Number 22 of 1982

ELECTRICITY (SUPPLY) (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1982

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Number 22 of 1982

ELECTRICITY (SUPPLY) (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1982

Definition.

1.—In this Act “the Act of 1954” means the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act, 1954.

Capital expenditure by Board.

2.—(1) The Board shall not incur any expenditure for capital purposes without the approval of the Minister.

(2) The total expenditure of the Board for capital purposes shall not exceed such sum as may stand specified from time to time by the Minister.

(3) Section 2 of the Act of 1954 is hereby repealed.

(4) This section shall come into operation on the 1st day of September, 1982.

Amendment of section 4 of Act of 1954.

3.—Section 4 of the Act of 1954 is hereby amended—

(a) by the substitution in subsection (1) of “(including money in a currency other than the currency of the State) by any means it considers appropriate including” for “by means of”, and

(b) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (4):

“(4) The aggregate amount at any one time of moneys borrowed under this section, and of any advances under section 5 of this Act, which have not been repaid shall not exceed £1,600,000,000 and for the purposes of this subsection moneys borrowed in a currency other than the currency of the State shall be deemed to be the equivalent in the currency of the State of the actual moneys borrowed, such equivalent being calculated according to the rate of exchange at the time of the borrowing for that currency and the currency of the State.”,

and the said subsection (1), as so amended, is set out in the Table to this section.

TABLE

(1) The Board may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance and the Minister, borrow money (including money in a currency other than the currency of the State) by any means it considers appropriate including the creation of stock or other forms of security to be issued, transferred, dealt with and redeemed in such manner and on such terms and conditions as the Board, with the consents aforesaid, may determine.

Guarantee of borrowings.

4.—(1) The Minister for Finance may guarantee, in such form and manner and on such terms and conditions as he thinks fit, the due repayment by the Board of the principal of any moneys (including moneys in a currency other than the currency of the State) borrowed by the Board or the payment of interest on such moneys or both the repayment of the principal and the payment of the interest and any such guarantee may include a guarantee of payment of incidental expenses arising in connection with such borrowings.

(2) The Minister for Finance shall not so exercise the powers conferred on him by this section that the amount, or the aggregate of the amount, of principal which he may at any one time be liable to repay on foot of any guarantees under this section for the time being in force, together with the amount of principal (if any) which the said Minister has previously paid on foot of guarantees under this section and which has not been repaid by the Board exceeds £1,600,000,000.

(3) For the purpose of calculating the amount of borrowings guaranteed by the Minister for Finance under this section by reference to the limit on principal in subsection (2) of this section, the equivalent in the currency of the State of borrowings in a foreign currency shall be calculated at the exchange rate prevailing at the time of giving the guarantee.

(4) The Minister for Finance shall, as soon as may be after the expiration of every financial year, lay before each House of the Oireachtas a statement setting out with respect to each guarantee under this section given during that year or given at any time before, and in force at, the commencement of that year—

(a) particulars of the guarantee,

(b) in case any payment has been made by the Minister under the guarantee before the end of that year, the amount of the payment and the amount (if any) repaid to the Minister on foot of the payment,

(c) the amount of principal covered by the guarantee which was outstanding at the end of that year.

(5) All moneys from time to time required by the Minister for Finance to meet sums which may become payable by him under this section shall be advanced out of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof.

(6) Moneys paid by the Minister for Finance under a guarantee under this section shall be repaid to him (with interest thereon at such rate or rates as he appoints) by the Board within two years from the date of the advance of the moneys out of the Central Fund.

(7) Where the whole or any part of moneys required by subsection (6) of this section to be repaid to the Minister for Finance has not been paid in accordance with that subsection, the amount so remaining outstanding shall be repaid to the Central Fund out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.

(8) Notwithstanding the provision of moneys under subsection (7) of this section to repay the amount to the Central Fund, the Board shall remain liable to the Minister for Finance in respect of that amount and that amount (with interest thereon at such rate or rates as the Minister for Finance appoints) shall be repaid to the said Minister by the Board at such times and in such instalments as he appoints and, in default of repayment as aforesaid and without prejudice to any other method of recovery, shall be recoverable as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.

(9) Moneys paid by the Board under subsection (6) or (8) of this section shall be paid into the Exchequer or disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer in such manner as the Minister for Finance thinks fit.

(10) In relation to guarantees given by the Minister for Finance in money in a currency other than the currency of the State—

(i) each of the references to principal, each of the references to interest and the reference to incidental expenses in subsection (1) of this section shall be taken as referring to the equivalent in the currency of the State of the actual principal, the actual interest and the actual incidental expenses, respectively, such equivalent being calculated according to the cost in the currency of the State of the actual principal, the actual interest or the actual incidental expenses, as may be appropriate,

(ii) the reference to principal in subsection (4) of this section shall be taken as referring to the equivalent in the currency of the State of the actual principal, such equivalent being calculated according to the rate of exchange for the time being for that currency and the currency of the State,

(iii) each of the references to moneys in subsections (5) to (8) of this section shall be taken as referring to the cost in the currency of the State of the actual moneys.

(11) A guarantee shall not be given under section 9 of the Act of 1954 after the passing of this Act.

Redemption Fund.

5.—(1) After providing for the payment of interest on moneys borrowed under section 4 of the Act of 1954 and for other fixed charges and obligations, the Board shall from time to time set aside such sums as it considers proper and pay them into the fund formed under section 12 of the Act of 1954 and the moneys in that fund shall be used for the repayment of moneys borrowed by the Board under the said section 4 (including the redemption of any security which under the conditions of issue is redeemable wholly or partly in cash).

(2) The Board may invest any sum set aside under subsection (1) of this section and the income therefrom in—

(a) such securities for the time being authorised by law for the investment of trust funds as the Board thinks proper;

(b) such other manner as the Board, with the approval of the Minister for Finance, thinks proper;

(3) All sums set aside under subsection (1) of this section or section 12 of the Act of 1954, together with the income therefrom, shall be applied in or towards the repayment of money borrowed by the Board under section 4 of the Act of 1954, including the redemption at maturity of any such security as is mentioned in subsection (1) of this section, or may, if the Board thinks fit, in the case of such a security, be applied to the purchase of the security and any security so purchased shall be written off and cancelled.

(4) Section 12 of the Act of 1954 is hereby repealed, but, notwithstanding that repeal, the fund formed under that section shall, subject to the preceding provisions of this section, continue in existence.

Investment of surplus moneys.

6.—(1) The Board may invest any money at its disposal which it does not for the time being require for the performance of its functions in—

(a) such securities for the time being authorised by law for the investment of trust funds as the Board thinks proper, and

(b) such other manner as the Board, with the approval of the Minister for Finance, thinks proper.

(2) Section 13 of the Act of 1954 is hereby repealed.

Annual payment by Board to Minister for the Environment.

7.—(1) The Board shall, in the year 1982, pay to the Minister for the Environment the sum of £10,000,000.

(2) (a) The Board shall, in each year after the year 1982, pay to the Minister for the Environment such sum as may be determined by the Government for each such year.

(b) A sum determined under this subsection for any year shall not exceed the amount of the rates made by local authorities which, in the opinion of the Government, the Board would, but for the exemption from such rates by the Electricity (Supply) Acts, 1927 to 1981, of certain property of the Board, be liable to pay for that year in respect of that property.

(3) Moneys paid to the Minister for the Environment under this section shall be paid into the Exchequer or disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer in such manner as the Minister for Finance thinks fit.

Amendment of Electricity Supply Board (Superannuation) Act, 1942.

8.—(1) Section 8(2) of the Electricity Supply Board (Superannuation) Act, 1942, is hereby amended by the substitution of the following paragraphs for paragraphs (a) and (b)—

“(a) in such securities for the time being authorised by law for the investment of trust funds as the trustees of the fund think proper;

(b) in such other manner as the trustees, with the approval of the Minister for Finance, think proper;”.

(2) Subsection (1) of this section shall, in so far as it relates to paragraph (b) of the said section 8(2), have, and be deemed to have had effect, as on and from the 22nd day of July, 1942.

Power of Board to engage in aquaculture.

9.—Subject to the provisions of the Fisheries Acts, 1959 to 1980, the Board may engage in aquaculture, that is to say, the culture of any species of fish (within the meaning of those Acts), aquatic invertebrate animal of whatever habitat or aquatic form of any food which is suitable for the nutrition of fish (within the meaning aforesaid).

Short title, collective citation and construction.

10.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act, 1982.

(2) The Electricity (Supply) Acts, 1927 to 1981, and this Act may be cited together as the Electricity (Supply) Acts, 1927 to 1982.

(3) The Electricity (Supply) Acts, 1927 to 1981, and this Act shall be construed together as one Act.

Uimhir 22 de 1982

AN tACHT LEICTREACHAIS (SOLÁTHAR) (LEASÚ), 1982

[An tiontú oifigiúil]

Míniú.

1.—San Acht seo ciallaíonn “Acht 1954” an tAcht Leictreachais (Soláthar) (Leasú), 1954.

Caiteachas caipitiúil an Bhoird.

2.—(1) Ní thabhóidh an Bord aon chaiteachas chun críocha caipitiúla gan cead ón Aire.

(2) Ní rachaidh caiteachas iomlán an Bhoird chun críocha caipitiúla thar cibé suim a bheidh sonraithe ó am go ham ag an Aire.

(3) Aisghairtear leis seo alt 2 d'Acht 1954.

(4) Tiocfaidh an t-alt seo i ngníomh an 1ú lá de Mheán Fómhair, 1982.

Leasú ar alt 4 d'Acht 1954.

3.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 4 d'Acht 1954—

(a) trí “(lena n-áirítear airgead in airgead reatha seachas airgead reatha an Stáit) in aon slí is iomchuí leis lena n-áirítear” a chur in ionad “trí” i bhfo-alt (1), agus

(b) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (4):

“(4) Ní rachaidh méid comhiomlán an airgid a gheofar ar iasacht faoin alt seo, agus aon airleacan faoi alt 5 den Acht seo, a bheidh gan aisíoc, thar £1,600,000,000 aon tráth áirithe agus chun críocha an fho-ailt seo aon airgead a gheofar ar iasacht in airgead reatha seachas airgead reatha an Stáit measfar gur coibhéis é in airgead reatha an Stáit don airgead iarbhír a fuarthas ar iasacht, agus an choibhéis sin a ríomh de réir an ráta iomlaoide don airgead reatha sin agus d'airgead reatha an Stáit tráth na hiasachta a fháil.”,

agus tá an fo-alt sin (1), arna leasú amhlaidh, leagtha amach sa Tábla a ghabhann leis an alt seo.

AN TÁBLA

(1) Féadfaidh an Bord, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais agus an Aire, airgead d'fháil ar iasacht (lena n-áirítear airgead in airgead reatha seachas airgead reatha an Stáit) in aon slí is iomchuí leis lena n-áirítear stoc nó urrúis de chineálacha eile a chruthnú a heiseofar, a haistreofar, a riarfar agus a fuasclófar i pé slí agus ar pé téarmaí agus coinníollacha a chinnfeas an Bord leis an toiliú adúradh.

Ráthaíocht i ndáil le hiasachtaí.

4.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire Airgeadais ráthaíocht a thabhairt, i cibé foirm agus slí agus ar cibé téarmaí agus coinníollacha is oiriúnach leis, go n-aisíocfaidh an Bord go cuí príomhshuim aon airgid (lena n-áirítear airgead in airgead reatha seachas airgead reatha an Stáit) a gheobhaidh an Bord ar iasacht, nó go n-íocfar ús ar an airgead sin nó go n-aisíocfar an phríomhshuim agus go n-íocfar an t-ús agus féadfaidh ráthaíocht go n-íocfar caiteachais theagmhasacha i ndáil leis na hiasachtaí sin a fháil a bheith ar áireamh in aon ráthaíocht den sórt sin.

(2) Ní dhéanfaidh an tAire Airgeadais na cumhachtaí a thugtar dó leis an alt seo a fheidhmiú ar shlí gur mó ná £1,600,000,000 an méid, nó an méid comhiomlán, príomhshuime a dhlífidh sé aon tráth áirithe a aisíoc ar scór aon ráthaíochtaí faoin alt seo a bheidh i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire, mar aon leis an méid príomhshuime (más ann) a bheidh íoctha cheana féin ag an Aire sin ar scór ráthaíochtaí faoin alt seo agus nach mbeidh aisíoctha ag an mBord.

(3) Chun méid na n-iasachtaí a ríomh a bheidh ráthaithe ag an Aire Airgeadais faoin alt seo faoi threoir na teorann le príomhshuim atá i bhfo-alt (2) den alt seo, déanfar an méid in airgead reatha an Stáit is coibhéis do na hiasachtaí in airgead reatha coigríche a ríomh de réir an ráta iomlaoide a bhí i réim an tráth a tugadh an ráthaíocht.

(4) A luaithe is féidir tar éis deireadh gach bliana airgeadais leagfaidh an tAire Airgeadais faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas ráiteas ina mbeidh maidir le gach ráthaíocht faoin alt seo a tugadh i rith na bliana sin nó a tugadh aon tráth roimh thosach, agus a bhí i bhfeidhm i dtosach, na bliana sin—

(a) sonraí na ráthaíochta,

(b) i gcás a mbeidh aon íocaíocht déanta ag an Aire faoin ráthaíocht roimh dheireadh na bliana sin, méid na híocaíochta agus an méid (más ann) a bheidh aisíoctha leis an Aire ar scór na híocaíochta.

(c) an méid príomhshuime faoi bhrí na ráthaíochta a bhí gan aisíoc i ndeireadh na bliana sin.

(5) Airleacfar as an bPríomh-Chiste nó as a thoradh fáis an t-airgead go léir a theastóidh ón Aire Airgeadais ó am go ham faoi chomhair suimeanna a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha aige faoin alt seo.

(6) Déanfaidh an Bord airgead a d'íoc an tAire Airgeadais faoi ráthaíocht faoin alt seo a aisíoc leis (mar aon le hús ar an airgead sin de réir cibé ráta nó rátaí a cheapfaidh an tAire) laistigh de dhá bhliain ó dháta an airgid a airleacan as an bPríomh-Chiste.

(7) I gcás ina mbeidh an t-airgead go léir, nó aon chuid den airgead, a gceanglaíonn fo-alt (6) den alt seo é a aisíoc leis an Aire Airgeadais a bheith gan íoc de réir an fho-ailt sin, déanfar an méid a bheidh gan íoc amhlaidh a aisíoc leis an bPríomh-Chiste as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas.

(8) D'ainneoin airgead a sholáthar faoi fho-alt (7) den alt seo chun an méid a aisíoc leis an bPríomh-Chiste, leanfaidh an Bord faoi dhliteanas don Aire Airgeadais i leith an méid sin agus déanfaidh an Bord an méid sin (mar aon le hús air de réir cibé ráta nó rátaí a cheapfaidh an tAire Airgeadais) a aisíoc leis an Aire sin cibé tráthanna agus i cibé tráthchodanna a cheapfaidh sé agus mura n-aisíocfar an méid sin mar a dúradh agus gan dochar d'aon mhodh gnóthaithe eile beidh sé inghnóthaithe mar fhiach conartha shimplí in aon chúirt dlínse inniúla.

(9) Íocfar isteach sa Státchiste nó cuirfear chun tairbhe don Státchiste i cibé slí is oiriúnach leis an Aire Airgeadais airgead a íocfaidh an Bord faoi fho-alt (6) nó (8) den alt seo.

(10) I ndáil le ráthaíochtaí ón Aire Airgeadais in airgead in airgead reatha seachas airgead reatha an Stáit—

(i) glacfar le gach tagairt do phríomhshuim, le gach tagairt d'ús agus leis an tagairt do chaiteachais theagmhasacha i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo mar thagairtí don mhéid in airgead reatha an Stáit is coibhéis don phríomhshuim iarbhír, don ús iarbhír agus do na caiteachais theagmhasacha iarbhír, faoi seach, agus an choibhéis sin a ríomh de réir chostas na príomhshuime iarbhír, an úis iarbhír nó na gcaiteachas teagmhasach iarbhír, de réir mar is iomchuí, in airgead reatha an Stáit.

(ii) glacfar leis an tagairt do phríomhshuim i bhfo-alt (4) den alt seo mar thagairt do choibhéis na príomhshuime iarbhír in airgead reatha an Stáit, agus an choibhéis sin a ríomh de réir an ráta iomlaoide arb é de thuras na huaire ráta iomlaoide an airgid reatha sin agus airgid reatha an Stáit é,

(iii) glacfar le gach tagairt d'airgead i bhfo-ailt (5) go (8) den alt seo mar thagairt do chostas an airgid iarbhír in airgead reatha an Stáit.

(11) Ní thabharfar ráthaíocht faoi alt 9 d'Acht 1954 tar éis an tAcht seo a rith.

Ciste Fuascailte.

5.—(1) Tar éis don Bhord soláthar a dhéanamh le haghaidh ús a íoc ar airgead a bheidh faighte ar iasacht faoi alt 4 d'Acht 1954 agus le haghaidh muirear seasta agus oibleagáidí eile, cuirfidh an Bord de leataobh ó am go ham cibé suimeanna is cuí leis agus íocfaidh sé isteach iad sa chiste a bunaíodh faoi alt 12 d'Acht 1954 agus úsáidfear an t-airgead sa chiste sin chun airgead a bheidh faighte ag an mBord ar iasacht faoin alt sin 4 a aisíoc (lena n-áirítear aon urrús a fhuascailt is infhuascailte in airgead, go hiomlán nó go páirteach, faoi choinníollacha a eisiúna).

(2) Féadfaidh an Bord aon suim a bheidh curtha de leataobh faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo agus an t-ioncam aisti a infheistiú—

(a) i cibé urrúis a mbeidh údaraithe le dlí de thuras na huaire cistí iontaobhais a infheistiú iontu de réir mar is cuí leis an mBord;

(b) i cibé slí eile is cuí leis an mBord, le ceadú an Aire Airgeadais.

(3) Úsáidfear na suimeanna go léir a bheidh curtha de leataobh faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo nó faoi alt 12 d'Acht 1954, mar aon leis an ioncam astu, chun nó i leith aisíoc a dhéanamh ar airgead a bheidh faighte ar iasacht ag an mBord faoi alt 4 d'Acht 1954, lena n-áirítear fuascailt a dhéanamh ar aon urrús a luaitear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo ar bheith aibí dó, nó, más oiriúnach leis an mBord, féadfar, i gcás urrús den sórt sin, é a úsáid chun an t-urrús a cheannach agus déanfar aon urrús a cheannófar amhlaidh a dhíscríobh agus a chealú.

(4) Aisghairtear leis seo alt 12 d'Acht 1954, ach, d'ainneoin na haisghairme sin, leanfaidh an ciste a bunaíodh faoin alt sin ar marthain, faoi réir na bhforálacha sin roimhe seo den alt seo.

Airgead barrachais a infheistiú.

6.—(1) Féadfaidh an Bord aon airgead a bheidh faoina réir aige agus nach dteastóidh uaidh de thuras na huaire chun a fheidhmeanna a chomhlíonadh a infheistiú—

(a) i cibé urrúis a mbeidh sé údaraithe le dlí de thuras na huaire cistí iontaobhais a infheistiú iontu de réir mar is cuí leis an mBord, agus

(b) i cibé slí eile is cuí leis an mBord, le ceadú an Aire Airgeadais.

(2) Aisghairtear leis seo alt 13 d'Acht 1954.

Íocaíocht bhliantúil ón mBord leis an Aire Comhshaoil.

7.—(1) Déanfaidh an Bord, sa bhliain 1982, suim £10,000,000 a íoc leis an Aire Comhshaoil.

(2) (a) Déanfaidh an Bord, gach bliain i ndiaidh na bliana 1982, cibé suim a chinnfidh an Rialtas don bhliain áirithe sin a íoc leis an Aire Comhshaoil.

(b) Ní rachaidh suim a chinnfear faoin bhfo-alt seo d'aon bhliain áirithe thar mhéid na rátaí a bheidh leagtha síos ag údaráis áitiúla, i gcás ar suim í a bheadh, i dtuairim an Rialtais, murach maoin áirithe de chuid an Bhoird a bheith díolmhaithe ó na rátaí sin ag na hAchtanna Leictreachais (Soláthar), 1927 go 1981, le híoc ag an mBord don bhliain sin i leith na maoine sin.

(3) Déanfar airgead a íocfar leis an Aire Comhshaoil faoin alt seo a íoc isteach sa Státchiste nó a chur chun tairbhe don Státchiste i cibé slí is oiriúnach leis an Aire Airgeadais.

Leasú ar Acht Bhord Soláthair an Leictreachais (Aoisliúntas), 1942.

8.—(1) Leasaítear leis seo alt 8 (2) d'Acht Bhord Soláthair an Leictreachais (Aois-liúntas), 1942, trí na míreanna seo a leanas a chur in ionad mhíreanna (a) agus (b)—

“(a) i cibé urrúis a mbeidh údaraithe le dlí de thuras na huaire cistí iontaobhais a infheistiú iontu de réir mar is cuí le hiontaobhaithe an chiste;

(b) i cibé slí eile is cuí leis na hiontaobhaithe, le ceadú an Aire Airgeadais;”.

(2) Beidh éifeacht le fo-alt (1) den alt seo, a mhéid a bhaineann sé le mír (b) den alt sin 8 (2), agus measfar éifeacht a bheith leis, amhail ar agus ón 22ú lá d'Iúil, 1942.

Cumhacht an Bhoird gabháil do dhobharshaothrú.

9.—Faoi réir fhorálacha na nAchtanna Iascaigh, 1959 go 1980, féadfaidh an Bord gabháil do dhobharshaothrú, is é sin le rá, oiliúint aon speiceas éisc (de réir bhrí na nAchtanna sin), dobharainmhí inveirteabrach is cuma cad é a ghnáthóg nó dobharfhoirm aon bhia atá oiriúnach chun iasc (de réir na brí sin a dúradh) a chothú.

Gearrtheideal, comhlua agus forléiriú.

10.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht Leictreachais (Soláthar) (Leasú), 1982, a ghairm den Acht seo.

(2) Féadfar na hAchtanna Leictreachais (Soláthar), 1927 go 1982, a ghairm de na hAchtanna Leictreachais (Soláthar), 1927 go 1981, agus den Acht seo le chéile.

(3) Forléireofar na hAchtanna Leictreachais (Soláthar), 1927 go 1981, agus an tAcht seo le chéile mar aon Acht amháin.