ar shlí shonraithe ”:
“ (a) an praghas mionreaca (a luafar mar aon suim amháin agus a n-áireofar leis aon mhuirear a dhéanfaidh an duine d'aon cháin is iníoctha i leith an earra) a mhuirearóidh sé ar an earra sin, nó,
(b) an táille (a luafar mar aon suim amháin agus a n-áireofar léi aon mhuirear a dhéanfaidh an duine d'aon cháin is iníoctha i leith na seirbhíse) a mhuirearóidh sé don tseirbhís sin,
de réir mar a bheidh, a thaispeáint ar shlí shonraithe ”, agus
(c) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur isteach :
“ (2) (a) Féadfaidh an tAire ó am go ham le hordú—
(i) a cheangal, i gcás, chun earra a dhíol nó i ndáil le hearra a dhíol, ar mionreic ag duine, go luafaidh an duine nó seirbhíseach nó gníomhaire an duine praghas mionreaca an earra ó bhéal nó go luafar é ar an earra nó ar aon choimeádán nó fillteán ina bhfuil an t-earra pacáilte nó ar thicéad nó ar lipéad atá greamaithe den earra nó den choimeádán nó den fhillteán sin nó i gcatalóg nó i bhfógrán nó i ndoiciméad eile (seachas sonrasc), go ndéanfar an praghas a luafar amhlaidh a lua mar aon suim amháin lena n-áirítear aon mhuirear a bheidh déanta ag an duine d'aon cháin is iníoctha i leith an earra, agus
(ii) a cheangal, i gcás, chun seirbhís a dhéanamh nó i ndáil lena déanamh ag duine, go luafaidh an duine nó seirbhíseach nó gníomhaire an duine an táille don tseirbhís ó bhéal nó go luafar í in aon chatalóg nó fógrán nó i bhfógra nó i ndoiciméad eile (seachas sonrasc), go ndéanfar an táille a luafar amhlaidh a lua mar aon suim amháin lena n-áirítear aon mhuirear a bheidh déanta ag an duine d'aon cháin is iníoctha i leith na seirbhíse.
(b) (i) I gcás gan ráiteas (seachas ráiteas ó bhéal) lena mbaineann ordú faoi mhír (a) den fho-alt seo a bheith de réir forálacha an ordaithe, measfar, chun críocha alt 22 den Acht seo, forálacha an ordaithe a bheith sáraithe ag an duine a bheidh ag díol ar mionreic an earra lena mbaineann an ráiteas nó, de réir mar a bheidh, ag déanamh na seirbhíse lena mbaineann an ráiteas.
(ii) I gcás gan ráiteas ó bhéal lena mbaineann ordú faoin mír sin (a) a bheith de réir forálacha an ordaithe, measfar, chun críocha an ailt sin 22, forálacha an ordaithe a bheith sáraithe ag an duine a rinne an ráiteas.”.
(3) Leasaítear leis seo alt 22 den Phríomh-Acht trí odq/>nó seirbhís a thabhairt ar tháille is mó ná an táille a thaispeánfar ar aon liosta den sórt sin,” a chur isteach i mír (b) i ndiaidh “ a thaispeáint ”.
(4) Leasaítear leis seo alt 22A (1) (a cuireadh isteach leis an Acht Praghsanna (Leasú), 1965) den Phríomh-Acht tríd an mír seo a leanas a chur in ionad mhír (b) :
“ (b) a cheangal ar dhaoine atá ag gabháil d'earraí a dhíol, do sheirbhísí a thabhairt nó d'obair nó próiseas a dhéanamh (seachas faoi chonradh seirbhíse) aon mhéadú a bheartaíonn siad a dhéanamh ar na praghsanna ar a ndíolann siad na hearraí nó ar na táillí a bhaineann siad amach ar na seirbhísí a thabhairt nó ar an obair nó ar an bpróiseas a dhéanamh, de réir mar a bheidh, a chur in iúl don Aire agus a cheangal go dtabharfar an fógra don Aire tráth nach déanaí ná cibé tráth, roimh theacht in éifeacht don mhéadú, a bheidh sonraithe san ordú,”.
(5) Leasaítear leis seo alt 22C (2) (a cuireadh isteach leis an Acht Praghsanna (Leasú), 1965) den Phríomh-Acht trí “ nó le haicme áirithe daoine,” a chur isteach i mír (c) i ndiaidh “ sa Stát ”.
(6) Leasaítear leis seo alt 23 (1) den Phríomh-Acht trí “ agus pé daoine agus pé méid daoine eile is oiriúnach leis ” a chur isteach i ndiaidh “ is oiriúnach leis ”.
Feidhmeanna faoi na hAchtanna a aistriú.
6.—(1) Féadfaidh an Rialtas le hordú, aon uair is cuí leo é, aon chumhacht, dualgas nó feidhm a aistriú ó aon Aire Stáit a bhfuil Roinn Stáit de chúram air go dtí aon Aire eile Stáit a bhfuil Roinn Stáit de chúram air, is cumhacht, dualgas nó feidhm—
(a) a bhaineann le haon earra sonraithe, seirbhís sonraithe (lena n-áirítear seirbhís ar seirbhís ghairmiúil go hiomlán nó go páirteach í), obair shonraithe nó próiseas sonraithe, agus
(b) atá dílsithe don Aire Stáit chéadluaite leis na hAchtanna nó fúthu nó leis na hAchtanna nó faoi na hAchtanna agus le hordú nó faoi ordú faoin alt seo.
(2) Féadfar le hordú faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo gach oiriúnú a dhéanamh ar achtacháin agus ar dhoiciméid is dóigh leis an Rialtas a bheith iarmartach ar aon rud a rinne siad faoin bhfo-alt sin (1).
(3) Féadfaidh an Rialtas, le hordú, ordú faoin alt seo, lena n-áirítear ordú faoin bhfo-alt seo, a chúlghairm nó a leasú.
(4) Aon uair a dhéanfar cumhacht, dualgas nó feidhm a aistriú le hordú faoin alt seo chun Aire a bhfuil Roinn Stáit de chúram air measfar an riarachán agus an gnó i ndáil le feidhmiú, comh líonadh nó forghníomhú na cumhachta, an dualgais nó na feidhme sin a bheith leithroinnte ar an Roinn Stáit sin agus féadfaidh an t-ordú gach aistriú oifigeach agus maoine, agus gach ní eile, a dhéanamh a ghabhfaidh leis an leithroinnt riaracháin agus gnó sin nó a leanfaidh as.
Painéal na gCoistí Comhairlitheacha Praghsanna a híscaoileadh.
7.—(1) Díscaoiltear leis seo Painéal na gCoistí Comhairlitheacha Praghsanna.
(2) Beidh éifeacht ag an Dara Sceideal a ghabhann leis an bPríomh-Acht amhail is—
(a) dá gcuirfí na míreanna seo a leanas in ionad míreanna 1 agus 2 :
“ 1. (1) I gcás duine is comhalta de Choiste Comhairlitheach do theacht chun bheith ina chomhalta de cheachtar Teach den Oireachtas, scoirfidh sé, ar é do theacht i dteideal, faoi Bhuan-Orduithe an Tí sin, suí sa Teach sin, de bheith ina chomhalta den Choiste Comhairlitheach sin.
(2) Duine atá de thuras na huaire i dteideal faoi Bhuan-Orduithe cheachtar Teach den Oireachtas suí sa Teach sin beidh sé dícháilithe chun bheith ina chomhalta de Choiste Comhairlitheach.
2. Duine is comhalta de Choiste Comhairlitheach beidh sé dícháilithe chun bheith ina chomhalta agus scoirfidh sé de bheith ina chomhalta den Choiste Comhairlitheach sin más rud é—
(a) go mbreithneofar ina fhéimheach é nó go ndéanfaidh sé imshocraíocht lena chreidiúnaithe, nó
(b) go gcuirfidh cúirt dlínse inniúla pianbhreith príosúnachta nó pianseirbhíse air, nó
(c) go scoirfidh sé de ghnáthohónaí a bheith air sa Stát.”,
(b) dá scriosfaí “ ó dhaoine is comhaltaí den Phainéal tráth an cheapacháin ” as mír 3,
(c) dá gcuirfí “ duine ” in ionad “ comhalta den Phainéal ” i mír 4 (2) (c),
(d) dá scriosfaí mír 5 (2) (b),
(e) dá scriosfaí “ is comhalta den Phainéal de thuras na huaire ” as mír 6, agus
(f) dá scriosfaí “ den Phainéal ” as mír 8 (b).
Pionóis faoin bPríomh-Acht a mhéadú.
8.—Cuirtear leis seo an t-alt seo a leanas in ionad alt 26 den Phríomh-Acht:
“ Gach duine a dhéanfaidh cion nó a measfar cion a bheith déanta aige faoi aon alt den Acht seo dlífear—
(a) ar é a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £100 a chur air (agus, ina theannta sin, más cion leanúnach é, fíneáil nach mó ná £10 in aghaidh gach lae a leanfar den chion ach gan sin do dhul thar £100 san iomlán) nó, de rogha na cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná 6 mhí nó an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile, nó
(b) ar é a chiontú ar dhíotáil, fíneáil nach mó ná £500 a chur air (agus, ina theannta sin, más cion leanúnach é, fíneáil nach mó ná £50 in aghaidh gach lae a leanfar den chion) nó, de rogha na cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná 2 bliain nó an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile.”.
Ré feidhme orduithe um praghsanna a chobhsú.
9.—(1) Leasaítear leis seo alt 22A (a cuireadh isteach leis an Acht Praghsanna (Leasú), 1965) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-ailt (3) agus (4) :
“ (3) Féadfaidh an Rialtas, le hordú, ordú a rinne an Rialtas faoin alt seo, lena n-áirítear an fo-alt seo, a leasú nó a chúlghairm.”.
(2) Más rud é, tráth an Achta seo a rith, go mbeidh ordú i bhfeidhm a rinne an Rialtas faoin alt sin 22A (nach ordú a bhfuil sé sainráite go bhfanfaidh sé i bhfeidhm go ceann tréimhse is giorra ná sé mhí), leanfaidh an t-ordú, faoi réir aon leasaithe air le hordú faoi fho-alt (3) (a chuirtear isteach leis an alt seo) den alt sin, de bheith i bhfeidhm go dtí cibe tráth a chúlghairfear é le hordú faoin bhfo-alt sin (3).
Cionta maidir le coistí comhairlitheacha.
10.—Beidh éifeacht ag an Dara Sceideal a ghabhann leis an bPríomh-Acht amhail is dá gcuirfí an fhomhír seo a leanas in ionad fhomhír (4) de mhír 12 :
“ (4) Aon duine—
(a) a mhainneoidh teacht i láthair ar é a thoghairm go cuí os comhair Coiste Chomhairlithigh, nó
(b) a dhiúltóidh, ar bheith i láthair mar fhinné, mionn a ghlacadh a cheanglófar air go dlíthiúil a ghlacadh, nó aon doiciméad ar a chumas nó faoina urláimh a thabhairt ar aird a cheanglófar air go dlíthiúil a thabhairt ar aird, nó aon cheist a fhreagairt a cheanglóidh an Coiste Comhairlitheach sin air go dlíthiúil a fhreagairt, nó
(c) a dhéanfaidh aon ní a bheadh, dá mba chúirt bhreithiúnais le cumhacht chimithe i leith díspeagadh cúirte an Coiste Comhairlitheach sin, ina dhíspeagadh ar an gcúirt sin,
beidh an duine sin ciontach i gcion agus beidh feidhm maidir leis an gcion ag ailt 26 go 28 den Acht seo amhail is dá mba chion é faoi alt den Acht seo.”.
Gearrtheideal agus comhlua.
11.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht Praghsanna (Leasú), 1972, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Féadfar na hAchtanna Praghsanna, 1958 go 1972, a ghairm de na hAchtanna agus den Acht seo le chéile.
Number 20 of 1972
PRICES (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1972
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section | |
Application of Acts to certain commodities and services previously excluded. | |
Application of Acts to interest and other charges under hire-purchase and credit-sale agreements. | |
Acts Referred to | |
1958, No. 4 | |
1937, No. 30 | |
1937, No. 32 | |
1942, No. 8 | |
1965, No. 23 | |
Number 20 of 1972
PRICES (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1972
Interpretation.
1.—(1) In this Act—
“the Principal Act” means the Prices Act, 1958;
“the Acts” means the Prices Acts, 1958 and 1965.
(2) References in this Act to any enactment shall be construed as references to that enactment as amended by any subsequent enactment, including this Act.
Application of Acts to certain commodities and services previously excluded.
2.—(1) The Acts shall apply in relation to—
(a) activities carried on by railway undertakings and road transport undertakings, and
(b) prices for commodities, the prices for which are, or may be, controlled, regulated, or specified either under any other enactment or any instrument made thereunder, or in discharge of any statutory power, duty or function, and
(c) charges for services, the charges for which are, or may be, controlled, regulated, or specified either under any other enactment or any instrument made thereunder, or in discharge of any statutory power, duty or function, and
(d) charges for services wholly or partly of a professional character and remuneration under a contract of service for work wholly or partly of a professional character, and
(e) charges for services rendered in connection with insurance,
and, accordingly, in paragraph (a) of section 5 of the Principal Act “an air” is hereby substituted for “a railway, road, air” and paragraphs (b), (c) and (g) and “or insurance” in paragraph (h) of the said section 5 are hereby repealed.
(2) (a) A power—
(i) under any enactment, other than the Acts, or under any instrument made under such an enactment, or
(ii) arising in pursuance of a statutory power, duty or function,
to control, regulate or specify the price of a commodity or the charge for a service that is vested in a person other than the Minister of State in whom any such power under the Acts in relation to the commodity or service is vested shall not be exercised without the consent of that Minister.
(b) This subsection shall not apply in relation to a power vested in the Government or to any power to control, regulate or specify charges that is exercisable by statutory instrument made under—
(i) the Electoral Acts, 1923 to 1963,
(iii) the Presidential Elections Act, 1937,
or
(iv) the Referendum Act, 1942.
Inquiry into and control of certain additions to prices.
3.—The Principal Act is hereby amended by the insertion in Part IIIA after section 22E (inserted by the Prices (Amendment) Act, 1965) of the following section:
“22F. (1) (a) The Minister may inquire into the amounts by which the prices at which any specified commodity is sold in the course of business by persons engaged in trade or commerce, being importers, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers or retailers of that commodity or any other specified class of such persons, exceed the prices at which that commodity is bought by those persons and may by order fix the maximum such amounts, and different amounts may be fixed in relation to different classes of such persons.
(b) Amounts referred to in paragraph (a) may be specified in an order under this subsection in such manner (including the setting out of provisions by means of which they may be ascertained) and by reference to such matters as the Minister may think appropriate.
(2) (a) The Minister may by order fix the maximum amount which may be added to the prices of or charges for commodities or services in respect of any tax on those commodities or services by persons accountable to the Revenue Commissioners for that tax and the Minister may fix different such amounts for different commodities or services or for different classes of such persons or for both, or may fix different such amounts in respect of different quantities, measured by value, of a commodity or commodities or a service or services sold or rendered by such person.
(b) Amounts may be specified in an order under this section in such manner (including the setting out of provisions by means of which they may be ascertained) and by reference to such matters as the Minister thinks appropriate.”.
Application of Acts to interest and other charges under hire-purchase and credit-sale agreements.
4.—(1) The Acts shall apply in relation to interest charged and any other charges made under hire-purchase agreements or credit-sale agreements in connection with the letting or sale of goods under such agreements and any letting or sale under a hire-purchase agreement or a credit-sale agreement shall be deemed, for the purposes of those Acts, to be a service and the making of a hire-purchase agreement or a credit-sale agreement by an owner of goods and another person shall be deemed, for those purposes, to be a rendering of a service by the owner to the other person.
(2) In this section “hire-purchase agreement” and “credit-sale agreement” have the same meanings as in the Hire-Purchase Acts, 1946 and 1960.
Miscellaneous amendments of Principal Act.
5.—(1) Section 18 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the insertion in paragraph (c) after “the State” of “or to a particular class of person”.
(2) Section 19 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by—
(a) the substitution of “or rendering any service” for “specified in the Third Schedule to this Act”,
(b) the substitution for “in a specified manner the retail price charged by him for that commodity” of the following:
“in a specified manner—
(a) the retail price (stated as a single amount and inclusive of any charge made by the person for any tax payable in respect of the commodity) charged by him for that commodity, or
(b) the charge (stated as a single amount and inclusive of any charge made by the person for any tax payable in respect of the service) charged by him for that service,
as the case may be”, and
(c) the insertion of the following subsection:
“(2) (a) The Minister may from time to time by order—
(i) require that where, for the purposes of or in connection with the sale by retail by a person of a commodity, the retail price of the commodity is stated orally by the person or by a servant or agent of the person or is stated on the commodity or on any container or wrapper in which the commodity is packed or on a ticket or label attached to the commodity or to such container or wrapper or in a catalogue or advertisement or in a notice or other document (other than an invoice), the price so stated shall be stated as a single amount inclusive of any charge made by the person for any tax payable in respect of the commodity, and
(ii) require that where, for the purposes of or in connection with the rendering of a service by a person, the charge for the service is stated orally by the person or by a servant or agent of the person or is stated in any catalogue or advertisement or in a notice or other document (other than an invoice) the charge so stated shall be stated as a single amount inclusive of any charge made by the person for any tax payable in respect of the service.
(b) (i) Where a statement (other than an oral statement) to which an order under paragraph (a) of this subsection applies is not in conformity with the provisions of the order, the person selling by retail the commodity to which the statement relates or, as the case may be, rendering the service to which the statement relates shall be deemed, for the purposes of section 22 of this Act, to have contravened the provisions of the order.
(ii) Where an oral statement to which an order under the said paragraph (a) applies is not in conformity with the provisions of the order, the person who made the statement shall be deemed for the purposes of the said section 22, to have contravened the provisions of the order.”.
(3) Section 22 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the insertion in paragraph (b) after “display” of “or renders a service for a greater charge than that shown in any such list,”.
(4) Section 22A (1) (inserted by the Prices (Amendment) Act, 1965) of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (b):
“(b) by order require persons engaged in selling commodities, rendering services or carrying out (other than under a contract of service) work or a process to notify the Minister of any increase they propose to make in the prices at which they sell the commodities or the charges which they make for rendering the services or carrying out the work or process, as the case may be, and require the notification to be given to the Minister not later than such time before the increase takes effect as may be specified in the order,”.
(5) Section 22C (2) (inserted by the Prices (Amendment) Act, 1965) of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the insertion in paragraph (c) after “the State” of “or to a particular class of person,”.
(6) Section 23 (1) of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the insertion after “thinks fit” of “and such and so many other persons as he thinks fit”.
Transfer of functions under Acts.
6.—(1) The Government may by order, whenever they so think proper, transfer from any Minister of State having charge of a Department of State to any other Minister of State having charge of a Department of State any power, duty or function that—
(a) relates to any specified commodity, specified service (including a service wholly or partly of a professional character), specified work or specified process, and
(b) is vested in the first-mentioned Minister of State by or under the Acts or by or under the Acts and an order under this section.
(2) An order under subsection (1) of this section may make all such adaptations of enactments and documents as shall appear to the Government to be consequential upon anything done by them under the said subsection (1).
(3) The Government may by order revoke or amend an order under this section, including an order under this subsection.
(4) Whenever a power, duty or function is transferred by order under this section to a Minister having charge of a Department of State, the administration and business in connection with the exercise, performance or execution of the power, duty or function shall be deemed to be allocated to the said Department of State and the order may make all such transfers of officers and property and do all such other things as shall be incidental to or consequential on such allocation of administration and business.
Dissolution of Prices Advisory Committees Panel.
7.—(1) The Prices Advisory Committees Panel is hereby dissolved.
(2) The Second Schedule to the Principal Act shall have effect as if—
(a) the following paragraphs were substituted for paragraphs 1 and 2:
“1. (1) Where a person who is a member of an Advisory Committee becomes a member of either House of the Oireachtas, he shall, upon his becoming entitled, under the Standing Orders of that House, to sit therein, cease to be a member of that Advisory Committee.
(2) A person who is for the time being entitled under the Standing Orders of either House of the Oireachtas to sit therein shall be disqualified from being a member of an Advisory Committee.
2. A person who is a member of an Advisory Committee shall be disqualified from being and shall cease to be a member of that Advisory Committee if he—
(a) is adjudged bankrupt or makes a composition with his creditors, or
(b) is sentenced by a court of competent jurisdiction to suffer imprisonment or penal servitude, or
(c) ceases to be ordinarily resident in the State.”,
(b) in paragraph 3 “from persons who, at the time of appointment, are members of the Panel” were deleted,
(c) in paragraph 4 (2) (c) “person” were substituted for “member of the Panel”,
(d) paragraph 5 (2) (b) were deleted,
(e) in paragraph 6 “a person to fill the vacancy” were substituted for “to fill the vacancy a person who is for the time being a member of the Panel” and
(f) in paragraph 8 (b) “from the Panel” were deleted.
Increase of penalties under Principal Act.
8.—The following section is hereby substituted for section 26 of the Principal Act:
“Every person who commits or is deemed to have committed an offence under any section of this Act shall be liable—
(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £100 (together with, in the case of a continuing offence, a fine not exceeding £10 for every day on which the offence is continued, but not exceeding £100 in total) or, at the discretion of the court, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or both such fine and such imprisonment, or
(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding £500 (together with, in the case of a continuing offence, a fine not exceeding £50 for every day on which the offence is continued) or, at the discretion of the court, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or both such fine and such imprisonment.”.
Duration of price stabilisation orders.
9.—(1) Section 22A (inserted by the Prices (Amendment) Act, 1965) is hereby amended by the substitution for subsections (3) and (4) of the following subsection:
“(3) The Government may by order amend or revoke an order made by the Government under this section, including this subsection.”.
(2) If, at the passing of this Act, there is in force an order made by the Government under the said section 22A (not being an order expressed to remain in force for a period of less than six months), the order shall, subject to any amendment thereof by order under subsection (3) (inserted by this section) of that section, continue in force until such time as it is revoked by order under the said subsection (3).
Offences in relation to advisory committees.
10.—The Second Schedule to the Principal Act shall have effect as if the following subparagraph were substituted for subparagraph (4) of paragraph 12:
“(4) If any person—
(a) on being duly summoned before an Advisory Committee makes default in attending, or
(b) being in attendance as a witness refuses to take an oath legally required to be taken by him, or to produce any document in his power or control legally required to be produced by him, or to answer any question to which that Advisory Committee may legally require an answer, or
(c) does any thing which if that Advisory Committee were a court of justice having power to commit for contempt of court, would be contempt of such court,
that person shall be guilty of an offence and sections 26 to 28 of this Act shall apply in relation to the offence as if it were an offence under a section of this Act.”.
Short title and collective citation.
11.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Prices (Amendment) Act, 1972.
(2) The Acts and this Act may be cited together as the Prices Acts, 1958 to 1972.