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Uimhir 29 de 1983
AN tACHT ÁRACHAIS (UIMH. 2), 1983
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
Léiriú.
1.—(1) San Acht seo, ach amháin mar a n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt—
ciallaíonn “Acht 1964” an tAcht Árachais, 1964;
ciallaíonn “riarthóir” duine arna cheapadh, cibé acu faoi fho-alt (2) nó (4) d'alt 2 den Acht seo, chun na feidhmeanna a thugtar do riarthóir leis an Acht seo a chomhlíonadh;
tá le “údarú” agus le “árachas neamh-shaoil” na bríonna faoi seach a shanntar dóibh leis na Rialacháin;
ciallaíonn “comhlacht” comhlacht corpraithe nó comhlacht neamhchorpraithe daoine;
folaíonn “an gnó”, i ndáil le hárachóir, an gnó infheistíochtaí agus sócmhainní a theachtann an t-árachóir a bhainistí;
tá le “cuideachta”, “ranníocóir” agus “stiúrthóir” na bríonna faoi seach a shanntar dóibh le hAchtanna na gCuideachtaí, 1963 go 1983;
ciallaíonn “an chúirt” an Ard-Chúirt;
folaíonn “feidhmeanna” cumhachtaí agus dualgais agus folaíonn tagairtí d'fheidhmeanna a chomhlíonadh tagairtí do chumhachtaí a fheidhmiú agus do dhualgais a chur i gcrích;
tá le “árachóir” agus le “polasaí” na bríonna faoi seach a shanntar dóibh le hAcht 1964, arna leasú leis an Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “sealbhóir polasaí”, i ndáil le hárachóir, duine (seachas an t-árachóir) is páirtí i bpolasaí a eisíonn an t-árachóir;
ciallaíonn “na Rialacháin” Rialacháin na gComhphobal Eorpach (Árachas Neamh-Shaoil), 1976 (I.R. Uimh. 115 de 1976).
(2) Folaíonn tagairtí do riarthóir, ach amháin mar a n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt, tagairtí do riarthóir arna cheapadh go sealadach.
Riarthóirí árachóirí a cheapadh.
2.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire achainí a thíolacadh don chúirt ag lorg ordú chun árachóir a riaradh agus chun riarthóir a cheapadh i ndáil leis an árachóir sin agus féadfaidh sé sin a dhéanamh d'ainneoin go bhfuil nó go bhféadfadh go mbeadh leigheas nó modh oibre eile ar fáil aige i ndáil leis an árachóir sin.
(2) Féadfaidh an chúirt, ar achainí den sórt sin a fháil, i ndáil leis an árachóir, más dóigh léi—
(a) (i) nach ndearnadh, sa tslí ina bhfuil nó ina raibh gnó an árachóra á sheoladh, dóthain soláthair dá fhiacha, lena n-áirítear dliteanais theagmhasacha nó ionchasacha, nó
(ii) go bhfuil nó go raibh gnó an árachóra á sheoladh ar shlí gur bhaol nó gur dhochar é do chearta agus leasanna daoine faoi pholasaithe a d'eisigh an t-árachóir, nó
(iii) nach bhfuil an t-árachóir in ann déanamh de réir cheanglais na Rialacháin ar mhodh ábhartha,
agus
(b) go mba chabhair ordú riartha den sórt sin a dhéanamh agus riarthóir a cheapadh chun gnó árachais neamh-shaoil a choimeád á rialáil agus á sheoladh go ceart rianúil, chun leasa an phobail,
ordú a dhéanamh chun an t-árachóir a riaradh agus duine a bheidh ainmnithe ag an Aire a cheapadh (ar a dtabharfar, agus dá ngairfear, “riarthóir” san Acht seo) chun na feidhmeanna a thugtar do riarthóir leis an Acht seo a chomhlíonadh i ndáil leis an árachóir.
(3) Glacfaidh riarthóir bainistíocht ghnó an árachóra ar láimh agus coimeádfaidh sé an gnó sin faoi sheol mar ghnólacht reatha d'fhonn é a chur ar bhonn fónta tráchtála agus airgeadais agus beidh ag an riarthóir, i ndáil leis an árachóir, gach uile chumhacht den sórt a bheidh riachtanach dá chuid feidhmeanna nó bainteach leo i ndáil leis an árachóir, lena n-áirítear oifigigh agus fostaithe uile an árachóra a bheith faoina údarás agus faoina stiúradh féin amháin.
(4) (a) Tráth ar bith tar éis achainí a thíolacadh ag lorg ordú chun árachóir a riaradh féadfaidh an chúirt, de dhroim an iarratais ex parte ón Aire agus de dhroim cruthúnas prima facie a fháil trí mhionnscríbhinn nó ar shlí eile i dtaobh ní amháin nó níos mó de na nithe a luaitear i bhfomhir (i), (ii) nó (iii) d'alt 2(2) (a) den Acht seo, agus gan fógraíocht ná fógra a thabhairt do dhuine ar bith, cibé duine a bheidh ainmnithe ag an Aire a cheapadh chun gníomhú go sealadach mar riarthóir go dtí go gceapfar riarthóir faoi alt 2(2) den Acht seo.
(b) Mura ndéanfar aon ordú chun an t-árachóir a riaradh de dhroim na hachainí, cuirfear ceapadh an riarthóra shealadaigh ar neamhní ach, mar sin féin, beidh sé i dteideal gach uile chostas, muirear agus caiteachas a thabhaigh sé go cuí mar riarthóir sealadach, lena n-áirítear cibé suim a shocróidh an chúirt mar luach saothair dó, a fháil mar íocaíocht as sócmhainní an árachóra, agus féadfaidh sé méid na gcostas, na muirear agus na gcaiteachas sin a choimeád as na sócmhainní sin:
Ar choinníoll nach gcuirfidh aon neamhniú den sórt sin aon ghníomh ná feidhm a rinne an riarthóir sealadach nó a chomhlíon sé ó bhail.
(5) Measfar riaradh árachóra faoin Acht seo a bheith tosaithe an tráth a dtíolacfar an achainí ag lorg ordú riartha.
(6) (a) Más rud é, tráth ar bith, nach mbeidh aon rialacha cúirte i bhfeidhm maidir le hordú riartha a dhéanamh nó riarthóir a chur dá cheapadh ag an gcúirt faoin Acht seo, beidh feidhm ag forálacha Ordú 74 de Rialacha na nUaschúirteanna (I.R. Uimh. 72 de 1962), fara aon mhodhnuithe is gá, ach sin faoi réir mhír (b) den fho-alt seo agus fho-alt (4) den alt seo.
(b) (i) Is ar an árachóir amháin, mura n-ordóidh an chúirt a mhalairt, a sheirbheálfar achainí chun árachóir a riaradh nó chun riarthóir a cheapadh chun árachóra.
(ii) Tráth a bheidh achainí á héisteacht chun árachóir a riaradh nó chun riarthóir a cheapadh chun árachóra is iad an tAire agus an t-árachóir áirithe, agus iadsan amháin, a bheidh i dteideal éisteacht a fháil mura n-ordóidh an chúirt a mhalairt.
(iii) Ní bheidh feidhm ag forálacha an Ordaithe sin 74 maidir le riarthóir, a mhéid a bhaineann siad, i gcás leachtaitheora oifigiúil, le hurrús a thabhairt, le cuntais a chomhdú, le hairgead a thaisceadh i gcuntas bainc nó le luach saothair an leachtaitheora a shocrú.
(c) Aon rialacha cúirte lena leasaítear nó lena n-ionadaítear an tOrdú sin 74 beidh siad, ina bhfeidhm chun críocha an Achta seo, faoi réir fhorálacha mhír (b) den fho-alt seo agus fho-alt (4) den alt seo.
(7) Déanfar riaradh árachóra faoin Acht seo agus ceapadh riarthóra a thabhairt chun críche—
(a) tráth a dhéanfar ordú chun an t-árachóir áirithe a fhoirceannadh, nó
(b) tráth a dhéanfaidh an chúirt ordú leis an riaradh agus an ceapadh sin a thabhairt chun críche ar iarratas ón Aire nó ón riarthóir, le ceadú an Aire, nó
(c) tráth a dhéanfaidh an chúirt ordú leis an riaradh agus an ceapadh sin a thabhairt chun críche in imthosca inar dóigh léi—
(i) má thugtar an riaradh chun críche—
(I) go seolfar gnó an árachóra áirithe ar shlí a dhéanfaidh dóthain soláthair dá fhiacha, lena n-áirítear dliteanais theagmhasacha agus ionchasacha, agus
(II) nach seolfar gnó an árachóra ar shlí gur baol nó dochar é do chearta agus leasanna daoine faoi pholasaithe a d'eisigh an t-árachóir, agus
(III) go bhfuil gnó an árachóra ar gach dóigh eile ar bhonn fónta tráchtála agus airgeadais agus go, leanfaidh sé amhlaidh, agus
(IV) gur íocadh nó go n-íocfar aon fhiach a bhí nó a bheidh dlite don Chiste Cúitimh Árachais,
agus
(ii) go mbeadh sé éagórach agus éagothrom gan an t-ordú a dhéanamh.
(8) in aon imeachtaí de dhroim achainí arna tíolacadh faoin Acht seo, aon fhianaise go raibh na nithe atá leagtha amach i bhfo-alt (2) (a) den alt seo bainteach i ndáil le hárachóir i ndeireadh na tréimhse lena mbaineann na tuairisceáin is deireanaí ón árachóir sin chun an Aire faoi na hAchtanna Árachais, 1909 go 1983, nó faoi na Rialacháin nó faoi Rialacháin na gComhphobal Eorpach (Cuntais Árachais Neamh-Shaoil), 1977 (I.R. Uimh. 401 de 1977), ar aon dáta dá éis sin, is fianaise í, mura gcruthófar a mhalairt, go mbeidh na nithe sin bainteach leis an árachóir san am a n-éistfear aon imeachtaí díobh sin.
Cumhachtaí riarthóra agus cúirte.
3.—(1) Faoi réir fhorálacha an Achta seo agus, go háirithe, faoi réir na bhfeidhmeanna a thugtar do riarthóir le halt 2 den Acht seo—
(a) beidh ag riarthóir (cibé acu ar faoi fho-alt (2) nó (4) d'alt 2 den Acht seo a cheapfar é) amhail ar dháta a cheaptha agus ón dáta sin amach gach uile chumhacht (lena n-áirítear an chumhacht maoin réadach agus maoin phearsanta agus nithe i gcaingean de chuid an árachóra áirithe a dhíol) a bheadh aige dá mba leachtaitheoir é, agus beidh feidhm i ndáil leis ag na forálacha reachtúla go léir a mbeadh feidhm acu amhlaidh dá mba leachtaitheoir é a cheap an chúirt i leith an árachóra agus (i gcás nach cuideachta an t-árachóir) amhail is dá mba chuideachta an t-árachóir, agus
(b) i gcás ina mbeidh riarthóir arna cheapadh (cibé acu faoi fho-alt (2) nó (4) d'alt 2 den Acht seo) beidh ag an gcúirt faoin Acht seo na cumhachtaí go léir a bheadh aici dá mbeadh ordú foirceanta déanta aici agus leachtaitheoir ceaptha aici i leith an árachóra áirithe agus (i gcás nach cuideachta an t-árachóir) amhail is dá mba chuideachta an t-árachóir, agus
(c) má thíolactar don chúirt achainí ag lorg ordú riartha nó chun riarthóir a cheapadh, beidh ag an gcúirt air sin, faoin Acht seo, na feidhmeanna go léir a bheadh aici dá mbeadh achainí arna tíolacadh di chun an t-árachóir áirithe a fhoirceannadh,
agus beidh feidhm agus éifeacht dá réir le forálacha Achtanna na gCuideachtaí, 1963 go 1983, agus le haon ionstraimí arna ndéanamh fúthu agus, go háirithe, le forálacha na nAchtanna agus na n-ionstraimí sin a bhaineann le foirceannadh cuideachtaí ag an gcúirt agus le leachtaitheoirí cuideachtaí, i ndáil leis na cumhachtaí agus na feidhmeanna réamhráite, fara na modhnuithe a shonraítear san fho-alt seo, sa Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo agus in aon ordú faoi fho-alt (6) den alt seo agus fara aon mhodhnuithe eile is gá:
Ar choinníoll, ach amháin i gcás ina sonraítear a mhalairt san alt seo—
(i) go leanfar gan briseadh le gnó an árachóra áirithe mar ghnólacht reatha agus nach ndéanfar aon chonradh (lena n-áirítear conradh fostaíochta nó seirbhíse), polasaí, idirbheart, cuntas bainc nó sainordú bainc, ceart, teideal, éileamh, fiach, imeacht nó oibleagáid de chuid an árachóra ná ceart, éileamh, ná imeacht i gcoinne an árachóra, a sheachaint, a chealú, a bhacadh ná a chur as cor ar shlí eile de bhíthin an ordaithe riartha nó cheapadh an riarthóra nó fhorálacha na nAchtanna agus na n-ionstraimí sin a chur i mbaint leis an árachóir, agus dá bhíthin sin amháin, agus
(ii) nach mbeidh feidhm ag forálacha ailt 131, 132, 159, 161, 218, 219, agus 222, ag míreanna (a) go (f) d'alt 228 agus ag ailt 231 (3), 234, 283, 284, 285, 291, 292, 302 agus 306 d'Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963 (arna leasú).
(2) Fad a bheidh riarthóir arna cheapadh faoin Acht seo, beidh éifeacht leis na forálacha seo a leanas—
(a) ní thosófar ná ní rithfear aon imeachtaí ná rún chun an t-árachóir áirithe a fhoirceannadh gan ceadú roimh ré a fháil ón gcúirt faoin alt seo,
(b) ní cheapfar aon ghlacadóir ar aon chuid de mhaoin nó de ghnóthas an árachóra gan ceadú roimh ré a fháil ón gcúirt faoin alt seo,
(c) ní dhéanfar aon achainí ar fhaoiseamh faoi alt 205 d'Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963, a thíolacadh ná a shaothrú i gcoinne an árachóra ach amháin sa mhéid go mbeidh an achainí sin bunaithe go heisiatach ar ghearáin i dtaobh seoladh ghnóthaí an árachóra nó feidhmiú chumhachtaí stiúrthóirí an árachóra roimh cheapadh an riarthóra,
(d) ní chuirfear aon astú, forghabháil, tochsal ná forghníomhú i bhfeidhm i gcoinne mhaoin nó earraí an árachóra gan ceadú roimh ré ón gcúirt faoin alt seo,
(e) úsáidfear na focail “faoi riaradh” i ndáil le hainm an árachóra sna himthosca go léir ina mbeadh na focail “faoi leachtú” le húsáid i ndáil le hainm cuideachta a bheadh á foirceannadh ag an gcúirt,
(f) féadfaidh an riarthóir a fheidhmeanna a chomhlíonadh le cabhair ó dhaoine a bheidh ceaptha nó fostaithe aige chun na críche sin,
(g) beidh na feidhmeanna go léir atá dílsithe do na stiúrthóirí nó d'aon choiste bainistíochta de chuid an árachóra (cibé acu de bhua mheabhrán comhlachais nó airteagail chomhlachais an árachóra nó le dlí nó ar shlí eile é) inchomhlíonta ag an riarthóir agus aigesean amháin agus beidh na cumhachtaí sin go léir de chuid an árachóra is infheidhmithe ag cruinniú ginearálta, nó le ceadú ó chruinniú ginearálta, de chomhaltaí an árachóra infheidhmithe ag an riarthóir agus aigesean amháin agus beidh an feidhmiú sin faoi réir cheadú na cúirte,
(h) féadfaidh an riarthóir a iarraidh ar an gcúirt aon chcist a éireoidh tráth a bheidh an t-árachóir á riaradh a chinneadh nó gach cumhacht nó aon chumhacht a fhéadfaidh an chúirt a fheidmiú faoi Achtanna na gCuideachtaí, 1963 go 1983, a fheidhmiú i ndáil leis an árachóir ar iarratas chuici ó aon chomhalta, ranníocóir, creidiúnaí, stiúrthóir nó leachtaitheoir cuideachta lena n-áirítear na cumhachtaí sin a fhéadfaidh cúirt a fheidhmiú le linn di bheith ag foirceannadh cuideachta,
(i) féadfaidh an riarthóir éirí as oifig nó, ar iarratas ón Aire, féadfaidh an chúirt é a chur as oifig ar chúis a shuífear, agus
(j) féadfaidh an chúirt folúntas in oifig an riarthóra a líonadh ar ainmniú ón Aire.
(3) (a) Má dhearbhaíonn an chúirt amhlaidh, ní bheidh an riarthóir faoi cheangal, ná ní bheidh sé faoi cheangal ach amháin a mhéid nó sa tslí a bheidh sonraithe sa dearbhú, ag aon riail, rialachán nó foráil eile de chuid an árachóra áirithe (cibé acu i meabhrán comhlachais nó in airteagail chomhlachais an árachóra nó in aon doiciméad eile a bhaineann le bunreacht an árachóra nó in aon chomhaontú nó i ndoiciméad d'aon sórt eile) lena sriantar nó lena mínítear na haicmí nó na hearnálacha daoine a bhféadfaidh an t-árachóir polasaithe a eisiúint chucu nó na téarmaí ar a bhféadfaidh sé polasaithe a eisiúint.
(b) Féadfaidh an chúirt dearbhú faoin bhfo-alt seo (lena n-áirítear an mhír seo) a athrú nó a chur ar neamhní, agus—
(i) má athraítear an dearbhú amhlaidh, beidh an riarthóir áirithe faoi cheangal ag an riail, ag an rialachán nó ag an bhforáil áirithe eile, de réir mar a bheidh, de réir an dearbhaithe sin arna athrú amhlaidh, agus
(ii) má chuirtear an dearbhú ar neamhní, beidh an riarthóir faoi cheangal ag an riail, ag an rialachán nó ag an bhforáil áirithe eile, de réir mar a bheidh.
(4) (a) Déanfar na costais agus na caiteachais a thabhófar le linn do riarthóir a cheapfar faoin Acht seo a bheith ag comhlíonadh a fheidhmeanna, agus a luach saothair, a íoc agus beidh an riarthóir i dteideal slánaíocht a bheith aige ina leith agus iad a choimeád ó am go ham as ioncam ghnó an árachóra nó as na fáltais ó réadú sócmhainní (lena n-áirítear infheistíochtaí) nó as cistí eile a bheidh ar fáil ag an árachóir,
(b) déanfaidh an chúirt, ó am go ham ar iarratas ón riarthóir, méid chostas, chaiteachas agus luach saothair an riarthóra, nó foras a ríofa, a shocrú le hordú agus féadfaidh an t-ordú sin a bheith bainteach le tréimhse roimh dháta déanta an ordaithe, agus
(c) déanfaidh an riarthóir laistigh de shé sheachtain ó chothromlá bliantúil a cheapacháin (nó ag cibé tráthanna eile a ordóidh an chúirt) achoimre ar na suimeanna a fuair sé nó a choimeád sé gach bliain in aghaidh chostas agus chaiteachas an riartha agus a luach saothair féin a sheachadadh ar an gcúirt.
(5) Beidh feidhm agus éifeacht, chun críocha fho-alt (1) den alt seo, le foráil d'Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963, a shonraítear i gcolún (2) den Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo ag aon uimhir thagartha fara na modhnuithe a shonraítear i gcolún (3) den Sceideal sin ag an uimhir thagartha sin.
(6) (a) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht fho-alt (1) den alt seo féadfaidh an tAire le hordú, d'fhonn lán-éifeacht a thabhairt d'fheidhmiú, leis an bhfo-alt sin, fhorálacha Achtanna na gCuideachtaí, 1963 go 1983, agus aon ionstraimí arna ndéanamh fúthu, forálacha na nAchtanna sin nó aon rialacha nó ionstraimí eile arna ndéanamh fúthu nó aon rialacha cúirte a bhaineann leo sin a mhodhnú ina bhfeidhm faoin Acht seo agus chun críocha an Achta seo más dóigh leis gur gá nó gur cuí sin a dhéanamh ionas gur éasca na feidhmeanna a bheidh ag riarthóir a cheapfar faoin Acht seo a chomhlíonadh.
(b) Féadfaidh an tAire le hordú, ordú faoin bhfo-alt seo, lena n-áirítear ordú faoin mír seo, a chúlghairm nó a leasú.
Comhlachtaí atá bainteach le hárachóirí.
4.—(1) Féadfaidh an chúirt, i ndáil le comhlacht atá bainteach le hárachóir, ar iarratas chuici ón riarthóir (cibé acu ar faoi fho-alt (2) nó (4) d'alt 2 den Acht seo a cheapfar é) má mheasann sí—
(a) (i) go bhfuil, nó gur dóigh go mbeidh, gnóthaí an chomhlachta sin á seoladh ar shlí atá ceaptha chun leasanna an árachóra nó chreidiúnaithe nó shealbhóirí polasaithe an árachóra a chur i mbaol nó a dhochrú, nó gur dóigh dóibh sin a dhéanamh, nó
(ii) gur oiriúnach, chun sócmhainní (lena n-áirítear infheistíochtaí) an árachóra a chaomhnú nó chun leasanna an árachóra, a chreidiúnaithe nó a shealbhóirí polasaithe a shlánchoimeád, go ndéanfaí seoladh ghnó an chomhlachta sin nó feidhmiú cumhachtaí a stiúrthóirí nó a bhainistíochta a shrianadh nó a rialáil in aon slí áirithe, nó
(iii) go ndéanfaí, ag féachaint don chomhbhaint atá idir an t-árachóir agus an comhlacht sin, aon chuid de mhaoin nó de ghnóthas an chomhlachta a chaomhnú nó a rialú, agus
(b) go mbeadh sé cóir agus cothrom sin a dhéanamh agus go gcabhródh sé, trí éascú agus treisiú a dhéanamh ar shlánchoimeád leasanna an árachóra, nó leasanna chreidiúnaithe nó shealbhóirí polasaithe an árachóra chun rialáil agus seoladh ceart rianúil a choimeád ar ghnó árachais neamhshaoil chun leasa an phobail,
cibé ordú is cuí léi (lena n-áirítear ordú a thugann cumhachtaí don riarthóir i ndáil le gnóthaí an chomhlachta sin) a dhéanamh d'ordú nó do thoirmeasc aon ghnímh, nó do shrianadh, do chealú nó d'athrú aon chomhaontú nó idirbheart nó feidhmiú aon chumhachta.
(2) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht a bhfuil ansin roimhe seo, féadfaidh an chúirt, más cuí léi, le hordú—
(a) an riarthóir árachóra a cheapadh chun bheith ina ghlacadóir agus ina bhainisteoir ar an iomlán nó ar aon chuid de mhaoin agus de shócmhainní an chomhlachta bhaintigh áirithe agus cibé cumhachtaí a thabhairt dó chuige sin is cuí leis an gcúirt agus a shonróidh sí san ordú, lena n-áirítear cumhacht chun gnó an chomhlachta a choimeád faoi sheol,
(b) cibé stiúrthóirí breise nó comhaltaí eile de choiste bainistíochta an chomhlachta bhaintigh a ainmneoidh an riarthóir a cheapadh, d'ainneoin aon fhoráil nó srian dá mhalairt in airteagail chomhlachais an chomhlachta bhaintigh, nó atá ar dhóigh eile ina rialacha nó ina bhunreacht,
(c) a shocrú go mbeidh feidhmiú a bhfeidhmeanna ag na stiúrthóirí, ag an rúnaí agus ag oifigigh eile an chomhlachta bhaintigh atá ag plé le bainistíocht an chomhlachta sin, faoi rialú go díreach ag an riarthóir.
(3) Féadfar faoin gcumhacht chun ordú a dhéanamh faoi fho-alt (1) nó (2) den alt seo ordú eatramhach a dhéanamh ar iarratas ex parte ó riarthóir.
(4) Measfar chun críocha an Achta seo comhlacht a bheith bainteach le hárachóir—
(a) más cuideachta shealbhaíochta nó fochuideachta (de réir bhrí alt 155 d'Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963, i ngach cás) an árachóra é, nó
(b) má tá rialú éifeachtach ar bhainistíocht an árachóra agus an chomhlachta i lámha nó faoi chúram na ndaoine céanna nó a bhformhór, nó
(c) más é tuairim na cúirte gurb amhlaidh, maidir le bainistí agus rialú éifeachtach ar an árachóir nó ar an gcomhlacht, go bhfuil tionchar sonrach, nó go bhféadfadh tionchar sonrach a bheith, ag ceachtar díobh (go díreach, go neamhdhíreach, go dearfa nó go hionchasach) ar an gceann eile, nó
(d) más rud é, mar gheall ar mhí-ábaltacht i bpáirt an árachóra nó an chomhlachta freastal dá fhiacha de réir mar a bheidh siad dlite nó fanacht i mbun trádála ar chúis ar bith, go mba bhaol nó dochar d'ábaltacht an chinn eile freastal dá fhiacha nó fanacht i mbun trádála, cibé acu mar gheall ar an méid idirspleáchais airgeadais atá eatarthu nó mar gheall ar chomhbhainistíocht shubstaintiúil a bheith acu nó ar chúis ar bith eile.
Imeachtaí a éisteacht seachas go poiblí.
5.—Féadfar na himeachtaí go léir nó cuid díobh faoin Acht seo, nó achomharc i ndáil leo, a éisteacht seachas go poiblí más dóigh leis an gcúirt, mar gheall ar leasanna an árachóra áirithe nó a chreidiúnaithe nó a shealbhóirí polasaithe nó leas an phobail, gur chóir déanamh amhlaidh.
Rialacháin.
6.—(1) Cibé am a mbeidh riarthóir arna cheapadh chun árachóra faoi fho-alt (2) nó (4) d'alt 2 den Acht seo, féadfaidh an tAire, más dóigh leis gur gá sin ar mhaithe le leas an phobail, cibé rialacháin a dhéanamh is dóigh leis is gá nó is cuí chun a áirithiú go ndéanfar rialáil agus seoladh ceart rianúil ar ghnó árachais neamh-shaoil.
(2) Cibé am, le linn rialacháin faoin alt seo a bheith i bhfeidhm, a scoirfidh riarthóir de bheith arna cheapadh faoi alt 2 den Acht seo chun árachóra a raibh riarthóir arna cheapadh chuige faoin alt sin tráth déanta na rialachán, scoirfidh na rialacháin ar sheacht lá a bheith caite ón dáta scoir sin, d'fheidhm a bheith acu mura gceapfar riarthóir eile chun an árachóra faoin alt sin sula mbeidh na seacht lá sin caite.
(3) Beidh árachóir a sháróidh rialachán faoin alt seo ciontach i gcion agus dlífear—
(a) ar é a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £1,000 a chur air, nó
(b) ar é a chiontú ar díotáil, fíneáil nach mó na £20,000, a chur air.
(4) I gcás comhlacht do dhéanamh ciona faoin alt seo agus go gcruthófar go ndearnadh é le toiliú nó le cúlcheadú, nó gur inchurtha é i leith aon fhaillí ar thaobh, aon duine a bhí, tráth déanta an chiona, ina stiúrthóir ar an gcomhlacht, ina chomhalta dá choiste bainistíochta nó dá údarás rialaithe eile, nó ina bhainisteoir, ina rúnaí nó ina oifigeach eile don chomhlacht, measfar go ndearna an duine sin an cion freisin agus féadfar imeachtaí a shaothrú ina choinne agus é a phionósú dá réir sin.
Leasú ar alt 1 d'Acht 1964.
7.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 1 d'Acht 1964—
(a) tríd an míniú seo a leanas a chur in ionad an mhínithe ar “árachóir”:
“ciallaíonn ‘árachóir’ duine is sealbhóir ar údarú;”,
(b) tríd an míniú seo a leanas a chur isteach:
“ciallaíonn ‘údarú faoi Rialacháin na gComhphobal Eorpach (Árachas Neamh-Shaoil), 1976;”, agus
(c) tríd an míniú seo a leanas a chur in ionad an mhínithe ar “polasaí”:
“ciallaíonn ‘polasaí’ aon doiciméad nó scríbhinn eile trína ndéantar conradh árachais (seachas conradh ath-árachais) maidir le hárachas neamh-shaoil (de réir bhrí Rialacháin na gComhphobal Eorpach (Árachas Neamh-Shaoil), 1976) nó trína gcomhaontaítear é a dhéanamh nó is fianaise ar aon chonradh den sórt sin”.
Leasú ar alt 2 d'Acht 1964.
8.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 2(3) d'Acht 1964 trí mhír (b) a scriosadh.
Leasú ar alt 3 d'Acht 1964.
9.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 3 d'Acht 1964—
(a) trí “agus roimh dháta an Achta Árachais (Uimh. 2), 1983, a rith” a chur isteach i ndiaidh “nó a ndéanfar dá éis sin” i bhfo-alt (1),
(b) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur isteach i ndiaidh fho-alt (1):
“(1A) Faoi réir fhorálacha an ailt seo, féadfar, le ceadú na hArd-Chúirte, na méideanna seo a leanas a íoc as an gCiste le leachtaitheoir árachóra dhócmhainnigh (lena n-áirítear árachóir ar chúlghair an tAire a údarú) a mbeidh a fhoirceannadh tosaithe ag an Ard-Chúirt tar éis dháta an Achta Árachais (Uimh. 2), 1983, a rith—
(a) cibé méideanna is gá chun aon suim a íoc a bheidh dlite do dhuine faoi pholasaí a d'eisigh an t-árachóir sa Stát, mar aon leis na costais nó na caiteachais a thabhaigh (má thabhaigh) an duine de riachtanas agus de réir réasúin agus é ag iarraidh a áirithiú go n-íocfaí an tsuim, agus
(b) cibé méideanna is gá chun aon suim a íoc i leith an aisíoc préimhe,
agus, ar na méideanna a fháil don leachtaitheoir, íocfaidh sé le gach duine den sórt sin an tsuim a bheidh dlite dó mar a dúradh, mar aon leis na costais agus na caiteachais a dúradh a thabhaigh sé (má thabhaigh).”,
(c) trí na fo-ailt seo a leanas a chur isteach i ndiaidh fho-alt (2):
“(2A) I gcás méid a íoc as an gCiste le leachtaitheoir árachóra faoi fho-alt (1A) den alt seo i leith suim a bheidh dlite faoi pholasaí a d'eisigh an t-árachóir agus i leith na gcostas agus na gcaiteachas a tabhaíodh (má tabhaíodh) i ndáil leis an tsuim nó i leith aisíoc préimhe, glacfar leis an méid a íocadh sna himeachtaí le haghaidh foirceannadh an árachóra ag an Ard-Chúirt mar fhiach cruthaithe ar an árachóir ag a mbeidh an tosaíocht chéanna leis an tsuim a bheadh dlite faoin bpolasaí nó i leith aisíoc na préimhe, de réir mar a bheidh, agus beidh an Cuntasóir, maidir leis an méid a íocadh as an gCiste, ina chreidiúnaí de chuid an árachóra.
(2B) Faoi réir fhorálacha an ailt seo féadfar, le ceadú na hArd-Chúirte, cibé méideanna a íoc as an gCiste leis an riarthóir árachóra is gá, i dtuairim na hArd-Chúirte, lena chumasú don riarthóir gnó an árachóra a choimeád faoi sheol agus a fheidhmeanna eile faoin Acht seo a chomhlíonadh i ndáil leis an árachóir.
(2C) Má íocadh aon suim as an gCiste le riarthóir árachóra de bhun fho-alt (2B) den alt seo—
(a) is fiach neamhurraithe ar an árachóir méid na suime sin, agus
(b) féadfaidh an tAire, d'fhonn gur éasca gnó an árachóra a chur ar bhonn fónta tráchtála agus airgeadais, an fiach sin ar fad nó cuid den fhiach sin a tharscaoileadh tráth ar bith thar ceann an Chiste; ag feidhmiú na cumhachta sin dó tabharfaidh an tAire aird chuí ar aon mhéideanna a bheidh inréadaithe tráth foirceanta an árachóra agus ar aon uiríolla a dhéanfaidh an riarthóir nó aon árachóir eile chuige.
(2D) Fad a bheidh riarthóir arna cheapadh chun árachóra, ní bheidh aon díbhinní ná dáiltí eile iníoctha ag an árachóir le scairshealbhóirí an árachóra má bhíonn aon fhiach a bheidh dlite don Chiste ag an árachóir (gan aon fhiach a tharscaoil an tAire faoin alt seo a áireamh) gan íoc.”, agus
(d) trí fho-alt (5) a scriosadh, i leith aon árachóir a dtosóidh an Ard-Chúirt á fhoirceannadh tar éis dháta an Achta seo a rith.
Ranníocaí leis an gCiste Cúitimh Arachais ag árachóirí.
10.—Leasaítear leis seo Acht 1964 tríd an alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad alt 6:
“6.—(1) Faoi réir fhorálacha an ailt seo, déanfaidh árachóir (seachas árachóir dócmhainneach atá á fhoirceannadh ag an Ard-Chúirt), in aon bhliain a gcinnfear céatadán ina leith faoi fho-alt (2) den alt seo, an ranníoc iomchuí a íoc leis an Aire, agus cuirfidh an tAire ar aghaidh chun an Chiste é.
(2) (a) I ngach bliain a mbeidh an Ciste, dar leis an Aire, sa dóigh gur chóir tacaíocht airgeadais a sholáthar dó, cinnfidh sé an céatadán, ach gan dul thar 2 faoin gcéad d'ioncam comhiomlán árachóirí an bhliain sin, is dóigh leis ba chóir a íoc leis an gCiste.
(b) Is é a bheidh sa ranníoc (dá ngairtear an ranníoc iomchuí san alt seo) is iníoctha ag árachóir faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo in aon bhliain a gcinnfear céatadán ina leith faoi mhír (a) den fho-alt seo, suim is ionann agus an céatadán sin d'ioncam comhiomlán an árachóra an bhliain sin, ach íocfar an ranníoc go ráithiúil de réir mhír (c) den fho-alt seo.
(c) Déanfaidh árachóir, laistigh de 30 lá ó dheireadh gach ráithe i ngach bliain a gcinnfear céatadán ina leith faoi mhír (a) den fho-alt seo, ráiteas i scríbhinn a sheachadadh ar an Aire ina dtaispeánfar ioncam comhiomlán an árachóra sin i leith na ráithe sin agus cuirfear ag gabháil leis an ráiteas an ranníoc iomchuí arna ríomh de réir mhír (b) den fho-alt seo.
(d) San fho-alt seo—
ciallaíonn ‘ioncam comhiomlán’, i ndáil le hárachóir i leith aon tréimhse, méid iomlán na bpréimheanna a íocadh nó is iníoctha leis an árachóir i leith polasaithe a d'eisigh sé sa Stát sa tréimhse sin;
ciallaíonn ‘ráithe’ tréimhse trí mhí dar críoch an 31ú lá de Mhárta, an 30ú lá de Mheitheamh, an 30ú lá de Mheán Fómhair nó an 31ú lá de Nollaig, agus forléireofar ‘go ráithiúil’ dá réir sin.
(3) Déanfaidh Coiste Lloyd ranníoc iomchuí is iníoctha ag siondacáit a íoc leis an Aire.
(4) I gcás nach ndearnadh ranníoc iomchuí a íoc de réir fhorálacha an ailt seo, féadfaidh an tAire é a ghnóthú—
(a) i gcás an ranníoc a bheith iníoctha ag siondacáit, ó Choiste Lloyd, agus
(b) in aon chás eile, ón árachóir ag a bhfuil sé iníoctha,
mar fhiach conartha shimplí in aon chúirt dlínse inniúla agus, arna ghnóthú ag an Aire, cuirfear ar aghaidh chun an Chiste é, agus féadfaidh an tAire, más cuí leis é, ar fhógra nach giorra ná lá agus fiche a thabhairt don árachóir ag a bhfuil an ranníoc iníoctha, údarú an árachóra a chúlghairm.”.
Orduithe agus rialacháin a leagan faoi bhráid Thithe an Oireachtais.
11.—Gach ordú agus rialachán a dhéanfaidh an tAire faoin Acht seo leagfar iad faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a ndéanta agus, má dhéanann ceachtar Teach acu sin laistigh den lá is fiche a shuífidh an Teach sin tar éis an t-ordú nó an rialachán a leagan faoina bhráid rún a rith ag neamhniú an ordaithe nó an rialacháin, beidh an t-ordú nó an rialachán ar neamhní dá réir sin, ach sin gan dochar do bhailíocht aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin ordú nó faoin rialachán.
Aisghairm.
12.—Aisghairtear leis seo na forálacha seo a leanas den Acht Árachais, 1936:
(a) míreanna (b) agus (c) d'fho-alt (6) d'alt 12,
(b) na focail “go bhfuil ar a laighead dhá dtrian (do réir ainmluacha) de scaireanna eisithe na cuideachtan san, le n-a ngabhann cearta vótála (is infheidhmithe láithreach no i gcás ní áirithe do thárlachtaint), ar únaeracht tairbheach ag duine atá, no ag beirt no níos mó go bhfuil gach duine acu, ina shaoránach de Shaorstát Éireann, agus gur saoránaigh de Shaorstát Éireann furmhór stiúrthóirí na cuideachtan san (lasmuich de stiúrthóir bhainisteoireachta bheireann a chuid aimsire ar fad dá dhualgaisí mar stiúrthóir den tsórt san), agus” i bhfo-alt (11) (b) den alt sin 12, agus
(c) alt 19.
Gearrtheideal, forléiriú agus comhlua.
13.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht Árachais (Uimh. 2), 1983, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Folófar an tAcht seo sa chomhlua “na hAchtanna Árachais, 1909 go 1983”.
(3) Déanfar na hAchtanna Árachais, 1909 go 1983, a fhorléiriú le chéile mar aon Acht amháin.
AN SCEIDEAL
Modhnuithe ar Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963
Uimhir Thagartha | An Fhoráil d'Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963 | Modhnuithe |
(1) | (2) | (3) |
1. | Alt 135 | An tagairt d'iarratas chun na hArd-Chúirte ag aon stiúrthóir ar chuideachta nó ag aon chomhalta de chuideachta forléireofar í mar thagairt d'iarratas chun na cúirte ag an riarthóir. |
2. | Alt 148 | An oibleagáid atá ar stiúrthóirí cuideachta cuntas sochair agus dochair agus clár comhardaithe a leagan faoi bhráid chruinniú ginearálta bliantúil na cuideachta forléireofar í mar oibleagáid ar an riarthóir cuntas sochair agus dochair agus clár comhardaithe a sheachadadh ar chláraitheoir na gcuideachtaí tráth nach déanaí ná sé mhí tar éis dheireadh na bliana lena mbaineann siad. |
3. | Alt 150 | An oibleagáid grúpchuntais cuideachta (de réir bhrí Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963) a leagan faoi bhráid chruinniú ginearálta bliantúil na cuideachta forléireofar í mar oibleagáid ar an riarthóir grúpchuntais (de réir na brí sin a dúradh) a sheachadadh ar chláraitheoir na gcuideachtaí tráth nach déanaí ná sé mhí tar éis dheireadh na bliana lena mbaineann siad. |
4. | Alt 156 | An oibleagáid nach foláir gach clár comhardaithe agus cuntas sochair agus dochair cuideachta a bheith sínithe thar ceann na stiúrthóirí ag beirt nó ag triúr, de réir mar a bheidh, de na stiúrthóirí, forléireofar í mar oibleagáid nach foláir gach clár comhardaithe agus cuntas sochair agus dochair den sórt sin a bheith sínithe ag an riarthóir. |
5. | Alt 158 | Forléireofar na hoibleagáidí a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (1) mar oibleagáid ar an riarthóir tuarascáil uaidh ar staid ghnóthaí na cuideachta agus, más cuideachta shealbhaíochta an chuideachta, ar staid ghnóthaí na cuideachta agus a fochuideachtaí mar ghrúpa, a sheachadadh ar chláraitheoir na gcuideachtaí tráth nach déanaí ná sé mhí tar éis dheireadh na bliana lena mbaineann sí. |
6. | Alt 160 | Déanfar an dualgas atá ar chuideachta iniúchóir nó iniúchóirí a cheapadh agus a athcheapadh a fhorléiriú mar dhualgas ar an gcúirt, ar iarratas ón riarthóir, iniúchóir nó iniúchóirí a cheapadh chun oifig a shealbhú ar feadh cibé tréimhse a chinnfidh an chúirt agus, ar iarratas ón riarthóir, an t-iniúchóir nó na hiniúchóirí a athcheapadh de réir mar is gá ar feadh cibé tréimhse a chinnfidh an chúirt agus, ar iarratas ón riarthóir agus tar éis aon aighneacht ón iniúchóir nó ó na hiniúchóirí a éisteacht, iniúchóir nó iniúchóirí a chur as oifig am ar bith agus duine eile nó daoine eile a cheapadh ina áit nó ina n-áit ar feadh cibé tréimhse a chinnfidh an chúirt. Déanfar an chumhacht atá ag stiúrthóirí cuideachta aon chorrfholúntas in oifig an iniúchóra a líonadh a fhorléiriú mar chumhacht ag an gcúirt aon fholúntas den sórt sin a líonadh, ar iarratas ón riarthóir. Déanfar an chumhacht atá ag cuideachta agus ag stiúrthóirí cuideachta luach saothair iniúchóirí na cuideachta a shocrú, a fhorléiriú mar chumhacht atá ag an gcúirt an luach saothair sin a shocrú, ar iarratas ón riarthóir. |
7. | Alt 163 | Déanfar an oibleagáid atá ar iniúchóirí cuideachta tuarascáil a thabhairt do chomhaltaí na cuideachta i dtaobh na nithe atá sonraithe san alt, a fhorléiriú mar oibleagáid atá ar na hiniúchóirí an tuarascáil sin a sheachadadh ar chláraitheoir na gcuideachtaí tráth nach déanaí ná sé mhí tar éis dheireadh na bliana lena mbaineann sí. |
8. | Alt 231 | Beidh na cumhachtaí a thugtar le fo-alt (1) infheidhmithe ag riarthóir árachóra gan an ceadú a shonraítear san fho-alt sin a bheith faighte aige. |
Na hAchtanna dá dTagraítear | |
Achtanna na gCuideachtaí, 1963 go 1983 | |
Na hAchtanna Árachais, 1909 go 1983 | |
Number 29 of 1983
INSURANCE (No. 2) ACT, 1983
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section | |
Laying of orders and regulations before Houses of Oireachtas. | |
Modifications of Companies Act, 1963.
Acts Referred to | |
1963, No. 33 | |
Companies Acts, 1963 to 1983 | |
1936, No. 45 | |
1964, No. 18 | |
Insurance Acts, 1909 to 1983 | |
Number 29 of 1983
INSURANCE (No. 2) ACT, 1983
Interpretation.
1.—(1) In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires—
“the Act of 1964” means the Insurance Act, 1964;
“an administrator” means a person appointed, whether under subsection (2) or (4) of section 2 of this Act, to perform the functions conferred on an administrator by this Act;
“authorisation” and “non-life insurance” have the meanings repectively assigned to them by the Regulations;
“body” means a body corporate or an unincorporated body of persons;
“the business”, in relation to an insurer, includes the business of managing investments and assets held by the insurer;
“company”, “contributory” and “director” have the meanings respectively assigned to them by the Companies Acts, 1963 to 1983;
“the court” means the High Court;
“functions” includes powers and duties and references to the performance of functions include references to the exercise of powers and the carrying out of duties;
“insurer” and “policy” have the meanings respectively assigned to them by the Act of 1964, as amended by this Act;
“policy holder”, in relation to an insurer, means a person (other than the insurer) who is a party to a policy issued by the insurer;
“the Regulations” means the European Communities (Non-Life Insurance) Regulations, 1976 (S.I. No. 115 of 1976).
(2) References to an administrator include, except where the context otherwise requires, references to an administrator provisionally appointed.
Appointment of administrators of insurers.
2.—(1) The Minister may present a petition to the court for an order for the administration of an insurer and the appointment of an administrator in relation to such insurer and may do so notwithstanding that there is or may be another remedy or course of action available to him in relation to such insurer.
(2) The court may, on such petition, in relation to an insurer, if it considers—
(a) that—
(i) the manner in which the business of the insurer is being or has been conducted has failed to make adequate provision for its debts, including contingent and prospective liabilities, or
(ii) the business of the insurer is being or has been so conducted as to jeopardise or prejudice the rights and interests of persons arising under policies issued by the insurer, or
(iii) the insurer has become unable to comply with the requirements of the Regulations in a material respect,
and
(b) that the making of such an order for administration and the appointment of an administrator would assist in the maintenance, in the public interest, of the proper and orderly regulation and conduct of non-life insurance business,
make an order for the administration of the insurer and appoint a person nominated by the Minister (who shall be known as and is in this Act referred to as “an administrator”) to perform, in relation to the insurer, the functions conferred on an administrator by this Act.
(3) An administrator shall take over the management of the business of the insurer and shall carry on that business as a going concern with a view to placing it on a sound commercial and financial footing and the administrator shall have in relation to the insurer all such powers as may be necessary for or incidental to his functions in relation to the insurer, including the sole authority over and direction of all officers and employees of the insurer.
(4) (a) At any time after the presentation of a petition for an order for the administration of an insurer, the court may, upon the ex parte application of the Minister and upon prima facie proof by affidavit or otherwise of one or more of the matters mentioned in subparagraph (i), (ii) or (iii) of section 2 (2) (a) of this Act and without advertisement or notice to any person, appoint such person as may be nominated by the Minister to act as administrator provisionally pending the appointment of an administrator under section 2 (2) of this Act.
(b) If no order for the administration of the insurer is made upon the petition, the appointment of the provisional administrator shall be annulled but he shall nevertheless be entitled to be paid out of the assets of the insurer all the costs, charges and expenses properly incurred by him as provisional administrator, including such sum as the court may fix for his remuneration, and may retain out of such assets the amount of such costs, charges and expenses:
Provided that any such annulment shall not invalidate any act or function done or performed by the provisional administrator.
(5) The administration of an insurer under this Act shall be deemed to have commenced at the time of the presentation of the petition for an order for administration.
(6) (a) If at any time no rules of court in respect of the making of an order for administration or the appointment of an administrator by the court under this Act are in force, the provisions of Order 74 of the Rules of the Superior Courts (S.I. No. 72 of 1962), shall, with any necessary modifications, but subject to paragraph (b) of this subsection and subsection (4) of this section, apply.
(b) (i) A petition for the administration of an insurer or the appointment of an administrator to an insurer shall be served only on the insurer, unless the court shall otherwise direct.
(ii) Upon the hearing of a petition for the administration of an insurer or the appointment of an administrator to an insurer, only the Minister and the insurer concerned shall be entitled to be heard unless the court shall otherwise direct.
(iii) The provisions of the said Order 74 shall not, in so far as they relate in the case of an official liquidator to the giving of security, the filing of accounts, the lodging of monies to a bank account or the fixing of the remuneration of the liquidator, apply to an administrator.
(c) Any rules of court amending or replacing the said Order 74 shall, in their application for the purposes of this Act, be subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this subsection and subsection (4) of this section.
(7) The administration of an insurer under this Act and the appointment of an administrator shall terminate—
(a) upon the making of an order for the winding up of the insurer concerned, or
(b) upon the making of an order for such termination by the court on the application of the Minister or the administrator, with the approval of the Minister, or
(c) upon the making of an order for such termination by the court in circumstances where it considers—
(i) that, if the administration is terminated—
(I) the business of the insurer concerned will be conducted in such manner as to make adequate provision for its debts, including contingent and prospective liabilities, and
(II) the business of the insurer concerned will not be so conducted as to jeopardise or prejudice the rights and interests of persons arising under policies issued by the insurer, and
(III) the business of the insurer is and will continue to be in all other respects on a sound commercial and financial footing, and
(IV) any debt due to the Insurance Compensation Fund has been or will be paid,
and
(ii) that it would be unjust and inequitable not to make the order.
(8) In any proceedings upon a petition presented under this Act, evidence that the matters set out in subsection (2) (a) of this section pertained in relation to an insurer at the close of the period to which the latest returns of such insurer to the Minister under the Insurance Acts, 1909 to 1983, or under the Regulations or the European Communities (Non-Life Insurance Accounts) Regulations, 1977 (S.I. No. 401 of 1977), upon any subsequent date shall be evidence unless the contrary is proved that such matters pertain in relation to the insurer at the time of the hearing of any such proceedings.
Power of administrator and court.
3.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and, in particular, to the functions conferred on an administrator by section 2 of this Act—
(a) an administrator (whether appointed under subsection (2) or (4) of section 2 of this Act) shall as on and from his appointment have all the powers (including the power to sell the real and personal property and things in action of the insurer concerned) that he would have, and there shall apply in relation to him all the statutory provisions that would so apply, if he were a liquidator appointed by the court in respect of the insurer and (in a case where the insurer is not a company) the insurer were a company, and
(b) where an administrator stands appointed (whether under subsection (2) or (4) of section 2 of this Act), the court shall have under this Act all the powers that it would have if it had made a winding up order and appointed a liquidator in respect of the insurer concerned and (in a case where the insurer is not a company) the insurer were a company, and
(c) where a petition is presented to the court for an order for administration or the appointment of an administrator, the court shall thereupon have under this Act all the functions that it would have if a petition had been presented to it for the winding up of the insurer concerned,
and the provisions of the Companies Acts, 1963 to 1983, and any instruments made thereunder and, in particular, the provisions of those Acts and instruments relating to the winding up of companies by the court and to liquidators of companies shall apply and have effect accordingly in relation to the powers and functions aforesaid with the modifications specified in this subsection, in the Schedule to this Act and in any order under subsection (6) of this section and with any other necessary modifications:
Provided that, save as otherwise specified in this section—
(i) the business of the insurer concerned shall be continued without interruption as a going concern and no contract (including a contract of employment or service), policy, transaction, bank account or bank mandate, right, title, claim, debt, proceeding or obligation of the insurer or right, claim or proceeding against the insurer, shall be avoided, cancelled, stayed or otherwise affected by reason only of the order for administration or the appointment of the administrator or the application to the insurer of the provisions of the said Acts and instruments, and
(ii) the provisions of sections 131, 132, 159, 161, 218, 219 and 222, paragraphs (a) to (f) of section 228 and sections 231 (3), 234, 283, 284, 285, 291, 292, 302 and 306 of the Companies Act, 1963 (as amended), shall not apply.
(2) For so long as an administrator stands appointed under this Act, the following provisions shall have effect—
(a) no proceedings or resolution for the winding up of the insurer concerned shall be commenced or passed without the prior sanction of the court obtained under this section,
(b) no receiver over any part of the property or undertaking of the insurer shall be appointed without the prior sanction of the court obtained under this section,
(c) no petition for relief under section 205 of the Companies Act, 1963, shall be presented or proceeded with against the insurer except to the extent that such petition is grounded exclusively upon complaints as to the conduct of the affairs of the insurer or the exercise of the powers of the directors of the insurer prior to the appointment of the administrator,
(d) no attachment, sequestration, distress or execution shall be put into force against the property or effects of the insurer without the prior sanction of the court obtained under this section,
(e) the words “under administration” shall be used in relation to the name of the insurer in all circumstances in which the words “in liquidation” would fall to be used in relation to the name of a company being wound up by the court,
(f) the functions of the administrator may be performed by him with the assistance of persons appointed or employed by him for that purpose,
(g) all functions which are vested in the directors or in any committee of management of the insurer (whether by virtue of the memorandum or articles of association of the insurer or by law or otherwise) shall be performable only by the administrator and all such powers of the insurer as are exercisable by or with the sanction of a general meeting of the members of the insurer shall be exercisable only by the administrator and such exercise shall be subject to the sanction of the court,
(h) the administrator may apply to the court to determine any question arising in the course of the administration of the insurer, or for the exercise in relation to the insurer of all or any of the powers which the court may exercise under the Companies Acts, 1963 to 1983, upon the application to it of any member, contributory, creditor, director or liquidator of a company including those powers which a court may exercise in the winding up of a company,
(i) the administrator may resign or, upon the application of the Minister, be removed by the court for cause shown, and
(j) a vacancy in the office of administrator may be filled by the court upon the nomination of the Minister.
(3) (a) If the court so declares, the administrator shall not be bound, or shall be bound only to the extent or in the manner specified in the declaration, by any rule, regulation or other provision of the insurer concerned (whether contained in the memorandum or articles of association of the insurer or in any other document relating to the constitution of the insurer or in any agreement or in any other document whatsoever) restricting or defining the classes or categories of persons to whom the insurer may issue policies or the terms upon which it may issue policies.
(b) A declaration under this subsection (including this paragraph) may be varied or annulled by the court, and—
(i) if the declaration is so varied, the administrator concerned shall be bound by the rule, regulation or other provision concerned, as the case may be, in accordance with the said declaration as so varied, and
(ii) if the declaration is annulled, the administrator shall be bound by the rule, regulation or other provision concerned, as the case may be.
(4) (a) The costs and expenses of the performance of the functions of an administrator appointed under this Act and his remuneration shall be paid, and the administrator shall be entitled to be indemnified in respect thereof and to retain the same from time to time, out of the revenue of the business of the insurer or the proceeds of the realisation of the assets (including investments) or other funds available to the insurer,
(b) the court shall, from time to time on the application of the administrator, by order fix the amount or the basis of calculation of the amount of the costs, expenses and remuneration of the administrator and such order may extend to a period prior to the date of the making of the order, and
(c) the administrator shall within six weeks of each anniversary of his appointment (or at such other times as the court may direct) deliver to the court a summary of the sums received or retained by him in each year for the costs and expenses of the administration and for his remuneration.
(5) A provision of the Companies Act, 1963, specified in column (2) of the Schedule to this Act at any reference number shall apply and have effect, for the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, with the modifications specified in column (3) of that Schedule at that reference number.
(6) (a) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) of this section, the Minister may, for the purpose of giving full effect to the application by that subsection of the provisions of the Companies Acts, 1963 to 1983, and any instruments made thereunder, by order modify the provisions of the said Acts or any rules or other instruments made thereunder or any rules of court relating thereto in their application under and for the purposes of this Act if he considers it necessary or appropriate to do so to facilitate the performance of the functions of an administrator appointed under this Act.
(b) The Minister may by order revoke or amend an order made under this subsection including this paragraph.
Bodies connected with insurers.
4.—(1) The court may, in relation to a body connected with an insurer, on application to it by the administrator (whether appointed under subsection (2) or (4) of section 2 of this Act), if it considers—
(a) that—
(i) the affairs of that body are being conducted, or are likely to be conducted, in a manner which is calculated or likely to jeopardise or prejudice the interests of the insurer or of the creditors or policy holders of the insurer, or
(ii) it is expedient, for the purpose of preserving the assets (including the investments) of the insurer or of safe guarding the interests of the insurer, its creditors or policy holders, that the carrying on of the business of that body or the exercise of the powers of its directors or management should be curtailed or regulated in any particular respect, or
(iii) having regard to the relationship between the insurer and that body, any part of the property or undertaking of the body should be preserved or controlled,
and
(b) that, to do so would be just and equitable and would, by facilitating and contributing to the safeguarding of the interests of the insurer or of the creditors or policy holders of the insurer, assist in the maintenance, in the public interest, of the proper and orderly regulation and conduct of non-life insurance business,
make such order as it thinks fit (including an order conferring powers on the administrator in relation to the affairs of that body) whether directing or prohibiting any act or restraining, cancelling or varying any agreement or transaction or the exercise of any power.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the court may, if it thinks fit, by order—
(a) appoint the administrator of an insurer to be a receiver and manager of all or any part of the property and assets of the connected body concerned and confer upon him such powers in that behalf as the court may think fit and specify in the order, including power to carry on the business of the body,
(b) appoint such additional directors or other members of the committee of management of the connected body as the administrator may nominate, notwithstanding any provision or restriction to the contrary contained in the articles of association of the connected body, or otherwise contained in its rules or constitution,
(c) provide that the exercise of the functions of the directors, secretary and other officers of the connected body engaged in its management shall be subject to the direct control of the administrator.
(3) The power to make an order under subsection (1) or (2) of this section shall extend to the making of an interim order upon the ex parte application of an administrator.
(4) A body shall be deemed for the purposes of this Act to be connected with an insurer if—
(a) it is the holding company or a subsidiary (within the meaning, in each case, of section 155 of the Companies Act, 1963) of the insurer, or
(b) effective control of the management of the insurer and of the body is held by or entrusted to the same persons or substantially the same persons, or
(c) in the opinion of the court, the effective management and control of either the insurer or the body is significantly influenced or capable of being significantly influenced (whether directly or indirectly, actually or potentially) by the other of them, or
(d) an inability on the part of either the insurer or the body to meet its debts as they fall due or for any reason to continue trading would jeopardise or prejudice the ability of the other of them to meet its debts or continue trading, whether by reason of the degree of financial interdependence between them or of a substantial common management or otherwise howsoever.
Hearing of proceedings otherwise than in public.
5.—The whole or part of proceedings under this Act, or an appeal in relation thereto, may be heard otherwise than in public if the court considers that the interests of the insurer concerned or its creditors or policy holders or the public interest so requires.
Regulations.
6.—(1) Whenever an administrator stands appointed to an insurer under subsection (2) or (4) of section 2 of this Act, the Minister may, if he considers that it is in the public interest to do so, make such regulations as he considers necessary or appropriate for the purpose of ensuring the proper and orderly regulation and conduct of non-life insurance business.
(2) Whenever, at a time when regulations under this section are in force, an administrator ceases to stand appointed under section 2 of this Act to an insurer to which an administrator stood appointed under that section at the time of the making of the regulations, the regulations shall, upon the expiration of seven days from such cesser, cease to be in force unless another administrator is appointed under that section to the insurer before such expiration.
(3) An insurer who contravenes a regulation under this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable—
(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £1,000, or
(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding £20,000.
(4) Where an offence under this section is committed by a body and the offence is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to have been attributable to any neglect on the part of, any person who, when the offence was committed, was a director, member of the committee of management or other controlling authority of the body or the manager, secretary or other officer of the body, that person shall also be deemed to have committed the offence and may be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
Amendment of section 1 of Act of 1964.
7.—Section 1 of the Act of 1964 is hereby amended by—
(a) the substitution of the following definition for the definition of “insurer”:
“‘insurer’ means the holder of an authorisation;”,
(b) the insertion of the following definition:
“‘authorisation’ means an authorisation under the European Communities (Non-Life Insurance) Regulations, 1976;”, and
(c) the substitution of the following definition for the definition of “policy”:
“‘policy’ means any document or other writing by which a contract of insurance (other than a contract of re-insurance) as respects non-life insurance (within the meaning of the European Communities (Non-Life Insurance) Regulations, 1976) is made or agreed to be made or which is evidence of any such contract”.
Amendment of section 2 of Act of 1964.
8.—Section 2 (3) of the Act of 1964 is hereby amended by the deletion of paragraph (b).
Amendment of section 3 of Act of 1964.
9.—Section 3 of the Act of 1964 is hereby amended by—
(a) the insertion in subsection (1) after “the 1st day of January, 1963,” of “and before the passing of the Insurance (No. 2) Act, 1983,”,
(b) the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (1):
“(1A) Subject to the provisions of this section, there may, with the approval of the High Court, be paid out of the Fund to the liquidator of an insolvent insurer (including an insurer whose authorisation has been revoked by the Minister) the winding up of which has been commenced by the High Court after the passing of the Insurance (No. 2) Act, 1983—
(a) such amounts as may be necessary to pay any sum which is due to a person under a policy issued by the insurer in the State, together with the costs or expenses (if any) necessarily and reasonably incurred by the person in endeavouring to secure payment of the sum, and
(b) such amounts as may be necessary to pay any sum in respect of the refund of a premium,
and, upon receipt of the amounts by the liquidator, he shall pay to every such person the sum due to him as aforesaid together with the costs and expenses aforesaid (if any) incurred by him.”,
(c) the insertion of the following subsections after subsection (2):
“(2A) Where an amount is paid out of the Fund to the liquidator of an insurer under subsection (1A) of this section in respect of a sum due under a policy issued by the insurer and the costs and expenses (if any) incurred in relation to the sum, or in respect of a refund of a premium, the amount paid shall be admitted in the proceedings for the winding up of the insurer by the High Court as a proved debt of the insurer having the same priority as the sum due under the policy or in respect of the refund of the premium, as the case may be, and the Accountant shall, as respects the amount paid out of the Fund, be a creditor of the insurer.
(2B) Subject to the provisions of this section, there may, with the approval of the High Court, be paid out of the Fund to the administrator of an insurer such amounts as are, in the opinion of the High Court, required to enable the administrator to carry on the business of the insurer and to perform his other functions under this Act in relation to the insurer.
(2C) Where any sum has been paid out of the Fund to an administrator of an insurer pursuant to subsection (2B) of this section—
(a) the amount thereof shall be an unsecured debt of the insurer, and
(b) with a view to facilitating the placing of the business of the insurer on a sound commercial and financial footing, the Minister may at any time waive all or part of the said debt on behalf of the Fund; in exercising this power, the Minister shall have due regard to any amounts which may be realisable on a winding up of the insurer and to any representations made to him by the administrator or by any other insurer.
(2D) While an administrator stands appointed to an insurer, no dividends or other distributions to shareholders of the insurer shall be payable by the insurer if any debt due to the Fund by the insurer (not including any debt waived by the Minister under this section) has not been paid.”, and
(d) the deletion, as respects any insurer the winding up of which by the High Court is commenced after the passing of this Act, of subsection (5).
Contributions to Insurance Compensation Fund by insurers.
10.—The Act of 1964 is hereby amended by the substitution of the following section for section 6:
“6.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, an insurer (other than an insolvent insurer which is being wound up by the High Court) shall, in any year in respect of which a percentage is determined under subsection (2) of this section, pay to the Minister, and the Minister shall transmit to the Fund, the appropriate contribution.
(2) (a) In every year in respect of which, in the opinion of the Minister, the state of the Fund is such that financial support should be provided for it, he shall determine the percentage, not exceeding 2 per cent., of the aggregate income of insurers in that year that, in his opinion, should be paid to the Fund.
(b) The contribution (in this section referred to as the appropriate contribution) payable by an insurer under subsection (1) of this section in any year in respect of which a percentage is determined under paragraph (a) of this subsection shall be a sum equal to that percentage of the aggregate income of the insurer in that year, but payment of the contribution shall be made quarterly in accordance with paragraph (c) of this subsection.
(c) An insurer shall, within 30 days from the end of each quarter in every year in respect of which a percentage is determined under paragraph (a) of this subsection, deliver to the Minister a statement in writing showing the aggregate income of that insurer in respect of that quarter and the statement shall be accompanied by the appropriate contribution calculated in accordance with paragraph (b) of this subsection.
(d) In this subsection—
‘aggregate income’, in relation to an insurer in respect of any period, means the gross amount of premiums paid or payable to the insurer in respect of policies issued by him in the State in that period;
‘quarter’ means a period of three months ending on the 31st day of March, the 30th day of June, the 30th day of September or the 31st day of December, and ‘quarterly’ shall be construed accordingly.
(3) An appropriate contribution payable by a syndicate shall be paid to the Minister by the Committee of Lloyd's.
(4) Where an appropriate contribution is not paid in accordance with the provisions of this section, it may be recovered by the Minister—
(a) in case the contribution is payable by a syndicate, from the Committee of Lloyd's, and
(b) in any other case, from the insurer by which it is payable,as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction and shall, when recovered by the Minister, be transmitted to the Fund, and the Minister may, if he so thinks fit, on giving notice to the insurer by which the contribution is payable of not less than twenty-one days, revoke the authorisation of the insurer.”.
Laying of orders and regulations before Houses of Oireachtas.
11.—Every order and regulation made by the Minister under this Act shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the order or regulation is passed by either such House within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the order or regulation is laid before it, the order or regulation shall be annulled, accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.
Repeals.
12.—The following provisions of the Insurance Act, 1936, are hereby repealed:
(a) paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (6) of section 12,
(b) the words “the issued shares of such company are, to an extent not less than two-thirds (in nominal value) thereof and carrying voting rights (whether immediate or to arise in certain future circumstances), in the beneficial ownership of a person who is or of two or more persons all of whom are citizens of Saorstat Éireann, and the majority of the directors (other than a managing director giving the whole of his time to his duties as such director) are citizens of Saorstat Éireann, and” in subsection (11) (b) of the said section 12, and
(c) section 19.
Short title, construction and collective citation.
13.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Insurance (No. 2) Act, 1983.
(2) The collective citation “the Insurance Acts, 1909 to 1983” shall include this Act.
(3) The Insurance Acts, 1909 to 1983, shall be construed together as one Act.
SCHEDULE
Modifications of Companies Act, 1963
Reference Number | Modifications | |
(1) | (2) | (3) |
1. | Section 135 | The reference to an application to the High Court by any director of a company or any member of a company shall be construed as a reference to an application to the court by the administrator. |
2. | Section 148 | The obligation on directors of a company to lay a profit and loss account and a balance sheet before the annual general meeting of the company shall be construed as an obligation on the administrator to deliver a profit and loss account and a balance sheet to the registrar of companies not later than six months after the end of the year to which they relate. |
3. | The obligation to lay group accounts (within the meaning of the Companies Act, 1963) of a company before the annual general meeting of the company shall be construed as an obligation on the administrator to deliver group accounts (within the meaning aforesaid) to the registrar of companies not later than six months after the end of the year to which they relate. | |
4. | Section 156 | The obligation that every balance sheet and profit and loss account of a company shall be signed on behalf of the directors by two or three, as the case may be, of the directors shall be construed as an obligation that every such balance sheet and profit and loss account shall be signed by the administrator. |
5. | Section 158 | The obligations specified in subsection (1) shall be construed as an obligation on the administrator to deliver to the registrar of companies, not later than six months after the end of the year to which it relates, a report by him on the state of the company's affairs and, if the company is a holding company, on the state of affairs of the company and its subsidiaries as a group. |
6. | Section 160 | The duty of a company to appoint and re-appoint an auditor or auditors shall be construed as a duty of the court, on the application of the administrator, to appoint an auditor or auditors to hold office for such period as may be determined by the court and, on the application of the administrator, to re-appoint an auditor or auditors as occasion requires for such period as may be determined by the court and, on the application of the administrator and having heard any submission of the auditor or auditors concerned, to remove at any time an auditor or auditors and to appoint in his or their place another person or other persons for such period as may be determined by the court. |
The power of the directors of a company to fill any casual vacancy in the office of auditor shall be construed as a power of the court, on the application of the administrator, to fill any such vacancy. | ||
The power of a company and of the directors of a company to fix the remuneration of the auditors of the company shall be construed as a power of the court, on the application of the administrator, to fix such remuneration. | ||
7. | Section 163 | The obligation on the auditors of a company to make a report to the members of the company on the matters specified in the section shall be construed as an obligation on the auditors to deliver such a report to the registrar of companies not later than six months after the end of the year to which it relates. |
8. | Section 231 | The powers conferred by subsection (1) shall be exercisable by the administrator of an insurer without his having obtained the sanction specified in the subsection. |