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Number 1 of 1978
CONSUMER INFORMATION ACT, 1978
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Number 1 of 1978
CONSUMER INFORMATION ACT, 1978
Interpretation.
1.—(1) In this Act—
“accommodation” means living accommodation;
“the Acts” means the Merchandise Marks Acts, 1887 to 1970;
“advertisement” includes a catalogue, a circular and a price list;
“the Director” means the holder of the office of Director of Consumer Affairs established by section 9 of this Act;
“goods” includes ships, vehicles and aircraft, land, things attached to land and growing crops;
“the Minister” means the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy;
“place” includes any premises and any stall, vehicle, ship or aircraft;
“the Principal Act” means the Merchandise Marks Act, 1887;
“provide” in relation to a service or facility includes “render” and cognate words shall be construed accordingly;
“service” includes any service provided by a person in the practice of a profession;
“services” does not include anything done under a contract of service;
“supply” includes offer to supply and cognate words shall be construed accordingly.
(2) For the purposes of the Acts and this Act, a trade description or statement published in any newspaper, book or periodical or in any film or sound or television broadcast shall be deemed to be a trade description applied or statement made in the course of a trade, business or profession if, but only if, it is or forms part of an advertisement.
(3) A person exposing goods for supply or having goods in his possession for supply shall be deemed, for the purposes of this Act, to offer to supply them.
Extension of definitions of “trade description” and “false trade description” in Principal Act.
2.—(1) Section 3 (1) of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution for the definition of “trade description” of the following definition:
“‘trade description’ means any description, statement or other indication, direct or indirect—
(a) as to the number, quantity, measure, gauge, capacity or weight of any goods, or
(b) as to the place or country in which any goods were manufactured, produced, processed, reconditioned, repaired, packed or prepared for sale, or
(c) as to the mode of manufacturing, producing, processing, reconditioning, repairing, packing or preparing for sale of any goods, or
(d) as to the person by whom and the time at which any goods were manufactured, produced, processed, reconditioned, repaired, packed or prepared for sale, or
(e) as to the material of which any goods are composed, or
(f) as to any goods being the subject of an existing patent, privilege or copyright, or
(g) as to the fitness for any purpose, strength, performance, behaviour or accuracy of any goods, or
(h) as to any physical characteristic of any goods not referred to in the preceding paragraphs of this definition, or
(i) as to the conformity of any goods with any standard or their passing of any test or their commendation by any person, or
(j) as to the identity of the supplier or distributor, or the standing, commercial importance, competence or capabilities of, the manufacturer, producer, supplier or distributor, of any goods, or
(k) as to the contents of books or as to their authors, as to the contents of cinematograph films (within the meaning of the Performers' Protection Act, 1968) or as to their producers or as to the contents of recordings (within the meaning of the Performers' Protection Act, 1968) or as to the performers on such recordings, or
(l) as to any history of any goods not referred to in the preceding paragraphs of this definition, including their previous ownership,
and the use of any figure, word or mark which, according to the custom of the trade is commonly taken to be an indication of any of the above matters shall be deemed to be a trade description within the meaning of this Act;”
(2) (a) The definition of “false trade description” in the said section 3 (1) shall be construed as if the references to false in a material respect were references to false to a material degree and included references to misleading to a material degree.
(b) In paragraph (a) of this subsection “misleading to a material degree” means likely to be taken for such an indication of any of the matters specified in the definition of “trade description” in the said section 3 (1) of the Principal Act as would be false to a material degree.
(c) Anything which, though not a trade description, is likely to be taken for an indication of any of the matters specified in the definition of “trade description” in the said section 3 (1) and, as such an indication, would be false in a material respect, shall be deemed to be a false trade description.
(d) A false indication or anything likely to be taken as an indication which would be false that any goods comply with a standard specified or recognised by any person or implied by the approval of any person shall be deemed to be a false trade description, if there is no such person or no standard so specified, recognised or implied.
Termination of certain defences under Principal Act.
3.—(1) In a prosecution of a person for an offence under section 2 (1) of the Principal Act as amended by this Act in relation to the application to goods of a false trade description or the causing of such an application to be made, it shall not be a defence for the person to prove that he acted without intent to defraud.
(2) In a prosecution of a person for an offence under section 2 (2) of the Principal Act as amended by this Act in relation to the sale, exposure for sale or having in possession for sale in the course of any trade, business or profession of goods or things to which a false trade description is applied, it shall not be a defence for the person to prove the matters specified in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of the said section 2 (2).
(3) This section is without prejudice to section 22 of this Act.
Provision in relation to application and use of trade descriptions.
4.—(1) Section 2 (1) of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution for paragraph (d) of the following paragraph:
“(d) in the course of any trade, business or profession, applies any false trade description to goods, or”.
(2) Section 2 (2) of the Principal Act is hereby amended insofar as it relates to trade descriptions, by the substitution of “in the course of any trade, business or profession” for “or any purpose of trade or manufacture”.
(3) Section 5 of the Principal Act is hereby amended, insofar as it relates to trade descriptions, by the substitution for subsection (1) of the following subsection:
“(1) (a) A person shall be deemed to apply a trade description to goods if—
(i) he affixes or annexes it to them or in any manner marks it on or incorporates it with—
(I) the goods themselves, or
(II) anything in, on or with which the goods are sold,
(ii) he places the goods in, on or with anything to, on or with which the trade description has been affixed, annexed, marked or incorporated or places any such thing with the goods.
(b) A person shall also be deemed to have applied a trade description to goods if he uses the trade description in any manner likely to be taken as referring to the goods.
(c) Where goods are sold in pursuance of a request in which a trade description is used and the circumstances are such as to make it reasonable to infer that the goods are sold as goods corresponding to that trade description, the person selling the goods shall be deemed to have applied that trade description to the goods.
(d) An oral statement may amount to the use of a trade description.”.
Trade descriptions in advertisements.
5.—(1) Where a trade description is used in an advertisement in relation to any class of goods, the trade description shall be taken as referring to all goods of that class, whether or not in existence at the time the advertisement is published.
(2) In determining for the purposes of this section whether any goods are of a class to which a trade description used in an advertisement relates regard shall be had not only to the form and content of the advertisement but also to the time, place, manner and frequency of its publication and all other matters making it likely or unlikely that a person to whom the goods are sold would think of the goods as belonging to the class in relation to which the trade description is used in the advertisement.
False or misleading statements as to services, etc.
6.—(1) If a person, in the course or for the purposes of a trade, business or profession—
(a) makes a statement which he knows to be false, or
(b) recklessly makes a statement which is false
as to any of the following matters, that is to say—
(i) the provision in the course of the trade, business or profession of any services, accommodation or facilities,
(ii) the nature, effect or fitness for purpose of any services, accommodation or facilities provided in the course of the trade, business or profession,
(iii) the time at which, manner in which or persons by whom any services, accommodation or facilities are so provided,
(iv) the examination, approval, use or evaluation by any person of any services, accommodation or facilities so provided, or
(v) the place where any service, facility or accommodation is so provided or the amenities of any such accommodation,
he shall be guilty of an offence.
(2) For the purposes of this section—
(a) anything (whether or not a statement as to any of the matters specified in the preceding subsection) likely to be taken for such a statement as to any of those matters as would be false shall be deemed to be a false statement as to that matter; and
(b) a statement made regardless of whether it is true or false shall be deemed to be made recklessly, unless the person making it had adequate reasons for believing that it was true.
(3) In relation to any services consisting of or including the application of any treatment or process or the carrying out of any repair, the matters specified in subsection (1) of this section shall be taken to include the effect of the treatment, process or repair.
(4) In this section “false” means false to a material degree.
False or misleading indications of prices or charges.
7.—(1) If a person offering to supply goods of any description or provide any services or accommodation gives by any means a false or misleading indication of—
(a) the price or charge for the goods, services or accommodation,
(b) the price or charge at or for which the goods or goods of the same description or the services or accommodation were or was previously offered,
(c) a recommended price for the goods, or
(d) any charge for installation of or servicing of the goods or any price for ancillary equipment reasonably required for the purpose of the use or enjoyment of the goods,
he shall be guilty of an offence.
(2) For the purposes of this section—
(a) an indication that goods, services or accommodation were or was previously offered at a different price or charge or at a particular price or charge shall be treated, unless the contrary is expressed, as an indication that they were so offered openly at the same place within the preceding 3 months for not less than 28 successive days;
(b) an indication as to a recommended price—
(i) shall be treated, unless the contrary is expressed, as an indication that it is a price recommended by the manufacturer, producer or other supplier, and
(ii) shall be treated, unless the contrary is expressed, as an indication that it is a price recommended generally for supply by retail in the area where the goods are offered;
(c) anything likely to be taken as an indication as to a recommended price or as to the price or charge at or for which goods, services or accommodation were or was previously offered shall be treated as such an indication;
(d) a person advertising goods, services or accommodation as available for supply or provision shall be taken as offering to supply or provide them or it; and
(e) an indication of the price or charge at or for which any goods, services or accommodation are or is offered by a person shall be treated, unless the contrary is expressed, as an indication that those goods, services or accommodation are or is offered at or for that price or charge in every place in the State where those goods, services or accommodation are or is offered by the person:
Provided that, where such an indication is given at the place where the goods, services or accommodation are offered, the indication shall be treated, unless the contrary is expressed, as relating only to the goods, services or accommodation offered at that place.
Misleading advertisements.
8.—(1) A person shall not publish, or cause to be published, an advertisement in relation to the supply or provision in the course or for the purposes of a trade, business or profession, of goods, services or facilities if it is likely to mislead, and thereby cause loss, damage or injury to members of the public to a material degree.
(2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) of this section shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be guilty of an offence.
(3) The Director may, upon giving notice of the application to any person against whom the order the subject of the application is sought, apply to the High Court for, and may, at the discretion of that Court, be granted, an order prohibiting the publication, or the further publication, of an advertisement the publication of which is or would be a contravention of subsection (1) of this section.
Director of Consumer Affairs.
9.—(1) There shall stand established the office of Director of Consumer Affairs and the holder of the office shall be known as the Director of Consumer Affairs.
(2) The office of Director shall be a position in the Civil Service and no person shall be appointed to the office unless the Civil Service Commissioners, within the meaning of the Civil Service Commissioners Act, 1956, after holding a competition under section 15 of that Act, have, under section 17 of that Act, selected him for appointment to the office.
(3) A person appointed to be the Director shall hold office for a period of five years but the Minister may, if he thinks fit, continue the appointment (including an appointment previously continued under this subsection) for such further period not exceeding five years as he considers appropriate.
(4) (a) The Director may be removed from office at any time by the Minister.
(b) If the Director is removed from office under this sub-section, the Minister shall cause to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas a statement of the reasons for the removal.
(5) The Director shall be independent in the performance of his functions.
(6) The functions of the Director shall be—
(a) to keep under general review practices or proposed practices in relation to the advertising of, and the provision to members of the public of information in relation to and descriptions of, goods, services, accommodation and facilities,
(b) to carry out examinations of any such practices or proposed practices where the Minister requests him to carry out examinations or where the Director considers that, in the public interest, such examinations are proper,
(c) to request persons engaging in or proposing to engage in such practices that are, or are likely to be, misleading to members of the public in a material matter, to discontinue or refrain from such practices,
(d) to institute proceedings in the High Court for orders requiring persons engaging or proposing to engage in such practices that are, or are likely to be, misleading to members of the public in a material matter to discontinue or refrain from such practices,
(e) to request persons engaging in or proposing to engage in such practices to make such alterations of or deletions from, or provide such definitions of, expressions that are, or are proposed to be, used in or in connection with such practices, as would, in the opinion of the Director, increase the precision of, or the amount of information contained in, the expressions, or facilitate the understanding of the expressions,
(f) to encourage and promote the establishment and adoption of codes of standards in relation to such practices,
(g) to ensure that the provisions of any legislation providing for the protection of consumers that, in his opinion, should be brought to the attention of the public are brought to the attention of the public and for this purpose to publicise those provisions in such manner and to such extent as he thinks appropriate,
(h) without prejudice to the powers or functions of any other prosecuting authority, to bring or prosecute proceedings in relation to offences under the Acts or this Act.
(7) The Minister may by order under this section confer on the Director such further functions as he considers appropriate in respect of any matters to which the Acts or this Act or any other enactment making provision for the protection of consumers relates.
(8) The Director may do all such acts or things as are necessary or expedient for the purposes of the exercise of his functions under this Act.
(9) Where proceedings are instituted by the Director pursuant to subsection (6) (d) of this section and the Director has, prior to the institution of the proceedings, made a request under subsection (6) (c) of this section to the persons concerned and the request has not been complied with, the Director may, at the discretion of the High Court, be granted an order by that Court in the appropriate terms referred to in the said subsection (6) (d) if the practices or proposed practices that are the subject of the proceedings are, or are likely to be, misleading to members of the public in a material matter.
(10) The Director may perform such of his functions as he may deem proper through or by any officer of the Minister duly authorised by the Director in that behalf.
(11) (a) Whenever it appears to the Minister that the Director is temporarily unable to discharge his duties, the Minister may appoint a person to act in place of the Director during such inability or for such shorter period as the Minister thinks proper.
(b) A person appointed under paragraph (a) of this sub-section shall have all the powers, rights and duties conferred on the Director by this Act and each reference in this Act to the Director shall be deemed to include a reference to such a person.
(12) (a) The Director shall in each year make a report to the Minister in relation to the performance of his functions in the preceding year and the Minister shall, within one year of receipt by him of the report, cause copies of the report to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.
(b) The Director shall furnish to the Minister such information regarding the performance of his functions as the Minister may from time to time require.
Marking orders.
10.—(1) Where it appears to the Minister to be necessary or expedient in the interest of persons to whom goods of any description are supplied that the goods should be marked with or accompanied by any information (whether or not amounting to or including a trade description or the name and address of the manufacturer, producer or other supplier of the goods) or instructions relating to the goods, the Minister may, subject to the provisions of this Act, by order impose requirements for securing that goods of that description are so marked or accompanied, and regulate or prohibit the supply of goods in relation to which the requirements are not complied with, and the requirements may extend to the form and manner in which the information or instruction is to be given.
(2) A person who, in the course of any trade or business, supplies or offers to supply goods of a description in relation to which an order is for the time being in force under this section in contravention of the order shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be guilty of an offence.
(3) An order under this section may make different provisions for different circumstances and may, in the case of goods supplied in circumstances where apart from such an order the information or instruction required by the order would not be conveyed until after delivery of the goods, require also that the whole or part thereof be displayed near the goods.
Advertising orders.
11.—(1) Where it appears to the Minister to be necessary or expedient in the interest of persons to whom goods, services, accommodation or facilities, of any description are to be supplied or provided that advertisements or any class of advertisements of the goods, services, accommodation or facilities should contain or refer to any information (whether or not amounting to or including a trade description or the name and address of the publisher of an advertisement or his agent or any person procuring the publication of the advertisement or his agent) relating to the goods, services, accommodation or facilities, the Minister may, subject to the provisions of this Act, by order impose requirements as to the inclusion of that information, or of an indication of the means by which it may be obtained, in advertisements, or in such classes of advertisements as may be specified in the order, of the goods, services, accommodation or facilities, of that description.
(2) An order under this section may specify the form and manner in which any such information or indication as is specified in sub-section (1) of this section is to be included in advertisements or in advertisements of any class specified in the order and may make different provision for different circumstances and different classes of advertisements.
(3) Where an advertisement fails to comply with any requirement imposed under this section, any person who publishes the advertisement shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be guilty of an offence.
Definition orders.
12.—Where it appears to the Minister to be necessary or expedient in the interest of persons to whom goods, services, accommodation or facilities, of any description are supplied or provided that any words or expressions used in relation to the goods, services, accommodation or facilities should be understood as having definite meanings, the Minister may by order assign meanings either—
(a) to those words or expressions when used in the course of a trade or business, as, or as part of, a trade description applied to goods, services, accommodation or facilities, of that description, or
(b) to those words or expressions when so used in such circumstances as may be specified in the order,
and where such a meaning stands so assigned to a word or expression, it shall be deemed for the purposes of this Act to have that meaning when used in the manner mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b), as the case may be, of this section.
Ascertainment of names and addresses of advertisers.
13.—(1) Where an advertisement in relation to the supply or provision of any goods, services, accommodation or facilities is published and does not include the name and address of the person who procured such publication or his agent, the publisher of the advertisement shall, if the Director or an officer of the Minister or an officer of a council of a county or corporation of a county or other borough in whose functional area the publisher has a place of business so requests within 12 months of the publication of the advertisement, give to the Director or officer, the name and address of such person or his agent.
(2) A person to whom information is given pursuant to a request under subsection (1) of this section shall not give the information to another person other than for the purposes of this Act.
(3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) of this section shall be guilty of an offence.
Provision of weighing facilities in places where food sold by retail.
14.—(1) A person who offers food for sale by retail by weight (other than food packed for such sale by its manufacturer or producer or by the person who supplied it for such sale) in any place in the course of any trade or business shall provide in a prominent position in a part of the place to which, for the purpose of such sales, the public have access, a weighing scales or weighing machine, and shall permit any person to weigh or observe the weighing of any food sold by retail or for sale by retail at the place (being food which that person has bought or is buying or about to buy) on the scales or machine.
(2) A weighing scales or weighing machine provided pursuant to this section shall be deemed, for the purposes of the Weights and Measures Acts, 1878 to 1961, to be being used for trade.
(3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of an offence.
Prohibition or prevention of persons from reading retail prices.
15.—(1) A person shall not, without reasonable cause, prevent another person from, or interfere with or obstruct another person who is—
(a) entering a place where goods are offered for sale in the course of any trade or business for the purpose of reading any prices displayed on, with or in relation to the goods, or
(b) reading any prices displayed as aforesaid, if the prices of the goods are not displayed (whether outside the place or elsewhere) so as to be capable of being read by the person while at or near the place without entering the place.
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of an offence.
Powers of authorised officers.
16.—(1) In this section “authorised officer” means—
(a) a whole-time officer of the Minister authorised in writing by the Minister, or
(b) a whole-time officer of the council of a county or corporation of a county or other borough authorised in writing by the council or corporation in relation to its functional area,
to exercise, for the purpose of the Acts and this Act, the powers conferred by this section.
(2) The authorisation of an authorised officer shall indicate the matters in respect of which he may act under this section.
(3) An authorised officer may, for the purpose of obtaining any information which may be required in order to enable the Minister or the Director or the council of a county or the corporation of a county or other borough, as the case may be, to exercise his or its functions under the Acts or this Act, on production of the officer's authorisation, if so required—
(a) at all reasonable times enter premises at which any trade or business or any activity in connection with a trade or business is carried on and inspect the premises and any goods on the premises and, on paying or making tender of payment therefor, take any of the goods,
(b) require any person who carries on such trade, business or activity and any person employed in connection therewith to produce to the officer any books, documents or records relating to such trade, business or activity which are in that person's power or control and to give him such information as he may reasonably require in regard to any entries in such books, documents and records,
(c) inspect and copy or take extracts from such books, documents and records,
(d) require any such person to give to the officer any information the officer may require in regard to the persons carrying on such trade, business or activity (including, in particular, in the case of an unincorporated body of persons, information in regard to the membership thereof and of its committee of management or other controlling authority) or employed in connection therewith,
(e) require any such person to give to the officer any other information which the officer may reasonably require in regard to such activity.
(4) A person who obstructs or impedes an authorised officer in the exercise of a power, or does not comply with a requirement, under this section shall be guilty of an offence under this Act.
Penalties.
17.—(1) A person guilty of an offence under the Acts involving a trade description or under this Act shall, in lieu of any other fine or term of imprisonment, be liable—
(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £500 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both the fine and the imprisonment, or
(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding £10,000 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both the fine and the imprisonment.
(2) When considering what penalty (if any) under subsection (1) of this section is appropriate to an offence, the Court may take into consideration any advertisement published by or on behalf of the person convicted of the offence and correcting any misleading advertising, or any false or misleading description, statement or indication to which the offence relates.
(3) (a) Where a court imposes a fine or affirms or varies a fine imposed by another court for an offence referred to in subsection (1) of this section of which a person was convicted summarily, it may, at its discretion, on the application (made before the time of such imposition or affirmation) of any person who was summoned as a witness on behalf of the prosecution in the proceedings in which the fine was imposed and who suffered personal injury, loss or damage resulting, wholly or partly, from the offence provide by order for the payment of the amount of the fine or of a specified part of it as compensation in respect of the injury, loss or damage to the person making the application.
(b) An application shall not lie under paragraph (a) of this subsection in respect of any personal injury, loss or damage if proceedings claiming damages for the injury, loss or damage have been instituted in any court.
(c) Where the whole or part of a fine imposed under this section is paid to a person pursuant to this subsection and the person is awarded damages by a court in respect of the personal injury, loss or damage to which the payment relates, the payment shall be deemed to be in satisfaction of so much of the damages as is equal to the amount of the payment.
Prosecution of offences.
18.—(1) Proceedings in relation to an offence under the Acts involving a trade description or under this Act may be brought and prosecuted by the Minister or by the council of the county or the corporation of the county or other borough in which the offence is alleged to have been committed.
(2) Notwithstanding section 10 (4) of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, summary proceedings for an offence under this Act may be instituted within 12 months from the date of the offence.
(3) Any expenses incurred by a council of a county, or the corporation of a county or other borough under this section shall be defrayed in the same manner as expenses incurred under section 19 of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1931, by a local authority specified in that section.
Offences in relation to bodies corporate and unincorporated bodies.
19.—Where an offence under this Act which is committed by a body corporate or an unincorporated body of persons is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, any person (or any person acting on his behalf) being a director, manager, secretary, member of the committee of management or other controlling authority of any such body or being any other similar officer of any such body, that person or the person so acting as the case may be shall also be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
Onus of proof.
20.—Where, in any proceedings under the Acts involving a trade description or under this Act, the truth of any indication, direct or indirect and by whatever means given—
(a) by a manufacturer, producer or other supplier thereof with respect to goods or the price of goods, or
(b) by a person providing services, accommodation or facilities with respect to the services, accommodation or facilities, or the charges for the services, accommodation or facilities,
is an issue, and the person who gave the indication does not establish that on the balance of probabilities the indication is true, it shall be presumed to be untrue.
Offences due to fault of other person.
21.—Where the commission by any person of an offence under the Acts involving a false trade description, or an offence under this Act is due to the act or default of some other person, that other person shall be guilty of the offence, and a person may be charged with and convicted of the offence by virtue of this section whether or not proceedings are taken against the first-mentioned person.
Defences.
22.—(1) In any proceedings for an offence under section 2 of the Principal Act involving a false trade description or an offence under this Act it shall, subject to subsection (2) of this section, be a defence for the person charged to prove—
(a) that the commission of the offence was due to a mistake or the reliance on information supplied to him or to the act or default of another person, an accident or some other cause beyond his control; and
(b) that he took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of such an offence by himself or any other person under his control.
(2) If in any case the defence provided by subsection (1) of this section involves the allegation that the commission of the offence was due to the act or default of another person or to reliance on information supplied by another person, the person charged shall not, without leave of the court, be entitled to rely on that defence unless, not less than 7 clear days before the hearing, he has served on the prosecutor a notice in writing giving such information identifying or assisting in the identification of that other person as was then in his possession.
(3) In any proceedings for an offence under section 2 (2) of the Principal Act in relation to goods to which a false trade description is applied it shall be a defence for the person charged to prove that he did not know, and could not with reasonable diligence have ascertained, that the goods did not conform to the description or that the description had been applied to the goods.
(4) In proceedings for an offence under section 2 of the Principal Act involving a false trade description or an offence under this Act committed by the publication of an advertisement it shall be a defence for the person charged to prove that he is a person whose business it is to publish or arrange for the publication of advertisements and that he received the advertisement for publication in the ordinary course of business and did not know and had no reason to suspect that its publication would amount to an offence under the Principal Act or this Act.
(5) Where a person is charged with an offence under section 2 (2) of the Principal Act in relation to any goods, proof—
(a) that he published a notice indicating—
(i) that he did not apply the trade description to which the offence relates to the goods,
(ii) that he did not know whether the description was true or false, and
(iii) that purchasers should disregard it, or
(b) that he disclaimed by other means responsibility for the description,
shall not be a compliance with subsection (1) (b) of this section where there is not proof that the person had reasonable grounds for believing that the trade description might be false and that it was not reasonably possible for him having regard to the circumstances to determine whether the trade description was true or false, but where proof to the satisfaction of the court concerned is given of all the matters referred to in this subsection, it shall be for the court to determine whether, in all the circumstances, such proof is a compliance with the said subsection (1) (b).
Exclusion of banks licensed under Central Bank Act, 1971.
23.—The Acts and this Act shall not apply to any act or omission for the purposes of the business authorised by a licence for the time being in force under section 9 of the Central Bank Act, 1971, by the holder of the licence or his servants or agents.
Trade marks containing trade descriptions.
24.—The fact that a trade description is a trade mark, or part of a trade mark, or part of a trade mark, within the meaning of the Trade Marks Act, 1963, does not prevent it from being a false trade description when applied to any goods, except where the following conditions are satisfied, that is to say:
(a) that it could have been lawfully applied to the goods if this Act had not been passed,
(b) that on the passing of this Act the trade mark either is registered under the Trade Marks Act, 1963, or is in use to indicate a connection in the course of trade between such goods and the proprietor of the trade mark,
(c) that the trade mark as applied is used to indicate such a connection between the goods and the proprietor of the trade mark or a person registered under section 36 of the Trade Marks Act, 1963 as a registered user of the trade mark, and
(d) that the person who is the proprietor of the trade mark is the same person as or a successor in title of, the proprietor on the passing of this Act.
Saving for certain contracts.
25.—A contract for the supply of any goods or the provision of any services shall not be void or unenforceable by reason only of a contravention of any provision of the Acts or this Act.
Provisions in relation to orders under this Act.
26.—(1) An order under this Act may provide that, in specified circumstances or subject to specified conditions the order shall not apply, or shall not apply to a specified class or specified classes of persons, goods, services, accommodation or facilities, and different circumstances or conditions may be specified in the order in relation to different classes of persons, goods, services, accommodation or facilities.
(2) At least two months before the date of the making of an order under this Act there shall be published in Iris Oifigiúil and in at least one daily morning newspaper printed in the State notice of the Minister's intention to make the order and a brief statement of the effect of the order.
(3) An order shall not be made under this Act without prior consultation by the Minister with such persons as appear to him to be substantially interested in the subject-matter of the order.
(4) (a) Whenever an order is proposed to be made under section 9, 10, 11 or 12 of this Act, or under paragraph (b) of this subsection, a draft of the order shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and the order shall not be made until a resolution approving of the draft has been passed by each such House.
(b) The Minister may by order amend or revoke an order to which paragraph (a) of this subsection applies.
(5) Subsections (2) and (3) of this section shall not apply to an order under section 11 or subsection (4) (b) of this section in a case where, in the opinion of the Minister, it is necessary to make the order without complying with the said subsections (2) and (3).
Expenses of Minister.
27.—The expenses incurred by the Minister or the Director in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of monies provided by the Oireachtas.
Short title, construction and collective citation.
28.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Consumer Information Act, 1978.
(2) The Acts and this Act, insofar as it amends the Acts, shall be construed together and may be cited together as the Merchandise Marks Acts, 1887 to 1978.
Acts Referred to | |
Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851 | 1851, c. 93. |
Merchandise Marks Act, 1887 | 1887, c. 28. |
1931, No. 48. | |
1956, No. 45. | |
1963, No. 9. | |
1968, No. 19. | |
1971, No. 24. | |
Uimhir 1 de 1978
AN tACHT UM FHAISNÉIS DO THOMHALTÓIRÍ, 1978
[An tiortú oifigiúil]
Léiriú.
1.—(1) San Acht seo—
ciallaíonn “cóiríocht” cóiríocht mhaireachtála;
ciallaíonn “na hAchtanna” na hAchtanna Marcanna Earraí Ceannaíochta, 1887 go 1970;
folaíonn “fógrán” catalóg, ciorclán agus praghasliosta;
ciallaíonn “an Stiúrthóir” sealbhóir oifig an Stiúrthóra Gnóhaí Tomhaltóirí a bhunaítear le halt 9 den Acht seo;
folaíonn “earraí” longa, feithiclí agus aerárthaí, talamh, rudaí i bhfostú den talamh agus barraí ag fás;
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Tionscail, Tráchtála agus Fuinnimh:
folaíonn “áit” aon áitreabh agus aon stainnín, feithicil, long nó aerárthach;
ciallaíonn “an Príomh-Acht” an Merchandise Marks Act, 1887;
folaíonn “cur ar fáil”, i ndáil le seirbhís nó saoráid, an tseirbhís nó an tsaoráid a thabhairt agus forléireofar focail ghaolmhara dá réir sin;
folaíonn “seirbhís” aon seirbhís a chuireann duine ar fáil ag cleachtadh a ghairme;
ní fholaíonn “seirbhísí” aon ní a dhéantar faoi chonradh seirbhíse;
folaíonn “soláthar” tairiscint soláthar a dhéanamh agus forléireofar focail ghaolmhara dá réir sin.
(2) Chun críocha na nAchtanna agus an Achta seo, measfar, maidir le tuairisc nó ráiteas trádála a bheidh foilsithe in aon nuachtán, leabhar nó tréimhseachán nó in aon scannán nó in aon chraoladh fuaime nó teilifíse, gur tuairisc thrádála í a sainíodh nó gur ráiteas é a rinneadh i gcúrsa trádála, gnó nó gairme más rud é, agus amháin más rud é, gur fógrán nó gur cuid d'fhógrán í nó é.
(3) Duine a dhéanfaidh earraí a thaisealbhadh lena soláthar nó a mbeidh earraí ina sheilbh lena soláthar, measfar, chun críocha an Achta seo, é do thairiscint iad a sholáthar.
Leathnú ar an míniú ar “trade description” agus ar “false trade description” sa Phríomh-Acht.
2.—(1) Leasaítear leis seo alt 3 (1) den Phríomh-Acht tríd an míniú seo a leanas a chur in ionad an mhínithe ar “trade description”:
“‘trade description’ means any description, statement or other indication, direct or indirect—
(a) as to the number, quantity, measure, gauge, capacity or weight of any goods, or
(b) as to the place or country in which any goods were manufactured, produced, processed, reconditioned, repaired, packed or prepared for sale, or
(c) as to the mode of manufacturing, producing, processing, reconditioning, repairing, packing or preparing for sale of any goods, or
(d) as to the person by whom and the time at which any goods were manufactured, produced, processed, reconditioned, repaired, packed or prepared for sale, or
(e) as to the material of which any goods are composed, or
(f) as to any goods being the subject of an existing patent, privilege or copyright, or
(g) as to the fitness for any purpose, strength, performance, behaviour or accuracy of any goods, or
(h) as to any physical characteristic of any goods not referred to in the preceding paragraphs of this definition, or
(i) as to the conformity of any goods with any standard or their passing of any test or their commendation by any person, or
(j) as to the identity of the supplier or distributor, or the standing, commercial importance, competence or capabilities of, the manufacturer, producer, supplier or distributor, of any goods, or
(k) as to the contents of books or as to their authors, as to the contents of cinematograph films (within the meaning of the Performers' Protection Act, 1968) or as to their producers or as to the contents of recordings (within the meaning of the Performers' Protection Act, 1968) or as to the performers on such recordings, or
(l) as to any history of any goods not referred to in the preceding paragraphs of this definition, including their previous ownership,
and the use of any figure, word or mark which, according to the custom of the trade is commonly taken to be an indication of any of the above matters shall be deemed to be a trade description within the meaning of this Act;”.
(2) (a) Forléireofar an míniú ar “false trade description” san alt sin 3 (1) ionann is dá mba éard na tagairtí do bheith bréagach ar shlí ábhartha tagairtí do bheith bréagach oiread ábhartha agus gur fholaigh siad tagairtí do bheith míthreorach oiread ábhartha.
(b) I mír (a) den fho-alt seo ciallaíonn “míthreorach oiread ábhartha” gur dócha go nglacfaí le taispeánadh den sórt sin ar aon cheann de na hábhair a shonraítear sa mhíniú ar “trade description” san alt sin 3 (1) den Phríomh-Acht a bheadh bréagach oiread ábhartha.
(c) Measfar gur tuairisc thrádála bhréagach aon ní ar dócha, cé nach tuairisc thrádála é, go nglacfaí leis mar thaispeánadh ar cheann de na hábhair a shonraítear sa mhíniú ar “trade description” san alt sin 3 (1) agus a bheadh, mar thaispeánadh den sórt sin, bréagach ar shlí ábhartha.
(d) Aon taispeánadh bréagach nó aon ní ar dócha go nglacfaí leis mar thaispeánadh a bheadh bréagach go gcomh líonann aon earraí caighdeán a shonraíonn nó a aithníonn aon duine nó is inchiallaithe ó fhormheas aon duine measfar gur tuairisc thrádála bhréagach é más rud é nach bhfuil aon duine den sórt sin ann nó nach bhfuil aon chaighdeán ann atá sonraithe, aitheanta nó inchiallaithe amhlaidh.
Deireadh le cosaint áirithe faoin bPríomh-Acht.
3.—(1) Ar dhuine a chúiseamh i gcion faoi alt 2 (1) den Phríomh-Acht arna leasú leis an Acht seo i ndáil le tuairisc thrádála bhréagach a shainiú d'earraí nó a chur faoi deara sainiú den sórt sin a dhéanamh, ní cosaint don duine a chruthú gur gan intinn calaois a dhéanamh a ghníomhaigh sé.
(2) Ar dhuine a chúiseamh i gcion faoi alt 2 (2) den Phríomh-Acht arna leasú leis an Acht seo i ndáil le hearraí nó nithe dar sainíodh tuairisc thrádála bhréagach a dhíol, a thaisealbhadh lena ndíol nó a shealbhú lena ndíol i gcúrsa aon trádála, gnó nó gairme, ní cosaint don duine na hábhair a shonraítear i míreanna (a), (b) agus (c) den alt sin 2 (2) a chruthú.
(3) Is alt gan dochar d'alt 22 den Acht seo an t-alt seo.
Foráil i ndáil le tuairiscí trádála a shainiú agus a úsáid.
4.—(1) Leasaítear leis seo alt 2 (1) den Phríomh-Acht tríd an mír seo a leanas a chur in ionad mhír (d):
“(d) in the course of any trade, business or profession, applies any false trade description to goods, or”.
(2) Leasaítear leis seo alt 2 (2) den Phríomh-Acht, a mhéid a baineann sé le tuairiscí trádála, trí “in the course of any trade, business or profession” a chur in ionad “or any purpose of trade or manufacture”.
(3) Leasaítear leis seo alt 5 den Phríomh-Acht, a mhéid a baineann sé le tuairiscí trádála, tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (1):
“(1) (a) A person shall be deemed to apply a trade description to goods if—
(i) he affixes or annexes it to them or in any manner marks it on or incorporates it with—
(I) the goods themselves, or
(II) anything in, on or with which the goods are sold.
(ii) he places the goods in, on or with anything to, on or with which the trade description has been affixed, annexed, marked or incorporated or places any such thing with the goods.
(b) A person shall also be deemed to have applied a trade description to goods if he uses the trade description in any manner likely to be taken as referring to the goods.
(c) Where goods are sold in pursuance of a request in which a trade description is used and the circumstances are such as to make it reasonable to infer that the goods are sold as goods corresponding to that trade description, the person selling the goods shall be deemed to have applied that trade description to the goods.
(d) An oral statement may amount to the use of a trade description.”.
Tuairiscí trádála i bhfográin.
5.—(1) I gcás tuairisc thrádála a úsáid i bhfógrán i ndáil le haon aicme earraí, glacfar go mbaineann an tuairisc thrádála sin le hearraí uile na haicme sin, bídís nó ná bídís ann tráth an fhógráin a fhoilsiú.
(2) Le linn bheith á chinneadh chun criocha an ailt seo an d'aicme lena mbaineann tuairisc thrádála a úsáidtear i bhfógrán aon earraí áirithe tabharfar aird, ní amháin ar fhoirm agus ar ábhar an fhógráin, ach freisin ar thráth, ar áit, ar mhodh agus ar mhinicíocht a fhoilsithe agus ar gach ábhar eile a d'fhágfadh gur dhócha nó nár dhócha go sílfeadh duine a ndíolfaí na hearraí leis gur earraí iad den aicme a n-úsáidtear an tuairisc thrádála ina leith san fhógrán.
Ráitis atá bréagach nó míthreorach maidir le seirbhisí, etc.
6.—(1) Má dhéanann duine, i gcúrsa nó chun críocha trádála, gnó nó gairme—
(a) ráiteas is eol dó a bheith bréagach, nó
(b) ráiteas go meargánta atá bréagach
maidir le haon ábhar díobh seo a leanas, is é sin le rá—
(i) aon seirbhísí, cóiríocht nó saoráidí a chur ar fáil i gcúrsa na trádála, an ghnó nó na gairme.
(ii) nádúr nó éifeacht aon seirbhísí, cóiríochta nó saoráidí a chuirtear ar fáil i gcúrsa na trádála, an ghnó nó na gairme, nó a n-oiriúnacht chun a gcuspóra,
(iii) an tráth nó an modh a ndéanfar nó na daoine a dhéanfaidh aon seirbhísí, cóiríocht nó saoráidí a chur ar fáil amhlaidh,
(iv) aon duine do scrúdú, d'fhormheas, d'úsáid nó do luacháil aon seirbhísí, cóiríocht nó saoráidí a chuirtear ar fáil amhlaidh, nó
(v) an áit a gcuirtear aon seirbhís, saoráid nó cóiríocht ar fáil amhlaidh nó taitneamhachtaí aon chóiríochta den sórt sin,
beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
(2) Chun críocha an ailt seo—
(a) aon ní (cibé acu is ráiteas é nó nach ea maidir le haon cheann de na hábhair a shonraítear san fho-alt sin roimhe seo) ar dócha go nglacfaí leis mar ráiteas den sórt sin maidir le haon cheann de na hábhair sin a bheadh bréagach measfar gur ráiteas bréagach é maidir leis an ábhar sin, agus
(b) ráiteas a rinneadh gan suim arbh fhíor nó bréagach é measfar gur go meargánta a rinneadh é, mura raibh leorchúiseanna ag an duine a rinne é a chreidiúint go raibh sé fíor.
(3) I ndáil le haon seirbhísí arb éard iad nó ar a n-áirítear feidhmiú aon chóireála nó próise nó aon deisiú a dhéanamh, measfar go bhfolaíonn na hábhair a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo éifeacht na cóireála, na próise nó an deisithe.
(4) San alt seo ciallaíonn “bréagach” bréagach oiread ábhartha.
Taispeánadh bréagach nó míthreorach ar phraghsanna nó ar tháillí.
7.—(1) Má dhéanann duine a thairgfidh earraí d'aon tuairisc a sholáthar nó aon seirbhísí nó cóiríocht a chur ar fáil taispeánadh bréagach nó míthreorach a thabhairt ar shlí ar bith—
(a) ar an bpraghas nó ar an táille ar na hearraí, ar na seirbhísí nó ar an gcóiríocht,
(b) ar an bpraghas nó ar an táille ar ar tairgeadh roimhe sin na hearraí nó earraí den tuairisc chéanna nó na seirbhísí nó an chóiríocht,
(c) ar phraghas atá molta maidir leis na hearraí, nó
(d) ar aon táille i leith na hearraí a shuíomh nó a sheirbhísiú nó ar aon phraghas i leith trealamh coimhdeach is gá le réasún chun na hearraí a úsáid nó a theachtadh,
beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
(2) Chun críocha an ailt seo—
(a) i gcás taispeánadh gur tairgeadh earraí, seirbhísí nó cóiríocht roimhe sin ar phraghas nó táille eile nó ar phraghas nó táille áirithe, déileálfar leis, mura mbeidh a mhalairt sainráite, mar thaispeánadh go raibh siad ar tairiscint go hoscailte san áit chéanna sna 3 mhí roimhe sin ar feadh 28 lá chomhleanúnacha ar a laghad;
(b) maidir le taispeánadh i ndáil le praghas molta—
(i) déileálfar leis, mura mbeidh a mhalairt sainráite, mar thaispeánadh gur praghas é atá molta ag an monaróir, ag an táirgeoir nó ag soláthróir eile, agus
(ii) déileáfar leis, mura mbeidh a mhalairt sainráite, mar thaispeánadh gur praghas é áta molta go ginearálta le soláthar ar miondíol sa limistéar ina bhfuil na hearraí á dtairiscint;
(c) aon ní ar dócha go nglacfaí leis mar thaispeánadh i ndáil le praghas molta nó i ndáil leis an bpraghas nó leis an táille ar ar tairgeadh earraí, seirbhísí nó cóiríocht roimhe sin, déileálfar leis mar thaispeánadh den sórt sin;
(d) duine a fhógróidh earraí, seirbhísí nó cóiríocht mar nithe atá ar láimh le soláthar nó le cur ar fáil, measfar tairiscint a bheith á dhéanamh aige an céanna a sholáthar nó a chur ar fáil; agus
(e) maidir le taispeánadh ar an bpraghas nó ar an táille ar a bhfuil aon earraí, seirbhísí nó cóiríocht á dtairiscint nó á tairiscint ag duine, déileálfar leis, mura mbeidh a mhalairt sainráite, mar thaispeánadh go bhfuil na hearraí, na seirbhísí, nó an chóiríocht á dtairiscint nó á tairiscint ar an bpraghas nó ar an táille sin i ngach áit sa Stát a bhfuil na hearraí, na seirbhísí nó an chóiríocht sin á dtairiscint nó á tairiscint ag an duine:
Ar choinníoll, i gcás taispeánadh den sórt sin a bheith tugtha san áit a dtairgtear na hearraí, na seirbhísí nó an chóiríocht, go ndéileálfar leis an taispeánadh, mura mbeidh a mhalairt sainráite, mar thaispeánadh nach mbaineann ach leis na hearraí, na seirbhísí nó an chóiríocht a thairgtear san áit sin.
Fógráin mhíthreoracha.
8.—(1) Ní fhoilseoidh duine, ná ní chuirfidh sé faoi deara go bhfoilseofar, fógrán i ndáil le hearraí, seirbhísí nó saoráidí a sholáthar nó a chur ar fáil i gcúrsa nó chun críocha trádála, gnó nó gairme más dóigh dó bheith míthreorach, agus a bheith, tríd sin, ina chúis caillteanais, damáiste nó díobhála oiread ábhartha do dhaoine den phobal.
(2) Aon duine a sháróidh fo-alt (1) den alt seo, beidh sé, faoi réir forálacha an Achta seo, ciontach i gcion.
(3) Féadfaidh an Stiúrthóir, tar éis fógra a thabhairt faoin iarratas d'aon duine a n-iarrfar ina choinne an t-ordú is ábhar don iarratas, ordú a iarraidh ar an Ard-Chúirt, agus féadfar, más rogha leis an gCúirt sin é, an t-ordú sin a dheonú dó, ar ordú é á thoirmeasc fógrán a fhoilsiú, nó a fhoilsiú arís, ar sárú nó ar shárú ar fho-alt (1) den alt seo é a fhoilsiú.
Stiúrthóir Gnóthaí Tomhaltóirí.
9.—(1) Beidh oifig Stiúrthóra Gnóthaí Tomhaltóirí arna bunú agus an Stiúrthóir Gnóthaí Tomhaltóirí a thabharfar ar shealbhóir na hoifige.
(2) Is post sa Státseirbhís oifig an Stiúrthóra agus ní cheapfar aon duine chun na hoifige mura mbeidh Coimisinéirí na Státseirbhíse, de réir brí Acht Choimisinéirí na Stát-Sheirbhíse, 1956, ar chomórtas a sheoladh dóibh faoi alt 15 den Acht sin, tar éis é a roghnu faoi alt 17 den Acht sin, lena cheapadh chun na hoifige.
(3) Beidh duine a cheapfar ina Stiúrthóir i seilbh oifige go ceann tréimhse chúig bliana, ach féadfaidh an tAire, más cuí leis é, an ceapachán (lena n-áirítear ceapachán a buanaíodh cheana faoin bhfo-alt seo) a bhuanú go ceann cibé tréimhse eile, nach faide ná cúig bliana, is iomchuí leis.
(4) (a) Féadfaidh an tAire an Stiúrthóir a chur as oifig tráth ar bith.
(b) Má chuirtear an Stiúrthóir as oifig faoin bhfo-alt seo, cuirfidh an tAire faoi deara go ndéanfar ráiteas faoi na cúiseanna lena chur as oifig a leagan faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas.
(5) Beidh an Stiúrthóir neamhspleách ag comhlíonadh a fheidhmeanna dó.
(6) Is iad feidhmeanna an Stiúrthóra—
(a) cleachtais nó cleachtais bheartaithe a choimeád faoi bhreithniú gincarálta i ndáil le hearraí, seirbhísí, cóiríocht agus saoráidí a fhógairt agus le faisnéis i ndáil leis an gcéanna agus le tuairiscí ar an gcéanna a thabhairt do dhaoine den phobal,
(b) scrúduithe a dhéanamh ar aon chleachtais nó cleachtais bheartaithe den sórt sin i gcás a n-iarrfaidh an tAire air scrúduithe a dhéanamh nó i gcás a measfaidh an Stiúrthóir gur chuí scrúduithe den sórt sin a dhéanamh ar mhaithe leis an bpobal,
(c) a iarraidh ar dhaoine atá ag gabháil, nó a bheartaíonn dul ag gabháil, do chleachtais den sórt sin atá, nó ar dóigh dóibh a bheith, míthreorach go hábhartha do dhaoine den phobal, scor de na cleachtais sin nó staonadh uathu,
(d) imeachtaí a thionscnamh san Ard-Chúirt ar lorg orduithe á cheangal ar dhaoine atá ag gabháil, nó a bheartaíonn dul ag gabháil, do chleachtais den sórt sin atá, nó ar dóigh dóibh a bheith, míthreorach go hábhartha do dhaoine den phobal, scor de na cleachtais sin nó staonadh uathu,
(e) a iarraidh ar dhaoine atá ag gabháil, nó a bheartaíonn dul ag gabháil, do chleachtais den sórt sin cibé athruithe a dhéanamh ar abairtí a úsáidtear nó a bheartaítear a úsáid sna cleachtais sin nó i ndáil leo, nó cibé ábhar a scriosadh astu, nó cibé mínithe a thabhairt orthu, is athruithe nó scriosadh nó mínithe a thabharfadh, i dtuairim an Stiúrthóra, gur chruinne a bheadh na habairtí nó gur mhó an fhaisnéis a bheadh iontu nó gurbh fhusa iad a thuiscint,
(f) gríosú agus spreagadh le cóid chaighdeán i ndáil le cleachtais den sórt sin a bhunú agus a ghlacadh,
(g) a chinntiú go ndíreofar aird an phobail ar fhorálacha aon reachtaíochta a dhéanann socrú le tomhaltóirí a chosaint ar ceart, dar leis, aird an phobail a dhíriú orthu agus chun na críche sin na forálacha sin a phoibliú ar cibé slí agus a mhéid is iomchuí leis,
(h) gan dochar do chumhachtaí ná d'fheidhmeanna aon údaráis ionchúisimh eile, imeachtaí a thionscnamh nó a thabhairt ar aghaidh i ndáil le cionta faoi na hAchtanna nó faoin Acht seo.
(7) Féadfaidh an tAire le hordú faoin alt seo cibé feidhmeanna breise is cuí leis maidir le haon ábhair lena mbaineann na hAchtanna nó an tAcht seo nó aon achtachán eile a dhéanann socrú le tomhaltóirí a chosaint a thabhairt don Stiúrthóir.
(8) Féadfaidh an Stiúrthóir gach beart nó ní a dhéanamh is gá nó is fóirsteanach chun a fheidhmeanna faoin Acht seo a chomhlíonadh.
(9) I gcás a dtionscnóidh an Stiúrthóir imeachtaí de bhun fho-alt (6) (d) den alt seo agus iarratas a bheith déanta faoi fho-alt (6) (c) den alt seo ag an Stiúrthóir, roimh thráth na n-imeachtaí a thionscnamh, ar na daoine lena mbaineann. agus gan gníomh a bheith déanta de réir an iarratais, féadfaidh an Ard-Chúirt, más rogha sin léi. ordú a dheonú don Stiúrthóir sna téarmaí cuí dá dtagraítear san fho-alt sin (6) (d) má tá na cleachtais nó na cleachtais bheartaithe is ábhar do na himeachtaí, nó más dóigh dóibh a bheith. míthreorach go hábhartha do dhaoine den phobal.
(10) Féadfaidh an Stiúrthóir cibé feidhmeanna dá chuid is cuí leis a chomhlíonadh trí aon oifigeach don Aire a bheidh údaraithe go cuí ag an Stiúrthóir chuige sin.
(11) (a) Aon uair is dealraitheach don Aire go bhfuil an Stiúrthóir éagumasach go sealadach ar a dhualgais a chomhlíonadh, féadfaidh an tAire duine a cheapadh chun gníomhú in ionad an Stiúrthóra ar feadh tréimhse an éagumais sin nó go ceann cibé tréimhse is giorra ná sin is cuí leis an Aire.
(b) Beidh ag duine a cheapfar faoi mhír (a) den fho-alt seo gach uile chumhacht, ceart agus dualgas a thugtar don Stiúrthóir leis an Acht seo agus measfar go bhfolaíonn gach tagairt san Acht seo don Stiúrthóir tagairt do dhuine den sórt sin.
(12) (a) Tabharfaidh an Stiúrthóir gach bliain tuarascáil don Aire i ndáil le comhlíonadh a fheidhmeanna aige an bhliain roimhe sin agus cuirfidh an tAire faoi deara, laistigh de bhliain ón tráth a gheobhaidh sé an tuarascáil, cóipeanna den tuarascáil a leagan faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas.
(b) Tabharfaidh an Stiúrthóir don Aire cibé faisnéis a theastóidh ón Aire ó am go ham i dtaobh chomhlíonadh a fheidhmeanna.
Orduithe marcála.
10.—(1) I gcás ar dealraitheach don Aire gur gá nó gur fóirsteanach, ar mhaithe le daoine dá soláthraítear earraí d'aon tuairisc, aon fhaisnéis (arb éard í nó nach éard í nó ar cuid di nó nach cuid di tuairisc thrádála nó ainm agus seoladh mhonaróir, tháirgeoir nó sholáthróir eile na n-earraí) nó treoracha i ndáil leis na hearraí a bheith marcáilte ar na hearraí nó ag gabháil leo, féadfaidh an tAire, faoi réir forálacha an Achta seo, ceanglais a fhorchur le hordú chun a áirithiú go mbeidh faisnéis den sórt sin marcáilte ar earraí den tuairisc sin nó ag gabháil leo, agus soláthar earraí nach mbeidh na ceanglais sin comhlíonta i ndáil leo a rialáil nó a thoirmeasc, agus féadfaidh na ceanglais sroicheadh go dtí an fhoirm agus an modh a dtabharfar an fhaisnéis nó an treoir.
(2) Aon duine a dhéanfaidh nó a thairgfidh, i gcúrsa aon trádála nó gnó, earraí de thuairisc a bhfuil ordú i bhfeidhm i ndáil leo de thuras na huaire faoin alt seo a sholáthar contrártha don ordú beidh sé, faoi réir forálacha an Achta seo, ciontach i gcion.
(3) Féadfaidh ordú faoin alt seo forálacha éagsúla a dhéanamh d'imthosca éagsúla agus, i gcás earraí a sholáthar in imthosca nach ndéanfaí, ar leith ó ordú den sórt sin, an fhaisnéis nó an treoir a cheanglóidh an t-ordú a thabhairt go dtí go mbeadh na hearraí seachadta, a cheangal freisin an fhaisnéis nó an treoir go léir nó cuid den chéanna a thaisealbadh in aice na n-earraí.
Orduithe fógraíochta.
11.—(1) I gcás ar dealraitheach don Aire gur gá nó gur fóirsteanach ar mhaithe le daoine dá soláthrófar nó dá gcuirfear ar fáil earraí, seirbhísí, cóiríocht nó saoráidí d'aon tuairisc go mbeadh i bhfógráin nó in aon aicme fógrán i leith na n-earraí, na seirbhísí, na cóiríochta nó na saoráidí aon fhaisnéis, nó tagairt d'aon fhaisnéis (arb éard í nó nach éard í nó ar cuid di nó nach cuid di tuairisc thrádála nó ainm agus seoladh fhoilsitheoir, nó ghníomhaire fhoilsitheoir, an fhógráin, nó aon duine, nó ghníomhaire aon duine, a thug foilsiú an fhógráin chun críche) i ndáil leis na hearraí, na seirbhísí, an chóiríocht nó na saoráidí, féadfaidh an tAire, faoi réir forálacha an Achta seo, ceanglais a fhorchur le hordú maidir leis an bhfaisnéis sin, nó maidir le taispeánadh ar an modh a bhféadfar an fhaisnéis sin a fháil. a bheith i bhfógráin, nó i bhfógráin de cibé aicme a bheidh sonraithe san ordú, i leith na n-earraí. na seirbhísí, na cóiríochta nó na saoráidí, den tuairisc sin.
(2) Féadfaidh ordú faoin alt seo an fhoirm agus an modh a shonrú a mbeidh aon fhaisnéis nó taispeánadh dá sonraítear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo le bheith i bhfógráin nó i bhfógráin d'aon aicme a bheidh sonraithe san ordú agus féadfaidh sé socrú ar leith a dhéanamh le haghaidh imthosca ar leith agus le haghaidh aicmí ar leith fógrán.
(3) I gcás nach mbeidh fógrán de réir aon cheanglais a bheidh forchurtha faoin alt seo, beidh aon duine a fhoilseoidh an fógrán ciontach, faoi réir forálacha an Achta seo, i gcion.
Orduithe míniúcháin.
12.—I gcás ar dealraitheach don Aire gur gá nó gur fóirsteanach ar mhaithe le daoine dá soláthrófar nó dá gcuirfear ar fáil earraí, seirbhísí, cóiríocht nó saoráidí, d'aon tuairisc go mbeadh sé le tuiscint bríonna cinnte a bheith le haon fhocail nó abairtí a úsáidtear i ndáil leis na hearraí, leis na seirbhísí, leis an gcóiríocht nó leis na saoráidí, féadfaidh an tAire le hordú bríonna a shannadh—
(a) do na focail nó do na habairtí sin nuair a úsáidtear iad i gcúrsa trádála nó gnó mar thuairisc thrádála, nó mar chuid de thuairisc thrádála, a thugtar ar earraí, ar sheirbhísí, ar chóiríocht nó ar shaoráidí, den tuairisc sin, nó
(b) do na focail nó do na habairtí sin nuair a úsáidtear iad sna himthosca a bheidh sonraithe san ordú,
agus i gcás brí den sórt sin a bheith sannta amhlaidh d'fhocal nó d'abairt, measfar, chun críocha an Achta seo, an bhrí sin a bheith leis nuair a úsáidtear é mar a luaitear i mír (a) nó (b), cibé acu é, den alt seo.
Ainmneacha agus seoltaí fógróirí a fhionnadh.
13.—(1) I gcás fógrán a fhoilsiú i ndáil le haon earraí, seirbhísí, cóiríocht nó saoráidí a sholáthar nó a chur ar fáil agus gan ainm agus seoladh an duine a thug an foilsiú sin i gcrích nó ainm agus seoladh a ghníomhaire ann, déanfaidh foilsitheoir an fhógráin, i gcás an Stiúrthóir nó oifigeach don Aire nó oifigeach do chomhairle contae nó do bhardas contae-bhuirge nó buirge eile a bhfuil áit ghnó ag an bhfoilsitheoir ina limistéar feidhmiúcháin á iarraidh sin laistigh de 12 mhí ó dháta an fhógráin a fhoilsiú, ainm agus seoladh an duine sin nó a ghníomhaire a thabhairt don Stiúrthóir nó don oifigeach.
(2) Ní dhéanfaidh duine dá dtabharfar faisnéis de bhun iarratas faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo an fhaisnéis a thabhairt do dhuine eile ach amháin chun críocha an Achta seo.
(3) Duine a sháróidh fo-alt (1) nó (2) den alt seo beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
Saoráidí meáite a chur ar fáil in áiteanna a miondíoltar bia.
14.—(1) Duine a thairgeann bia a mhiondíol de réir meáchain (seachas bia a bheidh pacáilte don díol sin ag a mhonaróir nó ag a tháirgeoir nó ag an duine a sholáthraigh é don díol sin) in aon áit i gcúrsa aon trádála nó gnó cuirfidh sé meá-scálaí nó meá-inneall ar fáil in ionad feiceálach i gcuid den áit a bhfuil teacht ag an bpobal air i gcóir an díola sin, agus ligfidh sé d'aon duine aon bhia a mhiondíoltar nó a bheidh ar miondíol san áit sin (ar bia é a cheannaigh an duine sin nó atá sé a cheannach nó ar tí a cheannach) a mheá ar na scálaí nó ar an inneall nó a mheá a fhaire.
(2) Measfar, chun críocha na nAchtanna Meáchan agus Tomhas, 1878 go 1961, meá-scálaí nó meá-inneall a cuireadh ar fáil de bhun an ailt seo a bheith á n-úsáid le haghaidh trádála.
(3) Beidh duine a sháróidh fo-alt (1) den alt seo ciontach i gcion.
Toirmeasc nó cosc ar dhaoine praghsanna miondíola a léamh.
15.—(1) Ní dhéanfaidh duine, gan cúis réasúnach, cosc, bac ná araoid a chur ar dhuine eile—
(a) a bheidh ag dul isteach in áit a mbeidh earraí á dtairiscint lena ndíol i gcúrsa aon trádála nó gnó chun aon phraghsanna a bheidh ar taisealbhadh ar na hearraí nó leis na hearraí nó i ndáil leo a léamh, nó
(b) a bheidh ag léamh aon phraghsanna a bheidh ar taisealbhadh mar a dúradh, mura mbeidh praghsanna na n-earraí ar taisealbhadh (lasmuigh den áit nó in áit eile) sa chaoi go bhféadfadh an duine iad a léamh le linn dó a bheith ag an áit sin nó in aice leis gan dul isteach san áit.
(2) Beidh duine a sháróidh fo-alt (1) den alt seo ciontach i gcion.
Cumhachtaí oifigeach údaraithe.
16.—(1) San alt seo ciallaíonn “oifigeach údaraithe”—
(a) oifigeach lánaimsire don Aire a bheidh údaraithe i scríbhinn ag an Aire, nó
(b) oifigeach lánaimsire do chomhairle contae nó do bhardas contae-bhuirge nó buirge eile a bheidh údaraithe i scríbhinn ag an gcomhairle nó ag an mbardas i ndáil lena limistéar feidhmiúcháin,
chun na cumhachtaí a thugtar leis an alt seo a fheidhmiú chun críche na nAchtanna agus an Achta seo.
(2) Taispeánfaidh údarás oifigigh údaraithe na hábhair a bhféadfaidh sé gníomhú ina leith faoin alt seo.
(3) Féadfaidh oifigeach údaraithe, chun aon fhaisnéis a fháil a bheidh ag teastáil lena chumasú don Aire nó don Stiúrthóir nó do chomhairle contae nó do bhardas contae-bhuirge nó buirge eile, de réir mar a bheidh, a fheidhmeanna nó a feidhmeanna faoi na hAchtanna nó faoin Acht seo a fheidhmiú, ar údarás an oifigigh a thabhairt ar aird, má iarrtar sin—
(a) dul isteach gach tráth réasúnach in áitreabh ina seoltar aon trádáil nó gnó nó aon ghníomhaíocht i ndáil le trádáil nó gnó agus an t-áitreabh agus aon earraí san áitreabh a iniúchadh, agus aon chuid de na hearraí a thabhairt leis ar íoc nó ar thairiscint íoc astu,
(b) a cheangal ar aon duine a sheolann an trádáil, an gnó nó an ghníomhaíocht sin agus ar aon duine ar fostú i ndáil leis sin aon leabhair, doiciméid nó taifid a bhaineann leis an trádáil, leis an ngnó nó leis an ngníomhaíocht sin atá faoi chumacht nó faoi rialú an duine sin a thabhairt ar aird don oifigeach agus cibé faisnéis a theastóidh uaidh le réasún a thabhairt dó maidir le haon iontrálacha sna leabhair, sna doiciméid agus sna taifid sin,
(c) na leabhair, na doiciméid agus na taifid sin a iniúchadh agus cóipeanna a dhéanamh díobh nó sleachta a thógáil astu,
(d) a cheangal ar aon duine den sórt sin aon fhaisnéis a theastóidh ón oifigeach a thabhairt don oifigeach i dtaobh na ndaoine a sheolann an trádáil, an gnó nó an ghníomhaíocht sin (lena n-áirítear, go háirithe, i gcás comhlachta neamhchorpraithe daoine, faisnéis i dtaobh chomhaltas an chomhlachta agus i dtaobh a choiste bainistí nó a údaráis rialaithe eile) nó atá ar fostú i ndáil leis sin,
(e) a cheangal ar aon duine den sórt sin aon fhaisnéis eile a theastóidh le réasún ón oifigeach maidir leis an ngníomhaíocht sin a thabhairt don oifigeach.
(4) Aon duine a bhacfaidh nó a choiscfidh oifigeach údaraithe agus é ag feidhmiú cumhachta, nó a fhágfaidh gan chomhlíonadh ceanglas, faoin alt seo, beidh sé ciontach i gcion faoin Acht seo.
Pionóis.
17.—(1) Duine a bheidh ciontach i gcion faoi na hAchtanna a bhainfidh le tuairisc thrádála nó faoin Acht seo dlífear, in ionad aon fhíneáil nó téarma príosúnachta eile—
(a) ar é chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £500 nó, de rogha na cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná 6 mhí nó an fhíneáil agus an phríosúnacht le chéile, a chur air, nó
(b) ar é a chiontú ar díotáil, fíneáil nach mó ná £10,000 nó, de rogha na cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná 2 bhliain nó an fhíneáil agus an phríosúnacht le chéile, a chur air.
(2) Le linn bheith á bhreithniú cad é an pionós (más aon phionós é), faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo, is iomchuí do chion, féadfaidh an Chúirt aird a thabhairt ar aon fhógrán a d'fhoilsigh an duine nó a foilsiodh thar ceann an duine a ciontaíodh sa chion agus is ceartú ar aon fhógraíocht mhíthreorach, nó ar aon tuairisc, ráiteas nó taispeánadh bréagach nó míthreorach lena mbaineann an cion.
(3) (a) I gcás a ngearrfaidh cúirt fíneáil, nó a ndaingneoidh nó a n-athróidh sí fíneáil a ghearr cúirt eile, i leith cion dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo inar ciontaíodh duine go hachomair, féadfaidh sí, dá rogha féin, ar iarratas (a bheidh déanta roimh thráth na fíneála a ghearradh nó a dhaingniú) ó aon duine a toghaireadh mar fhinné thar ceann an ionchúisimh sna himeachtaí inar gearradh an fhíneáil agus ar bhain díobháil phearsanta nó caillteanas nó damáiste dó, go hiomlán nó go páirteach de dheasca an chiona, a shocrú le hordú go n-íocfar méid na fíneála nó cuid shonraithe di mar chúiteamh i leith na díobhála, an chaillteanais nó an damáiste leis an duine a rinne an t-iarratas.
(b) Ní bheidh ábhar iarratais ann faoi mhír (a) den fho-alt seo i leith aon díobhála pearsanta, caillteanais nó damáiste má bhíonn imeachtaí ag éileamh damáistí i leith na díobhála, an chaillteanais nó an damáiste tionscanta in aon chúirt.
(c) I gcás a ndéanfar an fhíneáil go léir nó cuid den fhíneáil a ghearrfar faoin alt seo a íoc le duine de bhun an fho-ailt seo agus go ndámhfaidh cúirt damáistí don duine sin i leith na díobhála pearsanta, an chaillteanais nó an damáiste lena mbaineann an íocaíocht, measfar gur sásamh an íocaíocht san oiread sin de na damáistí is comhionann le méid na híocaíochta.
Ionchúiseamh i gcionta.
18.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire nó comhairle an chontae nó bardas na contae-bhuirge nó na buirge eile ina líomhnaítear a tharla cion faoi na hAchtanna a bhain le tuairisc thrádála nó faoin Acht seo imeachtaí i ndáil leis an gcion a thionscnamh agus a chur ar aghaidh.
(2) D'ainneoin alt 10 (4) den Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, féadfar imeachtaí achomaire i leith cion faoin Acht seo a thionscnamh laistigh de 12 mhí ó dháta an chiona.
(3) Déanfar aon chaiteachais a thabhóidh comhairle contae nó bardas contae-bhuirge nó buirge eile faoin alt seo a íoc sa tslí chéanna a n-íoctar caiteachais arna dtabhú faoi alt 19 den Acht Marcanna Earraí Ceannaíochta, 1931, ag údarás áitiúil a shonraítear san alt sin.
Cionta i ndáil le comhlachtaí corpraithe agus le comhlachtaí neamhchorpraithe.
19.—I gcás cion faoin Acht seo a rinne comhlacht corpraithe nó comhlacht neamhchorpraithe daoine, agus a gcruthófar go ndearnadh é le toiliú nó le cúlcheadú, nó gur inchurtha é i leith aon fhaillí ar thaobh, aon duine (nó ar thaobh aon duine ag gníomhú thar a cheann) is stiúrthóir, bainisteoir, rúnaí, comhalta de choiste bainistí nó údarás rialaithe eile aon chomhlachta den sórt sin, nó is aon oifigeach eile den sórt sin d'aon chomhlacht den sórt sin, beidh an duine sin nó an duine ag gníomhú amhlaidh, de réir mar a bheidh, ciontach freisin sa chion sin agus dlífear imeachtaí a thionscnamh ina choinne agus é a phionósú dá réir sin.
Dualgas cruthúnais.
20.—I gcás ar saincheist, in aon imeachtaí faoi na hAchtanna a bhaineann le tuarascáil thrádála nó faoin Acht seo, fírinne aon taispeánadh díreach nó indíreach, cibé slí ar tugadh é—
(a) a thug monaróir, táirgeoir nó soláthróir eile earraí i ndáil leis na hearraí nó le praghas na n-earraí, nó
(b) a thug duine a chuireann seirbhísí, cóiríocht nó saoráidí ar fáil i ndáil leis na seirbhísí, na cóiríochta nó na saoráidí nó i ndáil leis na táillí maidir leis na seirbhísí, an chóiríocht nó na saoráidí,
agus nach suífidh an duine a thug an taispeánadh gur dóigh don taispeánadh bheith fíor, toimhdeofar nach taispeánadh fíor é.
Cionta ar duine eile is cúis leo.
21.—I gcás duine do dhéanamh cion faoi na hAchtanna a bhainfidh le tuairisc thrádála bhréagach, nó cion faoin Acht seo, ar gníomh nó mainneachtain ag duine eile is cúis leis, beidh an duine eile sin ciontach sa chion, agus féadfar duine a chúiseamh agus a chiontú sa chion de bhua an ailt seo cibé acu a thionscnófar nó nach dtionscnófar imeachtaí in aghaidh an duine chéadluaite.
Cosaint.
22.—(1) In aon imeachtaí mar gheall ar chion faoi alt 2 den Phríomh-Acht a bhainfidh le tuairisc thrádála bhréagach nó mar gheall ar chion faoin Acht seo, is cosaint, faoi réir fho-alt (2) den alt seo, don duine cúisithe a chruthú—
(a) gur dearmad, nó iontaoibh a chur i bhfaisnéis a tugadh dó, nó gníomh nó mainneachtain ag duine eile, nó tionóisc nó ábhar éigin eile nach raibh neart aige air, ba chúis leis an gcion a dhéanamh; agus
(b) gur ghlac sé gach cúram réasúnach agus go ndearna sé a dhícheall nach ndéanfadh sé féin ná aon duine faoina rialú cion den sórt sin.
(2) Má bhíonn, in aon chás, líomhain sa chosaint a fhoráiltear le fo-alt (1) den alt seo gur gníomh nó mainneachtain ag duine eile nó iontaoibh a chur i bhfaisnéis a thug duine eile ba chúis leis an gcion a dhéanamh, ní bheidh an duine cúisithe i dteideal, gan cead ón gcúirt, seasamh air sin mar chosaint mura rud é go mbeidh fógra i scríbhinn seirbheáilte aige, 7 lá glan ar a laghad roimh an éisteacht, ar an ionchúisitheoir ina mbeidh cibé faisnéis a bhí ina sheilbh an tráth sin ag tabhairt aithne ar an duine eile sin nó mar chabhair chun aithne a thabhairt air.
(3) In aon imeachtaí mar gheall ar chion faoi alt 2 (2) den Phríomh-Acht i ndáil le hearraí dar sainíodh tuairisc thrádála bhréagach is cosaint don duine cúisithe a chruthú nárbh eol dó, agus nach bhféadfadh sé le dúthracht réasúnach a fhionnadh, nach raibh na hearraí ag cur lena dtuairisc nó gur sainíodh an tuairisc sin do na hearraí.
(4) In imeachtaí mar gheall ar chion faoi alt 2 den Phriomh-Acht a bhainfidh le tuairisc thrádála bhréagach nó mar gheall ar chion faoin Acht seo a rinneadh trí fhógrán a fhoilsiú, is cosaint é don duine cúisithe a chruthú gur duine é arb é a ghnó fógráin a fhoilsiú nó socrú a dhéanamh chun fógráin a fhoilsiú agus go bhfuair sé an fógrán lena fhoilsiú i ngnáthchúrsa gnó agus nárbh eol dó agus nach raibh aon chúis amhrais aige gur chion faoin bPríomh-Acht nó faoin Acht seo é a fhoilsiú.
(5) I gcás duine a chúiseamh mar gheall ar chion faoi alt 2 (2) den Phríomh-Acht i ndáil le haon earraí, ní hionann cruthúnas—
(a) gur fhoilsigh sé fógra á chur in iúl—
(i) nár shainigh sé do na hearraí an tuairisc thrádála lena mbaineann an cion,
(ii) nárbh eol dó cé acu fíor nó bréagach a bhí an tuairisc, agus
(iii) gur chóir do cheannaitheoirí gan aird a thabhairt ar an tuairisc sin, nó
(b) gur shéan sé ar dhóigh eile go raibh sé freagrach sa tuairisc,
agus fo-alt (1) (b) den alt seo a bheith comhlíonta i gcás gan cruthúnas a bheith ann ar chúis réasúnach a bheith ag an duine a chreidiúint go bhféadfadh an tuairisc thrádála a bheith bréagach agus nach bhféadfadh seisean le réasún, ag féachaint do na himthosca, a chinneadh cé acu fíor nó bréagach a bhí an tuairisc thrádála, ach, i gcás a dtabharfar cruthúnas chun sástacht na cúirte iomchuí ar na hábhair go léir dá dtagraítear san fho-alt seo, is ag an gcúirt a bheidh sé a chinneadh an gcomhlíonann an cruthúnas sin fo-alt (1) (b) sna himthosca go léir.
Bainc atá ceadúnaithe faoi Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1971, a bheith eisiata.
23.—Ní bhainfidh na hAchtanna ná an tAcht seo le haon ghníomh nó neamhghníomh chun críocha an ghnó a údaraítear le ceadúnas a bheidh i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire faoi alt 9 d'Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1971, ag sealbhóir an cheadúnais nó ag a sheirbhísigh nó ag a ghníomhairí.
Trádmharcanna ina bhfuil tuairisci trádála.
24.—Bíodh is gur trádmharc, nó cuid de thrádmharc, de réir brí Acht na dTrádmharcanna, 1963, tuairisc thrádála, ní fhágfaidh sin nach tuairisc thrádála bhréagach an tuairisc thrádála sin agus í sainithe d'aon earraí, ach amháin nuair a chomhlíontar na coinníollacha seo a leanas, is é sin le rá:
(a) go bhféadfaí í a shainiú go dleathach do na hearraí dá mba nach rithfí an tAcht seo,
(b) go bhfuil, tráth an Achta seo a rith, an trádmharc cláraithe faoi Acht na dTrádmharcanna, 1963, nó go bhfuil sé á úsáid chun ceangal i gcúrsa trádála idir na hearraí sin agus dílseánach an trádmhairc a chur in iúl,
(c) go ndéantar an trádmharc, mar atá sé sainithe, a úsáid chun ceangal den sórt sin idir na hearraí agus dílseánach an trádmhairc nó duine atá cláraithe faoi alt 36 d'Acht na dTrádmharcanna, 1963, mar úsáidire cláraithe an trádmhairc a chur in iúl, agus
(d) gurb é an duine arb é dílseánach an trádmhairc é an duine céanna arbh é an dílseánach, nó comharba i dteideal an dílseánaigh, é tráth an Achta seo a rith.
Cosaint do chonarthaí áirithe.
25.—Ní bheidh conradh chun aon earraí a sholáthar nó aon seirbhísí a chur ar fáil ar neamhní ná neamh-infheidhmithe de bhíthin amháin aon fhoráil de na hAchtanna nó den Acht seo a bheith sáraithe.
Forálacha i ndáil le horduithe faoin Acht seo.
26.—(1) Féadfaidh ordú faoin Acht seo a fhoráil nach mbeidh feidhm, in imthosca sonraithe nó faoi réir coinníollacha sonraithe, ag an ordú, nó nach mbeidh feidhm aige maidir le haicme shonraithe nó le haicmí sonraithe daoine, earraí, seirbhísí, cóiríochta nó saoráidí, agus féadfar imthosca éagsúla nó coinníollacha éagsúla a shonrú san ordú i ndáil le haicmí éagsúla daoine, earraí, seirbhísí, cóiríochta nó saoráidí.
(2) Foilseofar, dhá mhí ar a laghad roimh an dáta a dhéanfar ordú faoin Acht seo, fógra san Iris Oifigiúil agus i nuachtán maidine laethúil amháin ar a laghad a chlóitear sa Stát i dtaobh é bheith ar intinn ag an Aire an t-ordú a dhéanamh agus ráiteas gearr faoi éifeacht an ordaithe.
(3) Ní dhéanfar ordú faoin Acht seo gan an tAire do dhul i gcomhairle le cibé daoine ar dealraitheach dó leas substaintiúil a bheith acu in ábhar an ordaithe.
(4) (a) Aon uair a bheartófar ordú a dhéanamh faoi alt 9, 10, 11 nó 12 den Acht seo, nó faoi mhír (b) den fho-alt seo, leagfar dréacht den ordú faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas agus ní dhéanfar an t-ordú go dtí go mbeidh rún ag ceadú an dréachta rite ag gach Teach díobh.
(b) Féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, ordú lena mbaineann mír (a) den fho-alt seo a leasú nó a chúlghairm.
(5) Ní bhainfidh fo-ailt (2) agus (3) den alt seo le hordú faoi alt 11 nó fo-alt (4) (b) den alt seo i gcás ar gá, i dtuairim an Aire, an t-ordú a dhéanamh gan na fo-ailt sin (2) agus (3) a chomhlíonadh.
Caiteachais an Aire.
27.—Déanfar na caiteachais a thabhóidh an tAire nó an Stiúrthóir ag riaradh an Achta seo a íoc, a mhéid a cheadóidh an tAire Airgeadais, as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas.
Gearrtheideal, forléiriú agus comhlua.
28.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht um Fhaisnéis do Thomhaltóirí, 1978, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Déanfar na hAchtanna agus an tAcht seo, a mhéid a leasaíonn sé na hAchtanna, a fhorléiriú le chéile agus féadfar na hAchtanna Marcanna Earraí Ceannaíochta, 1887 go 1978, a ghairm díobh le chéile.
Na hAchtanna dá dTagraítear | |
Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851 | 1851, c. 93. |
Merchandise Marks Act, 1887 | 1887, c. 28. |