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Number 24 of 1980
PLANT VARIETIES (PROPRIETARY RIGHTS) ACT, 1980
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section | |
Conditions referred to in Section 5 (1) (b)
Applications and appeals
Number 24 of 1980
PLANT VARIETIES (PROPRIETARY RIGHTS) ACT, 1980
Interpretation.
1.—(1) In this Act—
“The Appeal Committee” has the meaning assigned to it by section 14 (3) of this Act;
“authorisation” means an authorisation given in pursuance of section 4 (5) of this Act;
“the Convention” means the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants done at Paris on the 2nd day of December, 1961, as revised at Geneva on the 10th day of November, 1972, and the 23rd day of October, 1978, respectively;
“the Controller” means the Controller of Plant Breeders' Rights;
“Convention country” means a country or territory which is either a party to the Convention or one to which a declaration contained in an order made by the Minister under section 2 of this Act relates and which is for the time being in force;
“holder” means a holder of plant breeders' rights;
“the Journal” has the meaning assigned to it by section 19 of this Act;
“the Minister” means the Minister for Agriculture;
“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Minister under this Act;
“the register” has the meaning assigned to it by section 20 of this Act;
“sell” includes offer or expose for sale and invite to buy and kindred words shall be construed accordingly;
“variety” in relation to plants includes any clone, line, hybrid or genetic variant of any plant.
(2) References in this Act to reproductive material shall be construed as including references to—
(a) seeds for sowing,
(b) seed potatoes and other vegetative propagating material,
(c) ornamental plants and parts of such plants where used commercially as propagating material in the production of ornamental plants and cut flowers,
(d) whole plants which are not ornamental plants, as well as parts of such plants, where such whole plants or parts may be used as reproductive material.
(3) References in this Act to an applicant for plant breeders' rights, or to a holder, include, where the context allows, references to his predecessors in title or his successors in title, and in case two or more persons are co-proprietors of plant breeders' rights, such references shall in relation to those rights, be construed as including a reference to each of those persons.
(4) Where an ornamental plant or a part of such a plant is sold in the course of a business for use by the buyer for purposes other than propagation and such plant or part is used commercially by the buyer as propagating material, no provision of this Act shall be construed as not applying in relation to such buyer by reason only of the fact that the plant or part was so sold.
Conventions, arrangements etc.
2.—(1) For the purposes of enabling any international convention or agreement for the protection of plant varieties and plant breeders' rights to which the State is a party to be carried into effect, the Government may by order declare one or more foreign countries, which foreign country, or each of which foreign countries, shall be one whose government or any of whose departments of state is a party to the convention or agreement, to be a convention country for the purposes of this Act, and for so long as the order remains in force any foreign country which is one specified in the declaration contained therein shall be a convention country for the purposes of this Act.
(2) An order under this section may provide that the declaration contained therein shall extend to any territory for the foreign relations of which the government of a foreign country specified in such declaration considers itself responsible, and in case an order under this section so provides then for so long as the order is in force as regards that foreign country the territory to which the declaration is so extended shall for the purposes of this Act be regarded as being a convention country.
(3) (a) Where by any agreement to which the Minister is a party an arrangement (in this section referred to as a “reciprocal arrangement”) is made with a country or territory, other than the State, to enable persons who have a place of business (being a business described in section 5 (1) (c) of this Act) in the State to apply under the law of that country or territory, being a law whose provisions correspond to or are analogous to those of this Act, on an equal footing with persons who are resident, or have a place of such business, in the country or territory, the Minister may by regulations declare such country or territory to be a country or territory to which this section applies.
(b) In case an agreement by virtue of the existence of which the Minister was enabled to make the regulations under thissubsection is terminated or otherwise ceases to be in force, the Minister shall, as soon as may be, revoke the regulations.
(4) The Controller may with the consent of the Minister enter into and carry out any agreement or arrangement with an appropriate authority in a foreign country and relating to the granting and protection of plant breeders' rights or the rights under the law of that country which correspond or are analogous to plant breeders' rights.
(5) An order under this section (including an order under this subsection) may be revoked or amended by a subsequent order made by the Government.
(6) In this section “the appropriate authority in a foreign country” means the person who under the law of a country other than the State has assigned to him functions which either correspond to or are analogous to those assigned to the Controller under this Act.
Controller of Plant Breeders' Rights.
3.—(1) There is hereby established an office to be known as the Controller of Plant Breeders' Rights which office shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and power to sue and be sued in its corporate name.
(2) (a) The Minister shall as occasion requires appoint a person (which person may be an officer of the Minister) to fill the office of Controller and every person appointed under this subsection shall hold office for such term and, subject to paragraph (b) of this subsection, on such conditions as shall be specified by the Minister when making the appointment.
(b) In case the person appointed to fill the office of Controller is a person to whom subsection (9) of this section applies, he shall be paid such remuneration as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for the Public Service, determines.
(3) The Controller shall be under the general superintendence and direction of the Minister.
(4) A person appointed under this section to be Controller whose term of office expires otherwise than by reason of his being removed from office shall be eligible for reappointment.
(5) The Minister may remove from office the person who for the time being is Controller who has become incapable through ill-health of effectively performing his duties, or who has committed stated misbehaviour or whose removal appears to the Minister to be necessary for the effective performance by the Controller of his functions.
(6) The Controller shall, as soon as may be after the passing of this Act, provide himself with a seal.
(7) The seal of the Controller shall be authenticated by the signature of the Controller or some other person authorised by the Minister to act in that behalf.
(8) Judicial notice shall be taken of the seal of the Controller and every document purporting to be an instrument made by the Controller and to be sealed with the seal (purporting to be authenticated in accordance with subsection (7) of this section) of the Controller shall be received in evidence and be deemed to be such instrument without proof, unless the contrary is shown.
(9) (a) The Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for the Public Service, as soon as may be make and carry out according to its terms a scheme for the granting of a pension, gratuity or other allowance to or in respect of persons to whom this subsection applies, who are required by their conditions of appointment to devote the whole of their working time to the duties of the office of Controller, on their ceasing to hold the office of Controller.
(b) A scheme under this subsection may provide that the termination of the appointment of a person to whom this subsection applies to the office of Controller during his term of office shall not preclude the award to him of a pension, gratuity or other allowance.
(c) The Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for the Public Service, amend a scheme made by him under this subsection.
(d) This subsection applies to any person who is appointed to fill the office of Controller and who, immediately before such appointment, was not an officer of the Minister.
(e) No pension, gratuity or other allowance shall be granted to the Controller nor shall any other arrangement be entered into for the provision of a pension, gratuity or other allowance on his ceasing to hold office, other than in accordance with a scheme submitted and approved of under this section.
(10) Where a decision is made by the Controller under this Act, the decision or order shall come into force—
(a) in case no appeal may be taken under this Act in respect thereof, on the day next following that on which the decision is taken,
(b) in case such an appeal may be but is not so taken, upon the expiration of the period during which such an appeal may be taken,
(c) in case such an appeal is taken and the appeal is withdrawn, on the expiration of the period mentioned in paragraph (b) of this subsection or on the day next following the day on which the appeal is withdrawn, whichever is the later.
(11) The Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for the Public Service, assign to the Controller such of the Minister's officers and servants as he may consider necessary to enable the Controller to perform the functions assigned to him by this Act.
(12) For the purposes of enabling the Controller to perform the functions assigned to him by this Act, the Minister may—
(a) make available to the Controller, subject to such conditions (if any) as the Minister shall specify, the services of persons and the use of land or other facilities which are under his control,
(b) authorise the Controller to avail of the services of persons who are neither officers nor servants of the Minister,
(c) authorise the Controller to make arrangements for the acquisition of or access to the findings of tests, trials or examinations carried out by persons in any country other than the State in relation to plant breeders' rights,
and the fees payable to persons whose services have been availed of as aforesaid or to whom such an authorisation relates shall be such amount as shall be agreed to by the Minister with the approval of the Minister for the Public Service.
(13) For the purpose of performing any function assigned to him by this Act, the Controller may carry out or cause to be carried out in relation to any plant such tests, trials, examinations or inquiries as he shall consider appropriate.
Plant breeders' rights.
4.—(1) Proprietary rights to be known, and which in this Act are referred to, as “plant breeders' rights” may, on an application being made to him in that behalf and subject to the provisions of this Act, be granted by the Controller in respect of any variety of a botanical genus or species, or any variety within such genus or species, being a variety which has a particular manner of reproduction or multiplication or a certain end use, and being a genus or species standing for the time being specified in regulations made for the purposes of this section by the Minister.
(2) An application under this section shall be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
(3) In case the Controller allows an application under this section, he shall as soon as may be—
(a) issue under his seal a certificate in the prescribed form in which shall be specified the name of the plant variety to which the application relates, together with its genus and species,
(b) cause to be published in the Journal notice of the granting of the certificate,
(c) enter in the register the name of the plant variety as regards which the application was allowed, together with its genus and species.
(4) Every document purporting to be a certificate issued by the Controller under this section and to be sealed with the seal of the Controller shall in any legal proceedings be deemed to be such certificate and be admissible as evidence of the matters stated therein, until the contrary is shown.
(5) Where plant breeders' rights are granted under this Act, the grant shall, subject to subsection (7) of this section, operate to confer on the holder concerned the exclusive right—
(a) to produce, for the purposes of its being commercially marketed, reproductive material of the plant variety to which the grant relates,
(b) to sell or offer such material for sale or to export or import it,
(c) in case the plant variety is an ornamental plant variety, to propagate the variety in the course of commercially producing ornamental plants or cut flowers,
(d) to authorise any other person to do all or any of the aforesaid things,
and, subject to the provisions of this Act, infringements of plant breeders' rights shall be actionable at the suit of the holder of the rights and in any proceedings for such infringement all such relief, by way of damages, injunction, account or otherwise, as is available in any corresponding proceedings in respect of other proprietary rights shall be available.
(6) Subject to subsection (7) of this section, a holder may, in granting an authorisation, impose any conditions (including limitations or restrictions) which may be imposed by the holder of any other kind of proprietary right, and plant breeders' rights shall be assignable in like manner as are other kinds of proprietary rights.
(7) The permission of a holder shall not be required for the use of the relevant plant variety either as an initial source of variation for the creation of new plant varieties or for the sole purpose of producing a crop for human or animal consumption.
(8) (a) Where on an application being made in that behalf, being either an application to the Controller under this section or an application by or on behalf of a holder, the applicant satisfies the Controller that the holder will not receive equitable financial rewards as a result of the grant being applied for, or has not received such rewards because the grant of such rights does not or will not enable him to control the production or propagation in the State of the relevant plant variety for its fruit or for any other purpose, the Controller may, if he decides to allow the application, direct that the relevant grant shall, in addition to operating in the manner described in subsection (5) of this section, operate to confer on the relevant holder the exclusive right to produce, sell or import such part or parts as may be specified in the direction of any plant of such variety.
(b) Where the Controller gives a direction under this subsection—
(i) there shall be entered in the relevant entry in the register a statement that such a direction has been given as regards the plant variety to which the direction relates and specifying the part or parts of plants specified in the direction,
(ii) subsection (5) (a) of this section shall, in so far as it relates to the relevant holder's rights, be construed and have effect as if after “to which the grant relates” there were inserted “or any part or parts of a plant of such variety as is or are specified in the relevant direction given by the Controller under subsection (8) of this section”.
(9) Where the Controller is satisfied that the reproductive material of a plant variety is or will be used to produce for sale a different plant variety and that the nature of such different variety is such that repeated production of its reproductive material is not possible without the use in such production of reproductive material of the plant variety to which an application under this section has been or is to be allowed, the Controller shall, on an application being made to him in that behalf, direct that the relevant grant shall, in addition to operating in the manner described in subsection (5) of this section, operate to confer on the relevant holder the exclusive right to use such reproductive material in such production.
(10) The maximum period for which plant breeders' rights are to be exercisable pursuant to a grant under this section shall be twenty-five years:
Provided that, as respects fruit trees, forest trees, ornamental trees and grape vines (including in each case their rootstocks), the said period shall be not less than eighteen years and, as respects other genera and species, the said period shall be not less than fifteen years.
(11) A statement in regulations made for the purposes of this section that a species of plant or that each of the plants of a specified group of plants is a fruit tree, a forest tree, ornamental tree or grape vine shall be conclusive.
(12) (a) The period specified in a grant under this section as being that in which the plant breeders' rights thereby granted are to be exercisable shall be not less than—
(i) in case the grant is as respects fruit trees, forest trees, ornamental trees or grape vines (including in each case their rootstocks), eighteen years,
(ii) in case the grant is as respects other plants of other genera and species, fifteen years.
(b) Subject to section 11 of this Act, the period for which plant breeders' rights are exercisable shall be the period specified in the relevant grant under this section (which period shall not exceed the relevant maximum period prescribed by regulations made under this section), beginning on the date on which the grant of the plant breeders' rights by the Controller takes effect.
(13) Where plants of the variety to which an application for plant breeders' rights relates or material forming part of or derived from such plants, being plants or material of a variety to which the proviso to Article 2 of the First Schedule to this Act relates, have been sold in the State or elsewhere prior to the date of the application the following provisions shall have effect:
(a) the Controller shall, if he decides to allow the application, take the fact of such sale into account when fixing the period during which such rights are to be exercisable, and
(b) subsection (12) (a) of this section shall have effect in relation to the application as if the appropriate minimum period specified therin were reduced by—
(i) in case rights under the law of a convention country corresponding or analogous to plant breeders' rights have, prior to the date of the application, been granted as regards the variety, a period equal to that beginning on the date of such grant and ending on the date of the application, or
(ii) in case the variety is one described in paragraph (d) of the said Article 2, the period by reference to which subparagraph (ii) of the said paragraph (d) has been complied with.
(14) The revocation or amendment of regulations made for the purposes of this section shall not affect the operation of any grant of plant breeders' rights which was in force immediately before the commencement of the revocation or amendment.
Conditions regarding grant of plant breeders' rights.
5.—(1) Subject to subsection (3) of this section and to sections 6 and 7 of this Act, where an application is made to the Controller for the grant of plant breeders' rights, the Controller shall allow the application if he is satisfied that each of the following conditions is complied with, namely:
(a) that the applicant is the person who bred or discovered the plant variety to which the application relates, or the successor in title of such person, or a person to whom the right to make an application under this section as regards such plant variety has been duly assigned,
(b) that the plant variety to which the application relates satisfies each of the conditions contained in the First Schedule to this Act,
(c) that the applicant is an Irish citizen or a citizen or national of any country or territory which is a party to the Convention or is resident or has a place of business (being a business whose activities consist of or include the sale or propagation of plants) in either the State or such a country or territory or that the applicant has a place of such business in a country or territory which is for the time being declared by regulations under section 2 (3) of this Act to be a country or territory to which section 2 of this Act applies.
(2) Where an application is made to the Controller for the grant of plant breeders' rights and the Controller—
(a) is satisfied that the conditions contained in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) of this section have been complied with in relation to the application, and
(b) is not satisfied that the condition contained in paragraph (c) of the said subsection (1) has been so complied with,
the Controller may in his absolute discretion allow the application and, subject to subsection (3) of this section, the certificate and the entry in the register granted and made by reason of the application's being allowed shall have effect subject to such conditions (if any) as are specified for the purposes of this subsection by the Minister and are for the time being in force.
(3) (a) When an application is made to the Controller for the grant of plant breeders' rights and the applicant is neither resident nor has a place of business in the State, the Controller may in his absolute discretion require the applicant to appoint, within a period specified by the Controller, an agent in the State on or with whom the Controller may serve documents or otherwise deal in relation to the application, and, should the application be allowed, any other matter arising under this Act as regards the plant breeders' rights which would be thereby granted, and in case the Controller makes a requirement under this subsection and the relevant application is allowed and the requirement is for the time being in force but is not complied with, then for so long as such requirement is not complied with no person shall be entitled either to bring proceedings for the infringement of such rights or to make any application under this Act in relation to such rights.
(b) The Controller may cancel a requirement made under this subsection.
Priorities between applicants under section 4.
6.—(1) Where a plant variety is independently bred or discovered by two or more persons, subject to subsection (2) of this section, the first of those persons by or in relation to whom an application is duly made under section 4 of this Act shall be the person entitled to a grant of plant breeders' rights as regards the variety.
(2) As between two persons duly making applications under section 4 of this Act on the same date as regards the same plant variety, the one who was first in a position to make a valid such application (or would have been first in that position if the said section 4 and the relevant regulations under section 4 of this Act had always been in force) shall be the person entitled to a grant of plant breeders' rights as regards the variety.
(3) Where—
(a) an application (in this subsection referred to as “the first application”) is duly made in a convention country other than the State for the grant, under the law in force in that country, of the rights which correspond to plant breeders' rights, and
(b) within a period of one year commencing on the day immediately following the day on which the first application is received by the appropriate authority in such country, there is duly made as regards the plant variety to which the first application relates an application under section 4 of this Act (in this section referred to as “the second application”), and
(c) at the time when the first application was so received the plant variety to which that application relates was within a genus or species for the time being specified in regulations under section 4 of this Act, and
(d) the second application contains a reference to the first application, specifies the date on which it was so received and requests that the provisions of this subsection be applied as regards the second application, and
(e) before the expiration of the period of three months beginning on the day of the receipt by the Controller of the second application there is received by him a copy of the documents constituting the first application,
the second application shall be regarded as having been received by the Controller on the same day as that on which the first application was received as aforesaid, and, accordingly, the fact that another application under the said section 4 and relating to the same botanical genus or species as that to which both the first and second applications relate has been duly made under the said section 4 within the period, beginning on the day on which the first application was received as aforesaid and ending on the day on which the second application was in fact received by the Controller, shall not be a ground of objection to the second application.
(4) (a) Where the provisions of subsection (3) of this section are applied in relation to an application to the Controller, the applicant shall comply with the requirements of regulations made under paragraph (a) or (b) of section 15 (1) of this Act within the period of four years beginning on the expiration of the period of one year mentioned in subsection (3) (b) of this section or such shorter period as the Controller shall specify in a notice in writing given to the applicant (being a period of not less than one year commencing on the date of the notice).
(b) In case the requirements of paragraph (a) of this subsection are not complied with as regards an application within the appropriate period, on the expiration of that period the provisions of subsection (3) of this section shall cease to apply to the application.
(5) In case the provisions of subsection (1) of this section are applied to an application under section 4 of this Act, the application shall not, at any time during the period of five years beginning on the day immediately following the day on which the application is deemed to have been received by the Controller, be refused by reason only of the fact that any information, document or other thing which either is prescribed or is required by the Controller has not been furnished to him.
Protection of applicants while application pending.
7.—The Minister may make regulations providing for the protection of the proprietary rights of applicants pending the final determination of applications for the grant of plant breeders' rights.
Compulsory licences.
8.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, if any person applies to the Controller and satisfies him that a holder has unreasonably refused to grant to the applicant an authorisation referred to in section 4 (5) (d) of this Act, or, in granting or offering to grant such an authorisation, has imposed or put forward terms which are either unreasonable or contrary to the public interest, the Controller shall, if he is satisfied that the applicant is in a position, and intends, to exercise rights in a competent manner which would be conferred by such an authorisation, grant to the person in the form of a licence any such rights as respects the relevant plant variety as might have been granted by the holder.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this section, if any person satisfies him that it is in the public interest that a particular plant variety specified by the person (the name of which variety stands for the time being entered in the register) has been distributed by a holder in a manner which is not in the public interest or that such a plant variety should be widely distributed, or that it is otherwise in the public interest so to do, the Controller shall, grant to the person in the form of a licence any rights as respects that variety as may be granted by the relevant holder.
(3) A licence granted under this section (which licence is in this section subsequently referred to as a “compulsory licence”) may have attached thereto such conditions as the Controller may specify and shall have effect during such period, beginning on or after the date of the licence, as is specified therein.
(4) In disposing of applications and settling the terms of compulsory licences the Controller shall endeavour to secure that the relevant plant variety is maintained in quality, and that the holder concerned will be equitably remunerated by the licensee as regards any sales of reproductive material which are made pursuant to the licence.
(5) A compulsory licence may include terms obliging the holder concerned to make reproductive material available to the licensee concerned.
(6) In case the Controller grants a compulsory licence, then for the purpose of enabling the person to whom the licence is granted to use as regards the licence any remedy available to him by the institution of legal proceedings, the licence shall be regarded as having been granted by the relevant holder.
(7) The Controller may, on an application being made in that behalf by the holder or licensee concerned, extend, limit or otherwise amend, or revoke, a compulsory licence.
(8) (a) A compulsory licence may be granted to an applicant whether or not the holder concerned has granted licences to the applicant or any other person.
(b) A compulsory licence shall not be an exclusive licence.
(9) Where the Controller receives an application under this section he shall give to the holder concerned and to any other person who appears to him to be concerned, notice of the application and shall afford to each person to whom such notice is given an opportunity of being heard before he determines the application.
(10) If and in so far as any agreement purports to bind any person not to apply for a compulsory licence, it shall be void.
Extension of term of grant.
9.—(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, if on an application made in that behalf by or on behalf of a holder the Controller is satisfied that (for reasons beyond the control of the holder) the holder has not been adequately remunerated by the relevant grant of plant breeders' rights, the Controller may, subject to such restrictions or other conditions (if any) as the Controller may specify,
(a) extend the period during which the rights conferred by the grant shall be exercisable, or
(b) further extend the period during which such rights shall be exercisable.
(2) The Controller shall not exercise the powers conferred on him by subsection (1) of this section so as to purport to enable the plant breeders' rights to which an application under this section relates to be exercised during a period which exceeds in length the relevant maximum period prescribed under section 4(10) of this Act.
(3) Where the Controller allows an application under this section the following provisions shall, if applicable, have effect:
(a) in case the relevant grant of plant breeders' rights has expired before the date of the Controller's decision, the grant shall be regarded as having expired immediately before the decision, and
(b) in case such application is so allowed subject to a restriction or other condition, the relevant such grant shall thenceforth have effect subject to the restriction or condition.
Surrender of grant.
10.—(1) A holder may at any time apply to the Controller to surrender his grant of plant breeders' rights.
(2) Where an application under this section is received by the Controller, he shall give notice of the application to any person who appears to him to be concerned.
(3) If the Controller is satisfied, after hearing the holder concerned and any opponent, if desirous of being heard, that the relevant grant may properly be surrendered, he may accept the offer and revoke the grant.
Revocation of grants by Controller.
11.—(1) Where—
(a) the Controller is satisfied that—
(i) any information supplied by or on behalf of an applicant under section 4 of this Act was incorrect and that had he known before determining the application that such information was incorrect he would have refused the application,
(ii) having regard to any other matter which, had he had regard to it before determining an application under the said section 4, he would have so refused, or
(b) the Controller is satisfied that any holder has failed to supply the Controller with reproductive material mentioned in section 1 (2) of this Act, or
(c) the Controller is satisfied that a holder has failed to pay periodical fees due and payable by him under regulations under section 25 of this Act,
(d) a holder is convicted of an offence under section 23 of this Act as regards a representation made by him in relation to an application under section 4 of this Act,
the Controller shall revoke the relevant grant of plant breeders' rights.
(2) (a) The following provisions shall apply in relation to the revocation under subsection (1) of this section of a grant of breeders' rights:
(i) the Controller shall not revoke the grant unless and until—
(I) he has given by post, or in such other manner as the Minister shall direct, to the holder concerned notice in writing stating that the Controller has under consideration the revocation of the relevant plant breeders' rights,
(II) he has caused to be given in the prescribed manner a general notice stating that he has under consideration such revocation,
(ii) the Controller shall consider any representation or objection made to him as regards the proposed revocation, and
(iii) in case the ground for the proposed revocation is the non-payment of a fee, the Controller shall afford a reasonable period to the person concerned within which to pay the fee,
and if the fee is paid within that period the Controller shall not proceed further in the matter.
(b) Both of the notices referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection shall specify the grounds on which such revo- cation is so under consideration and state that representations and objections as regards the proposed revocation may be made to the Controller during such period (being a period of not less that twenty-eight days beginning on the date of the notice) as shall be specified in the notice (which representations and objections are hereby authorised to be made).
(3) In case the Controller revokes a grant of plant breeders' rights under this section otherwise than by reason of the conviction of the relevant holder of an offence under section 23 of this Act, the holder of the rights may within the prescribed period appeal to the High Court against the revocation.
Naming of protected plant varieties.
12.—(1) The Minister may by regulations provide for the selection of names for plant varieties which are the subject of applications for plant breeders' rights and for entry in the register of the names so selected.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) of this section, regulations under this section may in particular prescribe the circumstances in which representations may be made regarding any decision as to the name to be registered in respect of any plant variety.
(3) (a) Where a name of a plant variety is entered in the register every person who sells the reproductive material of that plant variety shall use that, and no other, name as the name of the variety, and failure to comply with the requirements of this paragraph shall (in addition to being an offence under section 23 of this Act in the circumstances mentioned in that section) be a wrong actionable in proceedings at the suit of the relevant holder (if any).
(b) If, where a name of a plant variety is entered in the register, any person uses that name, or a name so nearly resembling it as to be likely to deceive or cause confusion, in selling or offering or exposing for sale—
(i) reproductive material of a different plant variety within the same class as that in relation to which the entry is made, or
(ii) where under section 4 (9) of this Act plant breeders' rights as regards the first-mentioned plant variety have been extended to material other than reproductive material, that other material from a different plant variety within the same such class,
the use of the name shall be a wrong actionable in proceedings at the suit of the relevant holder (if any).
(c) In any proceedings for damages under this section it shall be a defence for the defendant to prove that he took reasonable precautions to avoid committing a wrong of the kind alleged and had not when using the name to which proceedings relate any reason to suspect that its use was wrongful.
(4) Where, in relation to the sale, offering or exposure for sale of reproductive material, a trade mark or trade name is used in association with a name entered in the register, the requirements of subsection (3) (a) of this section shall be regarded as having been complied with if, but only if, the name so entered is used so that it is both—
(a) easily recognisable, and
(b) easily distinguishable from the trade mark or trade name, as the case may be.
(5) (a) In this section “name”, except in “trade name”, includes any designation.
(b) For the purposes of this section plant varieties shall be regarded as being within the same class if they are each within a class which is either—
(i) a class consisting of all plant varieties of a botanical genus or species prescribed by regulations under section 4 of this Act, or
(ii) a class consisting of all the plant varieties of any two or more botanical genera or species prescribed for the purposes of this section.
Change of name of plant variety.
13.—A holder may apply to the Controller to substitute for the name entered in the register as regards the relevant plant variety another name specified in the application, and the Controller in determining the application may—
(a) allow the application,
(b) substitute for the name so entered another name, not being the name so specified, or
(c) refuse the application.
Appeals.
14.—(1) Any person who is aggrieved by a decision by the Controller under section 4 (8), 4 (9), 5 (1), 5 (2), 8 (1), 8 (2), 8 (7), 10 (3), 16 (3), 16 (4) or 22 (1) of this Act may within the period specified in Article 5 of the Second Schedule to this Act serve on the Controller a notice of appeal to the Appeal Committee against the decision, and the Appeal Committee may allow or refuse to allow the appeal, and on determining such appeal the Appeal Committee may exercise any of the powers exercisable by the Controller in relation to the matters to which the appeal relates.
(2) (a) In case the Controller receives a notice of appeal under this section, he shall forthwith inform the Minister of such receipt and, on being so informed, the Minister shall as soon as may be appoint not less than three persons to hear the appeal, of whom one shall be a barrister of not less than five years' standing (which persons are hereby authorised to hear the appeal).
(b) The Appeal Committee may, in confirming a decision of the Controller to grant a licence under section 8 (2) of this Act, modify any of the terms or conditions of the licence.
(3) The persons appointed under this section to hear an appeal are in this Act referred to as “the Appeal Committee”.
(4) Where an appeal is determined by the Appeal Committee, the Controller shall, as soon as may be, comply with such directions (if any) as are given to him by the Appeal Committee for the purpose of giving effect to the determination.
Applications and appeals generally.
15.—(1) The Minister may make regulations regarding applications under section 4, 9, 10, 17, 21 or 22 of this Act and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing such regulations may—
(a) provide that persons making applications under section 4 of this Act shall furnish to the Controller specified information or documents relating to the plant variety to which the application relates,
(b) specify the reproductive or other plant material of such plant variety which shall be so furnished by such persons,
(c) require any applicants under the said section 4, for the purpose of enabling such applications to be disposed of, to make or cause to be made available to the Controller such amenities or facilities as shall be prescribed,
(d) require any such applicants to supply to the Controller for filing copies of such deeds, licences or other documents as may be prescribed,
(e) prescribe the tests, trials, examinations or other steps to be taken by the Controller before any application under section 4 of this Act is granted and the time within which any such steps are to be taken,
(f) specify the manner in, and the period within, which any application under the said section 4, 9, 10, 17, 21 or 22 may be withdrawn,
(g) require any such applicants to publish specified notices in relation to their applications,
(h) require any such applicants to furnish to the Controller such further information regarding their applications as he may reasonably require,
(i) authorise the Controller, in case there is a failure to pay any fee payable in connection with an application under this Act, to refuse the application,
(j) enable notice of any objections to or representations as regards such applications to be given to the Controller and require any such notice to be given within a prescribed period,
(k) provide that where an application under section 4 of this Act is made by virtue of an assignment of the right to make such an application, there shall be furnished with the application, or within such period after receipt of the application by the Controller as shall be prescribed, such declaration or declarations, being both in the prescribed form and signed in the prescribed manner, as shall be prescribed.
(2) The provisions of the Second Schedule to this Act shall apply to the extent specified therein as regards applications or appeals under this Act.
Maintenance of reproductive material.
16.—(1) The provisions of this section shall apply in relation to all plant varieties except such as fall within any genus or species which is excluded from this section by regulations made under this section by the Minister.
(2) Every holder shall ensure that, throughout the period for which the plant breeders' rights held by him are exercisable, he is in a position to supply to the Controller reproductive material which is capable of reproducing the variety to which the rights relate with the characteristics which were taken into account when the rights were granted in respect of the variety.
(3) It shall also be the duty of every holder to afford to the Controller all such information and facilities as he may request for the purpose of satisfying himself that the holder is fulfilling his duty under subsection (2) of this section, including facilities for the inspection by or on behalf of the Controller of the measures taken for the maintenance of the relevant plant variety and if the Controller is satisfied that a holder has failed to comply with a request under this subsection he may, if he thinks fit, terminate, with effect on and from such day as the Controller shall specify the period during which the plant breeders' rights under the relevant grant under section 4 of this Act are exercisable, and in case the Controller terminates such period, the grant aforesaid shall on the said day cease to have effect.
(4) If at any time it appears to the Controller that any holder of plant breeders' rights is no longer in a position to provide the Controller with the material mentioned in subsection (2) of this section, he shall terminate, with effect on and from such day as he shall specify, the period for which the rights are exercisable, and in case the Controller terminates such period, the relevant grant of plant breeders' rights shall on the said day cease to have effect.
(5) Where the Controller proposes to exercise a power conferred on him by subsection (3) or (4) of this section, he shall give notice of the proposal to the relevant holder and to any other person who appears to him to be concerned, and he shall afford to each person to whom such notice is given an opportunity of being heard before he exercises the power.
Assignments, etc.
17.—(1) Subject to registration under this section, the whole of or a share in, plant breeders' rights may be assigned or otherwise dealt with in like manner as other personal property.
(2) Where a person becomes entitled by assignment or transmission, operation of law or any other mode of transfer to plant breeders' rights or to a share in such rights, or becomes entitled as mortgagee, licensee or otherwise to any other interest in such rights, he shall apply to the Controller in the prescribed manner for the registration of his title as proprietor or co-proprietor, as may be appropriate, or of notice of his interest, in the register.
(3) Without prejudice to the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, an application for the registration of the title of any person becoming entitled by assignment to plant breeders' rights or a share in such rights, or becoming entitled by virtue of a mortgage, licence or other instrument to any other interest in plant breeders' rights may be made in the prescribed manner by the assignor, mortgagor, licensor or other party to that instrument, as the case may be.
(4) Where an application is made under this section for the registration of the title of any person, the Controller shall, upon proof of title to his satisfaction—
(a) where that person is entitled to plant breeders' rights or a share in such rights, register him in the register as proprietor or co-proprietor of the rights and enter in the register particulars of the instrument or event by or because of which he derives title, or
(b) where that person is entitled to any other interest in such rights, enter in the register notice of his interest, with particulars of the instrument (if any) creating it.
(5) Where the Controller receives an application under this section, he shall give notice thereof to any person who appears to him to be concerned, and he shall afford to each person to whom such notice is given an opportunity of being heard before determining the application.
(6) Except for the purposes of an application to rectify the register under section 21 or 22 of this Act, a document in respect of which no entry has been made in the register under subsection (4) of this section shall not be admitted in any court as evidence of the title of any person to plant breeders' rights or to a share or interest in any such rights, unless the court otherwise directs.
(7) Any person who is aggrieved by a decision of the Controller under this section may, if, and only if, not later than sixty days after the decision is given he serves on the Controller a notice of appeal, appeal to the High Court against the decision.
Provisions relating to infringement proceedings.
18.—(1) (a) In proceedings for the infringement of a plant breeders' rights damages in respect of such an infringement shall not be awarded if the defendant proves that the person infringing the rights was not aware, and had no reasonable grounds for supposing, that the plant variety to which the proceedings relate was the subject of plant breeders' rights, but the person who would, apart from this subsection, be entitled to such damages shall be entitled to an account of profits in respect of the infringement (and to payment of any amount found due on the account) whether or not any other relief is granted by the court.
(b) In proceedings for the infringement of plant breeders' rights it shall be a defence for the defendant to prove that the plaintiff has failed to meet any obligations imposed on him by a licence issued under section 8 of this Act.
(2) In proceedings for an infringement of plant breeders' rights the plaintiff shall be entitled, at his option, to an account of profits in lieu of damages.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting the power of a court to grant an injunction in proceedings for the infringement of plant breeders' rights.
Journal, etc.
19.—(1) The Controller shall issue periodically a journal (which is in this Act referred to as “the Journal”) in which he shall publish notice of—
(a) any application under section 4, 8 (2), 9, 10, 13, 16 (3), 16 (4), 17 (2), 21 or 22 of this Act received by him (giving the name of the applicant, and the botanical genus and species of the plant variety to which the application relates),
(b) the name of a plant variety proposed by an applicant under section 4 or 13 of this Act (being a name which the Controller proposes to accept),
(c) the grant by him of any grant of plant breeders' rights (giving the name of the person to whom the grant is made and the name of the plant variety specified in the grant),
(d) any alteration, correction or erasure made in or from the register,
(e) any objection, representation or appeal duly received by the Controller in relation to an application under this Act, and
(f) such other matter as may be prescribed,
and also such other information or matters as appear to the Controller to be useful or important in relation to plant breeders' rights or any other matter for which he is responsible under this Act or otherwise by law.
(2) The Controller may prepare and publish indexes, lists, catalogues, booklets and other works relating to plant breeders' rights and plant varieties.
(3) The Controller shall make provision for the distribution, by sale or otherwise, of copies of the Journal or other documents which he is by this section, or otherwise by law, directed or authorised to issue or publish.
Register.
20.—(1) The Controller shall keep a register (in this Act referred to as “the register”) for the purposes of this Act and shall enter therein particulars of grants of plant breeders' rights which are in force, such particulars of assignments and transmissions (whether by operation of law or by any other mode of transfer) of such rights as may be prescribed, particulars of all matters which are required by or under this Act to be entered in the register and of such other matters affecting the validity or proprietorship of grants of plant breeders' rights as the Controller thinks fit.
(2) The register shall be kept at such place as the Minister shall direct and, subject to such conditions (if any) as may be prescribed, shall be available for inspection during office hours.
(3) (a) A document purporting to be a copy of an entry in the register and to be certified under the seal of the Controller as a correct copy shall be prima facie evidence of the entry and it shall not be necessary to prove any signature on the document or that a person whose signature appears on the document was the Controller, or a person authorised under section 3 (7) of this Act.
(b) Where application is made to the Controller for a copy of an entry in the register and certified under this section, such copy shall be issued to the applicant on payment by him to the Controller in respect of each entry of the prescribed fee.
Power of court to amend register.
21.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the High Court may on the application in the prescribed manner of any person aggrieved by the non-insertion in or omission from the register of any entry or by any entry made in the register without sufficient cause, or by any entry wrongly remaining in the register, or by an error or defect in any entry in the register, direct the Controller to make in the register such entry, or expunge from or vary any such entry then in the register, as the court may think fit.
(2) The High Court may in any proceeding under this section decide any question that it may be necessary or expedient to decide in connection with the rectification of the register.
(3) Such notice of an application under this section as the High Court shall direct shall be given to the Controller and to such other person or persons (if any) as the Court may direct who shall have the right to appear and be heard thereon, and the Controller shall appear if so directed by the court. Unless otherwise directed by the court, the Controller, in lieu of appearing and being heard, may submit to the court a statement in writing signed by him, giving particulars of the proceedings before him in relation to the matter in issue or of the grounds of any decision given by him affecting the same or of his practice in like cases, or of such other matters relevant to the issues, and within his knowledge as Controller, as he shall think fit, and such statement shall be regarded as forming part of the evidence in the proceedings.
(4) In the case of fraud in the registration or transmission of plant breeders' rights, the Controller may himself apply to the High Court under the provisions of this section.
(5) Any order of the High Court rectifying the register shall direct that notice of the rectification be served on the Controller, in such manner as the court shall direct, who shall upon the receipt of such notice rectify the register accordingly.
(6) Any application under this section (other than an application by the Controller) may, at the option of the applicant, be made in the first instance to the Controller, and in such case the Controller shall have all the powers of the High Court under this section, but his decision shall be subject to appeal to that court within the prescribed period.
Power to correct clerical errors, etc.
22.—(1) The Controller may, in accordance with the provisions of this section, correct any clerical error in any grant of plant breeders' rights, any application for such a grant, or any document filed in pursuance of such an application, or any clerical error in the register.
(2) A correction may be made in pursuance of this section either upon a request in writing made by the relevant holder or applicant for a grant of plant breeders' rights and accompanied by the prescribed fee, or without such a request.
(3) Where the Controller proposes to make a correction under this section otherwise than in pursuance of a request made under this section, he shall give notice of the proposal to the relevant holder or the applicant for the grant of plant breeders' rights, as the case may be, and to any other person who appears to him to be concerned, and shall afford to each such person an opportunity of being heard before making the correction.
(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting the power conferred on the Controller by section 17 (4) of this Act.
Offences.
23.—(1) If a person falsely represents that he is entitled to exercise any plant breeders' rights, or rights derived from plant breeders' rights, whether or not the plant variety as respects which the representation is made is the subject of plant breeders' rights, and he knows that the representation is false or makes the representation recklessly, he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £500, or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(2) Any person who at a hearing by the Controller or the Appeal Committee—
(a) makes any statement or gives information which he knows to be false in a material particular or recklessly gives information which is so false, or
(b) produces or otherwise makes use of any book, record or other document which to his knowledge contains any statement or information which he knows to be false in a material particular,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £500, or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(3) Where—
(a) a person fails to comply with the requirements of section 12 (3) of this Act, and
(b) there is not for the time being in force as regards the plant variety to which the failure relates a grant under section 4 of this Act,
the person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £500.
Trial of offences, onus of proof, etc.
24.—(1) Proceedings against a person for an offence under this Act may be taken in any District Court District in which the person is for the time being and in case such proceedings are taken and apart from this section the Justice before whom the proceedings are brought would not have jurisdiction to hear and determine the proceedings, then for the purpose of conferring such jurisdiction the offence may be treated as having been committed within the District Court District to which such Justice is assigned.
(2) Where in proceedings for an offence under section 23 (3) of this Act it is proved that in relation to a particular plant variety the defendant failed to comply with the requirements of section 12 (3) of this Act, then, unless there is sufficient other evidence to raise an issue as to whether there was in existence at the time of such failure a grant under section 4 of this Act and relating to that plant variety, for the purposes of the proceedings such a grant shall not be regarded as having been in existence at such time.
(3) Where an offence under this Act committed by a body corporate 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 corporate, or any person who was purporting to act in such capacity, he, as well as the body corporate, shall be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
Fees.
25.—(1) There shall be charged by and paid to the Controller—
(a) such fees in respect of applications to the Controller,
(b) such fees in respect of any test or examination conducted by or on behalf of the Controller in relation to any such application, or any information obtained by the Controller in relation to any such application,
(c) such fee in respect of the issue by the Controller of a certificate under section 4 (3) of this Act,
(d) such periodical fees payable by persons holding plant breeders' rights,
(e) such other fees,
as may from time to time be prescribed.
(2) Where, pursuant to an agreement or arrangement under section 2 (4) of this Act, the Controller enables a person in any country other than the State to acquire or have access to the findings of tests, trials or examinations carried out by the Controller, he may charge such fee (if any) as may be agreed.
(3) All fees received by the Controller under this section shall be collected, accounted for and disposed of in such manner as the Minister shall from time to time direct.
(4) The Public Offices Fees Act, 1879, shall not apply in respect of fees payable under this section.
Regulations and orders.
26.—(1) The Minister may make regulations for prescribing any matter referred to in this Act as prescribed, provided that, in so far as any such regulations provide for the fixing of fees, they shall be only so made with the consent of the Minister for Finance.
(2) Before making regulations for the purposes of this Act, the Minister shall consult the Controller and representatives of such interests as appear to the Minister to be concerned, and regulations under this section may—
(a) make different provisions for different genera or species of plant varieties, or plant varieties which are both within any such genus or species and of a prescribed class or description,
(b) contain such supplemental, incidental and transitional provisions as appear to the Minister to be appropriate.
(3) Every regulation and every order made 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 regulation or order is passed by either such House within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the regulation or order is laid before it, the regulation or order shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.
Expenses.
27.—The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
Short title and commencement.
28.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Plant Varieties (Proprietary Rights) Act, 1980.
(2) This Act shall come into force on such day as the Minister shall fix therefor by order.
FIRST SCHEDULE
Conditions referred to in Section 5 (1) (b)
Section 5(1).
Distinctness.
1. (1) (a) Whatever the origin, be it natural or artificial, of the initial variation from which a plant variety to which an application under this Act relates has resulted, for the purposes of this Act the variety shall be regarded as being distinct if, and only if, by reference to one or more important characteristics, it is clearly distinguishable from any other plant variety whose existence is a matter of common knowledge at the time when the application is made.
(b) The distinguishing characteristics must in all cases be capable both of precise description and of recognition.
(2) For the purposes of this paragraph common knowledge may be established by reference to plant varieties already being cultivated or exploited commercially, or those included in a recognised commercial or botannical reference collection, or those of which there are precise descriptions in any publication.
Previous commercialisation.
2. Neither plants of the variety to which the application relates, nor any material forming part of or derived from plants of such variety, shall, in the course of commercial marketing, have, with the consent of the applicant or his predecessor in title, been—
(a) sold in the State,
(b) sold in any country or territory other than the State—
(i) in case such plants (including their rootstocks) are vines, forest trees, fruit trees or ornamental trees, prior to the period of six years ending on the day on which the application was received by the Controller,
(ii) in case such plants are plants of any other genus or species, prior to the period of four years ending on such day,
provided that this paragraph shall not commence to have effect as regards a particular plant variety—
(c) in relation to which rights which correspond or are analogous to plant breeders' rights have been granted under the law of a convention country and are in force on the date when the application is received by the Controller, or
(d) which—
(i) is in the National Catalogue of Agricultural Plant Varieties or such other catalogue or list as may be prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph, and
(ii) has not been sold in the State at any time prior to such period of time ending on the day on which the application is so received by the Controller as is prescribed in relation to such variety,
until the expiration of the period of one year beginning on the commencement of the regulations under section 4 of this Act in which the relevant genus or species is specified.
Uniformity.
3. Having regard to the particular features of its sexual reproduction or vegetative propagation, the plant variety to which the application relates must be sufficiently uniform or homogeneous as to satisfy standards and criteria for the time being specified by the Controller.
Stability.
4. The plant variety to which the application relates must be stable in its essential characteristics, that is to say, it must remain true to its description as given in the relevant application for plant breeders' rights after repeated reproduction or propagation, or, where the application for such rights stipulates a particular cycle of reproduction or multiplication, at the end of each such cycle.
Name.
5. The plant variety to which the application relates shall be given a name specified by the applicant and such name shall have been selected in accordance with regulations under section 12 of this Act which are for the time being in force.
6. References in this Schedule to an application are references to an application for plant breeders' rights under section 4 of this Act.
SECOND SCHEDULE
Applications and Appeals
Section 15 (2).
Provisions referred to in section 15 (2).
1. Where an application under section 4, 10, 11, 17, 21 or 22 of this Act is made to the Controller, the Controller may, if he thinks fit, require the applicant to publish in such manner as the Controller shall direct notice of the making of the application stating that during a period specified in the notice (which period shall be the period so directed) representations and objections as regards the application may be made to the Controller and also stating that notice of such representations and objections may be given to the Controller (which notices are hereby authorised to be so given).
2. The following shall be entitled to be heard (either in person or through counsel or a solicitor) on the hearing, whether by the Controller or on appeal, of an application to which Article 1 of this Schedule applies, namely:
(a) the applicant,
(b) the holder of the relevant grant of plant breeders' rights (if he is not the applicant),
(c) any person by whom a notice has been duly given in relation to the application pursuant to regulations under section 15 of this Act.
3. Where an application is made under section 17 of this Act the following provisions shall apply:
(a) the Controller or the Appeal Committee may, for the purpose of enabling the ownership of the relevant plant breeders' rights to be ascertained, direct the applicant to publish a notice in such form and in such manner as the Controller directs,
(b) if the Controller or the Appeal Committee, as the case may be, is satisfied that after diligent inquiry the relevant holder cannot be found or ascertained, the application or an appeal under section 14 of this Act may be heard and determined notwithstanding the fact that such holder has not been found or ascertained.
4. Where a decision is made by the Controller and is confirmed or varied on an appeal under this Act, or where a refusal by the Controller is so affirmed or any other decision is made on such an appeal, then unless the High Court or the Appeal Committee, as the case may be, otherwise direct, the decision on the appeal shall come into force on the day immediately following the day on which it is made, and, in case such a direction is given the decision to which the direction relates shall come into force on the day specified in the direction.
5. Whenever the Controller makes a decision referred to in subsection (1) of section 14 of this Act or a decision under section 21 (6) of this Act, he shall, as soon as may be after the decision is made, cause notice of the decision to be published in the Journal, which notice shall state the period within which an appeal may be taken under the said section 14 or 21 (6) in relation to the decision. The period aforesaid shall be the period of sixty days commencing on the date of the publication of the notice aforesaid.
Act Referred to | |
Public Offices Fees Act, 1879 | 1879, c. 58 |
Uimhir 24 de 1980
AN tACHT UM CHINEÁLACHA PLANDAÍ (CEARTA DÍLSEÁNAIGH), 1980
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
Léiriú.
1.—(1) San Acht seo—
tá le “an Coiste Achomhairc” an bhrí a shanntar dó le halt 14 (3) den Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “údarú” údarú arna thabhairt de bhun alt 4 (5) den Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “an Coinbhinsiún” an Coinbhinsiún Idirnáisiúnta do Chosaint Cineálacha Nua Plandaí a rinneadh i bPáras an 2ú lá de Nollaig, 1961, mar a athchóiríodh é sa Ghinéiv an 10ú lá de Shamhain, 1972, agus an 23ú lá de Dheireadh Fómhair, 1978, faoi seach;
ciallaíonn “an Rialaitheoir” an Rialaitheoir Cearta Póraitheoirí Plandaí;
ciallaíonn “tír Choinbhinsiúin” tír nó críoch is páirtí sa Choinbhinsiún nó ceann lena mbaineann dearbhú a bheidh in ordú arna dhéanamh ag an Aire faoi alt 2 den Acht seo agus a mbeidh feidhm aige de thuras na huaire;
ciallaíonn “sealbhóir” sealbhóir cearta póraitheoirí plandaí;
tá le “an Iris” an bhrí a shanntar dó le halt 19 den Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Talmhaíochta;
ciallaíonn “forordaithe” forordaithe le rialacháin arna ndéanamh ag an Aire faoin Acht seo;
tá le “an clár” an bhrí a shanntar dó le halt 20 den Acht seo;
folaíonn “díol” tairiscint nó taisealbhadh le haghaidh díola agus iarraidh le haghaidh ceannaigh agus forléirofar focail ghaolmhara dá réir sin;
folaíonn “cineál” i ndáil le plandaí aon chlón, líne, croschineál nó malairt ghineolaíoch d'aon phlanda.
(2) Déanfar tagairtí san Acht seo d'ábhar atáirgeach a fhorléiriú mar thagairtí a fholaíonn tagairtí—
(a) do shíolta le cur,
(b) do phrátaí síl agus d'ábhar iomadaithe fásúil eile,
(c) do phlandaí ornáideacha agus do pháirteanna de phlandaí den sórt sin, i gcás ina n-úsáidtear iad i modh tráchtála mar ábhar iomadaithe chun plandaí ornáideacha agus bláthanna gearrtha a tháirgeadh,
(d) do phlandaí iomlána nach plandaí ornáideacha, mar aon le páirteanna de na plandaí sin, i gcás ina bhféadfar na plandaí iomlána sin nó na páirteanna sin a úsáid mar ábhar atáirgeach.
(3) Sna tagairtí san Acht seo d'iarratasóir ar chearta póraitheoirí plandaí, nó do shealbhóir, áireofar, mar a gceadaíonn an comhthéacs é, tagairtí dá réamhtheachtaithe i dteideal nó dá chomharbaí i dteideal, agus i gcás dhá dhuine nó níos mó a bheith ina gcomhdhílseánaigh ar chearta póraitheoirí plandaí, déanfar na tagairtí sin a fhorléiriú i ndáil leis na cearta sin mar thagairtí a fholaíonn tagairt do gach duine de na daoine sin.
(4) I gcás ina ndíolfar planda ornáideach nó páirt de phlanda den sórt sin i gcúrsa gnó chun a úsáide ag an gceannaitheoir chun críocha seachas chun iomadaithe agus go n-úsáideann an ceannaitheoir an planda sin nó an pháirt sin i modh tráchtála mar ábhar iomadaithe, ní dhéanfar aon fhoráil den Acht seo a fhorléiriú mar fhoráil nach bhfuil feidhm aici i ndáil leis an gceannaitheoir sin de bhíthin amháin go ndearnadh an planda nó an pháirt a dhíol amhlaidh.
Coinbhinsiúin, comhshocraíochtaí, etc.
2.—(1) Chun go bhféadfar éifeacht a thabhairt d'aon choinbhinsiún nó comhaontú idirnáisiúnta do chosaint cineálacha plandaí agus cearta póraitheoirí plandaí ar páirtí ann an Stát, féadfaidh an Rialtas le hordú a dhearbhú gur tír choinbhinsiúin chun críocha an Achta seo tír choigríche nó tíortha coigríche, arb amhlaidh don tír choigríche sin, nó do gach ceann de na tíortha coigríche sin, gur tír í ar páirtí sa choinbhinsiún nó sa chomhaontú a rialtas nó aon cheann dá ranna stáit, agus fad a fhanfaidh an t-ordú i bhfeidhm is tír choinbhinsiúin chun críocha an Achta seo aon tír choigríche ar tír í a bheidh sonraithe sa dearbhú a bheidh tugtha san ordú sin.
(2) Féadfaidh ordú faoin alt seo a fhoráil go sroichfidh an dearbhú a bheidh tugtha ann chuig aon chríoch a measfaidh rialtas thír choigríche a bheidh sonraithe sa dearbhú sin go bhfuil sé féin freagrach as a caidreamh eachtrach, agus i gcás ordú faoin alt seo dá fhoráil amhlaidh, ansin fad a bheidh an t-ordú i bhfeidhm maidir leis an tír choigríche sin measfar chun críocha an Achta seo gur tír choinbhinsiúin an chríoch a mbeidh an dearbhú ag sroicheadh chuici amhlaidh.
(3) (a) Más rud é, de dhroim aon chomhaontú ar páirtí ann an tAire, go ndéanfar comhshocraíocht (dá ngairtear “comhshocraíocht chomharaíochta” san alt seo) le tír nó críoch, seachas an Stát, chun go bhféadfaidh daoine a bhfuil áit ghnó (ar gnó é a thuairiscítear in alt 5 (1) (c) den Acht seo) acu sa Stát iarratas a dhéanamh faoi dhlí na tíre nó na críche sin, ar dlí é a bhfuil a fhorálacha ar comhréir nó ar comhréim le forálacha an Achta seo, ar comhchéim le daoine a chónaíonn, nó a bhfuil áit den sórt sin gnó acu, sa tír nó sa chríoch, féadfaidh an tAire le rialacháin a dhearbhú gur tír nó críoch lena mbaineann an t-alt seo an tír nó an chríoch sin.
(b) I gcás ina bhfoirceannfar comhaontú ar de bhua é a bheith ann a bhí ar chumas an Aire rialacháin a dhéanamh faoin bhfo-alt seo nó i gcás é do scor ar dhóigh eile d'fheidhm a bheith aige, déanfaidh an tAire, a luaithe is féidir, na rialacháin a chúlghairm.
(4) Féadfaidh an Rialaitheoir, le toiliú an Aire, aon chomhaontú nó comhshocraíocht a dhéanamh agus a chur i gcrích le húdarás iomchuí i dtír choigríche is comhaontú nó comhshocraíocht a bhaineann le deonú agus cosaint cearta póraitheoirí plandaí, nó na gcearta faoi dhlí na tíre sin atá ar comhréir nó ar comhréim le cearta póraitheoirí plandaí.
(5) Féadfar ordú faoin alt seo (lena n-áirítear ordú faoin bhfo-alt seo) a chúlghairm nó a leasú le hordú dá éis sin ón Rialtas.
(6) San alt seo ciallaíonn “an t-údarás iomchuí i dtír choigríche” an duine a bhfuil feidhmeanna sannta dó faoi dhlí tíre seachas an Stát ar feidhmeanna iad atá ar comhréir nó ar comhréim leis na feidhmeanna a shanntar don Rialaitheoir faoin Acht seo.
An Rialaitheoir Cearta Póraitheoirí Plandaí.
3.—(1) Deantar leis seo oifig a bhunú dá ngairfear an Rialaitheoir Cearta Póraitheoirí Plandaí agus is é a bheidh san oifig sin comhlacht corpraithe le comharbas suthain agus beidh cumhacht agartha aici agus beidh sí inagartha ina hainm corpraithe.
(2) (a) Déanfaidh an tAire de réir mar is gá sa chás duine a cheapadh (agus féadfar gur oifigeach don Aire an duine sin) chun oifig an Rialaitheora a líonadh agus gach duine a cheapfar faoin bhfo-alt seo beidh sé i seilbh oifige ar feadh cibé téarma agus, faoi réir mhír (b) den fho-alt seo, ar cibé coinníollacha a shonróidh an tAire nuair a bheidh an ceapachán á dhéanamh aige.
(b) I gcás ar duine lena mbaineann fo-alt (9) den alt seo an duine a cheapfar chun oifig an Rialaitheora a líonadh, íocfar cibé luach saothair leis a chinnfidh an tAire le toiliú Aire na Seirbhíse Poiblí.
(3) Beidh an Rialaitheoir faoi ghnáth-mhaoirseacht agus faoi ghnáth-rialú an Aire.
(4) Duine a cheapfar faoin alt seo le bheith ina Rialaitheoir agus a rachaidh a théarma oifige in éag seachas de bhíthin é a chur as oifig beidh sé inathcheaptha.
(5) Féadfaidh an tAire an duine is Rialaitheoir de thuras na huaire a chur as oifig má bhíonn sé neamhinniúil de dheasca droch-shláinte ar a dhualgais a chomhlíonadh go héifeachtach, nó a mhí-iompair é féin mar a bheidh luaite nó má dhealraíonn sé don Aire gur gá é a chur as oifig chun go ndéanfaidh an Rialaitheoir a fheidhmeanna a chomhlíonadh go héifeachtach.
(6) Soláthróidh an Rialaitheoir séala dó féin a luaithe is féidir tar éis an tAcht seo a rith.
(7) Déanfar séala an Rialaitheora a fhíordheimhniú le síniú an Rialaitheora nó le síniú duine éigin eile a bheidh údaraithe ag an Aire gníomhú chuige sin.
(8) Tabharfar aird bhreithiúnach ar shéala an Rialaitheora agus glacfar i bhfianaise gach doiciméad a airbheartóidh gur ionstraim é a rinne an Rialaitheoir agus a bheith séalaithe le séala (a airbheartóidh a bheith fíordheimhnithe de réir fho-alt (7) den alt seo) an Rialaitheora agus measfar gurb é an ionstraim sin é gan chruthúnas, mura suífear a mhalairt.
(9) (a) Féadfaidh an tAire, a luaithe is féidir, le toiliú Aire na Seirbhíse Poiblí, scéim a dhéanamh agus a chur i gcrích de réir a téarmaí chun pinsean, aisce nó liúntas eile a dheonú do dhaoine nó i leith daoine lena mbaineann an fo-alt seo, ar daoine iad a gceanglaítear orthu lena gcoinníollacha ceapacháin a gcuid ama oibre go léir a chaitheamh i mbun dualgais oifig an Rialaitheora, ar scor dóibh d'oifig an Rialaitheora a shealbhú.
(b) Féadfaidh scéim faoin bhfo-alt seo a fhoráil, má dhéantar ceapachán duine lena mbaineann an fo-alt seo chun oifig an Rialaitheora a fhoirceannadh le linn a théarma oifige, nach gcoiscfidh sin air pinsean, aisce nó liúntas eile a dheonú dó.
(c) Féadfaidh an tAire, le toiliú Aire na Seirbhíse Poiblí, scéim a rinne sé faoin bhfo-alt seo a leasú.
(d) Baineann an fo-alt seo le haon duine a cheapfar chun oifig an Rialaitheora a líonadh agus nárbh oifigeach don Aire é díreach roimh an gceapachán sin.
(e) Ní dheonófar aon phinsean, aisce ná liúntas eile don Rialaitheoir ná ní dhéanfar aon chomhshocraíocht eile chun pinsean, aisce nó liúntas eile a sholáthar ar é do scor d'oifig a shealbhú, ach amháin de réir scéim arna cur isteach agus arna ceadú faoin alt seo.
(10) Má dhéanann an Rialaitheoir cinneadh faoin Acht seo, tiocfaidh an cinneadh nó an t-ordú i bhfeidhm—
(a) i gcás nach féidir aon achomharc a dhéanamh faoin Acht seo ina leith, an lá díreach tar éis an lae ar a ndéanfar an cinneadh,
(b) i gcás inar féidir achomharc den sórt sin a dhéanamh ach nach ndéanfar amhlaidh é, ar bheith caite don tréimhse inar féidir achomharc den sórt sin a dhéanamh,
(c) i gcás ina ndéanfar achomharc den sórt sin agus go dtarraingeofar siar é, ar bheith caite don tréimhse a luaitear i mír (b) den fho-alt seo nó an lá díreach tar éis an lae ar a dtarraingeofar an t-achomharc siar, cibé lá díobh is déanaí.
(11) Féadfaidh an tAire, le toiliú Aire na Seirbhíse Poiblí, cibé oifigigh agus seirbhísigh de chuid an Aire a shannadh don Rialaitheoir is dóigh leis is gá chun a chur ar chumas an Rialaitheora na feidhmeanna a shanntar dó leis an Acht seo a chomhlíonadh.
(12) Chun a chumasú don Rialaitheoir na feidhmeanna a shanntar dó leis an Acht seo a chomhlíonadh, féadfaidh an tAire—
(a) seirbhísí daoine agus úsáid talún nó saoráidí eile atá faoina rialú a chur ar fáil don Rialaitheoir faoi réir cibé coinníollacha (más ann) a shonróidh an tAire,
(b) a údarú don Rialaitheoir leas a bhaint as seirbhísí daoine nach oifigigh ná seirbhísigh de chuid an Aire,
(c) a údarú don Rialaitheoir comhshocraíochtaí a dhéanamh chun torthaí tástálacha, trialacha nó scrúduithe arna ndéanamh ag daoine in aon tír seachas an Stát i ndáil le cearta póraitheoirí plandaí a fháil nó fáil a bheith orthu.
agus is é a bheidh sna táillí is iníoctha le daoine ar baineadh leas as a seirbhísí mar a dúradh nó a mbaineann údarú den sórt sin leo cibé méid ar a gcomhaontóidh an tAire le ceadú Aire na Seirbhíse Poiblí.
(13) Chun go bhféadfaidh an Rialaitheoir aon fheidhmeanna a shanntar dó leis an Acht seo a chomhlíonadh, féadfaidh sé cibé tástálacha, trialacha, scrúduithe nó fiosruithe is cuí leis a dhéanamh, nó a chur á ndéanamh, i ndáil le haon phlanda.
Cearta póraitheoirí plandaí.
4.—(1) Féadfaidh an Rialaitheoir cearta dílseánaigh ar a dtabharfar, agus dá ngairtear san Acht seo, “cearta póraitheoirí plandaí”, a dheonú, ar iarratas a dhéanamh chuige chun na críche sin agus faoi réir fhorálacha an Achta seo, maidir le haon chineál géineas nó speiceas luibheolaíochta, nó maidir le haon chineál laistigh den ghéineas nó den speiceas sin, ar cineál é a bhfuil modh atáirgthe nó iolrúcháin áirithe nó críoch-úsáid áirithe aige agus ar géineas nó speiceas é a bheidh sonraithe de thuras na huaire i rialacháin arna ndéanamh chun críocha an ailt seo ag an Aire.
(2) Beidh an táille fhorordaithe ag gabháil le hiarratas faoin alt seo.
(3) I gcás ina gceadóidh an Rialaitheoir iarratas faoin alt seo, déanfaidh sé a luaithe is féidir—
(a) deimhniú faoina shéala a eisiúint san fhoirm fhorordaithe ina sonrófar ainm an chineál planda lena mbaineann an t-iarratas, mar aon lena ghéineas agus lena speiceas,
(b) fógra a chur á fhoilsiú san Iris á rá gur deonaíodh an deimhniú,
(c) ainm an chineál planda ar lamháladh an ceadúnas ina leith, mar aon lena ghéineas agus lena speiceas, a thaifeadadh sa chlár.
(4) Gach doiciméad a airbheartóidh gur deimhniú é a d'eisigh an Rialaitheoir faoin alt seo agus a bheith séalaithe le séala an Rialaitheora measfar, in aon imeachtaí dlí, gurb é an deimhniú sin é agus beidh sé inghlactha mar fhianaise ar na hábhair a bheidh luaite ann, nó go suífear a mhalairt.
(5) I gcás ina ndeonófar cearta póraitheoirí plandaí faoin Acht seo, oibreoidh an deonú, faoi réir fho-alt (7) den alt seo, chun go dtabharfaidh sé don sealbhóir lena mbaineann an ceart eisiatach—
(a) chun ábhar atáirgeach den chineál planda lena mbaineann an deonú a tháirgeadh d'fhonn é a chur ar an margadh i modh tráchtála,
(b) chun ábhar den sórt sin a dhíol nó a thairiscint lena dhíol nó chun é a onnmhairiú nó a allmhairiú,
(c) i gcás gur cineál planda ornáidigh an cineál planda, chun an cineál sin a iomadú le linn plandaí ornáideacha nó bláthanna gearrtha a bheith á dtáirgeadh i modh tráchtála,
(d) chun a údarú d'aon duine eile gach ní nó aon ní de na nithe réamhráite a dhéanamh,
agus, faoi réir fhorálacha an Achta seo, beidh sáruithe ar chearta póraitheoirí plandaí inchaingne ar agra shealbhóir na gceart agus, in aon imeachtaí mar gheall ar an sárú sin, beidh fáil ar an bhfaoiseamh sin go léir i modh damáistí, urghaire, cuntas nó eile, atá ar fáil in aon imeachtaí comhréire maidir le cearta dílseánaigh eile.
(6) Faoi réir fho-alt (7) den alt seo, féadfaidh sealbhóir, le linn údarú a bheith á thabhairt aige, aon choinníollacha a fhorchur (lena n-áirítear teorainneacha nó sriantachtaí) a d'fhéadfadh sealbhóir aon sórt eile ceart dílseánaigh a fhorchur, agus beidh cearta póraitheoirí plandaí insannta sa tslí chéanna le cineálacha eile cearta dílseánaigh.
(7) Ní gá cead a fháil ó shealbhóir chun an cineál planda iomchuí a úsáid mar fhoinse bhunaidh éagsúlachta chun cineálacha nua plandaí a bhunú nó d'aon toisc chun barr a tháirgeadh mar bhia do dhaoine nó d'ainmhithe.
(8) (a) Más rud é, ar iarratas a dhéanamh chuige sin, ar iarratas é chuig an Rialaitheoir faoin alt seo nó iarratas arna dhéanamh ag sealbhóir nó thar a cheann, go ndeimhneoidh an t-iarratasóir don Rialaitheoir nach bhfaighidh an sealbhóir luaíochtaí airgeadais cothromasacha de thoradh an deonú a bheidh á iarraidh, nó nach bhfuair sé na luaíochtaí sin toisc nach gcuireann nó nach gcuirfidh deonú na gceart sin ar a chumas rialú a dhéanamh ar tháirgeadh nó ar iomadú an chineál planda iomchuí sa Stát ar mhaithe lena thoradh nó chun aon chríche eile, féadfaidh an Rialaitheoir, má chinneann sé an t-iarratas a cheadú, a ordú go n-oibreoidh an deonú iomchuí, i dteannta oibriú ar an modh a thuairiscítear i bhfo-alt (5) den alt seo, chun an ceart eisiatach a thabhairt don sealbhóir iomchuí cibé páirt nó páirteanna a shonrófar san ordú d'aon phlanda den chineál sin a tháirgeadh, a dhíol nó a allmhairiú.
(b) I gcas ina dtabharfaidh an Rialaitheoir ordú faoin bhfo-alt seo—
(i) taifeadfar ráiteas sa taifead iomchuí sa chlár á rá gur tugadh an t-ordú sin maidir leis an gcineál planda lena mbaineann an t-ordú agus á shonrú cad í an pháirt nó cad iad na páirteanna de phlandaí a shonraítear san ordú,
(ii) déanfar fo-alt (5) (a) den alt seo, a mhéid a bhaineann sé le cearta an tsealbhóra iomchuí, a fhorléiriú agus beidh éifeacht leis ionann is dá ndéanfaí “nó aon pháirt nó páirteanna de phlanda de chineál a shonraítear san ordú iomchuí arna thabhairt ag an Rialaitheoir faoi fho-alt (8) den alt seo” a chur isteach indiaidh “lena mbaineann an deonú”.
(9) I gcás inar deimhin leis an Rialaitheoir go n-úsáidtear nó go n-úsáidfear an t-ábhar atáirgeach de chineál planda chun cineál planda éagsúil a tháirgeadh chun a dhíola agus gurb amhlaidh don chineál éagsúil sin nach féidir a ábhar atáirgeach a tháirgeadh arís agus arís eile gan ábhar atáirgeach den chineál planda a bhfuil iarratas faoin alt seo ceadaithe nó le ceadú ina leith a úsáid sa táirgeadh sin, ordóidh an Rialaitheoir, ar iarratas a dhéanamh chuige chun na críche sin, go n-oibreoidh an deonú iomchuí, i dteannta oibriú ar an modh a thuairiscítear i bhfo-alt (5) den alt seo, chun an ceart eisiatach a thabhairt don sealbhóir iomchuí an t-ábhar atáirgeach sin a úsáid sa táirgeadh sin.
(10) Cúig bliana is fiche an tréimhse uasta a mbeidh cearta póraitheoirí plandaí infheidhmithe ar a feadh de bhun deonú faoin alt seo:
Ar choinníoll, maidir le crainn torthaí, crainn fhoraoise, crainn ornáideacha agus fíniúnacha (lena n-áirítear a bpréamhstoic i ngach cás), nach lú ná ocht mbliana déag an tréimhse sin agus, maidir le géinis nó speicis eile, nach lú ná cúig bliana déag an tréimhse sin.
(11) Is ráiteas dochloíte aon ráiteas i rialacháin arna ndéanamh chun críocha an ailt seo á rá maidir le speiceas de phlanda nó maidir le gach ceann de na plandaí de ghrúpa sonraithe plandaí gur crann torthaí, crann foraoise nó crann ornáideach nó fíniúin é.
(12) (a) Ní bheidh an tréimhse a sonrófar i ndeonú faoin alt seo gurb í an tréimhse í ina mbeidh na cearta póraitheoirí plandaí a thugtar leis an deonú infheidhmithe níos lú—
(i) i gcás gur i leith crainn torthaí, crainn fhoraoise, crainn ornáideacha nó fíniúnacha (lena n-áirítear a bpréamhstoic i ngach cás) an deonú, ná ocht mbliana déag,
(ii) i gcás gur i leith plandaí eile de ghéinis agus de speicis eile an deonú, ná cúig bliana déag.
(b) Faoi réir alt 11 den Acht seo, is é a bheidh sa tréimhse a mbeidh cearta póraitheoirí plandaí infheidhmithe ina leith an tréimhse a bheidh sonraithe sa deonú iomchuí faoin alt seo (ar tréimhse í nach faide ná an tréimhse uasta iomchuí a fhorordófar i rialacháin arna ndéanamh faoin alt seo), dar tosach an dáta ar a dtiocfaidh deonú na gceart póraitheoirí plandaí ag an Rialaitheoir in éifeacht.
(13) I gcás ina ndéanfar plandaí den chineál lena mbaineann iarratas ar chearta póraitheoirí plandaí nó ábhar is páirt de na plandaí sin nó a dhíorthaíonn uathu, ar plandaí iad nó ar ábhar é de chineál lena mbaineann an coinníoll a ghabhann le hAirteagal 2 den Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo, a dhíol sa Stát nó in áit éigin eile roimh dháta an iarratais, beidh éifeacht leis na forálacha seo a leanas:
(a) má chinneann an Rialaitheoir an t-iarratas a cheadú, cuirfidh sé san áireamh, nuair a bheidh an tréimhse a mbeidh na cearta sin infheidhmithe ar a feadh á socrú aige, go ndearnadh an díol sin, agus
(b) beidh éifeacht le fo-alt (12) (a) den alt seo i ndáil leis an iarratas ionann is dá ndéanfaí an tréimhse íosta iomchuí a bheidh sonraithe ann a laghdú—
(i) i gcás cearta faoi dhlí tíre coinbhinsiúin ar comhréir nó ar comhréim le cearta póraitheoirí plandaí a bheith deonaithe maidir leis an gcineál áirithe roimh dháta an iarratais, tréimhse is ionann agus an tréimhse dar tosach dáta an deonaithe sin agus dar críoch dáta an iarratais, nó
(ii) i gcás gur cineál a thuairiscítear i mír (d) den Airteagal sin 2 an cineál, an tréimhse ar ina leith a comhlíonadh fomhír (ii) den mhír sin (d).
(14) Ní dhéanfaidh cúlghairm ná leasú rialacháin arna ndéanamh chun críocha an ailt seo difear d'aon deonú ar chearta póraitheoirí plandaí a bhí i bhfeidhm díreach roimh thosach feidhme na cúlghairme nó an leasaithe.
Coinníollacha maidir le cearta póraitheoirí plandaí a dheonú.
5.—(1) Faoi réir fho-alt (3) den alt seo agus ailt 6 agus 7 den Acht seo, i gcás ina ndéanfar iarratas chun an Rialaitheora chun cearta póraitheoirí plandaí a dheonú, ceadóidh an Rialaitheoir an t-iarratas más deimhin leis go gcomhlíonfar gach ceann de na coinníollacha seo a leanas, eadhon:
(a) gurb é an t-iarratasóir an duine a phóraigh nó a d'fhionn an cineál planda lena mbaineann an t-iarratas, nó gurb é comharba i dteideal an duine sin é, nó gur duine é dar sannadh go cuí an ceart chun iarratas a dhéanamh faoin alt seo maidir leis an gcineál planda sin,
(b) go sásaíonn an cineál planda lena mbaineann an t-iarratas gach ceann de na coinníollacha atá sa Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo,
(c) gur saoránach d'Éirinn nó saoránach nó náisiúnach d'aon tír nó críoch is páirtí sa Choinbhinsiún an t-iarratasóir nó go bhfuil cónaí air nó áit ghnó aige (is é sin gnó a gcuimsíonn nó a bhfolaíonn a ghníomhaíochtaí díol nó iomadú plandaí) sa Stát nó i dtír nó i gcríoch den sórt sin nó a bhfuil áit den chineál sin gnó ag an iarratasóir i dtír nó i gcríoch a ndearbhaítear ina leith le rialacháin faoi alt 2 (3) den Acht seo gur tír nó críoch í lena mbaineann alt 2 den Acht seo.
(2) I gcás ina ndéanfar iarratas chun an Rialaitheora á iarraidh air cearta póraitheoirí plandaí a dheonú agus—
(a) gur deimhin leis an Rialaitheoir gur comhlíonadh na coinníollacha atá i míreanna (a) agus (b) d'fho-alt (1) den alt seo i ndáil leis an iarratas, agus
(b) nach deimhin leis an Rialaitheoir gur comhlíonadh amhlaidh an coinníoll atá i mír (c) den fho-alt sin (1),
féadfaidh an Rialaitheoir dá rogha féin amháin an t-iarratas a cheadú agus, faoi réir fho-alt (3) den alt seo, beidh leis an deimhniú a dheonófar agus leis an taifead a dhéanfar sa chlár mar gheall ar an iarratas a cheadú éifeacht faoi réir cibé coinníollacha (más ann) a bheidh sonraithe chun críocha an fho-ailt seo ag an Aire agus a bheidh i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire.
(3) (a) Nuair a dhéanfar iarratas chun an Rialaitheora chun cearta póraitheoirí plandaí a dheonú agus nach mbeidh cónaí ar an iarratasóir sa Stát ná áit ghnó aige ann, féadfaidh an Rialaitheoir, dá rogha féin amháin, a chur de cheangal ar an iarratasóir gníomhaire sa Stát a cheapadh, laistigh de thréimhse a shonróidh an Rialaitheoir, a bhféadfaidh an Rialaitheoir doiciméid a sheirbheáil air nó déileáil thairis sin leis i ndáil leis an iarratas, agus, má cheadaítear an t-iarratas, i ndáil le haon ní eile a éireoidh faoin Acht seo maidir leis na cearta póraitheoirí plandaí a dheonófaí dá dhroim sin, agus i gcás an Rialaitheoir do dhéanamh ceanglais faoin bhfo-alt seo agus go gceadófar an t-iarratas iomchuí agus go mbeidh an ceanglas i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire ach nach mbeidh sé á chomhlíonadh, ansin, fad a bheidh an ceanglas sin gan comhlíonadh, ní bheidh aon duine i dteideal imeachtaí a thionscnamh mar gheall ar shárú na gceart sin ná aon iarratas a dhéanamh faoin Acht seo i ndáil leis na cearta sin.
(b) Féadfaidh an Rialaitheoir ceanglas arna dhéanamh faoin bhfo-alt seo a chealú.
Tosaíochtaí idir iarratasóirí faoi alt 4.
6.—(1) I gcás ina ndéanfaidh dhá dhuine nó níos mó cineál planda a phórú nó a fhionnadh go neamhspleách ar a chéile, ansin, faoi réir fho-alt (2) den alt seo, is é an chéad duine de na daoine sin a dhéanfaidh iarratas, nó a ndéanfar iarratas ina leith, go cuí faoi alt 4 den Acht seo an duine a bheidh i dteideal go ndeonófaí cearta póraitheoirí plandaí dó i ndáil leis an gcineál.
(2) Amhail idir dhá dhuine a mbeidh iarratais á ndéanamh acu go cuí faoi alt 4 den Acht seo ar an dáta céanna maidir leis an gcineál planda céanna, is é an duine díobh a bheidh i gcóir i dtosach chun iarratas bailí den sórt sin a dhéanamh (nó a bheadh i gcóir i dtosach dá mbeadh an t-alt sin 4 agus na rialacháin iomchuí faoi alt 4 den Acht seo i bhfeidhm i gcónaí) an duine a bheidh i dteideal cearta póraitheoirí plandaí a dheonú dó maidir leis an gcineál.
(3) I gcás—
(a) ina ndéanfar iarratas (dá ngairtear “an chéad iarratas”) go cuí i dtír choinbhinsiúin seachas an Stát chun cearta ar comhréir le cearta póraitheoirí plandaí a dheonú faoin dlí atá i bhfeidhm sa tír sin, agus
(b) ina ndéanfar go cuí, maidir leis an gcineál planda lena mbaineann an chéad iarratas, iarratas faoi alt 4 den Acht seo (dá ngairtear “an dara hiarratas” san alt seo) laistigh de thréimhse bliana dar tosach an lá díreach tar éis an lae ar a bhfaighidh an t-údarás iomchuí sa tír sin an chéad iarratas, agus
(c) ina raibh an cineál planda lena mbaineann an t-iarratas sin, an tráth a fuarthas an chéad iarratas amhlaidh, laistigh de ghéineas nó de speiceas a bheidh sonraithe de thuras na huaire i rialacháin faoi alt 4 den Acht seo, agus
(d) go mbeidh sa dara hiarratas tagairt don chéad iarratas, go sonróidh sé an dáta ar a bhfuarthas é amhlaidh agus go n-iarrfaidh sé go gcuirfí forálacha an fho-ailt seo i bhfeidhm maidir leis an dara hiarratas, agus
(e) go bhfaighidh an Rialaitheoir, roimh dheireadh na tréimhse trí mhí dar tosach an lá ar a bhfuair sé an dara hiarratas, cóip de na doiciméid arb iad an chéad iarratas iad,
measfar go bhfuair an Rialaitheoir an dara hiarratas an lá céanna ar a bhfuarthas an chéad iarratas mar a dúradh, agus, dá réir sin, ní foras agóide in aghaidh an dara hiarratas iarratas eile faoin alt sin 4 agus baint aige leis an ngéineas nó leis an speiceas luibheolaíochta céanna lena mbaineann an chéad iarratas agus an dara hiarratas araon a bheith déanta go cuí faoin alt sin 4 laistigh den tréimhse dar tosach an lá ar a bhfuarthas an chéad iarratas mar a dúradh agus dar críoch an lá ar a bhfuair an Rialaitheoir an dara hiarratas iarbhír.
(4) (a) I gcás ina gcuirfear forálacha fho-alt (3) den alt seo i bhfeidhm i ndáil le hiarratas chun an Rialaitheora, comhlíonfaidh an t-iarratasóir ceanglais aon rialacháin a dhéanfar faoi mhír (a) nó (b) d'alt 15 (1) den Acht seo laistigh den tréimhse ceithre bliana a thosóidh ar dhul in éag don tréimhse bliana a luaitear i bhfo-alt (3) (b) den alt seo nó cibé tréimhse is giorra ná sin a shonróidh an Rialaitheoir i bhfógra i scríbhinn a thabharfar don iarratasóir (ar tréimhse í nach lú ná bliain amháin dar tosach dáta an fhógra).
(b) I gcás nach gcomhlíonfar ceanglais mhír (a) den fho-alt seo maidir le hiarratas a dhéanamh laistigh den tréimhse iomchuí, scoirfidh forálacha fho-alt (3) den alt seo d'fheidhm a bheith acu maidir leis an iarratas ar dhul in éag don tréimhse sin.
(5) I gcás ina gcuirfear forálacha fho-alt (1) den alt seo i bhfeidhm maidir le hiarratas faoi alt 4 den Acht seo, ní dhiúltófar don iarratas, aon tráth le linn na tréimhse cúig bliana dar tosach an lá díreach tar éis an lae ar a measfar an t-iarratas a bheith faighte ag an Rialaitheoir, de bhíthin amháin nár tugadh don Rialaitheoir aon fhaisnéis, doiciméad ná ní eile a bheidhh forordaithe nó éilithe aige.
Cosaint d'iarratasóirí fad a bheidh iarratas ar feitheamh.
7.—Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh á fhoráil cosaint a thabhairt do chearta dílseánaigh iarratasóirí fad a bheidh an cinneadh críochnaitheach ar iarratais chun cearta póraitheoirí plandaí a dheonú ar feitheamh.
Ceadúnais eigeantacha.
8.—(1) Faoi réir fhorálacha an ailt seo, má dhéanann aon duine iarratas chun an Rialaitheora agus go ndeimhneoidh sé dó gur dhiúltaigh sealbhóir go míréasúnach údarú dá dtagraítear in alt 4 (5) (d) den Acht seo a dheonú don iarratasóir, nó go ndearna sé, le linn an t-údarú sin a bheith á dheonú nó á thairiscint aige, téarmaí a fhorchur nó a chur ar aghaidh atá míréasúnach nó contrártha do leas an phobail, déanfaidh an Rialaitheoir, más deimhin leis go bhfuil ar chumas an iarratasóra, agus go bhfuil ar intinn aige, cearta a thabharfaí dó leis an údarás sin a fheidhmiú go hinniúil, aon chearta den sórt sin a dheonú don duine sin i bhfoirm ceadúnais maidir leis an gcineál planda iomchuí a d'fhéadfadh an sealbhóir a dheonú.
(2) Faoi réir fhorálacha an ailt seo, má dheimhníonn aon duine don Rialaitheoir gur le leas an phobail go ndearna sealbhóir chineál planda áirithe (cineál a bhfuil a ainm taifeadta de thuras na huaire sa chlár) a bheidh sonraithe ag an duine a dháileadh ar mhodh nach bhfuil le leas an phobail nó gur chóir an cineál sin planda a dháileadh go forleathan, nó d'eile, gur le leas an phobail sin a dhéanamh, deonóidh an Rialaitheoir don duine sin, i bhfoirm ceadúnais, aon chearta maidir leis an gcineál sin a d'fhéadfadh an sealbhóir iomchuí a dheonú.
(3) Féadfar cibé coinníollacha a shonróidh an Rialaitheoir a bheith i gceangal le ceadúnas a dheonófar faoin alt seo (agus “ceadúnas éigeantach” a ghairfear anseo feasta san alt seo den cheadúnas sin) agus beidh éifeacht leis i gcaitheamh cibé tréimhse, dar tosach dáta an cheadúnais nó dáta dá éis, a shonrófar ann.
(4) Nuair a bheidh iarratais á gcur de láimh agus téarmaí ceadúnas éigeantach á socrú féachfaidh an Rialaitheoir lena áirithiú go ndéanfar an cineál planda iomchuí a chothabháil ó thaobh cáilíochta, agus go ndéanfaidh an ceadúnaí luach saothair cothromasach a íoc leis an sealbhóir lena mbaineann maidir le haon díolacháin ábhar atáirgeach a dhéanfar de bhun an cheadúnais.
(5) Féadfaidh téarmaí a bheith i gceadúnas éigeantach a chuirfidh de dhualgas ar an sealbhóir lena mbaineann ábhar atáirgeach a chur ar fáil don cheadúnaí lena mbaineann.
(6) I gcás ina ndeonóidh an Rialaitheoir ceadúnas éigeantach, ansin d'fhonn a chumasú don duine dá ndeonófar an ceadúnas úsáid a bhaint, ó thaobh an cheadúnais de, as aon leigheas a bheidh ar fáil dó trí imeachtaí dlí a thionscnamh, measfar gurb é an sealbhóir iomchuí a dheonaigh an ceadúnas.
(7) Féadfaidh an Rialaitheoir, ar iarratas a bheith déanta chuige sin ag an sealbhóir nó ag an gceadúnaí lena mbaineann, ceadúnas éigeantach a leathnú, a theorannú nó a leasú ar shlí eile, nó a chúlghairm.
(8) (a) Féadfar ceadúnas éigeantach a dheonú d'iarratasóir cibé acu a dheonaigh nó nár dheonaigh an sealbhóir lena mbaineann ceadúnais don iarratasóir nó d'aon duine eile.
(b) Ní ceadúnas eisiatach a bheidh i gceadúnas éigeantach.
(9) I gcás ina bhfaighidh an Rialaitheoir iarratas faoin alt seo tabharfaidh sé don sealbhóir lena mbaineann agus d'aon duine eile ar dealraitheach dó baint a bheith aige leis, fógra i dtaobh an iarratais agus tabharfaidh sé caoi do gach duine dá dtabharfar an fógra sin éisteacht a fháil sula gcinnfidh sé an t-iarratas.
(10) Má airbheartaíonn, agus a mhéid a airbheartóidh, aon chomhaontú ceangal a chur ar aon duine gan ceadúnas éigeantach a iarraidh, beidh sé ar neamhní.
Téarma an deonaithe a fhadú.
9.—(1) Faoi réir fho-alt (2) den alt seo, más deimhin leis an Rialaitheoir, ar shealbhóir do dhéanamh iarratais, nó ar iarratas a dhéanamh thar a cheann, chun an Rialaitheora, nach bhfuair an sealbhóir (ar chúiseanna nach raibh neart ag an sealbhóir orthu) luach saothair leordhóthanach as an deonú iomchuí cearta póraitheoirí plandaí, féadfaidh an Rialaitheoir, faoi réir cibé sriantachtaí nó coinníollacha eile (más ann) a shonróidh an Rialaitheoir,
(a) an tréimhse a mbeidh na cearta a thugtar leis an deonú infheidhmithe lena linn a fhadú, nó
(b) an tréimhse a mbeidh na cearta sin infheidhmithe lena linn a fhadú tuilleadh.
(2) Ní fheidhmeoidh an Rialaitheoir na cumhachtaí a thugtar dó le fo-alt (1) den alt seo d'fhonn a airbheartú go bhféadfaí na cearta póraitheoirí plandaí lena mbaineann iarratas faoin alt seo a fheidhmiú le linn tréimhse is faide ná an tréimhse uasta iomchuí a fhorordaítear faoi alt 4 (10) den Acht seo.
(3) I gcás ina gceadóidh an Rialaitheoir iarratas faoin alt seo beidh éifeacht leis na forálacha seo a leanas, má bhaineann siad leis an ábhar:
(a) i gcás an deonú iomchuí cearta póraitheoirí plandaí a bheith imithe in éag roimh dháta an chinnidh ón Rialaitheoir, measfar an deonú a bheith imithe in éag díreach roimh an gcinneadh, agus
(b) i gcás an t-iarratas sin a bheith ceadaithe amhlaidh faoi réir sriantachta nó coinníll eile, beidh éifeacht leis an deonú iomchuí sin as sin amach faoi réir na sriantachta nó an choinníll.
Deonú a thabhairt suas.
10.—(1) Féadfaidh sealbhóir iarratas a dhéanamh chun an Rialaitheora tráth ar bith chun an deonú atá aige ar chearta póraitheoirí plandaí a thabhairt suas.
(2) I gcás ina bhfaighidh an Rialaitheoir iarratas faoin alt seo, tabharfaidhh sé fógra i dtaobh an iarratais d'aon duine ar dealraitheach dó baint a bheith aige leis.
(3) Más deimhin leis an Rialaitheoir, tar éis éisteacht a thabhairt don sealbhóir lena mbaineann agus d'aon fhreasúrach, i gcás gur mian leo éisteacht a fháil, go bhféadfar an deonú iomchuí a thabhairt suas go cuí, féadfaidh sé glacadh leis an tairiscint agus an deonú a chúlghairm.
An Rialaitheoir do chúlghairm deonuithe.
11.—(1) I gcás—
(a) inar deimhin leis an Rialaitheoir—
(i) maidir leis an bhfaisnéis a thug iarratasóir nó a tugadh thar a cheann faoi alt 4 den Acht seo, go raibh sí mícheart agus dá mbeadh a fhios aige sula ndearna sé cinneadh ar an iarratas go raibh an fhaisnéis sin mícheart go ndiúltódh sé don iarratas,
(ii) ag féachaint d'aon ní eile a thabharfadh air, dá bhféachfadh sé dó sula ndearna sé cinneadh ar iarratas faoin alt sin 4, diúltú amhlaidh, nó
(b) inar deimhin leis an Rialaitheoir gur mhainnigh aon sealbhóir ábhar atáirgeach a luaitear in alt 1 (2) den Acht seo a thabhairt don Rialaitheoir, nó
(c) inar deimhin leis an Rialaitheoir gur mhainnigh sealbhóir táillí tréimhsiúla a bhí dlite de agus iníoctha aige faoi rialacháin faoi alt 25 den Acht seo a íoc,
(d) ina ndéanfar sealbhóir a chiontú i gcion faoi alt 23 den Acht seo maidir le huiríoll a rinne sé i ndáil le hiarratas faoi alt 4 den Acht seo,
déanfaidh an Rialaitheoir an deonú iomchuí cearta póraitheoirí plandaí a chúlghairm.
(2) (a) Beidh feidhm ag na forálacha seo a leanas i ndáil le deonú cearta póraitheoirí a chúlghairm faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo:
(i) ní chúlghairfidh an Rialaitheoir an deonú—
(I) mura mbeidh agus go dtí go mbeidh fógra i scríbhinn tugtha aige leis an bpost, nó ar cibé modh eile a ordóidh an tAire, don sealbhóir lena mbaineann á rá go bhfuil an Rialaitheoir á bhreithniú an ndéanfar na cearta póraitheoirí plandaí iomchuí a chúlghairm,
(II) mura mbeidh agus go dtí go mbeidh curtha faoi deara aige fógra ginearálta a thabhairt ar an modh forordaithe á rá go bhfuil an chúlghairm sin á bhreithniú aige,
(ii) breithneoidh an Rialaitheoir aon uiríoll nó agóid a dhéanfar chuige maidir leis an gcúlghairm atá beartaithe, agus
(iii) i gcás gurb é is foras don chúlghairm atá beartaithe nár íocadh táille, tabharfaidh an Rialaitheoir tréimhse íoc, agus má íoctar an táille laistigh den tréimhse sin ní rachaidh an Rialaitheoir níos faide leis an ábhar.
(b) Sonróidh an dá fhógra dá dtagraítear i mír (a) den fho-alt seo na forais ar a bhfuil an chúlghairm sin á breithniú amhlaidh agus déarfar iontu go bhféadfar uiríolla agus agóidí maidir leis an gcúlghairm atá beartaithe a dhéanamh chuig an Rialaitheoir le linn cibé tréimhse (ar tréimhse í nach giorra ná ocht lá is fiche dar tosach dáta an fhógra) a shonrófar san fhógra (agus údaraítear leis seo na huiríolla agus na hagóidí sin a dhéanamh).
(3) I gcás ina ndéanfaidh an Rialaitheoir deonú cearta póraitheoirí plandaí a chúlghairm faoin alt seo ar chúis seachas mar gheall ar an sealbhóir iomchuí a chiontú i gcion faoi alt 23 den Acht seo, féadfaidh sealbhóir na gceart achomharc i gcoinne na cúlghairme a dhéanamh laistigh den tréimhse fhorordaithe chun na hArd-Chúirte.
Cineálacha plandaí atá cosanta a ainmniú.
12.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire le rialacháin socrú a dhéanamh chun ainmneacha a roghnú do chineálacha plandaí is ábhar d'iarratais ar chearta póraitheoirí plandaí agus chun na hainmneacha a roghnófar amhlaidh a thaifeadadh sa chlár.
(2) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht fho-alt (1) den alt seo, féadfar, go háirithe, le rialacháin faoin alt seo na himthosca a fhorordú ina bhféadfar uiríolla a dhéanamh maidir le haon chinneadh i dtaobh an ainm a bheidh le clárú i leith aon chineál planda.
(3) (a) I gcás ina ndéanfar ainm cineál planda a thaifeadadh sa chlár, is é an t-ainm sin, agus ní ainm ar bith eile, a úsáidfidh gach duine a dhíolfaidh ábhar atáirgeach an chineál planda sin mar ainm don chineál, agus má mhainnítear ceanglais na míre seo a chomhlíonadh is éagóir é (i dteannta a bheith ina chion faoi alt 23 den Acht seo sna himthosca a luaitear san alt sin) a bheidh inchaingne in imeachtaí ar agra an tsealbhóra iomchuí (más ann).
(b) I gcás ainm cineál planda a bheith taifeadta sa chlár agus go n-úsáidfidh aon duine an t-ainm sin, nó ainm atá chomh gar dó i gcosúlacht gur dóigh dó a bheith ina thrúig meabhail nó ina chúis mearbhaill, tráth a bheidh na hábhair seo a leanas á ndíol nó á dtairiscint nó á dtaisealbhadh lena ndíol—
(i) ábhar atáirgeach de chineál planda éagsúil atá san aicme chéanna leis an aicme a bhfuil an taifeadadh á dhéanamh i ndáil léi, nó
(ii) más rud é faoi alt 4 (9) den Acht seo gur cuireadh cearta póraitheoirí plandaí i leith an chineál planda chéadluaite faoi réim ábhar seachas ábhar atáirgeach, an t-ábhar eile sin ó chineál planda éagsúil san aicme chéanna sin,
is éagóir é an t-ainm a úsáid agus beidh sí inchaingne in imeachtaí ar agra an tsealbhóra iomchuí (más ann).
(c) In aon imeachtaí le haghaidh damáistí faoin alt seo is cosaint don chosantóir a chruthú gur ghlac sé réamhchúram réasúnach chun nach ndéanfadh sé éagóir den chineál a líomhnaíodh agus nach raibh aon chúis aige a bheith in amhras nuair a bhí an t-ainm á úsáid aige go raibh úsáid an ainm sin éagórach.
(4) Más rud é, i ndáil le hábhar atáirgeach a dhíol, a thairiscint nó a thaisealbhadh lena dhíol, go n-úsáidfear trádmharc nó ainm trádála in éineacht le hainm a taifeadadh sa chlár, measfar ceanglais fho-alt (3) (a) den alt seo a bheith comhlíonta má úsáidtear, ach ar an gcuntar amháin go n-úsáidfear, an t-ainm a taifeadadh amhlaidh ar dhóigh—
(a) gur féidir é a aithint go héasca, agus
(b) gur féidir é a idirdhealú go héasca ón trádmharc nó ón ainm trádála, cibé acu é.
(5) (a) San alt seo folaíonn “ainm”, ach amháin in “ainm trádála”, aon ainmniú.
(b) Chun críocha an ailt seo measfar cineálacha plandaí a bheith san aicme chéanna má bhíonn gach ceann acu in aicme—
(i) is aicme arb éard í na cineálacha plandaí go léir de ghéineas nó de speiceas luibheolaíochta a bheidh forordaithe le rialacháin faoi alt 4 den Acht seo, nó
(ii) is aicme arb éard í na cineálacha plandaí go léir d'aon dá ghéineas nó speiceas luibheolaíochta nó níos mó a bheidh forordaithe chun críocha an ailt seo.
Ainm cineál planda a athrú.
13.—Féadfaidh sealbhóir a iarraidh ar an Rialaitheoir ainm a shonrófar san iarratas a chur in ionad an ainm atá taifeadta sa chlár maidir leis an gcineál planda iomchuí, agus nuair a bheidh cinneadh á dhéanamh ag an Rialaitheoir ar an iarratas féadfaidh sé—
(a) an t-iarratas a cheadú,
(b) ainm eile, nach é an t-ainm a sonraíodh amhlaidh é, a chur in ionad an ainm a taifeadadh amhlaidh, nó
(c) diúltú don iarratas.
Achomhairc.
14.—(1) Aon duine arb éagóir leis cinneadh ón Rialaitheoir faoi alt 4 (8), 4 (9), 5 (1), 5 (2), 8 (1), 8 (2), 8 (7), 10 (3), 16 (3), 16 (4), nó 22 (1) den Acht seo féadfaidh sé laistigh den tréimhse a shonraítear in Airteagal 5 den Dara Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo fógra achomhairc chun an Choiste Achomhairc in aghaidh an chinnidh a sheirbheáil ar an Rialaitheoir, agus féadfaidh an Coiste Achomhairc an t-achomharc a cheadú nó diúltú é a cheadú, agus nuair a bheidh an t-achomharc sin á chinneadh ag an gCoiste Achomhairc féadfaidh sé aon cheann de na cumhachtaí a fheidhmiú is infheidhmithe ag an Rialaitheoir i ndáil leis na nithe lena mbaineann an t-achomharc.
(2) (a) I gcás ina bhfaighidh an Rialaitheoir fógra achomhairc faoin alt seo, cuirfidh sé i bhfios láithreach don Aire go bhfuair sé é agus déanfaidh an tAire, ar sin a bheith curtha i bhfios dó, trí dhuine ar a laghad a cheapadh a luaithe is féidir chun an t-achomharc a éisteacht, ar abhcóide a mbeidh seasamh cúig bliana ar a laghad aige duine amháin díobh (agus údaraítear leis seo do na daoine sin an t-achomharc a éisteacht).
(b) Féadfaidh an Coiste Achomhairc, nuair a bheidh cinneadh an Rialaitheora chun ceadúnas a dheonú faoi alt 8 (2) den Acht seo á dhaingniú aige, aon cheann de théarmaí nó de choinníollacha an cheadúnais a mhodhnú.
(3) “An Coiste Achomhairc” a ghairtear san Acht seo de na daoine a cheapfar faoin alt seo chun achomharc a éisteacht.
(4) I gcás ina ndéanfaidh an Coiste Achomhairc achomharc a chinneadh, comhlíonfaidh an Rialaitheoir, a luaithe is féidir, cibé orduithe (más ann) a thabharfaidh an Coiste Achomhairc dó chun éifeacht a thabhairt don chinneadh.
Iarratais agus achomhairc i gcoitinne.
15.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh maidir le hiarratais faoi alt 4, 9, 10, 17, 21 nó 22 den Acht seo agus, gan dochar do ghinearáltacht na rialachán sin roimhe seo, féadfaidh sé—
(a) a fhoráil go ndéanfaidh daoine a bheidh ag déanamh iarratas faoi alt 4 den Acht seo faisnéis nó doiciméid sonraithe a bhaineann leis an gcineál planda lena mbaineann an t-iarratas a thabhairt don Rialaitheoir,
(b) a shonrú cad é an t-ábhar atáirgeach nó an t-ábhar planda eile den chineál planda sin a thabharfaidh na daoine sin amhlaidh,
(c) a chur de cheangal ar aon iarratasóirí faoin alt sin 4, d'fhonn go bhféadfar na hiarratais sin a chur de láimh, cibé saoráidí nó áiseanna a fhorordófar a chur ar fáil don Rialaitheoir nó a chur faoi deara iad a chur ar fáil dó,
(d) a chur de cheangal ar aon iarratasóirí den sórt sin cóipeanna de cibé gníomhais, ceadúnais nó doiciméid eile a fhorordófar a sholáthar don Rialaitheoir lena gcomhdú,
(e) na tástálacha, na trialacha, na scrúduithe nó na bearta eile a bheidh le déanamh ag an Rialaitheoir sula gceadófar aon iarratas faoi alt 4 den Acht seo, agus an tréimhse a mbeidh aon bhearta den sórt sin le déanamh lena linn, a fhorordú,
(f) sonrú a dhéanamh ar an tslí ina bhféadfar, agus an tréimhse ar lena linn a fhéadfar, aon iarratas faoin alt sin 4, 9, 10, 17, 21 nó 22 a tharraingt siar.
(g) a chur de cheangal ar aon iarratasóirí den sórt sin fógra sonraithe a fhoilsiú i ndáil lena n-iarratais,
(h) a chur de cheangal ar aon iarratasóirí den sórt sin cibé faisnéis bhreise i dtaobh a n-iarratas a theastóidh le réasún ón Rialaitheoir a thabhairt dó,
(i) a údarú don Rialaitheoir, i gcás ina mainneofar aon táille is iníoctha i ndáil le hiarratas faoin Acht seo a íoc, diúltú don iarratas,
(j) a chumasú fógra maidir le haon agóidí i gcoinne na n-iarratas sin nó maidir le haon uiríolla ina dtaobh a thabhairt don Rialaitheoir agus a chur de cheangal aon fhógra den sórt sin a thabhairt laistigh de thréimhse fhorordaithe,
(k) a fhoráil, i gcás ina ndéanfar iarratas faoi alt 4 den Acht seo de bhua sannadh ar an gceart chun iarratas den sórt sin a dhéanamh, go dtabharfar i dteannta an iarratais, nó laistigh de cibé tréimhse tar éis don Rialaitheoir an t-iarratas a fháil a bheidh forordaithe, cibé dearbhú nó dearbhuithe a bheidh forordaithe, agus é nó iad san fhoirm fhorordaithe agus sínithe sa tslí fhorordaithe.
(2) Beidh feidhm ag forálacha an Dara Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo a mhéid a shonraítear ann maidir le hiarratais nó le hachomhairc faoin Acht seo.
Ábhar atáirgeach a chothabháil.
16.—(1) Beidh feidhm ag forálacha an ailt seo i ndáil le gach uile chineál planda ach amháin na cineálacha sin atá in aon ghéineas nó speiceas atá eisiata ón alt seo le rialacháin arna ndéanamh faoin alt seo ag an Aire.
(2) Áiritheoidh gach sealbhóir go mbeidh sé i gcóir, ar feadh na tréimhse go léir a mbeidh na cearta póraitheoirí plandaí atá ar teachtadh aige infheidhmithe lena linn, chun ábhar atáirgeach atá in ann atáirgeadh a dhéanamh ar an gcineál lena mbaineann na cearta agus a mbeidh na cáilíochtaí aige a cuireadh i gcuntas nuair a deonaíodh na cearta i leith an chineáil, a sholáthar don Rialaitheoir.
(3) Beidh de dhualgas freisin ar gach sealbhóir gach uile fhaisnéis agus saoráid a iarrfaidh an Rialaitheoir a thabhairt dó d'fhonn a chinntiú dó féin go bhfuil an sealbhóir ag comhlíonadh a dhualgais faoi fho-alt (2) den alt seo, lena n-áirítear saoráidí chun go ndéanfaidh an Rialaitheoir, nó go ndéanfar thar a cheann, iniúchadh ar na bearta a rinneadh chun an cineál planda iomchuí a chothabháil agus más deimhin leis an Rialaitheoir gur mhainnigh sealbhóir iarraidh faoin bhfo-alt seo a chomhlíonadh, féadfaidh sé, más oiriúnach leis, deireadh a chur, le héifeacht amhail ar cibé lá agus ó cibé lá a shonróidh an Rialaitheoir, leis an tréimhse a mbeidh na cearta póraitheoirí plandaí faoin deonú iomchuí faoi alt 4 den Acht seo infheidhmithe lena linn, agus i gcás ina gcuirfidh an Rialaitheoir deireadh leis an tréimhse sin, scoirfidh an deonú réamhráite an lá sin d'éifeacht a bheith leis.
(4) Má dhealraíonn sé don Rialaitheoir tráth ar bith nach bhfuil aon sealbhóir cearta póraitheoirí plandaí sa chóir a thuilleadh go bhféadfaidh sé an t-ábhar a luaitear i bhfo-alt (2) den alt seo a sholáthar don Rialaitheoir, cuirfidh sé deireadh, le héifeacht amhail ar cibé lá agus ó cibé lá a shonróidh sé, leis an tréimhse a mbeidh na cearta infheidhmithe lena linn, agus i gcás ina gcuirfidh an Rialaitheoir deireadh leis an tréimhse sin, scoirfidh an deonú iomchuí ar chearta póraitheoirí plandaí an lá sin d'éifeacht a bheith leis.
(5) I gcás ina mbeartóidh an Rialaitheoir cumhacht a thugtar dó le fo-alt (3) nó (4) den alt seo a fheidhmiú, tabharfaidh sé fógra faoin mbeartú don sealbhóir iomchuí agus d'aon duine eile ar dealraitheach dó baint a bheith aige leis, agus tabharfaidh sé caoi do gach duine dá dtabharfar an fógra sin éisteacht a fháil sula bhfeidhmeoidh sé an chumhacht sin.
Sannadh, etc.
17.—(1) Faoi réir chlárú faoin alt seo, féadfar cearta uile póraitheoirí plandaí, nó sciar iontu, a shannadh, nó féadfar déileáil leo thairis sin, mar a dhéantar le maoin phearsanta eile.
(2) I gcás duine do theacht chun teideal a bheith aige trí shannadh, tarchur, oibriú dlí nó aon mhodh aistrithe eile, chun cearta póraitheoirí plandaí nó chun sciar sna cearta sin, nó i gcás é do theacht chun teideal a bheith aige mar mhorgáistí, mar cheadúnaí nó ar dhóigh eile chun aon leas eile sna cearta sin, déanfaidh sé iarratas chun an Rialaitheora sa tslí fhorordaithe chun a theideal mar dhílseánach nó mar chomhdhílseánach, de réir mar is iomchuí, nó chun fógra i dtaobh a leasa, a chlárú sa chlár.
(3) Gan dochar d'fhorálacha fho-alt (2) den alt seo, maidir le hiarratas chun teideal aon duine a chlárú a thiocfaidh chun teideal a bheith aige trí shannadh chun cearta póraitheoirí plandaí, nó chun sciar sna cearta sin, nó a thiocfaidh chun teideal a bheith aige de bhua morgáiste, ceadúnas nó ionstraim eile chun aon leas eile i gcearta póraitheoirí plandaí, féadfaidh an sannóir, an morgáisteoir, an ceadúnóir nó an páirtí eile san ionstraim sin, de réir mar a bheidh, é a dhéanamh ar an modh forordaithe.
(4) I gcás ina ndéanfar iarratas faoin alt seo chun teideal aon duine a chlárú, déanfaidh an Rialaitheoir, ar an teideal a chruthú chun a shástachta—
(a) i gcás teideal a bheith ag an duine sin chun cearta póraitheoirí plandaí, nó chun sciar sna cearta sin a bheith aige, é a chlárú sa chlár mar dhílseánach nó mar chomhdhílseánach ar na cearta agus sonraí na hionstraime nó an teagmhais ar dá ndroim nó dá mbíthin a ghabhann sé teideal a thaifeadadh sa chlár, nó
(b) i gcás teideal a bheith ag an duine sin chun aon leasa eile sna cearta sin, fógra i dtaobh an leasa sin aige, mar aon le sonraí faoin ionstraim (más ann) lena mbunaítear an leas, a thaifeadadh sa chlár.
(5) I gcás ina bhfaighidh an Rialaitheoir iarratas faoin alt seo, tabharfaidh sé fógra ina thaobh d'aon duine ar dealraitheach dó baint a bheith aige leis, agus tabharfaidh sé caoi do gach duine dá dtabharfar an fógra sin éisteacht a fháil sula gcinnfear an t-iarratas.
(6) Ach amháin chun críocha iarratas chun an clár a cheartú faoi alt 21 nó 22 den Acht seo, ní ghlacfar in aon chúirt le doiciméad nach mbeidh aon taifead curtha sa chlár ina leith faoi fho-alt (4) den alt seo mar fhianaise ar theideal aon duine chun cearta póraitheoirí plandaí, nó chun sciar nó leas in aon chearta den sórt sin, mura n-ordóidh an chúirt a mhalairt.
(7) Aon duine arb éagóir leis cinneadh ón Rialaitheoir faoin alt seo féadfaidh sé, má sheirbheálann sé, agus ar an gcuntar amháin go seirbheálfaidh sé, fógra achomhairc ar an Rialaitheoir tráth nach déanaí ná seasca lá tar éis an cinneadh a thabhairt, achomharc a dhéanamh chun na hArd-Chúirte i gcoinne an chinnidh.
Forálacha a bhaineann le himeachtaí mar gheall ar shárú.
18.—(1) (a) In imeachtaí mar gheall ar chearta póraitheoirí plandaí a shárú, ní dhámhfar damáistí maidir le sárú den sórt sin má chruthaíonn an cosantóir nárbh eol don duine a sháraigh na cearta, agus nach raibh aon fhoras réasúnach aige chun a mheas, gurbh ábhar cearta póraitheoirí plandaí an cineál planda lena mbaineann na himeachtaí, ach an duine a mbeadh teideal aige, ar leith ón bhfo-alt seo, chun na ndamáistí sin beidh teideal aige chun cuntas brabús maidir leis an sárú (agus aon suim a gheofar a bheith dlite ar an gcuntas a íoc leis) cibé acu a dheonóidh nó nach ndeonóidh an chúirt aon fhaoiseamh eile.
(b) In imeachtaí mar gheall ar chearta póraitheoirí plandaí a shárú is cosaint don chosantóir a chruthú gur mhainnigh an gearánaí aon oibleagáidí a cuireadh air le ceadúnas arna eisiúint faoi alt 8 den Acht seo a chomhlíonadh.
(2) In imeachtaí mar gheall ar chearta póraitheoirí plandaí a shárú, beidh teideal ag an ngearánaí, más rogha leis é, chun cuntas brabús in ionad damáistí.
(3) Ní fhorléireofar aon ní san alt seo mar ní a dhéanann difear don chumhacht atá ag cúirt urghaire a dheonú in imeachtaí mar gheall ar chearta póraitheoirí plandaí a shárú.
An Iris, etc.
19.—(1) Eiseoidh an Rialaitheoir iris go tréimhsiúil (dá ngairtear “an Iris” san Acht seo), agus foilseoidh sé inti fógra maidir leis na nithe seo a leanas—
(a) aon iarratas faoi alt 4, 8 (2), 9, 10, 13, 16 (3), 16 (4), 17 (2), 21 nó 22 den Acht seo a fuair sé (agus tabharfaidh sé ainm an iarratasóra, agus géineas agus speiceas luibheolaíochta an chineál planda lena mbaineann an t-iarratas),
(b) an t-ainm do chineál planda atá beartaithe ag iarratasóir faoi alt 4 nó 13 den Acht seo (ar ainm é a mbeartaíonn an Rialaitheoir glacadh leis),
(c) aon deonú ar chearta póraitheoirí plandaí a bheidh déanta aige (agus tabharfaidh sé ainm an duine dá ndearnadh an deonú agus ainm an chineál planda a shonraítear sa deonú),
(d) aon athrú, ceartú nó scriosadh a dhéanfar sa chlár nó as an gclár,
(e) aon agóid, uiríoll nó achomharc arna fháil go cuí ag an Rialaitheoir i ndáil le hiarratas faoin Acht seo, agus
(f) cibé ní eile a fhorordófar,
agus, freisin, cibé faisnéis nó nithe eile a dhealraíonn don Rialaitheoir a bheith úsáideach nó tábhachtach i ndáil le cearta póraitheoirí plandaí, nó aon ní eile a bhfuil sé freagrach as faoin Acht seo nó ar dhóigh eile le dlí.
(2) Féadfaidh an Rialaitheoir innéacsanna, liostaí, catalóga, leabhráin agus saothair eile a bhaineann le cearta póraitheoirí plandaí agus le cineálacha plandaí a ullmhú agus a fhoilsiú.
(3) Déanfaidh an Rialaitheoir socrú chun cóipeanna den Iris nó de dhoiciméid eile a dháileadh, trína ndíol nó ar dhóigh eile, is cóipeanna nó doiciméid a cheanglaítear air nó a údaraítear dó leis an alt seo, nó ar dhóigh eile le dlí, a eisiúint nó a fhoilsiú.
An clár.
20.—(1) Coimeádfaidh an Rialaitheoir clár (dá ngairtear “an clár” san Acht seo) chun críocha an Achta seo agus taifeadfaidh sé sonraí ann i dtaobh deonuithe cearta póraitheoirí plandaí atá i bhfeidhm, cibé sonraí a bheidh forordaithe i dtaobh sannadh agus tarchur (cibé trí oibriú an dlí nó ar aon mhodh aistrithe eile) na gceart sin, sonraí i dtaobh na nithe go léir a cheanglaítear leis an Acht seo nó faoin Acht seo a thaifeadadh sa chlár agus i dtaobh cibé nithe eile a dhéanann difear do bhailíocht nó do dhílseánacht deonuithe cearta póraitheoirí plandaí is oiriúnach leis an Rialaitheoir.
(2) Coimeádfar an clár cibé áit a ordóidh an tAire agus, faoi réir cibé coinníollacha (más ann) a fhorordófar, beidh sé ar fáil lena iniúchadh le linn uaire oifige.
(3) (a) Doiciméad a airbheartaíonn gur cóip é de thaifead sa chlár agus a bheith deimhnithe faoi shéala an Rialaitheora mar chóip cheart beidh sé ina fhianaise prima facie ar an taifead agus ní bheidh sé riachtanach aon síniú ar an doiciméad a chruthú ná a chruthú gurbh é an Rialaitheoir, nó duine arna údarú faoi alt 3(7) den Acht seo, aon duine a mbeidh a shíniú ar an doiciméad.
(b) I gcás ina ndéanfar iarratas chun an Rialaitheora ar chóip de thaifead sa chlár agus atá deimhnithe faoin alt seo, eiseofar an chóip sin chuig an iarratasóir ar é d'íoc na táille forordaithe leis an Rialaitheoir maidir le gach taifead.
Cumhacht na cúirte an clár a leasú.
21.—(1) Faoi réir fhorálacha an Achta seo, féadfaidh an Ard-Chúirt, ar aon duine do dhéanamh iarratas ar an modh forordaithe, is duine arb éagóir leis nár cuireadh isteach sa chlár, nó gur fágadh amach as an gclár, aon taifead nó go ndearnadh aon taifead sa chlár gan leorchúis, nó go bhfuil aon taifead fanta go mícheart sa chlár, nó earráid nó fabht a bheith in aon taifead sa chlár, a ordú don Rialaitheoir an taifead sin a chur sa chlár, nó aon taifead den sórt sin a bheidh sa chlár an tráth sin a scriosadh as nó a athrú, de réir mar is oiriúnach leis an gcúirt.
(2) Féadfaidh an Ard-Chúirt in aon imeacht faoin alt seo breith a thabhairt ar aon cheist ar gá nó ar fóirsteanach breith a thabhairt uirthi i ndáil le ceartú a dhéanamh ar an gclár.
(3) Déanfar cibé fógra i dtaobh iarratas faoin alt seo a ordóidh an Ard-Chúirt a thabhairt don Rialaitheoir agus do cibé duine nó daoine eile (más ann) a ordóidh an chúirt agus beidh cead ag an duine nó ag na daoine sin láithriú agus éisteacht a fháil air, agus láithreoidh an Rialaitheoir má ordaíonn an chúirt dó é. Mura n-ordóidh an chúirt a
56
mhalairt, féadfaidh an Rialaitheoir, in ionad láithriú agus éisteacht a fháil, ráiteas i scríbhinn agus é sínithe aige a chur os comhair na cúirte, agus beidh sa ráiteas sin sonraí i dtaobh na n-imeachtaí os a chomhair i ndáil leis an ní i saincheist nó i dtaobh na bhforas atá le haon bhreith a thug sé agus a dhéanann difear don chéanna, nó i dtaobh a chleachtas i gcásanna dá samhail, nó i dtaobh cibé nithe eile a bhaineann leis na saincheisteanna, agus atá ar eolas aige mar Rialaitheoir, de réir mar is oiriúnach leis, agus measfar gur cuid den fhianaise sna himeachtaí an ráiteas sin.
(4) I gcás calaois i gclárú nó i dtarchur cearta póraitheoirí plandaí, féadfaidh an Rialaitheoir féin iarratas a dhéanamh chun na hArd-Chúirte faoi fhorálacha an ailt seo.
(5) Ordóidh aon ordú ón Ard-Chúirt ag ceartú an chláir go seirbheálfar fógra faoin gceartú ar an Rialaitheoir, i cibé slí a ordóidh an chúirt, agus nuair a gheobhaidh an Rialaitheoir an fógra sin ceartóidh sé an clár dá réir sin.
(6) Féadfar, más rogha leis an iarratasóir é, aon iarratas faoin alt seo (seachas iarratas ón Rialaitheoir) a dhéanamh sa chéad ásc chun an Rialaitheora, agus sa chás sin beidh ag an Rialaitheoir na cumhachtaí go léir atá ag an Ard-Chúirt faoin alt seo, ach beidh a chinneadh faoi réir achomharc chun na cúirte sin laistigh den tréimhse fhorordaithe.
Cumhacht chun earráidí cléireachais, etc. a cheartú.
22.—(1) Féadfaidh an Rialaitheoir, de réir fhorálacha an ailt seo, aon earráid chléireachais a cheartú in aon deonú cearta póraitheoirí plandaí, in aon iarratas ar dheonú den sórt sin, nó in aon doiciméad a comhdaíodh de bhun iarratas den sórt sin, nó féadfaidh sé aon earráid chléireachais sa chlár a cheartú.
(2) Féadfar ceartú a dhéanamh de bhun an ailt seo ar an sealbhóir iomchuí cearta póraitheoirí plandaí nó ar an iarratasóir ar dheonú na gceart sin do dhéanamh iarraidh i scribhinn a mbeidh an táille fhorordaithe ag gabháil léi, nó gan iarraidh den sórt sin.
(3) I gcás ina mbeartóidh an Rialaitheoir ceartú a dhéanamh faoin alt seo seachas de bhun iarraidh faoin alt seo, tabharfaidh sé fógra faoin mbeartú don sealbhóir iomchuí cearta póraitheoirí plandaí nó don iarratasóir ar dheonú na gceart sin, de réir mar a bheidh, agus d'aon duine eile ar dealraitheach dó baint a bheith aige leis, agus tabharfaidh sé caoi do gach duine den sórt sin éisteacht a fháil sula ndéanfaidh sé an ceartú.
(4) Ní fhorléireofar aon ní san alt seo mar ní a dhéanann difear don chumhacht a thugtar don Rialaitheoir le halt 17 (4) den Acht seo.
Cionta.
23.—(1) Má dhéanann duine uiríoll go bréagach go bhfuil teideal aige aon chearta póraitheoirí plandaí, nó cearta a dhíorthaíonn ó chearta póraitheoirí plandaí, a fheidhmiú, bíodh nó nach bíodh an cineál planda a bhfuil an t-uiríoll sin déanta ina leith ina ábhar do chearta póraitheoirí plandaí, agus más eol dó an t-uiríoll a bheith bréagach nó má dhéanann sé an t-uiríoll go meargánta, beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus dlífear ar é a chiontú go hachomair fíneáil nach mó ná £500, nó, de rogha an cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná trí mhí nó an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile, a chur air.
(2) Más rud é, i gcás aon duine a bheidh i láthair ag éisteacht a bheidh á dhéanamh ag an Rialaitheoir nó ag an gCoiste Achomhairc—
(a) go ndéanfaidh sé aon ráiteas nó go dtabharfaidh sé faisnéis is eol dó a bheith bréagach i bponc ábhartha nó go dtabharfaidh sé go meargánta faisnéis atá bréagach amhlaidh, nó
(b) go dtabharfaidh sé ar aird aon leabhar, taifead nó doiciméad eile nó go mbainfidh sé úsáid ar dhóigh eile as an gcéanna agus a fhios aige ráiteas nó faisnéis a bheith ann is eol dó a bheith bréagach i bponc ábhartha,
beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus dlífear ar é a chiontú go hachomair fíneáil nach mó ná £500, nó, de rogha ná cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná trí mhí nó an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile, a chur air.
(3) I gcás—
(a) ina mainneoidh duine ceanglais alt 12 (3) den Acht seo a chomhlíonadh, agus
(b) nach mbeidh deonú faoi alt 4 den Acht seo i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire maidir leis an gcineál planda lena mbaineann an mhainneachtain,
beidh an duine ciontach i gcion agus dlífear ar é a chiontú go hachomair fíneáil nach mó ná £500 a chur air.
Triail cionta, an dualgas cruthúnais, etc.
24.—(1) Féadfar imeachtaí i gcoinne duine mar gheall ar chion faoin Acht seo a thionscnamh in aon Dúiche Chúirte Dúiche ina bhfuil an duine de thuras na huaire agus, i gcás ina dtionscnófar imeachtaí den sórt sin agus, ar leith ón alt seo nach mbeadh dlínse ag an mBreitheamh ar tionscnaíodh na himeachtaí os a chomhair na himeachtaí a éisteacht agus a chinneadh, ansin d'fhonn an dlínse sin a thabhairt dó féadfar déileáil leis an gcion mar chion a rinneadh sa Dúiche Chúirte Dúiche dá bhfuil an Breitheamh sin sannta.
(2) I gcás ina gcruthófar, i ndáil le cineál planda áirithe, in imeachtaí mar gheall ar chion faoi alt 23 (3) den Acht seo, gur mhainnigh an cosantóir ceanglais alt 12 (3) den Acht seo a chomhlíonadh, ansin, mura mbeidh leorfhianaise eile ann chun saincheist a thógáil i dtaobh deonú faoi alt 4 den Acht seo maidir leis an gcineál planda sin a bheith ar marthain tráth na mainneachtana sin, ní áireofar, chun críocha na n-imeachtaí, an deonú sin a bheith ar marthain an tráth sin.
(3) I gcás ina gcruthófar maidir le cion faoin Acht seo a rinne comhlacht corpraithe go ndearnadh an cion le toiliú nó le cúlcheadú, nó gur inchurtha é i leith aon fhaillí ar thaobh, aon stiúrthóra, bainisteora, rúnaí nó oifigigh eile de chuid an chomhlachta chorpraithe, nó aon duine a d'airbheartaigh a bheith ag gníomhú sa cháil sin, beidh an duine sin, mar aon leis an gcomhlacht corpraithe, ciontach sa chion sin agus dlífear imeachtaí a shaothrú ina choinne agus é a phionósú dá réir sin.
Táillí.
25.—(1) Muirearóidh an Rialaitheoir agus íocfar leis—
(a) cibé táillí i leith iarratais a chuirfear chun an Rialaitheora,
(b) cibé táillí i leith aon tástáil nó scrúdú a dhéanfaidh an Rialaitheoir nó a dhéanfar thar a cheann i ndáil le haon iarratas den sórt sin, nó le haon fhaisnéis a gheobhaidh an Rialaitheoir i ndáil le haon iarratas den sórt sin,
(c) cibé táille i ndáil le deimhniú a eiseoidh an Rialaitheoir faoi alt 4 (3) den Acht seo,
(d) cibé táillí tréimhsiúla is iníoctha ag daoine a shealbhaíonn cearta póraitheoirí plandaí,
(e) cibé táillí eile,
a fhorordófar ó am go ham.
(2) Más rud é, de bhun comhaontú nó comhshocraíocht faoi alt 2 (4) den Acht seo, go gcuirfidh an Rialaitheoir ar chumas duine in aon tír seachas an Stát torthaí tástálacha, trialacha nó scrúduithe a rinne an Rialaitheoir a fháil nó rochtain a bheith aige orthu, féadfaidh sé cibé táille (más ann) ar a gcomhaontófar a mhuirearú.
(3) Na táillí go léir a gheobhaidh an Rialaitheoir faoin alt seo baileofar iad, tabharfar cuntas orthu agus diúscrófar iad i cibé slí a ordóidh an tAire ó am go ham.
(4) Ní bheidh feidhm ag an Public Offices Fees Act, 1879, maidir le táillí is iníoctha faoin alt seo.
Rialacháin agus orduithe.
26.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh d'fhorordú aon ní dá dtagraítear san Acht seo mar ní atá forordaithe, ar choinníoll, a mhéid a fhorálann aon rialacháin den sórt sin go socrófar táillí, gur le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais amháin a dhéanfar iad amhlaidh.
(2) Sula ndéanfaidh an tAire rialacháin chun críocha an Achta seo, rachaidh sé i gcomhairle leis an Rialaitheoir agus le daoine atá ionadaitheach do cibé leasanna ar dealraitheach don Aire baint a bheith acu leis an gcás, agus, maidir le rialacháin faoin alt seo—
(a) féadfaidh siad forálacha éagsúla a dhéanamh le haghaidh géinis nó speicis éagsúla de chineálacha plandaí, nó le haghaidh cineálacha plandaí atá laistigh d'aon ghéineas nó speiceas den sórt sin agus ar de chineál nó de thuairisc fhorordaithe iad,
(b) féadfaidh siad cibé forálacha forlíontacha, teagmhasacha agus eatramhacha a bheith iontu is dóigh leis an Aire a bheith iomchuí.
(3) Gach rialachán agus gach ordú a dhéanfar 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 rialachán nó an t-ordú a leagan faoina bhráid rún a rith ag neamhniú an rialacháin nó an ordaithe, beidh an rialachán nó an t-ordú ar neamhní dá réir sin ach sin gan dochar do bhailíocht aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin rialachán nó faoin ordú.
Caiteachais.
27.— Déanfar na caiteachais a thabhóidh an tAire ag riaradh an Achta seo a íoc, a mhéid a cheadóidh an tAire Airgeadais, as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas.
Gearrtheideal agus tosach feidhme.
28.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht um Chineálacha Plandaí (Cearta Dílseánaigh), 1980, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i bhfeidhm cibé lá a cheapfaidh an tAire chuige sin le hordú.
AN CHÉAD SCEIDEAL
Na Coinníollacha dá dTagraítear in Alt 5 (1) (b)
1. (1) (a) Cibé bunadh a bheidh leis an éagsúlacht tosaigh as ar tháinig cineál planda lena mbaineann iarratas faoin alt seo, cibé acu is bunadh nádúrtha nó bunadh saorga é, measfar, chun críocha an Achta seo, gur cineál leithleach an cineál más féidir, agus ar an gcuntar amháin gur féidir, é a idirdhealú go soiléir, faoi threoir saintréith thábhachtach amháin nó níos mó, ó aon chineál planda eile ar eolas coiteann, tráth an iarratais a dhéanamh, é a bheith ann.
(b) Ní foláir i ngach uile chás gur saintréithe ar féidir tuairisc bheacht a thabhairt orthu agus iad a aithint na saintréithe idirdhealaitheacha.
(2) Chun críocha na míre seo féadfar eolas coiteann a shuíomh faoi threoir chineálacha plandaí atá á gcur nó á saothrú cheana féin ar bhonn tráchtála, nó faoi threoir na gcineálacha atá i mbailiúchán tagartha aitheanta tráchtála nó luibheolaíochta, nó faoi threoir na gcineálacha a bhfuil tuairiscí beachta orthu in aon fhoilseachán.
2. Plandaí den chineál lena mbaineann an t-iarratas, nó aon ábhar is cuid de phlandaí den chineál sin nó a dhíorthaigh uathu, ní plandaí ná ábhar iad a ndearnadh cheana, i gcúrsa margaíochta tráchtála, le toiliú an iarratasóra nó a réamhtheachtaí i dteideal—
(a) iad a dhíol sa Stát,
(b) iad a dhíol in aon tír nó críoch seachas an Stát—
(i) i gcás gur fíniúnacha, crainn fhoraoise, crainn torthaí nó crainn ornáideacha na plandaí sin (lena n-áirítear a bpréamhstoic), tráth ba luaithe ná an tréimhse sé bliana dar chríoch an lá ar a bhfuair an Rialaitheoir an t-iarratas,
(ii) i gcás gur plandaí d'aon ghéineas nó speiceas eile na plandaí sin, tráth ba luaithe ná an tréimhse ceithre bliana dar chríoch an lá sin,
ar choinníoll nach dtosóidh an mhír seo d'éifeacht a bheith léi maidir le cineál planda áirithe—
(c) a ndearnadh cearta atá ar comhréir nó ar comhréim le cearta póraitheoirí plandaí a dheonú ina leith faoi dhlí tíre coinbhinsiúin agus ar cearta iad a mbeidh feidhm acu ar an dáta ar a bhfaighidh an Rialaitheoir an t-iarratas, nó
(d) (i) atá sa Chatalóg Náisiúnta de Chineálacha Plandaí Talmhaíochta nó i cibé catalóg nó liosta eile a bheidh forordaithe chun críocha na míre seo, agus
(ii) nár díoladh sa Stát tráth ar bith ba luaithe ná cibé tréimhse ama dar críoch an lá ar a bhfaighidh an Rialaitheoir an t-iarratas amhlaidh a bheidh forordaithe i ndáil leis an gcineál sin,
go dtí go n-éagfaidh an tréimhse bliana dar tosach lá thosach feidhme na rialachán faoi alt 4 den Acht seo ina sonrófar an géineas nó an speiceas iomchuí.
3. Ag féachaint do na gnéithe áirithe a bhaineann lena atáirgeadh gnéasach nó lena iomadú fásúil, ní mór don chineál planda lena mbaineann an t-iarratas a bheith sách comhionann nó sách aonchineálach le go gcomhlíonfaidh sé caighdeáin agus critéir a bheidh sonraithe de thuras na huaire ag an Rialaitheoir.
4. Ní mór don chineál planda lena mbaineann an t-iarratas a bheith cobhsaí ina shaintréithe bunúsacha, is é sin le rá, ní mór dó fanacht dílis don tuairisc a tugadh air san iarratas iomchuí ar chearta póraitheoirí plandaí tar éis atáirgeadh nó iomadú a dhéanamh air arís agus arís eile, nó, i gcás ina sonróidh an t-iarratas ar na cearta sin timthriall áirithe atáirgthe nó iolraithe, i ndeireadh gach timthriall den sórt sin.
5. Tabharfar don chineál planda lena mbaineann an t-iarratas ainm a shonróidh an t-iarratasóir agus is de réir rialacháin faoi alt 12 den Acht seo ag a mbeidh feidhm de thuras na huaire a roghnófar an t-ainm sin.
6. Na tagairtí sa Sceideal seo d'iarratas is tagairtí iad d'iarratas ar chearta póraitheoirí plandaí faoi alt 4 den Acht seo.
AN DARA SCEIDEAL
Iarratais agus Achomhairc
1. I gcás ina ndéanfar iarratas faoi alt 4, 10, 11, 17, 21 nó 22 den Acht seo chun an Rialaitheora, féadfaidh an Rialaitheoir, más oiriúnach leis, a cheangal ar an iarratasóir fógra a fhoilsiú i cibé slí a ordóidh an Rialaitheoir á rá go ndearnadh an t-iarratas agus á chur in iúl go bhféadfar uiríolla agus agóidí maidir leis an iarratas a dhéanamh chun an Rialaitheora le linn tréimhse a bheidh sonraithe san fhógra (agus is é a bheidh sa tréimhse sin an tréimhse a ordófar amhlaidh) agus á chur in iúl freisin go bhféadfar fógra faoi na huiríolla agus na hagóidí sin a thabhairt don Rialaitheoir (agus údaraítear leis seo na fógraí sin a thabhairt amhlaidh).
2. Beidh na daoine seo a leanas i dteideal éisteacht a fháil (i bpearsa nó trí abhcóide nó aturnae) le linn iarratas lena mbaineann Airteagal 1 den Sceideal seo a éisteacht ag an Rialaitheoir nó ar achomharc, eadhon:
(a) an t-iarratasóir,
(b) sealbhóir an deonaithe iomchuí cearta póraitheoirí plandaí (murab é an t-iarratasóir é),
(c) aon duine a thug fógra go cuí i ndáil leis an iarratas de bhun rialacháin faoi alt 15 den Acht seo.
3. I gcás ina ndéanfar iarratas faoi alt 17 den Acht seo beidh feidhm ag na forálacha seo a leanas:
(a) féadfaidh an Rialaitheoir nó an Coiste Achomhairc, d'fhonn go bhféadfar úinéireacht na gceart póraitheoirí plandaí iomchuí a fhionnadh, a ordú don iarratasóir fógra a fhoilsiú i cibé foirm agus ar cibé slí a ordóidh an Rialaitheoir,
(b) más deimhin leis an Rialaitheoir nó leis an gCoiste Achomhairc, de réir mar a bheidh, tar éis fiosrú dúthrachtach a dhéanamh nach féidir an sealbhóir iomchuí a aimsiú ná a fhionnadh, féadfar an t-iarratas nó achomharc faoi alt 14 den Acht seo a éisteacht agus a chinneadh d'ainneoin nár aimsíodh nó nár fionnadh an sealbhóir sin.
4. I gcás ina ndéanfaidh an Rialaitheoir cinneadh agus go ndaingneofar nó go n-athrófar é ar achomharc faoin Acht seo, nó i gcás ina ndaingneofar amhlaidh aon diúltú ag an Rialaitheoir nó ina ndéanfar aon chinneadh eile ar an achomharc sin, ansin mura n-ordóidh an Ard-Chúirt nó an Coiste Achomhairc, de réir mar a bheidh, a mhalairt, tiocfaidh an cinneadh ar an achomharc i bhfeidhm an lá díreach tar éis an lae ar a ndéanfar é, agus, i gcás ina dtabharfar ordú den sórt sin tiocfaidh an cinneadh lena mbaineann an t-ordú i bhfeidhm an lá a shonrófar san ordú.
5. Aon uair a dhéanfaidh an Rialaitheoir cinneadh dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (1) d'alt 14 den Acht seo nó cinneadh faoi alt 21 (6) den Acht seo, cuirfidh sé faoi deara, a luaithe is féidir tar éis an cinneadh a dhéanamh, fógra faoin gcinneadh a fhoilsiú san Iris, agus luafar san fhógra sin an tréimhse inar féidir achomharc a dhéanamh faoin alt sin 14 nó 21 (6) i ndáil leis an gcinneadh. Tréimhse seasca lá dar tosach dáta an fhógra réamhráite a fhoilsiú a bheidh sa tréimhse réamhráite.
An tAcht dá dTagraítear | |
Public Offices Fees Act, 1879 | 1879, c. 58 |