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Uimhir 16 de 1946.
AN tACHT FOST-CHEANNAIGH, 1946.
[An tiontó oifigiúil.]
Léiriú.
1.—San Acht seo, mura n-éilí an comhthéacs a mhalairt—
tá leis na focail “aicsean”, “ceannaitheoir”, “seachadadh”, “earraí”, “maoin”, “díol”, “díoltóir” agus “baránta” na bríonna faoi seach a bheirtear do na focail “action”, “buyer”, “delivery”, “goods”, “property”, “sale”, “seller”, agus “warranty” leis an Sale of Goods Act, 1893;
ciallaíonn an abairt “comhaontú fost-cheannaigh” comhaontú chun earraí a earbadh faoina bhféadfaidh an t-earbaí na hearraí a cheannach nó faoina roichfidh an mhaoin sna hearraí don earbaí nó faoina bhféadfaidh sí rochtain dó, agus, más rud é, de bhuaidh dhá chomhaontú nó níos mó nach comhaontú fost-cheannaigh aon cheann acu ann féin, go ndéanfar earraí a earbadh agus go bhféadfaidh an t-earbaí na hearraí a cheannach, nó go roichfidh an mhaoin iontu don earbaí nó go bhféadfaidh sí rochtain dó, déanfar, chun críocha an Achta seo, na comhaontuithe a áireamh mar aon chomhaontú amháin a rinneadh tráth déanta an chomhaontuithe dheiridh dhíobh;
ciallaíonn an abairt “comhaontú díola-ar-cáirde” comhaontú chun earraí a dhíol faoina mbeidh an praghas ceannaigh iníoctha ina chúig tráthchoda nó níos mó;
ciallaíonn an abairt “praghas fost-cheannaigh” an tsuim iomlán is iníoctha ag an bhfostóir faoi chomhaontú fost-cheannaigh ionnas go gcríochnófar ceannach na n-earraí lena mbaineann an comhaontú, gan aon tsuim a áireamh is iníoctha mar phionós nó mar chúiteamh nó airgead damáiste mar gheall ar an gcomhaontú a bhriseadh;
ciallaíonn an focal “únaer” an duine a ligfeas nó a lig earraí chun fostóra faoi chomhaontú fost-cheannaigh agus folaíonn sé duine a mbeidh maoin an únaera sna hearraí nó aon cheart nó dliteanas de chuid an únaera faoin gcomhaontú tar éis rochtain dó trí shannadh nó trí oibriú dlí;
ciallaíonn an focal “fostóir” an duine a thógfas nó a thóg earraí ó únaer faoi chomhaontú fost-cheannaigh agus folaíonn sé duine a mbeidh cearta nó dliteanais an fhostóra faoin gcomhaontú tar éis rochtain dó trí shannadh nó trí oibriú dlí;
ciallaíonn an abairt “conradh ráthaíochta”, maidir le haon chomhaontú fost-cheannaigh nó comhaontú díola-ar-cáirde, conradh, arna dhéanamh ar an bhfostóir nó an ceannaitheoir dá iarraidh sin go folas nó go folaitheach, chun comhlíonadh oblagáidí an fhostóra nó an cheannaitheora faoin gcomhaontú fost-cheannaigh nó faoin gcomhaontú díola-ar-cáirde a ráthú, agus léireofar an focal “ráthaitheoir” dá réir sin;
ciallaíonn an abairt “praghas ceannaigh iomlán” an tsuim iomlán is iníoctha ag an gceannaitheoir faoi chomhaontú díola-ar-cáirde, gan aon tsuim a áireamh is iníoctha mar phionós nó mar chúiteamh nó airgead damáiste mar gheall ar an gcomhaontú a bhriseadh.
(2) I gcás únaer dá chomhaontú go bhféadfar aon chuid den phraghas fost-cheannaigh a ghlanadh ar shlí seachas trí airgead a íoc, is tuigthe, chun críocha alt 5, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15 agus 16 den Acht seo, gur íocaíocht sa chuid sin den phraghas fost-cheannaigh aon ghlanadh den tsórt sin.
Feidhm an Achta.
2.—Beidh feidhm ag an Acht seo maidir le gach comhaontú fostcheannaigh nó comhaontú díola-ar-cáirde nach—
(a) comhaontú maidir le beo-dhíle, nó
(b) comhaontú idir Chomhlachas Iascaigh Mhara na hÉireann, Teoranta (The Irish Sea Fisheries Association, Limited) agus éinne dá chomhaltaí,
agus léireofar dá réir sin na habairtí “comhaontú fost-cheannaigh” agus “comhaontú díola-ar-cáirde”.
Ceanglais maidir le comhaontuithe fost-cheannaigh.
3.—(1) Sar a ndéantar aon chomhaontú fost-cheannaigh maidir le haon earraí, sonróidh an t-únaer i scríbhinn don fhostóir ionchasach, ar shlí seachas i nóta nó i meabhrachán an chomhaontuithe, praghas ar a bhféadfaidh sé na hearraí a cheannach ar réidh-airgead (dá ngairmtear an praghas réidh-airgid san alt seo):
Ach is tuigthe an fo-alt seo a bheith leor-chomhlíonta—
(a) má scrúdaigh an fostóir na hearraí nó earraí dá samhail agus go raibh, an tráth a scrúdaigh sé iad, ticéidí nó duillíní ceangailte de na hearraí nó ar taispeáint leis na hearraí a luaigh go soiléir an praghas réidh-airgid, ar na hearraí san iomlán nó ar gach airceadal difriúil nó ar gach sreath difriúil d'airceadail sna hearraí sin, nó,
(b) má thoigh an fostóir na hearraí trí thagairt do chlárliost, praghas-liost nó fógrán a luaigh go soiléir an praghas réidh-airgid ar na hearraí san iomlán nó ar gach airceadal difriúil nó ar gach sreath difriúil d'airceadail sna hearraí sin.
(2) Ní bheidh únaer i dteideal forfheidhmiú a dhéanamh ar chomhaontú fost-cheannaigh ná ar aon chonradh ráthaíochta a bhainfeas leis ná ar aon cheart chun na hearraí a aisghabháil ón bhfostóir, agus ní bheidh aon urrús a thug an fostóir i leith airgid is iníoctha faoin gcomhaontú fost-cheannaigh, nó a thug ráthaitheoir i leith airgid is iníoctha faoi chonradh ráthaíochta den tsórt réamhráite, infhorfheidhmithe i gcoinne an fhostóra nó an ráthaitheora ag aon tsealbhóir ar an urrús sin, mura mbeifear tar éis an ceanglas a sonraítear sa bhfo-alt sin roimhe seo a chomhlíonadh, agus mura rud é—
(a) go mbeidh nóta nó meabhrachán i dtaobh an chomhaontuithe déanta agus sínithe ag an bhfostóir agus ag gach páirtí eile nó thar ceann gach páirtí eile sa chomhaontú, agus
(b) go luafar sa nóta nó sa mheabhrachán praghas fostcheannaigh agus phraghas réidh-airgid na n-earraí lena mbaineann an comhaontú agus méid gach tráthchoda ina mbeidh an praghas fost-cheannaigh le n-íoc agus an dáta, nó modh cinnte an dáta, ar a mbeidh gach tráthchuid iníoctha, agus go mbeidh ann liost de na hearraí lena mbaineann an comhaontú is leor chun iad a aithint, agus
(c) go mbeidh sa nóta nó sa mheabhrachán fógra a bheas ar a laghad chomh so-fheicse leis an gcuid eile dá mbeidh sa nóta nó sa mheabhrachán agus a bheas sna téarmaí atá ordaithe sa Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht seo, agus
(d) go ndéanfar cóip den nóta nó den mheabhrachán a sheachadadh don fhostóir nó a chur chuige laistigh de sheacht lá tar éis an comhaontú a dhéanamh:
Ach más deimhin leis an gCúirt i gcás aon aicsin nár dhochar don fhostóir faillí a tugadh i gcomhlíonadh na gceanglas a sonraítear sa bhfo-alt sin roimhe seo nó i gcomhlíonadh aon cheanglais a sonraítear i mír (b), (c), nó (d) den fho-alt seo, agus go mbeadh sé cóir agus cothrom an ceanglas a chur i leataoibh féadfaidh an Chúirt, faoi réir aon choinníoll is cuibhe léi a fhorchur, an ceanglas sin a chur i leataoibh chun críocha an aicsin.
Ceanglais maidir le comhaontuithe díola-ar-cháirde.
4.—(1) Sar a ndéantar aon chomhaontú díola-ar-cáirde faoinar mó ná cúig puint an praghas ceannaigh iomlán, sonróidh an díoltóir i scríbhinn don cheannaitheoir ionchasach, ar shlí seachas i nóta nó i meabhrachán an chomhaontuithe, praghas ar a bhféadfaidh sé na hearraí a cheannach ar réidh-airgead (dá ngairmtear an praghas réidh-airgid san alt seo):
Ach is tuigthe an fo-alt seo a bheith leor-chomhlíonta—
(a) má scrúdaigh an ceannaitheoir na hearraí nó earraí dá samhail agus go raibh, an tráth a scrúdaigh sé iad, ticéidí nó duillíní ceangailte de na hearraí nó ar taispeáint leis na hearraí a luaigh go soiléir an praghas réidh-airgid, ar na hearraí san iomlán nó ar gach airceadal difriúil nó ar gach sreath difriúil d'airceadail sna hearraí sin, nó
(b) má thoigh an ceannaitheoir na hearraí trí thagairt do chlárliost, praghas-liost nó fógrán a luaigh go soiléir an praghas réidh-airgid ar na hearraí san iomlán nó ar gach airceadal difriúil nó ar gach sreath difriúil d'airceadail sna hearraí sin.
(2) Duine a bheas tar éis earraí a dhíol trí chomhaontú díola-arcáirde faoinar mó na cúig puint an praghas ceannaigh iomlán, ní bheidh sé i dteideal forfheidhmiú a dhéanamh ar an gcomhaontú ná ar aon chonradh ráthaíochta a bhainfeas leis, agus ní bheidh aon urrús a thug an ceannaitheoir i leith airgid is iníoctha faoin gcomhaontú díola-ar-cáirde, nó a thug ráthaitheoir i leith airgid is iníoctha faoi chonradh ráthaíochta den tsórt réamhráite, infhorfheidhmithe i gcoinne an cheannaitheora nó an ráthaitheora ag aon tsealbhóir ar an urrús sin, mura mbeifear tar éis an ceanglas a sonraítear sa bhfo-alt sin roimhe seo a chomhlíonadh, agus mura rud é—
(a) go mbeidh nóta nó meabhrachán i dtaobh an chomhaontuithe déanta agus sínithe ag an gceannaitheoir agus ag gach páirtí eile nó thar ceann gach páirtí eile sa chomhaontú, agus
(b) go luafar sa nóta nó sa mheabhrachán praghas ceannaigh iomlán agus praghas réidh-airgid na n-earraí lena mbaineann an comhaontú agus méid gach tráthchoda ina mbeidh an praghas ceannaigh iomlán le n-íoc agus an dáta, nó modh cinnte an dáta, ar a mbeidh gach tráthchuid iníoctha, agus go mbeidh ann liost de na hearraí lena mbaineann an comhaontú is leor chun iad a aithint, agus
(c) go ndéanfar cóip den nóta nó den mheabhrachán a sheachadadh don cheannaitheoir nó a chur chuige laistigh de sheacht lá tar éis an comhaontú a dhéanamh:
Ach más deimhin leis an gCuirt i gcás aon aicsin nár dhochar don cheannaitheoir faillí a tugadh i gcomhlíonadh an cheanglais a sonraítear sa bhfo-alt sin roimhe seo nó i gcomhlíonadh aon cheanglais a sonraítear i mír (b) nó (c) den fho-alt seo, agus go mbeadh sé cóir agus cothrom an ceanglas a chur i leataoibh, féadfaidh an Chúirt, faoi réir aon choinníoll is cuibhe léi a fhorchur, an ceanglas sin a chur i leataoibh chun críocha an aicsin.
Cearta an fhostóra chun deireadh a chur le comhaontú fost-cheannaigh.
5.—(1) Beidh fostóir i dteideal, tráth ar bith roimh an íocaíocht dheiridh faoi chomhaontú fost-cheannaigh a bheith dlite, deireadh a chur leis an gcomhaontú trí fhógra forceannta i scríbhinn a thabhairt d'aon duine a mbeidh teideal nó údarás aige chun na suimeanna is iníoctha faoin gcomhaontú a ghlacadh agus, ar dheireadh a chur leis an gcomhaontú faoin alt seo, dlífidh sé, gan dochar d'aon dliteanas a bheas tar éis fás roimh an bhforceannadh, an méid, más ann, a íoc a bheas ag leath an phraghais fhost-cheannaigh de bhreis ar iomlán na suimeanna a bheas íoctha agus na suimeanna a bheas dlite i leith an phraghais fhost-cheannaigh díreach roimh an bhforceannadh, nó pé méid is lú ná sin a bheas sonraithe sa chomhaontú.
(2) I gcás deireadh a chur le comhaontú fost-cheannaigh faoin alt seo dlífidh an fostóir, má fhailligh sé aire réasúnach a thabhairt do na hearraí, airgead damáiste a íoc i leith na faillí.
(3) Má dhéanann fostóir, ar dheireadh a chur le comhaontú fostcheannaigh faoin alt seo, seilbh a choinneáil go héagórach ar na hearraí, ansin, in aon aicsean a bhunós an t-únaer chun seilbh ar na hearraí a aisghabháil ón bhfostóir, ordóidh an Chúirt, mura deimhin léi ná beadh sé cóir agus cothrom, ag féachaint do chúrsaí an cháis, sin a dhéanamh, na hearraí a sheachadadh don únaer, gan a thabhairt de roghain don fhostóir luach na n-earraí a íoc.
(4) Ní dhéanfaidh éinní san alt seo dochar d'aon cheart a bheas ag fostóir chun deireadh a chur le comhaontú fost-cheannaigh ar shlí seachas de bhuaidh an ailt seo.
Forála áirithe bheith gan bhrí.
6.—Aon fhoráil in aon chomhaontú—
(a) trína n-údarófar d'únaer nó d'aon duine a bheas ag gníomhú thar a cheann dul isteach in aon áitreabh chun seilbh a ghlacadh ar earraí a ligeadh faoi chomhaontú fost-cheannaigh, nó trína saorfar é ó dhliteanas mar gheall ar aon dul isteach den tsórt sin, nó
(b) trína ndéanfar eisiadh nó srianadh ar an gceart a bheirtear d'fhostóir leis an Acht seo chun deireadh a chur leis an gcomhaontú fost-cheannaigh, nó trína ndéanfar aon dliteanas i dteannta an dliteanais a forchuirtear leis an Acht seo a fhorchur ar fhostóir de bhíthin é d'fhorceannadh an chomhaontuithe fhost-cheannaigh faoin Acht seo, nó
(c) trína mbeidh fostóir, ar dheireadh a chur leis an gcomhaontú fost-cheannaigh nó leis an earbadh i slí ar bith, faoi dhliteanas is mó ná an dliteanas faoina mbeadh sé dá mba faoin Acht seo a chuir sé deireadh leis an gcomhaontú, nó
(d) trína ndéanfar, i gcás aon duine a bheas ag gníomhú thar ceann únaera nó díoltóra maidir le comhaontú fostcheannaigh nó comhaontú díola-ar-cáirde a fhoirmiú nó a chomhlánú, an duine sin a áireamh nó deighleáil leis mar ghníomhaire don fhostóir nó don cheannaitheoir, nó
(e) trína ndéanfar únaer nó díoltóir a shaoradh ó dhliteanas i leith gníomhartha nó faillí dhuine ar bith a bheas ag gníomhú thar a cheann maidir le comhaontú fostcheannaigh nó comhaontú díola-ar-cáirde a fhoirmiú nó a comhlánú,
beidh sí gan bhrí.
E a bheith de dhualgas ar únaeraí agus díoltóirí doiciméidí agus eolas a thabhairt.
7.—(1) Tráth ar bith roimh an íocaíocht dheiridh a bheith déanta faoi chomhaontú fost-cheannaigh nó comhaontú díola-ar-cáirde, déanfaidh aon duine a bheas i dteideal an comhaontú a fhorfheidhmiú i gcoinne an fhostóra nó an cheannaitheora, laistigh de cheithre lá tar éis iarratas i scríbhinn a bheith faighte aige ón bhfostóir nó ón gceannaitheoir agus scilling chostais a bheith tairgthe dhó ag an bhfostóir nó an ceannaitheoir, cóip a thabhairt don fhostóir nó don cheannaitheoir d'aon mheabhrachán nó nóta i dtaobh an chomhaontuithe, maille le ráiteas arna shíniú ag an duine sin nó ag a ghníomhaire a thaispeánfas—
(a) an méid atá íoctha ag an bhfostóir nó ag an gceannaitheoir nó thar a cheann,
(b) an méid atá dlite faoin gcomhaontú ach atá gan íoc, agus an dáta ar dtáinig gach tráthchuid neamhíoctha chun bheith dlite, agus méid gach tráthchoda den tsórt sin, agus
(c) an méid a thiocfas chun bheith iníoctha faoin gcomhaontú, agus an dáta, nó modh cinnte an dáta, ar a dtiocfaidh gach tráthchuid todhchaí chun bheith iníoctha, agus méid gach tráthchoda den tsórt sin.
(2) Má déantar faillí gan chúis réasúnach sa bhfo-alt deiridh sin roimhe seo a chomhlíonadh, ansin, faid a leanfas an fhaillí—
(a) ní bheidh duine ar bith i dteideal forfheidhmiú a dhéanamh ar an gcomhaontú i gcoinne an fhostóra nó an cheannaitheora, ná ar aon chonradh ráthaíochta a bhainfeas leis an gcomhaontú, agus, i gcás comhaontuithe fost-cheannaigh, ní bheidh an t-únaer i dteideal forfheidhmiú a dhéanamh ar aon cheart chun na hearraí a aisghabháil ón bhfostóir, agus
(b) ní bheidh aon urrús a thug an fostóir nó an ceannaitheoir i leith airgid is iníoctha faoin gcomhaontú nó a thug ráthaitheoir i leith airgid is iníoctha faoi chonradh ráthaíochta den tsórt sin adúradh infhorfheidhmithe i gcoinne an fhostóra nó an cheannaitheora ná i gcoinne an ráthaitheora ag aon tsealbhóir air,
agus, má leanann an fhaillí go ceann tréimhse míosa, beidh an faillitheoir ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo agus ar a chiontú ann ar an slí achomair dlífear fíneáil ná raghaidh thar deich bpuint a chur air.
E a bheith de dhualgas ar fhostóir a insint cá bhfuil earraí.
8.—(1) Más rud é, de bhuaidh comhaontuithe fhost-cheannaigh, go mbeidh de dhualgas ar fhostóir na hearraí lena mbainfidh an comhaontú a choimeád ina sheilbh nó faoina urláimh, déanfaidh an fostóir, ar é d'fháil iarratais i scríbhinn ón únaer, a chur in iúl don únaer cá bhfuil na hearraí tráth an eolais sin a thabhairt nó, más leis an bpost a cuirfear é, tráth na postála.
(2) Má fhaillíonn fostóir gan chúis réasúnach an t-eolas sin a thabhairt laistigh de cheithre lá déag tar éis an fógra a fháil, beidh sé ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo agus ar a chiontú ann ar an slí achomair dlífear fíneáil ná raghaidh thar deich bpuint a chur air.
Coinníollacha agus barántaí is tuigthe a bheith i gcomhaontuithe fost-cheannaigh.
9.—(1) Beidh i ngach comhaontú fost-cheannaigh—
(a) baránta intuigthe go mbeidh ag an bhfostóir agus go dteachtóidh sé seilbh sítheach ar na hearraí;
(b) coinníoll intuigthe i bpáirt an únaera go mbeidh de cheart aige na hearraí a dhíol an tráth a bheas an mhaoin le rochtain;
(c) baránta intuigthe go mbeidh na hearraí saor ó aon mhuirear nó eire i bhfábhar aon treas pháirtí an trath a bheas an mhaoin le rochtain;
(d) lasmuigh de chás ina ligfear na hearraí mar earraí réidhchaite agus ina mbeidh ráiteas á rá sin sa nóta nó sa mheabhrachán i dtaobh an chomhaontuithe a bheas arna dhéanamh de bhun ailt 3 den Acht seo, coinníoll intuigthe gur earraí de cháilíocht inmharsanta na hearraí, ach sin i slí nach intuigthe de bhuaidh na míre seo aon choinníoll den tsórt sin a bheith ann maidir le lochta ná féadfadh an t-únaer bheith eolach orthu do réir reasúin an tráth a rinneadh an comhaontú, nó, má scrúdaigh an fostóir na hearraí nó sampla dhíobh, maidir le lochta ba chóir a theacht ar fhis sa scrúdú.
(2) Má chuireann an fostóir in iúl nó i dtuigsint cad é an chríoch áirithe chun a mbeidh na hearraí ag teastáil, beidh sé ina choinníoll intuigthe go mbeidh na hearraí réasúnta oiriúnach chun na críche sin.
(3) Na barántaí agus na coinníollacha atá leagtha amach i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo, beid intuigthe d'ainneoin aon chomhaontuithe contrártha dhó sin, agus ní bheidh an t-únaer i dteideal seasamh ar aon fhoráil sa chomhaontú a dhéanfas eisiadh nó modhnú ar an gcoinníoll atá leagtha amach i bhfo-alt (2) den alt seo mura gcruthaí sé gur cuireadh an fhoráil i bhfios don fhostóir agus gur soiléiríodh a héifeacht dó sar a ndearnadh an comhaontú.
(4) Ní dhéanfaidh éinní san alt seo dochar d'oibriú aon achtacháin eile nó aon rialach dlí trína mbeidh aon choinníoll nó baránta le bheith intuigthe in aon chomhaontú fost-cheannaigh.
Iocaíochta i leith comhaontuithe fost-cheannaigh a leithreasú.
10.—Aon fhostóir a dhlífeas íocaíochta a dhéanamh i leith dhá chomhaontú fhost-cheannaigh nó níos mó leis an aon-únaer, beidh sé, d'ainneoin aon chomhaontuithe contrártha dhó sin, i dteideal, ar aon íocaíocht a dhéanamh i leith na gcomhaontuithe nach leor chun an tsuim iomlán a ghlanadh a bheas dlite an tráth sin faoi na comhaontuithe uile, an tsuim a bheas íoctha amhlaidh aige a leithreasú chun nó mar chabhair chun íoctha na suime a bheas dlite faoi aon cheann áirithe de na comhaontuithe nó chun nó mar chabhair chun íoctha na suimeanna a bheas dlite faoi aon dá cheann nó níos mó de na comhaontuithe do réir pé coibhneasa is cuibhe leis, agus, má fhaillíonn sé aon leithreasú mar adúradh a dhéanamh déanfar de bhuaidh an ailt seo an íocaíocht a leithreasú mar chabhair chun íoctha na suimeanna a bheas dlite faoi na comhaontuithe fostcheannaigh faoi seach do réir na gcoibhneas a bheas idir na suimeanna sin.
Fianaise i dtaobh coinneála codarsna in aicsin ag únaeraí chun seilbh a aisghabháil ar na hearraí.
11.—Más rud é, in aicsean ag duine is únaer ar earraí a ligeadh faoi chomhaontú fost-cheannaigh chun forfheidhmiú a dhéanamh ar cheart chun seilbh ar na hearraí a aisghabháil ón bhfostóir, go gcruthaí an t-únaer go ndearna sé, roimh an aicsean a thosnú agus tar éis é a theacht chun bheith de cheart aige seilbh a aisghabháil ar na hearraí, a iarraidh i scríbhinn ar an bhfostóir na hearraí a thabhairt suas, is tuigthe, chun críche éilimh an únaera chun seilbh a aisghabháil ar na hearraí, seilbh an fhostóra ar na hearraí a bheith codarsna don únaer.
Ní dhéanfaidh éinní san alt seo difir d'éileamh ar airgead damáiste mar gheall ar chomhshó.
Srian le ceart an únaera chun seilbh a aisghabháil ar earraí ar shlí seachas trí aicsean.
12.—(1) I gcás inar ligeadh earraí faoi chomhaontú fostcheannaigh agus inar híocadh, pé acu de bhun breithiúnais nó eile é, nó inar tairgeadh, ag an bhfostóir nó aon ráthaitheoir nó thar a cheann, an tríú cuid den phraghas fost-cheannaigh, ní fhorfheidhmeoidh an t-únaer aon cheart chun seilbh ar na hearraí a aisghabháil ón bhfostóir ar shlí seachas trí aicsean.
(2) Má dhéanann únaer seilbh a aisghabháil ar earraí contrártha don fho-alt sin roimhe seo, tiocfaidh deireadh, murar cuireadh deireadh roimhe sin, leis an gcomhaontú fost-cheannaigh, agus—
(a) beidh an fostóir saortha ó gach dliteanas faoin gcomhaontú agus beidh sé i dteideal na suimeanna go léir d'íoc an fostóir faoin gcomhaontú nó faoi aon urrús a thug sé maidir leis an gcomhaontú a aisghabháil ón únaer in aicsean um airgead a fuarthas agus a glacadh, agus
(b) beidh ráthaitheoir ar bith i dteideal na suimeanna go léir d'íoc sé faoin gconradh ráthaíochta nó faoi aon urrús a thug sé maidir leis an gconradh ráthaíochta a aisghabháil ón únaer in aicsean um airgead a fuarthas agus a glacadh.
(3) Ní bheidh feidhm ag forála an ailt seo in aon chás ina mbeidh an fostóir tar éis deireadh a chur leis an gcomhaontú nó leis an earbadh de bhuaidh aon chirt a bheas dílsithe ann.
Cumhachta cúirte in aicsin áirithe ag únaeraí chun seilbh a aisghabháil ar na hearraí.
13.—(1) Más rud é, in aon chás lena mbainfidh an mhír dheiridh sin roimhe seo, go dtosnóidh únaer aicsean chun forfheidhmiú a dhéanamh ar cheart chun seilbh ar na hearraí a aisghabháil ó fhostóir tar éis an tríú cuid den phraghas fost-cheannaigh a bheith íoctha nó tairgthe mar adúradh, ní dhéanfaidh an t-únaer éinní tar éis an t-aicsean a thosnú chun íoc aon tsuime a fhorfheidhmiú a bheas dlite faoin gcomhaontú fost-cheannaigh, nó faoi aon chonradh ráthaíochta a bhainfeas leis sin, ach amháin tríd an tsuim a éileamh san aicsean.
(2) Faoi réir pé eisceacht a déanfar le rialacha cúirte, déanfar páirtithe san aicsean de na páirtithe uile sa chomhaontú agus d'aon ráthaitheoir.
(3) Go dtí go n-éistfear an t-aicsean, beidh ag an gCúirt, i dteannta aon chumhacht eile, cumhacht, ar an únaer dá iarraidh sin, chun pé orduithe a dhéanamh a mheasfas an Chúirt is cóir chun na hearraí a chaomhnadh ó dhamáiste nó ó dhíluachadh, lena n-áirítear orduithe ag srianadh nó ag cosc úsáide na n-earraí nó ag tabhairt ordachán maidir lena gcoinneáil.
(4) Ar an aicsean a éisteacht féadfaidh an Chúirt, gan dochar d'aon chumhacht eile—
(a) ordú a dhéanamh i gcóir sain-sheachadadh na n-earraí go léir don únaer,
(b) ordú a dhéanamh i gcóir sain-sheachadadh na n-earraí go léir don únaer agus oibriú an orduithe a chur ar athló ar choinníoll go n-íocfaidh an fostóir nó aon ráthaitheoir iarmhéid neamhíoctha an phraghais fhost-cheannaigh pé trátha agus i pé méideanna a mheasfas an Chúirt, ag féachaint d'acmhainn an fhostóra agus aon ráthaitheora, a bheith cóir, agus faoi réir an fostóir nó ráthaitheoir do chomhlíonadh pé coinníoll eile a mheasfas an Chúirt a bheith cóir, nó
(c) ordú a dhéanamh i gcóir aistriú teidil an únaera do chuid de na hearraí chun an fhostóra agus i gcóir sainsheachadadh na coda eile de na hearraí don únaer, ach sin, más cuibhe leis an gCúirt, faoi réir an choinníll go n-íocfaidh an fostóir nó aon ráthaitheoir leis an únaer laistigh d'am shonraithe pé méid breise i leith an phraghais fhost-cheannaigh a mheasfas an Chúirt a bheith cóir, ag féachaint don mhéid a bheas íoctha cheana ina leith, do phraghas na coda sin, don úsáid a bhí ag an bhfostóir as an gcuid eile de na hearraí agus don laghdú a tháinig ar a luach.
(5) Ní déanfar aon ordú faoi mhír (b) den fho-mhír dheiridh sin roimhe seo mura gcruthaí an fostóir chun sástachta na Cúirte na hearraí a bheith ina sheilbh nó faoina urláimh tráth déanta an orduithe.
(6) Má dhéanann an Chúirt, faoi mhír (c) d'fho-alt (4) den alt seo, ordú a mbeidh coinníoll ag gabháil leis, beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas maidir leis an gcuid sin den ordú a bhainfeas le haistriú teidil an únaera d'aon earraí chun an fhostóra—
(a) ní thiocfaidh an chuid sin i ngníomh, i gcás ar bith, sar a gcomhlíontar an coinníoll,
(b) mura gcomhlíontar an coinníoll, cúlghairmfidh an Chúirt an chuid sin agus déanfaidh pé ordú eile maidir leis na hearraí a mheasfaidh is cóir,
(c) má comhlíontar an coinníoll, tiocfaidh an chuid sin i ngníomh ar é a comhlíonadh amhlaidh.
(7) I gcás airgead damáiste a dhámhachtain i gcoinne an únaera sna himeachta, féadfaidh an Chúirt deighleáil leis an bhfostóir mar dhuine a mbeidh íoctha aige i leith an phraghais fhost-cheannaigh, i dteannta an méid a bheas íoctha iarbhír, méid an airgid damáiste, nó pé cuid de sin is cuibhe leis an gCúirt, agus air sin maithfear dá réir an t-airgead damáiste i bpáirt nó go hiomlán.
(8) San alt seo ciallaíonn an abairt “ordú i gcóir sainsheachadadh na n-earraí” ordú chun na hearraí a sheachadadh don únaer gan a thabhairt de roghain don fhostóir a luach a íoc, agus ciallaíonn an focal “praghas” maidir le haon earraí pé cuid den phraghas fost-cheannaigh a sanntar do na hearraí sin le nóta nó meabhrachán an chomhaontuithe fhost-cheannaigh, nó, i gcás gan aon chuid den phraghas fost-cheannaigh a shannadh amhlaidh, pé cuid den phraghas fost-cheannaigh a chinnfeas an Chúirt.
(9) Más rud é, tráth ar bith roimh aicsean lena mbaineann an t-alt seo a éisteacht, go mbeidh an t-únaer tar éis seilbh a aisghabháil ar chuid de na hearraí, déanfar na tagairtí atá i bhfo-alt (4) de seo do na hearraí go léir a léiriú mar thagairt do na hearraí go léir ná beidh arna n-aisghabháil ag an únaer, agus, mura mbeidh comhaontaithe ag na páirtithe ar choigeartú ar an bpraghas fost-cheannaigh i leith na n-earraí a bheas arna n-aisghabháil amhlaidh, féadfaidh an Chúirt, chun críocha míreanna (b) agus (c) d'fho-alt (4) de seo, pé laghdú a dhéanamh ar an bpraghas fostcheannaigh agus ar an iarmhéid neamhíoctha dhe a mheasfas an Chúirt is cóir.
(10) Más rud é go mbeidh únaer tar éis cuid de na hearraí a ligeadh faoi chomhaontú fost-cheannaigh a aisghabháil, agus gur contrártha don alt dheiridh sin roimhe seo a rinneadh an aisghabháil, ní bheidh feidhm ag forála an ailt seo maidir le haon aicsean ag an únaer chun an chuid eile de na hearraí a aisghabháil.
An ní a leanfas as oibriú orduithe i gcóir sainsheachadadh earraí don únaer a chur ar athló.
14.—(1) Faid a bheas oibriú orduithe i gcóir sain-sheachadadh earraí don únaer curtha ar athló faoin alt deiridh sin roimhe seo, is tuigthe an fostóir a bheith ina earbaí ar na hearraí faoi théarmaí agus ar théarmaí an chomhaontuithe fhost-cheannaigh:
Ach—
(a) ní beidh aon tsuim eile iníoctha ná ní thiocfaidh aon tsuim eile chun bheith iníoctha ag an bhfostóir ná ag ráthaitheoir i leith iarmhéid neamhíoctha an phraghais fhost-cheannaigh, ach amháin do réir téarmaí an orduithe, agus
(b) féadfaidh an Chúirt pé modhnuithe eile a dhéanamh ar théarmaí an phraghais fhost-cheannaigh agus aon chonartha ráthaíochta a bhainfeas leis a mheasfas an Chúirt is gá ag féachaint don athrú ar na téarmaí íocaíochta.
(2) Más rud é, faid a bheas oibriú orduithe i gcóir sain-sheachadadh na n-earraí don únaer curtha ar athló amhlaidh, go bhfailleoidh an fostóir nó aon ráthaitheoir aon choinníoll a chomhlíonadh a bheas ag gabháil leis an gcur-ar-athló nó go bhfailleoidh aon téarma den chomhaontú arna athrú ag an gCúirt a chomhlíonadh, nó go ndéanfaidh na hearraí a dhiúscairt go héagórach, ní bhunóidh an t-únaer aon imeachta síbhialta i gcoinne an fhostóra ná aon ráthaitheora ar shlí seachas trí iarratas a dhéanamh chun na Cúirte a rinne an t-ordú:
Ach i gcás aon choinníoll a bhriseadh a bhainfeas le híoc iarmhéide neamhíoctha an phraghais fhost-cheannaigh, ní gá don únaer cead a iarraidh ar an gCúirt chun an t-ordú a fhorfheidhmiú mura mbeidh an Chúirt tar éis ordachán dá réir sin a thabhairt.
(3) Nuair a bheas iarmhéid neamhíoctha an phraghais fhostcheannaigh íoctha do réir téarmaí an orduithe, dílseoidh teideal an únaera chun na n-earraí sa bhfostóir.
(4) Féadfaidh an Chúirt tráth ar bith le linn oibriú orduithe den tsórt adúradh a bheith curtha ar athló—
(a) coinníollacha an churtha ar athló a athrú, agus pé modhnú eile a dhéanamh ar an gcomhaontú fost-cheannaigh agus ar aon chonradh ráthaíochta a bhainfeas leis a mheasfas an Chúirt is gá ag féachaint don athrú ar choinníollacha an churtha ar athló;
(b) an cur ar athló a chúlghairm;
(c) ordú a dhéanamh, do réir forál an ailt dheiridh sin roimhe seo, i gcóir sain-sheachadadh coda de na hearraí don únaer agus á ordú aistriú chun an fhostóra a dhéanamh ar theideal an únaera chun na coda eile de na hearraí.
Cumhachta na cúirte chun deighleáil le híocaíochta a éireos ar dheireadh a chur le comhaontuithe fost-cheannaigh.
15.—(1) Má fhorálann comhaontú fost-cheannaigh go bailí go ndéanfaidh an fostóir, ar dheireadh a chur leis an gcomhaontú nó leis an earbadh nó ina dhiaidh sin, pé suim a íoc a bheas, ar í a chur leis na suimeanna a bheas íoctha agus na suimeanna a bheas dlite i leith an phraghais fhost-cheannaigh roimh dheireadh a chur leis an gcomhaontú nó leis an earbadh, comhionann le méid cinnte, agus má déantar éileamh i leith aon tsuime den tsórt sin in aicsean lena mbainfidh alt 13 den Acht seo, ansin—
(a) i gcás ina ndéanfaidh an Chúirt ordú i gcóir sain-sheachadadh coda de na hearraí don únaer agus i gcóir aistriú teidil an únaera don chuid eile de na hearraí chun an fhostóra, déanfar an t-éileamh a dhí-lomháil,
(b) i gcás ina gcuirfidh an Chúirt ar athló oibriú orduithe i gcóir sain-sheachadadh na n-earraí don únaer, ní bhreithneoidh sí an t-éileamh mura gcúlghairmtear agus go dtí go gcúlghairmfear an cur ar athló, agus deighleálfaidh sí ansin leis an éileamh amhail is dá mbeifí díreach tar éis deireadh a chur leis an gcomhaontú.
(2) Más rud é gur íoc an fostóir nó aon ráthaitheoir aon tsuim mar adúradh nó gur hordaíodh dó sin a íoc agus go n-iarrfaidh an t-únaer ina dhiaidh sin na hearraí a aisghabháil in aicsean lena mbainfidh alt 13 den Acht seo, féadfaidh an Chúirt deighleáil leis an tsuim sin mar shuim a híocadh nó mar shuim is iníoctha, pé acu é, i leith an phraghais fhost-cheannaigh.
Comhaontuithe fost-cheannaigh leanúnacha idir na páirtithe céanna.
16.—Má bítear tar éis earraí a ligean faoi chomhaontú fostcheannaigh agus go ndéanfaidh an t-únaer, tráth ar bith tar éis an tríú cuid den phraghas fost-cheannaigh a bheith íoctha nó tairgthe, comhaontú fost-cheannaigh eile leis an bhfostóir ina n-áireofar na hearraí sin, beidh éifeacht ag forála alt 12 agus 13 den Acht seo maidir leis an gcomhaontú eile sin amhail ó dháta an chomhaontuithe eile sin a thosnú.
Forála maidir le féimhíocht an fhostóra agus tocsal ar áitreabh an fhostóra.
17.—(1) Más rud é, faoi na cumhachta a beirtear leis an Acht seo, go mbeidh an Chúirt tar éis oibriú orduithe i gcóir sainsheachadadh earraí do dhuine ar bith a chur ar athló, ní deighleálfar, le linn an churtha ar athló, leis na hearraí mar earraí atá, le toiliú nó le cead an duine sin, ina sheilbh, faoina ordú nó faoina réir ag an bhfostóir chun críocha ailt 313 den Irish Bankrupt and Insolvent Act, 1857, nó ailt 4 den Law of Distress Amendment Act, 1908.
(2) Tar éis deireadh a chur le comhaontú fost-cheannaigh, nó tar éis d'únaer, a mbeidh de cheart aige earraí a ligeadh faoi chomhaontú fost-cheannaigh a aisghabháil ó fhostóir, do thosnú aicsin chun an ceart sin a fhorfheidhmiú, ní deighleálfar (d'ainneoin an Chúirt, in aon aicsean den tsórt sin, do chur oibriú orduithe i gcóir sain-sheachadadh na n-earraí don únaer ar athló) leis na hearraí a ligeadh faoin gcomhaontú, nó leis na hearraí a mbeifear á n-éileamh san aicsean, pé acu é, mar earraí a háiríodh sa chomhaontú fostcheannaigh chun críocha ailt 4 den Law of Distress Amendment Act, 1908.
Gan diúltú an fhostóra na hearraí a thabhairt suas a bheith ina chomhshó i gcásanna áirithe.
18.—Má tharlann, faid a bheas aon tsrian de bhuaidh an Achta seo le húnaer d'fhorfheidhmiú cirt chun seilbh ar earraí a aisghabháil ó fhostóir, go ndiúltóidh an fostóir seilbh ar na hearraí a thabhairt suas don únaer, ní bheidh an fostóir, de dhruim an diúltuithe sin amháin, faoi dhliteanas don únaer i dtaobh na hearraí a chomhshó.
Forála speisialta maidir le táillí feistithe.
19.—(1) I gcás ina mbeidh de cheangal ar an únaer, faoi aon chomhaontú fost-cheannaigh a déanfar tar éis tosach feidhme an Achta seo, aon fheistiú a dhéanamh, agus ina sonróidh nóta nó meabhrachán an chomhaontuithe mar chuid den phraghas fostcheannaigh an méid a bheas le n-íoc i leith an fheistithe, déanfar na tagairtí in alt 5 den Acht seo do leath an phraghais fhostcheannaigh agus in ailt 12, 13 agus 16 den Acht seo don tríú cuid den phraghas fost-cheannaigh a léiriú mar thagairtí do chomhiomlán na suime sin maraon le leath na coda eile den phraghas fostcheannaigh nó an tríú cuid d'iarmhar an phraghais fhost-cheannaigh, do réir mar bheas.
(2) Chun críche an ailt seo ciallaíonn an focal “feistiú”—
(a) aon líne leictreachais nó aon phíopa gáis nó uisce a fheistiú,
(b) earraí lena mbaineann an comhaontú a dhaingniú ar an áitreabh ina mbeid le n-úsáid, agus áitreabh a athrú chun go bhféadfar aon earraí den tsórt sin a úsáid ann, agus
(c) más gá do réir réasúin aon earraí den tsórt sin a chomhdhéanamh nó a chur suas san áitreabh ina mbeid le n-úsáid, aon obair a déanfar chun críche an chomhdhéanta nó an churtha suas sin.
Dlínse na Cúirte Dúiche.
20.—(1) Beidh dlínse ag an gCúirt Dúiche in aon aicsean ag an únaer ar earraí a ligeadh faoi chomhaontú fost-cheannaigh chun forfheidhmiú a dhéanamh ar cheart chun seilbh ar na hearraí a aisghabháil ón bhfostóir i gcás nach mó ná cúig puint fhichead an praghas fost-cheannaigh.
(2) Ní bheidh feidhm ag mír (a) d'alt 53 den Acht Cúirteanna Breithiúnais, 1936 (Uimh. 48 de 1936), maidir le haicsean lena mbaineann fo-alt (1) den alt seo.
Feidhm an Achta maidir le comhaontuithe láithreacha.
21.—(1) Beidh feidhm ag na hailt seo a leanas den Acht seo, a mhéid atá sonraithe ina dhiaidh seo, maidir le gach comhaontú fostcheannaigh arna dhéanamh roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo nó dá éis sin, sé sin le rá:
(a) alt 10 den Acht seo a mhéid a bhaineas sé le híocaíochta a déanfar tar éis tosach feidhme an Achta seo,
(b) ailt 12 agus 16 den Acht seo a mhéid a bhainid le seilbh ar earraí a aisghabháil tar éis tosach feidhme an Achta seo,
(c) ailt 11, 13, 14, 15, 16 agus 20 den Acht seo, a mhéid a bhainid le haicsin a tosnófar tar éis tosach feidhme an Achta seo,
(d) fo-alt (1) d'alt 17 den Acht seo, a mhéid a bhaineas sé le horduithe a déanfar tar éis tosach feidhme an Achta seo, agus fo-alt (2) den alt sin a mhéid a bhaineas sé le comhaontuithe a gcuirfear deireadh leo nó le haicsin a tosnófar, do réir mar bheas, tar éis tosach feidhme an Achta seo, agus
(e) alt 18 den Acht seo, a mhéid a bhaineas sé le diúltú seilbh ar earraí a thabhairt suas tar éis tosach feidhme an Achta seo.
(2) I gcás inar ligeadh earraí faoi chomhaontú fost-cheannaigh a rinneadh roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo agus ina ndearna an t-únaer, mar chuid den chomaoin i leith an phraghais fhostcheannaigh, aon fheistiú do réir bhrí an ailt dheiridh sin roimhe seo maidir leis na hearraí sin, ansin, má sheirbheáil an t-únaer fógra ar an bhfostóir ag sonrú suime nach mó ná an costas faoina ndeachaigh an t-únaer iarbhír maidir leis an bhfeistiú, beidh ag ailt 12, 13 agus 16 den Acht seo, a mhéid a bheas feidhm acu de bhuaidh an fho-ailt dheiridh sin roimhe seo maidir leis an gcomhaontú sin, éifeacht, maidir le seilbh ar earraí a aisghabháil ar ocht lá fichead a bheith caite tar éis an fógra a sheirbheáil agus maidir le haicsin a tosnófar ar an tréimhse sin a bheith caite, amhail is dá gcuirtí, in ionad na dtagairtí sna hailt sin don tríú cuid den phraghas fost-cheannaigh, tagairtí do chomhiomlán na suime sin maraon leis an tríú cuid den mhéid a bheas fágtha tar éis an tsuim sin a bhaint den phraghas fost-cheannaigh.
(3) Lasmuigh de chás mar adúradh ní bheidh feidhm ag an Acht seo maidir le haon chomhaontú fost-cheannaigh nó comhaontú díola-ar-cáirde a rinneadh roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo.
Gearr-theideal agus tosach feidhme.
22.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht Fost-Cheannaigh, 1946, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i ngníomh pé lá a ceapfar chuige sin le hordú ón Aire Tionnscail agus Tráchtála.
AN SCEIDEAL.
An Fogra ata le cur i Nota no Meabhrachan Comhaontuithe Fhost-cheannaigh.
FOGRA.
Ceart an Fhostora chun an Comhaontu a Fhorceannadh.
1. Féadfaidh an fostóir deireadh a chur leis an gcomhaontú seo trí fhógra forceannta a thabhairt i scríbhinn do dhuine ar bith a bheas i dteideal an fost-chíos a bhailiú nó a ghlacadh.
2. Ní foláir dó ansin aon tráthchoda a íoc a bheas i riaráiste an tráth a bhéarfas sé an fógra. Más rud é, ar na tráthchoda sin a bheith íoctha aige, gur lú an méid iomlán a bheas íoctha aige faoin gcomhaontú ná (cuir isteach anseo an méid is lú a ceangaltar ar an bhfostóir a íoc do réir forál alt 5 agus 19 den Acht seo) ní foláir dó freisin oiread a íoc agus a shlánós an tsuim sin.
3. Má rinneadh damáiste do na hearraí toisc nár thug an fostóir aire réasúnach dóibh, féadfaidh an t-únaer dul chun dlí leis le haghaidh méid an damáiste mura bhféadfaidh an fostóir agus an t-únaer teacht ar chomhaontú i dtaobh an mhéid sin.
4. Ba cheart don fhostóir féachaint an bhfuil forála sa chomhaontú seo a chuireas ar a chumas deireadh a chur leis an gcomhaontú ar théarmaí a bheas níos fábharaí dhó ná na téarmaí sin atá luaite díreach roimhe seo. Má tá, féadfaidh sé deireadh a chur leis an gcomhaontú ar na téarmaí sin.
Srian le Ceart an Unaera chun Earrai a Aisghabhail.
1. Mura dtoilí an fostóir chuige, níl aon údarás ag an únaer dul isteach in áitreabh an fhostóra chun na hearraí a thógaint thar n-ais.
2. *[Ar (cuir isteach anseo méid a ríomhfar do réir alt 12 agus 19 den Acht seo) a bheith íoctha, ansin,] mura mbeidh deireadh curtha leis an gcomhaontú ag an bhfostóir féin, ní fhéadfaidh únaer na n-earraí, gan an fostóir do thoiliú chuige sin, na hearraí a thógaint thar n-ais ón bhfostóir mura bhfagha an t-únaer ordú ón gCúirt.
3. Má iarrann an t-únaer ordú den tsórt sin ar an gCúirt, féad faidh an Chúirt, má mheasann sí gur cóir sin a dhéanamh, a cheadú go gcoimeádfaidh an fostóir—
(a) na hearraí go léir, ar choinníoll go n-íocfaidh an fostóir iarmhéid an phraghais sa tslí a ordós an Chúirt; nó
(b) cionúireacht chothrom de na hearraí ag féachaint don mhéid a bheas íoctha cheana ag an bhfostóir.
Más comhaontú “eile” do réir bhrí ailt 16 den Acht seo an comhaontú, fágtar ar lár na focail atá idir lúibíní ceárnacha.
Number 16 of 1946.
HIRE-PURCHASE ACT, 1946.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Acts Referred to | |||
No. 48 of 1936 | |||
Number 16 of 1946.
HIRE-PURCHASE ACT, 1946.
Interpretation.
1.—In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—
the words “action”, “buyer”, “delivery”, “goods”, “property”, “sale”, “seller” and “warranty” have the meanings respectively assigned to them by the Sale of Goods Act, 1893;
the expression “hire-purchase agreement” means an agreement for the bailment of goods under which the bailee may buy the goods or under which the property in the goods will or may pass to the bailee, and where by virtue of two or more agreements, none of which by itself constitutes a hire-purchase agreement, there is a bailment of goods and either the bailee may buy the goods, or the property therein will or may pass to the bailee, the agreements shall be treated for the purposes of this Act as a single agreement made at the time when the last of the agreements was made;
the expression “credit-sale agreement” means an agreement for the sale of goods under which the purchase price is payable by five or more instalments;
the expression “hire-purchase price” means the total sum payable by the hirer under a hire-purchase agreement in order to complete the purchase of the goods to which the agreement relates, exclusive of any sum payable as a penalty or as compensation or damages for a breach of the agreement;
the word “owner” means the person who lets or has let goods to a hirer under a hire-purchase agreement and includes a person to whom the owner's property in the goods or any of the owner's rights or liabilities under the agreement has passed by assignment or by operation of law;
the word “hirer” means the person who takes or has taken goods from an owner under a hire-purchase agreement and includes a person to whom the hirer's rights or liabilities under the agreement have passed by assignment or by operation of law;
the expression “contract of guarantee” means, in relation to any hire-purchase agreement or credit-sale agreement, a contract, made at the request express or implied of the hirer or buyer, to guarantee the performance of the hirer's or buyer's obligations under the hire-purchase agreement or credit-sale agreement, and the expression “guarantor” shall be construed accordingly;
the expression “total purchase price” means the total sum payable by the buyer under a credit-sale agreement, exclusive of any sum payable as a penalty or as compensation or damages for a breach of the agreement.
(2) Where an owner has agreed that any part of the hire-purchase price may be discharged otherwise than by the payment of money, any such discharge shall for the purposes of sections 5, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of this Act, be deemed to be a payment of that part of the hire-purchase price.
Application of Act.
2.—This Act shall apply in relation to every hire-purchase or credit-sale agreement not being—
(a) an agreement relating to livestock, or
(b) an agreement between Comhlachas Iascaigh Mhara na h-Éireann, Teoranta (The Irish Sea Fisheries Association, Limited), and any of its members,
and the expressions “hire-purchase agreement” and “credit-sale agreement” shall be construed accordingly.
Requirements relating to hire-purchase agreements.
3.—(1) Before any hire-purchase agreement is entered into in respect of any goods, the owner shall state in writing to the prospective hirer, otherwise than in the note or memorandum of the agreement, a price at which the goods may be purchased by him for cash (in this section referred to as the cash price):
Provided that this subsection shall be deemed to have been sufficiently complied with—
(a) if the hirer has inspected the goods or like goods and at the time of his inspection tickets or labels were attached to or displayed with the goods clearly stating the cash price, either of the goods as a whole or of all the different articles or sets of articles comprised therein, or
(b) if the hirer has selected the goods by reference to a catalogue, price list, or advertisement, which clearly stated the cash price either of the goods as a whole or of all the different articles or sets of articles comprised therein.
(2) An owner shall not be entitled to enforce a hire-purchase agreement or any contract of guarantee relating thereto or any right to recover the goods from the hirer, and no security given by the hirer in respect of money payable under the hire-purchase agreement or given by a guarantor in respect of money payable under such a contract of guarantee as aforesaid shall be enforceable against the hirer or guarantor by any holder thereof, unless the requirement specified in the foregoing subsection has been complied with, and—
(a) a note or memorandum of the agreement is made and signed by the hirer and by or on behalf of all other parties to the agreement, and
(b) the note or memorandum contains a statement of the hire-purchase price and of the cash price of the goods to which the agreement relates and of the amount of each of the instalments by which the hire-purchase price is to be paid and of the date, or the mode of determining the date, upon which each instalment is payable, and contains a list of the goods to which the agreement relates sufficient to identify them, and
(c) the note or memorandum contains a notice, which is at least as prominent as the rest of the contents of the note or memorandum, in the terms prescribed in the Schedule to this Act, and
(d) a copy of the note or memorandum is delivered or sent to the hirer within seven days of the making of the agreement:
Provided that if the Court is satisfied in any action that a failure to comply with the requirements specified in the foregoing sub-section or any requirement specified in paragraph (b), (c) or (d) of this subsection has not prejudiced the hirer, and that it would be just and equitable to dispense with the requirement, the Court may, subject to any conditions that it thinks fit to impose, dispense with that requirement for the purposes of the action.
Requirements relating to credit-sale agreements.
4.—(1) Before making any credit-sale agreement under which the total purchase price exceeds five pounds, the seller shall state in writing to the prospective buyer, otherwise than in the note or memorandum of the agreement, a price at which the goods may be purchased by him for cash (in this section referred to as the cash price):
Provided that this subsection shall be deemed to have been sufficiently complied with—
(a) if the buyer has inspected the goods or like goods and at the time of his inspection tickets or labels were attached to or displayed with the goods clearly stating the cash price, either of the goods as a whole or of all the different articles or sets of articles comprised therein, or
(b) if the buyer has selected the goods by reference to a catalogue, price list or advertisement, which clearly stated the cash price either of the goods as a whole or of all the different articles or sets of articles comprised therein.
(2) A person who has sold goods by a credit-sale agreement under which the total purchase price exceeds five pounds shall not be entitled to enforce the agreement or any contract of guarantee relating thereto, and no security given by the buyer in respect of money payable under the credit-sale agreement or given by a guarantor in respect of money payable under such a contract of guarantee as aforesaid shall be enforceable against the buyer or guarantor by any holder thereof, unless the requirement specified in the foregoing subsection has been complied with, and
(a) a note or memorandum of the agreement is made and signed by the buyer and by or on behalf of all other parties to the agreement, and
(b) the note or memorandum contains a statement of the total purchase price and of the cash price of the goods to which the agreement relates and of the amount of each of the instalments by which the total purchase price is to be paid and of the date, or the mode of determining the date, upon which each instalment is payable, and contains a list of the goods to which the agreement relates sufficient to identify them, and
(c) a copy of the note or memorandum is delivered or sent to the buyer within seven days of the making of the agreement:
Provided that, if the court is satisfied in any action that a failure to comply with the requirement specified in the foregoing subsection or any requirement specified in paragraph (b) or (c) of this subsection has not prejudiced the buyer, and that it would be just and-equitable to dispense with the requirement, the court may, subject to any conditions that it thinks fit to impose, dispense with that requirement for the purposes of the action.
Rights of hirer to determine hire-purchase agreement.
5.—(1) A hirer shall, at any time before the final payment under a hire-purchase agreement falls due, be entitled to determine the agreement by giving notice of termination in writing to any person entitled or authorised to receive the sums payable under the agreement, and shall, on determining the agreement under this section, be liable, without prejudice to any liability which has accrued before the termination, to pay the amount, if any, by which one-half of the hire-purchase price exceeds the total of the sums paid and the sums due in respect of the hire-purchase price immediately before the termination, or such less amount as may be specified in the agreement.
(2) Where a hire-purchase agreement has been determined under this section, the hirer shall, if he has failed to take reasonable care of the goods, be liable to pay damages for the failure.
(3) Where a hirer, having determined a hire-purchase agreement under this section, wrongfully retains possession of the goods, then, in any action brought by the owner to recover possession of the goods from the hirer, the court shall, unless it is satisfied that having regard to the circumstances it would not be just and equitable so to do, order the goods to be delivered to the owner, without giving the hirer an option to pay the value of the goods.
(4) Nothing in this section shall prejudice any right of a hirer to determine a hire-purchase agreement otherwise than by virtue of this section.
Avoidance of certain provisions.
6.—Any provision in any agreement—
(a) whereby an owner or any person acting on his behalf is authorised to enter upon any premises for the purpose of taking possession of goods which have been let under a hire-purchase agreement, or is relieved from liability for any such entry, or
(b) whereby the right conferred on a hirer by this Act to determine the hire-purchase agreement is excluded or restricted, or whereby any liability in addition to the liability imposed by this Act is imposed on a hirer by reason of the termination of the hire-purchase agreement by him under this Act, or
(c) whereby a hirer, after the determination of the hire-purchase agreement or the bailment in any manner whatsoever, is subject to a liability which exceeds the liability to which he would have been subject if the agreement had been determined by him under this Act, or
(d) whereby any person acting on behalf of an owner or seller in connection with the formation or conclusion of a hire-purchase or credit-sale agreement is treated as or deemed to be the agent of the hirer or the buyer, or
(e) whereby an owner or seller is relieved from liability for the acts or defaults of any person acting on his behalf in connection with the formation or conclusion of a hire-purchase agreement or credit-sale agreement,
shall be void.
Duty of owners and sellers to supply documents and information.
7.—(1) At any time before the final payment has been made under a hire-purchase agreement or credit-sale agreement, any person entitled to enforce the agreement against the hirer or buyer shall, within four days after he has received a request in writing from the hirer or buyer and the hirer or buyer has tendered to him the sum of one shilling for expenses, supply to the hirer or buyer a copy of any memorandum or note of the agreement, together with a statement signed by the said person or his agent showing—
(a) the amount paid by or on behalf of the hirer or buyer,
(b) the amount which has become due under the agreement but remains unpaid, and the date upon which each unpaid instalment became due, and the amount of each such instalment, and
(c) the amount which is to become payable under the agreement, and the date or the mode of determining the date upon which each future instalment is to become payable, and the amount of each such instalment.
(2) In the event of a failure without reasonable cause to comply with the last foregoing subsection, then, while the default continues—
(a) no person shall be entitled to enforce the agreement against the hirer or buyer or to enforce any contract of guarantee relating to the agreement, and, in the case of a hire-purchase agreement, the owner shall not be entitled to enforce any right to recover the goods from the hirer, and
(b) no security given by the hirer or buyer in respect of money payable under the agreement or given by a guarantor in respect of money payable under such a contract of guarantee as aforesaid shall be enforceable against the hirer or buyer or the guarantor by any holder thereof,
and, if the default continues for a period of one month, the defaulter shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
Duty of hirer to give information as to whereabouts of goods.
8.—(1) Where by virtue of a hire-purchase agreement a hirer is under a duty to keep the goods comprised in the agreement in his possession or control, the hirer shall, on receipt of a request in writing from the owner, inform the owner where the goods are at the time when the information is given or, if it is sent by post, at the time of posting.
(2) If a hirer fails without reasonable cause to give the said information within fourteen days of the receipt of the notice, he shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
Conditions and warranties to be implied in hire-purchase agreements.
9.—(1) In every hire-purchase agreement there shall be—
(a) an implied warranty that the hirer shall have and enjoy quiet possession of the goods;
(b) an implied condition on the part of the owner that he shall have a right to sell the goods at the time when the property is to pass;
(c) an implied warranty that the goods shall be free from any charge or encumbrance in favour of any third party at the time when the property is to pass;
(d) except where the goods are let as second hand goods, and the note or memorandum of the agreement made in pursuance of section 3 of this Act contains a statement to that effect, an implied condition that the goods shall be of merchantable quality, so, however, that no such condition shall be implied by virtue of this paragraph as regards defects of which the owner could not reasonably have been aware at the time when the agreement was made, or, if the hirer has examined the goods or a sample thereof, as regards defects which the examination ought to have revealed.
(2) Where the hirer expressly or by implication makes known the particular purpose for which the goods are required, there shall be an implied condition that the goods shall be reasonably fit for such purpose.
(3) The warranties and conditions set out in subsection (1) of this section shall be implied nothwithstanding any agreement to the contrary, and the owner shall not be entitled to rely on any provision in the agreement excluding or modifying the condition set out in subsection (2) of this section unless he proves that before the agreement was made the provision was brought to the notice of the hirer and its effect made clear to him.
(4) Nothing in this section shall prejudice the operation of any other enactment or rule of law whereby any condition or warranty is to be implied in any hire-purchase agreement.
Appropriation of payments made in respect of hire-purchase agreements.
10.—A hirer who is liable to make payments in respect of two or more hire-purchase agreements to the same owner shall, notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary, be entitled, on making any payment in respect of the agreements which is not sufficient to discharge the total amount then due under all the agreements, to appropriate the sum so paid by him in or towards the satisfaction of the sum due under any one of the agreements, or in or towards the satisfaction of the sums due under any two or more of the agreements in such proportions as he thinks fit, and, if he fails to make any such appropriation as aforesaid, the payment shall by virtue of this section be appropriated towards the satisfaction of the sums due under the respective hire-purchase agreements in the proportions which those sums bear to one another.
Evidence of adverse detention in actions by owners to recover possession of the goods.
11.—Where, in an action by an owner of goods which have been let under a hire-purchase agreement to enforce a right to recover possession of the goods from the hirer, the owner proves that, before the commencement of the action and after the right to recover possession of the goods accrued, the owner made a request in writing to the hirer to surrender the goods, the hirer's possession of the goods shall, for the purpose of the owner's claim to recover possession thereof, be deemed to be adverse to the owner.
Nothing in this section shall affect a claim for damages for conversion.
Restriction of owner's right to recover possession of goods otherwise than by action.
12.—(1) Where goods have been let under a hire-purchase agreement and one-third of the hire-purchase price has been paid, whether in pursuance of a judgment or otherwise, or tendered by or on behalf of the hirer or any guarantor, the owner shall not enforce any right to recover possession of the goods from the hirer otherwise than by action.
(2) If an owner recovers possession of goods in contravention of the foregoing subsection, the hire-purchase agreement, if not previously determined, shall determine, and—
(a) the hirer shall be released from all liability under the agreement and shall be entitled to recover from the owner in an action for money had and received all sums paid by the hirer under the agreement or under any security given by him in respect thereof, and
(b) any guarantor shall be entitled to recover from the owner in an action for money had and received all sums paid by him under the contract of guarantee or under any security given by him in respect thereof.
(3) The provisions of this section shall not apply in any case in which the hirer has determined the agreement or bailment by virtue of any right vested in him.
Powers of court in certain actions by owners to recover possession of the goods.
13.—(1) Where, in any case to which the last foregoing section applies, an owner commences an action to enforce a right to recover possession of the goods from a hirer after one-third of the hire-purchase price has been paid or tendered as aforesaid, the owner shall not take any step after the action has been commenced to enforce payment of any sum due under the hire-purchase agreement, or under any contract of guarantee relating thereto, except by claiming the sum in the action.
(2) Subject to such exceptions as may be made by rules of court, all the parties to the agreement and any guarantor shall be made parties to the action.
(3) Pending the hearing of the action the Court shall, in addition to any other powers, have power, upon the application of the owner, to make such orders as the Court thinks just for the purpose of protecting the goods from damage or depreciation, including orders restricting or prohibiting the user of the goods or giving directions as to their custody.
(4) On the hearing of the action the Court may, without prejudice to any other power—
(a) make an order for the specific delivery of all the goods to the owner,
(b) make an order for the specific delivery of all the goods to the owner and postpone the operation of the order on condition that the hirer or any guarantor pays the unpaid balance of the hire-purchase price at such times and in such amounts as the Court, having regard to the means of the hirer and any guarantor, thinks just, and subject to the fulfilment of such other conditions by the hirer or a guarantor as the Court thinks just, or
(c) make an order for the transfer to the hirer of the owner's title to a part of the goods and for the specific delivery of the remainder of the goods to the owner, subject, if the Court thinks fit, to the condition that the hirer or any guarantor pays to the owner within a specified time such further amount in respect of the hire-purchase price as the Court, having regard to the amount already paid in respect thereof, the price of that part, the use which the hirer has had of the remainder of the goods and their depreciation in value, thinks just.
(5) No order shall be made under paragraph (b) of the last foregoing subsection unless the hirer satisfies the Court that the goods are in his possession or control at the time when the order is made.
(6) Where the Court makes an order under paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of this section subject to a condition, the following provisions shall have effect in relation to that part of the order which relates to the transfer of the owner's title to any goods to the hirer—
(a) that part shall not, in any event, come into operation before the condition is complied with,
(b) if the condition is not complied with, the Court shall revoke that part and make such further order in relation to the goods as it thinks just;
(c) if the condition is complied with, that part shall come into operation upon such compliance.
(7) Where damages have been awarded against the owner in the proceedings, the Court may treat the hirer as having paid in respect of the hire-purchase price, in addition to the actual amount paid, the amount of the damages, or such part thereof as the Court thinks fit, and thereupon the damages shall accordingly be remitted either in whole or in part.
(8) In this section the expression “order for the specific delivery of the goods” means an order for the delivery of the goods to the owner without giving the hirer an option to pay their value, and the word “price” in relation to any goods means such part of the hire-purchase price as is assigned to those goods by the note or memorandum of the hire-purchase agreement, or, if no such assignment is made, such part of the hire-purchase price as the Court may determine.
(9) If at any time before the hearing of an action to which this section applies the owner has recovered possession of a part of the goods, the references in subsection (4) hereof to all the goods shall be construed as a reference to all the goods which the owner has not recovered, and, if the parties have not agreed upon an adjustment of the hire-purchase price in respect of the goods so recovered, the Court may for the purposes of paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (4) hereof make such reduction of the hire-purchase price and of the unpaid balance thereof as the Court thinks just.
(10) Where an owner has recovered a part of the goods let under a hire-purchase agreement, and the recovery was effected in contravention of the last foregoing section, the provisions of this section shall not apply in relation to any action by the owner to recover the remainder of the goods.
Effect of postponement of operation of an order for specific delivery of goods to the owner.
14.—(1) While the operation of an order for the specific delivery of goods to the owner is postponed under the last foregoing section, the hirer shall be deemed to be a bailee of the goods under and on the terms of the hire-purchase agreement:
Provided that—
(a) no further sum shall be or become payable by the hirer or a guarantor on account of the unpaid balance of the hire-purchase price, except in accordance with the terms of the order, and
(b) the Court may make such further modifications of the terms of the hire-purchase agreement and of any contract of guarantee relating thereto as the Court considers necessary having regard to the variation of the terms of payment.
(2) If while the operation of an order for the specific delivery of the goods to the owner is so postponed the hirer or a guarantor fails to comply with any condition of the postponement, or with any term of the agreement as varied by the Court, or wrongfully disposes of the goods, the owner shall not take any civil proceedings against the hirer or a guarantor otherwise than by making an application to the Court by which the order was made:
Provided that, in the case of a breach of any condition relating to the payment of the unpaid balance of the hire-purchase price, it shall not be necessary for the owner to apply to the Court for leave to execute the order unless the court has so directed.
(3) When the unpaid balance of the hire-purchase price has been paid in accordance with the terms of the order, the owner's title to the goods shall vest in the hirer.
(4) The Court may at any time during the postponement of the operation of such an order as aforesaid—
(a) vary the conditions of the postponement, and make such further modification of the hire-purchase agreement and of any contract of guarantee relating thereto as the Court considers necessary having regard to the variation of the conditions of the postponement;
(b) revoke the postponement;
(c) make an order, in accordance with the provisions of the last foregoing section, for the specific delivery of a part of the goods to the owner and for the transfer to the hirer of the owner's title to the remainder of the goods.
Powers of the court to deal with payments arising on determination of hire-purchase agreements.
15.—(1) Where a hire-purchase agreement validly provides for the payment by the hirer on or after the determination of the agreement or the bailment of such sum as, when added to the sums paid and the sums due in respect of the hire-purchase price before the determination, is equal to a fixed amount, and a claim is made in respect of any such sum in an action to which section 13 of this Act applies, then—
(a) if the Court makes an order for the specific delivery of a part of the goods to the owner and the transfer to the hirer of the owner's title to the remainder of the goods, the claim shall be disallowed,
(b) if the Court postpones the operation of an order for the specific delivery of the goods to the owner, it shall not entertain the claim unless and until the postponement is revoked, and shall then deal with the claim as if the agreement had just been determined.
(2) Where the hirer or a guarantor has paid or has been ordered to pay any such sum as aforesaid, and the owner subsequently seeks to recover the goods in an action to which section 13 of this Act applies, the Court may treat the said sum as a sum paid or payable, as the case may be, in respect of the hire-purchase price.
Successive hire-purchase agreements between the same parties.
16.—Where goods have been let under a hire-purchase agreement and at any time after one-third of the hire-purchase price has been paid or tendered the owner makes a further hire-purchase agreement with the hirer comprising those goods, the provisions of sections 12 and 13 of this Act shall have effect in relation to that further agreement as from the commencement thereof.
Provisions as to bankruptcy of hirer and distress on hirer's premises.
17.—(1) Where, under the powers conferred by this Act, the Court has postponed the operation of an order for the specific delivery of goods to any person, the goods shall not, during the postponement, be treated as goods which are by the consent or permission of that person in the possession, order, or disposition of the hirer for the purposes of section 313 of the Irish Bankrupt and Insolvent Act, 1857, or of section 4 of the Law of Distress Amendment Act, 1908.
(2) After the determination of a hire-purchase agreement, or after an owner, having a right to recover from a hirer goods which have been let under a hire-purchase agreement, has commenced an action to enforce that right, the goods which have been let under the agreement, or the goods claimed in the action, as the case may be, shall not (notwithstanding that the Court in any such action postpones the operation of an order for the specific delivery of the goods to the owner) be treated as goods comprised in the hire-purchase agreement for the purposes of section 4 of the Law of Distress Amendment Act, 1908.
Hirer's refusal to surrender goods not to be conversion in certain cases.
18.—If, whilst by virtue of this Act the enforcement by an owner of a right to recover possession of goods from a hirer is subject to any restriction, the hirer refuses to give up possession of the goods to the owner, the hirer shall not, by reason only of the refusal, be liable to the owner for conversion of the goods.
Special provisions as to installation charges.
19.—(1) Where under any hire-purchase agreement made after the commencement of this Act the owner is required to carry out any installation, and the note or memorandum of the agreement specifies as part of the hire-purchase price the amount to be paid in respect of the installation, the references in section 5 of this Act to one-half of the hire-purchase price and in sections 12, 13 and 16 of this Act to one-third of the hire-purchase price shall be construed as references to the aggregate of the said amount and either one-half of the remainder of the hire-purchase price or one-third of the remainder of the hire-purchase price as the case may be.
(2) For the purpose of this section the word “installation” means—
(a) the installing of any electric line or any gas or water pipe,
(b) the fixing of goods to which the agreement relates to the premises where they are to be used, and the alteration of premises to enable any such goods to be used thereon, and
(c) where it is reasonably necessary that any such goods should be constructed or erected on the premises where they are to be used, any work carried out for the purpose of such construction or erection.
Jurisdiction of the District Court.
20.—(1) The District Court shall have jurisdiction in any action by the owner of goods let under a hire-purchase agreement to enforce a right to recover possession of the goods from the hirer where the hire-purchase price does not exceed twenty-five pounds.
(2) Paragraph (a) of section 53 of the Courts of Justice Act, 1936 (No. 48 of 1936), shall not apply to an action to which subsection (1) of this section relates.
Application of Act in relation to existing agreements.
21.—(1) The following sections of this Act shall, to the extent hereinafter specified, apply in relation to all hire-purchase agreements whether made before or after the commencement of this Act, that is to say:
(a) section 10 of this Act, so far as it relates to payments made after the commencement of this Act,
(b) sections 12 and 16 of this Act, so far as they relate to the recovery of possession of goods after the commencement of this Act,
(c) sections 11, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 20 of this Act, so far as they relate to actions commenced after the commencement of this Act,
(d) subsection (1) of section 17 of this Act, so far as it relates to orders made after the commencement of this Act, and subsection (2) of the said section so far as it relates to agreements determined or actions commenced, as the case may be, after the commencement of this Act, and
(e) section 18 of this Act, so far as it relates to a refusal to give up possession of goods after the commencement of this Act.
(2) Where goods have been let under a hire-purchase agreement made before the commencement of this Act, and the owner has, as part of the consideration for the hire-purchase price, carried out in relation to those goods any installation within the meaning of the last foregoing section, then, if the owner has served upon the hirer a notice specifying a sum not exceeding the expense actually incurred by the owner in respect of the installation, section 12, 13 and 16 of this Act, so far as by virtue of the last foregoing subsection they apply in relation to that agreement, shall, as respects the recovery of possession of goods after the expiration of twenty-eight days from the service of the notice, and as respects actions commenced after the expiration of the said period, have effect as if for the references in the said sections to one-third of the hire-purchase price there were substituted references to the aggregate of the said sum and one-third of the amount which remains after deducting that sum from the hire-purchase price.
(3) Save as aforesaid this Act shall not apply in relation to any hire-purchase agreement or credit-sale agreement made before the commencement of this Act.
Short title and commencement.
22.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Hire-Purchase Act, 1946.
(2) This Act shall come into operation on such day as may be fixed in that behalf by order of the Minister for Industry and Commerce.
SCHEDULE.
Notice to be Included in Note or Memorandum of Hire-Purchase Agreement.
NOTICE.
Right of Hirer to Terminate Agreement.
1. The hirer may put an end to this agreement by giving notice of termination in writing to any person who is entitled to collect or receive the hire-rent.
2. He must then pay any instalments which are in arrear at the time when he gives notice. If, when he has paid those instalments, the total amount which he has paid under the agreement is less than (here insert the minimum amount which the hirer is required to pay in accordance with the provisions of sections 5 and 19 of this Act) he must also pay enough to make up that sum.
3. If the goods have been damaged owing to the hirer having failed to take reasonable care of them, the owner may sue him for the amount of the damage unless that amount can be agreed between the hirer and the owner.
4. The hirer should see whether this agreement contains provisions allowing him to put an end to the agreement on terms more favourable to him than those just mentioned. If it does, he may put an end to the agreement on those terms.
Restriction of Owner's Right to Recover Goods.
1. Without the hirer's consent, the owner has no authority to enter on the hirer's premises for the purpose of taking back the goods.
2. * [After (here insert an amount calculated in accordance with sections 12 and 19 of this Act) has been paid, then,] unless the hirer has himself put an end to the agreement, the owner of the goods cannot take them back from the hirer without the hirer's consent unless the owner obtains an order of the Court.
3. If the owner applies to the Court for such an order, the Court may, if it thinks it just to do so, allow the hirer to keep either—
(a) the whole of the goods, on condition that the hirer pays the balance of the price in the manner ordered by the Court; or
(b) a fair proportion of the goods having regard to what the hirer has already paid.
If the agreement is a “further” agreement within the meaning of