As Ann Déscrolláil
Cuir Déscrolláil ar siúl chun an dá leagan a scrolláil le chéile.
Uimhir 10 de 1954.
AN tACHT UM CHOINBHINSIÚIN CHONSALACHTA, 1954.
[An tiontó oifigiúil.]
Mínithe.
1.—San Acht seo—
folaíonn “cairteacha” comhfhreagras, doiciméid agus páipéir oifigiúla (lena n-áirítear tiachóga oifigiúla ina bhfuilid), leabhair, taifid, airgead, stampaí, séalaí, comhad-chaibinéid, taisceáin, agus gléasra eile oifige a sealbhaítear nó a húsáidtear chun críocha oifigiúla oifigigh chonsalachta;
ciallaíonn “tír choinbhinsiúin chonsalachta” tír a bhfuil i bhfeidhm idir í agus an Stát coinbhinsiún consalachta a bhaineas le cuid de na nithe nó leis na nithe go léir dá ndéantar socrú leis an Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “fostaí consalachta” aon duine atá ar fostú i gconsalachtle bheith ag comhlíonadh dualgas feidhmiúcháin, riaracháin nó cléireachais, nó dualgas teicniúla nó gairmiúla, nó mar gharda nó teachtaire consalachta nó mar thiománaí feithicle consalachta agus is duine ar cuireadh a ainm in iúl don Aire, ach ní fholaíonn sé aon duine atá ar fostú ar dhualgais tís;
ciallaíonn “oifigeach consalachta” ard-chonsal, consal, leaschonsal nó oifigeach eile tíre coinbhinsiúin chonsalachta dár dheoin an tUachtarán nó an tAire exequatur nó údarás sealadach nó údarás eile chun feidhmeanna consalachta d'fheidhmiú;
ciallaíonn “consalacht” aon fhoirgint nó aon chuid d'fhoirgint atá á haitiú chun críocha gnótha oifigiúla oifigigh chonsalachta agus chun na gcríocha sin amháin;
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Gnóthaí Eachtracha;
folaíonn “náisiúnach” géilliúnach nó saoránach.
Feidhm alt 3 gc 11.
2.—(1) Ní bheidh feidhm ag ailt 3 go 11 maidir le haon tír ach amháin a mhéid a bheas feidhm tugtha dhóibh amhlaidh le hordú faoin alt seo a bheas i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire.
(2) Aon uair is deimhin leis an Rialtas cumhachta, pribhléidí agus díolúintí cosúil leo siúd a bheirtear le haon cheann d'fhorála alt 3 go 11 a bheith, i dtír choinbhinsiúin chonsalachta, deonta i leith an Stáit, féadfaidh an Rialtas, le hordú, feidhm a thabhairt i leith na tíre sin do na forála sin go léir nó d'aon cheann acu.
(3) Féadfaidh an Rialtas, le hordú, ordú faoi fho-alt (2) a chúlghairm.
(4) Gach ordú a déanfar faoin alt seo leagfar é faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta agus má dhéanann ceachtar Teach, laistigh den lá agus fiche a shuífeas an Teach sin tar éis an t-ordú a leagadh faoina bhráid, rún a rith ag neamhniú an orduithe, beidh an t-ordú ar neamhní dá réir sin gan dochar do bhailíocht aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin ordú.
Ionadaiocht a dheonadh d'oifigigh chonsalachta
3.—(1) I gcás—
(a) náisiúnach tíre coinbhinsiúin chonsalachta, nach gcónaíonn sa Stát, d'ainmniú mar sheiceadóir uachta faoina gcuirtear de láimh maoin atá suite sa Stát nó é a bheith ina dhuine a bhféadfar deonadh riaracháin i leith eastáit sa Stát a thabhairt dó, agus
(b) gan deonadh ionadaíochta a bheith iarrtha ag aon duine atá údaraithe chun gníomhú thar ceann an náisiúnaigh,
féadfaidh an Chúirt, ar iarratas ó oifigeach consalachta don tír sin, deonadh ionadaíochta a thabhairt don oifigeach consalachta sin amhail is dá mbeadh sé údaraithe amhlaidh.
(2) Féadfar deonadh riaracháin a bhéarfar de bhuaidh an ailt seo a thabhairt don oifigeach consalachta faoina theideal oifigiúil agus dá chomharbaí in oifig; agus i gcás ina dtabharfar deonadh riaracháin amhlaidh, beidh oifig an riarthóra, agus eastát, cearta, dualgais agus dliteanais uile an riarthóra (lena n-áirítear dliteanais faoin mbanna riaracháin) dílsithe sa duine a bheas i seilbh na hoifige de thuras na huaire agus forchurtha air, agus ní bheidh riachtanas le deonadh nua d'aon-toisc mar gheall ar an duine dár tugadh an deonadh nó inar dílsíodh é amhlaidh d'éag nó a scarúint le hoifig.
(3) Ní bheidh riachtanas le hurraí i leith banna riaracháin a bhéarfas oifigeach consalachta ar dheonadh riaracháin d'eisiúint faoin alt seo.
(4) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht a cumacht, féadfaidh an Chúirt, más cuí léi, tabhairt deonadh riaracháin de bhuaidh an ailt seo a chur siar go ceann pé tréimhse is dóigh léi is gá chun go bhféadfar a chur in iúl don náisiúnach an deonadh a bheith beartaithe agus chun go bhféadfaidh an náisiúnach a chinneadh an mian leis ionadaí seachas an t-oifigeach consalachta a bheith aige.
(5) Ní bheidh éifeacht ag an alt seo ar aon tórainn a bheas sa deonadh ná ar aon chumhacht de chuid na Cúirte chun an deonadh a chúlghairm.
Cumacht oifigeach consalachta chun maoin a ghlacadh.
4.—(1) Má bhíonn teideal ag náisiúnach tíre coinbhinsiúin chonsalachta, nach gcónaíonn sa Stát—
(a) chun aon mhaoine as eastát duine éagtha, nó
(b) chun aon mhaoine a dhílseos i seilbh, nó a thiocfas chun bheith dlite, ar bhás aon duine,
féadfaidh oifigeach consalachta don tír sin an mhaoin sin a ghlacadh agus urscaoileadh bailí a thabhairt ina leith amhail is dá mbeadh údarás aige ón náisiúnach chun sin a dhéanamh.
(2) Ní bheidh duine ar bith údaraithe ná faoi cheangal leis an alt seo chun aon airgead nó maoin d'íoc le hoifigeach consalachta nó a sheachadadh dhó más eol dó aon duine eile sa Stát a bheith údaraithe go sainráite chun an t-airgead nó an mhaoin sin a ghlacadh thar ceann an náisiúnaigh.
Foráil i gcoinne díolúintí i leith cumhacht a bheirtear le nailt 3 agus 4.
5.—D'ainneoin aon fhorála eile den Acht seo nó aon rialach dlí a bheir díolúine nó pribhléid i leith gníomhartha oifigiúla nó cairteacha oifigigh chonsalachta, ní bheidh teideal ag oifigeach consalachta chun aon díolúine ná pribhléide i leith aon ghnímh a rinneadh de bhuaidh cumhacht a bheirtear dó le halt 3 nó 4, nó faoi na hailt sin, ná i leith aon doiciméid ina thaobh, sin a bheas ina sheilbh de thuras na huaire.
Srian le cumhachta chun dul isteach i gconsalachtaí.
6.—(1) Faoi réir an ailt seo, ní cead do chomhalta den Gharda Síochána ná d'aon duine eile a bheas ag gníomhú chun aon bharántas nó próis dlíthiúil eile d'fhorghníomhú, nó chun aon chumhacht eile a bheirtear le dlí d'fheidhmiú, dul isteach i gconsalacht ach amháin le toiliú an oifigigh chonsalachta a bheas i gceannas nó, mura dtugtar an toiliú sin nó mura féidir é d'fháil, le toiliú an Aire.
(2) Ní bhaineann an t-alt seo le haon duine acu seo a leanas do dhul isteach—
(a) comhalta den Gharda Síochána a bhfuil cúis réasúnach aige chun a chreidiúint coir foréigin a bheith déanta, á déanamh nó ar tí a déanta san áitreabh;
(b) duine a bhfuil teideal aige dul isteach de bhuaidh aon éasúna, conartha nó cirt phríobháidigh eile;
(c) duine a bhfuil teideal aige faoi alt 9 den Acht Briogáideacha Tóiteáin 1940 (Uimh. 7 de 1940), dul isteach in áitreabh chun tóiteán a mhúchadh.
(3) Ní bhaineann an t-alt seo le consalacht atá de thuras na huaire faoi cheannas oifigigh chonsalachta is saoránach d'Éirinn nó nach náisiúnach den tír dárb oifigeach consalachta é.
Díolúine phearsanta oifigeach agus fostaithe consalachta.
7.—(1) Ní bheidh oifigeach consalachta faoi dhliteanas in aon imeachta, sibhialta ná coiriúil, i leith gníomhartha a rinne sé ina cháil oifigiúil, a thagas laistigh de réim feidhmeanna oifigigh chonsalachta faoin dlí eadarnáisiúnta, mura n-iarrfaidh a rialtas na himeachta nó mura dtoileoidh leo.
(2) Ní bheidh fostaí consalachta faoi dhliteanas in aon imeachta, sibhialta ná coiriúil, i leith gníomhartha a rinne sé faoi chuimsiú a fhostaíochta agus i gcúrsa a dhualgas oifigiúla sa mhéid go bhfuil na dualgais sin laistigh d'fheidmeanna oifigigh chonsalachta faoin dlí eadarnáisiúnta, mura n-iarrfaidh a rialtas na himeachta nó mura dtoileoidh leo.
(3) Aon oifigeach consalachta is náisiúnach den tír dárb oifigeach consalachta é agus nach saoránach d'Éirinn agus nach bhfuil ag gabháil do ghnó príobháideach chun sochair dó féin sa Stát, beidh sé díolmhaithe óna ghabháil agus óna inchúiseamh ach amháin i gcás é a chúiseamh i gcoir is inphionóis trí phríosúntacht ar feadh tréimhse bliana nó níos mó nó trí phiantseirbhís.
(4) Ní thugann an t-alt seo díolúine d'oifigeach consalachta ná d'fhostaí consalachta ó dhliteanas i gcaingean sibhialta de dhroim conartha a rinne sé agus nár chonraigh sé go sainráiteach ann mar ghníomhaire dá rialtas agus inar fhéach an páirtí eile chuige go pearsanta lena chomhlíonadh.
Diolúine do chairteacha consalachta.
8.—Beidh slánadh ag na cairteacha a bheas ar coimeád i gconsalacht agus ag comhfhreagras oifigiúil chun oifigigh chonsalachta nó uaidh agus ní scrúdóidh ná ní choinneoidh aon duine iad gan toiliú an oifigigh chonsalachta.
Díolúine chonsalachta i leith fianaise a thabhairt.
9.—Beidh teideal ag oifigeach consalachta nó ag fostaí con salachta chun a dhiúltú—
(a) aon cheann dá chairteacha a thabhairt ar aird i gcúirt, nó
(b) fianaise a thabhairt i dtaobh aon ní ina chairteacha nó aon ní eile atá faoi chuimsiú a dhualgas oifigiúla, nó
(c) fianaise shaineolach a thabhairt i dtaobh dlithe na tíre dárb oifigeach consalachta nó fostaí consalachta é.
Admhála ar tháillí consalachta a díolmhadh ó dhleacht stampa.
10.—Ní bheidh dleacht stampa le n-íoc ar admhála a eiseos oifigeach consalachta i leith táillí d'íoc as seirbhísí consalachta a thug sé.
Bratacha a chrochadh ar longa Eireannacha a bheas fostaithe ag oifigigh chonsalachta.
11.—D'ainneoin ailt 3 den Acht Loingis Cheannaíochta, 1947 (Uimh. 46 de 1947), féadfar bratach tíre coinbhinsiúin chonsalachta agus a bratach consalachta a chrochadh ar long Éireannach a bheas fostaithe ag feidhmiú dualgas consalachta ag oifigeach consalachta.
Cumhachta consal maidir le longa raice agus maidir le maoin maraithe éagtha.
12.—(1) Má chítear don Aire Tionscail agus Tráchtála aon duine a bhféadfar aon airgead nó maoin eile le maraí éagtha d'íoc leis nó a sheachadadh dhó faoi mhír (b) d'fho-alt (1) d'alt 176 den Merchant Shipping Act, 1894 (a bhaineas le maoin nach mó ná céad punt a luach a chur de láimh) a bheith ina chónaí i dtír choinbhinsiúin chonsalachta, féadfaidh sé an t-airgead nó an mhaoin d'íoc le hoifigeach consalachta don tír sin nó a sheachadadh dhó thar ceann an duine sin agus beidh éifeacht dá réir sin ag forála an ailt sin.
(2) Na cumhachta atá ag oifigeach consalachta faoi fho-alt (2) d'alt 521 den Merchant Shipping Act, 1894 (a chumasaíos d'oifigeach consalachta gníomhú, in imthosca áirithe, mar ghníomhaire don únaer maidir le hearraí a choimeád agus a chur de láimh a bhain le long choigríche, nó ba chuid de long choigríche, a ndearnadh raic di ar chóstaí na hÉireann nó ina n-aice), beidh réim acu maidir leis an long raice féin chomh maith leis na hearraí sin adúradh a choimeád agus a chur de láimh.
Cosaint.
13.—Ní dochar d'aon phribhléid nó díolúine atá ó dhlí nó ó ghnás ag oifigigh chonsalachta na pribhléidí agus na díolúintí a bheirtear dóibh faoin Acht seo.
Athghairm.
14.—Athghairmtear leis seo alt 4 den Domicile Act, 1861.
Gearrtheideal.
15.—Féadfar an tAcht um Choinbhinsiúin Chonsalachta, 1954, a ghairm den Acht seo.
Number 10 of 1954.
CONSULAR CONVENTIONS ACT, 1954.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Acts Referred to | |
No. 7 of 1940 | |
No. 46 of 1947 | |
Number 10 of 1954.
CONSULAR CONVENTIONS ACT, 1954.
Definitions.
1.—In this Act—
“archives” includes official correspondence, documents and papers (including official pouches containing them), books, records, cash, stamps, seals, filing cabinets, safes, and other office paraphernalia held or used for the official purposes of a consular officer;
“consular convention country” means a country between which and the State a consular convention is in force dealing with some or all of the matters for which provision is made by this Act;
“consular employee” means any person employed at a consulate for the performance of executive, administrative, clerical, technical, or professional duties, or as consular guard, messenger or driver of a vehicle whose name has been communicated to the Minister, but does not include any person employed on domestic duties;
“consular officer” means a consul-general, consul, vice-consul or other official of a consular convention country who is granted au exequatur or provisional or other authorisation, for the performance of consular functions, by the President or the Minister;
“consulate” means any building or part of a building which is exclusively occupied for the purposes of the official business of a consular officer;
“the Minister” means the Minister for External Affairs;
“national” includes subject or citizen.
Application of Sections 3 to 11.
2.—(1) Sections 3 to 11 shall not apply in respect of any country save to such extent as they are so applied by order under this section for the time being in force.
(2) Whenever the Government are satisfied that, in a consular convention country, powers, privileges and immunities similar to those conferred by any of the provisions of sections 3 to 11 are conceded in respect of the State, the Government may by order apply all or any of these provisions in respect of that country.
(3) The Government may by order revoke an order under subsection (2).
(4) Every order 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 such order is passed by either House within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the order is laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.
Grants of representation to consular officers.
3.—(1) Where—
(a) a national of a consular convention country, not resident in the State, is named as executor of a will under which property situate in the State is disposed of or is a person to whom a grant of administration to an estate in the State may be made, and
(b) no application for a grant of representation has been made by a person authorised to act for the national,
the Court may, on the application of a consular officer of that country, make a grant of representation to the consular officer as if he were so authorised.
(2) A grant of administration made by virtue of this section may be made to the consular officer by his official title, and to his successors in office; and where a grant is so made, the office of administrator, and all the estate, rights, duties and liabilities of the administrator (including liabilities under the administration bond) shall be vested in and imposed on the person for the time being holding the office, and no fresh grant shall be required by reason only of the death or vacation of office of the person to whom the grant was made or in whom it is so vested.
(3) Sureties shall not be required to an administration bond given by a consular officer upon the issue of a grant of administration under this section.
(4) Without prejudice to the generality of its powers, the Court may, if it thinks fit, postpone the making of a grant of administration by virtue of this section for such time as it thinks necessary to enable the national to be informed of the proposed grant and to decide whether he desires to be represented otherwise than by the consular officer.
(5) This section shall not affect any limitation contained in the grant or any power of the Court to revoke the grant.
Power of consular officers to receive property.
4.—(1) Where a national of a consular convention country, not resident in the State, is—
(a) entitled to any property out of the estate of a deceased person, or
(b) entitled to any property vesting in possession, or becoming due on the death of any person,
a consular officer of that country may receive and give a valid discharge for such property as if he were authorised to do so by the national.
(2) No person shall be authorised or required by this section to pay or deliver any money or property to a consular officer if it is within his knowledge that any other person in the State has been expressly authorised to receive that money or property on behalf of the national.
Provision against immunities in respect of powers conferred by sections 3 and 4.
5.—Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act or any rule of law conferring immunity or privilege in respect of the official acts or archives of a consular officer, a consular officer shall not be entitled to any immunity or privilege in respect of any act done by virtue of powers conferred on him by or under section 3 or 4 or in respect of any document for the time being in his possession relating thereto.
Restriction of powers of entry into consulates.
6.—(1) Subject to this section, a consulate shall not be entered by a member of the Garda Síochána or other person acting in the execution of any warrant or other legal process or in the exercise of any other power conferred by law, except with the consent of the consular officer in charge or, if that consent is withheld or cannot be obtained, with the consent of the Minister.
(2) This section does not apply to an entry effected by—
(a) a member of the Garda Síochána having reasonable cause to believe that a crime involving violence has been or is being or is about to be committed in the premises;
(b) a person entitled to enter by virtue of any easement, contract or other private right;
(c) a person entitled under section 9 of the Fire Brigades Act, 1940 (No. 7 of 1940), to enter premises for the purpose of extinguishing a fire.
(3) This section does not apply to a consulate which for the time being is in the charge of a consular officer who is a citizen of Ireland or is not a national of the country of which he is consular officer.
Personal immunity of consular officers and employees.
7.—(1) A consular officer shall not be liable, in any proceedings, civil or criminal, in respect of acts performed by him in his official capacity, which fall within the functions of a consular officer in international law, unless his government requests or assents to the proceedings.
(2) A consular employee shall not be liable in any proceedings, civil or criminal, in respect of acts performed by him within the scope of his employment and in the course of his official duties in so far as those duties are within the functions of a consular officer in international law, unless his government requests or assents to the proceedings.
(3) A consular officer who is a national of the country of which he is a consular officer and not a citizen of Ireland and not engaged in private occupation for gain in the State shall be exempt from arrest or prosecution except when charged with the commission of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a period of one year or more or by penal servitude.
(4) This section does not exempt a consular officer or consular employee from liability in a civil action arising out of a contract concluded by him in which he did not expressly contract as agent for his government and in which the other party looked to him personally for performance.
Immunity for consular archives.
8.—The archives kept at a consulate and official correspondence sent to or by a consular officer shall be inviolable and no person shall examine or detain them without the consent of the consular officer.
Consular immunity in respect of giving evidence.
9.—A consular officer or consular employee shall be entitled to refuse—
(a) to produce in court any of his archives, or
(b) to give evidence with respect to anything contained in his archives or any other matter falling within the scope of his official duties, or
(c) to give expert evidence respecting the laws of the country of which he is the consular officer or consular employee.
Exemption of receipts for consular fees from stamp duty.
10.—Stamp duty shall not be chargeable on receipts issued by a consular officer in respect of the payment of fees for consular services rendered by him.
Flying of flags on Irish ships employed by consular officers.
11.—Notwithstanding section 3 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1947 (No. 46 of 1947), the flag of a consular convention country and its consular flag may be hoisted on an Irish ship employed in the exercise of consular duties by a consular officer.
Powers of consuls in relation to wrecked ships and property of deceased seamen.
12.—(1) Where it appears to the Minister for Industry and Commerce that any person to whom any money or other property of a deceased seaman may be paid or delivered under paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 176 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894 (which relates to the disposal of property not exceeding one hundred pounds in value) is resident in a consular convention country, he may pay or deliver the money or property to a consular officer of that country on behalf of that person and the provisions of that section shall have effect accordingly.
(2) The powers of a consular officer under subsection (2) of section 521 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894 (which enables a consular officer in certain circumstances to act as the agent of the owner for the purposes of the custody and disposal of articles belonging to or forming part of a foreign ship wrecked on or near the coasts of Ireland) shall extend to the custody and disposal of the wrecked ship itself as well as to the custody and disposal of such articles as aforesaid.
Saver.
13.—The privileges and immunities conferred on consular officers under this Act are without prejudice to any privilege or immunity which they may enjoy by law or custom.
Repeal.
14.—Section 4 of the Domicile Act, 1861, is hereby repealed.
Short title.
15.—This Act may be cited as the Consular Conventions Act, 1954.