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Number 42 of 1947.
SEANAD ELECTORAL (PANEL MEMBERS) ACT, 1947.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Preliminary and General.
Section | |
The Register of Nominating Bodies.
The Nomination Committees.
Seanad General Election.
Seanad General Election Order.
Formation of the Panels.
The Poll.
Issue of copy of panels and declaration of identity to electors. | |
Method of marking votes on ballot paper at Seanad general election. | |
Sending of ballot papers to electors at Seanad general election. | |
Seanad Bye-Election.
Notice of Casual Vacancy and Seanad Bye-election Order.
Nominating Bodies Sub-panel Casual Vacancies.
Oireachtas Sub-panel Casual Vacancies.
General Provisions in respect of every ruling upon nomination under Chapter III.
Miscellaneous.
Acts Referred to | |
No. 43 of 1937 | |
No. 23 of 1941 | |
No. 20 of 1940 | |
Number 42 of 1947.
SEANAD ELECTORAL (PANEL MEMBERS) ACT, 1947.
PART I.
Preliminary and General.
Short title.
1.—This Act may be cited as the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act, 1947.
Definitions.
2.—In this Act-
the expression “the administrative panel” has the meaning assigned to it in section 3;
the expression “the agricultural panel” has the meaning assigned to it in section 3;
the expression “annual revision” has the meaning assigned to it in section 16;
the expression “the appeal board” has the meaning assigned to it in section 12;
the expression “casual vacancy” means a vacancy in the membership of Seanad Eireann occasioned by the death, resignation or disqualification of a member of Seanad Eireann who was elected at the next preceding Seanad general election or was elected at a Seanad bye-election since the next preceding Seanad general election;
the expression “certificate of provisional election” has the meaning assigned to it in section 63;
the expression “close of the poll” has (as may be appropriate) the meaning assigned to it in section 24 or the meaning assigned to it in section 56;
the expression “the completion of the panels” has the meaning assigned to it in section 36;
the expression “the cultural and educational panel” has the meaning assigned to it in section 3;
the expression “Dáil election” means a general election of members of Dáil Eireann held in consequence of a dissolution of Dáil Eireann;
the expression “the expiration of the time for general panel proposed nominations” has the meaning assigned to it in section 24;
the expression “the expiration of the time for Oireachtas panel nominations” has the meaning assigned to it in section 24;
the expression “the industrial and commercial panel” has the meaning assigned to it in section 3;
the expression “the labour panel” has the meaning assigned to it in section 3;
the expression “the list of candidates” has the meaning assigned to it in section 68;
the expression “member of the Oireachtas” means a member of Dáil Eireann or a member of Seanad Eireann;
the expression “the Minister” means the Minister for Local Government;
the expression “nominating bodies” has the meaning assigned to it in section 8;
the expression “nominating bodies list” has the meaning assigned to it in section 28;
the expression “nominating bodies sub-panel” has the meaning assigned to it in section 43;
the expression “nominating bodies sub-panel casual vacancy” means a casual vacancy occasioned by the death, resignation or disqualification of a member of Seanad Eireann who was elected at the next preceding Seanad general election from a nominating bodies sub-panel or who was elected at a Seanad bye-election to fill (whether directly or indirectly) the place of a member who was so elected at such Seanad general election;
the expression “nomination committee” has the meaning assigned to it in section 21;
the expression “nomination committee (bye-election) meeting” has the meaning assigned to it in section 59;
the expression “nomination committee (general election) meeting” has the meaning assigned to it in section 32;
the expression “notice of a casual vacancy” has the meaning assigned to it in section 55;
the expression “Oireachtas sub-panel” has the meaning assigned to it in section 43;
the expression “Oireachtas sub-panel casual vacancy” means a casual vacancy occasioned by the death, resignation or disqualification of a member of Seanad Eireann who was elected at the next preceding Seanad general election from an Oireachtas sub-panel or who was elected at a Seanad bye-election to fill (whether directly or indirectly) the place of a member who was so elected at such Seanad general election;
the word “panel” has the meaning assigned to it in section 3;
the word “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Minister under this Act;
the expression “provisional nominating bodies sub-panel” has the meaning assigned to it in section 35;
the expression “the register of nominating bodies” has the meaning assigned to it in section 8;
the expression “the ruling upon nomination” has (as may be appropriate) the meaning assigned to it in section 64 or the meaning assigned to it in section 68;
the expression “Seanad bye-election” means an election to fill a casual vacancy;
the expression “Seanad bye-election order” has the meaning assigned to it in section 56;
the expression “Seanad general election” means so much of a general election of members of Seanad Eireann held in pursuance of Article 18 of the Constitution as relates to the election of those members who are required by that Article to be elected from panels;
the expression “Seanad general election order” has the meaning assigned to it in section 24;
the expression “Seanad returning officer” has the meaning assigned to it in section 4;
the word “sub-panel” has the meaning assigned to it in section 43.
The panels.
3.—(1) In this Act—
the word “panel” when used without qualification means a panel of candidates formed in pursuance of subsection 1° of section 7 of Article 18 of the Constitution;
the expression “the cultural and educational panel” means the panel required by the said subsection 1° to contain the names of persons having knowledge and practical experience of the following interests and services, namely, the national language and culture, literature, art, education and such professional interests as may be defined by law for the purpose of this panel;
the expression “the agricultural panel” means the panel required by the said subsection 1° to contain the names of persons having knowledge and practical experience of the following interests and services, namely, agriculture and allied interests, and fisheries;
the expression “the labour panel” means the panel required by the said subsection 1° to contain the names of persons having knowledge and practical experience of the following interests and services, namely, labour, whether organised or unorganised;
the expression “the industrial and commercial panel” means the panel required by the said subsection 1° to contain the names of persons having knowledge and practical experience of the following interests and services, namely, industry and commerce, including banking, finance, accountancy, engineering, and architecture;
the expression “the administrative panel” means the panel required by the said subsection 1° to contain the names of persons having knowledge and practical experience of the following interests and services, namely, public administration and social services, including voluntary social activities.
(2) The professional interests for the purposes of the cultural and educational panel are hereby defined as—
(a) law, and
(b) medicine, including surgery, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and pharmaceutical chemistry.
The Seanad returning officer.
4.—(1) The person who for the time being holds the office of Clerk of Seanad Éireann shall be the Seanad returning officer for the purposes of this Act.
(2) It shall be the duty of the Seanad returning officer to conduct every Seanad general election and every Seanad bye-election, to count the votes cast thereat, to ascertain and declare the result thereof in accordance with this Act, and to do such other things in respect of every such election as he is required by this Act to do.
(3) The Minister for Finance shall pay to the Seanad returning officer the amount of his reasonable charges, not exceeding such amount as may be sanctioned by that Minister, in respect of the performance by the Seanad returning officer of his duties under this Act out of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof.
(4) If and so long as the office of Clerk of Seanad Éireann is vacant or the holder of that office is unable through illness, absence or other cause to fulfil his duties, the Clerk-Assistant of Seanad Éireann shall act as Seanad returning officer and references in this Act to the Seanad returning officer shall have effect accordingly.
Regulations.
5.—The Minister may make regulations prescribing any matter or thing referred to in this Act as prescribed or to be prescribed.
Expenses.
6.—The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
Repeals.
7.—The Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act, 1937 (No. 43 of 1937), and the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) (Bye-Elections) Act, 1940 (No. 20 of 1940), are hereby repealed.
PART II.
The Register of Nominating Bodies.
Establishment and maintenance of register of nominating bodies.
8.—(1) A register (in this Act referred to as the register of nominating bodies) of bodies (in this Act referred to as nominating bodies) entitled to nominate persons to the panels of candidates for the purpose of every Seanad general election shall be established and maintained in accordance with this Act.
(2) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to the register of nominating bodies:
(a) the register shall be in such form as the Seanad returning officer thinks proper;
(b) a body shall not be eligible to be registered in the register in respect of any particular panel unless either—
(I) (i) its objects primarily relate to or are connected with the interests and services mentioned in subsection 1° of section 7 of Article 18 of the Constitution in respect of that particular panel, and
(ii) its activities are concerned mainly with such interests and services, or
(II) its members are representative of persons who have knowledge and practical experience of such interests and services;
(c) a body which is formed or carried on wholly or substantially for profit or which carries on, as its sole or principal function, any trade or business for profit shall not be eligible for registration in the register;
(d) the Seanad returning officer may refuse to register any body (not being an excepted body) in the register unless—
(I) its organisation and direction are governed by articles of association, rules or other regulations which—
(i) provide for an annual general meeting to which all members are invited by a notice forwarding an agenda including the following items, that is to say, minutes of preceding meeting, presentation of annual report, consideration of statement of accounts as certified by the auditor, election of executive committee, election of auditors,
(ii) make adequate provision for the carrying on of the business of the body by an executive committee, and
(iii) provide for the audit and certification of accounts by a public auditor or other qualified person, and
(II) its average annual revenue from subscriptions during the five years immediately preceding the application for registration has been, in the case of a charitable body, not less than one thousand pounds or, in any other case, not less than two hundred and fifty pounds,
but subject to the proviso that the requirements set out in this paragraph as to election of auditors, provision for audit and annual revenue shall not apply in the case of such bodies engaged in the promotion of scientific or general knowledge as in the opinion of the Seanad returning officer are of national importance;
(e) a body which is composed wholly or mainly of persons who are in the employment of the State or of persons who are in the employment of local authorities and the objects of which include the advancement or protection of the interests of such persons in relation to their said employment shall not be eligible for registration in the register;
(f) every body which is registered in the register shall be so registered in respect of one, and only one, panel;
(g) except as otherwise provided by this subsection, a body shall not be registered in the register save in pursuance of an application in that behalf made by such body in accordance with this Act;
(h) the Irish County Councils General Council and the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland shall be registered in the register in respect of the administrative panel without application, and no other body shall be registered in the register in respect of that panel unless its objects and activities consist, wholly or substantially, of voluntary social services of a charitable or eleemosynary character.
(3) In paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of this section the expression “excepted body” means a body which is—
(a) a body established under an Act of the Oireachtas for any of the following purposes:
(i) the regulation or control of professional qualifications or conduct.
(ii) the provision or improvement of cultural or educational facilities; or
(b) a cultural, educational or professional organisation in receipt of a grant voted specifically for it by the Oireachtas.
(4) Each of the following bodies, and no other body, shall be a local authority for the purposes of this section:
(a) the council of a county, the corporation of a county or other borough, the council of an urban district, the commissioners of a town or a public assistance authority,
(b) a committee or joint committee of or appointed by any one or more of the bodies mentioned in paragraph (a) of this subsection.
Applications for registration in register of nominating bodies.
9.—(1) Any body which desires to be registered in the register of nominating bodies in respect of any particular panel and claims to be eligible for registration in that register in respect of that panel may apply for that purpose to the Seanad returning officer in accordance with this section.
(2) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to applications for registration in the register of nominating bodies at the preparation of that register:
(a) an application shall be made in writing on an application paper in the prescribed form provided by the Seanad returning officer;
(b) the Seanad returning officer shall furnish free of charge on request to any body which proposes to apply for registration an application paper for that purpose;
(c) an application shall be delivered or sent by post to the Seanad returning officer at his office on or before the date specified in that behalf in the notice published under section 10 of this Act and any application which is received at that office after that date shall not be entertained or considered by the Seanad returning officer;
(d) an application shall state the panel in respect of which the applicant desires to be registered and the grounds on which the applicant claims to be eligible to be registered;
(e) an application shall also state all such things in relation to the applicant as are indicated in that behalf in the prescribed form of application paper.
Publication of notice of the preparation of register of nominating bodies.
10.—As soon as practicable after the passing of this Act, the Seanad returning officer shall publish, in every morning daily newspaper published in the State and in such other (if any) daily newspapers as, with the sanction of the Minister, he thinks proper, a notice in the prescribed form giving public notice that the register of nominating bodies is being prepared, and giving such information (including the latest date for receipt of applications for registration) and instructions in relation to applications for registration as the Minister thinks proper.
Preparation of register of nominating bodies.
11.—(1) As soon as practicable after the day prescribed for this section, and in any event not later than fourteen days thereafter, the Seanad returning officer shall prepare the register of nominating bodies and for that purpose—
(a) shall examine all applications for registration duly received by him,
(b) shall disallow every application which appears to him to be irregular in form and every application as respects which the applicant fails to satisfy him that the applicant is eligible for registration in respect of the panel to which the application relates,
(c) may disallow any applications which he is authorised by the subsequent provisions of this section to disallow, and
(d) shall allow all such applications as he does not disallow in pursuance of the foregoing provisions of this subsection.
(2) The Seanad returning officer may require from any applicant for registration in the register of nominating bodies all such information relevant to the registration of the applicant as he reasonably requires for the determination by him of the allowance or disallowance of the application, and the Seanad returning officer may disallow the application of any applicant which fails or refuses to give any information required of it under this section.
(3) It shall be lawful for the Seanad returning officer to disallow an application for registration in the register of nominating bodies made by any body which is a branch of or affiliated or subsidiary to a body which is already registered in the register or whose application for such registration he has allowed.
(4) Subsections (2) and (3) of this section shall have effect in relation to every annual revision of the register of nominating bodies as well as in relation to the first preparation of that register.
(5) Not later than fourteen days after the day prescribed for this section, the Seanad returning officer shall send by post to every body which applied for registration in the register of nominating bodies (whether its application has been allowed or disallowed) a copy of the register as prepared by the Seanad returning officer under this section.
(6) Where the Seanad returning officer has disallowed an application for registration in the register of nominating bodies, he shall, on the request of the body which made the application, furnish to the body a statement of his reasons for the disallowance.
(7) Where the Seanad returning officer has disallowed under this section an application for registration in the register of nominating bodies because the applicant has failed to satisfy him that the applicant is eligible for registration in respect of the panel to which the application relates, a statement to that effect by the Seanad returning officer shall, for the purposes of subsection (6) of this section, be a sufficient statement of the reasons for the disallowance.
(8) The allowance or disallowance by the Seanad returning officer of any application for registration in the register of nominating bodies shall be final and conclusive, subject only to such appeal as is provided for by this Act.
Appeal Board.
12.—(1) There shall be a board (in this Act referred to as the appeal board) to hear appeals from decisions of the Seanad returning officer under this Part of this Act.
(2) The appeal board shall consist of five members, namely:—
(a) a chairman, who shall be a judge of the Supreme Court or the High Court nominated by the Chief Justice,
(b) the Chairman of Dáil Eireann,
(c) the Deputy-Chairman of Dáil Eireann,
(d) the Chairman of Seanad Eireann,
(e) the Deputy-Chairman of Seanad Eireann.
(3) The quorum for a meeting of the appeal board shall be three.
(4) The appeal board may act notwithstanding any vacancy thereon.
(5) Subject to the express provisions of this Act, the appeal board shall regulate its own procedure.
Appeals to the appeal board in connection with preparation of register of nominating bodies.
13.—(1) Any applicant for registration in the register of nominating bodies whose application for registration has been disallowed by the Seanad returning officer on the preparation of the register may appeal in accordance with this section to the appeal board against the disallowance.
(2) Any applicant for registration in the register of nominating bodies on the preparation thereof in respect of any particular panel (whether its application for registration has been allowed or has been disallowed by the Seanad returning officer) may appeal in accordance with this section to the appeal board against the allowance by the Seanad returning officer of the application of any other applicant for such registration in respect of the same panel.
(3) An appeal under this section to the appeal board shall be made in writing and shall state the grounds on which the appeal is made and shall be delivered or sent by post to the Clerk of Dáil Eireann on or before the day prescribed for this section, and any such appeal which is received by the Clerk of Dáil Eireann after that day shall not be entertained or considered by the appeal board.
(4) An appeal under this section shall be open to inspection at all convenient times by the Seanad returning officer.
Decision of appeals in connection with preparation of register of nominating bodies.
14.—(1) The appeal board shall consider every appeal duly made under section 13 of this Act and shall, in respect of each such appeal, either reverse the decision of the Seanad returning officer which is the subject of the appeal or disallow the appeal.
(2) The appeal board shall, when considering an appeal made under section 13 of this Act, consider—
(a) the grounds for the appeal stated pursuant to subsection (3) of that section, and no other grounds, and
(b) such information (if any) as was made available to the Seanad returning officer, and no other information.
(3) A decision of the Seanad returning officer shall not be reversed under this section by the appeal board unless a majority of the members present are in favour of the reversal.
(4) The Seanad returning officer shall give to the appeal board such information and assistance in relation to every appeal considered pursuant to this section as the Board may reasonably require of him.
(5) The decision of the appeal board on any appeal considered pursuant to this section shall be final and conclusive.
Completion and publication of register of nominating bodies.
15.—(1) If no appeal under section 13 of this Act is duly made to the appeal board, the Clerk of Dáil Eireann shall, on the day prescribed for this section inform the Seanad returning officer of that fact and the Seanad returning officer shall thereupon sign and publish in the Iris Oifigiúil the register of nominating bodies prepared by him under the foregoing provisions of this Act.
(2) If any appeal is duly made under section 13 of this Act to the appeal board, the board shall communicate to the Seanad returning officer their decision (if any) on every such appeal and the Seanad returning officer shall thereupon make such (if any) amendment in the register of nominating bodies prepared by him under the foregoing provisions of this Part of this Act as may be necessary to give effect to such decision and, when all such appeals have been decided and the decisions (if any) thereon have been communicated to and dealt with by the Seanad returning officer, the Seanad returning officer shall sign the register of nominating bodies as so prepared and amended (if at all) by him as aforesaid and shall publish it in the Iris Oifigiúil as soon as conveniently may be.
(3) The register of nominating bodies as published in the Iris Oifigiúil in pursuance of this section shall be final and conclusive and shall not be open to review by any court and shall be in force for the first Seanad general election held after it is first published and every subsequent Seanad general election, subject only to such annual revision as is provided by this Act.
Annual revision of register of nominating bodies.
16.—(1) The Seanad returning officer shall, on or after the 1st, but not later than the 15th day of January in the year after the year of the preparation of the register of nominating bodies and in every subsequent year, publish in every morning daily newspaper published in the State and in such other (if any) daily newspapers as, with the sanction of the Minister, he thinks proper a notice in the prescribed form giving public notice that, on the 15th day of February next following or, if that day is a Sunday, the 16th day of February next following, the Seanad returning officer will proceed to revise the register of nominating bodies, and giving such information and instructions in relation to applications for insertion, deletion, or amendment of entries in that register as the Minister thinks proper.
(2) Any body not registered in the register of nominating bodies, which desires to be registered in respect of any particular panel in that register and claims to be eligible for such registration, and any body registered in that register which desires to be removed therefrom, or desires that the entry in respect of it in that register should be amended in any way, may make application in the prescribed form to the Seanad returning officer during the period beginning on the 15th day of January and ending on the 15th day of February in the year after the year of the preparation of the register of nominating bodies or in any subsequent year, for such registration, deletion, or amendment, as the case may be.
(3) On the 15th day of February or, if that day is a Sunday, on the 16th day of February in the year after the year of the preparation of the register of nominating bodies and in every subsequent year the Seanad returning officer shall revise (in this Act referred to as an annual revision) the register of nominating bodies by:—
(a) registering in the register all bodies which have duly applied under this section for registration at such annual revision and whose application he does not disallow,
(b) deleting from the register the registration of every body which appears to him to have ceased to exist or to have ceased to be eligible for registration or the deletion of which from the register appears to him to be necessary and proper in consequence of the allowance of the application of another body for registration, and
(c) making all such amendments in the register as appear to him, by virtue of applications under this section or otherwise to be requisite or proper.
(4) The Seanad returning officer shall disallow every application under this section which appears to him to be irregular in form and every application under this section for registration in respect of a panel as respects which the applicant fails to satisfy him that the applicant is eligible for such registration.
(5) The Seanad returning officer may make such inquiries as he thinks proper for the purpose of any annual revision of the register of nominating bodies and may, at any annual revision, make all such deletions from and amendments of the register of nominating bodies as appear to him, in consequence of such inquiries, to be requisite or proper, but the Seanad returning officer shall not make any such deletion or amendment without giving notice thereof to the body affected thereby or without giving such body a reasonable opportunity of making representations in regard thereto.
(6) Every allowance or disallowance by the Seanad returning officer of any application under this section for registration in, deletion from, or amendment of the register of nominating bodies, and every deletion from or amendment of that register made by the Seanad returning officer at an annual revision otherwise than on an application under this section, shall be final and conclusive, subject only to such appeal as is provided for by this Act.
Appeals to appeal board in connection with annual revision.
17.—(1) Not later than the 1st day of March in the year after the year of the preparation of the register of nominating bodies and in every subsequent year, the Seanad returning officer shall—
(a) inform every body which applied for registration in, deletion from, or amendment of the register of nominating bodies at the annual revision in that year whether he allowed or disallowed the application and, in the case of disallowance, his reasons therefor, and
(b) communicate to every body affected by a deletion from or amendment of the register of nominating bodies made by him at the annual revision in that year otherwise than on an application by such body the particulars of such deletion or amendment and his reasons therefor.
(2) Any of the following persons may appeal to the appeal board against such of the decisions of the Seanad returning officer at an annual revision as are hereinafter specified, that is to say:—
(a) in the case of a disallowance of an application, the body by which the application was made,
(b) in the case of an allowance of an application for registration, any nominating body registered in the register of nominating bodies, and any body which applied at the annual revision for registration in that register, whether the application was allowed or disallowed,
(c) in the case of a deletion from or amendment of the register of nominating bodies made by the Seanad returning officer otherwise than on an application under this Act, the body affected by the deletion or amendment.
(3) An appeal under this section to the appeal board shall be made in writing and shall state the grounds on which the appeal is made and shall be delivered or sent by post to the Clerk of Dáil Eireann on or before the 15th day of March in the year in which the decision appealed against was given.
(4) An appeal under this section shall be open to inspection at all convenient times by the Seanad returning officer.
(5) Where the Seanad returning officer has disallowed under section 16 of this Act an application for registration in respect of a panel because the applicant has failed to satisfy him that the applicant is eligible for such registration, a statement to that effect shall, for the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, be a sufficient statement of the reasons for the disallowance.
(6) Where the Seanad returning officer has deleted under section 16 of this Act the registration of a body on the ground that the body has ceased to be eligible for such registration, a statement to that effect shall, for the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, be a sufficient statement of the grounds for the deletion.
Decision of appeals in connection with annual revision.
18.—(1) The appeal board shall consider every appeal duly made to it unnder section 17 of this Act and shall, in respect of each such appeal, either reverse the decision of the Seanad returning officer which is the subject of the appeal or disallow the appeal.
(2) The appeal board shall, when considering an appeal made under section 17 of this Act, consider—
(a) the grounds for the appeal stated pursuant to subsection (3) of that section, and no other grounds, and
(b) such information (if any) as was made available to the Seanad returning officer, and no other information.
(3) A decision of the Seanad returning officer shall not be reversed under this section by the appeal board unless a majority of the members present are in favour of the reversal.
(4) The Seanad returning officer shall give to the appeal board such information and assistance in relation to every appeal considered in pursuance of this section as the board may reasonably require of him.
(5) The decision of the appeal board on any appeal considered in pursuance of this section shall be final and conclusive.
Completion of annual revision.
19.—(1) Not later than the 20th day of March in the year after the year of the preparation of the register of nominating bodies and in every subsequent year, the Seanad returning officer shall revise the register of nominating bodies in such manner as may be requisite to give effect to all decisions given by him at the annual revision in that year against which no appeal to the board has been made within the time limited in that behalf by this Act, and every revision so made shall come into force on the 21st day of March of the year in which it is made.
(2) The Clerk of Dáil Eireann shall communicate to the Seanad returning officer every decision by the appeal board on an appeal considered pursuant to section 18 of this Act, and the Seanad returning officer shall forthwith make such (if any) revision of the register of nominating bodies as is necessary to give effect to such decision, and every such revision shall come into force on the day after the day on which it is made.
(3) As soon as any annual revision of the register of nominating bodies has been completed in accordance with this Part of this Act, the Seanad returning officer shall sign and publish in the Iris Oifigiúil the register as revised at the annual revision and the register as so published shall be conclusive evidence of the alterations made in the register at the annual revision.
Fee on appeal to appeal board.
20.—(1) Every body which appeals to the appeal board shall pay to the Clerk of Dáil Eireann a fee of twenty pounds, and the payment of the fee before the expiration of the time limited by this Act for sending or delivering the appeal to the Clerk of Dáil Eireann shall be a condition precedent to the entertainment of the appeal by the appeal board.
(2) Every fee paid to the Clerk of Dáil Eireann in pursuance of this section shall be retained by him until the appeal in respect of which the fee was paid has been decided by the appeal board and—
(a) if the appeal board reverses the decision of the Seanad returning officer which is the subject of the appeal, the Clerk of Dáil Eireann shall forthwith repay the fee to the appellant by whom it was paid to him, and
(b) in every other case, the Clerk of Dáil Eireann shall pay the fee into, or dispose of it for the benefit of, the Exchequer in such manner as the Minister for Finance directs.
(3) The Public Offices (Fees) Act, 1879, shall not apply in respect of fees payable under this section.
PART III.
The Nomination Committees.
Formation and maintenance of nomination committees.
21.—(1) There shall be formed and maintained in respect of each panel a standing committee to be known and in this Act referred to as the nomination committee for that panel.
(2) A nominating body which is for the time being registered in the register of nominating bodies shall be entitled to appoint five members of the nomination committee for the panel in respect of which such nominating body is so registered.
(3) The Seanad returning officer shall establish as soon as may be after the publication pursuant to section 15 of this Act of the register of nominating bodies, and shall thereafter maintain, a register with respect to each nomination committee stating the members thereof and each such register shall be conclusive evidence of the membership of the committee to which it relates.
(4) A register maintained under subsection (3) of this section of the members of a nomination committee shall state, in respect of every such member, his postal address as stated in his appointment or as subsequently communicated by him under this Act, and every notice required by this Act to be sent by the Seanad returning officer to any such member shall be sent by prepaid post addressed to him at his postal address as so stated.
(5) The quorum of a nomination committee shall be one-fourth of the members thereof or three members (whichever is the greater).
Appointment of members of nominating committee.
22.—(1) A nominating body which is registered in the register of nominating bodies on the publication of that register pursuant to section 15 of this Act shall, as soon as may be after such publication, appoint five persons to be members of the nomination committee for the panel in respect of which such body is so registered.
(2) A body which becomes, after the publication of the register of nominating bodies pursuant to section 15 of this Act, registered as a nominating body in that register shall, as soon as may be after it becomes so registered, appoint five persons to be members of the nomination committee for the panel in respect of which such body is so registered.
(3) Where a member appointed by a nominating body of a nomination committee ceases to be such member by reason of death, being adjudicated a bankrupt or convicted of an indictable offence, or ceasing to be a member of the body, the body shall as soon as conveniently may be appoint a person to fill the vacancy.
(4) An appointment of a member of a nomination committee by a nominating body shall—
(a) be made in writing, and
(b) if the nominating body is a body corporate, have the seal of the body affixed thereto in the manner and with the counter-signatures required by the constitution, articles of association, or other regulations of the body or if the nominating body is not a body corporate, be signed in the name of the body by some person having authority to sign in that name, and
(c) state the name, postal address, and description of the appointee and contain a statement, signed by the appointee, that he assents to the appointment, and
(d) be sent to the Seanad returning officer by such nominating body, and
(e) have effect as from the time at which it is received by the Seanad returning officer.
(5) Where the first appointment by a nominating body of members of a nomination committee is made at an annual meeting of the body, the body shall at that meeting appoint the day for its next annual meeting and the day appointed shall be notified to the Seanad returning officer and shall be not more than four hundred days and not less than three hundred and thirty days after the day on which the appointment is made.
(6) Where the first appointment by a nominating body of members of a nomination committee is made at a meeting which is not an annual meeting, the meeting shall be a meeting specially called for the purpose of making such appointment.
(7) The second and any subsequent appointment by a nominating body of members of a nomination committee shall be made at an annual meeting of the body, and the body shall at every such meeting appoint the day for its next annual meeting and the day appointed shall be notified to the Seanad returning officer and shall be not more than four hundred days and not less than three hundred and thirty days after the day on which the appointment is made.
(8) Any member of a nomination committee may at any time inform the Seanad returning officer in writing of a change in his postal address and thereupon the Seanad returning officer shall enter the change of address in the register of the members of the committee.
Tenure of office of member of nomination committee.
23.—(1) A member appointed by a nominating body of a nomination committee shall cease to hold office as such member on the happening of any of the following events, and in no other circumstances, that is to say:—
(a) the expiration of the day before the day of the annual meeting of the body next occurring after his appointment,
(b) his death,
(c) his being adjudicated bankrupt or convicted of an indictable offence,
(d) his ceasing to be a member of the body,
(e) the body ceasing to be a nominating body registered in the register of nominating bodies in respect of the relevant panel.
(2) A member of a nomination committee ceasing to hold office as such member by reason of the expiration of the day before the day of an annual meeting of the nominating body which appointed him shall be eligible for re-appointment.
PART IV.
Seanad General Election.
Chapter I.
Seanad General Election Order.
Seanad general election order.
24.—(1) Before every Seanad general election, the Minister shall by order (in this Act referred to as a Seanad general election order) appoint for the purposes of the election:—
(a) the day and hour (in this Act referred to as the expiration of the time for general panel proposed nominations) on and at which the period during which the Seanad returning officer may receive proposals for nominations to the panels by nominating bodies will expire;
(b) the day and hour (in this Act referred to as the expiration of the time for Oireachtas panel nominations) on and at which the period during which the Seanad returning officer may receive nominations to the panels by members of the Oireachtas will expire;
(c) the days on which and the places and hours at which the nominating committee (general election) meetings (so far as they are required to be held) will be held;
(d) the day on which and the place at which the Seanad returning officer will sit for the completion of the panels;
(e) the day on which the ballot papers for the election will be issued;
(f) the day and hour (in this Act referred to as the close of the poll) on and at which the poll at the election will be closed;
(g) the address of the Seanad returning officer to which nomination papers and other communications may be sent to him.
(2) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to a Seanad general election order:—
(a) the order shall be made within seven days after the dissolution of Dáil Eireann which occasions the election;
(b) the day appointed by the order for the expiration of the time for general panel proposed nominations shall not be less than four weeks after such dissolution and, where practicable, shall not be prior to the date fixed for the reassembly of Dáil Éireann after such dissolution;
(c) the day appointed by the order for the expiration of the time for Oireachtas nominations shall not be less than seven days after the day appointed by the order for the expiration of the time for general panel nominations and, where practicable, shall be subsequent to the date fixed for the reassembly of Dáil Eireann after such dissolution;
(d) the order shall be published in the Iris Oifigiúil as soon as may be after it is made.
Chapter II.
Formation of the Panels.
Nomination to panels by members of Oireachtas.
25.—(1) At a Seanad general election, any person may be nominated in accordance with this Act by not less than four members of the Oireachtas to any of the panels constituted for that election.
(2) A member of the Oireachtas shall not join in the nomination under this section of more than one person at any particular Seanad general election.
Proposals for nominations to panel by registered nominating bodies.
26.—(1) At a Seanad general election, a nominating body which is registered in the register of nominating bodies in respect of a particular panel shall be entitled to propose for nomination to the panel such number of persons as is provided in that behalf by this section.
(2) Where one nominating body, and no more, is entitled to propose for nomination to a particular panel, that body shall be entitled to so propose—
(a) in the case of the cultural and educational panel—three persons,
(b) in the case of the agricultural panel or the labour panel—eleven persons,
(c) in the case of the industrial and commercial panel—nine persons,
(d) in the case of the administrative panel—five persons.
(3) Where two nominating bodies, and no more, are entitled to propose for nomination to a particular panel, each shall be entitled to propose for nomination to the panel—
(a) in the case of the cultural and educational panel—two persons,
(b) in the case of the agricultural panel or the labour panel—six persons,
(c) in the case of the industrial and commercial panel—five persons,
(d) in the case of the administrative panel—three persons.
(4) Where three or more nominating bodies are entitled to propose for nomination to a particular panel, each shall be entitled to propose for nomination to the panel—
(a) if the number obtained by dividing the appropriate number by the number of the nominating bodies is two or less—two persons, and
(b) if the number so obtained is more than two—the number so obtained of persons if it is a whole number or, if it is not a whole number, the next higher whole number of persons.
(5) in subsection (4) of this section, the expression “the appropriate number” means—
(a) in the case of the cultural and educational panel—ten,
(b) in the case of the agricultural panel or the labour panel—eighteen,
(c) in the case of the industrial and commercial panel—sixteen,
(d) in the case of the administrative panel—twelve.
Method of proposal for nomination by nominating body.
27.—(1) Within ten days after a dissolution of Dáil Éireann, the Seanad returning officer shall send by post to every nominating body registered in the register of nominating bodies a form of proposal for nomination paper and also a notice in the prescribed form informing the body of its right to propose persons for nomination to a specified panel and of the number of persons which it is entitled so to propose and giving to the body such information and instructions in relation to the making of the proposals for nomination as the Minister thinks proper to prescribe.
(2) A proposal for nomination to a panel by a nominating body shall be made in accordance with the following provisions:—
(a) the proposal shall be made in writing on a proposal for nomination paper in the prescribed form;
(b) the nominating body shall propose by one and the same proposal for nomination paper all the persons which it is entitled to propose;
(c) the proposal for nomination paper shall contain the particulars required by the prescribed form of proposal for nomination paper to be stated therein (including a statement of the qualifications of every person thereby proposed for the panel to which he is proposed) and shall be signed by the nominating body;
(d) where the nominating body is a body corporate, the proposal for nomination paper shall be signed by the body by affixing to such paper the seal of the body in the manner and with the counter signatures required by the constitution, articles of association, or other regulations of the body;
(e) where the nominating body is not a body corporate, the proposal for nomination paper shall be signed in the name of the body by some person having authority to sign in that name.
(3) In the case of the Irish County Councils' General Council and in the case of the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland, the persons to be proposed for nomination to the administrative panel by those bodies respectively shall be chosen by the members of the body voting on the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.
(4) A proposal for nomination paper which purports to be sealed with the seal of a body corporate which is a nominating body and to be countersigned shall, until the contrary is proved, be deemed to have been so sealed in the manner and with the counter-signatures required by the constitution, articles of association, or other regulations of the body.
(5) A proposal for nomination paper which purports to be signed in the name of an unincorporated body which is a nominating body shall, until the contrary is proved, be deemed to have been so signed by a person having authority to sign in that name.
(6) Where a nominating body purports to propose for nomination by a proposal for nomination paper either more persons or less persons to a panel than the body is entitled so to propose, the proposal for nomination paper shall be wholly void.
(7) The Seanad returning officer shall furnish free of charge on request to a nominating body such number of forms of proposal for nomination paper (in addition to the form which he is required by subsection (1) of this section to send to the body) as the body reasonably requires.
Preparation of nominating bodies lists.
28.—(1) A proposal for nomination paper by which a person or persons is or are proposed for nomination at a Seanad general election by a nominating body shall be delivered or sent by post to the Seanad returning officer.
(2) Immediately after the expiration of the time for general panel proposal nominations, the Seanad returning officer shall prepare, in respect of each panel, a list (in this Act referred to as a nominating bodies list) in the prescribed form of the persons in respect of whom he has received, before the expiration of the said time, proposals for nominations to such panel by nominating bodies.
(3) If, when the provisions of subsection (2) of this section have been complied with, the number of persons included in a nominating bodies list does not equal or exceed the appropriate number, the Seanad returning officer shall report to the Taoiseach the deficiency in such list and furnish him with copies of the nominating bodies lists.
(4) Upon receiving a report under subsection (3) of this section, the Taoiseach shall propose for nomination to every panel in respect of which he receives the report such number of persons as will be sufficient to bring the number of persons on the relevant nominating bodies list up to the appropriate number (and no more).
(5) A proposal for nomination made by the Taoiseach under this section shall be made in accordance with the following provisions:—
(a) the proposal for nomination shall be made in writing on a proposal for nomination paper in the prescribed form;
(b) the proposal for nomination shall be made by a separate proposal for nomination paper;
(c) the proposal for nomination paper shall state the sub-panel in respect of which the proposal is made and shall also contain the particulars required by the said prescribed form of proposal for nomination paper (including a statement of the qualifications of the person thereby proposed for the panel to which he is so proposed) and shall be signed by the Taoiseach;
(d) the proposal for nomination paper shall be delivered or sent to the Seanad returning officer and shall be so sent or delivered that it is received by him within ten days after the expiration of the time for general panel proposed nominations.
(6) On receipt of proposals for nominations under subsection (4) of this section in respect of a panel, the Seanad returning officer shall prepare, in respect of the panel, a list (in this Act also referred to as a nominating bodies list) in the prescribed form of the persons in respect of whom he has received proposals for nominations to such panel by nominating bodies or the Taoiseach and such list shall have effect in substitution for the previous nominating bodies list in respect of the panel.
(7) In preparing the nominating bodies lists, the Seanad returning officer shall not—
(a) include the name of a person whose proposal for nomination has been received after the expiration of the time for general panel proposed nominations,
(b) include the name of a person whose proposal for nomination is declared by this Act to be wholly void, or
(c) include the name of a person more than once in the same list.
(8) In this section, the expression “the appropriate number” means—
(a) if one nominating body, and no more, or two nominating bodies, and no more, is or are entitled to propose for nomination to the relevant panel—
(i) in case such panel is the cultural and educational panel—six,
(ii) in case such panel is the agricultural or the labour panel—fourteen,
(iii) in case such panel is the industrial and commercial panel—twelve,
(iv) in case such panel is the administrative panel—eight,
(b) if three or more nominating bodies are entitled to propose for nomination to the relevant panel—
(i) in case such panel is the cultural and educational panel—ten,
(ii) in case such panel is the agricultural or the labour panel—eighteen,
(iii) in case such panel is the industrial and commercial panel—sixteen,
(iv) in case such panel is the administrative panel — twelve.
Method of nomination by members of Oireachtas.
29.—(1) A nomination at a Seanad general election by members of the Oireachtas shall be made in accordance with the following provisions:
(a) the nomination shall be made in writing on a nomination paper in the prescribed form;
(b) the nomination paper shall contain the particulars required by the prescribed form of nomination paper to be stated therein, including a statement of the qualifications of the person thereby nominated for the panel to which he is so nominated;
(c) the nomination paper shall be signed by each of the members of the Oireachtas making a nomination thereby;
(d) the nomination paper shall be delivered or sent by post to the Seanad returning officer.
(2) If a member of the Oireachtas signs as a nominator two or more nomination papers, both or all of the nomination papers shall be wholly void.
Preparation of provisional Oireachtas sub-panels.
30.—(1) Immediately after the expiration of the time for Oireachtas panel nominations, the Seanad returning officer shall prepare, in respect of each panel, a list (in this Act referred to as a provisional Oireachtas sub-panel) in the prescribed form of the persons in respect of whom he has received, before the expiration of the said time, nominations to such panel by members of the Oireachtas.
(2) In preparing the provisional Oireachtas sub-panels, the Seanad returning officer shall not:—
(a) include the name of a person whose nomination has been received after the expiration of the time for Oireachtas panel nominations,
(b) include the name of a person whose nomination is declared by this Act to be wholly void, or
(c) include the name of a person more than once in the same sub-panel.
Publication and inspection of proposal for nomination papers and nomination papers.
31.—Where the Seanad returning officer receives a proposal for nomination paper or a nomination paper at a Seanad general election (other than a paper declared by this Act to be wholly void or a paper so received after the time limited by this Act for such receipt)—
(a) the Seanad returning officer shall forthwith post up, in such public place in the county borough of Dublin as he considers most suitable, a notice stating the fact of the receipt by him of the paper and the name, address and description (as stated in the paper) of the person purported to be proposed or nominated by the paper and the panel to which such person purports to be so proposed or nominated,
(b) the Seanad returning officer shall hold the paper available for inspection by candidates between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m on week-days during the period beginning on the day after the day of the receipt of the paper and ending on the day before the day of the completion or resumption of the completion (as may be appropriate) of the panels.
Nomination committee (general election) meeting.
32.—A meeting (in this Act referred to as a nomination committee (general election) meeting) of the nomination committee for a panel for which there are three or more nominating bodies shall be held on the day and at the place and hour appointed in that behalf by a Seanad general election order and, at least seven days before the meeting, the Seanad returning officer shall send by post, to each person named in the electoral roll constituted under section 33 of this Act for the meeting, a notice in the prescribed form with respect to the holding of the meeting.
Electoral roll for nomination committee (general election) meeting.
33.—(1) Where a nomination committee (general election) meeting is to be held, the Seanad returning officer shall prepare, from the register under section 21 of this Act, a list stating the names, addresses and description of the members of the nomination committee and the list shall be the electoral roll for the purposes of the meeting and shall be final and conclusive.
(2) The several persons named in the electoral roll constituted under this section for a nomination committee (general election) meeting (and no other person) shall be entitled to vote at the poll at the meeting.
(3) The death of a person named in an electoral roll constituted under this section shall not prejudice or affect the validity or operation of the electoral roll.
Procedure at a nomination committee (general election) meeting.
34.—(1) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to every nomination committee (general election) meeting:—
(a) the Seanad returning officer shall preside at the meeting and shall conduct the proceedings thereof;
(b) the proceedings shall commence at the time appointed for the meeting by the relevant Seanad general election order if there is then a quorum or, if there is not then a quorum, when there is a quorum;
(c) the Seanad returning officer and his assistants and the persons named in the electoral roll constituted for the meeting under section 33 of this Act, and no other person, may be present at the meeting;
(d) each member of the nomination committee attending the meeting shall, when or as soon as may be after he enters the meeting, sign his name in a book or other record (to be provided and kept by the Seanad returning officer) of attendances;
(e) a poll shall be held for the purpose of selecting, from the persons included in the nominating bodies list in respect of the relevant panel, the appropriate number of persons to be included in the provisional nominating bodies sub-panel in respect of that panel;
(f) for the purposes of the poll, the Seanad returning officer shall make available such ballot boxes, desks, and other furniture as he considers necessary and also provide a sufficient number of ballot papers;
(g) the Seanad returning officer shall close the poll at the expiration of two hours from the time at which it was opened;
(h) a person shall not be entitled to receive a ballot paper unless or until he has signed his name under paragraph (d) of this subsection;
(i) a person in giving his vote must place on the ballot paper the figure 1 opposite the name of the person for whom he votes, and he may in addition place on the ballot paper the figures 2 and 3, or 2, 3 and 4, and so on opposite the names of other persons in the order of his preference.
(j) any ballot paper—
(i) in which the figure 1 standing alone is not placed at all or is not so placed as to indicate a first preference, or
(ii) on which the figure 1 standing alone indicating a first preference is set opposite more than one name, or
(iii) on which the figure 1 standing alone indicating a first preference and some other number is set opposite a name,
shall be invalid and shall not be counted;
(k) the Seanad returning officer shall take all such steps as he considers proper or expedient for preserving the secrecy of the voting at the poll;
(l) every question which arises at or in relation to the taking of the poll shall be decided by the Seanad returning officer and his decision on any such question shall be final and unappealable;
(m) at the close of the poll, the Seanad returning officer shall ascertain, in accordance with this Act and, in particular, the rules contained in the Second Schedule to this Act, the result of the poll and shall announce such result to the candidates then present (if any);
(n) the Seanad returning officer and his assistants and the candidates (or their duly appointed representatives), and no other person, shall be entitled to be present at the ascertainment of the result of the poll.
(2) In subsection (1) of this section, the expression “the appropriate number” means:—
(a) in the case of the cultural and educational panel—six,
(b) in the case of the agricultural panel or the labour panel—fourteen,
(c) in the case of the industrial and commercial panel—twelve,
(d) in the case of the administrative panel—eight.
Preparation of provisional nominating bodies sub-panels.
35.—(1) The Seanad returning officer shall, as soon as conveniently may be after a nomination committee (general election) meeting, prepare a list (in this Act referred to as a provisional nominating bodies sub-panel) in the prescribed form of the persons selected at such meeting.
(2) Where there is one nominating body, and no more, or there are two nominating bodies, and no more, for a panel, the Seanad returning officer shall, as soon as conveniently may be after the preparation under subsection (6) of section 28 of this Act of a nominating bodies list in respect of the panel, prepare a list (in this Act also referred to as a provisional nominating bodies sub-panel) of the persons included in such nominating bodies list.
The completion of the panels.
36.—(1) At eleven o'clock in the morning on the day and at the place appointed in that behalf by a Seanad general election order, the Seanad returning officer shall attend and hold a sitting (in this Act referred to as the completion of the panels) at which he shall do all such things as he is required by the subsequent provisions of this Act to do at such sitting.
(2) At the completion of the panels, the Seanad returning officer shall proceed as follows:—
(a) he shall group the provisional Oireachtas sub-panels and the provisional nominating bodies sub-panels into five groups, each group consisting of a provisional Oireachtas sub-panel and a provisional nominating bodies sub-panel in respect of the same panel;
(b) as respects each of the groups of sub-panels—
(i) he shall examine each nomination paper in pursuance of which a person was entered in either sub-panel, shall rule upon the validity or invalidity of each nomination paper and the validity or invalidity of the nomination purported to be made thereby and shall delete from the sub-panels every entry made therein in pursuance of a nomination paper or a nomination which he decides to be invalid,
(ii) he shall examine the qualifications of each person whose name remains on the sub-panels after the said deletions and shall delete from the sub-panels the name of every person in respect of whom he is not satisfied that such person is qualified under subsection 1° of section 7 of Article 18 of the Constitution to be on the panel to which the sub-panels relate,
(iii) he shall, in respect of every person whom he determines to be qualified to be on such panel, enter in the relevant sub-panel a statement, in such form as he thinks proper, of the qualifications which he determines to be in fact the qualification of such person to be on such panel,
(iv) he shall then delete all duplicate entries remaining on the sub-panels and shall for that purpose give preference to a nomination by a nominating body;
(c) if, when the provisions of paragraph (b) of this subsection have been complied with, any person is found to be entered in two or more groups of sub-panels—
(i) the Seanad returning officer shall retain the name of such person on such one of the groups as such person or his agent elects,
(ii) if such person or his agent (as the case may be) refuses or fails to elect or neither such person nor his agent is present or reasonably available, the Seanad returning officer shall retain the name of such person in such one of the groups of sub-panels as the Seanad returning officer determines by lot,
(iii) the Seanad returning officer shall delete the name of such person from all the groups of sub-panels except that on which he is required, by whichever of the foregoing subparagraphs of this paragraph is applicable, to retain the name of such person.
(3) In carrying out the provisions of this Act in relation to the proceedings at the completion of the panels, the Seanad returning officer shall have due regard to all decisions of the judicial referee on questions referred to him under this Act by the Seanad returning officer.
(4) A decison by the Seanad returning officer at the completion of the panels shall be final and conclusive subject only to such reference to the judicial referee as is provided for by this Act.
Nominations by the Taoiseach to complete provisional sub-panels.
37.—(1) If, when the provisions of section 36 of this Act, have been complied with, the number of persons whose names are entered in any provisional sub-panel does not exceed by at least two the maximum number of members of Seanad Éireann permitted by this Act to be elected therefrom, the Seanad returning officer shall adjourn to a convenient day and hour the further proceedings at the completion of the panels and shall report to the Taoiseach the deficiency in the said provisional sub-panel and furnish to the Taoiseach a copy of the provisional sub-panels as settled immediately before the adjournment.
(2) Upon receiving a report under subsection (1) of this section, the Taoiseach shall nominate to every provisional sub-panel in respect of which he receives the report such number of persons as will be sufficient to bring the number of persons on the provisional sub-panel up to a number exceeding by two (and no more) the maximum number of members of Seanad Éireann permitted by this Act to be elected therefrom.
(3) Where the Taoiseach is required by subsection (2) of this section to make nominations to a provisional sub-panel, it shall be lawful for him to make additional nominations to such provisional sub-panel in excess of the number of nominations required by that subsection, but the additional nominations shall be substitutional only and shall be operative only if and so far as is requisite by reason of the invalidity of one or more of the other nominations made by the Taoiseach under this section to such provisional sub-panel.
(4) A nomination made by the Taoiseach under this section shall be made in accordance with the following provisions:—
(a) the nomination shall be made in writing on a nomination paper in the prescribed form;
(b) the nomination shall be made by a separate nomination paper;
(c) the nomination paper shall state the sub-panel in respect of which the nomination is made and shall also contain the particulars required by the said prescribed form of nomination paper to be stated therein (including a statement of the qualifications of the person thereby nominated for the panel to which he is so nominated) and shall be signed by the Taoiseach;
(d) the nomination paper shall be delivered or sent to the Seanad returning officer and shall be so sent or delivered that it is received by the Seanad returning officer before the time to which the completion of the panels was adjourned under subsection (1) of this section.
(5) On the resumption of the completion of the panels after the adjournment thereof under subsection (1) of this section, the Seanad returning officer shall consider and rule upon the nominations made by the Taoiseach under this section (including examining and ruling upon the qualifications of every person so nominated for the panel to which he is so nominated) and shall enter in the proper place in the proper provisional sub-panel the name, address, and description of every person whom he finds to be validly so nominated, together with a statement, in such form as he thinks proper, of the qualifications which he determines to be in fact the qualifications of such person to be on such panel.
The judicial referee at completion of panels.
38.—(1) The President of the High Court or some other judge of the High Court nominated by him shall attend at the completion of the panels and there sit and act as judicial referee.
(2) The Seanad returning officer may, on his own motion, and shall, if so requested by any person whose name is on a provisional sub-panel for the time being under consideration or by the agent of any such person, refer to the judicial referee any question arising during the completion of the panels in relation to any nomination paper, the nomination of any person to a panel, the qualifications of any person for a panel, the statement by the Seanad returning officer of such qualification, or any other matter connected with the provisional panels.
(3) The judicial referee shall there and then decide and announce his decision on every question referred to him under this section by the Seanad returning officer.
(4) The decision of the judicial referee on any question referred to him under this section by the Seanad returning officer shall be final and conclusive and shall not be open to review by any court.
(5) A question may be referred to the judicial referee under this section whether the Seanad returning officer has or has not himself given a decision thereon.
Questions which may be raised at completion of panels.
39.—(1) Subject to compliance (where appropriate) with subsection (2) of this section, at the completion of the panels every question relevant to the nomination of a person to a panel, including the validity of nomination papers, the sufficiency or the correctness of any statement in a nomination paper, the validity or the disqualification of any nomination and the qualifications of any person for any panel, may be raised by the Seanad returning officer or by any person whose name is on a provisional sub-panel for the time being under consideration or by the agent of any such person.
(2) Where a person other than the Seanad returning officer proposes to raise a question at the completion of the panels, he shall deliver a statement of the question and of the grounds therefor to the Seanad returning officer at least two days before the day of the completion of the panels.
(3) Where the identity of the person purported to be nominated by a nomination paper is free from doubt, the nomination paper shall not be rejected or declared invalid merely because of an error in, or the incompleteness of, the statement therein of the name, address or description of such person.
(4) The Seanad returning officer may, for the purpose of deciding any question at issue during the completion of the panels, receive and act upon evidence, whether oral or written, tendered to him by or on behalf of any person affected by such question, and may, if he so thinks proper, require such evidence to be given on oath and may for that purpose administer an oath.
(5) The judicial referee may, for the purpose of deciding any question referred to him during the completion of the panels, receive and act upon evidence, whether oral or written, tendered to him by or on behalf of any person affected by such question (being, save where the judicial referee otherwise allows, evidence which was made available to the Seanad returning officer), and may, if he so thinks proper, require such evidence to be given on oath and may for that purpose administer an oath.
Persons permitted to attend completion of panels.
40.—The following (and no other) persons shall be entitled to be present at the completion of the panels:—
(a) the Seanad returning officer and his assistants;
(b) the judicial referee and one person brought by him to attend on him;
(c) any person whose name is on a provisional sub-panel;
(d) one agent of each person whose name is on a provisional sub-panel;
(e) witnesses giving oral evidence, but only while giving such evidence;
(f) such other persons as the Seanad returning officer thinks proper to admit.
Continuity of proceedings at completion of panels.
41.—(1) The proceedings at the completion of the panels shall, so far as practicable, be proceeded with continuously, but may at any time be suspended by the Seanad returning officer, with the consent of the judicial referee, for such period as the Seanad returning officer thinks proper for refreshment, night-time or other reason appearing to him to be sufficient.
(2) Whenever the proceedings at the completion of the panels are suspended under this section, the Seanad returning officer shall take all proper precautions for the security of the nomination papers, provisional sub-panels and other relevant documents.
Death or disqualification of a candidate.
42.—(1) Where, before the expiration of the time for general panel proposed nominations, a nominating body satisfies the Seanad returning officer that a person proposed for nomination to a panel by the body has died or become disqualified for membership of Seanad Eireann, the Seanad returning officer shall forthwith cancel the proposal for nomination of such person, and thereupon such proposal for nomination shall be deemed for the purposes of this Act never to have been received by the Seanad returning officer and it shall be lawful for the body to propose for nomination in accordance with this Act a person to the panel in the place of the person who has died or become disqualified.
(2) Where, before the expiration of the time for Oireachtas panel nominations, the Seanad returning officer is satisfied that a person nominated to a panel by members of the Oireachtas has died or become disqualified for membership of Seanad Eireann, the Seanad returning officer shall forthwith cancel such nomination and thereupon it shall be deemed never to have been made.
(3) In the counting of the votes cast at a Seanad general election, all the preferences recorded for a candidate named in a panel of whose death (whether before or after the completion of the panel) the Seanad returning officer is satisfied before the close of the poll shall be disregarded and regard shall be had in lieu thereof to the next available preferences.
(4) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this section, the fact that a candidate named in a panel has (whether before or after the close of the poll) died or become disqualified for membership of Seanad Eireann shall not invalidate or prejudice the panel or the nomination of the candidate thereto or any preferences recorded for him, and, if he is elected, his election shall not be invalidated by reason of his having so died or become disqualified but he shall be deemed to have vacated his membership of Seanad Eireann immediately after his said election thereto.
Preparation and publication of the panels.
43.—(1) When, at the completion of the panels, the proceedings provided for in the foregoing sections of this Act have been completed, the Seanad returning officer shall prepare the five panels, each of which shall consist of a list (arranged in accordance with the subsequent provisions of this section) of the persons who have been found to be validly nominated thereto.
(2) Each of the panels shall be divided into two parts (in this Act referred to as sub-panels) one of which (in this Act referred to as the nominating bodies sub-panel) shall consist of a list of the persons nominated thereto by nominating bodies, and the other of which (in this Act referred to as the Oireachtas sub-panel) shall consist of a list of the persons nominated thereto by members of the Oireachtas.
(3) The persons named in a panel shall be described therein by their names, addresses and descriptions as stated in their respective nomination papers, and there shall be added to the description of every such person a statement of his qualifications for such panel as entered in the relevant provisional sub-panel in pursuance of the foregoing provisions of this Act.
(4) The persons named in a part of a panel shall be arranged in such part in the alphabetical order of their surnames and, in the case of identity of surnames, of their other names.
(5) When the Seanad returning officer has prepared the five panels he shall publish them in the Iris Oifigiúil.
(6) The several panels as prepared and published by the Seanad returning officer in pursuance of this section shall be final and conclusive and not open to review by any Court.
Chapter III.
The Poll.
The electorate.
44.—(1) At every Seanad general election the electorate shall consist of:—
(a) the members of Dáil Eireann elected at the Dáil election consequent on the dissolution of Dáil Eireann which occasioned such Seanad general election, and
(b) the members of Seanad Eireann, and
(c) the members of every council of a county or county borough.
(2) In subsection (1) of this section, a reference to members of a council of a county or county borough shall, where the members of the council stand removed from office under Part IV of the Local Government Act, 1941 (No. 23 of 1941), be construed as a reference to the surviving persons who were members of the council immediately before the removal and have not, since the removal, suffered any such adjudication in bankruptcy or conviction of a crime or offence as would, in the case of a member of the council, have terminated his membership.
The electoral roll for Seanad general election.
45.—(1) The Seanad returning officer shall prepare an electoral roll containing the names, addresses and descriptions of the persons constituting the electorate at a Seanad general election.
(2) The Clerk of Dáil Eireann shall, not later than three days after he has received all the returns to the writs for a Dáil election, send to the Seanad returning officer a statement of the names, addresses and descriptions of the members of Dáil Eireann who are entitled under this Act to be members of the electorate at the ensuing Seanad general election.
(3) The secretary of the council of a county or town clerk of a county borough shall, not later than fifteen days after a dissolution of Dáil Eireann, send to the Seanad returning officer a statement of the names, addresses and descriptions of the members or former members of the council of the county or county borough who are entitled under this Act to be members of the electorate at the ensuing Seanad general election.
(4) Where a person is a member of the electorate for a Seanad general election by virtue of more than one qualification, his name shall nevertheless be entered once only in the electoral roll for the election.
(5) It shall be lawful for the Seanad returning officer to make such inquiries and take such steps as he thinks proper for ascertaining the correct name, address or description of every person whose name is required to be entered in an electoral roll under this section, but no omission of or inaccuracy in the name, address, or description of any person in an electoral roll under this section shall invalidate the roll.
(6) An electoral roll prepared under this section shall be final and conclusive and not open to review by any court, and the persons whose names are set out in the roll, and no other person, shall be entitled to vote at the Seanad general election to which the roll relates.
(7) The death of a person whose name is entered in an electoral roll under this section shall not prejudice or affect the validity or operation of the roll, whether such death occurred before or occurs after the preparation of the roll.
Issue of copy of panels.
46.—As soon as practicable after the completion of the electoral roll in respect of a Seanad general election or the publication in relation to the election of the panels in the Iris Oifigiúil (whichever happens later) and in any event before the day on which the ballot papers are to be issued, the Seanad returning officer shall send by post to each person whose name is on the electoral roll, at his address as stated on the electoral roll, a copy of the five panels as published in the Iris Oifigiúil, but with the modification that there shall, in such copy, be inserted in respect of every person on any panel a statement of the body or persons on whose nomination he was put on such panel.
The ballot papers for Seanad general election.
47.—(1) The following provisions shall apply and have effect in relation to the ballot papers at a Seanad general election:
(a) there shall be different ballot papers for each panel;
(b) a ballot paper shall contain the names, addresses, and descriptions of all the candidates named in the panel to which it relates arranged in the alphabetical order of their surnames and, in cases of identity of surname, of their other names, and either in one continuous column or in two or more columns as the Seanad returning officer, with the consent of the Minister, considers to be most convenient;
(c) a ballot paper shall also state, in respect of every candidate named therein, the sub-panel in which he is named as a candidate;
(d) the surnames of the several candidates shall be printed on a ballot paper in large characters and their other names and their addresses and descriptions shall be printed in small characters, save that, whenever the surnames of two or more candidates are the same, there shall be printed in large characters (in addition to their surnames) the other names of such candidates and so much of the address or the description or of both the address and the description of each such candidate as will, in the opinion of the Seanad returning officer, effectively distinguish such candidate.
(2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the ballot papers shall be in the prescribed form and each ballot paper shall have a number printed on the back thereof and shall have attached thereto a counterfoil with the same number printed on the face of such counterfoil, and every ballot paper shall, at the time of issue thereof, be marked on both sides thereof with an official mark either stamped or perforated.
Method of marking votes on ballot paper at Seanad general election.
48.—(1) An elector in marking a ballot paper at a Seanad general election must place on the ballot paper the figure 1 opposite the name of the candidate for whom he votes, and he may in addition place on the ballot paper the figures 2 and 3, or 2, 3 and 4, and so on, opposite the names of other candidates in the order of his preference.
(2) Any ballot paper—
(a) which does not bear the official mark, or
(b) on which the figure 1 standing alone is not placed at all or is not so placed as to indicate a first preference for some candidate, or
(c) on which the figure 1 standing alone indicating a first preference is set opposite the name of more than one candidate, or
(d) on which the figure 1 standing alone indicating a first preference and some other number is set opposite the name of the same candidate, or
(e) on which anything except the number on the back is written or marked by which the voter can be identified,
shall be invalid and shall not be counted.
Sending of ballot papers to electors at Seanad general election.
49.—(1) On the day appointed for the issue of ballot papers at a Seanad general election the Seanad returning officer shall send by registered post to each person whose name is on the electoral roll for that election at the address stated on such electoral roll a ballot paper for each panel.
(2) Whenever a person to whom ballot papers for a Seanad general election should be sent under subsection (1) of this section states in writing to the Seanad returning officer that more than twenty-four hours have elapsed since such ballot papers should have been delivered to him in the ordinary course of post and that he has not received such ballot papers and that he desires duplicate ballot papers to be issued to him, the Seanad returning officer, if such statement is received by him not less than forty-eight hours before the close of the poll at the election, shall forthwith or, if such statement is received by him less than forty-eight hours before the close of the poll at the election, may send by registered post to such person at the address mentioned in subsection (1) of this section a ballot paper for each panel all of which, by being printed on paper of a special colour or otherwise, are clearly distinguished as duplicates of the ballot papers originally sent to such person.
(3) The Seanad returning officer shall, when sending out ballot papers in pursuance of this section, observe the rules contained in the First Schedule to this Act.
Issue of ballot papers.
50.—The Seanad returning officer shall issue the ballot papers at a Seanad general election in accordance with the rules contained in the First Schedule to this Act on the day appointed in that behalf by the relevant Seanad (general election) order.
Method of voting at Seanad general election.
51.—(1) Every person entitled to vote at a Seanad general election shall be entitled to vote at that election in the following and no other manner, that is to say, by marking one or more of the ballot papers sent to him under section 50 of this Act and returning by registered post to the Seanad returning officer all of those ballot papers together with the form of declaration of identity, furnished to him pursuant to the rules contained in the First Schedule to this Act, duly made and completed by him.
(2) Whenever a person entitled to vote at a Seanad general election states in writing to the Seanad returning officer that he duly returned by registered post to the Seanad returning officer the ballot papers and a form of declaration of identity and that the same does not appear to have been delivered to the Seanad returning officer and that he desires duplicate ballot papers to be issued to him, the Seanad returning officer, if such statement is received by him not less than forty-eight hours before the close of the poll at the election, shall forthwith or, if such statement is received by him less than forty-eight hours before the close of the poll at the election, may send by registered post to such person at his address as stated in the electoral roll a ballot paper for each panel all of which, by being printed on paper of a special colour or otherwise, are clearly distinguished as duplicates of the ballot papers originally sent to such person.
(3) The procedure to be followed in connection with the marking of the ballot papers at a Seanad general election and the sending of such papers to the Seanad returning officer shall be that specified in the rules contained in the First Schedule to this Act.
Allocation of members amongst the panels.
52.—The numbers of members of Seanad Eireann to be elected from each of the panels shall be as follows:—
(a) five members shall be elected from the cultural and educational panel, of whom two at least shall be elected from each sub-panel of that panel;
(b) eleven members shall be elected from the agricultural panel, of whom four at least shall be elected from each sub-panel of that panel;
(c) eleven members shall be elected from the labour panel, of whom four at least shall be elected from each sub-panel of that panel;
(d) nine members shall be elected from the industrial and commercial panel, of whom three at least shall be elected from each sub-panel of that panel;
(e) seven members shall be elected from the administrative panel, of whom three at least shall be elected from each sub-panel of that panel.
Ascertainment of result of Seanad general election.
53.—(1) The Seanad returning officer shall, in the presence of such candidates as may be in attendance, ascertain separately, in accordance with this Act and, in particular, the rules contained in the First and Second Schedules to this Act, the result of a Seanad general election in respect of each panel and shall declare to be elected from such panel the candidates who are so ascertained to be elected.
(2) The decision of the Seanad returning officer as to any question arising at a Seanad general election on the ballot papers, the envelopes containing the ballot papers, the declarations of identity or any other matter arising on the issue or the receipt of the ballot papers or on the counting of the votes shall be final, but subject, where an objection in writing to the decision has been delivered to the Seanad returning officer before the declaration of the result of the election, to review by a court trying an election petition in relation to the election.
Election petitions in relation to Seanad general elections.
54.—(1) The enactments relating to the presentation and trial of election petitions in relation to elections of members of Dáil Éireann shall apply to Seanad general elections with the following modifications:
(a) the court trying an election petition in relation to a Seanad general election shall not have power to declare the whole election to be void but may declare the election of any one or more of the candidates returned as elected at the election to be void or to be valid as justice may require;
(b) where the court so declares the election of a candidate to be void, the court shall declare that such one as justice may require of the candidates not returned as elected was elected;
(c) the said court shall have power to make such amendments as may be necessary to give effect to its decisions in the certificate of the Seanad returning officer of the result of the election;
(d) it shall not be obligatory on the said court to cause a recount to be made of the votes given for, or to investigate the voting or the counting of the votes in respect of, the candidates on a panel in relation to which the said court is satisfied that the voting in respect of the candidates on such panel is not in issue on the petition;
(e) references (including references by adaptation) to Dáil Eireann shall be construed as references to Seanad Eireann, and references (including references by adaptation) to the Chairman or the Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Eireann shall be construed as references to the Chairman of Seanad Eireann.
(2) A person who has voted at a Seanad general election shall not, in any legal proceedings to question the election or return of any candidate at the election, be required to state for whom he has voted.
PART V.
Seanad Bye-Election.
Chapter I.
Notice of Casual Vacancy and Seanad Bye-election Order.
Notice of casual vacancy.
55.—(1) Where a casual vacancy occurs in the membership of Seanad Eireann, the Clerk of Seanad Eireann shall, on the direction of Seanad Eireann, send to the Minister notice (in this Act referred to as notice of a casual vacancy) in writing of the vacancy.
(2) A notice of a casual vacancy shall state, in respect of the member whose death, resignation, or disqualification occasioned the vacancy, the panel and sub-panel from which the member was elected at the next preceding Seanad general election or, if he was elected at a Seanad bye-election, the panel and sub-panel from which the member whose place he was so elected to fill (whether directly or indirectly) was elected at the next preceding Seanad general election.
Seanad bye-election order.
56.—(1) Where the Minister receives from the Clerk of Seanad Eireann a notice of a casual vacancy, the Minister shall, as soon as conveniently may be and in any case not more than one hundred and eighty days after receiving the notice, make an order (in this Act referred to as a Seanad bye-election order) directing an election to be held in accordance with this Part of this Act to fill the vacancy and stating the panel and sub-panel in respect of which the vacancy occurred and appointing for the purposes of the election the times and places mentioned in whichever of the two next following subsections of this section is applicable.
(2) Where the vacancy in respect of which a Seanad bye-election order is made is a nominating bodies sub-panel vacancy, the order shall appoint—
(a) the day on which and the place and hour at which the nomination committee (bye-election) meeting will be held,
(b) the day on which and the place at which the Seanad returning officer will sit for the ruling upon nomination, and
(c) the address of the Seanad returning officer.
(3) Where the vacancy in respect of which a Seanad bye-election order is made is an Oireachtas sub-panel vacancy, the order shall appoint—
(a) the day which will be the last day for receiving nominations, and
(b) the day on which and the place at which the Seanad returning officer will sit for the ruling upon nomination, and
(c) the day which will be the day of issue of ballot papers, and
(d) the day and hour (in this Act referred to as the close of the poll) on and at which the poll will be closed, and
(e) the address of the Seanad returning officer.
(4) A Seanad bye-election order shall be published in the Iris Oifigiúil as soon as may be after it is made.
Effect of a dissolution of Dáil Éireann.
57.—(1) Where a dissolution of Dáil Éireann takes place after a notice of a casual vacancy has been received by the Minister and before a Seanad bye-election order has been made in respect of the vacancy, the notice shall become and be annulled by the dissolution and, notwithstanding anything contained in this Part of this Act, a Seanad bye-election order shall not be made in respect of the vacancy.
(2) Where a dissolution of Dáil Éireann takes place after a bye-election order has been made and before the election in pursuance of the order has been completed, the order shall become and be annulled by the dissolution and no further steps shall be taken in respect of the order, but the annulment shall not prejudice or affect the right of the Seanad returning officer to be paid under this Act his reasonable charges in respect of duties performed in relation to the election before the dissolution.
Provision applicable where more than one casual vacancy.
58.—If at any time the Minister has received two or more notices of a casual vacancy which have not been annulled by a dissolution of Dáil Éireann and in respect of which he has not made a Seanad bye-election order, separate Seanad bye-election orders shall be made and separate elections shall be held in respect of each of the vacancies to which the notices relate.
Chapter II.
Nominating Bodies Sub-panel Casual Vacancies.
Obligation to hold nomination committee (bye-election) meeting.
59.—Where the Minister makes a Seanad bye-election order in respect of a casual vacancy in the membership of Seanad Éireann which is stated in the order to be a vacancy in respect of the nominating bodies sub-panel of a particular panel, a meeting (in this Act referred to as a nomination committee (bye-election) meeting) of the nomination committee for the said panel shall be held on the day and at the place and hour appointed in that behalf by the order and, at least seven days before the meeting, the Seanad returning officer shall send by post to each person named in the electoral roll constituted under section 60 of this Act for the meeting a notice in the prescribed form with respect to the holding of the meeting.
Electoral roll for nomination committee (bye-election) meeting.
60.—(1) Where a nomination committee (bye-election) meeting is to be held, the Seanad returning officer shall prepare, from the register under section 21 of this Act, a list stating the names, addresses and descriptions of the members of the nomination committee and the list shall be the electoral roll for the purposes of the meeting and shall be final and conclusive.
(2) The several persons named in the electoral roll constituted under this section for a nomination committee (bye-election) meeting (and no other person) shall be entitled to vote at the poll (if any) at the meeting.
(3) The death of a person named in an electoral roll constituted under this section shall not prejudice or affect the validity or operation of the electoral roll.
Procedure at nomination committee (bye-election) meeting.
61.—The following provisions shall apply and have effect in relation to every nomination committee (bye-election) meeting:
(a) the Seanad returning officer shall preside at the meeting and shall conduct the proceedings thereof;
(b) the proceedings shall commence at the time appointed for the meeting by the relevant Seanad bye-election order if there is then a quorum or, if there is not then a quorum, when there is a quorum;
(c) the Seanad returning officer and his assistants and the persons named in the electoral roll constituted for the meeting under section 60 of this Act, and no other person, may be present at the meeting;
(d) each, member of the nomination committee attending the meeting shall, when or as soon as may be after he enters the meeting, sign his name in a book or other record (to be provided and kept by the Seanad returning officer) of attendances;
(e) the Seanad returning officer shall provide a sufficient number of the prescribed nomination forms and shall make such forms available to the members of the nomination committee present;
(f) any member of the nomination committee present may, at any time within one hour after the commencement of the proceedings, nominate a person for election;
(g) a nomination shall be made on a prescribed nomination form supplied by the Seanad returning officer and shall be signed by the member making the nomination and shall be handed by him to the Seanad returning officer;
(h) a nomination shall state the name, address, and description of the person thereby nominated and include a statement of his qualifications for the panel for which such nomination committee is the nomination committee;
(i) the Seanad returning officer shall reject any nomination which appears to him not to be made and completed in accordance with this section;
(j) any nomination may, at any time within one hour after the commencement of the proceedings, be withdrawn by the member who made it;
(k) the withdrawal of a nomination shall be affected by the member concerned endorsing on the nomination paper (which shall be handed to him for the purpose by the Seanad returning officer) a signed statement of withdrawal;
(l) the Seanad returning officer shall make every nomination accepted by him and every withdrawal of a nomination available for the inspection of the members of the nomination committee present;
(m) if, at the expiration of one hour from the commencement of the proceedings, two or more persons have been duly nominated, the Seanad returning officer shall, at such expiration, adjourn the meeting to a convenient time and place (whether on the same or a subsequent day) in order to take a poll for the purpose of selecting one of those persons;
(n) if, at the expiration of one hour from the commencement of the proceedings, one person and no more has been duly nominated, the meeting shall terminate at the expiration of the said hour and the Seanad returning officer shall make and sign a certificate of provisional election in accordance with the subsequent provisions of this Chapter;
(o) if, at the expiration of one hour from the commencement of the proceedings, no person has been duly nominated, the meeting shall terminate at the expiration of the said hour and the Seanad returning officer shall report the fact and the circumstances of such termination to the Minister.
The poll at a nomination committee (bye-election) meeting.
62.—When a nomination committee (bye-election) meeting has been adjourned for the purpose of taking a poll, the Seanad returning officer shall take the poll in accordance with the following provisions:
(a) the poll shall be taken on the day and at the time and place to which such meeting was adjourned, and shall be deemed to be a continuation of such meeting;
(b) the Seanad returning officer shall make available at the said place a suitable room for taking the poll and shall provide therein such ballot boxes, desks, and other furniture as he considers necessary and shall also provide a sufficient number of ballot papers;
(c) the Seanad returning officer and his assistants and the persons named in the electoral roll constituted for such meeting under section 60 of this Act, and no other person, may be present at the taking of the poll;
(d) at the said time to which such meeting was adjourned the Seanad returning officer shall open the poll and at the expiration of one hour from that time he shall close the poll;
(e) a person shall not be entitled to receive a ballot paper unless or until he has, either at the meeting before the adjournment thereof or at the taking of the poll, signed his name in a book or other record (to be provided and kept by the Seanad returning officer) of attendances;
(f) a person in giving his vote must place on the ballot paper the figure 1 opposite the name of the person for whom he votes, and he may in addition place on the ballot paper the figures 2 and 3, or 2, 3, and 4, and so on opposite the names of other persons in the order of his preference;
(g) any ballot paper—
(i) on which the figure 1 standing alone is not placed at all or is not so placed as to indicate a first preference, or
(ii) on which the figure 1 standing alone indicating a first preference is set opposite more than one name, or
(iii) on which the figure 1 standing alone indicating a first preference and some other number is set opposite a name,
shall be invalid and shall not be counted;
(h) the Seanad returning officer shall take all such steps as he considers proper or expedient for preserving the secrecy of the voting at the poll;
(i) every question which arises at or in relation to the taking of the poll shall be decided by the Seanad returning officer and his decision on any such question shall be final and unappealable;
(j) at the close of the poll, the Seanad returning officer shall ascertain, in accordance with this Act and, in particular, the rules contained in the Second Schedule to this Act, the result of the poll and shall announce such result to the candidates then present (if any);
(k) the Seanad returning officer and his assistants and the candidates (or their duly appointed representatives), and no other person, shall be entitled to be present at the ascertainment of the result of the poll.
Certificate of provisional election.
63.—(1) If, at the expiration of one hour from the commencement of the proceedings at a nomination committee (bye-election) meeting, one person and no more has been duly nominated, the Seanad returning officer shall make and sign a certificate (in this Act referred to as a certificate of provisional election) in the prescribed form stating the name, address and description of such person.
(2) If a nomination committee (bye-election) meeting is adjourned for the purpose of taking a poll, the Seanad returning officer, shall when the counting of the votes at the poll has been completed, make and sign a certificate (in this Act also referred to as a certificate of provisional election) in the prescribed form stating the name, address and description of the person selected at the poll.
(3) The Seanad returning officer shall publish in the Iris Oifigiúil every certificate of provisional election made and signed by him in pursuance of this section and shall at the same time publish in the Iris Oifigiúil a notice stating the day and place appointed by the relevant Seanad bye-election order for the ruling upon nomination.
(4) A certificate of provisional election made, signed and published in pursuance of this section shall be conclusive evidence that the person named in the certificate was duly nominated at the nomination (bye-election) meeting to which it relates and either (as the case may be) that he was the only person so nominated or, if such meeting was adjourned for the purpose of taking a poll, that the poll was duly and properly taken and that such person was selected at the poll.
(5) The Seanad returning officer shall, during the period beginning on the day after the completion of a certificate of provisional election under subsection (2) of this section and ending on the day before the day of the ruling upon nomination, hold the nomination papers which he accepted available for inspection by candidates between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on weekdays.
The ruling upon nomination for nominating bodies sub-panel casual vacancy.
64.—(1) Where a Seanad bye-election order relates to a nominating bodies sub-panel casual vacancy, the Seanad returning officer shall, at eleven o'clock in the morning on the day appointed by such order for the ruling upon nomination, attend at the place similarly appointed and then and there hold a sitting (in this Act referred to as the ruling upon nomination) at which he shall rule upon the nomination stated in the certificate of provisional election.
(2) The following provisions shall apply and have effect in relation to every ruling upon nomination held in pursuance of this section:
(a) the Seanad returning officer shall produce the nomination paper handed to him at the nomination committee (bye-election) meeting of the person named in the certificate of provisional election;
(b) the Seanad returning officer shall consider and rule upon the validity of the nomination paper and the nomination purported to be made thereby;
(c) the Seanad returning officer shall reject the nomination as invalid if he rules that the nomination paper or the nomination purported to be made thereby is invalid or if he is not satisfied that such person possesses the qualifications stated in subsection 1° of section 7 of Article 18 of the Constitution in respect of the panel mentioned in the relevant Seanad bye-election order;
(d) when the Seanad returning officer has ruled upon the nomination—
(i) if he rejects the nomination, he shall so report to the Minister,
(ii) if he does not reject the nomination, the person nominated shall be deemed to be elected to fill the casual vacancy in the membership of Seanad Éireann mentioned in the relevant Seanad (bye-election) order.
Procedure on failure to obtain nomination.
65.—(1) Where the Seanad returning officer reports to the Minister—
(a) that a nomination committee bye-election meeting has terminated because no person has been duly nominated thereat, or
(b) that he has rejected a nomination at a ruling upon nomination held in pursuance of this Chapter,
the Seanad bye-election order in pursuance of which such meeting or ruling was held and all proceedings had in pursuance of such order shall become and be null and void and such order shall be deemed for the purposes of this Act never to have been made, and the Minister shall make a new Seanad bye-election order in lieu thereof.
(2) A new Seanad bye-election order made under subsection (1) of this section shall be a Seanad bye-election order within the meaning and for the purposes of this Act and this Act (including this section) shall apply and have effect in relation thereto, save that the time within which the Minister shall make such new Seanad bye-election order shall be whichever of the following periods later expires, that is to say, one hundred and eighty days after he receives the relevant notice of a casual vacancy from the Clerk of Seanad Éireann or sixty days after he receives the report mentioned in the said subsection (1) from the Seanad returning officer.
(3) The annulment of a Seanad bye-election order by virtue of this section shall not prejudice or affect the right of the Seanad returning officer to be paid under this Act his reasonable charges in respect of duties performed in pursuance of such order.
Chapter III.
Oireachtas Sub-panel Casual Vacancies.
Obligation to hold election to fill Oireachtas sub-panel casual vacancy.
66.—Where the Minister makes a Seanad bye-election order in respect of a casual vacancy in the membership of Seanad Eireann which is stated in such order to be a vacancy in respect of the Oireachtas sub-panel of a particular panel, the Seanad returning officer shall hold, in accordance with this Chapter, an election to fill the vacancy and shall for that purpose send to the Clerk of Dáil Eireann a copy of the Seanad bye-election order together with such number of forms of nomination paper as such Clerk may reasonably require.
Nomination of candidates for Oireachtas sub-panel casual vacancy.
67.—(1) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to the nomination of candidates at an election to fill an Oireachtas sub-panel casual vacancy:
(a) a nomination shall be made in writing on a nomination paper in the prescribed form;
(b) a nomination paper shall contain the particulars required by the prescribed form of nomination paper to be stated therein, and in particular, a statement of the qualifications of the person thereby nominated for the panel mentioned in the relevant Seanad bye-election order;
(c) a nomination paper shall be signed by one member of the Oireachtas as proposer and by eight other members of the Oireachtas as assenting to the nomination;
(d) a nomination paper shall be delivered or sent by post to the Seanad returning officer.
(2) Where the Seanad returning officer receives a nomination paper before four o'clock in the afternoon on the day before the day which is appointed by the relevant Seanad bye-election order to be the last day for receiving nominations, the Seanad returning officer shall forthwith communicate in writing to the Clerk of Dáil Eireann the fact of the nomination paper having been so received and the name, address, and description, as stated in the nomination paper, of the candidate and the name, as similarly stated, of the proposer of the candidate.
(3) As soon as may be after twelve o'clock noon on the day which is appointed by the relevant Seanad bye-election order to be the last day for receiving nominations, the Seanad returning officer shall send to the Clerk of Dáil Eireann a list stating (in the alphabetical order of their surnames and, in case of identity of surname, their other names) the names, addresses, and descriptions, as stated in their respective nomination papers, of the candidates in respect of whom he had received nomination papers before twelve o'clock noon aforesaid and also stating, in respect of every such candidate, the name, as similarly stated, of his proposer.
(4) Any nomination paper received by the Seanad returning officer after twelve o'clock noon on the day which is appointed by the relevant Seanad bye-election order to be the last day for receiving nominations shall be void.
(5) If a member of the Oireachtas signs two or more nomination papers as proposer or as assenting (whether he signs both or all of the nomination papers in the same or in different capacities), both or all of the nomination papers shall be wholly void.
(6) Where the Seanad returning officer receives a nomination paper at an election to fill an Oireachtas sub-panel casual vacancy (other than a nomination paper declared by this Act to be wholly void or a nomination paper so received after the time limited by this Act for such receipt), he shall hold the nomination paper available for inspection by candidates between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on week-days during the period beginning on the day after the day of receipt of the nomination paper and ending on the day of the ruling upon nomination.
The ruling upon nomination for Oireachtas sub-panel casual vacancy.
68.—(1) Where a Seanad bye-election order relates to an Oireachtas sub-panel casual vacancy, the Seanad returning officer shall, at eleven o'clock in the morning on the day appointed by the order for the ruling upon nomination, attend at the place similarly appointed and then and there hold a sitting (in this Act referred to as the ruling upon nomination) at which he shall rule upon the nominations in respect of which nomination papers were received by him before twelve o'clock noon on the day appointed by the order to be the last day for receiving nominations.
(2) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to every ruling upon nomination held in pursuance of this section:
(a) the Seanad returning officer shall produce the several nomination papers received by him before twelve o'clock noon on the last day for receiving nominations and shall consider and rule upon the validity of each such nomination paper and of the nomination purported to be made thereby;
(b) the Seanad returning officer shall reject as invalid the nomination of any person in respect of whom he rules that the nomination paper of such person or the nomination thereby made is invalid or in respect of whom he is not satisfied that such person possesses the qualifications stated in subsection 1° of section 7 of Article 18 of the Constitution in respect of the panel mentioned in the relevant Seanad bye-election order;
(c) the Seanad returning officer shall rule as valid every nomination which he does not reject in pursuance of paragraph (b) of this subsection;
(d) when the Seanad returning officer rules as valid the nomination of any person, he shall forthwith enter in a list (in this Act referred to as the list of candidates) the name, address, and description of such person as stated in his nomination paper and the name of his proposer as similarly stated and a statement, in such form as the Seanad returning officer thinks proper, of the qualifications which he determines to be in fact the qualifications of such person to be on the panel mentioned in the relevant Seanad bye-election order;
(e) when the Seanad returning officer has considered and ruled upon all the said nomination papers and the nominations made thereby, if only one person stands validly nominated the Seanad returning officer shall declare that person to be elected, but if two or more persons stand validly nominated, the Seanad returning officer shall adjourn the election and take a poll in accordance with the subsequent provisions of this Chapter.
(3) Immediately upon the completion of the ruling upon nomination, the Seanad returning officer shall sign the list of candidates and that list as so signed shall be conclusive evidence as to the persons who stand, or person who stands, validly nominated.
Electoral roll for Oireachtas sub-panel casual vacancy.
69.—(1) Where the Seanad returning officer adjourns an election under this Chapter for the purpose of taking a poll, he shall forthwith inform the Clerk of Dáil Eireann in writing of the adjournment, and send to him a copy of the list of candidates, and the said Clerk shall, not more than four days after being so informed, furnish to the Seanad returning officer a statement of the names, addresses, and descriptions of all the members of Dáil Eireann who are then entitled to sit and vote in that House.
(2) On receipt of a statement furnished pursuant to subsection (1) of this section in relation to an election, the Seanad returning officer shall prepare a list stating—
(a) the names, addresses and descriptions included in such statement, and
(b) the names, addresses and descriptions of all the members of Seanad Eireann who are then entitled to sit and vote in that House,
and the list shall be the electoral roll for the election and shall be final and conclusive.
(3) The several persons named in an electoral roll constituted under this section, and no other person, shall be entitled to vote at the poll at the election in respect of which such electoral roll is so constituted.
(4) The death of a person named in an electoral roll constituted under this section (whether such death occurred before or after the statement referred to in subsection (1) of this section was sent by the Clerk of Dáil Eireann to the Seanad returning officer) shall not prejudice or affect the validity or operation of the electoral roll.
Ballot papers for Oireachtas sub-panel casual vacancy.
70.—(1) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to the ballot papers at an election under this Chapter:—
(a) a ballot paper shall contain the names, addresses, and descriptions, of all the candidates arranged in the alphabetical order of their surnames and, in cases of identity of surname, of their other names, and either in one continuous column or in two or more columns as the Seanad returning officer, with the consent of the Minister, considers to be most convenient;
(b) the surnames of the several candidates shall be printed on a ballot paper in large characters and their other names and their addresses and descriptions shall be printed in small characters, save that, whenever the surnames of two or more candidates are the same, there shall be printed in large characters (in addition to their surnames) the other names of such candidates and so much of the address or the description or of both the address and the description of each such candidate as will, in the opinion of the Seanad returning officer, effectively distinguish such candidate.
(2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the ballot papers shall be in the prescribed form and each ballot paper shall have a number printed on the back thereof and shall have attached thereto a counterfoil with the same number printed on the face of such counterfoil, and every ballot paper shall, at the time of issue thereof, be marked on both sides thereof with an official mark either stamped or perforated.
Method of marking votes on ballot paper for Oireachtas sub-panel casual vacancy.
71.—(1) An elector in giving his vote at an election under this Chapter must place on the ballot paper the figure 1 opposite the name of the candidate for whom he votes, and he may in addition place on the ballot paper the figures 2 and 3, or 2, 3 and 4, and so on opposite the names of other candidates in the order of his preference.
(2) Any ballot paper—
(a) which does not bear the official mark, or
(b) on which the figure 1 standing alone is not placed at all or is not so placed as to indicate a first preference for some candidate, or
(c) on which the figure 1 standing alone indicating a first preference is set opposite the name of more than one candidate, or
(d) on which the figure 1 standing alone indicating a first preference and some other number is set opposite the name of the same candidate, or
(e) on which anything except the number on the back is written or marked by which the voter can be identified,
shall be invalid and shall not be counted.
Sending of ballot papers to electors.
72.—(1) On the day appointed for the issue of ballot papers at an election under this Chapter, the Seanad returning officer shall send by registered post to each person whose name is on the electoral roll for that election at the address stated on such electoral roll a ballot paper together with a form of declaration of identity.
(2) Where a person to whom a ballot paper for an election under this Chapter should be sent under subsection (1) of this section states in writing to the Seanad returning officer that more than twenty-four hours have elapsed since such ballot paper should have been delivered to him in the ordinary course of post and that he has not received such ballot paper and that he desires a duplicate ballot paper and declaration of identity to be issued to him, the Seanad returning officer, if such statement is received by him not less than forty-eight hours before the close of the poll at the election, shall forthwith or, if such statement is received by him less than forty-eight hours before the close of the poll at the election, may send by registered post to such person at the address mentioned in subsection (1) of this section a ballot paper and a declaration of identity both of which, by being printed on paper of a special colour or otherwise, are clearly distinguished as duplicates of the ballot paper and form of declaration of identity originally sent to such person under this section.
(3) Every such declaration of identity shall be in the prescribed form.
(4) The Seanad returning officer shall, when sending out ballot papers in pursuance of this section, observe the rules contained in the Third Schedule to this Act.
Method of voting for Oireachtas sub-panel casual vacancy.
73.—(1) Every person entitled to vote at an election under this Chapter shall be entitled to vote at that election in the following and in no other manner, that is to say, by marking and returning by registered or ordinary post to the Seanad returning officer the ballot paper sent to him under section 72 of this Act together with the form of declaration of identity similarly sent to him therewith duly made and completed by him.
(2) Where a person entitled to vote at an election under this Chapter states in writing to the Seanad returning officer that he duly returned by registered post to the Seanad returning officer the ballot paper and form of declaration of identity sent to him under section 72 of this Act and that they do not appear to have been delivered to the Seanad returning officer and that he desires a duplicate ballot paper and declaration of identity to be issued to him, the Seanad returning officer, if such statement is received by him not less than forty-eight hours before the close of the poll at the election shall forthwith or, if such statement is received by him less than forty-eight hours before the close of the poll at the election, may send by registered post to such person at his address as stated on the electoral roll a ballot paper together with a form of declaration of identity both of which, by being printed on paper of a special colour or otherwise, are clearly distinguished as duplicates of the ballot paper and form of declaration of identity originally sent to such person.
(3) The Seanad returning officer in receiving and otherwise dealing with the ballot papers at a Seanad election shall observe the rules contained in the Third Schedule to this Act.
Ascertainment of the result of election for Oireachtas sub-panel casual vacancy.
74.—(1) As soon as conveniently may be after the poll at an election under this Chapter has been closed, the Seanad returning officer shall, in the presence of such candidates as may be in attendance, ascertain separately, in accordance with this Act and in particular the rules contained in the Second and Third Schedules to this Act, the result of the election and shall declare to be elected the candidate who is so ascertained to be elected.
(2) The decision of the Seanad returning officer as to any question arising at an election under this Chapter on the ballot papers, the declarations of identity, or the envelopes containing the same or any other matter arising on the issue or the receipt of the ballot papers or on the counting of the votes shall be final, but subject, where an objection in writing to the decision has been delivered to the Seanad returning officer before the declaration of the result of the election, to review by a court trying an election petition in relation to the election.
Election petitions in relation to elections for Oireachtas sub-panel casual vacancies.
75.—(1) The enactments relating to the presentation and trial of election petitions in relation to election of members of Dáil Eireann shall apply to elections under this Chapter with the following modifications:
(a) the court trying an election petition in relation to an election under this Chapter shall not have power to declare the whole election to be void but may declare the election of the candidate returned as elected at the election to be void or to be valid as justice may require;
(b) where the said court so declares the election of a candidate to be void, the court shall declare that such one as justice may require of the candidates not returned as elected was elected;
(c) the said court shall have power to make such amendments as may be necessary to give effect to its decisions in the certificate of the Seanad returning officer of the result of the election;
(d) references (including references by adaptation) to Dáil Eireann shall be construed as references to Seanad Eireann, and references (including references by adaptation) to the Chairman or the Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Eireann shall be construed as references to the Chairman of Seanad Eireann.
(2) A person who has voted at an election under this Chapter shall not, in any legal proceedings to question the election or return of any candidate at the election, be required to state for whom he has voted.
Chapter IV.
General Provisions in respect of every ruling upon nomination under Chapter III.
The judicial referee at ruling upon nomination.
76.—(1) The President of the High Court or some other judge of the High Court nominated by him shall attend at every ruling upon nomination held under this Part of this Act and shall there sit and act as judicial referee.
(2) The Seanad returning officer may, on his own motion, and shall, if so requested by the person who is named in the relevant certificate of provisional election or whose nomination is required by this Act to be ruled upon at the ruling upon nomination or by the agent of any such person, refer to the judicial referee any question arising during the ruling upon nomination in relation to any nomination paper, the nomination of any person, the qualifications of any person for the relevant panel, the statement by the Seanad returning officer of such qualifications, or any other matter connected with the nomination of any person.
(3) The judicial referee shall there and then decide and announce his decision on every question referred to him under this section by the Seanad returning officer.
(4) The decision of the judicial referee on any question referred to him under this section by the Seanad returning officer shall be final and conclusive and shall not be open to review by any court.
(5) A question may be referred to the judicial referee under this section whether the Seanad returning officer has or has not himself given a decision thereon.
Questions which may be raised at ruling upon nomination.
77.—(1) Subject to compliance (where appropriate) with subsection (2) of this section, at any ruling upon nomination held under this Part of this Act every question relevant to the nomination of any person, including the validity of nomination papers, the sufficiency or the correctness of any statement in a nomination paper, the validity of any nomination, and the qualifications or disqualification of any person for the relevant panel, may be raised by the Seanad returning officer or by the person who is named in the relevant certificate of provisional election or whose nomination is required by this Act to be ruled upon at such ruling upon, nomination or by the agent of any such person.
(2) Where a person other than the Seanad returning officer proposes to raise a question at any ruling upon nomination held under this Part of this Act, he shall deliver a statement of the question and of the grounds therefor to the Seanad returning officer at least two days before the day of the ruling upon nomination.
(3) Where the identity of the person purported to be nominated by a nomination paper is free from doubt, the nomination paper shall not be rejected or declared invalid merely because of an error in, or the incompleteness of, the statement therein of the name, address, or description of such person.
(4) The Seanad returning officer may, for the purpose of deciding any question at issue during a ruling upon nomination held under this Part of this Act, receive and act upon evidence, whether oral or written, tendered to him by or on behalf of any person affected by such question, and may, if he so thinks proper, require such evidence to be given on oath and may for that purpose administer an oath.
(5) The judicial referee may, for the purpose of deciding any question at issue during a ruling upon nomination held under this Part of this Act, receive and act upon evidence, whether oral or written, tendered to him by or on behalf of any person affected by such question (being, save where the judicial referee otherwise allows, evidence which was made available to the Seanad returning officer), and may, if he so thinks proper, require such evidence to be given on oath and may for that purpose administer an oath.
Persons permitted to attend ruling upon nomination.
78.—The following (and no other) persons may be present at a ruling upon nomination held under this Part of this Act:
(a) the Seanad returning officer and his assistants;
(b) the judicial referee and one person brought by him to attend on him;
(c) the person who is named in the relevant certificate of provisional election or any person whose nomination is required by this Part of this Act to be ruled upon at the ruling upon nomination;
(d) one agent of each of the persons referred to in paragraph (c) of this section;
(e) witnesses giving oral evidence, but only while giving such evidence;
(f) such other persons as the Seanad returning officer thinks proper to admit.
Continuity of proceedings at ruling upon nomination.
79.—(1) The proceedings at a ruling upon nomination held under this Part of this Act shall, so far as practicable, be proceeded with continuously, but may at any time be suspended by the Seanad returning officer, with the consent of the judicial referee, for such period as the Seanad returning officer thinks proper for refreshment, night-time or other reason appearing to him to be sufficient.
(2) Whenever the proceedings at a ruling upon nomination are suspended under this section, the Seanad returning officer shall take all proper precautions for the security of the nomination papers and other relevant documents.
PART VI
Miscellaneous.
Resignation of membership of Seanad Eireann.
80.—(1) A member of Seanad Éireann elected under this Act may voluntarily resign his membership of Seanad Éireann by notice in writing to the Chairman of Seanad Éireann who shall announce the resignation to Seanad Éireann at the next meeting thereof.
(2) The resignation under this section of a member of Seanad Éireann shall take effect immediately upon the announcement thereof by the Chairman of Seanad Éireann in pursuance of this section.
Election as university member and as panel member.
81.—Where at a general election of members of Seanad Eireann a person is elected as a member of Seanad Eireann by a university (in this section referred to as a university member) and is also elected as a member of Seanad Eireann under this Act (in this section referred to as a panel member), the following provisions shall have effect:
(a) such person shall, by writing under his hand delivered to the Clerk of Seanad Eireann before taking his seat in either capacity, declare whether he will sit in Seanad Eireann as a university member or as a panel member;
(b) if such person does not deliver, within one month after the first meeting of Seanad Eireann after the general election, such declaration as is mentioned in paragraph (a) of this section to the Clerk of Seanad Eireann in accordance with that paragraph, he shall be deemed to have declared at the expiration of that month that he will sit in Seanad Eireann as a university member;
(c) as soon as such person has declared or is deemed to have declared in which of the said capacities he will sit in Seanad Eireann, he shall be deemed to have resigned his seat in Seanad Eireann as a member thereof in the other of those capacities.
Preservation of the secrecy of the voting.
82.—(1) The Seanad returning officer and every officer and clerk concerned in the issue or the receipt of ballot papers or the counting of votes under this Act and every candidate or other person present at such issue, receipt, or counting shall maintain and aid in maintaining the secrecy of the voting at the election and shall not, before the completion of the election, communicate, except for some purpose authorised by law, any information as to whether any elector has or has not voted at the election or as to the official mark, and shall not at any time communicate to any person any information obtained at or in connection with such issue, receipt, or counting as to the candidate for whom any elector has voted or as to whether any elector has or has not voted or as to the number on the back of any ballot paper.
(2) A person shall not interfere with or attempt to interfere with the receipt, marking, or return of the ballot paper of any elector at an election under this Act.
(3) A person shall not directly or indirectly induce any elector at an election under this Act to display his ballot paper after he has marked it so as to make known to such person or to any other person the name of any candidate for whom he has marked his vote on such ballot paper.
(4) A person who acts in contravention of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to imprisonment for any term not exceeding six months.
Non-compliance with rules.
83.—An election of a candidate at an election under this Act shall not be declared void by reason only of a non-compliance with the rules contained in any Schedule to this Act, or any mistake in the use of the forms prescribed under this Act, if it appears to the tribunal having cognisance of the question that the election was conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the body of this Act and that the non-compliance or mistake did not affect the result of the election.
Postal services.
84.—All postal services (including all registration services) wholly within the State in relation to the issue and return of ballot papers at an election under this Act shall be performed by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs without prepayment of the charges therefor, and all such charges shall be deemed to be part of the Seanad returning officer's expenses and shall be defrayed accordingly.
Transitory provisions.
85.—(1) The following provisions shall, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, have effect in relation to any Seanad general election held consequent on dissolution of Dáil Éireann occurring during the period beginning on the passing of this Act and ending on the publication under section 15 of this Act of the register of nominating bodies:
(a) the register published in the Iris Oifigiúil under section 19 of the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act, 1937 (No. 43 of 1937), on the 25th day of March, 1947, shall be deemed to be the register of nominating bodies;
(b) that register shall, for the purposes of sections 21 and 22 of this Act, be deemed to have been published on the passing of this Act;
(c) the person who, immediately before the passing of this Act, stood appointed under section 5 of the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act, 1937, shall be deemed to be the Seanad returning officer, but if that person is unable through illness, absence or other cause to fulfil his duties, such person as may be appointed in that behalf by the Minister shall be deemed to be the Seanad returning officer;
(d) the Clerk of Seanad Éireann shall not later than thirty days after the dissolution of Dáil Éireann send to the Seanad returning officer a statement of the names, addresses and descriptions of the members of Seanad Éireann who are entitled to be members of the electorate at the Seanad general election;
(e) the Clerk of Seanad Éireann shall be deemed to be an authorised person for the purpose of rule 8 of the rules contained in the First Schedule to this Act;
(f) the Seanad returning officer shall, in lieu of retaining the duplicate certificate referred to in rule 27 of the rules contained in the First Schedule to this Act, send such duplicate to the Clerk of Seanad Éireann.
(2) The following provisions shall, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, have effect in relation to any Seanad bye-election held consequent on a notice of a casual vacancy sent or deemed to be sent to the Minister during the period beginning on the passing of this Act and ending on the publication under section 15 of this Act of the register of nominating bodies:—
(a) the register published under section 19 of the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act, 1937 (No. 43 of 1937), on the 20th day of March, 1947, shall be deemed to be the register of nominating bodies;
(b) that register shall, for the purposes of sections 21 and 22 of this Act, be deemed to have been published on the passing of this Act;
(c) the person, who, immediately before the passing of this Act, stood appointed under section 5 of the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act, 1937, shall be deemed to be the Seanad returning officer, but if that person is unable through illness, absence or other cause to fulfil his duties, such person as may be appointed in that behalf by the Minister shall be deemed to be the Seanad returning officer;
(d) if the election is to fill an Oireachtas sub-panel casual vacancy and it is adjourned for the purpose of taking a poll—
(i) the Seanad returning officer shall forthwith on the adjournment inform the Clerk of Seanad Eireann in writing of the adjournment, and send to him a copy of the list of candidates, and the said Clerk shall, not later than four days after being so informed, furnish to the Seanad returning officer a statement of the names, addresses, and descriptions of all the members of Seanad Eireann who are then entitled to sit and vote in that House,
(ii) the said statement and the statement furnished by the Clerk of Dáil Éireann pursuant to subsection (1) of section 69 of this Act shall together be deemed to be the electoral roll constituted under the said section 69 for the election;
(e) the Seanad returning officer shall, in lieu of retaining the duplicate certificate referred to in rule 23 of the rules contained in the Third Schedule to this Act, send such duplicate to the Clerk of Seanad Éireann.
(3) A notice sent under section 5 of the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) (Bye-Elections) Act, 1940 (No. 20 of 1940) during the six months ending on the passing of this Act shall be deemed to be a notice of a casual vacancy sent to the Minister under this Act on the passing thereof.
(4) Notwithstanding section 44 of this Act, a person shall not be a member of the electorate at a Seanad general election by reason only of the fact that he was a member of the council of the county of Dublin at any time before the passing of this Act.
FIRST SCHEDULE.
Rules for Conduct of Seanad General Elections.
Issue of ballot papers.
1. On the day appointed for the issue of ballot papers the Seanad returning officer shall issue, in the manner directed in the following Rules, ballot papers to every elector named on the electoral roll for the election.
Attendance of candidates.
2. Every candidate shall be entitled to attend at the issue of ballot papers for the election, and the Seanad returning officer shall, on the request of any such candidate, inform him of the time and place at which the issue will be made.
Persons present at issue of ballot papers.
3. The Seanad returning officer and his assistants, any candidate and any agent appointed by a candidate, and no other person, except with the permission of the Seanad returning officer, may be present at the issue of ballot papers.
Method of issuing ballot papers.
4. The Seanad returning officer shall issue ballot papers to each elector by doing or causing to be done in respect of such elector the following things in the following order, that is to say:—
(a) the number, name, address, and description of the elector as stated in the electoral roll shall be called out;
(b) the elector's said number shall be marked on the counterfoil of each ballot paper to be sent to him;
(c) a mark shall be placed on the electoral roll opposite the elector's name thereon to indicate that ballot papers have been issued to such elector, but without disclosing the identity of such ballot papers;
(d) the ballot papers shall be marked on both sides with the official mark;
(e) the number on the back of the ballot papers shall be marked upon the outside, and the elector's said number upon the inside, of an envelope (hereinafter referred to as the ballot paper envelope) in the prescribed form;
(f) there shall be placed in an envelope (hereinafter referred to as the outer envelope) in the prescribed form addressed to the elector at his address stated in the electoral roll and marked upon the inside with the elector's said number, the following documents, that is to say:—
(i) a ballot paper for each panel, and
(ii) the said ballot paper envelope, and
(iii) an envelope (hereinafter referred to as the covering envelope) in the prescribed form addressed to the Seanad returning officer;
(g) the outer envelope shall be effectually closed;
(h) when the foregoing provisions of this Rule have been complied with in respect of all the electors whose names are on the electoral roll, all the said closed outer envelopes shall be collected, counted, and posted.
Issue of duplicate ballot papers.
5. Every request for the issue of duplicate ballot papers shall, when received by the Seanad returning officer, be endorsed by him with the day and hour of the receipt thereof by him and with a consecutive number, and duplicate ballot papers issued in pursuance of any such request shall be issued in accordance with the provisions of the foregoing Rule so far as the same are applicable save that, in lieu of the number on the electoral roll, there shall be marked on the counterfoils of such ballot papers the consecutive number endorsed on the request in pursuance of which such ballot papers are issued and that when such ballot papers have been issued the said request shall be disposed of in like manner as the marked copy of the electoral roll is required by these Rules to be disposed of.
Posting of ballot papers.
6. The Seanad returning officer shall post the said closed outer envelopes by delivering them to the nearest head post office, or such other office as may be arranged with the head postmaster, and the postmaster at such office shall stamp with the post office date stamp a form of receipt to be presented by the Seanad returning officer stating the number of envelopes so delivered, and shall immediately forward such envelopes by registered post for delivery to the persons to whom they are addressed.
Preservation of electoral roll and counterfoils.
7. The Seanad returning officer, as soon as practicable after the completion of the issue of the ballot papers and in the presence of such candidates and agents as are in attendance, shall make up in separate packets, sealed with his own seal and sealed by such of the said candidates or agents as desire to affix their seals, the marked copy of the electoral roll and the counterfoils of the ballot papers.
Procedure in connection with marking of ballot papers.
8. (1) The following procedure shall be followed in connection with the marking of ballot papers:—
(a) the elector in the presence of an authorised person (no other person being present) shall do the following things in the following order:—
(i) he shall produce to the authorised person the following documents sent to him under these Rules:—
(I) the outer envelope,
(II) the ballot papers (as respects which the authorised person shall satisfy himself that they are five in number, that they are unmarked and as to whether they are or are not duplicate ballot papers),
(III) the covering envelope,
(IV) the ballot paper envelope,
(ii) the elector shall mark the number which is on the back of the ballot papers on a form of declaration of identity in the prescribed form furnished to him by the authorised person and which, in case such ballot papers are duplicates, shall be marked by the authorised person with the word ‘duplicate’,
(iii) the elector shall make and complete the said form of declaration of identity,
(iv) the elector shall hand the declaration of identity to the authorised person who, if he is satisfied that the person who made it is the person to whom the outer envelope is addressed, shall sign it and return it to the elector,
(v) the elector shall mark one or more than one of such ballot papers,
(vi) the elector shall place the ballot papers, whether marked or unmarked, in the ballot paper envelope,
(vii) the elector shall place the ballot paper envelope and the declaration of identity in the covering envelope and shall effectually close the covering envelope,
(viii) the elector shall hand the covering envelope to the authorised person,
(b) the authorised person, on being handed the covering envelope, shall affix thereto in the prescribed manner a label in the prescribed form and, if he is satisfied that it is proper to sign the certificate appearing on the label, shall sign that certificate and shall then return the covering envelope to the elector.
(2) For the purposes of this Rule, each of the following persons shall be an authorised person:
(a) the Seanad returning officer,
(b) the Clerk of Dáil Éireann,
(c) the county registrar for the county or county borough in which is situate the premises the address of which is stated on the outer envelope,
(d) the sheriff (if any) for the said county or county borough,
(e) the under-sheriff (if any) for the said county or county borough,
(f) the superintendent of the Garda Síochána in whose district is situate the said premises or, where the superintendent is unable through illness, absence or other cause to perform his duties, such inspector of the Garda Síochána performing duties in that district as the superintendent may nominate.
Seanad ballot box.
9. The Seanad returning officer shall provide a ballot box marked “Seanad ballot box” for the reception of the covering envelopes when returned by the voters, and on the completion of the issue of the ballot papers the Seanad returning officer shall show such ballot box open and empty to the candidates and agents (if any) present, and shall seal such ballot box with his seal and shall make provision for the safe custody of such ballot box.
Disposal of covering envelopes on receipt.
10. The Seanad returning officer shall forthwith place unopened in the Seanad ballot box every covering envelope received by him before the close of the poll and shall seal up unopened in a separate package all covering envelopes received by him after the close of the poll and shall also seal up unopened in a separate package all outer envelopes returned to him as undelivered.
Notice of counting of votes.
11. Not less than three days before the close of the poll, the Seanad returning officer shall send by post to every candidate at his address as stated in the panels of candidates notice in writing of the time and place at which he will open the Seanad ballot box and count the votes.
Opening of Seanad ballot box.
12. As soon as conveniently may be after the close of the poll, the Seanad returning officer shall open the Seanad ballot box and count the votes.
Persons present at counting of votes.
13. The Seanad returning officer and his assistants, any candidate and any agent appointed by a candidate, and no other person, except with the permission of the Seanad returning officer, may be present at the opening of the Seanad ballot box or the counting of the votes.
Procedure on opening of Seanad ballot box.
14. When the Seanad ballot box has been opened the Seanad returning officer shall do the following things:—
(a) take all the covering envelopes out of the Seanad ballot box and count and note the number thereof;
(b) examine separately each such covering envelope and mark with the word “rejected” any such covering envelope—
(i) which is not registered,
(ii) to which there is not affixed in the prescribed manner the label provided for by Rule 8 of these Rules bearing a certificate duly completed by an authorised person within the meaning of that Rule,
(iii) which is open, or
(iv) which in his opinion has been opened after it was first closed, or has been attempted to be opened after it was closed;
(c) open each such covering envelope not marked as aforesaid and segregate any of those envelopes containing a declaration of identity marked “duplicate”;
(d) take up separately each of the said covering envelopes not so segregated and examine the declaration of identity therein and compare the number on such declaration with the number on the ballot paper envelope in such covering envelope;
(e) if the said numbers agree and the declaration of identity is found to be duly completed and made, he shall place the declaration of identity and the ballot paper envelope in separate receptacles;
(f) if he is not satisfied that the declaration of identity has been duly completed and made, he shall mark the declaration of identity with the words “vote rejected” and shall attach thereto the ballot paper envelope, without opening such envelope, or if there is no such envelope, the ballot papers or paper;
(g) if he finds that the numbers on the declaration of identity and on the ballot paper envelope do not agree, or if the envelope has no number on it, he shall open the envelope, and if there are five ballot papers therein and the number thereon agrees with the number on the declaration of identity, he shall place the ballot papers respectively in the appropriate one of the special receptacles provided by him for ballot papers;
(h) where there are five ballot papers and the number on the ballot papers does not agree with the number on the declaration of identity, he shall replace the ballot papers in their envelope, if any, attach such envelope or ballot papers (as the case may be) to the declaration of identity, and endorse the declaration of identity ‘vote rejected’;
(i) if the number of ballot papers is not five, he shall replace the ballot papers or paper in their or its envelope (if any), attach such envelope or ballot papers or paper (as the case may be) to the declaration of identity and endorse the declaration of identity “vote rejected”;
(j) where a declaration of identity does not appear to accompany the ballot paper envelope, he shall open the ballot paper envelope, and if it is found to contain the declaration of identity, he shall deal with such declaration and ballot paper envelope in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Rule;
(k) he shall mark with the word ‘rejected’ every declaration of identity which is not accompanied by a ballot paper or which does not bear the number of a ballot paper and every ballot paper which is not accompanied by a declaration of identity;
(l) when all the said covering envelopes not so segregated have been dealt with under the foregoing provisions of this Rule, he shall take up separately each of the said covering envelopes segregated as containing, a declaration of identity marked ‘duplicate’, examine the declaration of identity therein and ascertain whether a declaration of identity in respect of the same person has or has not been previously examined under this Rule;
(m) if a declaration of identity in respect of the same person has been previously examined under this Rule, he shall mark the declaration marked ‘duplicate’ with the words ‘vote rejected’ and shall attach thereto the ballot paper envelope, without opening such envelope, or, if there is no such envelope, the ballot papers or paper;
(n) if a declaration of identity in respect of the same person has not been previously examined under this Rule, he shall deal with the declaration marked ‘duplicate’ and the ballot paper envelope and ballot papers or paper accompanying the same in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Rule other than the two last preceding paragraphs thereof.
Ballot papers or declaration not in proper envelope.
15. Where ballot papers and a declaration of identity are received together, such ballot papers shall not be rejected solely on the ground that such ballot papers are not in the ballot paper envelope, such declaration is in the ballot paper envelope or the ballot paper envelope is not closed.
Rejection of covering envelope.
16. The Seanad returning officer shall show any covering envelope which he proposes to reject to the candidates and agents (if any) present, and if an objection is made by any such candidate or agent to his decision shall add to the endorsement the words “rejection objected to”.
Separation of rejected covering envelopes.
17. The Seanad returning officer shall keep all rejected covering envelopes separate from all other documents.
Rejection of declarations of identity.
18. The Seanad returning officer shall show any declaration of identity which he proposes to reject on the ground that it has not been properly completed and made or that it does not bear the number of a ballot paper to the candidates and, agents (if any) present, and if an objection is made by any such candidate or agent to his decision shall add to the endorsement the words “rejection objected to”.
Separation of rejected declarations.
19. The Seanad returning officer shall keep all rejected declarations, with the attached envelopes or ballot papers as the case may be, separate from other documents.
Opening of ballot paper envelopes.
20. (1) When all the covering envelopes (other than covering envelopes rejected) in the Seanad ballot box have been opened and their contents dealt with under the preceding Rules, the Seanad returning officer shall open each unopened ballot paper envelope.
(2) When such envelopes have been opened, the Seanad returning officer shall, as respects each envelope, ascertain whether it contains five ballot papers and, if the number of ballot papers in any envelope is not five, he shall replace the ballot papers or paper in the envelope and mark them “rejected”.
(3) As respects each such envelope which contains five ballot papers, the Seanad returning officer shall compare the number on the envelope with the number on the ballot papers, and if the number on the envelope and the number on the ballot papers agree, he shall place the ballot papers respectively in the appropriate one of the special receptacles provided by him for ballot papers, but if the number on the envelope and the number on the ballot papers do not agree, the Seanad returning officer shall fasten such ballot papers and such envelope together and mark them “rejected”.
Preservation of covering envelopes, declarations, ballot papers, etc.
21. As soon as the Seanad returning officer has completed the placing of the ballot papers in the special receptacles, he shall seal up in separate packets (1) any rejected covering envelopes; (2) the declarations of identity which accompanied any ballot papers duly accepted; (3) any rejected declarations of identity; and (4) any rejected ballot papers; in the two latter cases with the envelopes (if any) attached thereto.
Counting the ballot papers.
22. When the Seanad returning officer has complied with the foregoing Rules of this Schedule, he shall, as respects each of the special receptacles provided by him for ballot papers, mix together thoroughly the ballot papers therein and shall, in respect of each panel, count, in accordance with the Rules contained in the Second Schedule to this Act, the votes recorded on ballot papers relating to such panel.
Record of covering envelopes received.
23. As soon as conveniently may be after the counting of the votes is completed, the Seanad returning officer shall, as respects each elector from whom he received a covering envelope, place a mark on a copy of the electoral roll (which copy the Seanad returning officer shall not show to any person save by the authority of a court of justice) and, in the case of an elector from whom he received a covering envelope containing no ballot paper, one ballot paper only or a number, other than five, of ballot papers, the mark shall be a distinctive mark indicating that fact.
Rejection of invalid ballot papers.
24. The Seanad returning officer shall endorse “rejected” on any ballot paper which he rejects as invalid and if an objection be made by any candidate or agent to his decision rejecting the ballot paper, he shall add to the said endorsement “rejection objected to”.
Continuity of proceedings.
25. The Seanad returning officer shall, so far as practicable, proceed continuously with the proceedings under these Rules subsequent to the opening of the special post office receptacles and with the counting of the votes but may at any time suspend such proceedings or counting for refreshment, night-time or other reason appearing to him to be sufficient for such period as he thinks proper, and whenever he does so suspend such proceedings or such counting, he shall take all proper precautions for the security of the ballot papers, envelopes, votes, and other documents relating to the election.
Declaration of secrecy.
26. The Seanad returning officer and each of his assistants taking part in any of the proceedings under these Rules or the counting of the votes and every candidate and agent attending any of the said proceedings or the said counting shall, before so taking part or so attending, sign an undertaking in the prescribed form to preserve the secrecy of the voting.
Certificate of result of the poll.
27. As soon as the counting of the votes is completed, the Seanad returning officer shall prepare in duplicate in respect of each panel a certificate in the prescribed form setting out the names of the candidates elected from such panel, the total number of votes given for each candidate (whether elected or not), every transfer of values made under this Act, and the total value credited to each candidate at the end of the count at which each such transfer took place, and such other matters as may be prescribed, and the Seanad returning officer shall then sign the said duplicate certificate and shall send one such duplicate to the Clerk of Dáil Eireann and shall retain the other.
Publication of result of election.
28. The Seanad returning officer shall also prepare and publish in the Iris Oifigiúil a statement in the prescribed form of the names of the candidates elected from each panel.
Preservation of ballot papers
29. Upon the completion of the counting of the votes, the Seanad returning officer shall seal up in separate packets the counted ballot papers and the ballot papers rejected as invalid.
Retention of documents by Seanad returning officer.
30. The Seanad returning officer shall retain for six months from the close of the poll the several sealed packets of the marked copy of the electoral roll, the counterfoils of the ballot papers, the outer envelopes returned as undelivered, the accepted declarations of identity, the rejected ballot papers, the counted ballot papers, and the invalid ballot papers, and shall at the end of the said period of six months destroy all the said sealed packets unless an election tribunal has otherwise ordered.
Inspection of sealed packets.
31. No person shall be allowed to inspect any of the said sealed packets retained by the Seanad returning officer nor any of the contents thereof save under and in accordance with an order of an election tribunal.
Authority for inspection of sealed packets.
32. An election tribunal may authorise the inspection by any person of the contents of any of the said sealed packets as justice may require, but on any such inspection care shall be taken that the mode in which any particular elector has voted shall not be discovered until he has been proved to the satisfaction of an election tribunal to have voted and such tribunal has declared his vote to be invalid.
Compliance with orders of election tribunal.
33. The Seanad returning officer shall comply with every order made by an election tribunal in relation to the inspection, production, and disposal of the said sealed packets.
Conclusiveness of production by Seanad returning officer.
34. Where an order is made by an election tribunal for the production by the Seanad returning officer of any document or packet of documents in his possession under these Rules and relating to a specified election, the production by the Seanad returning officer of such document or packet of documents in pursuance of such order shall be conclusive evidence that such document or packet of documents relates to the said specified election and the endorsement made by the Seanad returning officer in pursuance of these Rules on any such document or packet of documents shall be conclusive evidence that such document or packet is what it is stated in such endorsement to be.
Evidence of voting.
35. The production by the Seanad returning officer of a ballot paper purporting to have been used at any election conducted under these Rules and of a counterfoil marked with the same printed number and having a number marked thereon in writing shall be prima facie evidence that the person who voted by such ballot paper was the person whose number on the electoral roll relating to such election was the same as the number so marked on such counterfoil.
Endorsement of packets by Seanad returning officer.
36. Whenever the Seanad returning officer is required by these Rules to seal up any documents in a separate packet, he shall endorse on such packet a statement of the number and character of such documents and the election to which they relate.
Election tribunal.
37. In these Rules, the expression “election tribunal” means a court lawfully having cognisance of petitions complaining of undue return or undue election at the relevant election.
SECOND SCHEDULE.
Rules for Counting of Votes.
Rejection of invalid ballot papers.
1. The Seanad returning officer shall reject any ballot papers that are invalid.
The order of preferences.
2. The Seanad returning officer shall then ascertain the number of first preferences recorded on the ballot papers for each candidate, and shall then arrange the candidates on a list (hereinafter called “the order of preferences”) in the order of the number of first preferences recorded for each candidate, beginning with the candidate for whom the greatest number of first preferences is recorded. If the number of first preferences recorded for any two or more candidates (hereinafter called “equal candidates”) is equal, the Seanad returning officer shall ascertain the number of second preferences recorded on all the ballot papers for each of the equal candidates, and shall arrange the equal candidates as amongst themselves on the order of preferences in the order of the second preferences recorded for each such candidate, beginning with the candidate for whom the greatest number of second preferences is recorded. If the number of first and second preferences recorded for any two or more equal candidates is equal, the Seanad returning officer shall, in like manner, ascertain the number of third preferences recorded on all the ballot papers for each of such last-mentioned equal candidates, and arrange such candidates on the order of preferences accordingly, and so on until all the candidates are arranged in order on the order of preferences. If the number of first, second, third, and all other preferences recorded for any two or more equal candidates is equal the Seanad returning officer shall determine by lot the order in which such candidates are to be arranged on the order of preferences.
Arrangement of ballot papers in parcels.
3. The Seanad returning officer shall then arrange the valid ballot papers in parcels, according to the first preferences recorded for each candidate.
Value of each ballot paper.
4. For the purpose of facilitating the processes prescribed by these Rules, each valid ballot paper shall be deemed to be of the value of one thousand.
Crediting values of first preferences.
5. The Seanad returning officer shall then count the number of ballot papers in each parcel, and in accordance with the preceding Rule credit each candidate with the value of the valid ballot papers on which a first preference has been recorded for such candidate.
Ascertainment of quota.
6. The Seanad returning officer shall then add together the values in all the parcels and divide the full total value by a number exceeding by one the number of vacancies to be filled. The result increased by one, any fractional remainder being disregarded, shall be the value sufficient to secure the return of a candidate. This value is in this Schedule called the “quota”.
Candidates with quota deemed elected.
7. If, at the end of any count or at the end of the transfer of any parcel or sub-parcel of an excluded candidate or of a candidate deemed not to be a continuing candidate, the value credited to a candidate is equal to or greater than the quota, that candidate shall, subject to the provisions of the subsequent Rules, be deemed to be elected.
Transfer of surplus.
8. (1) If at the end of any count the value credited to a candidate (in this Rule referred to as the elected candidate) is greater than the quota, the surplus shall be transferred to the continuing candidate or candidates indicated on the voting papers in the parcel or sub-parcel of the elected candidate according to the next available preferences recorded thereon, and the following provisions shall apply to the making of such transfer:
(a) if the value credited to the elected candidate arises out of original votes only, the Seanad returning officer shall examine all the ballot papers in the parcel of the elected candidate and shall arrange the transferable papers therein in sub-parcels according to the next available preferences recorded thereon and shall make a separate sub-parcel of the non-transferable papers;
(b) if the value credited to the elected candidate arises partly out of original and partly out of transferred votes or out of transferred votes only, the Seanad returning officer shall examine the ballot papers contained in the sub-parcel last received by the elected candidate and shall arrange the transferable papers therein in further sub-parcels according to the next available preferences recorded thereon and shall make a separate sub-parcel of the non-transferable papers;
(c) in either of the cases referred to in the foregoing subparagraphs (a) and (b) the Seanad returning officer shall ascertain the number of ballot papers and their total value in each sub-parcel of transferable papers and in the sub-parcel of non-transferable papers;
(d) if the total value of the papers in all the sub-parcels of transferable papers is equal to or less than the said surplus, the Seanad returning officer shall transfer each sub-parcel of transferable papers to the continuing candidate indicated thereon as the voter's next available preference, each paper being transferred at the value at which it was received by the elected candidate, and (where the said total value is less than the said surplus) the non-transfer able papers shall be set aside as not effective, at a value which is equal to the difference between the said surplus and the said total value;
(e) if the total value of the papers in all the sub-parcels of transferable papers is greater than the said surplus, the Seanad returning officer shall transfer each paper in such sub-parcel of transferable papers to the continuing candidate indicated thereon as the voter's next available preference, and the value at which each paper shall be transferred shall be ascertained by dividing the surplus by the total number of transferable papers, fractional remainders being disregarded except that the consequential loss of value shall be noted on the result sheet;
(f) a surplus which arises on the completion of any count shall be dealt with before a surplus which arises at a subsequent count;
(g) when two or more surpluses arise out of the same count, the largest shall be first dealt with and the others shall be dealt with in the order of their magnitude,
(h) if two or more candidates have an equal surplus arising out of the same count, the surplus of the candidate credited with the greatest value at the earliest count at which the values credited to those candidates were unequal shall be first dealt with, and where the values credited to such candidates were equal at all counts, the Seanad returning officer shall deal first with the surplus of the candidate who is highest in the order of preferences.
(2) If two or more candidates are each credited with a value of votes equal to or greater than the quota, the candidate credited with the greatest value of votes shall be deemed to have been elected before a candidate credited with a lesser value of votes.
(3) Whenever the number of candidates on a sub-panel who have been deemed to be elected is equal to the maximum number of candidates that could at that time be elected in respect of such sub-panel, no further candidate shall be deemed to be elected in respect of that sub-panel and the values of the votes of the remaining candidates on such sub-panel shall be transferred before any other transfer is made.
(4) If the values of votes credited to two or more candidates on a sub-panel are equal and all such candidates may not by reason of paragraph (3) of this Rule be deemed to be elected, the first of such candidates to be deemed to be elected shall be the candidate credited with the greatest value of votes at the earliest count, beginning with the first, at which the values of votes credited to such candidates were unequal. If the values of votes are equal at all counts, the candidate highest in order of preferences shall be deemed to be credited with the greatest value of votes.
The values of votes of the remaining candidates shall then be transferred in the same manner as in the case of a transfer on the exclusion of a candidate, the values of votes of the candidate credited with the greatest number of votes being transferred first.
Exclusion of candidates.
9. (1) If at the end of any count no candidate has a surplus and one or more vacancies remain unfilled, the Seanad returning officer shall exclude the candidate (in this Rule referred to as the excluded candidate) then credited with the lowest value and shall transfer his papers to the continuing candidates respectively indicated on the ballot papers in the parcel or sub-parcels of the excluded candidate as the voter's next available preference, and shall credit such continuing candidates with the value of the papers so transferred, and the following provisions shall apply to the making of such transfer:
(a) the parcel containing original votes shall first be transferred, the transfer value of each paper being one thousand;
(b) the sub-parcels containing transferred votes shall then be transferred in the order in which and at the value of which the excluded candidate obtained them;
(c) for the purpose of determining whether a candidate is a continuing candidate the transfer of each parcel or sub-parcel shall be regarded as a separate count;
(d) in the transfer of each parcel or sub-parcel, a separate sub-parcel shall be made of the non-transferable papers which shall be set aside at the value at which the excluded candidate obtained them;
(e) if, when a candidate has to be excluded under this Rule, two or more candidates are each then credited with the same value and are lowest regard shall be had to the total value of original votes credited to each of those candidates and the candidate with the smallest such total value shall be excluded, and where such total values are equal regard shall be had to the total value of votes credited to each of those candidates at the earliest count at which they had unequal values, and the candidates with the smallest such total value at that count shall be excluded, and if those candidates were each credited with the same total value of votes at all counts that one of those candidates who is lowest in the order of preferences shall be excluded.
(2) A candidate on a sub-panel shall not be excluded under this Rule if the number of candidates deemed to be elected to the sub-panel plus the number of continuing candidates thereon, if such candidate were excluded, would be less than the minimum number required to be elected from the sub-panel.
(3) If the value of votes credited to two or more candidates is equal, the candidate first to be excluded shall be the candidate credited with the smallest value of votes at the earliest count, beginning with the first, at which the values of votes were unequal, and if the values of votes were equal at all counts, the candidate lowest in the order of preferences shall be first excluded.
Disposal of papers on transfer.
10. On every transfer made under these Rules, each sub-parcel of papers transferred shall be placed on top of the parcel or sub-parcel (if any) of papers of the candidate to whom the transfer is made and that candidate shall be credited with the value ascertained in accordance with these Rules of the papers so transferred to him.
Filling the last vacancies.
11. (1) If at the end of any count the number of candidates deemed to be elected is equal to the number of vacancies to be filled, no further transfer shall be made.
(2) When at the end of any count the number of continuing candidates is equal to the number of vacancies remaining unfilled, the continuing candidates shall thereupon be deemed to be elected.
(3) When only one vacancy remains unfilled and the value credited to some one continuing candidate exceeds the total of the values credited to the other continuing candidates together with any surplus not transferred, that candidate shall thereupon be deemed to be elected.
(4) When the last vacancies can be filled under this Rule, no further transfer shall be made.
Result sheet.
12. At the end of every count the Seanad returning officer shall record on a result sheet in the prescribed form the total of the values credited to each candidate at the end of that count and also the value of the non-transferable papers not effective on that count and the loss of value on that count owing to disregard of fractions.
Precautions for preservation of secrecy.
13. While the votes are being counted the ballot papers shall so far as it is practicable be kept face upwards and all proper precautions shall be taken by the Seanad returning officer for preventing the numbers on the backs of the ballot papers being seen.
Recount.
14. (1) Any candidate or his agent may, at the conclusion of any count, request the Seanad returning officer to re-examine and recount all or any of the ballot papers dealt with during that count, and the Seanad returning officer shall forthwith re-examine and recount accordingly the ballot papers indicated.
(2) The Seanad returning officer may at his discretion recount ballot papers either once or more often in any case in which he is not satisfied as to the accuracy of any count.
(3) Nothing in this Rule shall make it obligatory on the Seanad returning officer to recount the same parcel of ballot papers more than once.
Definitions.
15. In these Rules—
(1) the expression “continuing candidate” means any candidate not deemed to be elected and not excluded;
(2) the expression “first preference” means the figure “1” standing alone, the expression “second preference” means the figure “2” standing alone in succession to the figure “1”, and the expression “third preference” means the figure “3” standing alone in succession to the figures “1” and “2” set opposite the name of any candidate, and so on;
(3) the expression “next available preference” means a second or subsequent preference recorded in consecutive numerical order for a continuing candidate, the preference next in order on the ballot paper for candidates already deemed to be elected or excluded being ignored;
(4) the expression “transferable paper” means a ballot paper on which, following a first preference, a second or subsequent preference is recorded in numerical order for a continuing candidate:
(5) the expression “non-transferable paper” means a ballot paper—
(a) on which no second or subsequent preference is recorded for a continuing candidate; or
(b) on which the names of two or more candidates (whether continuing or not) are marked with the same number, and are next in order of preference; or
(c) on which the name of the candidate next in order of preference (whether continuing or not) is marked by a number not following consecutively after some other number on the voting paper or by two or more numbers; or
(d) which is void for uncertainty;
(6) the expression “original vote” in regard to any candidate means a vote derived from a ballot paper on which a first preference is recorded for that candidate:
(7) the expression “transferred vote” in regard to any candidate means a vote derived from a ballot paper on which a second or subsequent preference is recorded for that candidate;
(8) the expression “surplus” means the number by which the total value of the votes, original and transferred, credited to any candidate exceeds the quota;
(9) the expression “count” means (as the context may require) either—
(a) all the operations involved in the counting of the first preferences recorded for candidates; or
(b) all the operations involved in the transfer of the surplus of an elected candidate; or
(c) all the operations involved in the transfer of the votes of an excluded candidate; or
(d) the transfer in pursuance of these Rules of the papers of a candidate deemed not to be a continuing candidate;
(10) the expression “deemed to be elected” means deemed to be elected for the purpose of counting, but without prejudice to the declaration of the result of the election;
(11) the expression “determine by lot” means determine in accordance with the following directions, that is to say:—
the names of the candidates concerned having been written on similar slips of paper, and the slips having been folded so as to prevent identification and mixed and drawn at random, the candidates concerned shall as amongst themselves be arranged on the order of preferences in the order in which the slips containing their names are drawn, beginning with the candidate whose name is on the slip drawn first.
THIRD SCHEDULE.
Rules for Conduct of Seanad Bye-election for Oireachtas Sub-panel Casual Vacancy.
Issue of ballot papers.
1. On the day appointed for the issue of ballot papers the Seanad returning officer shall issue, in the manner directed in the following Rules a ballot paper to every elector named on the electoral roll for the election.
Attendance of candidates.
2. Every candidate shall be entitled to attend at the issue of ballot papers for the election, and the Seanad returning officer shall, on the request of any such candidate, inform him of the time and place at which the issue will be made.
Persons present at issue of ballot papers.
3. The Seanad returning returning officer and his assistants, any candidate and any agent appointed by a candidate, and no other person, except with the permission of the Seanad returning officer, may be present at the issue of ballot papers.
Method of issuing ballot papers.
4. The Seanad returning officer shall issue a ballot paper to each elector by doing or causing to be done in respect of such elector the following things in the following order, that is to say:
(a) the number, name, address, and description of the elector as stated in the electoral roll shall be called out;
(b) the elector's said number shall be marked on the counterfoil of the ballot paper to be sent to him;
(c) a mark shall be placed on the electoral roll opposite the elector's name thereon to indicate that a ballot paper has been issued to such elector, but without disclosing the identity of such ballot paper;
(d) the ballot paper shall be marked on both sides with the official mark;
(e) the number on the back of the ballot paper shall be marked upon a form of declaration of identity and upon an envelope (hereinafter referred to as the ballot paper envelope) in the prescribed form;
(f) there shall be placed in an envelope (hereinafter referred to as the outer envelope) in the prescribed form addressed to the elector at his address stated in the electoral roll the following documents, that is to say:—
(i) a ballot paper, and
(ii) the said form of declaration of identity, and
(iii) an envelope (hereinafter referred to as the covering envelope) in the prescribed form addressed to the Seanad returning officer, and
(iv) the said ballot paper envelope;
(g) the outer envelope shall be effectually closed;
(h) when the foregoing provisions of this Rule have been complied with in respect of all the electors whose names are on the electoral roll, all the said closed outer envelopes shall be collected, counted, and posted.
Issue of duplicate ballot papers.
5. Every request for the issue of a duplicate ballot paper shall, when received by the Seanad returning officer, be endorsed by him with the day and hour of the receipt thereof by him and with a consecutive number, and every duplicate ballot paper issued in pursuance of any such request shall be issued in accordance with the provisions of the foregoing Rule so far as the same are applicable save that, in lieu of the number on the electoral roll, there shall be marked on the counterfoil of such ballot paper the consecutive number endorsed on the request in pursuance of which such ballot paper is issued and that when such ballot paper has been issued the said request shall be disposed of in like manner as the marked copy of the electoral roll is required by these Rules to be disposed of.
Posting of ballot papers.
6. The Seanad returning officer shall post the said closed outer envelopes by delivering them to the nearest head post office, or such other office as may be arranged with the head post-master, and the post-master at such office shall stamp with the post office date stamp a form of receipt to be presented by the Seanad returning officer stating the number of envelopes so delivered, and shall immediately forward such envelopes by registered post for delivery to the persons to whom they are addressed.
Preservation of electoral roll and counterfoils.
7. The Seanad returning officer, as soon as practicable after the completion of the issue of the ballot papers and in the presence of such candidates and agents as are in attendance, shall make up in separate packets, sealed with his own seal and sealed by such of the said candidates or agents as desire to affix their seals, the marked copy of the electoral roll and the counterfoils of the ballot papers.
Seanad ballot box.
8. The Seanad returning officer shall provide a ballot box marked “Seanad ballot box” for the reception of the covering envelopes when returned by the voters, and on the completion of the issue of the ballot papers the Seanad returning officer shall show such ballot box open and empty to the candidates and agents (if any) present, and shall seal such ballot box with his seal and shall make provision for the safe custody of such ballot box.
Disposal of covering envelopes on receipt.
9. The Seanad returning officer shall forthwith place unopened in the Seanad ballot box every covering envelope received by him before the close of the poll and shall seal up unopened in a separate package all covering envelopes received by him after the close of the poll and shall also seal up unopened in a separate package all outer envelopes returned to him as undelivered.
Notice of counting of votes.
10. Not less than three days before the close of the poll, the Seanad returning officer shall send by post to every candidate at his address as stated in the list of candidates notice in writing of the time and place at which he will open the Seanad ballot box and count the votes.
Opening of Seanad ballot box.
11. As soon as conveniently may be after the close of the poll, the Seanad returning officer shall open the Seanad ballot box and count the votes.
Persons present at counting of votes.
12. The Seanad returning officer and his assistants, any candidate and any agent appointed by a candidate, and no other person, except with the permission of the Seanad returning officer, may be present at the opening of the Seanad ballot box or the counting of the votes.
Procedure on opening of Seanad ballot box.
13. When the Seanad ballot box has been opened the Seanad returning officer shall do the following things;
(a) take all the covering envelopes out of the Seanad ballot box and count and note the number thereof;
(b) open each such covering envelope and segregate any of those envelopes containing a declaration of identity issued as a duplicate form of declaration of identity;
(c) take up separately each of the said covering envelopes not so segregated, examine the declaration of identity therein and compare the number on such declaration with the number on the ballot paper envelope in such covering envelope;
(d) if the said numbers agree and the declaration of identity is found to be duly completed and made, he shall place the declaration of identity and the ballot paper envelope in separate receptacles;
(e) if he is not satisfied that the declaration of identity has been duly completed and made, he shall endorse the declaration of identity “vote rejected,” and shall attach thereto the ballot paper envelope, without opening such envelope, or if there is not such envelope, the ballot paper;
(f) if he finds that the numbers on the declaration of identity and on the ballot paper envelope do not agree, or if the envelope has no number on it, he shall open the envelope, and if the number on the ballot paper agrees with the number on the declaration of identity, he shall place the ballot paper in the special receptacle provided by him for ballot papers;
(g) where the number on the ballot paper does not agree with the number on the declaration of identity, he shall replace the ballot paper in its envelope, if any, attach such envelope or ballot paper (as the case may be) to the declaration of identity, and endorse the the declaration of identity “vote rejected”;
(h) where a declaration of identity does not appear to accompany the ballot paper envelope, he shall open the ballot paper envelope, and if it is found to contain the declaration of identity, he shall deal with such declaration and ballot paper envelope in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Rule;
(i) he shall mark with the word “rejected” every declaration of identity which is not accompanied by a ballot paper, and every ballot paper which is not accompanied by a declaration of identity;
(j) when all the said covering envelopes not so segregated have been dealt with under the foregoing provisions of this Rule, he shall take up separately each of the said covering envelopes segregated as containing a declaration of identity issued as a duplicate form of declaration of identity, examine the declaration of identity therein (hereinafter referred to as the duplicate declaration) and ascertain whether a declaration of identity in respect of the same person has or has not been previously examined under this Rule:
(k) if a declaration of identity in respect of the same person has been previously examined under this Rule, he shall mark the duplicate declaration “vote rejected” and shall attach thereto the ballot paper envelope, without opening such envelope, or, if there is no such envelope, the ballot paper;
(l) if a declaration of identity in respect of the same person has not been previously examined under this Rule, he shall deal with the duplicate declaration and the ballot paper envelope and ballot paper accompanying the same in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Rule other than the two last preceding paragraphs thereof.
Ballot paper and declaration not in proper envelopes.
14. Where a ballot paper and a declaration of identity are received together and the numbers on such ballot paper and on such declaration agree, such ballot paper shall not be rejected solely on the ground that such ballot paper and such declaration were not placed in the proper envelopes or that any of such envelopes were not fastened.
Rejection of declarations of identity.
15. The Seanad returning officer shall show any declaration of identity which he proposes to reject on the ground that it has not been properly completed and made to the candidates and agents (if any) present, and if an objection is made by any such candidate or agent to his decision shall add to the endorsement the words “rejection objected to”.
Separation of rejected declarations.
16. The Seanad returning officer shall keep all rejected declarations, with the attached envelopes or ballot papers as the case may be, separate from other documents.
Opening of ballot paper envelopes.
17. When all the covering envelopes in the Seanad ballot box have been opened and their contents dealt with under the preceding Rules, the Seanad returning officer shall open each unopened ballot paper envelope and compare the number on the envelope with the number on the ballot paper, and if the number on the envelope and the number on the ballot paper agree, he shall place the ballot paper in the special receptacle provided by him for ballot papers, but if the number on the envelope and the number on the ballot paper do not agree, the Seanad returning officer shall fasten such ballot paper and such envelope together and mark them “rejected”.
Preservation of declarations, ballot papers, etc.
18. As soon as the Seanad returning officer has completed the placing of the ballot papers in the said special receptacle, he shall seal up in separate packets (1) the declarations of identity which accompanied any ballot papers duly accepted; (2) any rejected declarations of identity; and (3) any rejected ballot papers; in the two latter cases with the envelopes (if any) attached thereto.
Counting the ballot papers.
19. When the Seanad returning officer has complied with the foregoing Rules of this Schedule, he shall mix together thoroughly the ballot papers contained in the special receptacle provided by him for ballot papers and shall count, in accordance with the Rules contained in the Second Schedule to this Act, the votes recorded on such ballot papers.
Rejection of invalid ballot papers.
20. The Seanad returning officer shall endorse “rejected” on any ballot paper which he rejects as invalid and if an objection be made by any candidate or agent to his decision rejecting the ballot paper, he shall add to the said endorsement “rejection objected to”.
Continuity of proceedings.
21. The Seanad returning officer shall, so far as practicable, proceed continuously with the proceedings, under these Rules subsequent to the opening of the Seanad ballot box and with the counting of the votes but may at any time suspend such proceedings or counting for refreshment, night-time, or other reason appearing to him to be sufficient for such period as he thinks proper, and whenever he does so suspend such proceedings or such counting, he shall take all proper precautions for the security of the ballot papers, envelopes, votes, and other documents relating to the election.
Declaration of secrecy.
22. The Seanad returning officer and each of his assistants taking part in any of the proceedings under these Rules or the counting of the votes and every candidate and agent attending any of the said proceedings or the said counting shall, before so taking part or so attending, sign an undertaking in the prescribed form to preserve the secrecy of the voting.
Certificate of result of the poll.
23. As soon as the counting of the votes is completed, the Seanad returning officer shall prepare in duplicate a certificate in the prescribed form setting out the name of the candidate elected, the total number of votes given for each candidate (whether elected or not), every transfer of values made under this Act, and the total value credited to each candidate at the end of the count at which each such transfer took place, and such other matters as may be prescribed, and the Seanad returning officer shall then sign the said duplicate certificate and shall send one such duplicate to the Clerk of Dáil Eireann and shall retain the other.
Publication of result of election
24. The Seanad returning officer shall also prepare and publish in the Iris Oifigiúil a statement in the prescribed form of the name of the candidate elected.
Preservation of ballot papers.
25. Upon the completion of the counting of the votes, the Seanad returning officer shall seal up in separate packets the counted ballot papers and the ballot papers rejected as invalid.
Retention of documents by Seanad returning officer.
26. The Seanad returning officer shall retain for six months from the close of the poll the several sealed packets of the marked copy of the electoral roll, the counterfoils of the ballot papers, the covering envelopes received after the close of the poll, the outer envelopes returned as undelivered, the accepted declarations of identity, the rejected declarations of identity, the rejected ballot papers, the counted ballot papers, and the invalid ballot papers, and shall at the end of the said period of six months destroy all the said sealed packets unless an election tribunal has otherwise ordered.
Inspection of sealed packets
27. No person shall be allowed to inspect any of the said sealed packets retained by the Seanad returning officer nor any of the contents thereof save under and in accordance with an order of an election tribunal.
Authority for inspection of sealed packets.
28. An election tribunal may authorise the inspection by any person of the contents of any of the said sealed packets as justice may require, but on any such inspection care shall be taken that the mode in which in any particular elector has voted shall not be discovered until he has been proved to the satisfaction of an election tribunal to have voted and such tribunal has declared his vote to be invalid.
Compliance with orders of election tribunal.
29. The Seanad returning officer shall comply with every order made by an election tribunal in relation to the inspection, production, and disposal of the said sealed packets.
Conclusiveness of production by Seanad returning officer.
30. Where an order is made by an election tribunal for the production by the Seanad returning officer of any document or packet of documents in his possession under these Rules and relating to a specified election, the production by the Seanad returning officer of such document or packet of documents in pursuance of such order shall be conclusive evidence that such document or packet of documents relates to the said specified election and the endorsement made by the Seanad returning officer in pursuance of these Rules on any such document or packet of documents shall be conclusive evidence that such document or packet is what it is stated in such endorsement to be.
Evidence of voting.
31. The production by the Seanad returning officer of a ballot paper purporting to have been used at any election conducted under these Rules and of a counterfoil marked with the same printed number and having a number marked thereon in writing shall be prima facie evidence that the person who voted by such ballot paper was the person whose number on the electoral roll relating to such election was the same as the number so marked on such counterfoil.
Endorsement of packets by Seanad returning officer.
32. Whenever the Seanad returning officer is required by these Rules to seal up any documents in a separate packet, he shall endorse on such packet a statement of the number and character of such documents and the election to which they relate.
Election tribunal.
33. In these Rules, the expression “election tribunal” means a court lawfully having cognisance of petitions complaining of undue return or undue election at the relevant election.
Uimhir 42 de 1947.
ACHT TOGHCHÁIN AN tSEANAID (ROLLA-CHOMHALTAÍ), 1947.
[An tiontó oifigiúil].
ACHTAÍTEAR AG AN OIREACHTAS MAR LEANAS:—
CUID I.
Reamhraiteach agus Ginearalta.
Gearrtheideal.
1.—Féadfar Acht Toghcháin an tSeanaid (Rolla-Chomhaltaí), 1947, a ghairm den Acht seo.
Mínithe.
2.—San Acht seo—
tá leis an abairt “an rolla riaracháin” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 3;
tá leis an abairt “an rolla talmhaíochta” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 3;
tá leis an abairt “athscrúdú bliantúil” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 16;
tá leis an abairt “an bord achomhairc” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 12;
ciallaíonn an focal “corrfholúntas” folúntas i gcomhaltas Sheanad Éireann a tharla trí éag nó éirí as oifig nó teacht faoi dhícháilíocht do chomhalta de Sheanad Éireann a toghadh san olltoghchán is déanaí roimhe sin don tSeanad nó a toghadh i gcorrthoghchán don tSeanad ón uair a bhí an t-olltoghcháin is déanaí roimhe sin don tSeanad ann;
tá leis an abairt “deimhniú um thoghadh sealadach” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 63;
tá leis an abairt “críoch na vótaíochta” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 24 nó an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 56 (do réir mar is iomchuí);
tá leis an abairt “comhlánú na rollaí” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 36;
tá leis an abairt “an rolla saíochta agus oideachais” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 3;
ciallaíonn an abairt “toghchán don Dáil” olltoghchán comhaltaí Dháil Éireann a comórfar de dhroim Dáil Éireann a lánscor;
tá leis an abairt “chríochnú na haimsire do mholadh ainmniúchán ginearálta chun na rollaí” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 24;
tá leis an abairt “críochnú na haimsire d'ainmniúcháin ón Oireachtas chun na rollaí” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 24;
tá leis an abairt “an rolla tionscail agus tráchtála” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 3;
tá leis an abairt “an rolla oibreachais” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 3;
tá leis an abairt “an liosta iarrthóirí” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 68;
ciallaíonn an abairt “comhalta den Oireachtas” comhalta de Dháil Éireann nó comhalta de Sheanad Éireann;
ciallaíonn an abairt “an tAire” an tAire Rialtais Áitiúil;
tá leis an abairt “comhluchta ainmniúcháin” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 8;
tá leis an abairt “liosta de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 28;
tá leis an abairt “fo-rolla do chomhluchta ainmniúcháin” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 43;
ciallaíonn an abairt “corrfholúntas i bhfo-rolla do chomhluchta ainmniúcháin” corrfholúntas a tharla trí éag nó éirí as oifig nó teacht faoi dhícháilíocht do chomhalta de Sheanad Éireann a toghadh san olltoghchán is déanaí roimhe sin don tSeanad as fo-rolla do chomhluchta ainmniúcháin nó a toghadh i gcorrthoghchán don tSeanad chun ionad comhalta a toghadh amhlaidh san olltoghchán sin don tSeanad a líonadh (go díreach nó go neamhdhíreach);
tá leis an abairt “coiste ainmniúcháin” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 21;
tá leis an abairt “cruinniú (corrthoghchán) de choiste ainmniúcháin” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 59;
tá leis an abairt “cruinniú (olltoghchán) de choiste ainmniúcháin” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 32;
tá leis an abairt “fógra i dtaobh corrfholúntais” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 55;
tá leis an abairt “fo-rolla don Oireachtas” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 43;
ciallaíonn an abairt “corrfholúntas i bhfo-rolla don Oireachtas” corrfholúntas a tharla trí éag, éirí as oifig nó teacht faoi dhícháilíocht do chomhalta de Sheanad Éireann a toghadh san olltoghchán is déanaí roimhe sin don tSeanad as fo-rolla don Oireachtas nó a toghadh i gcorrthoghchán don tSeanad chun ionad comhalta a toghadh amhlaidh san olltoghchán sin don tSeanad a líonadh (go díreach nó go neamhdhíreach);
tá leis an bhfocal “rolla” an bhrí a bheirtear dó in alt 3;
ciallaíonn an briathar “ordú” ordú le rialacháin a dhéanfas an tAire faoin Acht seo;
tá leis an abairt “fo-rolla sealadach do chomhluchta ainmniúcháin” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 35;
tá leis an abairt “an clár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 8;
tá leis an abairt “an rialú ar ainmniúchán” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 64 nó an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 68 (pé acu is iomchuí);
ciallaíonn an abairt “corrthoghchán don tSeanad” toghchán chun corrfholúntas a líonadh;
tá leis an abairt “ordú corrthoghcháin don tSeanad” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 56;
ciallaíonn an abairt “olltoghchán don tSeanad” an oiread d'olltoghchán do chomhaltaí Sheanad Éireann de bhun Airteagail 18 den Bhunreacht agus a bhaineas le toghadh na gcomhaltaí is gá do réir an Airteagail sin a thoghadh as rollaí;
tá leis an abairt “ordú olltoghcháin don tSeanad” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 24;
tá leis an abairt “ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid” an bhrí a bheirtear di in alt 4;
tá leis an bhfocal “fo-rolla” an bhrí a bheirtear dó in alt 43.
Na rollaí.
3.—(1) San Acht seo—
nuair a húsáidtear an focal “rolla” gan a cháiliú ciallaíonn sé rolla iarrthóirí arna chóiriú de bhun fo-alt 1° d'alt 7 d'Airteagal 18 den Bhunreacht;
ciallaíonn an abairt “an rolla saíochta agus oideachais” an rolla ar gá do réir an fho-ailt sin 1° go mbeidh air ainmneacha daoine ag a mbeidh eolas agus cleachtadh ar na gnóthaí agus na seirbhísí seo a leanas, eadhon, an Ghaeilge agus an tsaíocht náisiúnta, litríocht, ealaíonacht, oideachas agus pé garma a léireofar le dlí chun críche an rolla seo;
ciallaíonn an abairt “an rolla talmhaíochta” an rolla ar gá do réir an fho-ailt sin 1° go mbeidh air ainmneacha daoine ag a mbeidh eolas agus cleachtadh ar na gnóthaí agus na seirbhísí seo a leanas, eadhon, talmhaíocht, maille le gnóthaí a bhaineas léi, agus iascaireacht;
ciallaíonn an abairt “an rolla oibreachais” an rolla ar gá do réir an fho-ailt sin 1° go mbeidh air ainmneacha daoine ag a mbeidh eolas agus cleachtadh ar na gnóthaí agus na seirbhísí seo a leanas, eadhon, oibreachas, cibé comheagraithe é nó nach ea;
ciallaíonn an abairt “an rolla tionscail agus tráchtála” an rolla ar gá do réir an fho-ailt sin 1° go mbeidh air ainmneacha daoine ag a mbeidh eolas agus cleachtadh ar na gnóthaí agus na seirbhísí seo a leanas, eadhon, tionscal agus tráchtáil ar a n-áirítear bancaeracht, airgeadas, cuntasaíocht, innealltóireacht agus foirgníocht;
ciallaíonn an abairt “an rolla riaracháin” an rolla ar gá do réir an fho-ailt sin 1° go mbeidh air ainmneacha daoine ag a mbeidh eolas agus cleachtadh ar na gnóthaí agus na seirbhísí seo a leanas, eadhon, riarachán poiblí agus seirbhísí comhdhaonnacha, agus obair chomhdhaonnach dheontach d'áireamh.
(2) Léirítear leis seo gurb iad is garma chun críocha an rolla shaíochta agus oideachais ná—
(a) an dlí, agus
(b) an mhíochaine, ar a n-áirítear an mháinliacht, an fhiaclóireacht, an mhíochaine thréidliachta, agus an cheimíocht íceolaíochta.
Ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid.
4.—(1) Is é an duine a shealbhós de thuras na huaire oifig Chléireach Sheanaid Éireann is ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid chun críocha an Achta seo.
(2) Beidh de dhualgas ar cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid gach olltoghchán don tSeanad agus gach corrthoghchán don tSeanad a stiúrú, na vótanna a bhéarfar ann a chomhaireamh, a thoradh d'fhionnachtain agus a dhearbhú do réir an Achta seo, agus pé nithe eile a dhéanamh maidir le gach toghchán den tsórt sin is gá dhó do réir an Achta seo a dhéanamh.
(3) Íocfaidh an tAire Airgeadais le ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, as an bPríomh-Chiste nó as a thoradh fáis, méid a éilithe réasúnacha, gan a dhul thar pé méid a cheadós an tAire sin, i leith comhlíonadh a dhualgas faoin Acht seo ag ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid.
(4) Má bhíonn agus faid a bheas oifig Chléireach Sheanad Éireann folamh nó sealbhóir na hoifige sin neamhábalta, de dheasca breoiteachta, toisc é a bheith as láthair nó ar chúis eile, ar a dhualgais a chomhlíonadh, gníomhóidh Leas-Chléireach Sheanad Éireann mar cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid agus beidh éifeacht dá réir sin ag tagairtí san Acht seo do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid.
Rialacháin.
5.—Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh ag ordú aon ní nó ruda dá dtagartar san Acht seo mar ní nó rud atá ordaithe nó le hordú.
Costais.
6.—Na costais faoina raghaidh an tAire ag riaradh an Achta seo, déanfar, a mhéid a cheadós an tAire Airgeadais, iad d'íoc as airgead a sholáthrós an tOireachtas.
Athghairm.
7.—Athghairmtear leis seo Acht Toghcháin an tSeanaid (Baill Ainmliosta), 1937 (Uimh. 43 de 1937), agus Acht Toghcháin an tSeanaid (Baill Ainmliosta) (Toghcháin Chorra), 1940 (Uimh. 20 de 1940).
CUID II.
An Clar de Chomhluchta Ainmniuchain.
Clár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin a bhunú agus a chothabháil.
8.—(1) Déanfar clár (dá ngairmtear an clár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin san Acht seo) de chomhluchta (dá ngairmtear comhluchta ainmniúcháin san Acht seo), a bheas i dteideal daoine d'ainmniú chun na rollaí iarrthóirí chun críocha gach olltoghcháin don tSeanad, a bhunú agus a chothabháil do réir an Achta seo.
(2) Beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas maidir leis an gclár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin:
(a) is sa bhfoirm is cuí le ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid a bheas an clár;
(b) ní bheidh comhlucht inchláruithe sa chlár i leith aon rolla áirithe mura rud é—
(I) (i) go mbaineann nó go ngabhann a chuspóirí go príomha leis na gnóthaí agus na seirbhísí a luaitear i bhfo-alt 1° d'alt 7 d'Airteagal 18 den Bhunreacht i leith an rolla áirithe sin, agus
(ii) go baineann a ghníomhachais go príomha leis na gnóthaí agus na seirbhísí sin, nó
(II) go bhfuil a chomhaltaí ionadaitheach do dhaoine ag a bhfuil eolas agus cleachtadh ar na gnóthaí agus na seirbhísí sin;
(c) ní hinchláruithe sa chlár aon chomhlucht a bunaítear nó a seoltar go hiomlán nó go substainteach chun brabús a dhéanamh, nó arb é is aon-fheidhm nó príomh-fheidhm dó aon trádáil nó gnó a sheoladh chun brabús a dhéanamh;
(d) féadfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid diúltú d'aon chomhlucht (nach comhlucht eiscithe) a chlárú sa chlár mura rud é—
(I) go bhfuil a eagraíocht agus a stiúrú faoi réir airteagal comhlachais, rialacha nó rialachán eile—
(i) a fhorálas go dtionólfar cruinniú ginearálta bliantúil a dtabharfar cuireadh chuige do gach comhalta trí fhógra a mbeidh clár gnótha ann ina mbeidh na nithe seo a leanas, is é sin le rá, miontuairiscí an chruinnithe roimhe sin, tíolacadh na tuarascála bliantúla, breithniú an ráitis chuntas arna dheimhniú ag an iniúchóir, toghadh coiste feidhmiúcháin, toghadh iniúchóirí,
(ii) a dhéanas leor-shocrú chun coiste feidhmiúcháin do sheoladh gnótha an chomhluchta, agus
(iii) a fhorálas go ndéanfar na cuntais d'iniúchadh agus a dheimhniú ag iniúchóir poiblí nó duine cáilithe eile, agus
(II) nár lú ná míle punt sa bhliain i gcás comhluchta charthanais, nó dhá chéad go leith punt sa bhliain i gcás ar bith eile, a mheán-ioncam ó shíntiúis sna cúig bliana díreach roimh an gclárú d'iarraidh,
ach sin faoi réir an phrovíso go mbeidh na ceanglais atá leagtha amach sa mhír seo maidir le toghadh iniúchóirí, le foráil i dtaobh iniúchta agus ioncaim bhliantúil gan feidhm a bheith acu i gcás na gcomhlucht a bhíos ag gabháil d'fhorbairt na heolaíochta nó an eolais i gcoitinne agus ar dóigh le ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid tábhacht náisiúnta a bheith ag baint leo;
(e) ní hinchláruithe sa chlár aon chomhlucht ar daoine ar fostú ag an Stát nó daoine ar fostú ag údaráis áitiúla atá ann ar fad nó go formhór agus is comhlucht ar cuspóir dá chuid leas na ndaoine sin, maidir leis an bhfostaíocht sin acu, a chur ar aghaidh nó a chosaint;
(f) gach comhlucht a clárófar sa chlár is i leith aon rolla amháin a clárófar amhlaidh iad;
(g) lasmuigh de chás dá bhforáltar a mhalairt leis an bhfo-alt seo, ní clárófar aon chomhlucht sa chlár ach de bhun iarratais chuige sin arna dhéanamh ag an gcomhlucht sin do réir an Achta seo;
(h) clárófar Comh-Chomhairle Chomhairlí Contae na hÉireann agus Comhlachas Údarás Bardasacha na hÉireann sa chlár i leith an Chláir riaracháin gan aon iarratas, agus ní clárófar aon chomhlucht eile sa chlár i leith an rolla sin murab iad is cuspóirí agus gníomhachais dó, go hiomlán nó go substainteach, seirbhísí comhdhaonnacha deontacha de chineál carthannach nó almsaineach.
(3) I mír (d) d'fho-alt (2) den alt seo ciallaíonn an abairt “comhlucht eiscithe” comhlucht—
(a) is comhlucht a bunaíodh faoi Acht ón Oireachtas chun aon chríche acu seo a leanas:
(i) cáilíochta gairmiúla nó iompar gairmiúil a rialú nó d'fhollúnú;
(ii) saoráidí saíochta nó oideachais a chur ar fáil nó d'fheabhsú; nó
(b) is eagras saíochta nó oideachais nó eagras gairmiúil atá ag fáil deontais a vótáil an tOireachtas dó go sonrach.
(4) Is údarás áitiúil chun críocha an ailt seo gach comhlucht acu seo a leanas, agus na comhluchta sin amháin:
(a) comhairle chontae, bardas contae-bhuirge nó buirge eile, comhairle cheantair uirbigh, coimisinéirí baile nó údarás cúnaimh phoiblí,
(b) coiste nó comhchoiste d'aon chomhlucht nó comhluchta, nó arna cheapadh ag aon chomhlucht nó comhluchta, acu sin a luaitear i mír (a) den fho-alt seo.
Iarratais ar chlarú sa chlár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin.
9.—(1) Aon chomhlucht ar mian leis go gclárofaí é sa chlár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin i leith aon rolla áirithe agus a bheas á éileamh go bhfuil sé inchláruithe sa chlár sin i leith an rolla sin, féadfaidh sé sin d'iarraidh ar cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid do réir an ailt seo.
(2) Beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas maidir le hiarratais ar chlárú sa chlár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin le linn an clár sin d'ullmhú:
(a) is i scríbhinn, ar pháipéar iarratais sa bhfoirm ordaithe a sholáthrós ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, a déanfar an t-iarratas;
(b) arna iarraidh sin air d'aon chomhlucht a bheartós clárú d'iarraidh, bhéarfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid páipéar iarratais chuige sin don chomhlucht sin in aisce;
(c) déanfar an t-iarratas a sheachadadh do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid nó a chur chuige leis an bpost ag a oifig ar an dáta nó roimh an dáta a sonrófar chuige sin sa bhfógra a foilseofar faoi alt 10 den Acht seo agus ní ghlacfaidh ná ní bhreithneoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid aon iarratas a gheofar san oifig sin tar éis an dáta sin;
(d) luafar san iarratas an rolla ar mian leis an iarratasóir go gclarófaí é ina leith agus na forais ar a bhfuil an t-iarratasóir á éileamh go bhfuil sé inchláruithe;
(e) luafar san iarratas freisin gach eolas i dtaobh an iarratasóra a hiarrfar i bhfoirm ordaithe an pháipéir iarratais.
Fógra d'fhoilsiú go bhfuil an clár de chomluchta ainmniúcháin á ullmhú.
10.—A luaithe is féidir tar éis an tAcht seo a rith, foilseoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, i ngach nuachtán laethúil maidne a foilsítear sa Stát agus sna nuachtáin laethúla eile (más ann) a mheasfas sé, le ceadú an Aire, is cuí, fógra sa bhfoirm ordaithe á fhógairt go poiblí go bhfuil an clár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin á ullmhú, agus ag tabhairt an eolais (lena n-áirítear an dáta deiridh chun glacadh le hiarratais ar chlárú) agus na dtreoracha a mheasfas an tAire is cuí i dtaobh iarratas ar chlárú.
An clár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin d'ullmhú,
11.—(1) A luaithe is féidir tar éis an lae a hordófar don alt seo, agus ar aon chuma ar dháta nach déanaí ná cheithre lá dhéag dá éis sin, ullmhóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an clár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin agus chuige sin—
(a) scrúdóidh gach iarratas ar chlárú a gheobhaidh sé go cuí, agus
(b) dílamhálfaidh gach iarratas a chífear dó a bheith neamhrialta ina fhoirm agus gach iarratas nach gcruthóidh an t-iarratasóir chun a shástachta go bhfuil an t-iarratasóir inchláruithe i leith an rolla lena mbaineann an t-iarratas,
(c) féadfaidh aon iarratais a dhílamháil a húdaraítear dó leis na forála ina dhiaidh seo den alt seo a dhílamháil, agus
(d) lamhálfaidh gach iarratas nach ndílamhálfaidh sé de bhun na bhforál roimhe seo den fho-alt seo.
(2) Féadfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid a cheangal ar aon iarratasóir a iarrfas clárú sa chlár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin gach eolas, i dtaobh clárú an iarratasóra, a thabhairt dó a theastós uaidh do réir réasúin chun go gcinnfidh sé cé acu a lamhálfas nó a dhílamhálfas sé an t-iarratas, agus féadfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid iarratas a dhílamháil ó aon iarratasóir a fhailleos nó a dhiúltós aon eolas áirithe a thabhairt a ceanglófar air faoin alt seo a thabhairt.
(3) Is dleathach do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid iarratas ar chlárú sa chlár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin a dhílamháil a dhéanfas aon chomhlucht is brainse nó comhlucht cleamhnaithe nó fo-chomhlucht do chomhlucht atá cláraithe cheana sa chlár nó ar lamháil sé a iarratas ar an gclárú sin.
(4) Beidh éifeacht ag fo-ailt (2) agus (3) den alt seo maidir le gach athscrúdú bliantúil ar an gclár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin chomh maith le céad-ullmhú an chláir sin.
(5) Cheithre lá déag ar a dhéanaí tar éis an lae a hordófar don alt seo, cuirfidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid leis an bpost, go dtí gach comhlucht d'iarr clárú sa chlár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin (pé acu a lamháladh nó a dílamháladh a n-iarratas), cóip den chlár arna ullmhú ag ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid faoin alt seo.
(6) I gcás ina ndílamhálfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid iarratas ar chlárú sa chlár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin, déanfaidh sé, arna iarraidh sin air don chomhlucht a rinne an t-iarratas, ráiteas ar na cúiseanna a bhí aige leis an dílamháil a thabhairt don chomhlucht.
(7) I gcás ina ndéanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid iarratas ar chlárú sa chlár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin a dhílamháil faoin alt seo toisc nár chruthaigh an t-iarratasóir chun a shástachta go raibh an t-iarratasóir inchláruithe i leith an rolla lena mbaineann an t-iarratas, ansin, chun críocha fo-ailt (6) den alt seo, is leor-ráiteas ar fhátha na dílamhála ráiteas sa chéill sin ó cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid.
(8) Nuair a lamhálfas nó a dhílamhálfas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid aon iarratas ar chlárú sa chlár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin, is breith chríochnaitheach dosháruithe an lamháil nó an dílamháil sin, agus ní féadfar achomharc a dhéanamh ina coinne ach amháin mar foráltar leis an Acht seo.
An Bord Achomhairc,
12.—(1) Beidh bord (dá ngairmtear an bord achomhairc san Acht seo) ann chun achomhairc d'éisteacht ó bhreitheanna a bhéarfas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid faoin gCuid seo den Acht seo.
(2) Cúigear comhaltaí a bheas ar an mbord achomhairc, eadhon:—
(a) cathaoirleach, is breitheamh den Chúirt Uachtarach nó den Ard-Chúirt arna ainmniú ag an bPríomh-Bhreitheamh,
(b) Cathaoirleach Dháil Éireann,
(c) Leas-Chathaoirleach Dháil Éireann,
(d) Cathaoirleach Sheanad Éireann,
(e) Leas-Chathaoirleach Sheanad Éireann.
(3) Triúr is córam do chruinniú den bhord achomhairc.
(4) Féadfaidh an bord achomhairc gníomhú d'ainneoin aon fholúntais ina líon.
(5) Faoi réir forál sainráite an Achta seo, rialóidh an bord achomhairc a nós imeachta féin.
Achomairc chun an bhoird achomhairc maidir leis an gclár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin d'ullmhú.
13.—(1) Aon iarratasóir ar chlárú sa chlár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin a ndéanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an t-iarratas uaidh ar chlárú a dhílamháil le linn dó an clár d'ullmhú, féadfaidh sé achomharc a dhéanamh do réir an ailt seo chun an bhoird achomhairc i gcoinne na dílamhála.
(2) Aon iarratasóir a iarrfas clárú sa chlár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin le linn an clár sin d'ullmhú i leith aon rolla áirithe (pé acu a lamháil nó a dhílamháil ceann comhairimh an tSeanad an t-iarratas uaidh ar chlárú), féadfaidh sé achomharc a dhéanamh do réir an ailt seo chun an bhoird achomhairc i gcoinne ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid do lamháil iarratais aon iarratasóra eile ag iarraidh an chláruithe sin i leith an rolla chéanna.
(3) Aon achomharc a déanfar faoin alt seo chun bhoird achomhairc is i scríbhinn a déanfar é agus luafar ann forais an achomhairc agus seachadfar do Chléireach Dháil Éireann é nó cuirfear chuige leis an bpost é an lá nó roimh an lá a hordófar don alt seo, agus ní ghlacfaidh ná ní bhreithneoidh an bord achomhairc aon achomharc den tsórt sin a gheobhas Cléireach Dháil Éireann tar éis an lae sin.
(4) Beidh achomharc faoin alt seo ar fáil chun a iniúchta ag ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid gach tráth oiriúnach.
Breith ar achomhairc maidir leis an gclár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin d'ullmhú.
14.—(1) Breithneoidh an bord achomhairc gach achomharc a déanfar go cuí faoi alt 13 den Acht seo agus déanfaid, maidir le gach achomharc den tsórt sin, aisiompó ar an mbreith ó cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid is abhar don achomharc nó an t-achomharc a dhílamháil.
(2) Nuair a bheas an bord achomhairc ag breithniú achomhairc arna dhéanamh faoi alt 13 den Acht seo, breithneoid—
(a) na forais a luadh de bhun fo-ailt (3) den alt seo don achomharc, agus na forais sin amháin, agus
(b) pé eolas (más ann) a cuireadh ar fáil do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid, agus an t-eolas sin amháin.
(3) Ní dhéanfaidh an bord achomhairc aisiompó faoin alt seo ar aon bhreith ó cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid mura mbíonn tromlach na gcomhaltaí a bheas i láthair i bhfábhar an aisiompuithe.
(4) Déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid pé eolas agus cúnamh, maidir le gach achomharc a breithneofar de bhun an ailt seo, a thabhairt don bhord achomhairc a cheanglós an Bord air do réir réasúin.
(5) Is breith chríochnaitheach dosháruithe breith an bhoird achomhairc ar aon achomharc a breithneofar de bhun an ailt seo.
An clár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin a chomhlánú agus d'fhoilsiú.
15.—(1) Mura ndéantar aon achomharc go cuí chun an bhoird achomhairc faoi alt 13 den Acht seo, cuirfidh Cléireach Dháil Éireann sin in iúl do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid an lá a hordófar don alt seo agus air sin síneoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, agus foilseoidh san Iris Oifigiúil, an clár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin d'ullmhaigh sé faoi na forála roimhe seo den Acht seo.
(2) Má déantar aon achomharc go cuí chun an bhoird achomhairc faoi alt 13 den Acht seo cuirfidh an bord in iúl do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid a mbreith (más ann) ar gach achomharc den tsórt sin agus leis sin déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid pé leasú (más ann) ar an gclár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin d'ullmhaigh sé faoi na forála roimhe seo den Chuid seo den Acht seo is gá chun éifeacht a thabhairt don bhreith sin agus, nuair a bheas breith tugtha ar gach achomharc den tsórt sin agus a bheas na breitheanna (más ann) orthu curtha in iúl do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid agus a bheas deighleálta aige leo, síneoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an clár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin arna ullmhú agus arna leasú aige (má leasaíodh) mar adúradh agus foilseoidh san Iris Oifigiúil é a luaithe is caothúil.
(3) Is clár críochnaitheach dosháruithe an clár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin mar foilseofar san Iris Oifigiúil de bhun an ailt seo é agus ní hinchurtha faoi léirmheas é ag cúirt ar bith, agus beidh sé i bhfeidhm don chéad olltoghchán don tSeanad a bheas ann tar éis a chéad-fhoilsithe agus do gach olltoghchán ina dhiaidh sin don tSeanad, ach amháin go ndéanfar athscrúdú bliantúil air mar foráltar leis an Acht seo.
Athscrúdú bliantúil an chláir de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin.
16.—(1) Foilseoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, an lú lá, nó aon lá ina dhiaidh sin nach déanaí ná an 15ú lá, d'Eanáir sa bhliain i ndiaidh na bliana a hullmhófar an clár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin agus i ngach bliain ina dhiaidh sin, i ngach nuachtán laethúil maidne a foilsítear sa Stát agus i pé nuachtáin laethúla eile (más ann) a mheasfas an t-oifigeach sin, le ceadú an Aire, is cuí, fógra sa bhfoirm ordaithe á fhógairt go poiblí go ngabhfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid chuige, an 15ú lá d'Fheabhra dar gcionn nó, más Domhnach an lá sin, an 16ú lá d'Fheabhra dar gcionn, athscrúdú an chláir de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin, agus ag tabhairt pé eolais agus treoracha is cuí leis an Aire maidir le hiarratais ar iontrála a chur sa chlár sin nó a bhaint as nó a leasú.
(2) Aon chomhlucht ná beidh cláraithe sa chlár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin agus ar mian leis go gclárófaí é i leith aon rolla áirithe sa chlár sin agus a bheas á éileamh go bhfuil sé inchláruithe amhlaidh, agus aon chomhlucht a bheas cláraithe sa chlár sin agus ar mian leis go mbainfí dhe é nó go leasófaí in aon tslí an iontráil ina thaobh sa chlár sin, féadfaidh sé a iarraidh ar cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid sa bhfoirm ordaithe, i rith na tréimhse dar tosach an 15ú lá d'Eanáir agus dar críoch an 15ú lá d'Fheabhra sa bhliain i ndiaidh na bliana a hullmhófar an clár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin nó in aon bhliain dá éis sin, an clárú, an díchlárú nó an leasú sin, pé acu é, a dhéanamh.
(3) Ar an 15ú lá d'Fheabhra nó, más Domhnach an lá sin, ar an 16ú lá d'Fheabhra, sa bhliain i ndiaidh na bliana a hullmhófar an clár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin agus i ngach bliain dá éis sin, déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid athscrúdú (dá ngairmtear athscrúdú bliantúil san Acht seo) ar an gclár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin—
(a) trí gach comhlucht a chlárú sa chlár is comhlucht a iarrfas go cuí faoin alt seo é a chlárú amhlaidh san athscrúdú bliantúil sin agus ná dílamhálfaidh sé a iarratas,
(b) trí chlárú gach comhluchta a bhaint den chlár is comhlucht a chífear dó a bheith tar éis scor de bheith ann nó tar éis scor de bheith inchláruithe nó a bhfeicfear dó gur gá agus gur cuí é a bhaint den chlár toisc gur lamháladh iarratas comhluchta eile ar chlárú, agus
(c) trí gach leasú a dhéanamh ar an gclár a chífear dó, de bhuaidh iarratas faoin alt seo nó eile, a bheith riachtanach nó cuí.
(4) Dílamhálfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid gach iarratas faoin alt seo a chífear dó a bheith neamhrialta ina fhoirm agus gach iarratas faoin alt seo ar chlárú i leith rolla nach gcruthóidh an t-iarratasóir chun a shástachta go bhfuil an t-iarratasóir inchláruithe ina leith.
(5) Féadfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid pé fiosruithe a dhéanamh is cuí leis chun críche aon athscrúduithe bhliantúil ar an gclár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin agus féadfaidh, in aon athscrúdú bliantúil, pé díchláruithe agus leasuithe a dhéanamh sa Chlár de Chomhluchta ainmniúcháin a chífear dó, de bhíthin na bhfiosruithe sin, a bheith riachtanach nó cuí, ach ní dhéanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid aon díchlárú ná leasú den tsórt sin gan fógra ina thaobh a thabhairt don chomhlucht lena mbainfidh sé ná gan caoi réasúnach a thabhairt don chomhlucht sin ar uiríolla ina thaobh a chur faoina bhráid.
(6) I ngach cás ina gcinnfidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid go lamhálfaidh nó go ndílamhálfaidh aon iarratas faoin alt seo ag iarraidh cláruithe, díchláruithe nó leasuithe sa chlár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin, agus i ngach cás ina gcinnfidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, san athscrúdú bliantúil, díchlárú nó leasú a dhéanamh sa chlár sin ar shlí seachas de dhroim iarratais faoin alt seo, is cinneadh críochnaitheach dosháruithe a chinneadh, agus ní féadfar achomharc a dhéanamh ina choinne ach amháin mar foráltar leis an Acht seo.
Achomhairc chun an bhoird achomhairc maidir leis an athscrúdú bliantúil.
17.—(1) Lá nach déanaí ná an lú lá de Mhárta sa bhliain i ndiaidh na bliana a hullmhófar an clár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin agus i ngach blian dá éis sin, déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid mar leanas—
(a) cuirfidh in iúl do gach comhlucht d'iarr clárú, díchlárú nó leasú sa chlár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin san athscrúdú bliantúil sa bhliain sin cé acu lamháil nó a dhílamháil sé an t-iarratas agus, má dhílamháil sé é, cad iad na fátha a bhí aige leis, agus
(b) bhéarfaidh, do gach comhlucht lena mbainfidh aon díchlárú nó leasú sa chlár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin a rinne sé san athscrúdú bliantúil sa bhliain sin, ar shlí seachas de dhroim iarratais ón gcomhlucht sin, sonraí ar an díchlárú nó an leasú sin agus na fátha a bhí aige leis.
(2) Féadfaidh aon duine acu seo a leanas achomharc a dhéanamh chun an bhoird achomhairc i gcoinne na mbreitheanna sin ó cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid, in athscrúdú bliantúil, a sonraítear anseo ina dhiaidh seo, is é sin le rá:—
(a) i gcás ina ndílamhálfar iarratas, an comhlucht a rinne an t-iarratas,
(b) i gcás ina lamhálfar iarratas ar chlárú, aon chomhlucht ainmniúcháin a bheas cláraithe sa chlár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin, agus aon chomhlucht d'iarr, san athscrúdú bliantúil, go gclárófaí iad sa chlár sin, pé acu lamháladh nó dílamháladh an t-iarratas,
(c) i gcás ina ndéanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid díchlárú nó leasú sa chlár de chomhluchta ainmniú cháin, ar shlí seachas de dhroim iarratais faoin Acht seo, an comhlucht lena mbainfidh an díchlárú nó an leasú.
(3) Aon achomharc a déanfar faoin alt seo chun an bhoird achomhairc is i scríbhinn a déanfar é agus luafar ann na forais ar a ndéantar é agus seachadfar do Chléireach Dháil Éireann nó cuirfear chuige leis an bpost é an 15ú lá, nó roimh an 15ú lá, de Mhárta sa bhliain inar tugadh an bhreith is abhar don achomharc.
(4) Beidh achomharc faoin alt seo ar fáil chun a iniúchta ag ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid gach tráth oiriúnach.
(5) I gcás ina ndéanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid iarratas ar chlárú i leith rolla a dhílamháil faoi alt 16 den Acht seo toisc nár chruthaigh an t-iarratasóir chun a shástachta go raibh an t-iarratasóir inchláruithe amhlaidh, ansin, chun críocha fo-ailt (1) den alt seo, is leor-ráiteas ar fhátha na dílamhála ráiteas sa chéill sin.
(6) I gcás ina ndéanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid clárú comhluchta a dhíchlárú faoi alt 16 den Acht seo ar an bhforas go bhfuil an comhlucht tar éis scor de bheith inchláruithe amhlaidh, ansin, chun críocha fo-ailt (1) den alt seo is leor-ráiteas ar fhorais an díchláruithe ráiteas sa chéill sin.
Breith ar achomhairc maidir leis an athscrúdú bliantúil.
18.—(1) Breithneoidh an bord achomhairc gach achomharc a déanfar chucu go cuí faoi alt 17 den Acht seo agus déanfaid, maidir le gach achomharc den tsórt sin, aisiompó ar an mbreith ó cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid is abhar don achomharc nó an t-achomharc a dhílamháil.
(2) Nuair a bheas an bord achomhairc ag breithniú achomhairc arna dhéanamh faoi alt 17 den Acht seo breithneoid—
(a) na forais a luadh de bhun fo-ailt (3) den alt sin don achomharc, agus na forais sin amháin, agus
(b) pé eolas (más ann) a cuireadh ar fáil do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid, agus an t-eolas sin amháin.
(3) Ní dhéanfaidh an bord achomhairc aisiompó faoin alt seo ar aon bhreith ó cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid mura mbíonn tromlach na gcomhaltaí a bheas i láthair i bhfábhar an aisiompuithe.
(4) Déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid pé eolas agus cúnamh, maidir le gach achomharc a breithneofar de bhun an ailt seo, a thabhairt don bhord achomhairc a cheanglós an Bord air do réir réasúin.
(5) Is breith chríochnaitheach dosháruithe breith an bhoird achomhairc ar aon achomharc a breithneofar de bhun an ailt seo.
An t-athscrúdú bliantúil a chríochnú.
19.—(1) Lá nach déanaí ná an 20ú lá de Mhárta sa bhliain i ndiaidh na bliana a hullmhófar an clár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin agus i ngach bliain dá éis sin, athscrúdóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an clár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin i pé slí is gá chun éifeacht a thabhairt do gach breith a thug sé san athscrúdú bliantúil sa bhliain sin agus nach ndearnadh aon achomharc ina coinne chun an bhoird achomhairc laistigh den aimsir a ceaptar chuige sin san Acht seo, agus gach athscrúdú a déanfar amhlaidh tiocfaidh sé i bhfeidhm an 21ú lá de Mhárta sa bhliain ina ndéanfar é.
(2) Cuirfidh Cléireach Dháil Éireann in iúl do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid gach breith a bhéarfas an bord achomhairc ar achomharc a breithneofar de bhun ailt 18 den Acht seo, agus déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid láithreach pé athscrúdú (más ann) ar an gclár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin is gá chun éifeacht a thabhairt don bhreith sin, agus gach athscrúdú a déanfar amhlaidh tiocfaidh sé i bhfeidhm an lá i ndiaidh an lae a déanfar é.
(3) A luaithe a bheas aon athscrudú bliantúil ar an gclár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin críochnaithe do réir na Coda seo den Acht seo, síneoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, agus foilseoidh san Iris Oifigiúil, an clár arna athscrúdú san athscrúdú bliantúil, agus beidh an clár a foilseofar amhlaidh ina fhianaise dosháruithe ar na hathruithe a rinneadh sa chlár san athscrúdú bliantúil.
Dáille d'íoc ar achomharc chun an bhoird achomhairc.
20.—(1) Gach comhlucht a dhéanfas achomharc chun an bhoird achomhairc íocfaidh sé táille fiche punt le Cléireach Dháil Éireann, agus is coinníoll nach foláir a chomhlíonadh sar a nglaca an bord achomhairc an t-achomharc an táille sin d'íoc roimh chríochnú na haimsire a ceaptar leis an Acht seo chun an t-achomharc sin a chur go dtí Cléireach Dháil Éireann nó a sheachadadh dhó.
(2) Gach táille a híocfar le Cléireach Dháil Éireann de bhun an ailt seo coinneoidh sé í go dtí go mbeidh breith tugtha ag an mbord achomhairc ar an achomharc ar híocadh an táille ina thaobh, agus—
(a) má aisiompaíonn an bord achomhairc an bhreith ó cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid is abhar don achomharc, aisíocfaidh Cléireach Dháil Éireann an táille láithreach leis an achomharcach d'íoc leis í, agus
(b) i ngach cás eile, déanfaidh Cléireach Dháil Éireann an táille d'íoc isteach sa Stát-Chiste nó a chur chun tairbhe don Stát-Chiste i pé slí a ordós an tAire Airgeadais.
(3) Ní bheidh feidhm ag an Public Offices (Fees) Act, 1879, maidir le táillí is iníoctha faoin alt seo.
CUID III.
Na Coisti Ainmniuchain.
Coistí ainmniúcháin a bhunú agus a chothabháil.
21.—(1) Bunófar agus cothabhálfar i leith gach rolla faoi leith buanchoiste ar a dtabharfar agus dá ngairmtear san Acht seo an coiste ainmniúcháin don rolla sin.
(2) Aon chomhlucht ainmniúcháin a bheas cláraithe de thuras na huaire sa chlár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin beidh sé i dteideal cúigear comhaltaí den choiste ainmniúcháin a cheapadh don rolla ar ina leith a bheas an comhlucht ainmniúcháin sin cláraithe amhlaidh.
(3) Bunóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid a luaithe is féidir tar éis an clár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin d'fhoilsiú de bhun ailt 15 den Acht seo, agus cothabhálfaidh dá éis sin, clár maidir le gach coiste ainmniúcháin faoi leith ag lua comhaltaí an choiste sin, agus beidh gach clár den tsórt sin ina fhianaise dosháruithe ar chomhaltas an choiste lena mbaineann sé.
(4) Aon chlár a bheas á chothabháil faoi fho-alt (3) den alt seo de chomhaltaí coiste ainmniúcháin luafar ann, maidir le gach comhalta acu sin, a sheoladh poist mar luadh sin ina cheapachán nó mar chuir sé in iúl é ina dhiaidh sin faoin Acht seo, agus gach fógra is gá do réir an Achta seo do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid a chur go dtí aon chomhalta acu sin, cuirfear é leis an bpost réamhíoctha arna dhíriú chuige ag a sheoladh poist mar luadh sin amhlaidh.
(5) Is é is córam do choiste ainmniúcháin an ceathrú cuid dá gcomhaltaí nó triúr comhaltaí (pé acu sin is mó).
Comhaltaí coiste ainmniúcháin a cheapadh.
22.—(1) Aon chomhlucht ainmniúcháin a bheas cláraithe sa chlár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin ar an gclár sin d'fhoilsiú de bhun ailt 15 den Acht seo, déanfaidh sé, a luaithe is féidir tar éis an fhoilsithe sin, triúr a cheapadh chun bheith ina gcomhaltaí den choiste ainmniúcháin don rolla ar ina leith a bheas an comhlucht sin cláraithe amhlaidh.
(2) Aon chomhlucht a ndéanfar, tar éis an clár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin d'fhoilsiú de bhun ailt 15 den Acht seo, é a chlárú mar chomhlucht ainmniúcháin sa chlár sin, déanfaidh sé, a luaithe is féidir tar éis a chláruithe amhlaidh, cúigear a cheapadh chun bheith ina gcomhaltaí den choiste ainmniúcháin don rolla ar ina leith a bheas an comhlucht sin cláraithe amhlaidh.
(3) I gcás comhalta a ceapadh ag comhlucht ainmniúcháin chun coiste ainmniúcháin do scor de bheith ina chomhalta den tsórt sin de dheasca é d'fháil bháis, é a bhreithniú ina fhéimhí nó a chiontú i gcion indíotálta, nó é a scor de bheith ina chomhalta den chomhlucht, déanfaidh an comhlucht, a luaithe is caothúil, duine a cheapadh chun an folúntas a líonadh.
(4) Nuair a dhéanfas comhlucht ainmniúcháin duine a cheapadh ina chomhalta de choiste ainmniúcháin—
(a) is i scríbhinn a déanfar an ceapachán, agus
(b) más comhlucht corpraithe an comhlucht ainmniúcháin, greamófar séala an chomhluchta den cheapachán sa tslí agus fara na contra-shínithe is gá do réir bunreachta, airteagal comhlachais nó rialachán eile an chomhluchta, nó mura comhlucht corpraithe an comhlucht ainmniúcháin síneofar é in ainm an chomhluchta ag duine éigin ag a mbeidh údarás chun síniú san ainm sin, agus
(c) luafar sa cheapachán ainm, seoladh poist, agus tuairisc an cheapthaí agus beidh ráiteas ann faoi láimh an cheapthaí, á rá go dtoilíonn sé leis an gceapachán, agus
(d) cuirfidh an comhlucht ainmniúcháin sin an ceapachán go dtí ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, agus
(e) beidh éifeacht ag an gceapachán amhail ón uair a gheobhaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid é.
(5) Más ag cruinniú bliantúil de chomhlucht ainmniúcháin a dhéanfas an comhlucht ainmniúcháin comhaltaí de choiste ainmniúcháin a chéad-cheapadh ceapfaidh an comhlucht ag an gcruinniú sin an lá dá chéad chruinniú bliantúil eile agus cuirfear an lá a ceapfar in iúl do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid agus ní bheidh sé níos sia ná cheithre chéad lá ná níos gaire ná trí chéad agus tríocha lá i ndiaidh an lae a déanfar an ceapachán.
(6) Más ag cruinniú nach cruinniú bliantúil a dhéanfas comhlucht ainmniúcháin comhaltaí de choiste ainmniúcháin a chéadcheapadh, is cruinniú a gairmfear go speisialta chun an ceapachán sin a dhéanamh a bheas sa chruinniú sin.
(7) Is ag cruinniú bliantúil de chomhlucht ainmniúcháin a dhéanfas an comhlucht ainmniúcháin an dara ceapachán, agus aon cheapachán iardain, comhaltaí de choiste ainmniúcháin, agus déanfaidh an comhlucht ag gach cruinniú den tsórt sin an lá a cheapadh dá chéad chruinniú bliantúil eile agus cuirfear an lá a ceapfar in iúl do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid agus ní bheidh sé níos sia ná cheithre chéad lá ná níos gaire ná trí chéad agus tríocha lá i ndiaidh an lae a déanfar an ceapachán.
(8) Féadfaidh aon chomhalta de choiste ainmniúcháin athrú ar a sheoladh poist a chur in iúl tráth ar bith i scríbhinn do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid agus air sin cuirfidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an seoladh nua sa chlár de chomhaltaí an choiste.
Sealbhaíocht oifige chomhalta de choiste ainmniúcháin.
23.—(1) Aon chomhalta a ceapadh ag comhlucht ainmniúcháin de choiste ainmniúcháin, scoirfidh sé de bheith i seilbh oifige mar chomhalta den tsórt sin i gcás aon ní acu seo a leanas a tharlachtaint, ach ní hin aon chás eile, is é sin le rá:—
(a) críochnú an lae roimh lá an chruinnithe bhliantúil den chomhlucht is túisce a bheas ann tar éis a cheaptha,
(b) é d'fháil bháis,
(c) é a bhreithniu ina fhéimhí nó é a chiontú i gcion indíotálta,
(d) é a scor de bheith ina chomhalta den chomhlucht,
(e) an comhlucht a scor de bheith ina chomhlucht ainmniúcháin atá cláraithe sa chlár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin i leith an rolla iomhcuí.
(2) Aon chomhalta de choiste ainmniúcháin a scoirfeas de bheith i seilbh oifige mar chomhalta den tsórt sin mar gheall ar chríochnú an lae roimh lá an chruinnithe bhliantúil de chomhlucht ainmniúcháin a cheap é, beidh sé inathcheaptha.
CUID IV.
Olltoghchan don tSeanad.
Caibidil I.
Ordú Olltoghcháin don tSeanad.
Ordú olltoghcháin don tSeanad.
24.—(1) Roimh gach olltoghchán don tSeanaid ceapfaidh an tAire le hordú (dá ngairmtear ordú olltoghcháin don tSeanad san Acht seo), chun críocha an toghcháin:—
(a) an lá agus an uair (dá ngairmtear san Acht seo críochnú na haimsire do mholadh ainmniúchán ginearálta chun na rollaí) a chríochnós an tréimhse ina bhféadfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid glacadh le molta le haghaidh ainmniúchán chun na rollaí ó chomhluchta ainmniúcháin;
(b) an lá agus an uair (dá ngairmtear san Acht seo críochnú na haimsire d'ainmniúcháin ón Oireachtas chun na rollaí) a chríochnós an tréimhse ina bhféadfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid glacadh le hainmniúcháin ó chomhaltaí den Oireachtas chun na rollaí;
(c) na laetheanta a comórfar agus na háiteanna agus na huaire ina gcomórfar cruinnithe an choiste ainmniúcháin (olltoghchán) (sa mhéid gur gá a gcomóradh);
(d) an lá a shuífeas agus an áit ina suífidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid chun na rollaí a chomhlánú;
(e) an lá a heiseofar na páipéir bhallóide don toghchán;
(f) an lá agus an uair (dá ngairmtear críoch na vótaíochta san Acht seo) a cuirfear críoch leis an vótaíocht sa toghchán;
(g) an seoladh, ag ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, a bhféadfar páipéir ainmniúcháin agus scríbhinní eile a chur chuige ann.
(2) Beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas maidir le hordú olltoghcháin don tSeanad:—
(a) déanfar an t-ordú laistigh de sheacht lá i ndiaidh an lánscoir ar Dháil Éireann a dtiocfaidh an toghchán de;
(b) an lá a ceapfar leis an ordú le haghaidh críochnú na haimsire do mholadh ainmniúcháin ginearálta chun na rollaí ní bheidh sé níos luaithe ná cheithre seachtaine tar éis an lánscoir sin agus, más féidir é, ní bheidh sé níos luaithe ná an dáta a bheas socair chun Dáil Éireann d'ationól tar éis an lánscoir sin;
(c) an lá ceapfar leis an ordú le haghaidh críochnú na haimsire d'ainmniúcháin ón Oireachtas ní bheidh sé níos luaithe ná seacht lá tar éis an lae a ceapfar leis an ordú le haghaidh críochnú na haimsire d'ainmniúcháin ghinearálta chun na rollaí agus, más féidir é, beidh sé i ndiaidh an dáta a bheas socair chun Dáil Éireann d'ationól tar éis an lánscoir sin;
(d) foilseofar an t-ordú san Iris Oifigiúil a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta.
Caibidil II.
Na Rollaí a Chóiriú.
Comhaltaí an Oireachtais d'ainmniú daoine chun na rollaí.
25.—(1) In olltoghchán don tSeanad, féadfaidh uimhir de chomhaltaí den Oireachtas, nach lú ná ceathrar, duine ar bith d'ainmniú chun aon rolla dá gcóireofar don toghchán sin.
(2) Ní bheidh comhalta den Oireachtas páirteach in ainmniúchán níos mó ná duine amháin faoin alt seo in aon olltoghchán áirithe don tSeanad.
Molta ainmniúchán chun na rollaí ó chomhluchta ainmniúcháin cláraithe.
26.—(1) In olltoghchán don tSeanad, beidh de theideal ag comhlucht ainmniúcháin a bheas cláraithe sa chlár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin i leith rolla áirithe pé méid daoine a foráltar chuige sin leis an alt seo a mholadh chun a n-ainmnithe chun an rolla.
(2) I gcás aon chomhlucht ainmniúcháin amháin, agus gan a thuilleadh, a bheith i dteideal moladh ainmniúcháin chun rolla áirithe a dhéanamh, beidh an comhlucht sin i dteideal—
(a) i gcás an rolla shaíochta agus oideachais—triúr a mholadh amhlaidh;
(b) i gcás an rolla thalmhaíochta nó an rolla oibreachais—aon duine dhéag a mholadh amhlaidh,
(c) i gcás an rolla thionscail agus tráchtála—naonúr a mholadh amhlaidh,
(d) i gcás an rolla riaracháin—cúigear a mholadh amhlaidh.
(3) I gcás dhá chomhlucht ainmniúcháin, agus gan a thuilleadh, a bheith i dteideal moladh ainmniúcháin chun rolla áirithe a dhéanamh, beidh gach comhlucht acu i dteideal a mholadh go n-ainmneofar chun an rolla—
(a) i gcás an rolla shaíochta agus oideachais—beirt,
(b) i gcás an rolla thalmhaíochta nó an rolla oibreachais— seisear,
(c) i gcás an rolla thionscail agus tráchtála—cúigear,
(d) i gcás an rolla riaracháin—triúr.
(4) I gcás trí comhluchta ainmniúcháin nó níos mó a bheith i dteideal moladh ainmniúcháin chun rolla áirithe a dhéanamh, beidh gach comhlucht acu i dteideal a mholadh go n-ainmneofar chun an rolla—
(a) más a dó nó uimhir is lú ná sin an uimhir a gheofar tríd an uimhir iomchuí a roinnt ar an uimhir de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin—beirt, agus
(b) más uimhir is mó ná a dó an uimhir a gheofar amhlaidh— an uimhir a gheofar amhlaidh de dhaoine, más slánuimhir í nó, mura slán-uimhir í, an chéad shlán-uimhir eile os a cionn sin de dhaoine.
(5) I bhfo-alt (4) den alt seo, ciallaíonn an abairt “an uimhir iomchuí”—
(a) i gcás an rolla shaíochta agus oideachais—a deich,
(b) i gcás an rolla thalmhaíochta nó an rolla oibreachais—a hocht déag,
(c) i gcás an rolla thionscail agus tráchtála—a sé déag,
(d) i gcás an rolla riaracháin—a dó dhéag.
An modh molta ainmniúcháin ag comhlucht ainmniúcháin.
27.—(1) Laistigh de dheich lá tar éis Dáil Éireann a lánscor, cuirfidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid leis an bpost, go dtí gach comhlucht ainmniúcháin a bheas cláraithe sa chlár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin, foirm páipéir do mholadh ainmniúcháin agus fógra sa bhfoirm ordaithe á innsint don chomhlucht é a bheith de cheart acu daoine a mholadh chun a n-ainmnithe chun rolla shonraithe agus an méid daoine atá an chomhlucht i dteideal a mholadh amhlaidh agus ag tabhairt pé eolais agus treoracha don chomhlucht, maidir le déanamh na molta ainmniúcháin, is cuí leis an Aire d'ordú.
(2) Is do réir na bhforál seo a leanas a dhéanfas comhlucht ainmniúcháin moladh ainmniúcháin chun rolla:—
(a) is i scríbhinn, ar pháipéar do mholadh ainmniúcháin sa bhfoirm ordaithe, a déanfar an moladh;
(b) is leis an aon pháipéar amháin do mholadh ainmniúcháin a mholfas an comhlucht ainmniúcháin na daoine uile a bheas sé i dteideal a mholadh;
(c) beidh sa pháipéar do mholadh ainmniúcháin na sonraí is gá, do réir foirme ordaithe an pháipéir do mholadh ainmniúcháin, a lua ann (lena n-áirítear ráiteas ar cháilíochta gach duine faoi leith a moltar leis don rolla chun a moltar é), agus síneoidh an comhlucht ainmniúcháin é;
(d) más comhlucht corpraithe an comhlucht ainmniúcháin, síneoidh an comhlucht an páipéar do mholadh ainmniúcháin trí shéala an chomhluchta a ghreamú den pháipéar sin sa tslí agus fara na contra-shínithe is gá do réir bunreachta, airteagal comhlachais nó rialachán eile an chomhluchta;
(e) mura comhlucht corpraithe an comhlucht ainmniúcháin, déanfaidh duine ag a mbeidh údarás chuige sin an páipéar do mholadh ainmniúcháin a shíniú in ainm an chomhluchta.
(3) I gcás Comh-Chomhairle Chomhairlí Contae na hÉireann agus i gcás Comhlachais Údarás Bardasacha na hÉireann is iad a roghnós na daoine a bheas le moladh chun a n-ainmnithe chun an rolla riaracháin ag na comhluchta sin faoi seach ná comhaltaí an chomhluchta sin agus iad ag vótáil do réir na hionadaíochta cionúire agus ar mhodh an aon-vóta inaistrithe.
(4) Aon pháipéar do mholadh ainmniúcháin a airbheartós a bheith séalaithe le séala comhluchta chorpraithe is comhlucht ainmniúcháin agus a bheith contra-shínithe, is tuigthe, go dtí go gcruthaítear a mhalairt, é a bheith séalaithe amhlaidh sa tslí, agus fara na contra-shínithe, is gá do réir bunreachta, airteagal comhlachais nó rialachán eile an chomhluchta.
(5) Aon pháipéar do mholadh ainmniúcháin a airbheartós a bheith sínithe in ainm chomhluchta neamhchorpraithe is comhlucht ainmniúcháin, is tuigthe, go dtí go gcruthaítear a mhalairt, é a bheith sínithe amhlaidh ag duine ag a bhfuil údarás chun a shínithe ina ainm sin.
(6) Má airbheartaíonn comhlucht ainmniúcháin, le páipéar do mholadh ainmniúcháin, níos mó nó níos lú daoine a mholadh lena n-ainmniú chun rolla ná mar atá an comhlucht ainmniúcháin i dteideal a mholadh amhlaidh, beidh an páipéar do mholadh ainmniúcháin ar neamhní go hiomlán.
(7) Arna iarraidh sin air bhéarfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid saor in aisce do chomhlucht ainmniúcháin pé méid foirmeacha páipéir do mholadh ainmniúcháin (de bhreis ar an bhfoirm is gá dhó do réir fo-ailt (1) den alt seo a chur chun an chomhluchta) a theastós ón gcomhlucht do réir réasúin.
Liostaí de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin d'ullmhú.
28.—(1) Déanfar páipéar do mholadh ainmniúcháin lena molfaidh comhlucht ainmniúcháin duine nó daoine chun a ainmnithe nó a n-ainmnithe in olltoghchán don tSeanad a sheachadadh do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid nó a chur chuige leis an bpost.
(2) Díreach tar éis chríochnú na haimsire do mholadh ainmniúchán ginearálta chun na rollaí, ullmhóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, maidir le gach rolla faoi leith, liosta (dá ngairmtear liosta de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin san Acht seo), sa bhfoirm ordaithe, de na daoine a bhfuair sé ina dtaobh, roimh chríochnú na haimsire sin, molta ainmniúchán chun an rolla sin ó chomhluchta ainmniúcháin.
(3) Más rud é, nuair a beifear tar éis déanamh do réir forál fo-ailt (2) den alt seo, nach comhionann leis an uimhir iomchuí, nó nach mó ná an uimhir iomchuí, an uimhir daoine a bheas i liosta de comhluchta ainmniúcháin, déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an t-easnamh sa liosta sin a thuairisciú don Taoiseach agus bhéarfaidh dó cóipeanna de na liostaí de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin.
(4) Ar thuairisc faoi fho-alt (3) den alt seo d'fháil dó, molfaidh an Taoiseach chun a n-ainmnithe chun gach rolla, a bhfaighidh sé an tuairisc ina thaobh, pé uimhir daoine is leor chun an uimhir daoine ar an liosta iomchuí de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin a thabhairt suas go dtí an uimhir iomchuí (ach gan dul thairis sin).
(5) Is do réir na bhforál seo a leanas a dhéanfas an Taoiseach moladh ainmniúcháin faoin alt seo:—
(a) is i scríbhinn, ar pháipéar do mholadh ainmniúcháin sa bhfoirm ordaithe, a déanfar an moladh ainmniúcháin;
(b) is le páipéar do mholadh ainmniúcháin ar leithligh a déanfar an moladh ainmniúcháin;
(c) luafar sa pháipéar do mholadh ainmniúcháin an fo-rolla ar ina leith a déantar an moladh agus beidh ann freisin na sonraí is gá do réir foirme ordaithe sin an pháipéir do mholadh ainmniúcháin (lena n-áirítear ráiteas ar cháilíochta an duine a moltar leis don rolla chun a moltar amhlaidh é) agus síneoidh an Taoiseach é;
(d) seachadfar an páipéar do mholadh ainmniúcháin do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid nó cuirfear chuige é agus déanfar sin i slí go bhfaighidh sé é laistigh de dheich lá tar éis chríochnú na haimsire do mholadh ainmniúchán ginearálta chun na rollaí.
(6) Ar mholta ainmniúcháin faoi fho-alt (4) den alt seo i leith rolla d'fháil dó, ullmhóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, maidir leis an rolla, liosta (dá ngairmtear freisin liosta de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin san Acht seo), sa bhfoirm ordaithe, de na daoine a bhfuair sé ina dtaobh molta ainmniúcháin chun an rolla sin ó chomluchta ainmniúcháin nó ón Taoiseach agus beidh éifeacht ag an liosta sin in ionad an liosta de chomluchta ainmniúcháin a bhí ann roimhe sin i leith an rolla.
(7) Nuair a bheas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ag ullmhú na liostaí de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin ní chuirfidh sé iontu—
(a) ainm duine a bhfuarthas a mholadh ainmniúcháin tar éis chríochnú na haimsire do mholadh ainmniúchán ginearálta chun na rollaí,
(b) ainm duine a ndearbhaíonn an tAcht seo a mholadh ainmniúcháin a bheith gan bhrí ar bith, ná
(c) ainm aon duine níos mó ná uair amháin sa liosta céanna.
(8) San alt seo ciallaíonn an abairt “an uimhir iomchuí”—
(a) i gcás aon chomhlucht ainmniúcháin amháin, agus gan a thuilleadh, nó dhá chomhlucht ainmniúcháin, agus gan a thuilleadh, a bheith i dteideal moladh ainmniúcháin chun an rolla iomchuí a dhéanamh—
(i) más é an rolla saíochta agus oideachais an rolla sin—a sé,
(ii) más é an rolla talmhaíochta nó an rolla oibreachais an rolla sin—a ceathair déag,
(iii) más é an rolla tionscail agus tráchtála an rolla sin—a dó dhéag,
(iv) más é an rolla riaracháin an rolla sin—a hocht,
(b) i gcás trí chomhlucht ainmniúcháin nó níos mó a bheith i dteideal moladh ainmniúcháin chun an rolla iomchuí a dhéanamh—
(i) más é an rolla saíochta agus oideachais an rolla sin —a deich,
(ii) más é an rolla talmhaíochta nó an rolla oibreachais an rolla sin—a hocht déag,
(iii) más é an rolla tionscail agus tráchtála an rolla sin—a sé déag,
(iv) más é an rolla riaracháin an rolla sin—a dó dhéag.
An modh ar a ndéanfaidh comhaltaí den Oireachtas ainmniúchán.
29.—(1) Is do réir na bhforál seo a leanas a dhéanfas comhaltaí den Oireachtas ainmniúchán in olltoghachán don tSeanad:
(a) is i scríbhinn, ar pháipéar ainmniúcháin sa bhfoirm ordaithe, a déanfar an t-ainmniúchán;
(b) beidh sa pháipéar ainmniúcháin na sonraí is gá, do réir foirme ordaithe an pháipéir ainmniúcháin, a lua ann, lena n-áirítear ráiteas ar cháilíochta an duine a hainmnítear leis don rolla chun a n-ainmnítear amhlaidh é;
(c) gach duine de na comhaltaí den Oireachtas a bheas ag déanamh ainmniúcháin leis an bpáipéar ainmniúcháin síneoidh sé an páipéar ainmniúcháin;
(d) seachadfar an páipéar ainmniúcháin do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid nó cuirfear chuige leis an bpost é.
(2) Má dhéanann comhalta den Oireachtas dhá pháipéar ainmniúcháin nó níos mó a shíniú mar ainmnitheoir beidh gach ceann de na páipéir ainmniúcháin gan bhrí ar bith.
Fo-rollaí sealadacha don Oireachtas d'ullmhú.
30.—(1) Díreach tar éis chríochnú na haimsire d'ainmniúcháin ón Oireachtas chun na rollaí, ullmhóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, maidir le gach rolla faoi leith, liosta (dá ngairmtear fo-rolla sealadach don Oireachtas san Acht seo), sa bhfoirm ordaithe, de na daoine a bhfuair sé ina dtaobh, roimh chríochnú na haimsire sin, ainmniúcháin chun an rolla sin ó chomhaltaí den Oireachtas.
(2) Nuair a bheas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ag ullmhú na rollaí sealadacha don Oireachtas ní chuirfidh sé iontu:—
(a) ainm duine a bhfuarthas a ainmniúchán tar éis chríochnú na aimsire d'ainmniúcháin ón Oireachtas chun na rollaí,
(b) ainm duine a ndearbhaíonn an tAcht seo a ainmniúchán a bheith gan bhrí ar bith, ná
(c) ainm aon duine níos mó na uair amháin sa bhfo-rolla céanna.
Páipéir do mholadh ainmniúcháin agus páipéir ainmniúcháin d'fhoilsiú agus d'iniúchadh.
31.—Nuair a gheobhas ceann Comhairimh an tSeanaid páipéar do mholadh ainmniúcháin nó páipéar ainmniúcháin in olltoghchán don tSeanad (seachas páipéar a dearbhaítear leis an Acht seo a bheith ar neamhní go hiomlán nó páipéar a gheofar amhlaidh tar éis chríochnú na haimsire a ceaptar leis an alt seo chun é d'fháil amhlaidh)—
(a) cuirfidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ar taispéaint láithreach, i pé áit phoiblí i gcontae-bhuirg Bhaile Atha Cliath a mheasfas sé is oiriúnaí, fógra á rá go bhfuair sé an páipéar agus ag insint ainme, seoladh agus tuairisce (mar bheid luaite sa pháipéar) an duine a hairbheartaítear a mholadh nó a ainmniú leis an bpáipéar agus an rolla a n-airbheartaítear an duine sin a mholadh nó a ainmniú chuige amhlaidh,
(b) coimeádfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an páipéar ar fáil chun a iniúchta ag iarrthóirí idir 10 a.m. agus 1 p.m. laethanta den tseachtain ar fead na tréimhse dar tosach an lá i ndiaidh an lae a gheofar an páipéar agus dar críoch an lá roimh an lá a comhlánófar na rollaí nó a hathghabhfar do chomhlánú na rollaí (do réir mar is iomchuí.)
Cruinniú (olltoghchán) de choiste ainmniúcháin.
32.—Déanfar cruinniú (dá ngairmtear cruinniú (olltoghchán) de choiste ainmniúcháin san Acht seo) den choiste ainmniúcháin do rolla a mbeidh trí chomhlucht ainmniúcháin nó níos mó ann dó a chomóradh an lá, san áit agus an uair a bheas ceaptha chuige sin le hordú olltoghcháin don tSeanad agus déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, seacht lá ar a laghad roimh an gcruinniú, fógra sa bhfoirm ordaithe maidir le comóradh an chruinnithe a chur leis an bpost go dtí gach duine a mbeidh a ainm ar an liosta toghthóirí a bunófar faoi alt 33 den Acht seo.
An liosta toghthóirí do chruinniú (olltoghchán) den choiste ainmniúcháin.
33.—(1) Nuair a bheas cruinniú (olltoghchán) de choiste anmniúcháin le comóradh, ullmhóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, as an gclár faoi alt 21 den Acht seo, liosta ina luafaidh ainmneacha, seolta, agus tuairisc chomhaltaí an choiste aimniúcháin agus is é an liosta sin is liosta toghthóirí chun críocha an chruinnithe agus is liosta críochnaitheach dosháruithe é.
(2) Beidh na daoine uile agus faoi seach a mbeidh a n-ainmneacha ar an liosta toghthóirí a bunófar faoin alt seo do chruinniú (olltoghchán) de choiste ainmniúcháin (agus ní bheidh aon duine eile) i dteideal vótáil sa vótaíocht ag an gcruinniú.
(3) Ní dhéanfaidh bás duine a mbeidh a ainm ar liosta toghthóirí a bunófar faoin alt seo dochar ná difir do bhailíocht ná d'oibríu an liosta thoghthóirí.
An nós imeachta ag cruinniú (olltoghchán) de choiste ainmniúcháin.
34.—(1) Beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas maidir le gach cruinniú (olltoghchán) de choiste ainmniúcháin:—
(a) is é ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid a bheas i gceannas an chruinnithe agus a stiúrós a imeachta;
(b) tosnóidh na himeachta an tráth a ceapfar don chruinniú leis an ordú iomchuí olltoghcháin don tSeanad má bhíonn córam ann an tráth sin nó, mura mbíonn córam ann an tráth sin, nuair a bheas córam ann;
(c) is iad ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid agus a chúntóirí agus na daoine a mbeidh a n-ainmneacha ar an liosta toghthóirí a bunófar don chruinniú faoi alt 33 den Acht seo, agus iad sin amháin, a fhéadfas bheith i láthair ag an gcruinniú;
(d) déanfaidh gach comhalta den choiste ainmniúcháin a bheas ag an gcruinniú, ar dhul isteach dó go dtí an cruinniú nó a luaithe is féidir dá éis sin, a ainm a shíniú i leabhar nó i dtaifead eile freastail (a sholáthrós agus a choimeádfas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid);
(e) déanfar vótaíocht chun roghnú a dhéanamh, as na daoine a bheas sa liosta de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin i leith an rolla iomchuí, ar an uimhir iomchuí de dhaoine a cuirfear sa bhfo-rolla sealadach do chomhluchta ainmniúcháin i leith an rolla sin;
(f) chun críocha na vótaíochta, cuirfidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ar fáil na boscaí ballóide, na deisceanna, agus an troscán eile is dóigh leis is gá agus soláthróidh freisin leor-uimhir de pháipéir bhallóide;
(g) cuirfidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid críoch leis an vótaíocht i gcionn dhá uair a chloig ón am a hosclaíodh í;
(h) ní bheidh duine i dteideal páipéar ballóide d'fháil mura síní ná go dtí go síneoidh sé a ainm faoi mhír (d) den fho-alt seo;
(i) nuair a bheas duine ag tabhairt a vóta caithfidh sé an figiúir 1 a chur ar an bpáipéar ballóide os coinne ainme an duine dá mbeidh sé ag vótáil, agus féadfaidh sé ina theannta sin, na figiúirí 2 agus 3 nó 2, 3 agus 4 agus mar sin de a chur ar an bpáipéar ballóide os coinne ainmneacha daoine eile in ord a roghan;
(j) aon pháipéar ballóide—
(i) nach mbeidh an figiúir 1 ina aonar curtha air in aon chor nó nach mbeidh an figiúir sin curtha air i slí go dtaispeánfaidh céad-rogha, nó
(ii) a mbeidh an figiúir 1 ina aonar, ag taispeáint céad-roghan, curtha air os coinne níos mó ná an t-aon ainm amháin, nó
(iii) a mbeidh an figiúir 1 ina aonar, ag taispeáint céad-roghan, maraon le huimhir éigin eile curtha air os coinne ainme,
beidh sé neamhbhailí agus ní comhaireofar é;
(k) déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid gach beart a mheasfas sé is cuí nó is fóirstineach chun an vótáil sa vótaíocht a choimeád ina rún;
(l) gach ceist a éireos le linn an vótaíocht a thógaint nó maidir lena tógaint, is é ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid a bhéarfas breith uirthi agus is breith chríochnaitheach nach bhféadfar achomharc a dhéanamh ina coinne a bhreith ar aon cheist den tsórt sin;
(m) nuair a cuirfear críoch leis an vótaíocht fionnfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, do réir an Achta seo agus go sonrach do réir na rialacha atá sa Dara Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht seo, toradh na vótaíochta agus craolfaidh an toradh sin do na hiarrthóirí a bheas (má bhíonn) i láthair an tráth sin;
(n) beidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid agus a chúntóirí agus na hiarrthóirí (nó a n-ionadaithe cuí-cheaptha), agus ní bheidh aon duine eile, i dteideal bheith i láthair nuair a bheas toradh na vótaíochta á fhionnadh.
(2) I bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo, ciallaíonn an abairt “an uimhir iomchuí”:—
(a) i gcás an rolla shaíochta agus oideachais—a sé,
(b) i gcás an rolla thalmhaíochta nó an rolla oibreachais—a ceathair déag,
(c) i gcás an rolla thionscail agus tráchtála—a dó dhéag,
(d) i gcás an rolla riaracháin—a hocht.
Na fo-rollaí sealadacha do chomhluchta ainmniúcháin d'ullmhú.
35.—(1) Déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid a luaithe is caothúil tar éis cruinnithe (olltoghchán) de coiste ainmniúcháin, liosta (dá ngairmtear fo-rolla sealadach do chomhluchta ainmniúcháin san Acht seo) d'ullmhú, sa bhfoirm ordaithe, de na daoine a roghnaíodh ag an gcruinniú sin.
(2) I gcás aon chomhlucht ainmniúcháin amháin, agus gan a shuilleadh, nó dhá chomhlucht ainmniúcháin, agus gan a thuilleadh, a bheith ann do rolla, déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, a luaithe is caothúil tar éis liosta de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin i leith an rolla d'ullmhú faoi fho-alt (6) d'alt 28 den Acht seo, liostá (da ngairmtear freisin san Acht seo fo-rolla sealadach do chomhluchta ainmniúcháin) d'ullmhú de na daoine a bheas sa liosta sin de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin.
Na rollaí a chomhlánú.
36.—(1) Ar a haon déag a chlog ar maidin an lá agus san áit a bheas ceaptha chuige sin le hordú olltoghcháin don tSeanad freastalóidh agus comórfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid suí (dá ngairmtear comhlánú na rollaí san Acht seo) ag a ndéanfaidh gach ní is gá dhó, do réir na bhforál ina dhiaidh seo den Acht seo, a dhéanamh ag an tsuí sin.
(2) Ar é a bheith ag comhlánú na rollaí, déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid mar leanas:—
(a) grúpálfaidh na fo-rollaí sealadacha don Oireachtas agus na fo-rollaí sealadacha do na comhluchta ainmniúcháin i gcúig grúpaí a mbeidh ar gach grúpa acu fo-rolla sealadach don Oireachtas agus fo-rolla sealadach do chomhluchta ainmniúcháin i leith an rolla chéanna;
(b) maidir le gach ceann de na grúpaí fo-rollaí—
(i) scrúdoidh gach páipéar ainmniúcháin a ndearnadh dá bhun duine d'iontráili gceachtar de na forollaí, bhéarfaidh rialú ar bhailíocht nó neamhbhailíocht gach páipéir ainmniúcháin agus ar bhailíocht nó neamhbhailíocht an ainmniúcháin a hairbheartaítear a dhéanamh leis, agus bainfidh de na fo-rollaí gach iontráil a rinneadh ann de bhun páipéir ainmniúcháin nó de bhun ainmniúcháin a chinnfeas sé a bheith neamhbhailí,
(ii) scrúdóidh sé cáilíochta gach duine a mbeidh a ainm fágtha ar na fo-rollaí tar éis na hiontrála sin a bhaint díobh agus bainfidh de na fo-rollaí ainm gach duine nach gcruthófar chun a shástachta an duine sin a bheith cáilithe faoi fho-alt 1 d'alt 7 d'Airteagal 18 den Bhunreacht chun bheith ar an rolla lena mbaineann na fo-rollaí,
(iii) iontrálfaidh sé sa bhfo-rolla iomchuí, maidir le gach duine a chinnfeas sé a bheith cáilithe chun bheith ar an rolla sin, ráiteas sa bhfoirm is cuí leis ar na cáilíochta a chinnfeas sé a bheith iarbhír ag cáiliú an duine sin chun bheith ar an rolla sin,
(iv) bainfidh amach ansin gach iontráil dúblach a bheas fágtha ar na fo-rollaí agus chuige sin bhéarfaidh tosaíocht d'ainmniúchán ó chomhlucht ainmniúcháin,
(c) má gheibhtear, nuair a bheas forála míre (b) den fho-alt seo comhlíonta, go bhfuil duine ar bith iontrálta i dhá ghrúpa fo-rollaí nó níos mó—
(i) fágfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ainm an duine sin ar pé ceann de na grúpaí sin is rogha leis an duine sin nó lena ghníomhaire,
(ii) má dhiúltann nó má fhaillíonn an duine sin nó a ghníomhaire (pé acu é) rogha a dhéanamh nó mura mbíonn an duine sin ná a ghníomhaire i láthair ná ar fáil go saoráideach, fágfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ainm an duine sin ar pé ceann de na grúpaí fo-rollaí a chinnfeas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid trí chrannchur,
(iii) bainfidh ceann comhairimh an Seanaid ainm an duine sin de gach ceann de na grúpaí fo-rollaí ach amháin an grúpa ar gá dhó, do réir pé fomhír roimhe seo den mhír seo is infheidhme ainm an duine sin d'fhágaint air.
(3) Nuair a bheas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ag comhlíonadh na bhforál den Acht seo a bhaineas leis na himeachta ar é a bheith ag comhlánú na rollaí, bhéarfaidh sé áird chuí ar gach breith ón réiteoir breithiúntais ar cheisteanna a chuir ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid faoina bhráid faoin Acht seo.
(4) Is breith chríochnaithach dosháruithe breith a bhéarfas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ar é a bheith ag comhlánú na rollaí ach amháin go bhféadfar í a chur faoi bhráid an réiteora bhreithiúntais mar foráltar leis an Acht seo.
Ainmniúcháin ón Taoiseach chun na fo-rollaí sealadacha a chomhlánú.
37.—(1) Má tharlann, nuair a bheas forála ailt 36 den Acht seo comhlíonta, nach mbeidh iontrálta in aon fho-rolla sealadach beirt ar a laghad de bhreis ar an méid uasta comhaltaí de Sheanad Éireann a ceadaítear leis an Acht seo a thoghadh as, cuirfidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ar atráth go dtí lá agus uair a bheas caothúil an chuid eile de na himeachta chun na rollaí a chomhlánú agus tuairisceoidh don Taoiseach an t-easnamh ar an bhfo-rolla sealadach sin agus bhéarfaidh don Taoiseach cóip de na fo-rollaí sealadacha mar socraíodh iad díreach roimh na himeachta a chur ar atráth.
(2) Nuair a gheobhas an Taoiseach tuairisc faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo, ainmneoidh sé chun gach fo-rolla shealadaigh a bhfaighidh sé an tuairisc in a thaobh an méid daoine is leor chun an uimhir daoine ar an bhfo-rolla sealadach a thabhairt suas go dtí uimhir is mó de bheirt (ar a mhéid) ná an uimhir uasta chomhaltaí de Sheanad Éireann a ceadaítear leis an Acht seo a thoghadh as.
(3) Aon uair is gá don Taoiseach, do réir fho-ailt (2) den alt seo, ainmniúcháin a dhéanamh chun fo-rolla shealadaigh, is dleathach dó ainmniúcháin bhreise chun an fho-rolla shealadaigh sin a dhéanamh de bharr ar an méid ainmniúchán is gá do réir an fho-ailt sin, ach ní bheidh sna hainmniúcháin bhreise ach ainmniúcháin ionaid agus ní bheidh feidhm acu ach amháin más gá agus sa mhéid gur gá sin de dhroim neamhbhailíochta ceann amháin nó níos mó de na hainmniúcháin eile a dhéanfas an Taoiseach faoin alt seo chun an fho-rolla shealadaigh sin.
(4) Is do réir na bhforál seo a leanas a dhéanfas an Taoiseach ainmniúchán faoin alt seo:—
(a) is i scríbhinn, ar pháipéar ainmniúcháin sa bhfoirm ordaithe, a déanfar an t-ainmniúchán;
(b) is le páipéar ainmniúcháin ar leithligh a déanfar an t-ainmniúchán;
(c) luafar sa pháipéar ainmniúcháin an fo-rolla a ndéantar an t-ainmniúchán ina leith agus beidh ann freisin na sonraí is gá, do réir foirme ordaithe sin an pháipéir ainmniúcháin, a lua ann (lena n-áirítear ráiteas ar cháilíochta an duine a hainmnítear leis don rolla chun a n-ainmnítear amhlaidh é), agus síneoidh an Taoiseach é;
(d) seachadfar an páipéar ainmniúcháin do cheann com hairimh an tSeanaid nó cuirfear chuige é, agus déanfar san i slí go bhfaighidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid é roimh an am chun ar cuireadh comhlánú na rollaí ar atráth faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo.
(5) Nuair a hathchromfar ar chomhlánú na rollaí tar éis é d'atráthú faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo, déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid breithniú agus rialú ar na hainmniúcháin a bheas déanta ag an Taoiseach faoin alt seo (lena n-áirítear scrúdú agus rialú ar cháilíochta gach duine a bheas ainmnithe amhlaidh don rolla chun a mbeidh sé ainmnithe amhlaidh) agus iontrálfaidh san ionad cuí ar an bhfo-rolla sealadach cuí ainm agus seoladh agus tuairisc gach duine a gheobhas sé a bheith ainmnithe amhlaidh go bailí maraon le ráiteas, sa bhfoirm is cuí leis, ar na cáilíochta a chinnfeas sé a bheith iarbhír ag cáiliú an duine sin chun bheith ar an rolla sin.
An réiteoir oreithiúntais a bheith i láthair le linn comhlánú na rollaí.
38.—(1) Beidh Uachtarán na hArd-Chúirte, nó breitheamh éigin eile den Ard-Chúirt a ainmneos seisean, i láthair le linn comhlánú na rollaí agus suífidh agus gníomhóidh sé ann ina réiteoir breithiúntais.
(2) Féadfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid uaidh féin, agus déanfaidh, arna iarraidh sin air d'aon duine a mbeidh a ainm ar fho-rolla sealadach a bheas faoi bhreithniú de thuras na huaire nó do ghníomhaire aon duine den tsórt sin, aon cheist a chur faoi bhráid an réiteora bhreithiúntais a éireos le linn comhlánú na rollaí maidir le haon pháipéar ainmniúcháin, le hainmniúchán aon duine chun rolla, le cáilíochta aon duine i gcóir rolla, le ráiteas cinn chomhairimh an tSeanaid ar na cáilíochta sin, nó le haon ní eile a bhainfeas leis na rollaí sealadacha.
(3) Cinnfidh agus craolfaidh an réiteoir breithiúntais san áit agus san am sin a bhreith ar gach ceist a chuirfeas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid faoina bhráid faon alt seo.
(4) Is breith chríochnaitheach dhosháruithe nach mbeidh inchurtha faoi léirmheas ag cúirt ar bith breith an réiteora bhreithiúntais ar aon cheist a chuirfeas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid faoina bhráid faoin alt seo.
(5) Féadfar ceist a chur faoi bhráid an réiteora bhreithiúntais faoin alt seo pé acu bheas breith tugtha uirthi ag ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid é féin nó nach mbeidh.
Ceisteanna a féadfar a tharraingt anuas le linn comhlánú na rollaí.
39.—(1) Faoi réir fo-alt (2) den alt seo a chomlíonadh (i gcás inarb iomchuí sin), féadfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid nó duine ar bith a mbeidh a ainm ar fho-rolla sealadach a bheas faoi bhreithniú de thuras na huaire nó gníomhaire aon duine den tsórt sin ceist ar bith a tharraingt anuas, le linn comhlánú na rollaí, a bhainfeas le hainmniúchán duine chun rolla, lena n-áirítear bailíocht pháipéar ainmniúcháin, leordhóthanacht nó cruinneas aon ráitis i bpáipéar ainmniúcháin, bailíocht nó dícháiliú aon ainmniúcháin agus cáilíochta aon duine d'aon rolla áirithe.
(2) Má bheartaíonn duine seachas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ceist a tharraingt anuas le linn comhlánú na rollaí, déanfaidh sé ráiteas ag lua na ceiste agus foras na ceiste a sheachadadh do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid dhá lá ar a ar a laghad roimh lá comhlánuithe na rollaí.
(3) Mura mbíonn aon amhras cé hé an duine a hairbheartaítear a ainmniú le páipéar ainmniúcháin, ní diúltófar don pháipéar ainmniúcháin, ná ní dearbhófar é a bheith neamhbhailí, de bhíthin earráide nó neamhiomláine i gcur síos ainme nó seoladh nó tuairisce an duine sin ann agus dá bhíthin sin amháin.
(4) Chun breith a thabhairt ar aon cheist a thiocfas i gcúrsa le linn comhlánú na rollaí, féafaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid fianaise a ghlacadh, ó bhéal nó i scríbhinn, a tairgfear dó ó aon duine nó thar ceann aon duine lena mbainfidh an cheist sin agus gníomhú ar an bhfianaise sin agus féadfaidh, más cuí leis, a cheangal an fhianaise sin a thabhairt faoi mhionn agus chuige sin féadfaidh duine a chur faoi mhionn.
(5) Chun breith a thabhairt ar aon cheist a cuirfear faoina bhráid le linn comhlánú na rollaí, féadfaidh an réiteoir breithiúntais fianaise a ghlacadh, ó bhéal nó i scríbhinn, a tairgfear dó ó aon duine nó thar ceann aon duine lena mbainfidh an cheist sin agus gníomhú ar an bhfianaise sin (is fianaise, ach amháin i gcás ina gceadóidh an réiteoir breithiúntais a mhalairt, a cuireadh ar fáil do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid), agus féadfaidh sé, más cuí leis, a cheangal an fhianaise sin a thabhairt faoi mhionn agus chuige sin féadfaidh duine a chur faoi mhionn.
Na daoine ar cead dóibh bheith i láthair le linn comhlánú na rollaí.
40.—Beidh na daoine seo a leanas (agus ní bheidh aon duine eile) i dteideal bheith i láthair le linn comhlánú na rollaí:—
(a) ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid agus a chúntóirí;
(b) an réiteoir breithiúntais agus duine amháin a bhéarfas sé leis chun freastal air;
(c) duine ar bith a mbeidh a ainm ar fho-rolla sealadach;
(d) gníomhaire amháin do gach duine a mbeidh a ainm ar fho-rolla sealadach;
(e) finnéithe a bheas ag tabhairt fianaise ó bhéal, le linn dóibh bheith ag tabhairt na fianaise sin agus lena linn sin amháin;
(f) pé daoine eile ar cuí le ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid a cheadú dhóibh bheith i láthair.
Leanúnachas na n-imeacht le linn comhlánú na rollaí.
41.—(1) A mhéid is féidir é raghfar ar aghaidh go leanúnach leis na himeachta ag comhlánú na rollaí, ach féadfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid na himeachta d'fhionraí tráth ar bith le toiliú an réiteora bhreithiúntais go ceann pé tréimhse is cuí le ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid chun bia nó deoch a chaitheamh, i gcóir na hoíche, nó ar aon chúis eile is leor leis.
(2) Aon uair a fionrófar faoin alt seo na himeachta ag comhlánú na rollaí, glacfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid gach cúram is cuí chun na páipéir ainmniúcháin, na fo-rollaí sealadacha, agus doiciméidí iomchuí eile a choimeád slán.
Iarrthóir d'fháil bháis nó a theacht faoi dhícháilíocht.
42.—(1) Má chruthaíonn comhlucht ainmniúcháin chun sástachta cinn chomhairimh an tSeanaid, roimh chríochnú na haimsire do mholadh ainmniúcháin ginearálta chun na rollaí, duine a mhol an comhlucht ainmniúcháin sin chun a ainmnithe chun rolla a bheith tar éis bháis nó tar éis teacht faoi dícháilíocht chun bheith ina chomhalta de Sheanad Éireann, cealóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid moladh ainmniúcháin an duine sin láithreach, agus air sin is tuigthe, chun críocha an Achta seo, nach bhfuair ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an moladh ainmniúcháin sin riamh agus is dleathach don chomhlucht duine a mholadh chun a ainmnithe do réir an Achta seo chun an rolla in ionad an duine a fuair bás nó a tháinig faoi dhícháilíocht.
(2) Má cruthaítear chun sástachta cinn chomhairimh an tSeanaid, roimh chríochnú na haimsire d'ainmniúcháin ón Oireachtas chun na rollaí, duine d'ainmnigh comhaltaí den Oireachtas chun rolla a bheith tar éis bháis nó tar éis teacht faoi dhícháilíocht chun bheith ina chomhalta de Sheanad Éireann, cealóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an t-ainmniúchán sin láithreach agus air sin is tuigthe nach ndearnadh an t-ainmniúchán riamh.
(3) Nuair a beifear ag comhaireamh na vótanna a tugadh in olltoghchán don tSeanad ní tabharfar aird ar aon rogha a breacadh d'iarrthóir a mbeidh a ainm ar rolla agus ar deimhin le ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, roimh chríoch a chur leis an vótaíocht, go bhfuil sé tar éis bháis (pé acu roimh chomhlánú an rolla sin nó dá éis sin a fuair sé bás) agus ina ionad sin is ar na roghna is foigse a bheas ar fáil a bhéarfar aird.
(4) Faoi réir na bhforál roimhe seo den alt seo, má gheibheann iarrthóir a mbeidh a ainm ar rolla bás nó má thagann faoi dhícháilíocht chun bheith ina chomhalta de Sheanad Éireann (pé acu roimh chríoch a chur leis an vótaíocht nó dá éis sin é), ní rachaidh sin chun neamhbhailíochta ná chun dochair don rolla ná d'ainmniúchán an iarrthóra chuige ná d'aon roghna a breacadh dó, agus, má toghtar é, ní bheidh a thoghadh neamhbhailí de bhíthin é d'fháil bháis nó a theacht faoi dícháilíocht amhlaidh, ach is tuigthe é d'éirí as bheith ina chomhalta de Sheanad Éireann díreach tar éis é a thoghadh chuige amhlaidh.
Na rollaí d'ullmhú agus d'fhoilsiú.
43.—(1) Nuair a déanfar, ag comhlánú na rollaí, na himeachta a foráltar sna hailt roimhe seo den Acht seo a chríochnú, ullmhóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid na cúig rollaí, a mbeidh i ngach ceann acu liosta (arna shocrú do réir na bhforál ina dhiaidh seo den alt seo) de na daoine a fuarthas a bheith ainmnithe go bailí chuige.
(2) Roinnfear gach ceann de na rollaí ina dhá roinn (dá ngairmtear fo-rollaí san Acht seo) a mbeidh i roinn acu (dá ngairmtear san Acht seo an fo-rolla do na comhluchta ainmniúcháin) liosta de na daoine d'ainmnigh comhluchta ainmniúcháin chuici, agus a mbeidh sa roinn eile acu (dá ngairmtear san Acht seo an forolla don Oireachtas) liosta de na daoine d'ainmnigh comhaltaí den Oireachtas chuici.
(3) Na daoine a mbeidh a n-ainmneacha i rolla tuairisceofar ann iad faoina n-ainmneacha, a seolta agus a dtuairiscí mar bheid sin luaite ar a bpáipéir ainmniúcháin faoi seach, agus cuirfear le tuairisc gach duine acu sin ráiteas ar a cháilíochta don rolla sin mar bheid sin iontrálta ar an bhfo-rolla sealadach iomchuí de bhun na bhforál roimhe seo den Acht seo.
(4) Déanfar na daoine a mbeidh a n-ainmneacha ar roinn de rolla a shocrú sa roinn sin in ord aibítre a sloinnte agus, i gcás comhshloinnte, in ord aibítre a n-ainmneacha eile
(5) Nuair a bheas na cúig rollaí ullamh ag ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid foilseoidh sé iad san Iris Oifigiúil.
(6) Is rollaí críochnaitheacha dosháruithe nach mbeidh inchurtha faoi léirmheas ag Cúirt ar bith na rollaí uile agus faoi seach arna n-ullmhú agus arna bhfhoilsiú ag ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid de bhun an ailt seo.
Caibideal III.
An Vótaíocht.
An toghlucht.
44.—(1) Is iad is toghlucht i ngach toghchán don tSeanad—
(a) comhaltaí Dháil Éireann a toghadh sa toghchán don Dáil a lean as an lánscor ar Dháil Éireann ba chúis leis an olltoghchán sin don tSeanad, agus
(b) comhaltaí Sheanad Éireann, agus
(c) comhaltaí gach comhairle contae nó contae-bhuirge.
(2) I bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo, déanfar aon tagairt do chomhaltaí comhairle contae nó contae-bhuirge a léiriú, i gcás comhaltaí na comhairle a bheith arna gcur as oifig faoi Chuid IV den Acht Rialtais Áitiúil, 1941 (Uimh. 23 de 1941), mar thagairt do na daoine marthanacha ba chomhaltaí den chomhairle díreach roimh an gcur-as-oifig agus nár tháinig, ó am an churtha-as-oifig, faoi aon bhreithiúnú féimhíochta ná aon chiontú i gcoir nó i gcion a dhéanfadh, i gcás comhalta den chomhairle, a chomhaltas d'fhorceannadh.
An liosta toghthóirí d'olltoghchán don tSeanad.
45.—(1) Ullmhóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid liosta toghthóirí ina mbeidh ainmneacha, seolta agus tuairiscí na ndaoine is toghlucht in olltoghchán don tSeanad.
(2) Tráth nach déanaí ná trí lá tar éis é d'fháil na dtaitheasc uile ar na riteacha i gcóir toghcháin don Dáil, cuirfidh Cléireach Dháil Éireann go dtí ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ráiteas ina luafaidh ainmneacha, seolta agus tuairiscí na gcomhaltaí de Dháil Éireann atá i dteideal faoin Acht seo bheith ina gcomhaltaí den toghlucht san olltoghchán ina dhiaidh sin don tSeanad.
(3) Tráth nach déanaí ná cúig lá déag tar éis Dáil Éireann a lánscor, cuirfidh rúnaí comhairle contae nó baile-chléireach contaebhuirge go dtí ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ráiteas ina luafaidh ainmneacha, seolta agus tuairiscí na gcomhaltaí nó na seanchomhaltaí den chomhairle chontae nó den chontae-bhuirg a bheas i dteideal faoin Acht seo bheith ina gcomhaltaí den toghlucht san olltoghchán ina dhiaidh sin don tSeanad.
(4) Má bhíonn duine ina chomhalta den toghlucht d'olltoghchán don tSeanad de bhuaidh níos mó ná aon cháilíocht amháin, ní déanfar dá ainneoin sin a ainm a chur ach aon uair amháin ar an liosta toghthóirí don toghchán.
(5) Is dleathach do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid pé fiosruithe agus pé bearta eile a dhéanamh is cuí leis chun ainm agus seoladh agus tuairisc cheart gach duine d'fhionnadh ar gá a ainm a chur ar liosta toghthoirí faoin alt seo, ach ní bhéarfaidh aon easnamh ná neamhchruinneas in ainm, seoladh nó tuairisc aon duine i liosta toghthóirí faoin alt seo go mbeidh an rolla neamhbhailí.
(6) Aon liosta toghthóirí a hullmhófar faoin alt seo is liosta críochnaitheach dosháruithe é nach mbeidh inchurtha faoi léirmheas ag cúirt ar bith agus is iad na daoine a mbeidh a n-ainmneacha ar an liosta agus na daoine sin amháin a bheas i dteideal vótáil san olltoghchán don tSeanad lena mbainfidh an liosta.
(7) Ní dhéanfaidh bás duine a mbeidh a ainm iontrálta ar liosta toghthóirí faoin alt seo dochar ná difir do bhailíocht ná d'oibriú an liosta, pé acu roimh an liosta d'ullmhú nó dá éis sin a gheobhas sé bás.
Cóip de na rollaí a chur amach.
46.—A luaithe is féidir tar éis comhlánú an liosta thoghthóirí i leith olltoghcháin don tSeanad nó foilsiú a dhéanamh, i leith an toghcháin, ar na rollaí san Iris Oifigiúil (pé acu sin is déanaí a tharlós), agus ar aon chuma roimh an lá a bheas na páipéir bhallóide le heisiúint, cuirfidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid leis an bpost chun gach duine a mbeidh a ainm ar an liosta toghthóirí, go dtí a sheoladh mar bheas sé luaite ar an liosta toghthóirí, cóip de na cúig rollaí mar foilsíodh iad san Iris Oifigiúil, ach fara an modhnú go luafar sa chóip sin, maidir le gach duine ar aon rolla, an comhlucht nó na daoine gur ar a n-ainmniúchán a cuireadh ar an rolla sin é.
Na páipéir bhallóide d'olltoghchán don tSeanad.
47.—(1) Beidh feidhm agus éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas maidir leis na páipéir bhallóide in olltoghchán don tSeanad:—
(a) beidh páipéir bhallóide éagsúla ann do gach rolla;
(b) beidh i bpáipéar ballóide ainmneacha agus seolta agus tuairiscí na n-iarrthóirí uile a mbeidh a n-ainmneacha ar an rolla lena mbainfidh sé agus iad socair in ord aibítre a sloinnte agus, i gcás comhshloinnte, in ord aibítre a n-ainmneacha eile, agus in aon cholún leanúnach amháin nó i dhá cholún nó níos mó mar mheasfas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, le toiliú an Aire, is caothúla;
(c) luafar freisin i bpáipéar ballóide, maidir le gach iarrthóir a mbeidh a ainm ann, an fo-rolla a bhfuil a ainm air mar iarrthóir;
(d) beidh sloinnte na n-iarrthóirí uile clóbhuailte ar pháipéar ballóide i litreacha móra agus beidh a n-ainmneacha eile agus a seolta agus a dtuairiscí clóbhuailte i litreacha beaga ach amháin, in aon chás inarb ionann sloinnte do bheirt iarrthóir nó níos mó, go mbeidh ainmneacha eile na n-iarrthóirí sin (chomh maith lena sloinnte) clóbhuailte i litreacha móra agus an oiread de sheoladh nó de thuairisc, nó de sheoladh agus de thuairisc, gach iarrthóra faoi leith acu sin agus a dhéanfas sonrú éifeachtúil, dar le ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, ar an iarrthóir sin.
(2) Faoi réir forál fo-ailt (1) den alt seo, is sa bhfoirm ordaithe a bheas na páipéir bhallóide agus beidh uimhir clóbhuailte ar chúl gach páipéir ballóide agus beidh comhdhuille ag gabháil leis agus an uimhir chéanna clóbhuailte ar aghaidh an chomhdhuille sin, agus déanfar, le linn gach páipéar ballóide d'eisiúint, marc oifigiúil a stampáil nó a tholladh ar an dá thaobh de.
An modh chun vótanna a mharcáil ar pháipéar ballóide in olltoghchán don tSeanad.
48.—(1) Caithfidh toghthóir agus é ag marcáil páipéir bhallóide in olltoghchán don tSeanad an figiúir 1 a chur ar an bpáipéar ballóide os coinne ainme an iarrthóra dá mbeidh sé ag vótáil, agus féadfaidh ina theannta sin na figiúirí 2 agus 3, nó 2, 3 agus 4 agus mar sin de a chur ar an bpáipéar ballóide os coinne ainmneacha iarrthóirí eile in ord a roghan.
(2) Aon pháipéar ballóide—
(a) nach mbeidh an marc oifigiúil air, nó
(b) nach mbeidh an figiúir 1 ina aonar curtha air in aon chor nó nach mbeidh sé curtha air i slí go dtaispeánfaidh céad-rogha d'iarrthóir éigin, nó
(c) a mbeidh an figiúir 1 ina aonar, ag taispeáint céadroghan, curtha air os coinne ainme níos mó ná aon iarrthóir amháin, nó
(d) a mbeidh an figiúir 1 ina aonar, ag taispeáint céad-roghan, maraon le huimhir éigin eile, curtha air os coinne ainme an aon iarrthóra amháin, nó
(e) a mbeidh aon ní, ach amháin an uimhir ar an gcúl, scríofa nó marcálta air trínar féidir an vótálaí d'aithint,
beidh sé neamhbhailí agus ní comhaireofar é.
Páipéir bhallóide a chur chun toghthóirí in olltoghchán don tSeanad.
49.—(1) An lá a bheas ceaptha chun páipéir bhallóide d'eisiúint in olltoghchán don tSeanad, déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid páipéar ballóide do gach rolla faoi leith a chur leis an bpost cláraithe chun gach duine a mbeidh a ainm ar an liosta toghthóirí don toghchán sin, go dtí an seoladh a bheas luaite ar an liosta toghthóirí sin.
(2) Aon uair a dhéanfas duine, ar cheart páipéir bhallóide d'olltoghchán don tSeanad a chur chuige faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo, a chur in iúl do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid i scríbhinn go bhfuil níos mó ná cheithre huaire fichead a chloig imithe ón am ba cheart na páipéir bhallóide sin a sheachadadh dhó i ngnáthchúrsa an phoist agus nach bhfuair sé na páipéir bhallóide sin agus gur mian leis go n-eiseofaí chuige páipéir bhallóide dhúblacha, déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid láithreach, má gheibheann sé an scríbhinn sin tráth nach déanaí ná ocht n-uaire ceathrachad a chloig roimh chríoch a chur leis an vótaíocht sa toghchán, nó féadfaidh sé, má gheibheann sé an scríbhinn sin níos lú ná ocht n-uaire ceathrachad a chloig roimh chríoch a chur leis an vótaíocht sa toghchán, páipéar ballóide do gach rolla a chur leis an bpost cláraithe chun an duine sin, go dtí an seoladh a luaitear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo, agus é soiléir ar na páipéir bhallóide sin uile, trína mbeith clóbhuailte ar pháipéar de dhath ar leithligh nó ar shlí eile, gur dúblaigh iad de na páipéir bhallóide a cuireadh chun an duine sin i gcéadóir.
(3) Nuair a bheas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ag cur amach páipéar ballóide de bhun an ailt seo déanfaidh sé do réir na Rialacha atá sa Chéad Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht seo.
Páipéir bhallóide d'eisiúint.
50.—Déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid na páipéir bhallóide in olltoghchán don tSeanad d'eisiúint do réir na rialacha atá sa Chéad Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht seo an lá a bheas ceaptha chuige sin leis an ordú olltoghcháin iomchuí don tSeanad.
An modh vótála in olltoghchán don tSeanad.
51.—(1) Gach duine a bheas i dteideal vótáil in olltoghchán don tSeanad is sa tslí seo a leanas agus ní hin aon tslí eile a bheas sé i dteideal vótáil sa toghchán sin, is é sin le rá, trí cheann amháin nó níos mó de na páipéir bhallóide a cuireadh chuige faoi alt 50 den Acht seo a mharcáil agus trí na páipéir bhallóide sin go léir a chur thar n-ais chun ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid leis an bpost cláraithe maraon leis an bhfoirm dhearbhuithe céannachta a tugadh dó de bhun na rialacha atá sa Chéad Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht seo agus an dearbhú sin déanta agus comhlánaithe go cuí aige.
(2) Aon uair a dhéanfas duine a bheas i dteideal vótáil in olltoghchán don tSeanad a chur in iúl do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid i scríbhinn gur chuir sé thar n-ais go cuí leis an bpost cláraithe chun ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid na páipéir bhallóide agus foirm dhearbhuithe céannachta agus gur cosúil nár seachadadh iad do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid agus gur mian leis go n-eiseofaí chuige páipéir bhallóide dhúblacha, déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid láithreach, má gheibheann sé an scríbhinn sin tráth nach déanaí ná ocht n-uaire ceathrachad a chloig roimh chríoch a chur leis an vótaíocht sa toghchán, nó féadfaidh sé, má gheibheann sé an scríbhinn sin níos lú ná ocht n-uaire ceathrachad a chloig roimh chríoch a chur leis an vótaíocht sa toghchán, páipéar ballóide do gach rolla a chur leis an bpost cláraithe chun an duine sin, go dtí a sheoladh mar bheas sin luaite ar an liosta toghthóirí, agus é soiléir ar na páipéir bhallóide sin uile, trína mbeith clóbhuailte ar pháipéar de dhath ar leithligh nó ar shlí eile, gur dúblaigh iad de na páipéir bhallóide a cuireadh chun an duine sin i gcéadóir.
(3) Is é nós imeachta a leanfar maidir le marcáil na bpáipéar ballóide in olltoghchán don tSeanad agus le cur na bpáipéar sin chun ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ná an nós imeachta a sonraítear sna rialacha sa Chéad Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht seo.
Na comhaltaí a dháiliú ar na rollaí.
52.—Is iad seo leanas na huimhreacha comhaltaí de Sheanad Éireann a toghfar as gach ceann faoi leith de na rollaí:—
(a) toghfar cúigear comhaltaí as an rolla saíochta agus oideachais, agus toghfar beirt ar a laghad acu sin as gach fo-rolla den rolla sin;
(b) toghfar aon chomhalta dhéag as an rolla talmhaíochta, agus toghfar ceathrar ar a laghad acu sin as gach forolla den rolla sin;
(c) toghfar aon chomhalta dhéag as an rolla oibreachais, agus toghfar ceathrar ar a laghad acu sin as gach forolla den rolla sin;
(d) toghfar naonúr comhaltaí as an rolla tionscail agus tráchtála, agus toghfar triúr ar a laghad acu sin as gach fo-rolla den rolla sin;
(e) toghfar seachtar comhaltaí as an rolla riaracháin, agus toghfar triúr ar a laghad acu sin as gach fo-rolla den rolla sin.
Toradh olltoghcháin don tSeanad d'fhionnadh.
53.—(1) Déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, i bhfianaise na n-iarrthóirí a bheas i láthair, a fhionnadh ar leithligh, do réir an Achta seo agus go sonrach do réir na rialacha sa Chéad Sceideal agus sa Dara Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht seo, toradh olltoghcháin don tSeanad i leith gach rolla faoi leith agus dearbhóidh gur toghadh as an rolla sin na hiarrthóirí a fionnfar amhlaidh a bheith tofa.
(2) Is breith chríochnaitheach breith chinn chomhairimh an tSeanaid ar aon cheist a éireos in olltoghchán don tSeanad maidir leis na páipéir bhallóide, na clúdaigh ina mbeidh na páipéir bhallóide, na dearbhuithe céannachta nó aon ní eile a éireos maidir le heisiúint nó fáil na bpáipéar ballóide nó comhaireamh na vótanna, ach go mbeidh an bhreith sin, i gcás agóid i scríbhinn i gcoinne na breithe a sheachadadh do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid roimh thoradh an toghcháin a dhearbhú, inchurtha faoi léirmheas ag cúirt a thriaileas achainí thoghcháin i dtaobh an toghcháin.
Achainíocha toghcháin i dtaobh olltoghchán don tSeanad.
54.—Na hachtacháin a bhaineas le tíolacadh agus triail achainíocha toghcháin i dtaobh toghchán do chomhaltaí de Dháil Éireann bainfid le holltoghcháin don tSeanad fara na modhnuithe seo a leanas:
(a) an chúirt a bheas ag triail achainí toghcháin i dtaobh olltoghcháin don tSeanad ní bheidh de chumhacht aici a dhearbhú an toghchán uile a bheith ar neamhní, ach féadfaidh a dhearbhú toghadh aon duine nó daoine de na hiarrthóirí ar taitheascadh gur toghadh é nó iad sa toghchán a bheith ar neamhní nó a bheith bailí mar is dual ó cheartas;
(b) má dhearbhaíonn an chúirt amhlaidh toghadh iarrthóra a bheith ar neamhní, dearbhóidh an chúirt gur toghadh an duine is dual ó cheartas de na hiarrthóirí nár taitheascadh gur toghadh é;
(c) beidh de chumhacht ag an gcúirt sin pé leasuithe is gá chun éifeacht a thabhairt dá breitheanna a dhéanamh sa deimhniú ó cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid ar thoradh an toghcháin;
(d) ní bheidh d'oblagáid ar an gcúirt sin a chur faoi ndeara athchomhaireamh a dhéanamh ar na vótanna a tugadh, ná scrúdú a dhéanamh ar an vótáil ná ar chomhaireamh na vótanna, do na hiarrthóirí ar rolla ar deimhin leis an gcúirt sin ina thaobh nach bhfuil an vótáil do na hiarrthóirí ar an rolla sin i gceist san achainí sin;
(e) léireofar mar thagairtí do Sheanad Éireann tagairtí (lena n-áirítear tagairtí trí oiriúnú) do Dháil Éireann agus léireofar mar thagairtí do Chathaoirleach Sheanad Éireann tagairtí (lena n-áirítear tagairtí trí oiriúnú) do Chathaoirleach nó do Cheann Comhairle Dháil Éireann.
(2) In aon imeachta dlí chun toghadh nó taitheasc aon iarrthóra i dtoghchán don tSeanad a chur faoi cheist, ní hiarrfar ar dhuine ar bith a vótáil sa toghchán sin a rá cé dhó ar vótáil sé.
CUID V.
Corrthoghchan Don tSeanad.
Caibidil I.
Fógra i dtaobh Corrfholúntais agus Ordú Corrthoghcháin don tSeanad.
Fógra i dtaobh corrfholúntais.
55.—(1) Má tharlann corrfholúntas i gcomhaltas Sheanad Éireann déanfaidh Cléireach Sheanad Éireann, ar ordachán ó Sheanad Éireann, fógra (dá ngairmtear fógra i dtaobh corrfholúntais san Acht seo) a chur i scríbhinn go dtí an tAire i dtaobh an fholúntais.
(2) Luafar i bhfógra i dtaobh corrfholúntais, maidir leis an gcomhalta arbh é a bhás, a éirí as oifig, nó a theacht faoi dhícháilíocht faoi ndear an folúntas, an rolla agus an fo-rolla as ar toghadh an comhalta san olltoghchán deiridh roimhe sin don tSeanad nó, más i gcorrthoghchán don tSeanad a toghadh an comhalta an rolla nó an fo-rolla as ar toghadh san olltoghchán deiridh roimhe sin don tSeanad an comhalta ar chun a ionad a líonadh (go díreach nó go neamhdhíreach) a toghadh é amhlaidh.
Ordú corrthoghcháin don tSeanad.
56.—(1) Nuair a gheobhas an tAire fógra i dtaobh corrfholúntais ó Chléireach Sheanad Éireann, déanfaidh an tAire, a luaithe is caothúil agus in aon chás tráth nach déanaí ná céad agus ochtó lá tar éis an fógra d'fháil, ordú (dá ngairmtear ordú corrthoghcháin don tSeanad) san Acht seo ina n-ordóidh toghchán a chomóradh do réir na Coda seo den Acht seo chun an folúntas a líonadh agus ina luafaidh an rolla agus an fo-rolla ar ina dtaobh a tharla an folúntas agus ina gceapfaidh, chun críocha an toghcháin, na trátha agus na háiteanna a luaitear sa cheann sin den dá fho-alt díreach ina dhiaidh seo den alt seo a bhainfeas leis an gcás.
(2) Más folúntas i bhfo-rolla do chomhluchta ainmniúcháin an folúntas ar ina thaobh a déanfar ordú corrthoghcháin don tSeanad, ceapfaidh an t-ordú—
(a) an lá agus an áit agus an uair a comórfar an cruinniú (corrthoghchán) den choiste ainmniúcháin,
(b) an lá agus an áit a shuífeas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid le haghaidh an rialuithe ar ainmniúchán, agus
(c) seoladh cinn chomhairimh an tSeanaid.
(3) Más folúntas i bhfo-rolla don Oireachtas an folúntas ar ina thaobh a déanfar ordú corrthoghcháin don tSeanad, ceapfar leis an ordú—
(a) an lá is lá deiridh chun ainmniúcháin d'fháil, agus
(b) an lá agus an áit a shuífeas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid le haghaidh an rialuithe ar ainmniúchán, agus
(c) an lá is lá chun páipéir bhallóide d'eisiúint, agus
(d) an lá agus an uair (dá ngairmtear críoch na vótaíochta san Acht seo) a cuirfear críoch leis an vótaíocht, agus
(e) seoladh cinn chomhairimh an tSeanaid.
(4) Foilseofar ordú corrthoghcháin don tSeanad san Iris Oifigiúil a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta.
An éifeacht a bheas ag lánscor Dháil Éireann.
57.—(1) Má lánscoirtear Dáil Éireann tar éis don Aire fógra i dtaobh corrfholúntais d'fháil agus roimh ordú corrthoghcháin don tSeanad a dhéanamh i leith an fholúntais, tiocfaidh an fógra chun bheith, agus beidh sé, ar neamhní de dhroim an lánscoir agus, d'ainneoin aon ní sa Chuid seo den Acht seo, ní déanfar ordú corrthoghcháin don tSeanad i leith an fholúntais.
(2) Má lánscoirtear Dáil Éireann tar éis ordú corrthoghcháin a dhéanamh agus roimh an toghchán de bhun an orduithe a chríochnú, tiocfaidh an t-ordú chun bheith, agus beidh sé, ar neamhní de dhroim an lánscoir agus ní déanfar aon bheart eile maidir leis an ordú, ach ní dhéanfaidh an neamhniú dochar ná difir do cheart cinn chomhairimh an tSeanaid chun go n-íocfar leis, faoin Acht seo, a éilithe reasúnacha i leith dualgas a chomhlíon sé, maidir leis an toghchán, roimh an lánscor.
Foráil is infeidhme i gcás níos mó ná folúntas amháin.
58.—Má gheibheann an tAire, tráth ar bith, dhá fhógra nó níos mó i dtaobh corrfholúntais gan iad a bheith arna neamhniú trí Dháil Éireann a lánscor agus nach ndearna sé ordú corrthoghcháin don tSeanad ina leith, déanfar orduithe corrthoghcháin ar leithligh don tSeanad agus comórfar toghcháin ar leithligh maidir le gach ceann de na folúntais lena mbainfidh na fógraí.
Caibidil II.
Corrfholúntais i bhFo-rolla do Chomhluchta Ainmniúcháin.
E a bheith d'oblagáid cruinniú (corrthoghchán) de choiste ainmniúcháin a chomóradh.
59.—Nuair a dhéanfas an tAire ordú corrthoghcháin don tSeanad i leith corrfholúntais i gcomhaltas Sheanad Éireann a ndéarfar san ordú gur folúntas é i leith an fho-rolla do na comhluchta ainmniúcháin de rolla airithe, déanfar cruinniú (dá ngairmtear cruinniú (corrthoghchán) de choiste ainmniúcháin san Acht seo) den choiste ainmniúcháin don rolla sin a chomóradh an lá agus an áit agus an uair a ceapfar chuige sin leis an ordú agus cuirfidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, seacht lá ar a laghad roimh an gcruinniú, fógra sa bhfoirm ordaithe, i dtaobh comóradh an chruinnithe, leis an bpost go dtí gach duine a mbeidh a ainm ar an liosta toghthóirí a bunófar faoi alt 60 den Acht seo.
An liosta toghthóirí do chruinniú (corrthoghchán) de choiste ainmniúcháin.
60.—(1) Nuair a bheas cruinniú (corrthoghchán) de choiste ainmniúcháin le comóradh, ullmhóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, as an gclár faoi alt 21 den Acht seo, liosta ina luafaidh ainmneacha, seolta agus tuairiscí comhaltaí an choiste ainmniúcháin agus is é an liosta sin is liosta toghthóirí chun críocha an chruinnithe agus is liosta críochnaitheach dosháruithe é.
(2) Beidh na daoine uile agus faoi seach a mbeidh a n-ainmneacha ar an liosta toghthóirí a bunófar faoin alt seo do chruinniú (corrthoghchán) de choiste ainmniúcháin (agus ní bheidh aon duine eile) i dteideal vótáil sa vótaíocht (más ann) ag an gcruinniú.
(3) Ní dhéanfaidh bás duine a mbeidh a ainm ar liosta toghthóirí a bunófar faoin alt seo dochar ná difir do bhailíocht ná d'oibriú an liosta thoghthóirí.
An nós imeachta ag cruinniú (corrthoghchán) de choiste ainmniúcháin.
61.—Beidh feidhm agus éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas maidir le gach cruinniú (corrthoghchán) de choiste ainmniúcháin:
(a) is é ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid a bheas i gceannas an chruinnithe agus a stiúrós a imeachta;
(b) tosnóidh na himeachta an tráth a ceapfar don chruinniú leis an ordú corrthoghcháin iomchuí don tSeanad má bhíonn córam ann an tráth sin nó mura mbíonn córam ann an tráth sin, nuair a bheas córam ann;
(c) is iad ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid agus a chúntóirí agus na daoine a mbeidh a n-ainmneacha ar an liosta toghthóirí a bunófar don chruinniú faoi alt 60 den Acht seo, agus iad sin amháin, a fhéadfas bheith i láthair ag an gcruinniú;
(d) déanfaidh gach comhalta den choiste ainmniúcháin a bheas ag an gcruinniú, ar dhul isteach dó go dtí an cruinniú nó a luaithe is féidir dá éis sin, a ainm a shíniú i leabhar nó i dtaifead eile freastail (a sholáthrós agus a choimeádfas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid);
(e) soláthróidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid leor-uimhir de na foirmeacha ainmniúcháin ordaithe agus cuirfidh na foirmeacha sin ar fáil do na comhaltaí den choiste ainmniúcháin a bheas i láthair;
(f) is cead d'aon chomhalta den choiste ainmniúcháin a bheas i láthair duine d'ainmniú lena thoghadh tráth ar bith laistigh d'uair a chloig tar éis na himeachta a thosnú;
(g) is ar fhoirm ainmniúcháin ordaithe, arna soláthar ag ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, a déanfar ainmniúchán, agus síneoidh an comhalta a dhéanfas an t-ainmniúcháin é agus bhéarfaidh sé ina láimh do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid é;
(h) luafar i ngach ainmniúchán ainm, seoladh, agus tuairisc an duine a hainmnítear leis, agus beidh ráiteas ann ar a cháilíochta le haghaidh an rolla arb é an coiste ainmniúcháin sin is coiste ainmniúcháin dó;
(i) diúltóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid d'aon ainmniúchán a bhfeicfear dó nach ndearnadh agus nár comhlánadh é do réir an ailt seo;
(j) féadfaidh an comhalta a rinne ainmniúchán an t-ainmniúchán sin a tharraingt siar laistigh d'uair a chloig tar éis na himeachta a thosnú;
(k) is amhlaidh a tarraingeofar siar ainmniúchán tríd an gcomhalta a bheas i gceist d'fhormhuiniú ráitis faoina láimh ar an bpáipéar ainmniúcháin (a bhéarfas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ina láimh dó chuige sin) ag tarraingt siar an ainmniúcháin;
(l) cuirfidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid gach ainmniúchán lena nglacfaidh sé agus gach ainmniúchán a tarraingeofar siar ar fáil chun a n-iniúchta ag na comhaltaí den choiste ainmniúcháin a bheas i láthair;
(m) má bhíonn beirt nó níos mó ainmnithe go cuí i gcionn uaire a chloig ó thosach na n-imeachta, déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, i gcionn na huaire sin, an cruinniú a chur ar atráth go dtí am agus áit a bheas caothúil (an lá sin nó lá éigin ina dhiaidh sin) chun vótaíocht a thógaint le duine de na daoine sin a roghnú;
(n) má bhíonn duine amháin, agus gan a thuilleadh, ainmnithe go cuí i gcionn uaire a chloig ó thosach na n-imeachta, tiocfaidh deireadh leis an gcruinniú i gcionn na huaire sin agus déanfaidh agus síneoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid deimhniú um thoghadh sealadach do réir na bhforál ina dhiaidh seo den Chaibidil seo;
(o) mura mbíonn duine ar bith ainmnithe go cuí i gcionn uaire a chloig ó thosach na n-imeachta, tiocfaidh deireadh leis an gcruinniú i gcionn na huaire sin agus tuairisceoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an ní sin don Aire agus na himthosca a bhain le deireadh a theacht amhlaidh leis an gcruinniú.
An vótaíocht ag cruinniú (corrthoghchán) de choiste ainmniúcháin.
62.—Nuair a déanfar cruinniú (corrthoghchán) de choiste ainmniúcháin a chur ar atráth chun vótaíocht a thógaint, tógfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an vótaíocht do réir na bhfóral seo a leanas:
(a) tógfar an vótaíocht an lá agus an t-am agus san áit chun ar hatráthaíodh an cruinniú sin agus is tuigthe gur leanúint ar an gcruinniú sin an vótaíocht;
(b) cuirfidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ar fáil san áit sin seomra oiriúnach chun an vótaíocht a thógaint agus soláthróidh ann na boscaí ballóide, na deisceanna, agus an troscán eile is dóigh leis is gá, agus soláthróidh freisin leor-uimhir de pháipéir bhallóide;
(c) is iad ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid agus a chúntóirí agus na daoine a mbeidh a n-ainmneacha ar an liosta toghthóirí a bunófar don chruinniú sin faoi alt 60 den Acht seo, agus iad sin amháin a fhéadfas bheith i láthair le linn an vótaíocht a thógaint;
(d) ag an am sin chun ar hatráthaíodh an cruinniú sin osclóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an vótaíocht agus i gcionn uaire a chloig ón am sin cuirfidh sé críoch leis an vótaíocht;
(e) ní bheidh duine i dteideal páipéar ballóide d'fháil mura ndearna ná go dtí go ndéanfaidh sé, ag an gcruinniú sar ar hatráthaíodh an cruinniú nó le linn an vótaíocht a thógaint, a ainm a shíniú i leabhar nó i dtaifead eile freastail (a sholáthrós agus a choimeádfas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid);
(f) nuair a bheas duine ag tabhairt a vóta caithfidh sé an figiúir 1 a chur ar an bpáipéar ballóide os coinne ainme an duine dá mbeidh sé ag vótáil, agus féadfaidh sé ina theannta sin na figiúirí 2 agus 3 nó 2, 3 agus 4 agus mar sin de a chur ar an bpáipéar ballóide os coinne ainmneacha daoine eile in ord a roghan;
(g) aon pháipéar ballóide—
(i) nach mbeidh an figiúir 1 ina aonar curtha air in aon chor nó nach mbeidh sé curtha air i slí go dtaispeánfaidh céad-rogha, nó
(ii) a mbeidh an figiúir 1 ina aonar, ag taispeáint céad-roghan, curtha air os coinne níos mó ná an t-aon ainm amháin, nó
(iii) a mbeidh an figiúir 1 ina aonar, ag taispeáint céad-roghan, maraon le huimhir éigin eile curtha air os coinne ainme,
beidh sé neamhbhailí agus ní comhaireofar é;
(h) déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid gach beart a mheasfas sé is cuí nó is fóirstineach chun an vótáil sa ótaíocht a choimeád ina rún;
(i) gach ceist a éireos le linn an vótaíocht a thógaint nó maidir lena tógaint, is é ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid a bhéarfas breith uirthi agus is breith chríochnaitheach nach bhféadfar achomharc a dhéanamh ina coinne a bhreith ar aon cheist den tsórt sin;
(j) nuair a cuirfear críoch leis an vótaíocht, fionnfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, do réir an Achta seo agus go sonrach do réir na rialacha sa Dara Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht seo, toradh na vótaíochta agus craolfaidh an toradh sin do na hiarrthóirí a bheas (má bhíonn) i láthair an tráth sin;
(k) beidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid agus a chúntóirí agus na hiarrthóirí (nó a n-ionadaithe cuí-cheaptha), agus ní bheidh aon duine eile, i dteideal bheith i láthair nuair bheas toradh na vótaíochta á fhionnadh.
Deimhniú um thoghadh sealadach.
63.—(1) Má bhíonn duine amháin, agus gan a thuilleadh, ainmnithe go cuí i gcionn uaire a chloig ó thosach na n-imeachta ag cruinniú (corrthoghchán) de choiste ainmniúcháin, déanfaidh agus síneoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid deimhniú (dá ngairmtear deimhniú um thóghadh sealadach san Acht seo), sa bhfoirm ordaithe, ina luafaidh ainm, seoladh agus tuairisc an duine sin.
(2) Má déantar cruinniú (corrthoghchán) de choiste ainmniúcháin a chur ar atráth chun vótaíocht a thógaint, déanfaidh agus síneoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, nuair a bheas comhaireamh na vótaí sa vótaíocht críochnaithe, deimhniú (dá ngairmtear freisin san Acht seo deimhniú um thoghadh sealadach), sa bhfoirm ordaithe, ina luafaidh ainm, seoladh agus tuairisc an duine a roghnaíodh sa vótaíocht.
(3) Foilseoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid san Iris Oifigiúil gach deimhniú um thoghadh sealadach a dhéanfas agus a shíneos sé de bhun an ailt seo, agus san am céanna foilseoidh san Iris Oifigiúil fógra ag lua an lae agus na háite a bheas ceaptha leis an ordú iomchuí corrthoghcháin don tSeanad le haghaidh an rialuithe ar ainmniúchán.
(4) Beidh deimhniú um thoghadh sealadach arna dhéanamh agus arna shíniú agus arna fhoilsiú de bhun an ailt seo ina fhianaise chríochnaitheach go ndearnadh an duine a mbeidh a ainm ar an deimhniú d'ainmniú go cuí ag an gcruinniú (corrthoghchán) ainmniúcháin lena mbainfidh sé agus (do réir mar bheas) gurb eisean an t-aon-duine a hainmníodh amhlaidh nó, má hatráthaíodh an cruinniú sin chun vótaíocht a thógaint gur tógadh an vótaíocht go cuí agus go ceart agus gur roghnaíodh an duine sin sa vótaíocht.
(5) Déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, ar feadh na tréimhse dar tosach an lá tar éis deimhniú um thoghadh sealadach a chomhlánú faoi fho-alt (2) den alt seo agus dar críoch an lá roimh lá an rialuithe ar ainmniúchán, na páipéir ainmniúcháin lenar ghlac sé a choimeád ar fáil chun a n-iniúchta ag iarrthóirí idir 10 a.m. agus 1 p.m. laetheanta den tseachtain.
An rialú ar ainmniúchán do chorrfholúntas i bhfo-rolla do chomhluchta ainmniúcháin.
64.—(1) I gcás ordú corrthoghcháin don tSeanad do bhaint le corrfholúntas i bhfo-rolla do chomhluchta ainmniúcháin, beidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid i láthair, ar a haon déag a chlog maidin an lae a bheas ceaptha leis an ordú sin le haghaidh an rialuithe ar ainmniúcháin, san áit a bheas ceaptha amhlaidh agus comórfaidh san am agus san áit sin suí (dá ngairmtear an rialú ar ainmniúchán san Acht seo) ag a rialóidh ar an ainmniúchán a bheas luaite sa deimhniú um thoghadh sealadach.
(2) Beidh feidhm agus éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas maidir le gach rialú ar ainmniúchán a comórfar de bhun an ailt seo:
(a) bhéarfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ar aird an páipéar ainmniúcháin a tugadh ina láimh dó ag an gcruinniú (corrthoghchán) den choiste ainmniúcháin agus is leis an duine a bheas ainmnithe sa deimhniú um thoghadh sealadach;
(b) déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid breithniú agus rialú ar bhailíocht an pháipéir ainmniúcháin agus ar an ainmniúchán a hairbheartaítear a dhéanamh leis;
(c) diúltóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid don ainmniúchán mar ainmniúchán neamhbhailí má rialaíonn sé go bhfuil an páipéar ainmniúcháin, nó an t-ainmniúchán a hairbheartaítear a dhéanamh leis, neamhbhailí nó mura deimhin leis go bhfuil ag an duine sin na caílíochta a luaitear i bhfo-alt 1° d'alt 7 d'Airteagal 18 den Bhunreacht i leith an rolla a bheas luaite san ordú iomchuí corrthoghcháin don tSeanad;
(d) nuair a bheas rialaithe ag ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ar an ainmniúchán—
(i) má dhiúltaíonn sé don ainmniúchán, tuairisceoidh sé sin don Aire,
(ii) mura ndiúltaí sé don ainmniúchán, is tuigthe an duine a hainmníodh a bheith arna thoghadh chun an corrfholúntas i gcomhaltas Sheanad Éireann a bheas luaite san ordú iomchuí corrthoghcháin don tSeanad a líonadh.
An nós imeachta mura bhfaightear ainmniúchán.
65.—(1) I gcás ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid dá thuairisciú don Aire—
(a) go dtáinig deireadh le cruinniú (corrthoghchán) de choiste ainmniúcháin toisc nár hainmníodh duine ar bith go cuí ag an gcruinniú sin, nó
(b) gur dhiúltaigh sé d'ainmniúchán le linn rialú ar ainmniúchán a comóradh de bhun na Caibidle seo,
tíocfaidh an t-ordú corrthoghcháin don tSeanad ar dá bhun a comóradh an cruinniú nó an rialú sin agus na himeachta uile a bhí ann de bhun an orduithe sin chun bheith, agus beid, ar neamhní, agus, chun críocha an Achta seo, is tuigthe ná dearnadh an t-ordú sin riamh agus déanfaidh an tAire ordú nua corrthoghcháin don tSeanad ina ionad.
(2) Aon ordú nua corrthoghcháin don tSeanad a déanfar faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo, beidh sé ina ordú corrthoghcháin don tSeanad do réir bhrí agus chun críocha an Achta seo, agus beidh feidhm agus éifeacht ag an Acht seo (lena n-áirítear an t-alt seo) maidir leis, ach gurb í tréimhse ina ndéanfaidh an tAire an t-ordú nua corrthoghcháin don tSeanad ná pé tréimhse acu seo a leanas is déanaí a chríochnós, is é sin le rá, céad agus ochtó lá tar éis dó an fógra iomchuí i dtaobh corrfholúntais d'fháil ó Chléireach Sheanad Éireann nó seasca lá tar éis dó an tuairisc a luaitear sa bhfo-alt sin (1) d'fháil ó cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid.
(3) Ní dhéanfaidh neamhniú, de bhuaidh an ailt seo, ar ordú corrthoghcháin don tSeanad dochar ná difir do cheart cinn chomhairimh an tSeanaid chun go n-íocfar leis, faoin Acht seo, a éilithe reasúnacha i leith dualgas a comhlíonadh de bhun an orduithe sin.
Caibidil III.
Corrfholúntais i bhFo-Rolla don Oireachtas.
E a bheith d'oblagáid toghchán a chomóradh chun corrfholúntas i bhfo-rolla don Oireachtas a líonadh.
66.—Nuair a dhéanfas an tAire ordú corrthoghcháin don tSeanad i leith corrfholúntais i gcomhaltas Sheanad Éireann adéarfar san ordú sin is folúntas i leith an fho-rolla don Oireachtas de rolla áirithe, déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid toghchán a chomóradh do réir na Caibidle seo chun an folúntas a líonadh agus chuige sin cuirfidh go dtí Cléireach Dháil Éireann cóip den ordú corrthoghcháin don tSeanad, maraon le pé méid foirmeacha páipéir ainmniúcháin a theastós do réir réasúin ón gCléireach sin.
Iarrthóirí d'ainmniú le haghaidh corrfholúntais i bhfo-rolla don Oireachtas.
67.—(1) Beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas maidir le hiarrthóirí d'ainmniú i dtoghchán chun corrfholúntas i bhfo-rolla don Oireachtas a líonadh:
(a) is i scríbhinn, ar pháipéar ainmniúcháin sa bhfoirm ordaithe, a déanfar ainmniúchán;
(b) beidh i bpáipéar ainmniúcháin na sonraí is gá, do réir foirme ordaithe an pháipéir ainmniúcháin, a lua ann agus, go sonrach, ráiteas ar cháilíochta an duine a hainmnítear leis don rolla a bheas luaite san ordú iomchuí corrthoghcháin don tSeanad;
(c) ní foláir páipéar ainmniúcháin a bheith sínithe ag comhalta amháin den Oireachtas mar thairgtheoir agus ag ochtar comhaltaí eile den Oireachtas mar aontaitheoirí leis an ainmniúchán;
(d) seachadfar páipéar ainmniúcháin do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid nó cuirfear chuige leis an bpost é.
(2) Nuair a gheobhas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid páipéar ainmniúcháin roimh a ceathair a chlog tráthnóna an lae roimh an lá a bheas ceaptha leis an ordú iomchuí corrthoghcháin don tSeanad ina lá deiridh chun ainmniúcháin d'fháil, cuirfidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid in iúl láithreach i scríbhinn do Chléireach Dháil Éireann go bhfuarthas an páipéar ainmniúcháin amhlaidh agus ainm, seoladh agus tuairisc an iarrthóra, mar bheid luaite sa pháipéar ainmniúcháin, agus ainm thairgtheora an iarrthóra mar bheas sin luaite sa pháipéar ainmniúcháin.
(3) A luaithe is féidir tar éis a dó dhéag a chlog nóin an lae a bheas ceaptha leis an ordú iomchuí corrthoghcháin don tSeanad ina lá deiridh chun ainmniúcháin d'fháil, cuirfidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid go dtí Cléireach Dháil Éireann liosta ina luafaidh (in ord aibítre a sloinnte agus, i gcás comhshloinnte, in ord aibítre a n-ainmneacha eile), ainmneacha, seolta, agus tuairiscí, mar bheid luaite i bpáipéir ainmniúcháin faoi seach na n-iarrthóirí sin, na n-iarrthóirí a bhfuair sé páipéir ainmniúcháin ina leith roimh a dó dhéag a chlog nóin an lae adúradh agus ina luafaidh freisin, maidir le gach iarrthóir acu sin, ainm a thairgtheora mar bheas sin luaite sa pháipéar ainmniúcháin.
(4) Aon pháipéar ainmniúcháin a gheobhas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid tar éis a dó dhéag a chlog nóin an lae a bheas ceaptha leis an ordú iomchuí corrthoghcháin don tSeanad, ina lá deiridh chun ainmniúcháin d'fháil beidh sé ar neamhní.
(5) Má shíníonn comhalta den Oireachtas dhá pháipéar ainmniúcháin nó níos mó mar thairgtheoir nó mar aontaitheoir (pé acu sa cháil chéanna nó i gcáile éagsúla a shíneos sé an dá cheann nó gach ceann de na páipéar ainmniúcháin), beidh gach ceann de na páipéir ainmniúcháin ar neamhní go hiomlán.
(6) Nuair a gheobhas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid páipéar ainmniúcháin i dtoghchán chun corrfholúntas i bhfo-rolla don Oireachtas a líonadh (seachas páipéar ainmniúcháin a dearbhaítear leis an Acht seo a bheith ar neamhní go hiomlán nó páipéar ainmniúcháin a gheofar amhlaidh tar éis an ama a ceaptar leis an Acht seo chun é d'fháil), coimeádfaidh sé an páipéar ainmniúcháin ar fáil chun a iniúchta ag iarrthóirí idir 10 a chlog a.m. agus 1 a chlog p.m. laethanta den tseachtain ar feadh na tréimhse dar tosach an lá i ndiaidh an lae a gheofar an páipéar ainmniúcháin agus dar críoch lá an rialuithe ar ainmniúchán.
An rialú ar ainmniúchán do chorrfholúntas i bhfo-rolla don Oireachtas.
68.—(1) I gcás ordú corrthoghcháin don tSeanad do bhaint le corrfholúntas i bhfo-rolla don Oireachtas, beidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid i láthair, ar a haon déag a chlog maidin an lae a bheas ceaptha leis an ordú le haghaidh an rialuithe ar ainmniúchán, san áit a bheas ceaptha amhlaidh agus comórfaidh san am agus san áit sin suí (dá ngairmtear an rialú ar ainmniúchán san Acht seo) ag a rialóidh ar na hainmniúcháin a bhfuair sé páipéir ainmniúcháin ina leith roimh a dó dhéag a chlog nóin an lae a bheas ceaptha leis an ordú ina lá deiridh chun ainmniúcháin d'fháil.
(2) Beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas maidir le gach rialú ar ainmniúchán a comórfar de bhun an ailt seo:
(a) bhéarfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ar aird na páipéir ainmniúcháin uile agus faoi seach a fuair sé roimh a dó dhéag a chlog nóin an lae deiridh chun ainmniúcháin d'fháil, agus déanfaidh breithniú agus rialú ar bhailíocht gach páipéir ainmniúcháin den tsórt sin agus ar an ainmniúchán a hairbheartaítear a dhéanamh leis;
(b) diúltóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid mar ainmniúchán neamhbhailí d'ainmniúchán duine ar bith a rialóidh sé ina leith go bhfuil páipéar ainmniúcháin an duine sin, nó an t-ainmniúchán a déantar leis, neamhbhailí nó mura deimhin leis go bhfuil ag an duine sin na cáilíochta a luaitear i bhfo-alt 1° d'alt 7 d'Airteagal 18 den Bhunreacht i leith an rolla a bheas luaite san ordú iomchuí corrthoghcháin don tSeanad;
(c) rialóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid gur ainmniúchán bailí gach ainmniúchán ná diúltóidh sé dó de bhun míre (b) den fho-alt seo;
(d) nuair a rialós ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid gur ainmniúchán bailí ainmniúchán aon duine áirithe, iontrálfaidh sé láithreach i liosta (dá ngairmtear san Acht seo an liosta d'iarrthóirí) ainm, seoladh, agus tuairisc an duine sin mar bheid luaite ina pháipéar ainmniúcháin agus ainm a thairgtheora mar bheas sé luaite ann agus ráiteas, sa bhfoirm is cuí le ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, ar na cáilíochta a chinnfeas sé a bheith iarbhír ag cáiliú an duine sin chun bheith ar an rolla a bheas luaite san ordú iomchuí corrthoghcháin don tSeanad;
(e) mura mbíonn ach duine amháin arna ainmniú go bailí nuair a bheas breithniú agus rialú déanta ag ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ar na páipéir ainmniúcháin sin uile agus ar na hainmniúcháin a bheas déanta leo, dearbhóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an duine sin a bheith tofa, ach má bhíonn beirt nó níos mó arna n-ainmniú go bailí cuirfidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an toghchán ar atráth agus tógfaidh vótaíocht do réir na bhforál ina dhiaidh seo den Chaibidil seo.
(3) Díreach ar an rialú ar ainmniúchán a bheith críochnaithe, síneoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an liosta iarrthóirí agus beidh an liosta sin, arna shíniú amhlaidh, ina fhianaise dhosháruithe i dtaobh na ndaoine, nó i dtaobh an duine, atá ainmnithe go bailí.
An liosta toghthóirí do chorrfholúntas i bhfo-rolla don Oireachtas.
69.—(1) Nuair a chuirfeas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid toghchán ar atráth faoin gCaibidil seo chun vótaíocht a thógaint, cuirfidh sé sin in iúl láithreach do Chléireach Dháil Éireann i scríbhinn agus cuirfidh cóip den liosta iarrthóirí chuige, agus bhéarfaidh an Cléireach sin do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid, tráth nach déanaí ná cheithre lá tar éis sin a chur in iúl dó amhlaidh, ráiteas ina luafaidh ainmneacha, seolta agus tuairiscí na gcomhaltaí uile de Dháil Éireann a bheas, an uair sin, i dteideal suí agus vótáil sa Tigh sin.
(2) Nuair a gheobhas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ráiteas arna thabhairt de bhun fo-ailt (1) den alt seo maidir le toghchán, ullmhóidh sé liosta ina luafaidh—
(a) na hainmneacha, na seolta agus na tuairiscí a bhí sa ráiteas sin, agus
(b) ainmneacha, seolta agus tuairiscí na gcomhaltaí uile de Sheanad Éireann a bheas i dteideal suí agus vótáil sa Tigh sin an uair sin,
agus is é an liosta sin is liosta toghthóirí don toghchán agus is liosta críochnaitheach dosháruithe é.
(3) Beidh na daoine uile agus faoi seach a mbeidh a n-ainmneacha ar liosta toghthóirí a bunófar faoin alt seo, agus ní bheidh aon duine eile, i dteideal vótáil sa vótaíocht sa toghchán ar ina leith a bunófar an rolla toghthóirí sin amhlaidh.
(4) Ní dhéanfaidh bás duine a mbeidh a ainm ar liosta toghthóirí a bunófar faoin alt seo (pé acu roimh Chléireach Dháil Éireann do chur, nó tar éis é do chur, an ráitis dá dtagartar i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo go dtí ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid a fuair an duine sin bás) dochar ná difir do bhailíocht ná d'oibriú an liosta thoghthóirí.
Na páipéir bhallóide do chorrfholúntas i bhfo-rolla don Oireachtas.
70.—(1) Beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas maidir leis na páipéir bhallóide i dtoghchán faoin gCaibidil seo:—
(a) beidh i bpáipéar ballóide ainmneacha, seolta agus tuairiscí na n-iarrthóirí uile agus iad socair in ord aibítre a sloinnte agus, i gcás comhshloinnte, in ord aibítre a n-ainmneacha eile, agus in aon cholún leanúnach amháin nó i dhá cholún nó níos mó mar mheasfas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, le toiliú an Aire, is caothúla;
(b) beidh sloinnte na n-iarrthóirí uile clóbhuailte ar pháipéar ballóide i litreacha móra agus beidh a n-ainmneacha eile agus a seolta agus a dtuairiscí clóbhuailte i litreacha beaga ach amháin, in aon chás inarb ionann sloinneadh do bheirt iarrthóirí nó níos mó, go mbeidh ainmneacha eile na n-iarrthóirí sin (chomh maith lena sloinnte) clóbhuailte i litreacha móra agus an oiread de sheoladh nó de thuairisc, nó de sheoladh agus de thuairisc, gach iarrthóra faoi leith acu sin agus a dhéanfas sonrú éifeachtúil, dar le ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, ar an iarrthóir sin.
(2) Faoi réir forál fo-ailt (1) den alt seo, is sa bhfoirm ordaithe a bheas na páipéir bhallóide agus beidh uimhir clóbhuailte ar chúl gach páipéir bhallóide agus beidh comhdhuille ag gabháil leis agus an uimhir chéanna clóbhuailte ar aghaidh an chomhdhuille sin, agus déanfar, le linn gach páipéar ballóide d'eisiúint, marc oifigiúil a stampáil nó a tholladh ar an dá thaobh de.
An modh chun vótanna a mharcáil ar pháipéar ballóide do chorrfholúntas i bhfo-rolla don Oireachtas.
71.—(1) Caithfidh toghthóir agus é ag tabhairt a vóta i dtoghchán faoin gCaibidil seo an figiúir 1 a chur ar an bpáipéar ballóide os coinne ainme an iarrthóra dá mbeidh sé ag vótáil, agus féadfaidh ina theannta sin na figiúirí 2 agus 3, nó 2, 3 agus 4 agus mar sin de a chur ar an bpáipéar ballóide os coinne ainmneacha iarrthóirí eile in ord a roghan.
(2) Aon pháipéar ballóide—
(a) nach mbeidh an marc oifigiúil, nó
(b) nach mbeidh an figiúir 1 ina aonar curtha air in aon chor nó nach mbeidh sé curtha air i slí go dtaispeánfaidh céad-rogha d'iarrthóir éigin, nó
(c) a mbeidh an figiúir 1 ina aonar, ag taispeáint céadroghan, curtha air os coinne ainme níos mó ná aon iarrthóir amháin, nó
(d) a mbeidh an figiúir 1 ina aonar, ag taispeáint céad-roghan, maraon le huimhir éigin eile, curtha air os coinne ainme an aon iarrthóra amháin, nó
(e) a mbeidh aon ní, ach amháin an uimhir ar an gcúl, scríofa nó marcálta air trínar féidir an vótálaí d'aithint,
beidh sé neamhbhailí agus ní comhaireofar é.
Páipéir bhallóide a chur chun na dtoghthóirí.
72.—(1) An lá a bheas ceaptha chun páipéir bhallóide d'eisiúint i dtoghchán faoin gCaibidil seo, déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid páipéar ballóide maraon le foirm dhearbhuithe chéannachta a chur leis an bpost cláraithe chun gach duine a mbeidh a ainm ar an liosta toghthóirí don toghchán sin, go dtí an seoladh a bheas luaite ar an liosta toghthóirí sin.
(2) I gcás ina ndéanfaidh duine, ar cheart páipéar ballóide do thoghchán faoin gCaibidil seo a chur chuige faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo, a chur in iúl do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid i scríbhinn go bhfuil níos mó ná cheithre huaire fichead a chloig imithe ón am ba cheart an páipéar ballóide sin a sheachadadh dhó i ngnáthchúrsa an phoist agus nach bhfuair sé an páipéar ballóide sin agus gur mian leis go n-eiseofaí chuige páipéar ballóide dúblach agus dearbhú céannachta dúblach, déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid láithreach, má gheibheann sé an scríbhinn sin tráth nach déanaí ná ocht n-uaire ceathrachad a chloig roimh chríoch a chur leis an vótaíocht sa toghchán, nó féadfaidh sé, má gheibheann sé an scríbhinn sin níos lú ná ocht n-uaire ceathrachad a chloig roimh chríoch a chur leis an vótaíocht sa toghchán, páipéar ballóide agus dearbhú céannachta a chur leis an bpost cláraithe chun an duine sin, go dtí an seoladh a luaitear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo, agus é soiléir orthu araon, trína mbeith clóbhuailte ar pháipéar de dhath ar leithligh nó ar shlí eile, gur dúbhlaigh iad den pháipéar ballóide agus den fhoirm dhearbhuithe chéannachta a cuireadh chun an duine sin faoin alt seo i gcéadóir.
(3) Is sa bhfoirm ordaithe a bheas gach dearbhú céannachta den tsórt sin.
(4) Nuair a bheas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ag cur amach páipéar ballóide de bhun an ailt seo, déanfaidh sé do réir na rialacha atá sa Tríú Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht seo.
An modh votála do chorrfholúntas i bhfo-rolla don Oireachtas.
73.—(1) Gach duine a bheas i dteideal vótáil i dtoghchán faoin gCaibidil seo is sa tslí seo a leanas agus ní hin aon tslí eile a bheas sé i dteideal vótáil sa toghchán sin, is é sin le rá, tríd an bpáipéar ballóide a cuireadh chuige faoi alt 72 den Acht seo a mharcáil agus a chur thar n-ais leis an bpost cláraithe nó leis an ngnáth-phost chun ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, maraon leis an bhfoirm dhearbhuithe chéannachta a cuireadh chuige amhlaidh ina theannta agus an dearbhú sin déanta agus comhlánaithe go cuí aige.
(2) I gcás ina ndéanfaidh duine a bheas i dteideal vótáil i dtoghchán faoin gCaibidil seo a chur in iúl do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid i scríbhinn gur chuir sé thar n-ais go cuí leis an bpost cláraithe chun ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an páipéar ballóide agus an fhoirm dhearbhuithe chéannachta a cuireadh chuige faoi alt 72 den Acht seo agus gur cosúil nár seachadadh iad do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid agus gur mian leis go n-eiseofaí chuige páipéar ballóide dúblach agus dearbhú céannachta dúblach, déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid láithreach, má gheibheann sé an scríbhinn sin tráth nach déanaí ná ocht n-uaire ceathrachad a chloig roimh chríoch a chur leis an vótaíocht sa toghchán, nó féadfaidh sé, má gheibheann sé an scríbhinn sin níos lú ná ocht n-uaire ceathrachad a chloig roimh chríoch a chur leis an an vótaíocht sa toghchán, páipéar ballóide agus foirm dhearbhuithe chéannachta a chur leis an bpost cláraithe chun an duine sin, go dtí a sheoladh mar bheas sin luaite ar an liosta toghthóirí, agus é soiléir orthu araon, trína mbeith clóbhuailte ar pháipéar de dhath ar leithligh nó ar shlí eile, gur dúblaigh iad den pháipéar ballóide agus den fhoirm dhearbhuithe chéannachta a cuireadh chun an duine sin i gcéadóir.
(3) Nuair a bheas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ag fáil na bpáipéar ballóide i dtoghchán don tSeanad agus ag deighleáil leo ar chuma eile, déanfaidh sé do réir na rialacha atá sa Tríú Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht seo.
Toradh toghcháin do chorrfholúntas i bhfo-rolla don Oireachtas d'fhionnadh.
74.—(1) A luaithe is caothúil tar éis críoch a chur leis an vótaíocht i dtoghchán faoin gCaibidil seo, déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, i bhfianaise na n-iarrthóirí a bheas i láthair, toradh an toghcháin d'fhionnadh ar leithligh, do réir an Achta seo agus go sonrach do réir na rialacha atá sa Dara Sceideal agus sa Tríú Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht seo, agus dearbhóidh gur toghadh an t-iarrthóir a fionnfar amhlaidh a bheith tofa.
(2) Is breith chríochnaitheach breith chinn chomhairimh an tSeanaid ar aon cheist a éireos, i dtoghchán faoin gCaibidil seo, maidir leis na páipéir bhallóide nó na dearbhuithe céannachta nó na clúdaigh ina mbeidh nó aon ní eile a éireos maidir le heisiúint nó fáil na bpáipéar ballóide nó comhaireamh na vótanna, ach go mbeidh an bhreith sin, i gcás agóid i scríbhinn i gcoinne na breithe a sheachadadh do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid roimh thoradh an toghcháin a dhearbhú, inchurtha faoi léirmheas ag cúirt a thriaileas achainí thoghcháin i dtaobh an toghcháin.
Achainíocha toghcháin i dtaobh toghchán do chorrfholúntais i bhfo-rolla don Oireachtas.
75.—(1) Na hachtacháin a bhaineas le tíolacadh agus triail achainíocha toghcháin i dtaobh toghchán do chomhaltaí de Dháil Éireann bainfid le toghchán faoin gCaibidil seo fara na modhnuithe seo a leanas:
(a) an chúirt a bheas ag triail achainí toghcháin i dtaobh toghcháin faoin gCaibidil seo ní bheidh de chumhacht aici a dhearbhú an toghchán uile a bheith ar neamhní, ach féadfaidh a dhearbhú toghadh aon iarrthóra ar taitheascadh gur toghadh é sa toghchán a bheith ar neamhní nó a bheith bailí mar is dual ó cheartas;
(b) má dhearbhaíonn an chúirt sin amhlaidh toghadh iarrthóra a bheith ar neamhní, dearbhóidh an chúirt gur toghadh an duine is dual ó cheartas de na hiarrthóirí nár taitheascadh gur toghadh é;
(c) beidh de chumhacht ag an gcúirt sin pé leasuithe is gá chun éifeacht a thabhairt dá breitheanna a dhéanamh sa deimhniú ó cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid ar thoradh an toghcháin;
(d) léireofar mar thagairtí do Sheanad Éireann tagairtí (lena n-áirítear tagairtí trí oiriúnú) do Dháil Éireann agus léireofar mar thagairtí do Chathaoirleach Sheanad Éireann tagairtí (lena n-áirítear tagairtí trí oiriúnú) do Cheann Comhairle Dháil Éireann;
(2) In aon imeachta dlí chun toghadh nó taitheasc aon iarrthóra i dtoghchán faoin gCaibidil seo a chur fhaoi cheist, ní hiarrfar ar dhuine ar bith a vótáil sa toghchán sin a rá cé dhó ar vótáil sé.
Caibidil IV
Fórala Ginearálta maidir le gach rialú ar ainmniúchán faoi Chaibidil III.
An réiteoir breithiúntais a bheith i láthair ag an rialú ar ainmniúchán.
76.—(1) Beidh Uachtarán na hArd-Chúirte, nó breitheamh éigin eile den Ard-Chúirt a ainmneos seisean, i láthair ag gach rialú ar ainmniúchán a comórfar faoin gCuid seo den Acht seo agus suífidh agus gníomhóidh ann ina réiteoir breithiúntais.
(2) Féadfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid uaidh féin, agus déanfaidh, arna iarriadh sin air an duine a mbeidh a ainm ar an deimhniú iomchuí um thoghadh sealadach nó ar gá do réir an Achta seo rialú ar a ainmniúchán ag an rialú ar ainmniúchán nó do ghníomhaire aon duine den tsórt sin, aon cheist a chur faoi bhráid an réiteora bhreithiúntais a éireos sa rialú ar ainmniúchán maidir le haon pháipéar ainmniúcháin, le hainmniúchán aon duine, le cáilíochta aon duine i gcóir an rolla iomchuí, le ráiteas cinn chomhairimh an tSeanaid ar na cáilíochta sin, nó le haon ní eile a bhainfeas le hainmniúchán duine ar bith.
(3) Cinnfidh agus craolfaidh an réiteoir breithiúntais san am agus san áit sin a bhreith ar gach ceist a chuirfeas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid faoina bhráid faoin alt seo.
(4) Is breith chríochnaitheach dhosháruithe nach mbeidh inchurtha faoi léirmheas ag cúirt ar bith breith an réiteora bhreithiúntais ar aon cheist a chuirfeas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid faoina bhráid faoin alt seo.
(5) Féadfar ceist a chur faoi bhráid an réiteora bhreithiúntais faoin alt seo pé acu bheas breith tugtha uirthi ag ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid é féin nó nach mbeidh.
Ceisteanna a féadfar a tharraingt anuas ag an rialú ar ainmniúchán.
77.—(1) Faoi réir fo-ailt (2) den alt seo a chomhlíonadh (i gcás inarb iomchuí sin), féadfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid nó an duine a mbeidh a ainm ar an deimhniú iomchuí um thoghadh sealadach nó ar gá do réir an Achta seo rialú ar a ainmniúchán sa rialú sin ar ainmniúchán nó gníomhaire aon duine den tsórt sin gach ceist a tharraingt anuas, ag aon rialú ar ainmniúchán a comórfar faoin gCuid seo den Acht seo, a bhainfeas le hainmniúchán duine ar bith, lena n-áirítear bailíocht pháipéar ainmniúcháin, leordhóthanacht nó cruinneas aon ráitis i bpáipéar ainmniúcháin, bailíocht aon ainmniúcháin agus cáilíochta nó dícháilíocht aon duine don rolla iomchuí.
(2) Má bheartaíonn duine seachas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ceist a tharraingt anuas ag aon rialú ar ainmniúchán a comórfar faoin gCuid seo den Acht seo, déanfaidh sé ráiteas ag lua na ceiste agus foras na ceiste a sheachadadh do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid dhá lá ar a laghad roimh lá an rialuithe ar ainmniúchán.
(3) Mura mbíonn aon amhras cé hé an duine a hairbheartaítear a ainmniú le páipéar ainmniúcháin, ní diúltófar don pháipéar ainmniúcháin ná ní dearbhófar é a bheith neamhbhailí de bhíthin earráide nó neamhiomláine i gcur síos ainme nó seoladh nó tuairisce an duine sin ann agus dá bhíthin sin amháin.
(4) Chun breith a thabhairt ar aon cheist a thiocfas i gcúrsa i rialú ar ainmniúchán a comórfar faoin gCuid seo den Acht seo, féadfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid fianaise a ghlacadh, ó bhéal nó i scríbhinn, a tairgfear dó ó aon duine, nó thar ceann aon duine, lena mbainfidh an cheist sin agus gníomhú ar an bhfianaise sin, agus féadfaidh sé, más cuí leis, a cheangal an fhianaise sin a thabhairt faoi mhionn agus chuige sin duine a chur faoi mhionn.
(5) Chun breith a thabhairt ar aon cheist a thiocfas i gcúrsa i rialú ar ainmniúchán a comórfar faoin gCuid seo den Acht seo, féadfaidh an réiteoir breithiúntais fianaise a ghlachadh, ó bhéal nó i scríbhinn, a tairgfear dó ó aon duine nó thar ceann aon duine lena mbainfidh an cheist sin agus gníomhú ar an bhfianaise sin (is fianaise, ach amháin i gcás ina gceadóidh an réiteoir breithiúntais a mhalairt, a cuireadh ar fáil do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid), agus féadfaidh sé, más cuí leis, a cheangal an fhianaise sin a thabhairt faoi mhionn agus chuige sin féadfaidh duine a chur faoi mhionn.
Na daoine ar cead dóibh bheith i láthair ag an rialú ar ainmniúchán.
78.—Is cead do na daoine seo a leanas (agus dóibh sin amháin) bheith i lathair ag an rialú ar ainmniúchán a comórfar faoin gCuid seo den Acht seo:
(a) ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid agus a chúntóirí;
(b) an réiteoir breithiúntais agus duine amháin a bhéarfas sé leis chun freastal air;
(c) an duine a mbeidh a ainm ar an deimhniú iomchuí um thoghadh sealadach nó duine ar bith ar gá do réir na Coda seo den Acht seo rialú ar a ainmniúchán sa rialú ar ainmniúchán;
(d) gníomhaire amháin do gach duine dá dtagartar i mír (c) den alt seo;
(e) finnéithe a bheas ag tabhairt fianaise ó bhéal, le linn dóibh bheith ag tabhairt na fianaise sin agus lena linn sin amháin;
(f) pé daoine eile ar cuí le ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid a cheadú dhóibh bheith i láthair.
Leanúnachas na n-imeacht ag an rialú ar ainmniúchán.
79.—(1) A mhéid is féidir é raghfar ar aghaidh go leanúnach leis na himeachta ag rialú ar ainmniúchán a comórfar faoin gCuid seo den Acht seo, ach féadfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid na himeachta d'fhionraí tráth ar bith le toiliú an réiteora bhreithiúntais go ceann pé tréimhse is cuí le ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid chun bia nó deoch a chaitheamh, i gcóir na hoíche, nó ar aon chúis eile is leor leis.
(2) Aon uair a fionrófar faoin alt seo na himeachta ag rialú ar ainmniúchán glacfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid gach cúram is cuí chun na páipéir ainmniúcháin agus doiciméidí iomchuí eile a choimeád slán.
CUID VI.
Ilghneitheach.
Eirí as comhaltas Sheanad Éireann.
80.—(1) Féadfaidh comhalta de Sheanad Éireann a toghfar faoin Acht seo éirí dá dheoin féin as bheith ina chomhalta de Sheanad Éireann trí fhógra i scríbhinn a thabhairt do Chathaoirleach Sheanad Éireann agus craolfaidh seisean a éirí-as do Sheanad Éireann ag an gcéad chruinniú eile de Sheanad Éireann.
(2) I gcás comhalta de Sheanad Éireann d'éirí faoin alt seo as bheith ina chomhalta de Sheanad Éireann, beidh éifeacht ag a éirí-as díreach ar Chathaoirleach Sheanad Éireann dá chraoladh de bhun an ailt seo.
Duine a thoghadh mar chomhalta ollscoile agus mar rolla-chomhalta.
81.—Aon uair a tharlós, in olltoghchán do chomhaltaí de Sheanad Éireann, go dtoghfaidh ollscoil duine mar chomhalta de Sheanad Éireann (dá ngairmtear comhalta ollscoile san alt seo) agus go dtoghfar é freisin faoin Acht seo mar chomhalta de Sheanad Éireann (dá ngairmtear rolla-chomhalta san alt seo), beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas:
(a) déanfaidh an duine sin trí scríbhinn faoina láimh, a sheachadfas sé do Chléireach Sheanad Éireann roimh a shuíochán a thógaint i gceachtar cáil acu, a dhearbhú cé acu mar chomhalta ollscoile nó mar rolla-chomhalta a shuífeas sé i Seanad Éireann;
(b) mura ndéana an duine sin, laistigh de mhí tar éis an chéad chruinnithe de Sheanad Éireann i ndiaidh an olltoghcháin, an dearbhú a luaitear i mír (a) den alt seo a sheachadadh do Chléireach Sheanad Éireann do réir na míre sin, is tuigthe an duine sin dá dhearbhú i ndeireadh an mhí sin gur mar chomhalta ollscoile a shuífeas sé i Seanad Éireann;
(c) a luaithe a dhearbhós an duine sin nó is tuigthe é dá dhearbhú cé acu de na cáile sin ina suífidh sé i Seanad Éireann is tuigthe é d'éirí as a shuíochán i Seanad Éireann mar chomhalta de Sheanad Éireann sa cháil eile acu sin.
Rún a choimeád ar an vótáil.
82.—(1) Déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, agus gach oifigeach agus cléireach a mbeidh baint acu le páipéir bhallóide d'eisiúint nó d'fháil nó leis na vótanna a chomhaireamh faoin Acht seo agus gach iarrthóir nó duine eile a bheas i láthair le linn na heisiúna nó na fála nó an chomhairimh sin, rún a choimeád agus cabhrú chun rún a choimeád ar an vótáil sa toghchán agus ní thabharfaid uathu roimh chríochnú an toghcháin, ach amháin chun críche éigin a bheas údaraithe le dlí, aon eolas i dtaobh cé acu vótáil aon toghthóir áirithe sa toghchán nó nár vótáil, ná i dtaobh an mhairc oifigiúil, ná ní thabharfaid d'aon duine uair ar bith aon eolas, a gheobhaid le linn nó i dtaobh na heisiúna nó na fála nó an chomhairimh sin, ar cé hé an t-iarrthóir dar vótáil aon toghthóir áirithe ná cé acu vótáil aon toghthóir áirithe nó nár vótáil ná ar an uimhir ar chúl aon pháipéir bhallóide.
(2) Ní dhéanfaidh duine ar bith cur isteach ná iarracht ar chur isteach ar fháil, marcáil ná aischur páipéir bhallóide aon toghthóra i dtoghchán faoin Acht seo.
(3) Ní thabharfaidh aon duine go díreach ná go neamhdhíreach ar aon toghthóir i dtoghchán faoin Acht seo a pháipéar ballóide a thaispeáint, tar éis é dá mharcáil, ionas go nochtfar don duine sin nó d'aon duine eile ainm aon iarrthóra dar mharcáil sé a vóta ar an bpáipéar ballóide sin.
(4) Duine ar bith a shárós an t-alt seo beidh sé ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo agus ar a chiontú ann ar an slíachomair dlífear príosúntacht ar feadh téarma ar bith nach sia ná sé mhí a chur air.
Neamhchomhlíonadh rialacha.
83.—Ní dearbhófar toghadh iarrthóra i dtoghchán faoin Acht seo a bheith ar neamhní de bhíthin amháin na rialacha atá in aon Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht seo a neamhchomhlíonadh nó aon earráid a dhéanamh in úsáid na bhfoirmeacha a bheas ordaithe faoin Acht seo, má chítear don bhinse lena mbaineann an cheist gur stiúradh an toghchán do réir na bprionsabal atá leagtha amach i gcorp an Achta seo agus ná dearna an neamhchomhlíonadh ná an earráid difir do thoradh an toghcháin.
Seirbhísí poist.
84.—Na seirbhísí poist uile (lena n-áirítear na seirbhísí cláraitheachta uile) a déanfar go hiomlán laistigh den Stát maidir le páipéir bhallóide i dtoghchán faoin Acht seo d'eisiúint agus d'aischur, déanfaidh an tAire Poist agus Telegrafa iad gan na táillí orthu a réamhíoc, agus is tuigthe gur cuid de chostais chinn chomhairimh an tSeanaid gach táille den tsórt sin agus íocfar iad dá réir sin.
Forála idirlinne.
85.—(1) D'ainneoin aon fhorál eile san Acht seo, beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas maidir le haon olltoghchán don tSeanad a comórfar de dhroim Dáil Éireann a lánscor agus a déanfar i rith na tréimhse dar tosach dáta an Achta seo a rith agus dar críoch an dáta a foilseofar, faoi alt 15 den Acht seo, an clár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin;
(a) is tuigthe gurb é an clár a foilsíodh san Iris Oifigiúil faoi alt 19 d'Acht Toghcháin an tSeanaid (Baill Ainmliosta), 1937 (Uimh. 43 de 1937), an 25ú lá de Mhárta, 1947, an clár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin;
(b) is tuigthe, chun críocha alt 21 agus 22 den Acht seo, an clár sin d'fhoilsiú ar dháta an Achta seo a rith;
(c) an duine a bhí, díreach roimh an Acht seo a rith, arna cheapadh faoi alt 5 d'Acht Toghcháin an tSeanaid (Baill Ainmliosta), 1937, is tuigthe gurb é is ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, ach má bhíonn an duine sin neamhábalta, mar gheall ar bhreoiteacht, toisc é a bheith as láthair, nó ó aon chúis eile, ar a dhualgais a chomhlíonadh, is tuigthe gurb é an duine a cheapfas an tAire chuige sin is ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid;
(d) cuirfidh Cléireach Dháil Éireann, tráth nach déanaí ná tríocha lá tar éis Dáil Éireann a lánscor, go dtí ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, ráiteas ina luafaidh ainmneacha, seolta agus tuairiscí na gcomhaltaí de Sheanad Éireann atá i dteideal bheith ina gcomhaltaí den toghlucht san olltoghchán don tSeanad;
(e) is tuigthe Cléireach Sheanad Éireann a bheith ina dhuine údaraithe chun críche rialach 8 de na rialacha atá sa Chéad Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht seo;
(f) déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, in ionad an deimhniú dúblach dá dtagartar i riail 27 de na rialacha atá sa Chéad Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht seo a choinneáil, an dúblach sin a chur go dtí Cléireach Sheanad Éireann.
(2) D'ainneoin aon fhorál eile san Acht seo, beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas maidir le haon chorrthoghchán don tSeanad a comórfar de dhroim fógra i dtaobh corrfholúntais a chur, nó is tuigthe a chur, chun an Aire i rith na tréimhse dar tosach dáta an Achta seo a rith agus dar críoch an dáta a foilseofar, faoi alt 15 den Acht seo, an clár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin faoin Acht seo:—
(a) is tuigthe gurb é an clár a foilsíodh faoi alt 19 d'Acht Toghcháin an tSeanaid (Baill Ainmliosta), 1937 (Uimh. 43 de 1937), an 20ú lá de Mhárta, 1947, an clár de chomhluchta ainmniúcháin;
(b) is tuigthe, chun críocha alt 21 agus 22 den Acht seo, an clár sin d'fhoilsiú ar dháta an Achta seo a rith;
(c) an duine a bhí, díreach roimh an Acht seo a rith, arna cheapadh faoi alt 5 d'Acht Toghcháin an tSeanaid (Baill Ainmliosta), 1937, is tuigthe gurb é is ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, ach má bhíonn an duine sin neamhábalta, mar gheall ar bhreoiteacht, toisc é a bheith as láthair, nó ó aon chúis eile, ar a dhualgais a chomhlíonadh, is tuigthe gurb é an duine a cheapfas an tAire chuige sin is ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid;
(d) más toghchán é chun corrfholúntas i bfo-rolla don Oireachtas a líonadh agus go gcuirfear ar atráth é chun vótaíocht a thógaint—
(i) díreach ar an atráthú a dhéanamh cuirfidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an t-atráthú in iúl i scríbhinn do Chléireach Sheanad Éireann agus cuirfidh cóip den liosta iarrthóirí chuige, agus bhéarfaidh an Cléireach sin do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid, tráth nach déanaí ná cheithre lá tar éis sin a chur in iúl dó amhlaidh, ráiteas ina luafaidh ainmneacha, seolta agus tuairiscí na gcomhaltaí uile de Sheanad Éireann a bheas, an uair sin, i dteideal suí agus vótáil sa Tigh sin,
(ii) is tuigthe gurb é an ráiteas sin maraon leis an ráiteas a bhéarfas Cléireach Dháil Éireann de bhun fo-ailt (i) d'alt 69 den Acht seo an liosta toghthoirí a bunaíodh faoin alt sin 69 don toghchán;
(e) déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, in ionad an deimhniú dúblach dá dtagartar i riail 23 de na rialacha atá sa Tríú Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht seo a choinneáil, an dúblach sin a chur go dtí Cléireach Sheanad Éireann.
(3) Aon fhógra a cuireadh chun an Aire faoi alt 5 d'Acht Toghcháin an tSeanaid (Baill Ainmliosta) (Toghcháin Chorra), 1940 (Uimh. 20 de 1940), i rith na sé mhí dar críoch dáta an Achta seo a rith, is tuigthe gur fógra i dtaobh corrfholúntais é a cuireadh chun an Aire faoin Acht seo ar an Acht seo a rith.
(4) D'ainneoin ailt 44 den Acht seo ní bheidh duine ina chomhalta den toghlucht in olltoghchán don tSeanad de bhíthin amháin gur chomhalta é de chomhairle chontae Bhaile Atha Cliath tráth ar bith roimh an Acht seo a rith.
AN CHEAD SCEIDEAL.
Rialacha Chun Olltoghchain don tSeanad a Stiuru.
1. An lá a bheas ceaptha chun páipéir bhallóide d'eisiúint, eiseoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, sa tslí a hordaítear sna Rialacha seo a leanas, páipéir bhallóide chun gach toghthóra a mbeidh a ainm ar an liosta toghthóirí don toghchán.
2. Beidh gach iarrthóir i dteideal bheith i láthair le linn na páipéir bhallóide don toghchán d'eisiúint agus déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, arna iarraidh sin air d'aon iarrthóir acu sin, am agus áit na heisiúna a chur in iúl don iarrthóir.
3. Féadfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid agus a chúntóirí, aon iarrthóir agus aon ghníomhaire a bheas ceaptha ag iarrthóir, agus ní fhéadfaidh aon duine eile ach amháin le cead cinn chomhairimh an tSeanaid, bheith i láthair le linn na páipéir bhallóide d'eisiúint.
4. Eiseoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid páipéir bhallóide chun gach toghthóra trí na nithe seo a leanas a dhéanamh, nó a chur faoi ndear iad a dhéanamh, maidir leis an toghthóir sin san ord a leanas, is é sin le rá:—
(a) glaofar amach uimhir, ainm, seoladh agus tuairisc an toghthóra, mar bheid sin luaite ar an liosta toghthóirí;
(b) marcálfar an uimhir sin an toghthóra ar chomhdhuille gach páipéir bhallóide a bheas le cur chuige;
(c) cuirfear marc ar an liosta toghthóirí os coinne ainme an toghthóra air á thaispeáint gur heisíodh páipéir bhallóide chun an toghthóra sin, ach gan a nochtadh cad iad na páipéir bhallóide iad;
(d) marcálfar an marc oifigiúil ar dhá thaobh na bpáipéar ballóide;
(e) déanfar an uimhir ar chúl na bpáipéar ballóide a mharcáil ar an taobh amuigh, agus an uimhir sin an toghthóra a mharcáil ar an taobh istigh, de chlúdach (dá ngairmtear an clúdach páipéir bhallóide anseo feasta) sa bhfoirm ordaithe;
(f) cuirfear na doiciméidí seo a leanas i gclúdach (dá ngairmtear an clúdach imeachtrach anseo feasta) sa bhfoirm ordaithe a díreofar chun an toghthóra ag a sheoladh, mar bheas sin luaite ar an liosta toghthóirí, agus a marcálfar an uimhir sin an toghthóra ar an taobh istigh de, is é sin le rá:—
(i) páipéar ballóide do gach rolla, agus
(ii) an clúdach páipéir bhallóide sin, agus
(iii) clúdach (dá ngairmtear an forchlúdach anseo feasta) sa bhfoirm ordaithe a díreofar chun cinn chomhairimh an tSeanaid;
(g) dúnfar an clúdach imeachtrach go héifeachtúil;
(h) nuair a bheas na forála roimhe seo den Riail seo comhlíonta maidir leis na toghthóirí uile a mbeidh a n-ainmneacha ar an liosta toghthóirí, baileofar, comhaireofar agus postálfar na clúdaigh imeachtracha dúnta sin go léir.
5. Gach iarratas á iarraidh páipéir bhallóide dúblacha d'eisiúint a gheobhas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, formhuineoidh sé air, ar é d'fháil dó, an lá agus an uair a fuair sé é agus uimhir leanúnach, agus aon pháipéir bhallóide dhúblacha a heiseofar de bhun aon iarratais den tsórt sin eiseofar iad do réir forál na Rialach roimhe seo a mhéid is infheidhme iad ach amháin gurb amhlaidh a marcálfar ar chomhdhuillí na bpáipéar ballóide sin, in ionad na huimhreach ar an liosta toghthóirí, an uimhir leanúnach a formhuiníodh ar an iarratas ar dá bhun a bheas na páipéir bhallóide sin á n-eisiúint agus, nuair a bheas na páipéir bhallóide sin eisithe, go ndéanfar an t-iarratas sin a dhiúscairt amhail mar is gá do réir na Rialacha seo an chóip mharcálta den liosta toghthóirí a dhiúscairt.
6. Postálfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid na clúdaigh imeachtracha dúnta sin trína seachadadh don cheann-oifig phoist is gaire dhó, nó do pé oifig eile ar a socrófar leis an gceannmháistir poist, agus stampálfaidh an máistir poist san oifig sin, le dát-stampa na post-oifige, foirm admhála a thíolacfas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid agus ina luafar an méid clúdach a seachadadh amhlaidh, agus cuirfidh na clúdaigh sin ar aghaidh láithreach leis an bpost cláraithe chun a seachadta do na daoine chun a mbeid dírithe.
7. A luaithe is féidir tar éis eisiúint na bpáipéar ballóide a bheith críochnaithe agus i bhfianaise na n-iarrthóirí agus na ngníomhairí a bheas i láthair, déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid pacáidí ar leithligh, a sheálós sé lena shéala féin agus a shéalós na hiarrthóirí nó na gníomhairí sin ar mian leo a séalaí a chur orthu, den chóip mharcálta den liosta toghthóirí agus de chomhdhuillí na bpáipéar ballóide.
8. (1) Déanfar do réir an nós imeachta seo a leanas maidir le marcáil na bpáipéar ballóide:—
(a) déanfaidh an toghthóir, i bhfianaise dhuine údaraithe (gan aon duine eile a bheith i láthair), na nithe seo a leanas san ord seo a leanas:—
(i) bhéarfaidh ar aird don duine údaraithe na doiciméidí seo a leanas a cuireadh chuige faoi na Rialacha seo:—
(I) an clúdach imeachtrach,
(II) na páipéir bhallóide (a ndeimhneoidh an duine údaraithe go bhfuil cúig cinn díobh ann, go bhfuilid gan mharcáil agus cé acu páipéir bhallóide dhúblacha iad nó nach ea),
(III) an forchlúdach,
(IV) an clúdach páipéir bhallóide,
(ii) déanfaidh an toghthóir an uimhir ar chúl na bpáipéar ballóide a mharcáil ar fhoirm dhearbhuithe chéannachta sa bhfoirm ordaithe a bhéarfas an duine údaraithe dhó agus, más dúblaigh na páipéir bhallóide sin, a marcálfaidh an duine údaraithe an focal ‘dúblach’ air,
(iii) déanfaidh agus comhlánfaidh an toghthóir an fhoirm dhearbhuithe chéannachta sin,
(iv) bhéarfaidh an toghthóir an dearbhú céannachta ina láimh don duine údaraithe agus, más deimhin leis sin gurb é an duine a rinne é an duine chun ar díríodh an clúdach imeachtrach, síneoidh sé é agus bhéarfaidh thar n-ais don toghthóir é,
(v) marcálfaidh an toghthóir ceann amháin nó níos mó de na páipéir bhallóide sin,
(vi) cuirfidh an toghthóir na páipéir bhallóide, marcálta nó gan mharcáil, sa chlúdach páipéir bhallóide,
(vii) cuirfidh an toghthóir an clúdach páipéir bhallóide agus an dearbhú céannachta sa bhforchlúdach agus dúnfaidh an forchlúdach go héifeachtúil,
(viii) bhéarfaidh an toghthóir an forchlúdach ina láimh don duine údaraithe,
(b) nuair a bhéarfar an forchlúdach ina láimh don duine údaraithe, déanfaidh sé duillín sa bhfoirm ordaithe a ghreamú dhe sa tslí ordaithe agus, más deimhin leis gur cuí an deimhniú ar an duillín a shíniú, síneoidh sé an deimhniú sin agus ansin bhéarfaidh an forchlúdach thar n-ais don toghthóir.
(2) Chun críocha na Rialach seo, is duine údaraithe gach duine acu seo a leanas:
(a) ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid,
(b) Cléireach Dháil Éireann,
(c) an cláraitheoir contae don chontae nó don chontaebhuirg ina bhfuil an t-áitreabh a bhfuil a sheoladh ar an bhforchlúdach,
(d) an sirriam (más ann) don chontae nó don chontae-bhuirg sin,
(e) an fo-shirriam (más ann) don chontae nó don chontaebhuirg sin,
(f) an ceannfort den Gharda Síochána a bhfuil an t-áitreabh sin ina cheantar nó, i gcás an ceannfort a bheith neamhábalta de dheasca breoiteachta, toisc é a bheith as láthair, nó ó chúis eile, ar a dhualgais a chomhlíonadh, pé cigire den Gharda Síochána a bheas ag comhlíonadh dualgas sa cheantar sin agus a ainmneos an ceannfort.
9. Soláthróidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid bosca ballóide a mbeidh “Bosca ballóide an tSeanaid” marcálta air chun na forchlúdaigh a ghlacadh nuair a chuirfeas na vótálaithe thar n-ais iad, agus, ar eisiúint na bpáipéar ballóide a bheith críochnaithe, taispeánfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an bosca ballóide sin, ar oscailt agus folamh, do na hiarrthóirí agus do na gníomhairí (más ann) a bheas i láthair, agus séalóidh an bosca ballóide sin lena shéala agus déanfaidh socrú chun an bosca ballóide sin a choimeád slán.
10. Gach forchlúdach a gheobhas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid roimh chríoch na vótaíochta cuirfidh sé láithreach iad, gan oscailt, i mbosca ballóide an tSeanaid, agus séalóidh, gan iad d'oscailt, i bpacáiste ar leithligh na forchlúdaigh uile a gheobhas sé tar éis críoch na vótaíochta agus séalóidh freisin, gan iad d'oscailt, i bpacáiste ar leithligh na clúdaigh imeachtracha neamhsheachadta a cuirfear thar n-ais chuige.
11. Trí lá ar a laghad roimh chríoch na vótaíochta, cuirfidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid leis an bpost chun gach iarrthóra, go dtí a sheoladh mar bheas sin luaite sna rollaí iarrthóiri, fógra i scríbhinn i dtaobh an ama agus na háite ina ndéanfaidh se bosca ballóide an tSeanaid d'oscailt agus na vótanna a chomhaireamh.
12. A luaithe is caothúil tar éis críoch na vótaíochta, osclóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid bosca ballóide an tSeanaid agus comhaireoidh na vótanna.
13. Féadfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid agus a chúntóirí, aon iarrthóir agus aon ghníomhaire a bheas ceaptha ag iarrthóir, agus ní fhéadfaidh aon duine eile ach amháin le cead cinn chomhairimh an tSeanaid, bheith i láthair le linn bosca ballóide an tSeanaid d'oscailt nó na vótanna a chomhaireamh.
14. Ar bhosca ballóide an tSeanaid d'oscailt déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid na nithe seo a leanas:—
(a) na forchlúdaigh uile a thógaint amach as bosca ballóide an tSeanaid agus iad a chomhaireamh agus a n-uimhir a nótú;
(b) gach forchlúdach faoi leith acu sin a scrúdú agus an focal “diúltaithe” a scríobh ar aon fhorchlúdach acu sin—
(i) nach mbeidh cláraithe,
(ii) nach mbeidh greamaithe dhe sa tslí ordaithe an duillín dá bhforáltar le Riail 8 de na Rialacha seo faoi dheimhniú arna chomhlánú go cuí ag duine údaraithe do réir bhrí na Rialach sin,
(iii) a bheas oscailte, nó
(iv) arb é a thuairim gur hosclaíodh é tar éis é a dhúnadh i gcéadóir nó gur féachadh lena oscailt tar éis é a dhúnadh;
(c) gach forchlúdach acu sin ná beidh marcálta mar adúradh d'oscailt agus aon chlúdaigh acu ina mbeidh dearbhú céannachta a mbeidh “dúblach” marcálta air a chur ar leithlis;
(d) gach ceann de na forchlúdaigh sin nár cuireadh ar leithlis amhlaidh a thógaint agus an dearbhú céannachta ann a scrúdú agus an uimhir ar an dearbhú sin a chur i gcompráid leis an uimhir ar an gclúdach páipéir bhallóide sa bhforchlúdach sin;
(e) más mar a chéile na huimhreacha sin agus go bhfaighfear an dearbhú céannachta a bheith comhlánaithe agus déanta go cuí, cuirfidh se an dearbhú céannachta agus an clúdach páipéir bhallóide i ngabhadáin ar leithligh;
(f) mura deimhin leis an dearbhú céannachta a bheith comhlánaithe agus déanta go cuí marcálfaidh sé na focail “diúltaíodh don vóta” ar an dearbhú céannachta agus ceanglóidh an clúdach páipéir bhallóide dhe gan an clúdach sin d'oscailt nó, mura mbíonn aon chlúdach den tsórt sin ann, ceanglóidh an páipéar ballóide nó na páipéir bhallóide dhe,
(g) má gheibheann sé nach mar a chéile an uimhir ar an dearbhú céannachta agus an uimhir ar an gclúdach páipéir bhallóide, nó mura mbíonn aon uimhir ar an gclúdach, osclóidh sé an clúdach agus má bhíonn cúig páipéir bhallóide ann agus gur mar a chéile an uimhir orthu agus an uimhir ar an dearbhú céannachta, cuirfidh sé na páipéir bhallóide faoi seach sa cheann is iomchuí de na gabhadáin speisialta a bheas soláthraithe aige le haghaidh páipéar ballóide;
(h) má bhíonn cúig páipéir bhallóide ann agus nach mar a chéile an uimhir ar na páipéir bhallóide agus an uimhir ar an dearbhú céannachta, cuirfidh sé na páipéir bhallóide thar n-ais ina gclúdach, más ann, agus ceanglóidh sé an clúdach nó na páipéir bhallóide sin (do réir mar bheas) den dearbhú céannachta, agus formhuineoidh sé na focail ‘diúltaíodh don vóta’ ar an dearbhú céannachta;
(i) mura mbíonn cúig cinn de pháipéir bhallóide ann, cuirfidh sé na páipéir bhallóide nó an páipéar ballóide thar n-ais ina gclúdach nó ina chlúdach (más ann), ceanglóidh sé an clúdach nó na páipéir bhallóide nó an páipéar ballóide sin (do réir mar bheas) den dearbhú céannachta, agus formhuineoidh sé na focail “diúltaíodh don vóta” ar an dearbhú céannachta;
(j) má dhealraíonn sé nach bhfuil dearbhú céannachta i dteannta an chlúdaigh pháipéir bhallóide, osclóidh sé an clúdach páipéir bhallóide agus, má gheibheann an dearbhú céannachta ann, deighleálfaidh sé leis an dearbhú sin agus leis an gclúdach páipéir bhallóide sin do réir na bhforál roimhe seo den Riail seo;
(k) marcálfaidh sé an focal ‘diúltaithe’ ar gach dearbhú céannachta nach mbeidh páipéar ballóide ina theannta nó nach mbeidh uimhir pháipéir bhallóide air agus fós ar gach páipéar ballóide nach mbeidh dearbhú céannachta ina theannta;
(l) nuair a bheas deighleálta faoi na forála roimhe seo den Riail seo leis na forchlúdaigh sin uile nár cuireadh ar leithlis amhlaidh, tógfaidh sé gach ceann faoi leith de na forchlúdaigh sin a cuireadh ar leithlis toisc dearbhú céannachta a bheith ann a raibh dúblach marcálta air, scrúdóidh an dearbhú céannachta ann agus féachfaidh sé ar scrúdaíodh nó nár scrúdaíodh roimhe sin faoin Riail seo dearbhú céannachta i dtaobh an duine chéanna;
(m) má scrúdaíodh roimhe sin faoin Riail seo dearbhú céannachta i dtaobh an duine chéanna, marcálfaidh sé na focail ‘diúltaíodh don vóta’ ar an dearbhú céannachta ar a mbeidh ‘dúblach’ marcálta agus ceanglóidh sé an clúdach páipéir bhallóide dhe gan an clúdach sin d'oscailt, nó mura mbíonn aon chlúdach den tsórt sin ann, ceanglóidh sé na páipéir bhallóide nó an páipéar ballóide dhe;
(n) murar scrúdaíodh roimhe sin faoin Riail seo dearbhú céannachta i dtaobh an duine chéanna, deighleálfaidh sé leis an dearbhú ar a mbeidh ‘dúblach’ marcálta, agus leis an gclúdach páipéir bhallóide agus na páipéir bhallóide nó an páipéar ballóide a bheas i dteannta an chéanna, do réir na bhforál roimhe seo den Riail seo ach amháin an dá mhír dheiridh roimhe seo dhi.
15. Más in éineacht a gheofar páipéir bhallóide agus dearbhú céannachta, ní diúltófar do na páipéir bhallóide sin ar an aonfhoras nach sa chlúdach páipéir bhallóide atá na páipéir bhallóide sin, gur sa chlúdach páipéir bhallóide atá an dearbhú sin, nó nach bhfuil an clúdach páipéir bhallóide dúnta.
16. Taispeánfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid do na hiarrthóirí agus do na gníomhairí (más ann) a bheas i láthair aon fhorchlúdach a mbeartaíonn sé diúltú dhó, agus má dhéanann aon iarrthóir nó gníomhaire acu sin agóid i gcoinne a bhreithe cuirfidh sé leis an bhformhuiniú na focail “agóid i gcoinne an diúltuithe.”
17. Déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid na forchlúdaigh uile dá ndiúltófar a choimeád ar deighilt ó gach doiciméid eile.
18. Taispeánfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid do na hiarrthóirí agus do na gníomhairí (más ann) a bheas i láthair aon dearbhú céannachta a mbeartaíonn sé diúltú dhó ar an bhforas nár comhlánaíodh agus nach ndearnadh sa cheart é nó nach bhfuil uimhir pháipéir bhallóide air, agus má dhéanann aon iarrthóir nó gníomhaire acu sin agóid i gcoinne a bhreithe cuirfidh sé leis an bhformhuiniú na focail “agóid i gcoinne an diúltuithe.”
19. Déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid na dearbhuithe uile dá ndiúltófar, maraon leis na clúdaigh nó na páipéir bhallóide, do réir mar bheas, a bheas ceangailte dhíobh, a choimeád ar deighilt ó dhoiciméidí eile.
20. (1) Nuair a bheas na forchlúdaigh uile (seachas forchlúdaigh dá ndiúltófar) i mbosca ballóide an tSeanaid oscailte agus a bheas deighleálta faoi na Rialacha roimhe seo lena mbeidh iontu, osclóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid gach clúdach páipéir bhallóide nach mbeidh oscailte.
(2) Nuair a bheas na clúdaigh sin oscailte, féachfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, maidir le gach clúdach, an bhfuil cúig páipéir bhallóide ann agus, mura mbíonn cúig cinn de pháipéir bhallóide in aon chlúdach áirithe, cuirfidh sé na páipéir bhallóide nó an páipéar ballóide thar n-ais sa chlúdach agus marcálfaidh sé “diúltaithe” orthu.
(3) Maidir le gach clúdach den tsórt sin a mbeidh cúig páipéir bhallóide ann cuirfidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an uimhir ar an gclúdach i gcompráid leis an uimhir ar na páipéir bhallóide, agus más mar a chéile an uimhir ar an gclúdach agus an uimhir ar na páipéir bhallóide, cuirfidh na páipéir bhallóide faoi seach sa cheann iomchuí de na gabhadáin speisialta a bheas soláthraithe aige le haghaidh páipéar ballóide, ach mura mar a chéile an uimhir ar an gclúdach agus an uimhir ar na páipéir bhallóide, ceanglóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid na páipéir bhallóide sin agus an clúdach sin dá chéile agus marcálfaidh “diúltaithe” orthu.
21. A luaithe a bheas na páipéir bhallóide uile curtha sna gabhadáin speisialta ag ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, séalóidh sé i bpacáidí ar leithligh (1) aon fhorchlúdaigh dar diúltaíodh; (2) na dearbhuithe céannachta a bhí i dteannta aon pháipéar ballóide lenar glacadh go cuí; (3) aon dearbhuithe céannachta dar diúltaíodh; agus (4) aon pháipéir bhallóide dar diúltaíodh; agus, sa dá chás deiridh sin, na clúdaigh (más ann) a bheas ceangailte dhíobh.
22. Nuair a bheas na Rialacha roimhe seo den Sceideal seo comhlíonta ag ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, déanfaidh sé, maidir le gach ceann de na gabhadáin speisialta a bheas soláthraithe aige le haghaidh páipéar ballóide, na páipéir bhallóide ann a mheascadh go maith ar a chéile agus, maidir le gach rolla, comhaireoidh sé, do réir na Rialacha sa Dara Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht seo, na vótanna a breacadh ar pháipéir bhallóide a bhain leis an rolla sin.
23. A luaithe is caothúil tar éis comhaireamh na vótanna a bheith críochnaithe, déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, maidir le gach toghthóir óna bhfuair sé forchlúdach, marc a chur ar chóip den liosta toghthóirí (cóip nach dtaispeánfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid do dhuine ar bith ach amháin le húdarás ó chúirt bhreithiúnais) agus, i gcás toghthóra óna bhfuair sé forchlúdach nach raibh aon pháipéar ballóide ann, nach raibh ann ach páipéar ballóide amháin, nó nach cúig cinn de pháipéir bhallóide a bhí ann, is marc sonrach á léiriú sin a chuirfeas sé uirthi.
24. Formhuineoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid “diúltaithe” ar aon pháipéar ballóide dá ndiúltóidh sé mar gur neamhbhailí é agus má dhéanann aon iarrthóir nó gníomhaire agóid i gcoinne a bhreithe ag diúltú don pháipéar ballóide cuirfidh sé leis an bhformhuiniú sin “agóid i gcoinne an diúltuithe.”
25. A mhéid is féidir é, raghaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ar aghaidh go leanúnach leis na himeachta faoi na Rialacha seo tar éis na gabhadáin speisialta post-oifige d'oscailt agus le comhaireamh na vótanna, ach féadfaidh sé na himeachta nó an comhaireamh sin d'fhionraí tráth ar bith go ceann pé tréimhse is cuí leis chun bia nó deoch a chaitheamh, i gcóir na hoíche, nó ar aon chúis eile is leor leis, agus aon uair a fhionrós sé amhlaidh na himeachta sin nó an comhaireamh sin glacfaidh sé gach cúram is cuí chun na páipéir bhallóide, na clúdaigh, na vótanna, agus na doiciméidí eile a bhainfeas leis an toghchán a choimeád slán.
26. Déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid agus gach duine dá chúntóirí a ghlacfas páirt in aon imeachta faoi na Rialacha seo, nó i gcomhaireamh na vótanna, agus gach iarrthóir agus gníomhaire a bheas i láthair ag aon imeachta dhíobh sin nó ag an gcomhaireamh sin, geallúint sa bhfoirm ordaithe a shíniú sar a nglacfaid páirt amhlaidh nó sar a mbeid i láthair amhlaidh, go gcoimeádfaid rún ar an vótáil.
27. A luaithe a bheas comhaireamh na vótanna críochnaithe, ullmhóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid i ndúblach, maidir le gach rolla faoi leith, deimhniú, sa bhfoirm ordaithe, ina luafar ainmneacha na n-iarrthóirí a toghadh as an rolla sin, uimhir iomlán na vótanna a tugadh do gach iarrthóir faoi leith (pé acu toghadh é nó nár toghadh), gach aistriú luachanna a rinneadh faoin Acht seo, agus an luach iomlán a bhí i gcreidiúint do gach iarrthóir faoi leith i ndeireadh an chomhairimh ina ndearnadh gach aistriú faoi leith den tsórt sin, agus pé nithe eile a bheas ordaithe, agus ansin síneoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an deimhniú dúblach sin agus cuirfidh dúblach acu sin go dtí Cléireach Dháil Éireann agus coimeádfaidh an dúblach eile.
28. Déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid freisin ráiteas sa bhfoirm ordaithe, ina luafar ainmneacha na n-iarrthóirí a toghadh as gach rolla faoi leith, d'ullmhú agus d'fhoilsiú san Iris Oifigiuil.
29. Ar chomhaireamh na vótanna a bheith críochnaithe, séalóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid i bpacáidí ar leithligh na páipéir bhallóide a comhairíodh agus na páipéir bhallóide dar diúltaíodh mar gur neamhbhailí iad.
30. Coinneoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid go ceann sé mhí tar éis críoch na vótaíochta na pacáidí séalaithe uile ina mbeidh an chóip mharcálta den liosta toghthóirí, comhdhuillí na bpáipéar ballóide, na clúdaigh imeachtracha neamhsheachadta a fuarthas thar n-ais, na dearbhuithe céannachta lenar glacadh, na páipéir bhallóide dar diúltaíodh, na páipéir bhallóide a comhairíodh, agus na páipéir bhallóide neamhbhailí, agus, i gcionn na tréimhse sé mhí sin, dítheoidh sé na pacáidí séalaithe sin uile mura mbíonn binse toghcháin tar éis a mhalairt d'ordú.
31. Ní ligfear do dhuine ar bith iniúchadh a dhéanamh ar aon cheann de na pacáidí séalaithe sin a choinneos ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ná ar aon ní ann ach amháin faoi ordú, agus do réir orduithe, ó bhinse toghcháin.
32. Féadfaidh binse toghcháin a údarú do dhuine ar bith iniúchadh a dhéanamh ar a mbeidh in aon cheann de na pacáidí séalaithe sin mar is dual ó cheartas ach, le linn aon iniúchta den tsórt sin, bhéarfar aire nach bhfaighfear amach conas a vótáil aon toghthóir áirithe go dtí go mbeidh cruthaithe chun sástachta binse thoghcháin gur vótáil sé agus go mbeidh dearbhaithe ag an mbinse sin a vóta a bheith neamhbhailí.
33. Comhlíonfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid gach ordú a dhéanfas binse toghcháin maidir leis na pacáidí séalaithe in d'iniúchadh, a thabhairt ar aird, agus a dhiúscairt. s
34. Má ordaíonn binse toghcháin do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid aon doiciméid nó pacáid doiciméidí a thabhairt ar aird a bheas ina sheilbh faoi na Rialacha seo agus a bhainfeas le toghchán sonraithe, is fianaise dhosháruithe go mbaineann an doiciméid nó an phacáid doiciméidí sin leis an toghchán sonraithe sin ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid do thabhairt na doiciméide nó na pacáide doiciméidí sin ar aird do réir an orduithe sin, agus is fianaise dhosháruithe an formhuiniú a bheas déanta ag ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid de bhun na Rialacha seo ar aon doiciméid nó pacáid doiciméidí den tsórt sin gurb é an doiciméid nó an phacáid sin an ní a deirtear sa bhformhuiniú gurb é é.
35. Má thugann ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ar aird páipéar ballóide a airbheartós gur húsáideadh é in aon toghchán a stiúraíodh faoi na Rialacha seo agus comhdhuille a mbeidh an uimhir chlóbhuailte chéanna marcálta air agus a mbeidh uimhir marcálta i scríbhinn air, beidh sin ina fhianaise prima facie gurb é an duine céanna an duine a vótáil leis an bpáipéar ballóide sin agus an duine arb ionann a uimhir ar an liosta toghthóirí a bhain leis an toghchán sin agus an uimhir a bheas marcálta amhlaidh ar an gcomhdhuille sin.
36. Aon uair is gá do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid, do réir na Rialacha seo, aon doiciméidí a shéalú i bpacáid ar leithligh, formhuineoidh sé ar an bpacáid sin ráiteas ina luafaidh uimhir agus cineál na ndoiciméidí sin agus an toghchán lena mbainid.
37. Sna Rialacha seo, ciallaíonn an abairt “binse toghcháin” cúirt a bheas ag deighleáil go dleathach le hachainíocha ag gearán ar thaitheasc neamhchuí nó ar thoghadh neamhchuí sa toghchán iomchuí.
AN DARA SCEIDEAL.
Rialacha Chun Na Votanna a Chomhaireamh
1. Diúltóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid d'aon pháipéir bhallóide a bheas neamhbhailí.
2. Fionnfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ansin an uimhir de chéad-roghna a breacadh ar na páipéir bhallóide do gach iarrthóir faoi leith, agus ansin socróidh sé na hiarrthóirí ar liosta (dá ngairmtear “an t-ord roghan” anseo feasta) in ord na huimhreach de chéad-roghna a breacadh do gach iarrthóir faoi leith ag tosnú leis an iarrthóir dar breacadh an uimhir is mó de chéad-roghna. Más cóimhéid an uimhir de chéad-roghna a breacadh d'aon bheirt iarrthóirí nó níos mó (dá ngairmtear “iarrthóirí comhionanna” anseo feasta), fionnfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an uimhir de dhara roghna a breacadh ar na páipéir bhallóide uile do gach duine de na hiarrthóirí comhionanna agus socróidh na hiarrthóirí comhionanna eatarthu féin ar an ord roghan in ord na ndara roghna a breacadh do gach iarrthóir acu sin ag tosnú leis an iarrthóir dar breacadh an uimhir is mó de dhara roghna. Más cóimhéid an uimhir de chéad-roghna agus de dhara roghna a breacadh d'aon bheirt iarrthóirí comhionanna nó níos mó, fionnfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, sa tslí chéanna, an uimhir de threas roghna a breacadh ar na páipéir bhallóide uile do gach duine de na hiarrthóirí comhionanna sin is déanaí a luaitear agus socróidh sé na hiarrthóirí sin ar an ord roghan dá réir sin, agus mar sin de go mbeidh na hiarrthóirí uile cóirithe in ord ar an ord roghan. Más cóimhéid an uimhir de chéad-roghna, de dhara roghna, de threas roghna agus de na roghna eile go léir a breacadh d'aon bheirt iarrthóirí comhionanna nó níos mó, cinnfidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid le crannchur an t-ord ina mbeidh na hiarrthóirí sin le socrú ar an ord roghan.
3. Socróidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ansin na páipéir bhallóide bhailí ina mbeartáin do réir na gcéad-roghan a breacadh do gach iarrthóir faoi leith.
4. Chun gurb usa na hoibríochta a hordaítear leis na Rialacha seo a dhéanamh, is tuigthe gur míle is luach do gach páipéar ballóide bailí faoi leith.
5. Comhaireoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ansin an méid páipéar ballóide a bheas i ngach beartán faoi leith agus, do réir na Rialach roimhe seo, cuirfidh i gcreidiúint do gach iarrthóir faoi leith luach na bpáipéar ballóide ar ar breacadh céad-rogha don iarrthóir sin.
6. Ansin suimeoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid na luacha sna beartáin uile agus roinnfidh an luach comhlán ar uimhir a mbeidh a haon de bhreis aici ar an uimhir d'fholúntais a bheas le líonadh. An toradh air sin móide a haon, gan aird a thabhairt ar aon iarmhar codánach, an luach is leor chun iarrthóir a thaitheasc. Gairmtear an “cuóta” den luach sin sa Sceideal seo.
7. Más comhionann leis an gcuóta nó más mó an cuóta an luach a bheas i gcreidiúint d'iarrthóir i ndeireadh aon chomhairimh nó i ndeireadh aistriú aon bheartáin nó fo-bheartáin le hiarrthóir a heisiadh nó le hiarrthóir ar tuigthe nach iarrthóir leanúnach é, is tuigthe, faoi réir forál na Rialacha ina dhiaidh seo, an t-iarrthóir sin a bheith tofa.
8. (1) Má tharlann, i ndeireadh aon chomhairimh, gur mó ná an cuóta an luach a bheas i gcreidiúint d'iarrthóir (dá ngairmtear an t-iarrthóir tofa sa Riail seo), aistreofar an barrachas chun an iarrthóra leanúnaigh nó na n-iarrthóirí leanúnacha a bheas curtha in iúl ar na páipéir vótála i mbeartán nó i bhfobheartán an iarrthóra thofa do réir na gcéad roghan infheidhme eile a breacadh orthu, agus bainfidh na forála seo a leanas leis an aistriú sin a dhéanamh:
(a) más as bun-vótanna amháin don luach a bheas i gcreidiúint don iarrthóir tofa, scrúdóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid na páipéir bhallóide uile i mbeartán an iarrthóra thofa agus socróidh na páipéir inaistrithe ann ina bhfo-bheartáin do réir na gcéad roghan infheidhme eile a breacadh orthu agus déanfaidh fo-bheartán ar leithligh de na páipéir dho-aistrithe;
(b) más as bun-vótanna agus as vótanna aistrithe, nó más as vótanna aistrithe amháin, don luach a bheas i gcreidiúint don iarrthóir tofa, scrúdóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid na páipéir bhallóide sa bhfo-bheartán is déanaí a fuair an t-iarrthóir tofa agus socróidh na páipéir inaistrithe ann ina bhfobheartáin arís do réir na gcéad roghan infheidhme eile a breacadh orthu agus déanfaidh fo-bheartán ar leithligh de na páipéir dho-aistrithe;
(c) i gceachtar de na cásanna dá dtagartar sna míreanna sin roimhe seo (a) agus (b) fionnfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an méid páipéar ballóide agus a luach iomlán i ngach fo-bheartán faoi leith de pháipéir inaistrithe agus sa bhfo-bheartán de pháipéir dho-aistrithe;
(d) más comhionann leis an mbarrachas sin, nó más lú ná é, luach iomlán na bpáipéar sna fo-bheartáin uile de pháipéir inaistrithe, aistreoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid gach fo-bheartán faoi leith de pháipéir inaistrithe chun an iarrthóra leanúnaigh a mbeidh curtha in iúl orthu gurb é céad rogha infheidhme eile an votálaí é, gach páipéar dá aistriú ar an luach ar a bhfuair an t-iarrthóir tofa é, agus (i gcás inar lú ná an barrachas sin an luach iomlán sin) cuirfear na páipéir dho-aistrithe i leataoibh mar pháipéir neamhéifeachtacha, ar luach is comhionann leis an difríocht idir an barrachas sin agus an luach iomlán sin;
(e) más mó ná an barrachas sin luach iomlán na bpáipéar sna fo-bheartáin uile de pháipéir inaistrithe, déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid gach páipéar faoi leith sa bhfo-bheartán sin de pháipéir inaistrithe d'aistriú chun an iarrthóra leanúnaigh a mbeidh curtha in iúl air gurb é céad rogha infheidhme eile an vótálaí é, agus fionnfar an luach ar a n-aistreofar gach páipéar faoi leith tríd an mbarrachas a roinnt ar an uimhir iomlán de pháipéir inaistrithe, gan aird a thabhairt ar iarmhair chodánacha ach amháin go gcuirfear síos ar leathán an tortha an luach a caillfear dá dhroim sin;
(f) deighleálfar le barrachas a thiocfas ar aon chomhaireamh áirithe a chríochnú roimh bharrachas a thiocfas de chomhaireamh ina dhiaidh;
(g) má thagann dhá bharrachas nó níos mó den chomhaireamh chéanna, deighleálfar ar dtúis leis an gceann is mó agus deighleálfar leis na cinn eile in ord a méide;
(h) má bhíonn ag beirt iarrthóirí nó níos mó barrachas comhionann a thiocfas den chomhaireamh chéanna, deighleálfar ar dtúis le barrachas an iarrthóra dár creidiúnaíodh an luach ba mhó sa chomhaireamh is túisce inar neamhionann na luacha a creidiúnaíodh do na hiarrthóirí sin, agus, i gcas inar chomhionann i ngach comhaireamh na luacha a creidiúnaíodh do na hiarrthóirí sin, deighleálfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ar dtúis le barrachas an iarrthóra is airde san ord roghan.
(2) Má creidiúnaítear luach vótanna is comhionann leis an gcuóta nó is mó ná an cuóta do gach duine de bheirt iarrthóirí nó níos mó, is tuigthe an t-iarrthóir dar creidiúnaíodh an luach is mó vótanna a bheith tofa roimh iarrthóir dar creidiúnaíodh luach vótanna is lú ná é.
(3) Aon uair is comhionann an méid iarrthóirí a bheas ar fho-rolla, agus is tuigthe a bheith tofa, leis an méid uasta iarrthóirí dob fhéidir a thoghadh an uair sin i leith an fho-rolla sin, ní tuigthe aon iarrthóir eile a bheith tofa i leith an fho-rolla sin agus déanfar luacha vótanna na n-iarrthóirí a bheas fágtha ar an bhfo-rolla sin d'aistriú sar a ndéantar aon aistriú eile.
(4) Más comhionann luacha na vótanna a bheas i gcreidiúint do bheirt iarrthóirí nó níos mó ar fho-rolla agus, toisc míre (3) den Riail seo, nach ndlitear a thuiscint na hiarrthóirí sin go léir a bheith tofa, is é céad duine de na hiarrthóirí sin is tuigthe a bheith tofa ná an t-iarrthóir dar creidiúnaíodh an luach is mó vótanna sa chomhaireamh is túisce, ag tosnú leis an gcéad chomhaireamh inar neamhionann luacha na vótanna a creidiúnaíodh do na hiarrthóirí sin. Más comhionann luacha na vótanna i ngach comhaireamh, is tuigthe gur don iarrthóir is airde in ord roghan a creidiúnaíodh an luach is mó vótanna.
Déanfar luacha vótanna na n-iarrthóirí eile d'aistriú ansin amhail mar déantar i gcás aistrithe nuair a déantar iarrthóir d'eisiamh, agus is iad luacha vótanna an iarrthóra dar creidiúnaíodh an méid is mó vótanna is túisce a haistreofar.
9. (1) Más rud é, i ndeireadh aon chomhairimh, nach mbeidh barrachas ag aon iarrthóir agus go mbeidh folúntas nó folúntais fós gan líonadh, eisiafaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an t-iarrthóir (dá ngairmtear an t-iarrthóir eisiata sa Riail seo dá mbeidh an luach is lú i gcreidiúint an uair sin agus aistreoidh a pháipéir chun na n-iarrthóirí leanúnacha faoi seach a mbeidh curtha in iúl ar na páipéir bhallóide i mbeartán nó i bhfo-bheartáin an iarrthóra eisiata gurb iad céad rogha infheidhme eile an vótálaí iad agus cuirfidh i gcreidiúint do na hiarrthóirí leanúnacha sin luacha na bpáipéar a haistreofar amhlaidh, agus bainfidh na rialacha seo a leanas leis an aistriú sin a dhéanamh:
(a) aistreofar ar dtúis an beartán ina mbeidh bunvótanna, agus is míle is luach aistrithe do gach páipéar faoi leith;
(b) déanfar ansin na fo-bheartáin ina mbeidh vótanna aistrithe d'aistriú san ord ina bhfuair, agus ar an luach ar a bhfuair, an t-iarrthóir eisiata iad;
(c) chun a chinneadh cé acu iarrthóir leanúnach iarrthóir áirithe nó nach ea, áireofar aistriú gach beartáin nó fo-bheartáin faoi leith mar chomhaireamh ar leithligh;
(d) le linn gach beartán nó fo-bheartán faoi leith d'aistriú, déanfar fo-bheartán faoi leith de na páipéir dho-aistrithe agus cuirfear i leataoibh iad ar an luach ar a bhfuair an t-iarrthóir eisiata iad;
(e) más rud é, nuair is gá iarrthóir d'eisiamh faoin Riail seo, gur comhionann an luach a bheas i gcreidiúint an uair sin do gach duine de bheirt iarrthóirí nó níos mó agus gurb iad is ísle, féachfar don luach iomlán bun-vótanna a bheas i gcreidiúint do gach iarrthóir acu sin agus eisiafar an t-iarrthóir is lú ag a mbeidh luach iomlán den tsórt sin, agus más comhionann na luacha iomlána sin féachfar don luach iomlán vótanna a creidiúnaíodh do gach iarrthóir acu sin sa chéad chomhaireamh inar neamhionann luacha acu, agus eisiafar na hiarrthóirí ba lú ag a raibh luach iomlán den tsórt sin sa chomhaireamh sin, agus má creidiúnaíodh an luach iomlán ceanna vótanna do gach duine de na hiarrthóirí sin i ngach comhaireamh eisiafar an t-iarrthóir acu is ísle san ord roghan.
(2) Ní déanfar iarrthóir ar fho-rolla d'eisiamh faoin Riail seo, más rud é, i gcás an t-iarrthóir sin d'eisiamh, go mbeadh an líon iarrthóirí is tuigthe a bheith tofa chun an fho-rolla, móide an líon iarrthóirí leanúnacha ar an bhfo-rolla sin, faoi bhun an lín íosta is gá a thoghadh as an bhfo-rolla.
(3) Más comhionann an luach vótanna a bheas i gcreidiúint do bheirt iarrthóirí nó níos mó, is é iarrthóir is túisce a heisiafar an t-iarrthóir dar creidiúnaíodh an luach is lú vótanna sa chomhaireamh is túisce, ag tosnú leis an gcéad chomhaireamh inar neamhionann luacha na vótanna, agus má ba chomhionann luacha na vótanna i ngach comhaireamh, is é an t-iarrthóir is ísle san ord roghan is túisce a heisiafar.
10. Ar gach aistriú a dhéanamh faoi na Rialacha seo, déanfar gach fo-bheartán faoi leith de pháipéir a haistreofar a chur ar bharr an bheartáin nó an fho-bheartáin (más ann) de pháipéir an iarrthóra chun a ndéanfar an t-aistriú, agus cuirfear i gcreidiúint don iarrthóir sin luach na bpáipéar a haistreofar chuige amhlaidh arna fhionnadh do réir na Rialacha seo.
11. (1) Má tharlann, i ndeireadh aon chomhairimh, gur comhionann an méid iarrthóirí is tuigthe a bheith tofa agus an méid folúntas a bheas le líonadh, ní déanfar aon aistriú eile.
(2) Nuair is comhionann, i ndeireadh aon chomhairimh, an méid iarrthóirí leanúnacha agus an méid folúntas a bheas fós gan líonadh, ansin is tuigthe na hiarrthóirí leanúnacha a bheith tofa.
(3) Nuair nach mbeidh ach folúntas amháin gan líonadh agus gur mó an luach a bheas i gcreidiúint d'iarrthóir leanúnach áirithe ná iomlán na luach a bheas i gcreidiúint do na hiarrthóirí leanúnacha eile i dteannta aon bharrachais nár haistríodh, ansin is tuigthe an t-iarrthóir sin a bheith tofa.
(4) Nuair is féidir na folúntais deiridh a líonadh faoin Riail seo, ní déanfar aon aistriú eile.
12. I ndeireadh gach comhairimh cuirfidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ar taifead ar leathán tortha sa bhfoirm ordaithe iomlán na luach a bheas i gcreidiúint do gach iarrthóir faoi leith i ndeireadh an chomhairimh sin agus fós luach na bpáipéar do-aistrithe ná raibh éifeachtach sa chomhaireamh sin agus an luach a cailleadh sa chomhaireamh sin toisc gan aird a thabhairt ar chodáin.
13. Fáid a bheas na vótanna á gcomhaireamh coimeádfar na páipéir bhallóide ar a mbéal in airde a mhéid is féidir sin agus glacfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid gach cúram is cuí chun nach bhfeicfear na huimhreacha ar chúl na bpáipéar ballóide.
14. (1) Féadfaidh aon iarrthóir nó a ghníomhaire a iarraidh, i ndeireadh aon chomhairimh, ar cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid athscrúdú agus athchomhaireamh a dhéanamh ar na páipéir bhallóide go léir, nó ar aon pháipéir bhallóide, lenar deighleáladh le linn an chomhairimh sin, agus déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid láithreach athscrúdú agus athchomhaireamh dá réir sin ar na páipéir bhallóide a bheas i gceist.
(2) Féadfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, dá dhiscréid féin, páipéir bhallóide d'athchomhaireamh uair amháin nó níos minice in aon chás nach deimhin leis aon chomhaireamh áirithe a bheith cruinn.
(3) Ní chuirfidh aon ní sa Riail seo d'oblagáid ar cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid an beartán céanna páipéar ballóide a chomhaireamh níos mó ná uair amháin.
15. Sna Rialacha seo—
(1) ciallaíonn an abairt “iarrthóir leanúnach” aon iarrthóir nach tuigthe a bheith tofa agus nár heisiadh;
(2) ciallaíonn an focal “céad-rogha” an figiúir “1” ina aonar, ciallaíonn an abairt “dara rogha” an figiúir “2” ina aonar as aithle an fhigiúra “1” agus ciallaíonn an abairt “treas rogha” an figiúir “3” ina aonar as aithle na bhfigiúirí “1” agus “2” os coinne ainme aon iarrthóra, agus mar sin de;
(3) ciallaíonn an abairt “an chéad rogha infheidhme eile” dara rogha nó rogha ina dhiaidh sin arna breacadh in ord uimhreach comhleantach d'iarrthóir leanúnach, gan aird a thabhairt ar an gcéad rogha eile do réir oird ar an bpáipéar ballóide d'iarrthóirí is tuigthe a bheith tofa nó a heisiadh cheana;
(4) ciallaíonn an abairt “páipéar inaistrithe” páipéar ballóide ar a mbeidh, i ndiaidh céad-roghan, dara rogha nó rogha ina dhiaidh sin breactha in ord uimhreach d'iarrthóir leanúnach;
(5) ciallaíonn an abairt “páipéar do-aistrithe” páipéar ballóide—
(a) nach mbeidh aon dara rogha ná aon rogha ina dhiaidh sin breactha air d'iarrthóir leanúnach; nó
(b) a mbeidh ainmneacha beirte iarrthóirí nó níos mó (pé acu iarrthóirí leanúnacha iad nó nach ea) marcálta air leis an uimhir chéanna, agus gurb iad na céad iarrthóirí eile in ord roghan iad; nó
(c) a mbeidh ainm an chéad iarrthóra eile in ord roghan (pé acu iarrthóir leanúnach é nó nach ea) marcálta air le huimhir nach dtagann ar comhleanúint i ndiaidh uimhreach éigin eile ar an bpáipéar ballóide nó le dhá uimhir nó níos mó; nó
(d) a bheas ar neamhní toisc neamhchinnteachta;
(6) ciallaíonn an focal “bun-vóta,” maidir le haon iarrthóir, vóta ó pháipéar ballóide a mbeidh céad-rogha breactha air don iarrthóir sin;
(7) ciallaíonn an abairt “vóta aistrithe,” maidir le haon iarrthóir, vóta ó pháipéar ballóide a mbeidh dara rogha nó rogha ina dhiaidh sin breactha air don iarrthóir sin;
(8) ciallaíonn an focal “barrachas” an méid a bheas de bhreis ar an gcuóta ag luach iomlán na vótanna, idir bhunvótanna agus vótanna aistrithe, a bheas i gcreidiúint d'aon iarrthóir.
(9) ciallaíonn an focal “comhaireamh” (mar éilíos an comhthéacs)—
(a) gach oibríocht is gá chun na céad-roghna a bheas breactha d'iarrthóirí chomhaireamh; nó
(b) gach oibríocht is gá chun barrachas iarrthóra thofa d'aistriú; nó
(c) gach oibríocht is gá chun vótanna iarrthóra a heisiadh d'aistriú; nó
(d) páipéir iarrthóra ar tuigthe nach iarrthóir leanúnach é d'aistriú de bhun na Rialacha seo;
(10) ciallaíonn an abairt “is tuigthe a bheith tofa” is tuigthe a bheith tofa chun críche comhairimh, ach gan dochar do dhearbhú thoradh an toghcháin;
(11) ciallaíonn an abairt “cinneadh le crannchur” cinneadh do réir na dtreoracha seo a leanas is é sin le rá:—
ar ainmneacha na n-iarrthóirí a bheas i gceist a scríobh ar bhlúirí páipéir comhchosúla agus na blúirí d'fhilleadh i slí ná haithneofar iad agus iad a mheascadh agus a tharraingt ar amhantar, socrófar na hiarrthóirí a bheas i gceist eatarthu féin ar an ord roghan san ord ina dtarraingeofar na blúirí páipéir ar a mbeidh a n-ainmneacha, ag tosnú leis an iarrthóir a mbeidh a ainm ar an gcéad bhlúire páipéir a tarraingeofar.
AN TRIU SCEIDEAL.
Rialacha chun Corrthoghchan don tSeanad I gCoir Corrfholuntais i bhFo-Rolla don Oireachtas a Stiuru.
1. An lá a bheas ceaptha chun páipéir bhallóide d'eisiúint, eiseoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, sa tslí a hordaítear sna Rialacha seo a leanas, páipéar ballóide chun gach toghthóra a mbeidh a ainm ar an liosta toghthóirí don toghchán.
2. Beidh gach iarrthóir i dteideal bheith i láthair le linn na páipéir bhallóide don toghchán d'eisiúint agus déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, arna iarraidh sin air d'aon iarrthóir acu sin, am agus áit na heisiúna a chur in iúl don iarrthóir.
3. Féadfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid agus a chúntóirí, aon iarrthóir agus aon ghníomhaire a bheas ceaptha ag iarrthóir, agus ní fhéadfaidh aon duine eile ach amháin le cead cinn chomhhairimh an tSeanaid, bheith i láthair le linn na páipéir bhallóide d'eisiúint.
4. Eiseoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid páipéar ballóide chun gach toghthóra trí na nithe seo a leanas a dhéanamh, nó a chur faoi ndear iad a dhéanamh, maidir leis an toghthóir sin san ord seo a leanas, is é sin le rá:—
(a) glaofar amach uimhir, ainm, seoladh agus tuairisc an toghthóra, mar bheid sin luaite ar an liosta toghthóirí;
(b) marcálfar an uimhir sin an toghthóra ar chomhdhuille an pháipéir bhallóide a bheas le cur chuige;
(c) cuirfear marc ar an liosta toghthóirí os coinne ainme an toghthóra air á thaispeáint gur heisíodh páipéar ballóide chun an toghthóra sin, ach gan a nochtadh cad é an páipéar ballóide é;
(d) marcálfar an marc oifigiúil ar dhá thaobh an pháipéir bhallóide;
(e) déanfar an uimhir ar chúl an pháipéir bhallóide a mharcáil ar fhoirm dhearbhuithe chéannachta agus ar chlúdach (dá ngairmtear an clúdach páipéir bhallóide anseo feasta) sa bhfoirm ordaithe;
(f) cuirfear na doiciméidí seo a leanas i gclúdach (dá ngairmtear an clúdach imeachtrach anseo feasta) sa bhfoirm ordaithe a díreofar chun an toghthóra ag a sheoladh, mar bheas sin luaite ar an liosta toghthóirí, is é sin le rá:—
(i) páipéar ballóide, agus
(ii) an fhoirm dhearbhuithe chéannachta sin, agus
(iii) clúdach (dá ngairmtear an forchlúdach anseo feasta) sa bhfoirm ordaithe a díreofar chun cinn chomhairimh an tSeanaid, agus
(iv) an clúdach páipéir bhallóide sin;
(g) dúnfar an clúdach imeachtrach go héifeachtúil;
(h) nuair a bheas na forála roimhe seo den Riail seo comhlíonta maidir leis na toghthóirí uile a mbeidh a n-ainmneacha ar an liosta toghthóirí, baileofar, comhaireofar agus postálfar na clúdaigh imeachtracha dúnta sin go léir.
5. Gach iarratas á iarraidh páipéar ballóide dúblach d'eisiúint a gheobhas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, formhuineoidh sé air, ar é d'fhail dó, an lá agus an uair a fuair sé é agus uimhir leanúnach, agus gach páipéar ballóide dúblach a heiseofar de bhun aon iarratais den tsórt sin eiseofar é do réir forál na Rialach roimhe seo a mhéid is infheidhme iad ach amháin gurb amhlaidh a marcálfar ar chomhdhuille an pháipéir bhallóide sin, in ionad na huimhreach ar an liosta toghthóirí, an uimhir leanúnach a formhuiníodh ar an iarratas ar dá bhun a bheas an páipéar ballóide sin á eisiúint agus, nuair a bheas an páipéar ballóide sin eisithe, go ndéanfar an t-iarratas sin a dhiúscairt amhail mar is gá do réir na Rialach seo an chóip mharcálta den liosta toghthóirí a dhiúscairt.
6. Postálfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid na clúdaigh imeachtracha dúnta sin trína seachadadh don cheann-oifig phoist is gaire dhó, nó do pé oifig eile ar a socrófar leis an gceannmháistir poist, agus stampálfaidh an máistir poist san oifig sin, le dát-stampa na post-oifige, foirm admhála a thíolacfas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid agus ina luafar an méid clúdach a seachadadh amhlaidh, agus cuirfidh na clúdaigh sin ar aghaidh láithreach leis an bpost cláraithe chun a seachadta do na daoine chun a mbeid dírithe.
7. A luaithe is féidir tar éis eisiúint na bpáipéar ballóide a bheith críochnaithe, agus i bhfianaise na n-iarrthóirí agus na ngníomhairí a bheas i láthair, déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid pacáidí ar leithligh, a shéalós sé lena shéala féin agus a shéalós na hiarrthóirí nó na gníomhairí sin ar mian leo a séalaí a chur orthu, den chóip mharcálta den liosta toghthóirí agus de chomhdhuillí na bpáipéar ballóide.
8. Soláthróidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid bosca ballóide a mbeidh “Bosca ballóide an tSeanaid” marcálta air chun na forchlúdaigh a ghlacadh nuair a chuirfeas na vótálaithe thar n-ais iad, agus, ar eisiúint na bpáipéar ballóide a bheith críochnaithe, taispeánfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an bosca ballóide sin, ar oscailt agus folamh, do na hiarrthóirí agus do na gníomhairí (más ann) a bheas i láthair, agus séalóidh an bosca ballóide sin lena shéala agus déanfaidh socrú chun an bosca ballóide sin a choimeád slán.
9. Gach forchlúdach a gheobhas ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid roimh chríoch na vótaíochta cuirfidh sé láithreach iad, gan oscailt, i mbosca ballóide an tSeanaid, agus séalóidh, gan iad d'oscailt, i bpacáiste ar leithligh na forchlúdaigh uile a gheobhas sé tar éis críoch na vótaíochta agus séalóidh freisin, gan iad d'oscailt, i bpacáiste ar leithligh, na clúdaigh imeachtracha neamhsheachadta a cuirfear thar n-ais chuige.
10. Trí lá ar a laghad roimh chríoch na vótaíochta, cuirfidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid leis an bpost chun gach iarrthóra, go dtí a sheoladh mar bheas sin luaite sa liosta iarrthóirí, fógra i scríbhinn i dtaobh an ama agus na háite ina ndéanfaidh sé bosca ballóide an tSeanaid d'oscailt agus na vótanna a chomhaireamh.
11. A luaithe is caothúil tar éis críoch na vótaíochta, osclóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid bosca ballóide an tSeanaid agus comhaireoidh na vótanna.
12. Féadfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid agus a chúntóirí, aon iarrthóir agus aon ghníomhaire a bheas ceaptha ag iarrthóir, agus ní fhéadfaidh aon duine eile ach amháin le cead cinn chomhairimh an tSeanaid, bheith i láthair le linn bosca ballóide an tSeanaid d'oscailt nó na vótanna a chomhaireamh.
13. Ar bhosca ballóide an tSeanaid d'oscailt déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid na nithe seo a leanas:—
(a) na forchlúdaigh uile a thógaint amach as bosca ballóide an tSeanaid agus iad a chomhaireamh agus a n-uimhir a nótú;
(b) gach forchlúdach faoi leith acu sin d'oscailt agus aon chlúdaigh acu ina mbeidh dearbhú céannachta a heisíodh mar fhoirm dhúblach dhearbhuithe chéannachta a chur ar leithlis;
(c) gach ceann de na forchlúdaigh sin nár cuireadh ar leithlis amhlaidh a thógaint agus an dearbhú céannachta ann a scrúdú agus an uimhir ar an dearbhú sin a chur i gcompráid leis an uimhir ar an gclúdach páipéir bhallóide sa bhforchlúdach sin;
(d) más mar a chéile na huimhreacha sin agus go bhfaighfear an dearbhú céannachta a bheith comhlánaithe agus déanta go cuí, cuirfidh sé an dearbhú céannachta agus an clúdach páipéir bhallóide i ngabhadáin ar leithligh;
(e) mura deimhin leis an dearbhú céannachta a bheith comhlánaithe agus déanta go cuí, formhuineoidh sé na focail “diúltaíodh don vóta” ar an dearbhú céannachta agus ceanglóidh an clúdach páipéir bhallóide dhe gan an clúdach sin d'oscailt nó, mura mbíonn aon chlúdach den tsórt sin ann, ceanglóidh an páipéar ballóide dhe;
(f) má gheibheann sé nach mar a chéile an uimhir ar an dearbhú céannachta agus an uimhir ar an gclúdach páipéir bhallóide, nó mura mbíonn aon uimhir ar an gclúdach, osclóidh sé an clúdach agus más mar a chéile an uimhir ar an bpáipéar ballóide agus an uimhir ar an dearbhú céannachta, cuirfidh sé an páipéar ballóide sa ghabhadán speisialta a bheas soláthraithe aige le haghaidh páipéar ballóide;
(g) mura mar a chéile an uimhir ar an bpáipéar ballóide agus an uimhir ar an dearbhú céannachta, cuirfidh sé an páipéar ballóide thar n-ais ina chlúdach, más ann, agus ceanglóidh sé an clúdach nó an páipéar ballóide sin (do réir mar bheas) den dearbhú céannachta, agus formhuineoidh sé na focail “diúltaíodh don vóta” ar an dearbhú céannachta;
(h) má dhealraíonn nach bhfuil dearbhú céannachta i dteannta an chlúdaigh pháipéir bhallóide, osclóidh sé an clúdach páipéir bhallóide agus, má gheibheann an dearbhú céannachta ann, deighleálfaidh sé leis an dearbhú sin agus leis an gclúdach páipéir bhallóide sin do réir na bhforál roimhe seo den Riail seo;
(i) marcálfaidh sé an focal “diúltaithe” ar gach dearbhú céannachta nach mbeidh páipéar ballóide ina theannta agus ar gach páipéar ballóide nach mbeidh dearbhú céannachta ina theannta;
(j) nuair a bheas deighleálta faoi na forála roimhe seo den Riail seo leis na forchlúdaigh sin uile nár cuireadh ar leithlis amhlaidh, tógfaidh sé gach ceann faoi leith de na forchlúdaigh sin a cuireadh ar leithlis toisc dearbhú céannachta a bheith ann a heisíodh mar fhoirm dhúblach dhearbhuithe chéannachta, scrúdóidh an dearbhú céannachta ann (dá ngairmtear an dearbhú dúblach anseo feasta) agus féachfaidh sé ar scrúdaíodh nó nár scrúdaíodh roimhe sin faoin Riail seo dearbhú céannachta i dtaobh an duine chéanna;
(k) má scrúdaíodh roimhe sin faoin Riail seo dearbhú céannachta i dtaobh an duine chéanna, marcálfaidh sé na focail “diúltaíodh don vóta” ar an dearbhú dúblach agus ceanglóidh sé an clúdach páipéir bhallóide dhe gan an clúdach sin d'oscailt, nó, mura mbíonn aon chlúdach den tsórt sin ann, ceanglóidh sé an páipéar ballóide dhe;
(l) murar scrúdaíodh roimhe sin faoin Riail seo dearbhú céannachta i dtaobh an duine chéanna, deighleálfaidh sé leis an dearbhú dúblach agus leis an gclúdach páipéir bhallóide agus an páipéar ballóide a bheas i dteannta an chéanna do réir na bhforál roimhe seo den Riail seo ach amháin an dá mhír dheiridh roimhe seo dhi.
14. Más in éineacht a gheofar páipéar ballóide agus dearbhú céannachta agus gur mar a chéile an uimhir ar an bpáipéar ballóide sin agus an uimhir ar an dearbhú sin, ní diúltófar don pháipéar ballóide sin ar an aon-fhoras nach sna clúdaigh chearta a cuireadh an páipéar ballóide agus an dearbhú sin nó nár dúnadh aon chlúdach acu sin.
15. Taispeánfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid do na hiarrthóirí agus do na gníomhairí (más ann) a bheas i láthair aon dearbhú céannachta a mbeartaíonn sé diúltú dhó ar an bhforas nár comhlánaíodh agus nach ndearnadh sa cheart é, agus má dhéanann aon iarrthóir nó gníomhaire acu sin agóid i gcoinne a bhreithe cuirfidh sé leis an bhformhuiniú na focail “agóid i gcoinne an díúltuithe.”
16. Déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid na dearbhuithe uile dá ndiúltófar, maraon leis na clúdaigh nó na páipéir bhallóide, do réir mar bheas, a bheas ceangailte dhíobh, a choimeád ar deighilt ó dhoiciméidí eile.
17. Nuair a bheas na forchlúdaigh uile i mbosca ballóide an tSeanaid oscailte agus a bheas deighleálta faoi na Rialacha roimhe seo lena mbeidh iontu, osclóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid gach clúdach páipéir bhallóide nach mbeidh oscailte agus cuirfidh an uimhir ar an gclúdach i gcompráid leis an uimhir ar an bpáipéar ballóide agus, más mar a chéile an uimhir ar an gclúdach agus an uimhir ar an bpáipéar ballóide, cuirfidh an páipéar ballóide sa ghabhadán speisialta a bheas soláthraithe aige le haghaidh páipéar ballóide, ach, mura mar a chéile an uimhir ar an gclúdach agus an uimhir ar an bpáipéar ballóide, ceanglóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an páipéar ballóide sin agus an clúdach sin dá chéile agus marcálfaidh “diúltaithe” orthu.
18. A luaithe a bheas na páipéir bhallóide uile curtha sa ghabhadán speisialta sin ag ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, séalóidh sé i bpacáidí ar leithligh (1) na dearbhuithe céannachta a bhí i dteannta aon pháipéar ballóide lenar glacadh go cuí; (2) aon dearbhuithe céannachta dar diúltaíodh; agus (3) aon pháipéir bhallóide dar diúltaíodh; agus, sa dá chás deiridh sin, na clúdaigh (más ann) a bheas ceangailte dhíobh.
19. Nuair a bheas na Rialacha roimhe seo den Sceideal seo comhlíonta ag ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, déanfaidh sé na páipéir bhallóide sa ghabhadán speisialta a bheas soláthraithe aige le haghaidh páipéar ballóide a mheascadh go maith ar a chéile agus comhaireoidh sé, do réir na Rialacha sa Dara Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht seo, na vótanna a breacadh ar na páipéir bhallóide sin.
20. Formhuineoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid “diúltaithe” ar aon pháipéar ballóide dá ndiúltóidh sé mar gur neamhbhailí é agus má dhéanann aon iarrthóir nó gníomhaire agóid i gcoinne a bhreithe ag diúltú don pháipéar ballóide cuirfidh sé leis an bhformhuiniú sin “agóid i gcoinne an diúltuithe.”
21. A mhéid is féidir é, raghaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ar aghaidh go leanúnach leis na himeachta faoi na Rialacha seo tar éis bosca ballóide an tSeanaid d'oscailt agus le comhaireamh na vótanna, ach féadfaidh sé na himeachta nó an comhaireamh sin d'fhionraí tráth ar bith go ceann pé tréimhse is cuí leis chun bia nó deoch a chaitheamh, i gcóir na hoíche, nó ar aon chúis eile is leor leis agus aon uair a fhionrós sé amhlaidh na himeachta sin nó an comhaireamh sin glacfaidh sé gach cúram is cuí chun na páipéir bhallóide, na clúdaigh, na vótanna, agus na doiciméidí eile a bhainfeas leis an toghchán a choimeád slán.
22. Déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid agus gach duine dá chúntóirí a ghlacfas páirt in aon imeachta faoi na Rialacha seo, nó i gcomhaireamh na vótanna, agus gach iarrthóir agus gníomhaire a bheas i láthair ag aon imeachta dhíobh sin nó ag an gcomhaireamh sin geallúint sa bhfoirm ordaithe a shíniú, sar a nglacfaid páirt amhlaidh nó sar a mbeid i láthair amhlaidh, go gcoimeádfaid rún ar an vótáil.
23. A luaithe a bheas comhaireamh na vótanna críochnaithe, ullmhóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid, i ndúblach, deimhniú sa bhfoirm ordaithe ina luafar ainmneacha na n-iarrthóirí a toghadh, uimhir iomlán na vótanna a tugadh do gach iarrthóir faoi leith (pé acu toghadh é nó nár toghadh), gach aistriú luachanna a rinneadh faoin Acht seo, agus an luach iomlán a bhí i gcreidiúint do gach iarrthóir faoi leith i ndeireadh an chomhairimh ina ndearnadh gach aistriú faoi leith den tsórt sin, agus pé nithe eile a bheas ordaithe, agus ansin síneoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid an deimhniú dúblach sin agus cuirfidh dúblach acu sin go dtí Cléireach Dháil Éireann agus coimeádfaidh an dúblach eile.
24. Déanfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid freisin ráiteas sa bhfoirm ordaithe, ina luafar ainm an iarrthóra a toghadh, d'ullmhú agus d'fhoilsiú san Iris Oifigiúil.
25. Ar chomhaireamh na vótanna a bheith críochnaithe, séalóidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid i bpacáidí ar leithligh na páipéir bhallóide a comhairíodh agus na páipéir bhallóide dar diúltaíodh mar gur neamhbhailí iad.
26. Coinneoidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid go ceann sé mhí tar éis críoch na vótaíochta na pacáidí séalaithe uile ina mbeidh an chóip mharcálta den liosta toghthóirí, comhdhuillí na bpáipéar ballóide, na forchlúdaigh a fuarthas tar éis críoch na vótaíochta, na clúdaigh imeachtracha neamhsheachadta a fuarthas thar n-ais, na dearbhuithe céannachta lenar glacadh, na dearbhuithe céannachta dar diúltaíodh, na páipéir bhallóide dar diúltaíodh, na páipéir bhallóide a comhairíodh, agus na páipéir bhallóide neamhbhailí agus, gcionn na tréimhse sé mhí sin, dítheoidh sé na pacáidí séalaithe sin uile mura mbíonn binse toghcháin tar éis a mhalairt d'ordú.
27. Ní ligfear do dhuine ar bith iniúchadh a dhéanamh ar aon cheann de na pacáidí séalaithe sin a choinneos ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ná ar aon ní ann ach amháin faoi ordú, agus do réir orduithe, ó bhinse toghcháin.
28. Féadfaidh binse toghcháin a údarú do dhuine ar bith iniúchadh a dhéanamh ar a mbeidh in aon cheann de na pacáidí séalaithe sin mar is dual ó cheartas ach, le linn aon iniúchta den tsórt sin, bhéarfar aire nach bhfaighfear amach conas a vótáil aon toghthóir áirithe go dtí go mbeidh cruthaithe chun sástachta binse thoghcháin gur vótáil sé agus go mbeidh dearbhaithe ag an mbinse sin a vóta a bheith neamhbhailí.
29. Comhlíonfaidh ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid gach ordú a dhéanfas binse toghcháin maidir leis na pacáidí séalaithe sin d'iniúchadh, a thabhairt ar aird, agus a dhiúscairt.
30. Má ordaíonn binse toghcháin do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid aon doiciméid nó pacáid doiciméidí a thabhairt ar aird a bheas ina sheilbh faoi na Rialacha seo agus a bhainfeas le toghchán sonraithe, is fianaise dhosháruithe go mbaineann an doiciméid nó an phacáid doiciméidí sin leis an toghchán sonraithe sin ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid do thabhairt na doiciméide nó na pacáide doiciméidí sin ar aird do réir an orduithe sin, agus is fianaise dhosháruithe an formhuiniú a bheas déanta ag ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid de bhun na Rialacha seo ar aon doiciméid nó pacáid doiciméidí den tsórt sin gurb é an doiciméid nó an phacáid sin an ní a deirtear sa bhformhuiniú gurb é é.
31. Má thugann ceann comhairimh an tSeanaid ar aird páipéar ballóide a airbheartós gur húsáideadh é in aon toghchán a stiúraíodh faoi na Rialacha seo agus comhdhuille a mbeidh an uimhir chlóbhuailte chéanna marcálta air agus a mbeidh uimhir marcálta i scríbhinn air, beidh sin ina fhianaise prima facie gurb é an duine céanna an duine a vótáil leis an bpáipéar ballóide sin agus an duine arb ionann a uimhir ar an liosta toghthóirí a bhain leis an toghchán sin agus an uimhir a bheas marcálta amhlaidh ar an gcomhdhuille sin.
32. Aon uair is gá do cheann comhairimh an tSeanaid, do réir na Rialacha seo, aon doiciméidí a shéalú i bpacáid ar leithligh, formhuineoidh sé ar an bpacáid sin ráiteas ina luafaidh uimhir agus cineál na ndoiciméidí sin agus an toghchán lena mbainid.
33. Sna Rialacha seo, ciallaíonn an abairt “binse toghcháin” cúirt a bheas ag deighleáil go dleathach le hachainíocha ag gearán ar thaitheasc neamhchuí nó ar thoghadh neamhchuí sa toghchán iomchuí.