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Number 30 of 1987
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ACT, 1987
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Preliminary and General
Section | |
Additional Functions of Agency
Administration
Disclosure by member of Board of interest in proposed contract. | |
Membership of Houses of Oireachtas or Assembly of European Communities. | |
Transitional Provisions
Transfer of rights and liabilities and continuance of pending proceedings. |
Acts Referred to | |
1977, No. 30 | |
1984, No. 6 | |
1961, No. 20 | |
1979, No. 33 | |
1977, No. 25 | |
Number 30 of 1987
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ACT, 1987
PART I
Preliminary and General
Short title.
1.—This Act may be cited as the Science and Technology Act, 1987.
Commencement.
2.—This Act shall come into operation on the first day of January, 1988.
Name of Agency.
3.—The body heretofore known as the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards shall be known as Eolas—The Irish Science and Technology Agency and may provide itself with a new seal.
Definitions.
4.—In this Act—
“the Act of 1961” means the Industrial Research and Standards Act, 1961, as amended by the Industrial Research and Standards (Amendment) Act, 1979;
“the Agency” means Eolas—The Irish Science and Technology Agency;
“the Board” means the Board of the Agency;
“the dissolved body” means the National Board for Science and Technology dissolved by section 8 (7) of this Act;
“functions” includes powers and duties;
“institution” means any institute, college, laboratory, office or service (whether under the control of a Minister or otherwise) which is whollyor partly engaged in research and development or any other activity related to science or technology;
“the Minister” means the Minister for Industry and Commerce.
Orders.
5.—(1) The Minister may by order amend or revoke any order made by him under any provision of the Act of 1961 or this Act.
(2) Every order 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 any such order is passed by either House within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the order has been laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.
Repeals.
6.—The following enactments are hereby repealed:
(a) in the Act of 1961, sections 14, 17, 25 (5), 34, 40, 41 and 42;
(b) the National Board for Science and Technology Act, 1977.
Expenses.
7.—The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be authorised by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
PART II
Additional Functions of Agency
Functions in relation to science and technology.
8.—(1) The Agency shall, in addition to any functions assigned to it by or under the Act of 1961, have the following general functions heretofore assigned to the National Board for Science and Technology—
(a) to act under the Minister as a body having responsibility for the furtherance of science and technology,
(b) to advise the Government or the Minister on the Agency's initiative or at the request of the Minister on policy for science and technology and related matters,
(c) to promote the co-ordination of public investment and of public with private investment in science and technology and to prepare proposals for public investment,
(d) to provide and administer grants and other financial facilities for activities related to science and technology,
(e) to advise the Minister at his request on any matter related to science and technology,
(f) to promote research,
(g) to promote the application of science and technology to economic and social development,
(h) to promote the development of natural resources through the application of science and technology,
(i) to promote appreciation of the value of science and technology.
(2) The Agency may, subject to such conditions as the Minister may prescribe, do all such other things as arise out of or are consequential on the functions assigned to it by or under this Act.
(3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) or (2) of this section, the Agency shall have the following particular functions—
(a) to advise the Government on the need for the establishment of any new institution or the dissolution of any existing institution or on the need for revising the functions of any existing institution and on the nature or form of such institutions,
(b) to prepare and to review periodically a national programme for science and technology in consultation with relevant institutions,
(c) to co-ordinate activities related to science and technology,
(d) to promote participation in activities related to science and technology,
(e) to engage in such activities related to science and technology as may be approved by the Minister,
(f) to disseminate and promote the dissemination of literature and information relating to science and technology,
(g) to engage (where appropriate after consultation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs) in international activities in science and technology, including where appropriate representation of the State at conferences, meetings and seminars,
(h) to participate and promote participation in international collaborative projects in science and technology, and where appropriate to enter into agreements with comparable bodies outside the State, subject to the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Finance and where appropriate to consultation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs,
(i) to engage in studies on manpower, in consultation with the appropriate institutions, in connection with activities related to science and technology and where appropriate to promote the expansion and development of manpower for such activities,
(j) to undertake and assist, in consultation with the appropriate institutions, in the development and exploitation of inventions,
(k) to promote and organise seminars, conferences, lectures and demonstrations, whether in the State or elsewhere, relating to science and technology and related subjects,
(l) to promote the application of science and technology to the development and improvement of industrial and commercial design,
(m) to advise and assist inventors in registering and protecting their inventions.
(4) (a) The powers and functions conferred by statute on any institution shall be deemed not to be restricted by any provisions of this Act and in the exercise of its powers and functions the Agency shall have regard to the statutory functions of such institutions.
(b) The teaching functions of any educational institute, college or school shall be deemed not to be restricted by any provisions of this Act.
(5) The Agency shall not engage in or promote any activity of a primarily military relevance without the prior approval of the Government.
(6) The Minister may by order assign additional functions to the Agency after consultation with the Minister for Finance and with any other Minister of the Government appearing to the Minister to be concerned.
(7) The National Board for Science and Technology is hereby dissolved.
Science Budget.
9.—(1) The Agency shall, in relation to every financial year or such other period as may be specified by the Minister, prepare a statement, based so far as possible on the programme referred to in section 8 (3) (b) of this Act, and including the requirements and proposals of every institution in receipt of moneys from the State and giving the Agency's observations and recommendations on such requirements and proposals in the light of national policy for science and technology.
(2) Whenever the Agency prepares a statement pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, it shall be submitted to the Minister who after consultation with the Minister for Finance shall submit it to the Government.
(3) Details of the financial allocations finally approved for the financial year or period in question in respect of each institution, and an accompanying commentary by the Agency on national policy for science and technology, shall together constitute the Science Budget for the year or period in question.
(4) The Minister shall lay a copy of each Science Budget before both Houses of the Oireachtas.
Review of programmes.
10.—The Agency shall periodically conduct and publish a review of the effectiveness of the programmes provided for in the Science Budget.
Supply of information required by Agency.
11.—Any institution for which provision is made in the Science Budget shall supply to the Agency such information in such form and at such time as it may require.
Power to research.
12.—The Agency may, with the approval of the Minister, institute and conduct research into and studies on such problems relating to science and technology as it considers appropriate and may publish or disseminate the results of any such investigation as it considers appropriate.
Directives to the Agency.
13.—(1) The Minister may give the Agency such general policy directives as he considers appropriate having regard to the provisions of this Act.
(2) The Minister shall cause any directive given by him under subsection (1) of this section to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas within 21 days after it has been so given.
(3) The Agency shall comply with any directive given to it under this section and shall set out the directive in its annual report and shall include in its annual report an account of the actions which it has undertaken to give effect to the directive.
Limitation of expenditure on inventions.
14.—Section 43 (5) of the 1961 Act (which imposes a limitation on expenditure by the Agency without the consent of the Minister on the development and exploitation of inventions) is hereby amended by the insertion, after “the sum of five thousand pounds”, of “or such greater sum as the Minister may from time to time by order prescribe”.
PART III
Administration
Chief Executive.
15.—The Board of the Agency shall appoint a person to be the Chief Executive of the Agency under a contract of service on such terms and conditions as may be agreed to by the Board with the approval of the Minister and the Minister for Finance.
Disclosure by member of Board of interest in proposed contract.
16.—A member of the Board who has—
(a) any material or financial interest in any body corporate with which the Board proposes to make any contract, or
(b) any material or financial interest in any contract which the Board proposes to make,
shall disclose to the Board the fact of the interest and the nature thereof, and shall take no part in any deliberation or decision of the Board relating to the contract, and the disclosure shall be recorded in the minutes of the Board.
Membership of Houses of Oireachtas or Assembly of European Communities.
17.—(1) Where a member of the Board is—
(a) nominated as a member of Seanad Éireann, or
(b) elected as a member of either House of the Oireachtas or of the Assembly of the European Communities, or
(c) regarded pursuant to section 15 (inserted by the European Assembly Elections Act, 1984) of the European Assembly Elections Act, 1977, as having been elected to such Assembly to fill a vacancy,
he shall thereupon cease to be a member of the Board of the Agency.
(2) Where an officer or servant of the Agency is—
(a) nominated as a member of Seanad Éireann, or
(b) elected as a member of either House of the Oireachtas or of the Assembly of the European Communities, or
(c) regarded pursuant to section 15 (inserted by the European Assembly Elections Act, 1984) of the European Assembly Elections Act, 1977, as having been elected to such Assembly to fill a vacancy,
he shall thereupon stand seconded from the employment of the Agency and shall not be paid by, or be entitled to receive from, the Agency any remuneration or allowances in respect of the period commencing on such nomination or election or when he is so regarded as having been elected, as the case may be, and ending when he ceases to be a member of either such House or such Assembly.
(3) In consequence of the foregoing provisions of this section, section 13 of the Act of 1961 shall have effect as follows:
(a) subsections (1) and (2), paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (3) and subsection (6) shall cease to have effect;
(b) the references in subsection (3) to an officer or servant who becomes a member of either House of the Oireachtas shall be construed as a reference to a person to whom subsection (2) of this section applies;
(c) the references to secondment and secondment period in the said section 13 shall be construed as references to secondment and the period of secondment under subsection (2) of this section.
(4) A person who is for the time being entitled under the Standing Orders of either House of the Oireachtas to sit therein or who is a member of the Assembly of the European Communities shall, while he is so entitled or is such a member, be disqualified from becoming a member of the Board or from employment by the Agency.
Expenditure by Agency.
18.—The funds of the Agency may be used—
(a) for the payment of expenses incurred by it in the performance of its functions, and
(b) for the making of payments, grants or loans for any purpose that, in the opinion of the Agency, is conducive to the promotion and development of scientific and technological activities.
Investment by Agency.
19.—The Agency may invest any of its funds (not being funds to which section 20 (3) of this Act applies) in any manner in which a trustee is empowered by law to invest trust funds.
Acceptance of gifts by Agency.
20.—(1) The Agency may accept gifts of money, land or other property upon such trusts and conditions, if any, as may be specified by the donor.
(2) The Agency shall not accept a gift if the conditions attached to the acceptance by the donor are inconsistent with the functions of the Agency.
(3) Any funds of the Agency, being a gift or the proceeds of a gift to it, may, subject to any terms or conditions of the gift, be investedin any manner in which a trustee is empowered by law to invest trust funds.
Annual report and information to Minister.
21.—(1) The Agency shall make annually, at such date as the Minister may direct, a report to the Minister of its proceedings under this Act during the period of twelve months ending on that date, and the Minister shall cause copies of the report to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.
(2) The report submitted to the Minister pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall contain such information as the Minister may direct regarding the functions of the Agency.
(3) The Agency shall supply the Minister with such information regarding the performance of its functions as he may from time to time require.
Accounts and audits.
22.—(1) The Agency shall keep, in such form as may be approved by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance, all proper and usual accounts of all moneys received or expenses incurred by it and, in particular, shall keep in such form as aforesaid all such special accounts as the Minister or the Minister for Finance may from time to time direct.
(2) Accounts kept in pursuance of this section shall be submitted annually by the Agency to the Comptroller and Auditor General for audit and immediately after such audit a copy of the income and expenditure account and of the balance sheet and of such other of the accounts kept pursuant to subsection (1) of this section as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may direct and a copy of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on the accounts shall be presented to the Minister who shall cause copies thereof to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.
Officers and servants.
23.—(1) The Agency shall appoint such and so many persons to be officers and servants of the Agency as it may determine with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Finance.
(2) The Agency shall from time to time determine the grades, tenure of office and conditions of service of its officers and servants.
(3) An officer or servant of the Agency shall be paid such remuneration and allowances as the Agency, with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Finance, may from time to time determine.
Power to employ consultants.
24.—The Agency may employ such consultants or advisers on short term contracts of service as it considers necessary for the proper discharge of its functions.
Prohibition of disclosure of confidential information.
25.—(1) No person who is or has been a member of the Board or an officer or servant of the Agency, or an adviser or consultant to the Agency shall disclose any information classified by the Agency as confidential which has been obtained by him while performing (or as a result of having performed) duties as such member, officer, servant, adviser or consultant.
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £500.
Committees of Board.
26.—(1) The Board may from time to time establish committees to perform such of the functions of the Agency as, in the opinion of the Board, may be better or more conveniently performed by a committee and are assigned to a committee by the Board.
(2) A committee established under this section may, if the Board thinks fit, include in its membership persons who are not members of the Board.
(3) The appointment of a person to act as a member of a committee established under this section shall be subject to such conditions (including conditions as to terms and the tenure of office of the member) as the Board, with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Finance, may think fit to impose when making the appointment.
(4) A member of a committee established under this section may be removed from office at any time by the Board.
(5) The Board may at any time dissolve a committee appointed under this section.
(6) The acts of a committee established under this section shall be subject to the approval of the Board.
(7) The Board may regulate the procedure of committees established under this section but, subject to any such regulation, committees established under this section may regulate their own procedure.
PART IV
Transitional Provisions
Transfer of staff.
27.—(1) A person who, immediately before the commencement of this Act, was an officer or servant of the dissolved body shall on that commencement become and be an officer or servant of the Agency on terms and conditions not less favourable than those applicable to that person immediately before that commencement.
(2) A scheme approved of under section 28 of the National Board for Science and Technology Act, 1977 for the superannuation of officers and servants of the dissolved body shall be deemed to be a scheme approved of under section 35 of the Act of 1961 and may be amended accordingly.
(3) Section 35 (1) of the Act of 1961 is hereby amended by the insertion of “or death to or in respect of” before the words “the permanent staff”.
Transfer of property.
28.—(1) On the commencement of this Act all property, including choses-in-action, which immediately before that commencement was the property of the dissolved body shall stand vested in the Agency without any conveyance or assignment.
(2) Every chose-in-action transferred by subsection (1) of this section to the Agency may be sued on and recovered or enforced bythe Agency in its own name and it shall not be necessary for the Agency to give notice to the person bound by the chose-in-action of the transfer effected by that subsection.
Transfer of rights and liabilities and continuance of pending proceedings.
29.—(1) All rights and liabilities of the dissolved body shall on the commencement of this Act stand transferred to the Agency.
(2) Every right and liability transferred by subsection (1) of this section to the Agency may be sued on, recovered or enforced by or against the Agency in its own name and it shall not be necessary for the Agency to give notice to the person whose right or liability is transferred by this section of such transfer.
(3) All legal proceedings pending immediately before the commencement of this Act to which the dissolved body was a party shall be continued with the substitution for the dissolved body of the Agency.
Uimhir 30 de 1987
AN tACHT EOLAÍOCHTA AGUS TEICNEOLAÍOCHTA, 1987
RIAR NA nALT
Réamhráiteach agus Ginearálta
Alt | |
1. | |
2. | |
3. | |
4. | |
5. | |
6. | |
7. |
Feidhmeanna Breise de Chuid na Gníomhaireachta
8. | Feidhmeanna i ndáil leis an eolaíocht agus leis an teicneolaíocht. |
9. | |
10. | |
11. | |
12. | |
13. | |
14. |
Riaradh
15. | |
16. | |
17. | Comhaltas de Thithe an Oireachtais nó de Thionól na gComhphobal Eorpach. |
18. | |
19. | |
20. | |
21. | |
22. | |
23. | |
24. | |
25. | |
26. |
Forálacha Idirlinne
27. | |
28. | |
29. | Cearta agus dliteanais a aistriú agus imeachtaí ar feitheamh a choimeád ar marthain. |
Na hAchtanna dá dTagraítear | |
An tAcht um Bord Náisiúnta Eolaíochta agus Teicneolaíochta, 1977 | |
Uimhir 30 de 1987
AN tACHT EOLAÍOCHTA AGUS TEICNEOLAÍOCHTA, 1987
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
CUID I
Réamhráiteach agus Ginearálta
Gearrtheideal.
1.—Féadfar an tAcht Eolaíochta agus Teicneolaíochta, 1987, a ghairm den Acht seo.
Tosach feidhme.
2.—Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i ngníomh ar an gcéad lá d'Eanáir, 1988.
Ainm na Gníomhaireachta.
3.—Eolas — Gníomhaireacht Eolaíochta agus Teicneolaíochta na hÉireann a thabharfar ar an gcomhlacht ar a dtugtaí go n-uige seo an Institiúid Taighde Tionscail agus Caighdeán agus féadfaidh sé séala nua a sholáthar dó féin.
Mínithe.
4.—San Acht seo—
ciallaíonn “Acht 1961” an tAcht Taighde Tionscail agus Caighdeán, 1961, arna leasú leis an Acht Taighde Tionscail agus Caighdeán (Leasú), 1979;
ciallaíonn “an Ghníomhaireacht” Eolas — Gníomhaireacht Eolaíochta agus Teicneolaíochta na hÉireann;
ciallaíonn “an Bord” Bord na Gníomhaireachta;
ciallaíonn “an comhlacht díscaoilte” an Bord Náisiúnta Eolaíochta agus Teicneolaíochta a dhíscaoiltear le halt 8 (7) den Acht seo;
folaíonn “feidhmeanna” cumhachtaí agus dualgais;
ciallaíonn “foras” aon institiúid, coláiste, saotharlann, oifig nó seirbhís (faoi rialú Aire nó eile) atá ag gabháil go hiomlán nó go páirteach do thaighde agus d'fhorbairt nó d'aon ghníomhaíocht eile a bhaineann le heolaíocht nó le teicneolaíocht;
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála.
Orduithe.
5.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire aon ordú a bheidh déanta aige faoi aon fhoráil d'Acht 1961 nó faoin Acht seo a leasú nó a chúlghairm.
(2) 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, laistigh den lá is fiche a shuífidh an Teach sin tar éis an t-ordú a leagan faoina bhráid, rún a rith ag neamhniú an ordaithe, beidh an t-ordú ar neamhní dá réir sin, ach sin gan dochar do bhailíocht aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin ordú.
Aisghairm.
6.—Aisghairtear leis seo na hachtacháin seo a leanas:
(a) in Acht 1961, ailt 14, 17, 25 (5), 34, 40, 41 agus 42;
(b) an tAcht um Bord Náisiúnta Eolaíochta agus Teicneolaíochta, 1977.
Caiteachais.
7.—Déanfar na caiteachais a thabhóidh an tAire ag riaradh an Achta seo a íoc, a mhéid a cheadóidh an tAire Airgeadais é, as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas.
CUID II
Feidhmeanna Breise de Chuid na Gníomhaireachta
Feidhmeanna i ndáil leis an eolaíocht agus leis an teicneolaíocht.
8.—(1) Beidh ag an nGníomhaireacht, de bhreis ar aon fheidhmeanna a shanntar di le hAcht 1961 nó faoi, na feidhmeanna ginearálta seo a leanas a bhí sannta go n-uige seo don Bhord Náisiúnta Eolaíochta agus Teicneolaíochta—
(a) gníomhú faoin Aire mar chomhlacht atá freagrach as eolaíocht agus teicneolaíocht a chur chun cinn,
(b) comhairle a thabhairt don Rialtas nó don Aire, ar thionscnamh na Gníomhaireachta nó ar iarraidh ón Aire, ar bheartas i leith eolaíochta agus teicneolaíochta agus ábhair ghaolmhara,
(c) comhoirdniú na hinfheistíochta poiblí agus na hinfheistíochta poiblí agus príobháidí le chéile in eolaíocht agus i dteicneolaíocht a spreagadh agus tograí maidir le hinfheistíocht phoiblí a ullmhú,
(d) deontais agus saoráidí airgeadais eile le haghaidh gníomhaíochtaí a bhaineann le heolaíocht agus le teicneolaíocht a chur ar fáil agus a riaradh,
(e) comhairle a thabhairt don Aire ar é á iarraidh sin faoi aon ábhar a bhaineann le heolaíocht agus le teicneolaíocht,
(f) taighde a spreagadh,
(g) feidhmiú eolaíochta agus teicneolaíochta ar fhorbairt eacnamaíoch agus sóisialach a spreagadh,
(h) forbairt acmhainní aiceanta a spreagadh trí eolaíocht agus teicneolaíocht a fheidhmiú,
(i) meas ar luachmhaireacht eolaíochta agus teicneolaíochta a spreagadh.
(2) Féadfaidh an Ghníomhaireacht, faoi réir cibé coinníollacha a fhorordóidh an tAire, na nithe eile sin go léir a dhéanamh a eascróidh nó a leanfaidh as na feidhmeanna a shanntar don Ghníomhaireacht leis an Acht seo nó faoi.
(3) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht fho-alt (1) nó (2) den alt seo, beidh ag an nGníomhaireacht na feidhmeanna sonracha seo a leanas—
(a) comhairle a thabhairt don Rialtas faoin ngá atá le haon fhoras nua a bhunú nó le haon fhoras atá ann a dhíscaoileadh nó faoin ngá atá le feidhmeanna aon fhorais atá ann a athscrúdú agus faoin gcineál forais a bheadh iontu nó an deilbh a bheadh orthu,
(b) clár náisiúnta eolaíochta agus teicneolaíochta a ullmhú agus a athbhreithniú ó am go ham i gcomhairle le forais iomchuí,
(c) gníomhaíochtaí a bhaineann le heolaíocht agus le teicneolaíocht a chomhoirdniú,
(d) páirteachas i ngníomhaíochtaí a bhaineann le heolaíocht agus le teicneolaíocht a spreagadh,
(e) gabháil do cibé gníomhaíochtaí a bhaineann le heolaíocht agus le teicneolaíocht a cheadóidh an tAire,
(f) litríocht agus faisnéis a bhaineann le heolaíocht agus le teicneolaíocht a leathadh agus a leathadh a spreagadh,
(g) gabháil (nuair is iomchuí sin tar éis dul i gcomhairle leis an Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha) do ghníomhaíochtaí idirnáisiúnta in eolaíocht agus i dteicneolaíocht, lena n-áirítear, nuair is iomchuí sin, ionadú don Stát ag comhdhálacha, cruinnithe agus seimineáir,
(h) bheith páirteach i gcomharthionscadail idirnáisiúnta eolaíochta agus teicneolaíochta agus páirteachas iontu a spreagadh, agus, nuair is iomchuí sin, comhaontuithe a dhéanamh le comhlachtaí inchomparáide lasmuigh den Stát, faoi réir thoiliú an Aire agus an Aire Airgeadais agus, nuair is iomchuí sin, faoi réir dul i gcomhairle leis an Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha,
(i) gabháil do staidéar ar dhaonchumhacht, i gcomhairle leis na forais iomchuí, i ndáil le gníomhaíochtaí a bhaineann le heolaíocht agus le teicneolaíocht agus, nuair is iomchuí sin, leathnú agus forbairt daonchumhachta le haghaidh na ngníomhaíochtaí sin a spreagadh,
(j) dul i mbun aireagáin a fhorbairt agus a shaothrú, agus cabhrú leis sin a dhéanamh, i gcomhairle leis na forais iomchuí,
(k) seimineáir, comhdhálacha, léachtaí agus léiriúcháin, sa Stát nó in áit eile, a bhaineann le heolaíocht agus le teicneolaíocht agus le nithe gaolmhara, a spreagadh agus a eagrú,
(l) feidhmiú eolaíochta agus teicneolaíochta ar fhorbairt agus ar fheabhsú dearadh tionscail agus tráchtála a spreagadh,
(m) comhairle agus cúnamh a thabhairt d'aireagóirí a n-aireagáin a chlárú agus a chosaint.
(4) (a) Measfar nach gcuireann forálacha ar bith de chuid an Achta seo srian léis na cumhachtaí ná leis na feidhmeanna a thugtar le reacht d'aon fhoras agus i bhfeidhmiú a cumhachtaí agus a feidhmeanna tabharfaidh an Ghníomhaireacht aird ar fheidhmeanna reachtúla na bhforas sin.
(b) Measfar nach gcuireann forálacha ar bith de chuid an Achta seo srian le feidhmeanna múinteoireachta institiúide, coláiste nó scoile oideachais ar bith.
(5) Ní ghabhfaidh an Ghníomhaireacht d'aon ghníomhaíocht, ná ní spreagfaidh sí aon ghníomhaíocht, a bhaineann go príomha le cúrsaí míleata gan ceadú roimh ré ón Rialtas.
(6) Féadfaidh an tAire le hordú feidhmeanna breise a shannadh don Ghníomhaireacht tar éis dó dul i gcomhairle leis an Aire Airgeadais agus le haon Aire eile den Rialtas ar dóigh leis an Aire baint a bheith aige leis an ábhar.
(7) Díscaoiltear leis seo an Bord Náisiúnta Eolaíochta agus Teicneolaíochta.
Buiséad Eolaíochta.
9.—(1) Déanfaidh an Ghníomhaireacht, i ndáil le gach bliain airgeadais nó le cibé tréimhse eile a shonróidh an tAire, ráiteas a ullmhú, a bheidh bunaithe a mhéid is féidir ar an gclár dá dtagraítear in alt 8 (3) (b) den Act seo, agus ina n-áireofar riachtanais agus tograí gach forais a bheidh ag fáil airgid ón Stát agus a thabharfaidh tuairimí agus moltaí na Gníomhaireachta ar na riachtanais agus ar na tograí sin de réir an bheartais náisiúnta i leith eolaíochta agus teicneolaíochta.
(2) Aon uair a ullmhóidh an Ghníomhaireacht ráiteas de bhun fho-alt (1) den alt seo, cuirfear an ráiteas sin faoi bhráid an Aire agus cuirfidh seisean faoi bhráid an Rialtais é tar éis dó dul i gcomhairle leis an Aire Airgeadais.
(3) Is é an Buiséad Eolaíochta don bhliain nó don tréimhse i gceist sonraí na leithranna airgid a ceadaíodh ar deireadh don bhliain airgeadais nó don tréimhse i gceist i leith gach forais agus tráchtair eacht ón nGníomhaireacht ag gabháil leo faoin mbeartas náisiúnta i leith eolaíochta agus teicneolaíochta, i dteannta a chéile.
(4) Leagfaidh an tAire cóip de gach Buiséad Eolaíochta faoi bhráid dhá Theach an Oireachtais.
Cláir a athbhreithniú.
10.—Seolfaidh agus foilseoidh an Ghníomhaireacht ó am go ham athbhreithniú ar éifeachtúlacht na gclár dá bhforáiltear sa Bhuiséad Eolaíochta.
Faisnéis a thabhairt a éileoidh an Ghníomhaireacht.
11.—Aon fhoras dá ndéantar foráil sa Bhuiséad Eolaíochta tabharfaidh sé don Ghníomhaireacht cibé faisnéis i cibé foirm agus cibé tráth a éileoidh sí.
Cumhacht taighde a dhéanamh.
12.—Féadfaidh an Ghníomhaireacht, le ceadú an Aire, taighde agus staidéar ar cibé fadhbanna i ndáil le heolaíocht agus le teicneolaíocht is cuí léi, a thosú agus a sheoladh agus féadfaidh sí torthaí aon imscrúdaithe den sórt sin is cuí léi, a fhoilsiú nó a leathadh.
Treoracha don Ghníomhaireacht.
13.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire cibé treoracha ginearálta beartais is dóigh leis is cuí ag féachaint d'fhorálacha an Achta seo, a thabhairt don Ghníomhaireacht.
(2) Cuirfidh an tAire faoi deara aon treoir a thabharfaidh sé faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo a leagan faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas laistigh de 21 lá tar éis í a thabhairt amhlaidh.
(3) Déanfaidh an Ghníomhaireacht de réir aon treorach a thabharfar di faoin alt seo agus leagfaidh sí an treoir amach ina tuarascáil bhliantúil agus áireoidh sí ina tuarascáil bhliantúil cuntas ar na gníomhartha a rinne sí chun éifeacht a thabhairt don treoir.
Teorainn caiteachais ar aireagáin.
14.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 43 (5) d'Acht 1961 (lena gcuirtear teorainn le caiteachas ag an nGníomhaireacht gan ceadú an Aire ar fhorbairt agus ar shaothrú aireagán) trí “nó cibé suim is mó ná sin a fhorordóidh an tAire ó am go ham le hordú” a chur isteach i ndiaidh “suim cúig mhíle punt”.
CUID III
Riaradh
Príomhfheidhmeannach.
15.—Ceapfaidh Bord na Gníomhaireachta duine chun bheith ina Phríomhfheidhmeannach ar an nGníomhaireacht faoi chonradh seirbhíse ar cibé téarmaí agus coinníollacha ar a gcomhaontóidh an Bord le ceadú an Aire agus an Aire Airgeadais.
Comhalta den Bhord do nochtadh leasa i gconradh beartaithe.
16.—Comhalta den Bhord—
(a) a bhfuil aon leas ábhartha nó airgid aige in aon chomhlacht corpraithe lena mbeartaíonn an Bord conradh a dhéanamh, nó
(b) a bhfuil aon leas ábhartha nó airgid aige in aon chonradh a bheartaíonn an Bord a dhéanamh,
nochtfaidh sé don Bhord go bhfuil an leas sin aige agus cad é an leas é, agus ní ghlacfaidh sé aon pháirt in aon phlé ná cinneadh a dhéanfaidh an Bord i ndáil leis an gconradh, agus taifeadfar an nochtadh i miontuairiscí an Bhoird.
Comhaltas de Thithe an Oireachtais nó de Thionól na gComhphobal Eorpach.
17.—(1) Más rud é, i gcás comhalta den Bhord—
(a) go n-ainmneofar é mar chomhalta de Sheanad Éireann, nó
(b) go dtoghfar é mar chomhalta de cheachtar Teach den Oireachtas nó de Thionól na gComhphobal Eorpach, nó
(c) go measfar de bhun alt 15 (a cuireadh isteach leis an Acht um Thoghcháin do Thionól na hEorpa, 1984) den Acht um Thoghcháin do Thionól na hEorpa, 1977, é a bheith tofa chun an Tionóil sin chun folúntas a líonadh,
scoirfidh sé air sin de bheith ina chomhalta de Bhord na Gníomhaireachta.
(2) Más rud é, i gcás oifigigh nó seirbhísigh don Ghníomhaireacht—
(a) go n-ainmneofar é mar chomhalta de Sheanad Éireann, nó
(b) go dtoghfar é mar chomhalta de cheachtar Teach den Oireachtas nó de Thionól na gComhphobal Eorpach, nó
(c) go measfar de bhun alt 15 (a cuireadh isteach leis an Acht um Thoghcháin do Thionól na hEorpa, 1984) den Acht um Thoghcháin do Thionól na hEorpa, 1977, é a bheith tofa chun an Tionóil sin chun folúntas a líonadh,
beidh sé air sin ar iasacht ó fhostaíocht ag an nGníomhaireacht agus ní íocfaidh an Ghníomhaireacht leis ná ní bheidh sé i dteideal go bhfaighidh sé ón nGníomhaireacht, aon luach saothair ná liúntais i leith na tréimhse dar tosach tráth a ainmnithe nó a thofa amhlaidh nó an tráth a measfar amhlaidh é a bheith tofa, de réir mar a bheidh, agus dar críoch an tráth a scoirfidh sé de bheith ina chomhalta de cheachtar Teach acu sin nó den Tionól sin.
(3) De thoradh na bhforálacha sin roimhe seo den alt seo, beidh éifeacht le halt 13 d'Acht 1961 mar a leanas:
(a) scoirfidh fo-ailt (1) agus (2), míreanna (a) agus (b) d'fho-alt (3) agus fo-alt (6) d'éifeacht a bheith leo;
(b) forléireofar na tagairtí i bhfo-alt (3) d'oifigeach nó do sheirbhíseach a thiocfaidh chun bheith ina chomhalta de cheachtar Teach den Oireachtas mar thagairt do dhuine lena mbaineann fo-alt (2) den alt seo;
(c) forléireofar na tagairtí san alt sin 13 do bheith ar iasacht agus do thréimhse na hiasachta mar thagairtí do bheith ar iasacht agus don tréimhse iasachta faoi fho-alt (2) den alt seo.
(4) Duine a bheidh de thuras na huaire i dteideal faoi Bhuan-Orduithe ceachtar Tí den Oireachtas suí sa Teach sin nó is comhalta de Thionól na gComhphobal Eorpach beidh sé, fad a bheidh sé i dteideal amhlaidh nó ina chomhalta den sórt sin, dícháilithe chun bheith ina chomhalta den Bhord nó chun fostaíochta ag an nGníomhaireacht.
Caiteachas ag an nGníomhaireacht.
18.—Féadfar cistí na Gníomhaireachta a úsáid—
(a) chun na caiteachais a thabhaíonn sí i gcomhlíonadh a feidhmeanna a íoc, agus
(b) chun íocaíochtaí a dhéanamh, nó deontais nó iasachtaí a thabhairt, chun aon chríche a chabhróidh, i dtuairim na Gníomhaireachta, le gníomhaíochtaí eolaíochta agus teicneolaíochta a spreagadh agus a fhorbairt.
Infheistíocht ag an nGníomhaireacht.
19.—Féadfaidh an Ghníomhaireacht aon chistí dá cuid (nach cistí lena mbaineann alt 20 (3) den Acht seo) a infheistiú in aon slí a dtugann an dlí cumhacht d'iontaobhaí cistí iontaobhais a infheistiú.
An Ghníomhaireacht do ghlacadh bronntanas.
20.—(1) Féadfaidh an Ghníomhaireacht bronntanais airgid, talún nó maoine eile a ghlacadh ar cibé iontaobhais agus coinníollacha, más ann, a shonróidh an deontóir.
(2) Ní ghlacfaidh an Ghníomhaireacht bronntanas má bhíonn na coinníollacha a bheidh curtha ag gabháil lena ghlacadh ag an deontóir ar neamhréir le feidhmeanna na Gníomhaireachta.
(3) Féadfar aon chistí de chuid na Gníomhaireachta, is bronntanas nó is fáltais ó bhronntanas a tugadh di, a infheistiú, faoi réir aon téarmaí nó coinníollacha a bheidh ag gabháil leis an mbronntanas, in aon slí a dtugann an dlí cumhacht d'iontaobhaí cistí iontaobhais a infheistiú.
Tuarascáil bhliantúil agus faisnéis don Aire
21.—(1) Tabharfaidh an Ghníomhaireacht gach bliain, ar cibé dáta a ordóidh an tAire, tuarascáil don Aire ar a himeachtaí faoin Acht seo i gcaitheamh na tréimhse dhá mhí dhéag dar críoch an dáta sin, agus cuirfidh an tAire faoi deara cóipeanna den tuarascáil a leagan faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas.
(2) Beidh sa tuarascáil a thabharfar don Aire de bhun fho-alt (1) den alt seo cibé faisnéis a ordóidh an tAire i dtaobh feidhmeanna na Gníomhaireachta.
(3) Tabharfaidh an Ghníomhaireacht don Aire cibé faisnéis a éileoidh sé ó am go ham maidir le comhlíonadh a feidhmeanna.
Cuntais agus iniúchadh.
22.—(1) Coimeádfaidh an Ghníomhaireacht, i cibé foirm a cheadóidh an tAire le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, na cuntais go léir is cuí agus is gnách ar an airgead go léir a fuair an Ghníomhaireacht nó ar na caiteachais go léir a thabhaigh sí agus, go háirithe, coimeádfaidh sí san fhoirm sin a dúradh na cuntais speisialta go léir sin a ordóidh an tAire nó an tAire Airgeadais ó am go ham.
(2) Déanfaidh an Ghníomhaireacht cuntais a choimeádfar de bhun an ailt seo a chur gach bliain faoi bhráid an Ard-Reachtaire Cuntas agus Ciste lena n-iniúchadh agus, díreach tar éis an iniúchta sin, déanfar cóip den chuntas ioncaim agus caiteachais agus den chlár comhardaithe agus de cibé cuid eile de na cuntais a choimeádfar de bhun fho-alt (1) den alt seo a ordóidh an tAire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, agus cóip de thuarascáil an Ard-Reachtaire Cuntas agus Ciste ar na cuntais, a thíolacadh don Aire agus cuirfidh seisean faoi deara cóipeanna díobh a leagan faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas.
Oifigigh agus seirbhísigh.
23.—(1) Déanfaidh an Ghníomhaireacht cibé daoine agus cibé líon daoine a cheapadh chun bheith ina n-oifigigh agus ina seirbhísigh don Ghníomhaireacht a chinnfidh sí le toiliú an Aire agus an Aire Airgeadais.
(2) Cinnfidh an Ghníomhaireacht ó am go ham gráid, tionacht oifige agus coinníollacha seirbhíse a cuid oifigeach agus seirbhíseach.
(3) Íocfar le hoifigeach nó le seirbhíseach don Ghníomhaireacht cibé luach saothair agus liúntais a chinnfidh an Ghníomhaireacht ó am go ham, le toiliú an Aire agus an Aire Airgeadais.
Cumhacht sainchomhairleoirí a fhostú.
24.—Féadfaidh an Ghníomhaireacht cibé sainchomhairleoirí nó comhairleoirí a fhostú ar chonarthaí seirbhíse gearrthréimhseacha a mheasfaidh sí is gá chun a feidhmeanna a urscaoileadh go cuí.
Toirmeasc ar fhaisnéis faoi rún a nochtadh.
25.—(1) Ní dhéanfaidh aon duine atá nó a bhí ina chomhalta den Bhord nó ina oifigeach nó ina sheirbhíseach don Ghníomhaireacht, nó ina chomhairleoir nó ina shainchomhairleoir don Ghníomhaireacht aon fhaisnéis a nochtadh a bheidh aicmithe ag an nGníomhaireacht mar fhaisnéis faoi rún agus a fuair an duine le linn dó bheith ag comhlíonadh (nó de thoradh é do chomhlíonadh) dualgas mar chomhalta, mar oifigeach, mar sheirbhíseach, mar chomhairleoir nó mar shainchomhairleoir den sórt sin.
(2) Beidh duine a sháróidh fo-alt (1) den alt seo ciontach i gcion agus ar é a chiontú go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná £500 a chur air.
Coistí de chuid an Bhoird.
26.—(1) Féadfaidh an Bord ó am go ham coistí a bhunú chun na feidhmeanna sin de chuid na Gníomhaireachta a chomhlíonadh is fearr nó is caothúla a d'fhéadfaí, i dtuairim an Bhoird, a chomhlíonadh ag coiste agus a shannfaidh an Bord do choiste.
(2) Féadfaidh daoine nach comhaltaí den Bhord a bheith, más oiriúnach leis an mBord é, ina gcomhaltaí de choiste a bhunaítear faoin alt seo.
(3) Beidh ceapadh duine chun gníomhú mar chomhalta de choiste a bhunaítear faoin alt seo faoi réir cibé coinníollacha (lena n-áirítear coinníollacha maidir le téarmaí agus tionacht oifige an chomhalta) is oiriúnach leis an mBord, le toiliú an Aire agus an Aire Airgeadais, a fhorchur tráth déanta an cheaptha.
(4) Féadfaidh an Bord comhalta de choiste a bhunaítear faoin alt seo a chur as oifig aon tráth.
(5) Féadfaidh an Bord aon tráth coiste a cheaptar faoin alt seo a dhíscaoileadh.
(6) Beidh gníomhartha coiste a bhunaítear faoin alt seo faoi réir a gceadaithe ag an mBord.
(7) Féadfaidh an Bord nós imeachta coistí a bhunaítear faoin alt seo a rialáil, ach, faoi réir aon rialála den sórt sin, féadfaidh coistí a bhunaítear faoin alt seo a nós imeachta féin a rialáil.
CUID IV
Forálacha Idirlinne
Foireann a aistriú.
27.—(1) Duine a bhí, díreach roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo, ina oifigeach nó ina sheirbhíseach don chomhlacht díscaoilte, tiocfaidh sé chun bheith agus beidh sé, ar an tosach feidhme sin, ina oifigeach nó ina sheirbhíseach don Ghníomhaireacht ar théarmaí agus ar choinníollacha nach lú fabhar ná na téarmaí agus na coinníollacha a bhí infheidhme maidir leis an duine sin díreach roimh an tosach feidhme sin.
(2) Maidir le scéim a bheidh ceadaithe faoi alt 28 den Acht um Bord Náisiúnta Eolaíochta agus Teicneolaíochta, 1977 le haghaidh aoisliúntas oifigigh agus sheirbhísigh an chomhlachta dhíscaoilte, measfar gur scéim í a bheidh ceadaithe faoi alt 35 d'Acht 1961 agus féadfar í a leasú dá réir sin.
(3) Leasaítear leis seo alt 35 (1) d'Acht 1961 trí “nó maidir leo ar scor nó ar bhás dóibh” a chur in ionad na bhfocal “ar scor dóibh”.
Maoin a aistriu.
28.—(1) Ar thosach feidhme an Achta seo, an mhaoin go léir, lena n-áirítear ábhair i gcaingean, ar mhaoin í de chuid an chomhlachta dhíscaoilte díreach roimh an tosach feidhme sin, beidh sí arna dílsiú don Ghníomhaireacht gan aon tíolacadh ná sannadh.
(2) Gach ábhar i gcaingean a aistrítear chuig an nGníomhaireacht le fo-alt (1) den alt seo féadfaidh an Ghníomhaireacht agra a dhéanamh ina leith agus é a ghnóthú nó é a chur i bhfeidhm ina hainm féin agus ní gá don Ghníomhaireacht fógra faoin aistriú a dhéantar leis an bhfo-alt sin a thabhairt don duine a bheidh faoi cheangal ag an ábhar i gcaingean.
Cearta agus dliteanais a aistriú agus imeachtaí ar feitheamh a choimeád ar marthain.
29.—(1) Beidh cearta agus dliteanais uile an chomhlachta dhíscaoilte arna n-aistriú chuig an nGníomhaireacht ar thosach feidhme an Achta seo.
(2) Gach ceart agus gach dliteanas a aistrítear chuig an nGníomhaireacht le fo-alt (1) den alt seo, féadfaidh an Ghníomhaireacht agra a dhéanamh ina leith, é a ghnóthú nó é a chur i bhfeidhm ina hainm féin nó féadfar agra a dhéanamh ina leith, é a ghnóthú nó é a chur i bhfeidhm i gcoinne na Gníomhaireachta ina hainm féin agus ní gá don Ghníomhaireacht fógra faoin aistriú sin a thabhairt don duine a bhfuil a cheart nó a dhliteanas á aistriú leis an alt seo.
(3) Na himeachtaí dlíthiúla uile a bhí ar feitheamh díreach roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo agus ar pháirtí iontu an comhlacht díscaoilte coimeádfar ar marthain iad agus cuirfear ainm na Gníomhaireachta in ionad ainm an chomhlachta dhíscaoilte.