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Number 9 of 1967
AUCTIONEERS AND HOUSE AGENTS ACT, 1967
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Acts Referred to | |
1961, No. 39 | |
1963, No. 33 | |
1947, No. 10 | |
Deeds of Arrangement Act, 1887 | 1887 c. 57 |
Number 9 of 1967
AUCTIONEERS AND HOUSE AGENTS ACT, 1967
Interpretation.
1.—(1) In this Act—
“the Accountant” means the Accountant attached to the High Court by virtue of section 55 (1) of the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act, 1961;
“bank” means a bank in which it is for the time being lawful for a trustee (unless expressly forbidden) to invest trust funds by placing them in an interest bearing deposit account;
“client” includes (unless the context otherwise requires) a person to whom a refund of a deposit is due;
“client account” means a current or deposit account in the name of an auctioneer or house agent in the title of which the word “client” appears and which is kept in a bank at a branch in the State;
“company” means a company within the definition contained in the Companies Act, 1963;
“the Official Assignee” means the person who is for the time being the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy;
“Principal Act” means the Auctioneers and House Agents Act, 1947.
(2) References in this Act to auctioneers shall be construed as referring only to persons required to be licensed as auctioneers under the Principal Act and references in this Act to house agents shall be construed as referring only to persons required to be licensed as house agents under the Principal Act.
(3) References in this Act to an account (being an account in a bank) shall, unless the context otherwise requires, include a reference to a deposit receipt.
(4) References in this Act to money for a client include (unless the context otherwise requires) references to a deposit paid to an auctioneer or house agent as a stakeholder or otherwise paid to him in connection with the purchase or renting of property where a right to the money has not passed to a client.
(5) Save where the context otherwise requires, this Act shall be construed as applying only to transactions carried out by an auctioneer or house agent in his capacity as auctioneer or house agent.
Increase of deposit in High Court.
2.—Notwithstanding section 14 (a) of the Principal Act, the deposit maintained in the High Court under that Act shall, in respect of any period beginning on or after the 6th day of July, 1967, for which an auctioneer's licence or a house agent's licence is in force, be of the value of five thousand pounds, and the references in section 14 (d) (ii) and section 15 (3) (b) of the Principal Act to two thousand pounds shall be construed accordingly.
Substitution of one form of deposit for another.
3.—(1) Notwithstanding section 16 of the Principal Act, a person who has made a deposit in money in the High Court under that Act may obtain a release of the deposit on condition that he has made in the High Court either a deposit of authorised securities of the required value or a deposit of a guarantee bond which is retrospective to such extent as may be necessary in order to meet any proper claim in respect of which money could have been paid out of the released deposit.
(2) Notwithstanding section 16 of the Principal Act, a person who has made a deposit in the High Court under that Act by the deposit of authorised securities may obtain a release of the deposit on condition that he has made in the High Court either a deposit in money to the required amount or a deposit of a guarantee bondwhich is retrospective to such extent as may be necessary in order to meet any proper claim in respect of which money could have been paid out of the released deposit.
(3) In this section—
“guarantee bond” means a guarantee bond of the type mentioned in section 14 (d) (ii) of the Principal Act;
“authorised securities” means securities authorised by rules of court for the investment of moneys under the control of the High Court;
“required value” means the value required by either section 14 of the Principal Act or section 2 of this Act, as may be appropriate.
Keeping and preservation of accounts·
4.—(1) An auctioneer or house agent shall at all times keep properly written up such accounts as may be necessary to show all his dealings with, and particulars of and information regarding, moneys received or held by him for, or paid by him to or on behalf of, each client.
(2) An account kept by an auctioneer or house agent under this section shall be preserved for at least six years from either the date of the last entry therein or the date of the last dealing with a client's money which is required by this Act to be recorded therein, whichever is the later.
Keeping of client accounts.
5.—(1) (a) Every auctioneer and every house agent shall open and keep a client account and may, if he thinks fit, open and keep more than one client account.
(b) An auctioneer or house agent who keeps more than one client account shall keep all such accounts at the same bank unless the District Court, for special reasons, otherwise permits.
(2) When an auctioneer or house agent receives money for a client, he shall, without unnecessary delay, pay it into a client account unless the money—
(a) is received in the form of cash and is paid without unnecessary delay in cash to the client;
(b) is received in the form of a cheque or other negotiable instrument which is endorsed over and delivered without unnecessary delay to the client;
(c) is paid without unnecessary delay into a separate banking account in the name of the client or some person (not being the auctioneer or house agent or a partner, employee or agent of the auctioneer or house agent) named by the client or into a joint banking account in the names of the auctioneer or house agent and the client; or
(d) is invested by him at the written request and for the benefit of the client, in a manner in which it is for the time being lawful for a trustee (unless expressly forbidden) to invest trust funds.
(3) Where an auctioneer or house agent holds or receives a cheque or draft which includes money for a client, he shall, if practicable, apportion the cheque or draft and pay into the appropriate client account the portion representing the money for the client as if he had received a separate cheque for that amount and, if such apportionment is not practicable, he shall pay the cheque or draft in full into the client account and, where he has so paid the cheque or draft in full into the client account, he may withdraw therefrom the money that is not money for a client.
(4) No payment other than money for a client shall be made into a client account save such payment as is authorised to be made under subsection (3) or is necessary in order to open or maintain the account or to replace any sum drawn from it by mistake or accident.
(5) Money shall not be withdrawn by an auctioneer or house agent from a client account unless—
(a) it is properly required for a payment to or on behalf of a client whose money is in that account, or
(b) it is properly required for or towards payment of fees or commission due to the auctioneer or house agent by a client whose money is in that account, or for or towards reimbursement of expenses incurred by the auctioneer or house agent in connection with the client's business or of money paid to a client by the auctioneer or house agent out of his own funds (either in the circumstances specified in subsection (10) or otherwise to facilitate prompt payment of the client), or it is a withdrawal authorised by subsection (3).
(6) A withdrawal under subsection (5) (b) shall be made by either—
(i) a cheque drawn in favour of the auctioneer or house agent, or
(ii) a transfer to a bank account (not being a client account) in the name of the auctioneer or house agent.
(7) Where an auctioneer or house agent withdraws money from a client account—
(a) unless the withdrawal is being made by a cheque drawn in favour of a client, the auctioneer or house agent shall endorse on the cheque, withdrawal docket or draft requisition form the words “Fees in respect of” or the words “Outlay in respect of” or (where a payment is being made to a third party) the words “On behalf of” or (in any case) such other words as will explain the nature of the withdrawal, followed in every case by the name of the client;
(b) he shall preserve the cheque or draft when returned by the bank for as long as he is required by section 4 to preserve the corresponding account.
(8) (a) Money withdrawn from a client account for or in respect of a client shall not exceed the total of the moneys held for the time being in that account on account of that client.
(b) Money withdrawn from a client account for or towards reimbursement of money paid to a client by the auctioneer or house agent out of his own funds shall not exceed the amount paid to the auctioneer or house agent in respect of the corresponding transaction on behalf of that client and properly available in the client account for the purposes of such reimbursement.
(9) (a) If it appears to the Minister for Justice that the provisions of this section are inadequate to prevent the negligent or fraudulent handling of money for a client or are otherwise insufficient to protect the interests of clients and that other provisions (either in substitution for or in addition to the existing provisions or any of them) governing the payment of money into and the withdrawal of money from client accounts would be in the public interest, he may make regulations incorporating such other provisions.
(b) Regulations under paragraph (a) may provide that, in circumstances specified in the regulations, being circumstances in which an auctioneer or house agent is required by or under this section to pay money into a client account, the auctioneer or house agent shall either—
(i) pay the money into an interest bearing client account and pay the interest to the client or other person to whom the money belongs, or
(ii) pay to the client or other person to whom the money belongs the sum equivalent to the interest that would have been earned if the money had been paid into such an account.
(c) Regulations under this subsection shall not come into operation until a period of not less than one month has elapsed from the date on which they were made.
(d) Every regulation made under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the regulation is passed by either such House within the next subsequent twenty-one days on which the House has sat after the regulation is laid before it, the regulation shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to anything previously done thereunder.
(10) For the purposes of subsections (1) to (4) references to money for a client include references to money paid to an auctioneer or house agent, being all or part of the purchase-price of property sold by him for a client or of the rent or other return in respect of property let by him for a client or being a payment otherwise intended for a client, where the auctioneer or house agent, in anticipation of the receipt of such money, has out of his own funds already paid the client.
Priority of claims to clients' moneys.
6.—Where an auctioneer or house agent keeps a client account, neither the State nor any person shall have or obtain any recourse or right against moneys standing to the credit of that account in respect of a claim or right against the auctioneer or house agent until all proper claims of his clients against those moneys have been fully satisfied.
Vesting in Official Assignee of sums to credit of certain client accounts.
7.—(1) (a) Where an auctioneer or house agent is adjudicated bankrupt or where, being an arranging debtor, he vests his estate in the Official Assignee for realisation anddistribution amongst his creditors, then, notwithstanding anything contained in section 6 or in any other enactment, there shall vest in the Official Assignee the sum to the credit of every client account kept by that auctioneer or house agent.
(b) Where an auctioneer or house agent files a petition for arrangement but does not vest his estate in the Official Assignee, the creditors who are clients, or a section thereof (being at least three-fifths in number and value of those who, as clients, have proved debts to the amount of £20) may apply to a judge of the High Court for the time being exercising jurisdiction in bankruptcy matters for an order vesting in the Official Assignee the sum to the credit of every client account kept by the auctioneer or house agent, and the judge may, if he thinks it proper to do so and the Official Assignee consents, make such an order, which shall have effect accordingly.
(2) Upon a vesting under subsection (1) (whether by virtue of paragraph (a) thereof or of an order under paragraph (b) thereof) in the Official Assignee—
(a) the rights of creditors against the deposit maintained in the High Court shall vest in him and no order shall thereafter be made under section 11 (3) (b) in relation to the deposit;
(b) he shall notify the Accountant of the vesting;
(c) notwithstanding that an order in respect of any such client account may have been under section 11 (4), a banking company shall be entitled to pay over to him the sum to the credit of that account and shall pay over that sum to him upon demand by him;
(d) he shall proceed to administer the client account or accounts for the benefit of the clients and the law of bankruptcy (including this Act) shall apply to such administration.
(3) The administration under subsection (2) of a client account by the Official Assignee shall for all purposes be deemed to be business assigned to the Office of the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy and transacted therein.
Provisions relating to client accounts in event of bankruptcy.
8.—(1) Where—
(a) an auctioneer or house agent is adjudicated bankrupt, files a petition for arrangement, executes a deed of arrangement (within the meaning of section 4 of the Deeds of Arrangement Act, 1887) or dies insolvent, or
(b) a company licensed as an auctioneer or house agent is insolvent and being wound up,
the Official Assignee (in a case where section 7 applies), the liquidator (in the case of an insolvent company) or any interested person (in any other case) may apply to the High Court by motion for an order under subsection (2).
(2) (a) The High Court, on application made to it under subsection (1), may make an order directing that—
(i) the costs, fees and expenses incurred by or payable to the Official Assignee in connection with the client account or (as may be appropriate) such costs and expenses in connection with the client account of the liquidator or other interested person as the court may allow, and
(ii) the amount of any deficiency in a client account,
shall, to such extent as the money available allows, be paid or made good by the Accountant either out of the deposit maintained in the High Court under the Principal Act, or, in a case where the deposit consists of a guarantee bond, from money made available by the assurance company concerned on foot of the bond; and, for the purpose of enabling the Accountant to comply with such direction, the order or a further order may direct, in a case where the deposit consists of securities, the sale by the Accountant of such securities (or of as much thereof as may be necessary) and, in a case where the deposit consists of a guarantee bond and notice of the application has been served on the assurance company concerned, the payment by the assurance company of the amount of the bond (or of as much thereof as may be necessary): provided, however, that such order shall have effect subject to the provisions of any order previously made in relation to the deposit under section 11 (3) (b) unless the High Court directs otherwise.
(b) Where there is a deficiency in more than one client account, the amount available from the deposit towards making good the deficiencies may be paid over under paragraph (a) without apportionment between the client accounts.
(c) The High Court, when making an order under this subsection directing the sale of securities, may in the same order direct the sale of all such securities maintained as a deposit in the High Court by the auctioneer or house agent and the transfer to the Official Assignee, for the benefit of the ordinary creditors, of any surplus that may remain after the payment of any costs, fees and expenses and the making good of any deficiency in a client account.
(d) The provisions of section 15 (3) of the Principal Act shall apply to an order under this subsection.
(3) Where—
(a) (i) an auctioneer or house agent is adjudicated bankrupt, files a petition for arrangement, executes a deed of arrangement (within the meaning of section 4 of the Deeds of Arrangement Act, 1887) or dies insolvent, or
(ii) a company licensed as an auctioneer or house agent is insolvent and being wound up,
and
(b) there is, notwithstanding the addition of the sum paid over under subsection (2), a deficiency in the client account or accounts,
then, notwithstanding any rule of law to the contrary, the sum to the credit of the said client account or, where the auctioneer or house agent has kept two or more client accounts, the total of the sums to the credit of those accounts, shall (after the addition thereto of the sum paid over under subsection (2)) be divisible proportionately amongst the clients of the auctioneer or house agent according to the respective sums received by the auctioneer or house agent in the course of his business on behalf of his clients and remaining due by him to them.
(4) A person, other than the Official Assignee, who is entitled and proposes to apply to the High Court under subsection (1) may before such application and by motion ex parte apply to the Courtfor an order prohibiting the payment of any money out of the deposit or, in a case where the deposit consists of a guarantee bond, from money made available by the assurance company concerned on foot of the bond, pending the hearing of the application under subsection (1), and the Court may, if it thinks fit, order accordingly.
(5) For the purposes of this section, in a case where a refund of a deposit is due the amount due shall be deemed to have been received by the auctioneer or house agent in the course of his business on behalf of the person who made the deposit: provided, however that this section shall not so operate as to deprive such a person of any right to require the contract of sale or letting to be duly completed.
Preservation of lien and other rights.
9.—Nothing in this Act shall so operate as to deprive an auctioneer or house agent of any recourse or right (whether by way of lien, set-off, counter-claim, charge or otherwise) against moneys standing to the credit of a client account.
Provisions regarding banking companies.
10.—(1) A banking company shall not, in connection with any transaction on an account of an auctioneer or house agent kept with them or with another banking company, incur a liability or be under an obligation to make inquiry or be deemed to have knowledge of a right to money paid or credited to the account which they would not incur, be under or be deemed to have in the case of an account kept by a person entitled absolutely to the money paid or credited thereto.
(2) Nothing in subsection (1) shall relieve a banking company from any liability or obligation which they would be under apart from this Act.
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a banking company which keeps an account of an auctioneer or house agent for moneys of clients, shall not, in respect of a liability of the auctioneer or house agent to the banking company, not being a liability in connection with that account, have or obtain any recourse or right (whether by way of lien, set-off, counter-claim, charge or otherwise) against moneys standing to the credit of that account.
(4) Nothing in subsection (3) shall deprive a banking company of a right existing at the commencement of this section in respect of moneys previously deposited with that banking company.
Proceedings in relation to deposits and banking accounts.
11.—(1) Whenever a person (in this section referred to as the plaintiff) has—
(a) obtained in any proceedings a judgment, order or decree, or
(b) instituted proceedings,
against any other person (in this section referred to as the defendant) for (or, in the case of proceedings instituted, involving a claim for) payment of money in discharge of a liability incurred or alleged to have been incurred by the defendant as an auctioneer or house agent in relation to the receipt or payment of money or the safe custody of property, the plaintiff or any client of the defendant may by motion ex parte apply to the High Court for an order under subsection (3).
(2) (a) A person who may make an application under subsection (1) shall, on satisfying the registrar or clerk, as the case may be, of the court in which the judgment, order or decree mentioned in that subsection was obtained or the proceedings mentioned in that subsection were instituted that he proposes to make the application, be entitled to obtain a certificate signed by the registrar or clerk that a judgment, order or decree as aforesaid has been obtained or that proceedings as aforesaid have been instituted, as the case may be, against the defendant.
(b) A certificate under paragraph (a) shall be evidence of the facts stated therein.
(3) Where an application is made under subsection (1), the following provisions shall have effect, namely:
(a) in any case, the Court may by order direct that the deposit maintained in the Court under the Principal Act be not released during such period as to the Court may seem proper;
(b) in a case where the application is made by a plaintiff who has obtained a judgment, order or decree and it appears to the Court, after such enquiry as it deems appropriate, either—
(i) that it is unlikely that further claims will be made against the deposit in respect of sums then owed by the defendant, or
(ii) that, if such claims are made, the deposit is sufficient to meet them in full,the Court may by order direct that the sum specified in the judgment, order or decree (as the case may be), with or without the costs of the application, shall be paid to the plaintiff out of the deposit or, if the deposit consists of a guarantee bond and notice of the proceedings or of the intention to institute the proceedings has been served before the hearing on the assurance company concerned, shall be paid to the Accountant on behalf of the plaintiff.
(4) Where an order has been made under subsection (3) (a) the Court may also make an order directing either—
(a) that no banking company shall, except on such conditions or in such circumstances as may be specified in the order, make any payment out of any banking account in the name of the defendant, or
(b) that a specified banking company shall not, except on such conditions or in such circumstances as may be specified in the order, make any payment out of any banking account or out of a specified banking account or type of account kept by such company in the name of the defendant.
(5) Where—
(a) an order has been made under subsection (3) (a) on the application of a plaintiff who has obtained a judgment, order or decree, or
(b) an order has been made under subsection (4),
the defendant shall, for the purposes of the law of bankruptcy, be deemed to have committed an act of bankruptcy on the date of the making of the order or, if the defendant is a company, shall, for the purposes of the law relating to companies, be deemed to be unable to pay its debts.
(6) (a) In addition to or in lieu of an order under subsection (4), the Court, notwithstanding anything contained in the law of bankruptcy or the law relating to companies, may, of its own motion and after giving to the defendant, and to any person to whom it considers it reasonable to give notice, such notice as it considers reasonable, by order adjudicate him bankrupt or, if the defendant is a company, make an order for its winding up and for the appointment of the Official Assignee as liquidator.
(b) Where the Official Assignee is appointed liquidator under paragraph (a)—
(i) the provisions of sections 228 (a) and 228 (d) of the Companies Act, 1963, shall not apply to him,
(ii) notwithstanding anything contained in section 6 or in any other enactment, there shall vest in him the sum to the credit of every client account kept by the company and the provisions of section 7 (2) shall apply as if the vesting were under section 7 (1),
(iii) the exercise of his powers and the performance of his duties as liquidator (including the administration of a client account) shall for all purposes be deemed to be business assigned to the Office of the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy and transacted therein.
(7) Where a defendant is adjudicated bankrupt under this section, the law of bankruptcy (including this Act) shall apply in the same way as if the defendant had been adjudicated bankrupt on a petition of bankruptcy under that law and as if for any reference in that law to the presentation or filing of a petition of bankruptcy there were substituted a reference to the making of the order of adjudication under this section.
(8) Where, in a case where the defendant is a company, a winding up order is made under this section, the law relating to companies (including this Act) shall apply in the same way as if the order had been made on a winding up petition under that law and as if for any reference in that law to the presentation of the winding up petition there were substituted a reference to the making of the winding up order under this section.
(9) An order under subsection (3) (a) or under subsection (4) may be revoked or varied by the High Court.
(10) The whole or any part of proceedings under this section may be heard in chambers.
(11) Rules of the Superior Courts may provide for adaptation of the law of bankruptcy, the law relating to companies and any procedure to such extent as may be necessary to implement this section.
(12) The reference in section 15 (3) of the Principal Act to an order under that section shall be construed as a reference to an order under subsection (3) (b) of this section.
(13) Sections 15 (1) and 15 (2) of the Principal Act are hereby repealed.
Amendment of section 12 of Principal Act.
12.—Section 12 of the Principal Act, which relates to the grant of certificates of qualification, is hereby amended—
(i) by the insertion in subsection (1) after “subject to” of “compliance by the applicant with the provisions of subsection (3) of this section and to”, and
(ii) by the insertion after subsection (2) of the following subsections:
“(3) (a) An applicant for a certificate of qualification who has carried on the business of auctioneer or the business of house agent at any time in the period of twelve months ending six months before the date of the application (in this subsection referred to as the current application) shall furnish to the District Justice at the hearing of the current application a certificate signed by an accountant stating that he has examined the accounts of the applicant for such period as is specified in the certificate (being a period beginning, in the case of an applicant who has not previously furnished such a certificate, on the day of commencement of business or such other day as the District Justice may for special reasons allow, and, in any other case, on a day not later than the day immediately following the end of the period to which the last such certificate furnished by the applicant, or a certificate of the kind mentioned in subsection (4) (b) of this section, relates, and, in all cases, ending on a day not earlier than six months before the current application) and that the applicant has complied with the provisions of the Auctioneers and House Agents Act, 1967, relating to the keeping of accounts and to the opening and keeping of client accounts.
(b) For the purposes of this subsection, business carried on before the day of the coming intooperation of the said provisions shall be disregarded and where business has been so carried on that day shall be regarded as the day of commencement of business.
(c) Where the applicant has not carried on business throughout the period specified in paragraph (a) as the period to which the certificate should relate, the provisions of that paragraph shall be sufficiently complied with if the certificate relates to part of the period (being the part during which business was carried on) and it is proved to the satisfaction of the District Justice that business was not carried on except during that part of the period.
(d) In this subsection references to the business of auctioneer and to the business of house agent shall be construed as referring only to business to carry on which the applicant is required to be licensed under this Act.
(4) (a) The District Justice may, at his discretion, grant an application for a certificate of qualification notwithstanding that, because of failure to comply with the provisions of the Auctioneers and House Agents Act, 1967, relating to the keeping of accounts and to the opening and keeping of client accounts, the applicant is unable to furnish the certificate required by subsection (3) of this section, provided that the applicant proves to the satisfaction of the District Justice—
(i) that he is, at the time of the application, complying with the said provisions and has taken all necessary steps to comply with them for the future;
(ii) that no client has suffered or is liable to suffer loss in respect of any transactions during the period when the said provisions were not complied with; and
(iii) that, in relation to the business of auctioneer or the business of house agent (as the case may be) and any other business in which he may be engaged, he is solvent.
(b) Proof of the matters mentioned in subparagraphs (i) to (iii) of paragraph (a) shall in all cases include a certificate signed by an accountant in relation to the said matters and the District Justice may require additional evidence (including oral evidence by the accountant) to be adduced.
(c) A certificate for the purposes of paragraph (b) shall not be deemed to be insufficient by reason only of the fact that—
(i) an interval has elapsed between the issue of the certificate and the time of the application: provided that the interval does not exceed one month, or
(ii) the certificate, in so far as it relates to paragraph (a) (ii), indicates only that the accountant has no reason to believe that a client has suffered or is liable to suffer loss,
or by reason of both such facts.
(5) (a) The Minister may by order make such modification as he may think necessary in relation to the period to which the certificate signed by an accountant and mentioned in subsection (3) of this section shall relate, but any such modification shall not relieve an applicant from the requirement (imposed in certain cases by the said subsection (3)) to furnish a certificate relating to a period beginning on a day not later than the day immediately following the end of the period to which the last such certificate furnished by the applicant, or a certificate of the kind mentioned in subsection (4) (b) of this section, relates.
(b) The Minister may by order revoke or amend an order under this subsection.
(6) (a) The Minister may make regulations prescribing—
(i) the nature and extent of the examination to be made by an accountant of the books andaccounts of an auctioneer or house agent and of any other relevant documents, with a view to the giving of a certificate for the purposes of subsection (3) or a certificate for the purposes of subsection (4) (b), and
(ii) the form of such certificate,
and different regulations may be made in respect of the two types of certificate mentioned in subparagraph (i).
(b) Notwithstanding that an auctioneer or house agent has, during the period to be covered by a certificate required for the purposes of subsection (3), complied with the relevant provisions of the Auctioneers and House Agents Act, 1967, an accountant shall not issue a certificate for the purposes of that subsection if at the time of his examination matters come or have come to his notice from which it appears to him that the auctioneer or house agent is not solvent.
(7) Any person who acts as an accountant for the purposes of this section when not qualified in the manner indicated in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) (as the case may be) of the following subsection shall be guilty of an offence and on summary conviction thereof shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £100.
(8) In this section ‘accountant’ means—
(a) where the auctioneer or house agent is a company, a person who is qualified for appointment as auditor of that company,
(b) in any other case, a person (not being a body corporate or the applicant or a partner or employee of the applicant) who fulfils either—
(i) the condition mentioned in paragraph (a), or
(ii) the condition mentioned in paragraph (b), of section 162 (1) of the Companies Act, 1963, for appointment as auditor of a company and is not disqualified under section 162 (2) of that Act for being so appointed.”
Application of this Act.
13.—This Act, other than sections 1 to 4, section 11, this section and section 14, shall not apply or have effect in relation to the auctioning in a public market of vegetables, potatoes, fruit, flowers, poultry, eggs or other primary products (not including horses, cattle, sheep or pigs) of agriculture or horticulture.
Short title, collective citation, construction and commencement.
14.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Auctioneers and House Agents Act, 1967.
(2) The Principal Act and this Act may be cited together as the Auctioneers and House Agents Acts, 1947 and 1967, and shall be construed together as one.
(3) Sections 4 to 12 shall come into operation on the expiration of the period of two months beginning on the day of the passing of this Act.
Uimhir 9 de 1967
AN tACHT UM CHEANTÁLAITHE AGUS GNÍOMHAIRÍ TITHE, 1967
[An tiontú oifigiúil.]
[9 Bealtaine, 1967.]
Léiriú.
1.—(1) San Acht seo—
ciallaíonn “an Cuntasóir” an Cuntasóir atá ag gabháil leis an Ard-Chúirt de bhua alt 55 (1) d'Acht na gCúirteanna (Forálacha Forlíontacha), 1961;
ciallaíonn “banc” banc ar dleathach de thuras na huaire d'iontaobhaí (mura dtoirmisctear go sainráite air) cistí iontaobhais a infheistiú ann trína gcur i gcuntas taisce úsmhar;
folaíonn “cliant” (mura n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt) duine a bhfuil aísíoc éarlaise dlite dó;
ciallaíonn “cuntas cliaint” cuntas reatha nó cuntas taisce in ainm ceantálaí nó gníomhaire tithe a bhfuil an focal “clianta” ina theideal agus a choimeádtar i mbanc i mbrainse sa Stát;
ciallaíonn “cuideachta” cuideachta de réir an mhínithe atá in Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963;
ciallaíonn “an Sannaí Oifigiúil” an duine arb é an Sannaí Oifigiúil i bhFéimheacht é de thuras na huaire;
ciallaíonn “an Príomh-Acht” an tAcht um Cheantálaithe agus Gníomhairí Tithe, 1947.
(2) Forléireofar tagairtí san Acht seo do cheantálaithe mar thagairtí nach dtagraíonn ach amháin do dhaoine ar a bhfuil ceangal a bheith ceadúnaithe mar cheantálaithe faoin bPríomh-Acht agus forléireofar tagairtí san Acht seo do ghníomhaire tithe mar thagairtí nach dtagraíonn ach amháin do dhaoine ar a bhfuil ceangal a bheith ceadúnaithe mar ghníomhairí tithe faoin bPríomh-Acht.
(3) Déanfar na tagairtí san Acht seo do chuntas (is cuntas i mbanc) a fhorléiriú, mura n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt, mar thagairtí a fholaíonn tagairt d'admháil éarlaise.
(4) Na tagairtí san Acht seo d'airgead do chliant folaíonn siad (mura n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt) tagairtí d'éarlais a íocadh le ceantálaí nó gníomhaire tithe mar gheallchoimeádaí nó a íocadh leis ar shlí eile i ndáil le maoin a cheannach nó a ligean ar cíos i gcás nach bhfuil ceart chun an airgid tar éis aistriú chun cliaint.
(5) Ach amháin mar a n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt, forléireofar an tAcht seo mar Acht nach mbaineann ach le hidirbhirt ag ceantálaí nó gníomhaire tithe ina cháil mar cheantálaí nó gníomhaire tithe.
Méadú ar an éarlais san Ard-Chúirt.
2.—D'ainneoin alt 14 (a) den Phríomh-Acht, cúig mhíle punt a bheidh san éarlais a choimeádfar san Ard-Chúirt faoin Acht sin in aghaidh aon tréimhse a thosóidh an 6ú lá d'Iúil, 1967, nó aon lá dá éis sin, a bhfuil ceadúnas ceantálaí nó ceadúnas gníomhaire tithe i bhfeidhm ina haghaidh, agus forléireofar dá réir sin na tagairtí do dhá mhíle punt in alt 14 (d) (ii) agus in alt 15 (3) (b) den Phríomh-Acht.
Cinéal amháin éarlaise a chur in ionad cineáil eile.
3.—(1) D'ainneoin alt 16 den Phríomh-Acht, féadfaidh aon duine a mbeidh éarlais taiscthe in airgead aige san Ard-Chúirt faoin Acht sin, urscaoileadh na héarlaise a fháil ar choinníoll go mbeidh sé tar éis urrúis údaraithe den luach is gá a thaisceadh nó banna ráthaíochta a thaisceadh a bheidh iarghabhálach a mhéid is gá chun freastal d'aon éileamh cuí a bhféadfaí airgead a íoc ina leith amach as an éarlais urscaoilte.
(2) D'ainneoin alt 16 den Phríomh-Acht, féadfaidh aon duine a bheidh tar éis éarlais a thaisceadh san Ard-Chúirt faoin Acht sin trí urrúis údaraithe a thaisceadh, urscaoileadh na héarlaise a fháil ar choinníoll go mbeidh sé tar éis éarlais in airgead agus an oiread is gá ann a thaisceadh nó banna ráthaíochta a thaisceadh a bheidh iarghabhálach a mhéid is gá chun freastal d'aon éileamh cuí a bhféadfaí airgead a íoc ina leith amach as an éarlais urscaoilte.
(3) San alt seo—
ciallaíonn “banna ráthaíochta” banna ráthaíochta den sórt a luaitear in alt 14 (d) (ii) don Phríomh-Acht;
ciallaíonn “urrúis údaraithe” urrúis atá údaraithe le rialacha cúirte chun airgead atá faoi urlámhas na hArd-Cúirte a infheistiú iontu;
ciallaíonn “luach is gá” an luach is gá de réir alt 14 den Phríomh-Acht nó alt 2 den Acht seo, de réir mar is iomchuí.
Cuntais a choimeád agus a shlánchoimeád.
4.—(1) Coimeádfaidh ceantálaí nó gníomhaire tithe gach tráth, scríofa suas cuí, cibé cuntais is gá chun a dhéileála le hairgead, agus sonraí agus eolas i dtaobh airgead, a fuair sé nó atá ina sheilbh ar son, nó a d'íoc sé thar ceann, gach cliaint nó a d'íoc sé le gach cliant.
(2) Déanfar cuntas a choimeádfaidh ceantálaí nó gníomhaire tithe faoin alt seo a shlánchoimeád go ceann sé bliana ar a laghad ó dháta an taifid deiridh ann nó ó dháta na déileála deiridh le hairgead cliaint a cheanglaítear leis an Acht seo a thaifeadadh sa chuntas sin, cibé dáta acu is déanaí.
Cuntais chliaint a choimeád.
5.—(1) (a) Osclóidh agus coimeádfaidh gach ceantálaí agus gach gníomhaire tithe cuntas cliaint agus féadfaidh sé, más oiriúnach leis, níos mó ná cuntas cliaint amháin a oscailt agus a choimeád.
(b) Déanfaidh ceantálaí nó gníomhaire tithe a choimeádann níos mó ná cuntas cliaint amháin na cuntais sin go léir a choimeád sa bhanc céanna mura gceadóidh an Chúirt Dúiche a mhalairt ar chúiseanna speisialta.
(2) Nuair a gheobhaidh ceantálaí nó gníomhaire tithe airgead do chliant, íocfaidh sé é, gan mhoill neamhriachtanach, isteach i gcuntas cliaint mura rud é—
(a) gur ina airgead tirm a gheofar é agus go n-íocfar, gan mhoill neamhriachtanach, ina airgead tirm é leis an gcliant;
(b) gur trí sheic nó trí ionstraim shoshannta a bheidh formhuinithe chun an chliaint agus a sheachadfar, gan mhoill neamhriachtanach, dó, a gheofar é;
(c) go n-íocfar é, gan mhoill neamhriachtanach, isteach i gcuntas baincéireachta ar leithligh in ainm an chliaint nó dhuine éigin (nach ceantálaí ná gníomhaire tithe ná comhpháirtí, fostaí ná gníomhaire don cheantálaí nó don ghníomhaire tithe) a ainmneoidh an cliant nó isteach i gcomhchuntas baincéireachta in ainmneacha an cheantálaí nó an ghníomhaire tithe agus an chliaint; nó
(d) go n-infheisteoidh sé é ar iarratas i scríbhinn ón gcliant agus chun sochair don chliant, i slí inar dleathach de thuras na huaire d'iontaobhaí (mura dtoirmisctear go sainráite air) cistí iontaobhais a infheistiú iontu.
(3) Má theachtann nó má fhaigheann ceantálaí nó gníomhaire tithe seic nó dréacht a bhfuil airgead ann do chliant, deánfaidh sé, más indéanta sin, an tseic nó an dréacht a chionroinnt agus an chuid is ionann agus an t-airgead don chliant a íoc isteach sa chuntas cliaint iomchuí ionann is dá mbeadh sé tar éis seic ar leithligh ar an méid sin a fháil agus, mura indéanta an chionroinnt sin, íocfaidh sé an tseic nó an dréacht go hiomlán isteach sa chuntas cliaint agus, i gcás ina mbeidh sé tar éis an tseic nó an dréacht a íoc go hiomlán isteach sa chuntas cliaint, féadfaidh sé an t-airgead nach airgead do chliant a tharraingt amach as.
(4) Ní dhéanfar aon íocaíocht seachas airgead do chliant a íoc isteach i gcuntas cliaint ach amháin cibé íocaíocht a údarófar a dhéanamh faoi fho-alt (3) nó is gá chun an cuntas a oscailt nó a chothabháil nó chun aon suim a chur ar ais ann a tarraingíodh as de dhearmad nó de thionóisc.
(5) Ní tharraingeoidh ceantálaí nó gníomhaire tithe airgead as cuntas cliaint mura rud é—
(a) go mbeidh sé ag teastáil go cuí chun íocaíocht a dhéanamh le cliant nó thar ceann chliant a bhfuil a chuid airgid sa chuntas sin, nó
(b) go mbeidh sé ag teastáil go cuí chun nó mar chabhair chun táillí nó coimisiún a íoc a bheidh dlite don cheantálaí nó don ghníomhaire tithe de chliant a bhfuil a chuid airgid sa chuntas sin, nó chun nó mar chabhair chun caiteachais a chúiteamh a thabhaigh an ceantálaí nó an gníomhaire tithe i ndáil le gnó a chliaint nó airgead a chúiteamh a d'íoc an ceantálaí nó an gníomhaire tithe as a chistí féin le cliant (sna himthoscaí a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (10) nó ar shlí eile chun a urasú an cliant a íoc go sciobtha), nó gur aistarraingt é a údaraítear le fo-alt (3).
(6) Déanfar aistarraingt faoi fho-alt (5) (b)—
(i) trí sheic arna tarraingt i bhfabhar an cheantálaí nó an ghníomhaire tithe, nó
(ii) trí aistriú chun cuntais bainc (nach cuntas cliaint) in ainm an cheantálaí nó an ghníomhaire tithe.
(7) I gcás ina dtarraingeoidh ceantálaí nó gníomhaire tithe airgead as cuntas cliaint—
(a) mura trí sheic a bheidh tarraingte i bhfabhar an chliaint a dhéanfar an aistarraingt, formhuineoidh an ceantálaí nó an gníomhaire tithe ar an tseic, ar an duillín aistarraingte nó ar an dréacht-fhoirm fhoréilimh na focail “Táillí i leith” nó na focail “Eisíoc i leith” nó (más le tríú pairtí a bheifear ag íoc) na focail “Thar ceann” nó (in aon chás) cibé focail eile a mhíneoidh cad é sórt aistarraingt í), agus ainm an chliaint ina dhiaidh sin i ngach cás;
(b) déanfaidh sé an tseic nó an dréacht, nuair a chuirfidh an banc ar ais í, a shlánchoimeád an fad a cheanglaítear le halt 4 an cuntas comhréire a shlánchoimeád.
(8) (a) Ní rachaidh an t-airgead a aistarraingeofar as cuntas cliaint ar son nó thar ceann cliaint thar an méid iomlán airgid a bheidh ar teachtadh de thuras na huaire sa chuntas sin ar cuntas an chliaint sin.
(b) Aon airgead a tharraingeofar as cuntas cliaint chun nó mar chabhair chun airgead a chúiteamh a d'íoc an ceantálaí nó an gníomhaire tithe as a chistí féin le cliant ní rachaidh sé thar an méid a íocadh leis an gceantálaí nó an gníomhaire tithe i leith an idirbhirt chomhréire thar ceann an chliaint sin agus a bheidh ar fáil go cuí sa chuntas cliaint chun críocha cúitimh den sórt sin.
(9) (a) Más dealraitheach don Aire Dlí agus Cirt nach leor forálacha an ailt seo chun cosc a chur le faillí agus calaois ag láimhsiú airgid do chliant nó nach dóthanach iad ar shlí eile chun leasanna cliant a chosaint agus gurb é leas an phobail forálacha eile (a chuirfear in ionad nó i dteannta na bhforálacha láithreacha nó aon cheann acu) do rialú airgead a íoc isteach i gcuntais chliaint agus a aistarraingt as cuntais chliaint, féadfaidh sé rialacháin a dhéanamh ina mbeidh na forálacha eile sin.
(b) Féadfaidh rialacháin faoi mhír (a) a fhoráil go ndéanfaidh ceantálaí nó gníomhaire tithe, sna himthoscaí a shonraítear sna rialacháin, is imthoscaí ina gceanglaítear ar an gceantálaí nó ar an ngníomhaire tithe leis an alt seo nó faoi, airgead a íoc isteach i gcuntas cliaint—
(i) an t-airgead a íoc isteach i gcuntas cliaint úsmhar agus an t-ús a íoc leis an gcliant nó le duine eile ar leis an t-airgead, nó
(ii) an tsuim is comhionann leis an ús a bheadh tuillte, dá n-íocfaí an t-airgead isteach i gcuntas den sórt sin, a íoc leis an gcliant nó le duine eile ar leis an t-airgead.
(c) Ní thiocfaidh rialacháin faoin bhfo-alt seo i ngníomh go mbeidh tréimhse nach lú ná mí caite ón dáta ar a ndearnadh iad.
(d) Gach rialachán a dhéanfar faoin alt seo leagfar é faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta agus má dhéanann ceachtar Teach acu sin, laistigh den lá is fiche a shuífidh an Teach sin tar éis an rialachán a leagan faoina bhráid, rún a rith ag neamhniú an rialacháin, beidh an rialachán ar neamhní dá réir sin ach sin gan dochar d'aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin rialachán.
(10) Chun críocha fho-ailt (1) go (4) folaíonn tagairtí d'airgead do chliant tagairtí d'airgead a íocadh le ceantálaí nó gníomhaire tithe, arb eárd é iomlán nó cuid de phraghas ceannaigh maoine a dhíol sé do chliant nó de chíos nó sochar eile i leith maoin a lig sé do chliant nó is íocaíocht atá ceaptha ar shlí eile do chliant i gcás ina mbeidh an ceantálaí nó an gníomhaire tithe, in oirichill an t-airgead sin a fháil, tar éis an cliant a íoc cheana féin as a chistí féin.
Tosaíocht ag éilithe ar airgead cliant.
6.—I gcás ina mbeidh cuntas cliaint á choimeád ag ceantálaí nó ag gníomhaire tithe ní bheidh aon chúlárach ná ceart ag an Stát ná ag aon duine, ná ní bhfaighidh cúlárach ná ceart, i gcoinne airgead a bheidh chun creidiúna an chuntais sin i leith éilimh nó cirt i gcoinne an cheantálaí nó an ghníomhaire tithe go dtí go mbeidh éilithe cuí uile a chliant i gcoinne an airgid sin lánsásaithe.
Suimeanna chun creidiúna cuntas cliaint áirithe a dhílsiú don Sannaí Oifigiúil.
7.—(1) (a) I gcás ina mbreithneofar ina fhéimheach ceantálaí nó gníomhaire tithe nó i gcás ina ndéanfaidh sé, agus é ina fheichiúnaí comhshocraíochta, a eastát a dhílsiú don Sannaí Oifigiúil le réadú agus le dáileadh ar a chreidiúnaithe, ansin, d'ainneoin aon ní in alt 6 nó in aon achtachán eile, gach suim a bheidh chun creidiúna gach cuntais chliaint a bheidh á choimeád ag an gceantálaí nó ag an ngníomhaire tithe sin dílseoidh sí don Sannaí Oifigiúil.
(b) I gcás ina gcomhadóidh ceantálaí nó gníomhaire tithe achainí ar chomhshocraíocht ach nach ndílseoidh sé a eastát don Sannaí Oifigiúil, féadfaidh na creidiúnaithe is cliaint, nó cuid díobh (nach lá na trí chúigiú de líon agus de luach díobh sin a bhfuil, mar chliaint, suas le £20 fiacha cruthaithe acu) ordú a iarraidh ar bhreitheamh den Ard-Chúirt a fheidhmíonn, de thuras na huaire, dlínse in abhair féimheachta á ordú an tsuim a bheidh chun creidiúna do gach cuntas cliaint a bheidh á choimeád ag an gceantálaí nó ag an ngníomhaire tithe a dhílsiú don Sannaí Oifigiúil, agus féadfaidh an breitheamh, más rud é gur cuí leis sin a dhéanamh agus go dtoileoidh an Sannaí Oifigiúil, ordú den sórt sin a dhéanamh a mbeidh éifeacht dá réir sin aige.
(2) Ar dhílsiú faoi fho-alt (1) (cibé acu de bhua mhír (a) de nó de bhua ordú faoi mhír (b) de) don Sannaí Oifigiúil—
(a) dílseoidh dó cearta creidiúnaithe i gcoinne na héarlaise a bheidh á cothabháil san Ard-Chúirt agus ní dhéanfar aon ordú ina dhiaidh sin faoi alt 11 (3) (b) maidir leis an éarlais;
(b) cuirfidh sé an dílsiú in iúl don Chuntasóir;
(c) d'ainneoin go mb'fhéidir gur faoi alt 11 (4) a rinneadh ordú i leith aon chuntas cliaint den sórt sin, beidh cuideachta baincéireachta i dteideal an tsuim a bheidh chun creidiúna don chuntas sin a íoc leis agus íocfaidh an tsuim sin leis ar é á éileamh;
(d) rachaidh sé i mbun an chuntais chliaint nó na gcuntas cliaint a riaradh chun tairbhe do na cliaint agus bainfidh dlí na féimheachta (lena n-áirítear an tAcht seo) leis an riaradh sin.
(3) Measfar chun gach críche gur gnó atá sannta d'Oifig an tSannaí Oifigiúil i bhFéimheacht agus gurb inti a dhéantar riaradh faoi fho-alt (2) ar chuntas cliaint ag an Sannaí Oifigiúil.
Forálacha a bhaineann le cuntais chliaint i gcás féimheachta.
1887, c. 57.
8.—(1) I gcás—
(a) ceantálaí nó gníomhaire tithe a bhreithiúnú ina fhéimheach, do chomhadú achainí ar chomhshocraíocht, d'fhorghníomhú gníomhais chomhshocraíochta (de réir bhrí alt 4 den Deeds of Arrangement Act, 1887) nó d'fháil bháis dócmhainneach, nó
(b) cuideachta atá ceadúnaithe mar cheantálaí nó gníomhaire tithe a bheith dócmhainneach agus á foirceannadh,
féadfaidh an Sannaí Oifigiúil (i gcás ina bhfuil feidhm ag alt 7), an leachtaitheoir (i gcás cuideachta dóchmhainní) nó aon pháirtí leasmhar (in aon chás eile) iarratas a dhéanamh chun na hArd-Chúirte trí fhoriarratas ar ordú faoi fho-alt (2).
(2) (a) Féadfaidh an Ard-Chúirt, ar iarratas a dhéanamh chuici faoi fho-alt (1), ordú a dhéanamh á ordú go ndéanfaidh an Cuntasóir—
(i) na costais, na táillí agus na caiteachais a thabhaigh an Sannaí Oifigiúil nó is iníoctha leis i ndáil leis an gcuntas cliaint nó (de réir mar is iomchuí) cibé costais agus caiteachais i ndáil le cuntas cliaint an leachtaithóra nó dhuine leasmhair eile a cheadóidh an chúirt, agus
(ii) méid aon easnaimh ar chuntas cliaint,
a íoc nó a shlánú, a mhéid a ligfidh an t-airgead a bheidh ar fáil é, as an éarlais a bheidh á cothabháil san Ard-Chúirt faoin bPríomh-Acht, nó, i gcás inar banna ráthaíochta an éarlais, as airgead a chuirfidh an chuideachta árachais lena mbainfidh ar fáil ar scór an bhanna; agus, chun a chumasú don Chuntasóir déanamh de réir an ordacháin sin, féadfaidh an t-ordú nó ordú breise a ordú, i gcás inar urrúis an éarlais sin, go ndíolfaidh an Cuntasóir na hurrúis sin (nó an méid díobh is gá) agus, i gcás inar banna ráthaíochta an éarlais agus go mbeidh fógra i dtaobh an iarratais seirbheáilte ar an gcuideachta árachais lena mbainfidh, go n-íocfaidh an chuideachta árachais méid an bhanna (nó an méid de is gá): ar choinníoll, áfach, go mbeidh éifeacht ag an ordú sin faoi réir forálacha aon ordú a rinneadh roimhe sin maidir leis an éarlais faoi alt 11 (3) (b) mura n-ordóidh an Ard-Chúirt a mhalairt.
(b) I gcás ina mbeidh easnamh ar níos mó ná cuntas cliaint amháin, féadfar an méid a bheidh ar fáil ón éarlais chun na heasnaimh a shlánú a íoc anonn faoi mhír (a) gan chionroinnt idir na cuntais chliaint.
(c) Féadfaidh an Ard-Chúirt, nuair a bheidh ordú á dhéanamh aici faoin bhfo-alt seo á ordú urrúis a dhíol, a ordú san ordú céanna go ndíolfar na hurrúis go léir den sórt sin a bheidh á gcothabháil mar éarlais san Ard-Chúirt ag an gceantálaí nó ag an ngníomhaire tithe agus go n-aistreofar chun an tSannaí Oifigiúil, chun tairbhe na ngnáthchreidiúnaithe, aon bharrachas a bheidh ann tar éis aon chostais, táillí agus caiteachais a íoc agus aon easnamh ar chuntas cliaint a shlánú.
(d) Bainfidh forálacha alt 15 (3) den Phríomh-Acht le hordú faoin bhfo-alt seo.
(3) I gcás—
(a) (i) ceantálaí nó gníomhaire tithe a bhreithniú ina fhéimheach, do chomhadú achainí ar chomhshocraíocht, d'fhorghníomhú gníomhais chomhshocraíochta (de réir bhrí alt 4 den Deeds of Arrangement Act, 1887) nó d'fháil bháis dócmhainneach, nó
(ii) cuideachta atá ceadúnaithe mar cheantalaí nó gníomhaire tithe a bheith dócmhainneach agus á foirceannadh,
agus
(b) go bhfuil, d'ainneoin an tsuim a íocadh anonn faoi fho-alt (2) a bheith curtha san áireamh, easnamh ar an gcuntas cliaint nó ar na cuntais chliaint,
ansin, d'ainneoin aon rial dlí dá mhalairt, an tsuim a bheidh chun creidiúna don chuntas cliaint sin nó, i gcás dhá chuntas cliaint nó níos mó a bheith á gcoimeád ag an gceantálaí nó ag an ngníomhaire tithe, iomlán na suimeanna a bheidh chun creidiúna do na cuntais sin, beidh an tsuim sin nó an t-iomlán sin (tar éis an tsuim a íocadh faoi fho-alt (2) a chur san áireamh) inroinnte go comhréireach idir cliaint an cheantálaí nó an ghníomhaire tithe de réir na suimeanna faoi seach a fuair an ceantálaí nó an gníomhaire tithe i gcúrsa a ghnó thar ceann a chliant agus a bheidh fós dlite de dóibh.
(4) Aon duine, seachas an Sannaí Oifigiúil, a bheidh i dteideal agus a bheartóidh iarratas a dhéanamh faoi fho-alt (1) chun na hArd-Chúirte féadfaidh sé sula ndéanfaidh sé an t-iarratas sin agus trí fhoriarratas ex parte iarratas a dhéanamh chun na Cúirte ar ordú do thoirmeasc aon airgead a íoc amach as an éarlais nó, i gcás inar banna ráthaíochta an éarlais, as airgead a chuirfidh an chuideachta árachais lena mbainfidh ar fáil ar scór an bhanna, go dtí go n-éistfear an t-iarratas faoi fho-alt (1), agus féadfaidh an Chúirt, más oiriúnach léi, ordú a thabhairt dá réir sin.
(5) Chun críocha an ailt seo, i gcás ina mbeidh aisíoc éarlaise dlite, measfar go bhfuair an ceantálaí nó an gníomhaire tithe an méid a bheidh dlite i gcúrsa a ghnó thar ceann an duine a thaisc an éarlais: ar choiníoll, áfach, nach n-oibreoidh an t-alt seo ar shlí a bhainfidh den duine sin aon cheart chun a cheangal go gcríochnófaí go cuí an conradh díolacháin nó an conradh ligin.
Lian agus cearta eile a shlánchoimeád.
9.—Ní oibreoidh aon ní san Acht seo ar shlí a bhainfidh de cheantálaí ná de ghníomhaire tithe aon chúlárach ná ceart (ar mhodh liain, fritháirimh, frithéilimh, muirir nó eile) i gcoinne airgead a bheidh chun creidiúna cuntais chliaint.
Forálacha maidir le cuideachtaí baincéireachta.
10.—(1) Ní thabhóidh cuideachta baincéireachta, i ndáil le haon idirbheart ar chuntas ceantálaí nó gníomhaire tithe a bheidh á choimeád leo féin nó le cuideachta baincéireachta eile, dliteanas ná ní bheidh siad faoi aon oibleagáid fiafraí a dhéanamh ná ní mheasfar eolas a bheith acu ar cheart chun airgead a íocadh leis an gcuntas nó a creidiúnaíodh dó nach dtabhóidís, nach mbeidís faoi nó nach measfaí a bheadh acu i gcás cuntas a bheadh á choimeád ag duine ag a mbeadh teideal iomlán chun an airgid a íocadh leis nó a creidiúnaíodh dó.
(2) Ní scaoilfidh aon ní i bhfo-alt (1) cuideachta baincéireachta ó aon dliteanas nó oibleagáid a bheadh orthu ar leith ón Acht seo.
(3) D'ainneoin fho-alt (1), aon chuideachta baincéireachta a choimeádann cuntas ceantálaí nó gníomhaire tithe ar airgead cliant ní bheidh acu ná ní bhfaighidh siad, maidir le dliteanas an cheantálaí nó an ghníomhaire tithe don chuideachta baincéireachta, nach dliteanas i ndáil leis an gcuntas sin, aon chúlárach ná ceart (ar mhodh liain, fritháirimh, frithéilimh, muirir nó eile) i gcoinne airgead a bheidh chun creidiúna don chuntas sin.
(4) Ní bhainfidh aon ní i bhfo-alt (3) de chuideachta baincéireachta aon cheart a bheidh ann ar dháta tosach feidhme an ailt seo maidir le hairgead a taisceadh roimhe sin leis an gcuideachta baincéireachta sin.
Imeachtaí maidir le héarlaisí agus cuntais bhaincéireachta.
11.—(1) I gcás ina mbeidh duine (dá ngairtear an gearánaí san alt seo)—
(a) tar éis breithiúnas, ordú nó foraithne a fháil in aon imeachtaí, nó
(b) tar éis imeachtaí a thionscnamh,
i gcoinne aon duine (dá ngairtear an cosantóir san alt seo) go ndéanfar (nó, i gcás imeachtaí a tionscnaíodh lena dtéann éileamh ar) airgead a íoc d'urscaoileadh dliteanas a tabhaíodh nó a líomhnaítear a tabhaíodh ag an gcosantóir mar cheantálaí nó gníomhaire tithe maidir le hairgead a fháil nó a íoc nó slánchoimeád maoine, féadfaidh an gearánaí nó aon chliant don chosantóir, trí fhoriarratas ex parte, iarratas a dhéanamh chun na hArd-Chúirte ar ordú faoi fho-alt (3).
(2) (a) Aon duine a dhéanfaidh iarratas faoi fho-alt (1) beidh sé, ar chláraitheoir nó cléireach (de réir mar a bheidh) na cúirte ina bhfuarthas an breithiúnas, an t-ordú nó an fhoraithne a luaitear san fho-alt sin nó inar tionscnaíodh na himeachtaí a luaitear sa fho-alt sin a shásamh go mbeartaíonn sé an t-iarratas a dhéanamh, i dteideal deimhniú faoi láimh an chláraitheora nó an chléirigh go bhfuil breithiúnas, ordú nó foraithne mar a dúradh faighte nó go bhfuil imeachtaí mar a dúradh tionscanta, de réir mar a bheidh, a fháil i gcoinne an chosantóra.
(b) Beidh deimhniú faoi mhír (a) ina fhianaise ar na fíorais a bheidh ráite ann.
(3) I gcás ina ndéanfar iarratas faoi fho-alt (1), beidh éifeacht ag na forálacha seo a leanas, eadhon:
(a) in aon chás, féadfaidh an Chúirt le hordú a ordú nach ndéanfar an éarlais a bheidh á cothabháil sa Chúirt faoin bPríomh-Acht a urscaoileadh i gcaitheamh cibé tréimhse is cuí leis an gCúirt;
(b) i gcás an t-iarratas a dhéanamh ag gearánaí a mbeidh breithiúnas, ordú nó foraithne faighte aige agus go measann an Chúirt tar éis cibé fiosrú is cuí léi—
(i) nach dócha go ndéanfar éilithe eile i gcoinne na héarlaise i leith suimeanna a bheidh dlite den chosantóir an tráth sin, nó
(ii) dá ndéanfaí éilithe den sórt sin, gur leor an éarlais chun freastal dóibh go hiomlán,
féadfaidh an Chúirt le hordú a ordú go ndéanfar an tsuim a bheidh sonraithe sa bhreithiúnas, san ordú nó san fhoraithne (de réir mar a bheidh), i dteannta nó d'éagmais costais an iarratais, a íoc leis an ngearánaí as an éarlais nó, más banna ráthaíochta an éarlais agus go mbeifear tar éis fógra i dtaobh na n-imeachtaí nó i dtaobh é a bheith beartaithe na himeachtaí a thionscnamh a sheirbheáil roimh an éisteacht ar an gcuideachta árachais lena mbainfidh, a íoc leis an gCuntasóir thar ceann an ghearánaí.
(4) I gcás ina mbeifear tar éis ordú a dhéanamh faoi fho-alt (3) (a) féadfaidh an Chúirt ordú a dhéanamh freisin á ordú—
(a) nach ndéanfaidh aon chuideachta baincéireachta, ach amháin ar cibé coinníollacha nó i cibé imthosca a shonrófar san ordú, aon íocaíocht as aon chuntas baincéireachta in ainm an chosantóra, nó
(b) nach ndéanfaidh cuideachta baincéireachta shonraithe, ach amháin ar cibé coinníollacha nó i cibé imthosca a shonrófar san ordú, aon íocaíocht as aon chuntas baincéireachta ná as cuntas baincéireachta sonraithe ná as aon sórt cuntas a bheidh á choimeád ag an gcuideachta sin in ainm an chosantóra.
(5) I gcás—
(a) ordú a bheith déanta faoi fho-alt (3) (a) ar iarratas ó ghearánaí a fuair breithiúnas, ordú nó foraithne, nó
(b) ordú a bheith déanta faoi fho-alt (4),
measfar, chun críocha dhlí na féimheachta, gníomh féimheachta a bheith déanta aige ar dháta an t-ordú a dhéanamh nó, más cuideachta an cosantóir, measfar, chun críocha an dlí a bhaineann le cuideachtaí, é a bheith neamhábalta ar a fhiacha a íoc.
(6) (a) I dteannta nó in ionad ordaithe faoi fho-alt (4), ansin, d'ainneoin aon ní i ndlí na féimheachta nó sa dlí a bhaineann le cuideachtaí, féadfaidh an Chúirt, uaithi féin agus tar éis cibé fógra is dóigh léi a bheith réasúnach a thabhairt don chosantóir agus d'aon duine ar dóigh léi gur réasúnach fógra a thabhairt dó, é a bhreithúinú ina fhéimheach le hordú nó, más cuideachta an cosantóir, ordú a dhéanamh chun í a fhoirceannadh agus an Sannaí Oifigiúil a cheapadh mar leachtaithóir.
(b) I gcás ina gceapfar an Sannaí Oifigiúil mar leachtaithóir faoi mhír (a)—
(i) ní bhainfidh forálacha ailt 228 (a) agus 228 (d) d'Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963, leis,
(ii) d'ainneoin aon ní in alt 6 nó in aon achtachán eile, dílseoidh gach suim dó a bheidh chun creidiúna gach cuntais chliaint a bheidh á choiméad ag an gcuideachta agus beidh feidhm ag forálacha alt 7 (2) ionann is dá mba faoi alt 7 (1) don dílsiú,
(iii) measfar chun gach críche gur gnó atá sannta d'Oifig an tSannaí Oifigiúil i bhFéimheacht agus gurb inti a fheidhmítear a chumhachtaí agus a chomhlíontar a dhualgais mar leachtaitheoir (lena n-áirítear cuntas cliaint a riaradh).
(7) I gcás ina mbreithneofar cosantóir ina fhéimheach faoin alt seo, beidh feidhm ag dlí na féimheachta (lena n-áirítear an tAcht seo) ionann is dá mba ar achainí féimheachta faoin dlí sin a breithníodh an cosantóir ina fhéimheach agus ionann is dá ndéanfaí tagairt don ordú breithnithe a dhéanamh faoin alt seo a chur in ionad aon tagartha sa dlí sin d'achainí féimheachta a thíolacadh nó a chomhadú.
(8) Más rud é, i gcás inar cuideachta an cosantóir, go ndéanfar ordú foirceannaidh faoin alt seo, beidh feidhm ag an dlí a bhaineann le cuideachtaí (lena n-áirítear an tAcht seo) ionann is dá mba ar achainí foirceannaidh faoin dlí sin a rinneadh an t-ordú agus ionann is dá ndéanfaí tagairt don ordú foirceannaidh a dhéanamh faoin alt seo a chur in ionad aon tagartha san alt sin don achainí foirceannaidh a thíolacadh.
(9) Féadfaidh an Ard-Chúirt ordú faoi fho-alt (3) (a), nó faoi fho-alt (4) a chúlghairm nó a athrú.
(10) Féadfar an t-iomlán nó aon chuid d'imeachtaí faoin alt seo a éisteacht i ndlísheomra.
(11) Féadfaidh Rialacha na nUaschúirteanna foráil a dhéanamh chun dlí na féimheachta, an dlí a bhaineann le cuideachtaí agus aon nós imeachta a oiriúnú a mhéid is gá chun an t-alt seo a oibriú.
(12) Déanfar an tagairt in alt 15 (3) den Phríomh-Acht d'ordú faoin alt sin a fhorléiriú mar thagairt d'ordú faoi fho-alt (3) (b) den alt seo.
(13) Aisghairtear leis seo ailt 15 (1) agus 15 (2) den Phríomh-Acht.
Leasú ar alt 12 den Phríomh-Acht.
12.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 12 den Phríomh-Acht, a bhaineann le deimhnithe cáiliúcháin a dheonú—
(i) trí “an t-iarratasóir do chomhlíonadh forálacha fho-alt (3) den alt seo agus faoi réir” a chur isteach i ndiaidh “faoi réir” i bhfo-alt (1), agus
(ii) trí na fo-ailt seo a leanas a chur isteach i ndiaidh fho-alt (2):
“(3) (a) Aon iarratasóir ar dheimhniú cáiliúcháin a raibh gnó ceantálaí nó gnó gníomhaire tithe ar siúl aige aon tráth sa tréimhse dhá mhí dhéag dar críoch sé mhí roimh dháta an iarratais (dá ngairtear an t-iarratas reatha san fho-alt seo) tabharfaidh sé don Bhreitheamh Dúiche, nuair a bheidh an t-iarratas reatha á éisteacht, deimhniú a bheidh sínithe ag cuntasóir á rá gur scrúdaigh sé cuntais an iarratasóra in aghaidh cibé tréimhse a shonrófar san iarratas (is tréimhse dar tosach, i gcás iarratasóir nár thug deimhniú den sórt sin cheana uaidh, an lá a tosaíodh gnó nó cibé lá eile a cheadóidh an Breitheamh Dúiche ar chúiseanna speisialta, agus, in aon chás eile, lá nach déanaí ná an lá díreach i ndiaidh deireadh na tréimhse lena mbaineann an deimhniú deiridh den sórt sin a thug an t-iarratasóir nó deimhniú den chinéal a luaitear i bhfo-alt (4) (b) den alt seo, agus, i ngach cás, dar críoch lá nach luaithe ná sé mhí roimh an iarratas reatha) agus gur chomhlíon an t-iarratasóir na fórlacha den Acht um Cheántalaithe agus Gníomhairí Tithe, 1967, a bhaineann le coimeád cuntas agus le hoscailt agus coimeád cuntas cliaint.
(b) Chun críocha an fho-ailt seo, déanfar neamhshuim de ghnó a seoladh roimh lá na bhforál acha sin a theacht i ngníomh agus i gcás gnó a bheith á sheoladh an lá sin measfar gurb é an lá sin a thosaigh gnó.
(c) I gcás nach raibh gnó á sheoladh ag an iarratasóir i gcaitheamh na tréimhse a sonraítear i mír (a) gurb í an tréimhse lenar cheart baint a bheith ag an deimhniú, beidh forálacha na míre sin sách comhlíonta má bhaineann an deimhniú leis an gcuid den tréimhse (arb í an chuid í a raibh an gnó á sheoladh ar a feadh) agus go gcruthófar chun sástacht an Bhreithimh Dúiche nach raibh gnó á sheoladh ach amháin ar feadh na coda sin den tréimhse.
(d) San fho-alt seo forléireofar tagairtí do ghnó ceantálaí agus do ghnó gníomhaire tithe mar thagairtí nach mbaineann ach le gnó a bhfuil de cheangal ar an iarratasóir a bheith ceadúnaithe faoin Acht seo chun é a sheoladh.
(4) (a) Féadfaidh an Breitheamh Dúiche, dá rogha féin, géilleadh d'iarratas ar dheimhniú cáiliúcháin d'ainneoin an t-iarratasóir a bheith, mar gheall ar é do mhainneachtain na forálacha den Acht um Cheantálaithe agus Gníomhairí Tithe, 1967, a bhaineann le coimeád cuntas agus le hoscailt agus coimeád cuntas cliaint a chomhlíonadh, neamhábalta an deimhniú a thabhairt a cheanglaítear le fo-alt (3) den alt seo, ar choinníoll go gcruthóidh an t-iarratasóir chun sástacht an Bhreithimh Dúiche—
(i) go bhfuil sé, tráth an iarratais a dhéanamh, ag comhlíonadh na bhforálacha sin agus go bhfuil gach beart déanta aige is gá chun iad a chomhlíonadh feasta;
(ii) nár bhain agus nach dóigh go mbainfidh caillteanas d'aon chliant maidir le haon idirbhirt in imeacht na tréimhse nuair nár comhlíonadh na forálacha sin; agus
(iii) go bhfuil sé, maidir le gnó ceantálaí nó gnó gníomhaire tithe (cibé acu é) agus aon ghnó eile dá bhfuil sé ag gabháil, sócmhainneach.
(b) I ngach cás, is den chruthú ar na hábhair a luaitear i bhfomhíreanna (i) go (iii) de mhír (a) 2deimhniú faoi láimh cuntasóra maidir leis na hábhair sin agus féadfaidh an Bhreitheamh Dúiche a cheangal tuilleadh fianaise (lena n-áirítear fianaise ó bhéal ón gcuntasóir) a thabhairt ar aird.
(c) Ní mheasfar deimhniú chun críocha mhír (b) a bheith neamhdhóthanach mar gheall amháin—
(i) go bhfuil tréimhse ann ó thráth an deimhniú a eisiúint agus tráth an iarratais: ar choinníoll nach faide ná mí an tréimhse, nó
(ii) nach gcuireann an deimhniú, a mhéid a bhaineann sé le mír (a) (ii), i iúl ach amháin nach bhfuil aon chúis ag an gcuntasóir a chreidiúint gur bhain nó gur dóigh go mbainfidh caillteanas do chliant,
nó mar gheall ar an dá fhíoras sin.
(5) (a) Féadfaidh an tAire le hordú cibé modhnú a dhéanamh a mheasfaidh sé is gá maidir leis an tréimhse a mbeidh feidhm maidir léi ag an deimhniú a bheidh sínithe ag cuntasóir agus a luaitear i bhfo-alt (3) den alt seo, ach ní bhainfidh aon mhodhnú den sórt sin den iarratasóir an ceanglas (a fhorchuirtear i gcásanna áirithe leis an bhfo-alt sin (3)) deimhniú a thabhairt a bhainfidh le tréimhse dar tosach lá nach déanaí ná an lá díreach i ndiaidh deireadh na tréimhse lenar bhain an deimhniú deiridh den sórt sin a thug an t-iarratasóir, nó deimhniú den chineál a luaitear i bhfo-alt (4) (b) den alt seo.
(b) Féadfaidh an tAire le hordú ordú faoin bhfo-alt seo a aisghairm nó a leasú.
(6) (a) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh d'fhorordú—
(i) an cineál scrúdú agus méid an scrúdaithe a bheidh le déanamh ag cuntasóir ar leabhair agus ar chuntais cheantálaí nó ghníomhaire tithe agus ar aon doiciméid iomchuí eile, i ndáil le deimhniú chun críocha fho-alt (3) nó deimhniú chun críocha fho-alt (4) (b) a thabhairt, agus
(ii) foirm an deimhnithe sin,
agus féadfar rialacháin éagsúla a dhéanamh maidir leis an dá chinéal deimhnithe a luaitear i bhfomhír (i).
(b) D'ainneoin go ndearna ceantálaí nó gníomhaire tithe, in imeacht na tréimhse nach mór deimhniú ina haghaidh chun críocha fho-alt (3), forálacha iomchuí an Achta um Cheantálaithe agus Gníomhairí Tithe, 1967, a chomhlíonadh, ní eiseoidh cuntasóir deimhniú chun críocha an fho-ailt sin má bhíonn sé tar éis nithe a chrothnú tráth a scrúdaithe le gur dealraitheach dó nach bhfuil an ceantálaí nó an gníomhaire tithe sócmhainneach.
(7) Aon duine a ghníomhóidh mar chuntasóir chun críocha an ailt seo nuair nach bhfuil sé cáilithe sa tslí a luaitear i mír (a) nó i mír (b) (de réir mar a bheidh) den fho-alt ina dhiaidh seo beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus ar a chiontú ann go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó nó £100 a chur air.
(8) San alt seo ciallaíonn ‘cuntasóir’—
(a) i gcás inar cuideachta an ceantálaí nó an gníomhaire tithe, duine atá cáilithe chun a cheaptha mar iniúchóir don chuideachta sin,
(b) in aon chás eile, duine (nach cuideachta corpraithe ná nach é an t-iarratasóir é ná comhpháirtí ná fostaí don iarratasóir) a chomhlíonann—
(i) an coinníoll a luaitear i mír (a), nó
(ii) an coinníoll a luaitear i mír (b),
d'alt 162 (1) d'Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963, chun a cheaptha mar iniúchóir do chuideachta agus nach bhfuil dícháilithe faoi alt 162 (2) den Acht sin chun a cheaptha amhlaidh.”
Feidhm an Achta seo.
13.—Ní bheidh feidhm ná éifeacht ag an Acht seo, seachas ailt 1 go 4, alt 11, an t-alt seo agus alt 14, maidir le glasraí, prátaí, torthaí, bláthanna, éanlaithe clóis, uibheacha nó táirgí bunaidh eile (gan capaill, eallach, caoirigh ná muca a áireamh) talmhaíochta nó garnóireachta.
Gearrtheideal, comhlua, forléiriú agus tosach feidhme.
14.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht um Cheantálaithe agus Gníomhairí Tithe, 1967, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Féadfar na hAchtanna um Cheantálaithe agus Gníomhairí Tithe, 1947 agus 1967, a ghairm den Phríomh-Acht agus den Acht seo le chéile agus forléireofar iad le chéile mar aon ní amháin.
(3) Tiocfaidh ailt 4 go 12 i ngníomh ar bheith caite do thréimhse dhá mhí dar tosach lá an Achta seo i rith.