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Uimhir 17 de 1953.
ACHT MHÓR-IARNRÓD AN TUAISCIRT, 1953.
[An tiontó oifigiúil.]
CUID I.
Réamhráiteach agus Ginearálta.
Gearrtheideal.
1.—Féadfar Acht Mhór-Iarnród an Tuaiscirt, 1953, a ghairm den Acht seo.
Léiriú.
2.—(1) San Acht seo—
ciallaíonn “an Bord” an Bord a bunaítear le halt 6;
ciallaíonn “an Chuideachta” an Great Northern Railway Company (Ireland);
folaíonn “achtachán” aon ionstraim arna déanamh faoi achtachán;
ciallaíonn “an dáta bunuithe” and dáta a ceapfar faoi alt 6;
folaíonn “talamh” talamh faoi uisce agus aon éasúint, brabús nó ceart i dtalamh nó thar thalamh nó i dtalamh faoi uisce nó thar talamh faoi uisce;
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála;
ciallaíonn “an tAire Tráchtála” Aire Tráchtála Thuaisceart Éireann;
ciallaíonn “an Aireacht” Aireacht Tráchtála Thuaisceart Éireann;
folaíonn “líne iarnróid” cuid de líne iarnróid;
ciallaíonn “an Binse Iompair” an Binse Iompair a bunaíodh le halt 54 den Acht Iompair, 1950 (Uimh. 12 de 1950).
(2) Forléireofar tagairtí san Acht seo d'aon achtachán mar thagairtí don achtachán sin arna leasú le haon achtachán ina dhiaidh sin.
(3) San Acht seo aon tagairt a déantar do réir uimhreach do Chuid, d'alt nó do Sceideal is tagairt í don Chuid, don alt nó don Sceideal den Acht seo ar a bhfuil an uimhir sin mura léirítear gur tagairt d'Acht éigin eile í.
Cumhacht don Aire comhaontú a dhéanamh.
3.—Údaraítear leis seo don Aire comhaontú a dhéanamh leis an Aireacht do réir téarmaí an dréachta atá leagtha amach sa Chéad Sceideal.
Díolúine ó dhleachta stampa.
4.—(1) Ní oibreoidh alt 12 den Finance Act, 1895, chun a cheangal ar an mBord cóip den Acht seo a sheachadadh do na Coimisinéirí Ioncaim ná aon dleacht stampa d'íoc faoin alt sin ar aon chóip den Acht seo.
(2) Ní bheidh dleacht stampa inmhuirir ar aon ionstraim a déanfar chun críche ailt 20.
(3) Ní bheidh dleacht stampa inmhuirir ar aon chomhaontú, banna, mionnscríbhinn, dearbhú reachtúil, dámhachtain eadrána ná ionstraim eile a déanfar chun críche ailt 38.
Caiteachais.
5.—Da caiteachais faoina raghaidh an tAire ag cur an Achta seo i ngníomh, déanfar, a mhéid a cheadós an tAire Airgeadais, iad d'íoc as airgead a sholáthrós an tOireachtas.
CUID II.
Bord Mhór-Iarnród an Tuaiscirt.
Bunú agus Feidhmeanna.
Bunú.
6.—(1) Beidh Bord ann dá ngairmfear Bord Mhór-Iarnród an Tuaiscirt.
(2) Beidh an Bord arna bhunú ar pé dáta ar a gcomhaontóidh an tAire agus an tAire Tráchtála.
(3) Déanfaidh an tAire an dáta bunuithe a dhearbhú le hordú.
(4) Bainfidh forála an Dara Sceidil leis an mBord.
Cumhachta agus dualgais ghinearálta
7.—(1) Is é feidhm ghinearálta an Bhoird an gnóthas d'oibriú a bhí á sheoladh roimh an dáta bunuithe ag an gCuideachta agus beidh ag an mBord na cumhachta go léir is gá chuige sin.
(2) Beidh cumhacht ag an mBord—
(a) comhaontuithe nó comhshocraíochtaí oibre a dhéanamh agus a chur i gcrích chun go soláthróidh duine ar bith seirbhísí iompair a ceanglaítear ar an mBord nó a húdaraítear don Bhord a sholáthar, nó chun go soláthróidh an Bord aon tseirbhísí iompair a bhfuil sé de chumhacht ag aon duine eile iad a sholáthar,
(b) comhaontuithe a dhéanamh agus a chur i gcrích le gnóthairí iompair eile d'fhonn na seirbhísí iompair a bheas á soláthar ag an mBord a chomhoirdniú le seirbhísí iompair eile.
(3) Déanfaidh an Bord do réir pé treoracha a bhéarfas an tAire, i gcomhar leis an Aire Tráchtála, maidir le cúrsaí beartais a bhaineas le seoladh an ghnóthais.
(4) Déanfaidh an Bord do réir pé treoracha a bhéarfas an tAire maidir le cúrsaí beartais nach mbaineann ach le seoladh an ghnóthais sa Stát.
Sócmhainní an Great Northern Railway Company (Ireland) d'Aistriú.
An gnóthas, seachas talamh, d'aistriú.
8.—(1) Ar an dáta bunuithe, déanfar iomlán gnóthais na Cuideachtan (seachas talamh na Cuideachtan), lena n-áirítear an mhaoin, na sócmhainní, na cumhachta, na cearta, na ceadúnais agus na pribhléidí go léir a teachtaítear nó a sealbhaítear i ndáil leis, nó a ghabhas leis, d'aistriú de bhuaidh an ailt seo chun an Bhoird.
(2) Faoi réir forál an Achta seo, féadfaidh an Bord na cearta, na cumhachta agus na pribhléidí go léir, seachas cumhachta chun airgead a chruinniú, a bhí, díreach roimh an dáta bunuithe, dílsithe sa Chuideachta, d'fheidhmiú agus a chur i bhfeidhm.
(3) Faoi réir forál an Achta seo, beidh an Bord, agus scoirfidh an Chuideachta de bheith, faoi réir gach dliteanais, de dhroim reachta nó eile, a raibh an Chuideachta faoina réir díreach roimh an dáta bunuithe.
(4) Ní bheidh an Bord faoi réir aon dliteanais i leith aon urrúis de chuid na Cuideachtan a bhfuil cúiteamh iníoctha ina leith faoin Acht seo, ná i leith aon chomhaontuithe chun seirbhísí pearsanta mar stiúrthóir a dhéanamh don Chuideachta.
(5) Ar an mBord dá iarraidh sin, forghníomhóidh an Chuideachta na hionstraimí sin go léir agus déanfaidh na gníomhartha sin go léir is gá chun a chumasú don Bhord a thabhairt go n-aistreofar go héifeachtúil chun ainme an Bhoird aon mhaoin nó sócmhainní a dílsítear sa Bhord de bhuaidh an ailt seo.
(6) Aon imeacht (lena n-áirítear eadráin) nó cúis chaingin a bheas ar feitheamh nó a bheas ann díreach roimh an dáta bunuithe ag an gCuideachta nó ina coinne, ní thitfidh sí ar lár ná ní scoirfear di ná ní déanfar dochar di ar aon tslí de dhroim aon ní san Acht seo, ach féadfaidh an Bord leanúint leis an imeacht nó an chúis chaingin agus í a chur i bhfeidhm nó féadfar sin a dhéanamh i gcoinne an Bhoird amhail mar d'fhéadfadh an Chuideachta sin a dhéanamh nó d'fhéadfaí sin a dhéanamh i gcoinne na Cuideachtan dá mba nár ritheadh an tAcht seo, ach ní féadfar dul ar aghaidh léi thairis sin ná ar aon tslí eile.
(7) Faoi réir forál an Achta seo, na conartha, na gníomhais, na bannaí, na comhaontuithe (seachas comhaontuithe chun seirbhísí pearsanta mar stiúrthóir a dhéanamh don Chuideachta) agus na hionstraimí eile go léir agus na comhshocraíochtaí oibre a bheas ann díreach roimh an dáta bunuithe agus a bhainfeas leis an gCuideachta, beidh feidhm agus éifeacht chomh hiomlán acu i gcoinne nó i bhfábhar an Bhoird, agus féadfar iad a chur i bhfeidhm chomh hiomlán éifeachtúil, agus dá mb'é an Bord ba pháirtí iontu in ionad na Cuideachtan.
Talamh a dhílsiú.
9.—(1) Ar an dáta bunuithe—
(a) dílseofar san Aire an talamh go léir (seachas Oibreacha Dhún Dealgan) a bheas á teachtadh ag an gCuideachta sa Stát, agus
(b) dílseofar sa Bhord Oibreacha Dhún Dealgan (a tuairiscítear i gCuid I den Tríú Sceideal),
ar feadh eastáit, cirt, teidil, agus leasa uile na Cuideachtan.
(2) Ar an dáta bunuithe, dílseofar san Aire, ar feadh eastáit, cirt, teidil agus leasa uile an Dundalk, Newry and Greenore Railway Company, an chuid sin de líne iarnróid agus de thalamh na Cuideachtan sin a tuairiscítear i gCuid II den Tríú Sceideal agus a shíneas idir Cé Sheoirse, Dún Dealgan, agus an t-acomhal le Mór-Iarnród an Tuaiscirt ag Sráid an Bhearaic, Dún Dealgan.
Cumhachta agus Dualgais áirithe.
Cead chun talamh d'úsáid.
10.—(1) Faoi réir an ailt seo, údaraítear agus cumhachtaítear leis seo don Bhord an talamh a bheas dílsithe de thuras na huaire san Aire le halt 9 nó faoi alt 20 d'áitiú agus d'úsáid chun a ghnóthas a sheoladh.
(2) Chun na cumhachta, na pribhléidí, na cearta agus na hoblagáidí uile a ghabhas le heastát, ceart, teideal agus leas an Aire sa talamh d'fheidhmiú, a chur i bhfeidhm agus a chomhlíonadh, gabhfaidh an Bord ionad an Aire, ach ní bheidh cumhacht ag an mBord ach amháin mar foráltar le hailt 21 agus 27 aon talamh den tsórt sin a dhíol ná, gan toiliú an Aire, í a ligean go ceann tréimhse is sia ná trí bliana.
(3) Déanfaidh an Bord—
(a) ar a chostas féin, an talamh, lena n-áirítear gach líne iarnróid, bóthar, droichead, tarbhealach, tollán, silteán, áitreabh, obair agus déanmhas, pé sórt é, a chothabháil;
(b) an cíos, na rátaí, agus na heisíocaíochtaí eile go léir d'íoc a bheas dlite uaidh de bhuaidh an ailt seo ina leith sin;
(c) cruthúnas a thabhairt chun sástachta an Aire, aon uair a iarrfas sé sin, go bhfuil úsáid nó áitiú aon talún ag an mBord riachtanach i gcónaí chun an gnóthas d'oibriú go cuí; agus
(d) cead a thabhairt don Aire agus do dhaoine a bheas údaraithe aige dul isteach ar aon talamh agus í d'úsáid agus d'áitiú sa mhéid nach ndéanfaidh an dul isteach, an úsáid agus an t-áitiú sin difir d'oibriú cuí an ghnóthais.
(4) Ní déanfar úsáid ná áitiú ag an mBord ar aon oidhreachtán nó tionóntán, do réir bhrí na nAcht Luachála, d'áireamh mar úsáid ná áitiú de chineál poiblí nó chun críche poiblí do réir bhrí aon achtacháin a bheireas díolúine ó ráta is intobhaigh ag aon údarás áitiúil
Aicmiú marsantais.
11.—Féadfaidh an Bord pé aicmiú is oiriúnach leis an mBord a dhéanamh ar mharsantas chun feidhm a thabhairt maidir leis do rátaí muirear a gearrfar i leith iompair mharsantais.
Muirir agus téarmaí agus coinníollacha iompair mharsantais.
12.—(1) San alt seo—
folaíonn “muirir” táillí, rátaí nó dolaidh;
ciallaíonn “seirbhísí” aon ní acu seo a leanas—
(a) paisnéirí agus a mbagáiste d'iompar;
(b) marsantas a ghlacadh, a chur ar aghaidh, d'iompar agus a sheachadadh,
(c) aon tseirbhís nó saoráid eile iompair;
ciallaíonn “aicmíocht mharsantais an iarnróid” an aicmíocht mharsantais a bheas i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire agus a ghlacfas an Bord chuige chun feidhm a thabhairt do rátaí muirear a ghearrfas an Bord i leith marsantas d'iompar d'iarnród.
(2) Faoi réir fo-ailt (3) féadfaidh an Bord pé muirir is oiriúnach leis an mBord a shocrú, d'éileamh, a ghlacadh agus a ghnóthú i leith seirbhísí a sholáthrós sé.
(3) Má bheartaíonn an Bord méadú ginearálta a dhéanamh ar na muirir i leith aon tseirbhísí, beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas:—
(a) bhéarfaidh an Bord fógra mí roimh ré don Aire i dtaobh an ní atá beartaithe aige;
(b) ní chuirfidh an Bord i ngníomh aon ní atá beartaithe aige agus a gcuirfidh an tAire in iúl don Bhord, laistigh den mhí sin, nach gceadaíonn sé é.
(4) I gcás ina gcomhaontóidh an Bord le trádálaí chun marsantas an trádálaí d'iompar ar muirir is ionann agus iomalairt réasúnach ar na muirir a ghabhfadh, mura mbeadh sin, le marsantas an trádálaí sin arna iompar ag an mBord, féadfaidh an Bord, d'ainneoin aon ní in aon achtachán, na muirir ar a gcomhaontófar amhlaidh a ghearradh i leith marsantas an trádálaí sin d'iompar.
(5) (a) Coimeádfaidh an Bord cóipeanna díobh seo a leanas ar fáil chun a ndíolta:—
(i) aicmíocht mharsantais an iarnróid,
(ii) scálaí muirear a ghearras an Bord, i ndáil le haicmíocht mharsantais an iarnróid, i leith marsantas d'iompar d'iarnród.
(b) Coimeádfaidh an Bord cóipeanna díobh seo a leanas ar fáil ina phríomh-oifig sa Stát chun a n-iniúchta ag an bpobal:—
(i) aicmíocht mharsantais an iarnróid,
(ii) scálaí muirear a ghearras an Bord, i ndáil le haicmíocht mharsantais an iarnróid, i leith marsantas d'iompar d'iarnród.
(c) Coimeádfaidh an Bord ar fáil chun a hiniúchta ag an bpobal, i ngach iosta leis an mBord ina nglactar marsantas chun é d'iompar d'iarnród, cóip de gach ní acu seo a leanas:—
(i) aicmíocht mharsantais an iarnróid,
(ii) scálaí muirear a ghearras an Bord, i ndáil le haicmíocht mharsantais an iarnróid, i leith marsantas d'iompar d'iarnród ón iosta sin.
(6) Féadfaidh an Bord pé téarmaí agus coinníollacha is oiriúnach leis an mBord a chur ag gabháil leis na seirbhísí a bheas á gcur ar fáil aige.
Earraí contúirteacha d'iompar d'iarnród.
13.—(1) Ní chuirfidh aon ní san Acht seo d'oblagáid ar an mBord earraí contúirteacha a ghlacadh chun iad d'iompar d'iarnród, ná ní dhéanfaidh docharú ná laghdú ar chumhachta aon Aire Stáit faoin Explosives Act, 1875, ná ní dhéanfaidh difir do bhailíocht ná d'oibriú aon orduithe, rialach nó fo-dhlí a rinneadh faoi na cumhachta atá san Acht sin.
(2) Má ghlacann an Bord earraí contúirteacha chun iad d'iompar d'iarnród, iomprófar na hearraí faoi réir pé fo-dhlithe, rialachán agus coinníollacha is oiriúnach leis an mBord i dtaobh iad d'iompar nó a stóráil, agus déanfaidh únaer nó consíneoir na n-earraí sin an Bord a shlánú in aghaidh agus i gcoinne gach cailliúna nó damáiste a bhainfeas don Bhord nó a mbeidh an Bord, nó a dtiocfaidh sé chun bheith, faoi dhliteanas ina leith toisc gan na fo-dhlithe, na rialacháin agus na coinníollacha sin a chomhlíonadh maidir leis na hearraí sin, agus íocfaidh sé lán-chúiteamh i ngach díobháil do sheirbhísigh an Bhoird agus i ngach damáiste do mhaoin an Bhoird a thiocfas de sin, mura gcruthaítear gur mhí-iompar toiliúil ag seirbhísigh an Bhoird faoi ndeara an díobháil nó an damáiste.
(3) I gcás an Chuideachta nó na Bord dá dhearbhú aon earra áirithe a bheith contúirteach, beidh ar an duine a bheas á iarraidh go n-iomprófaí an earra a chruthú nach bhfuil sí contúirteach.
Cosaint do thelegrafa.
14.—Gach feithicil a bheas á hoibriú ag an mBord le húsáid ar aon bhóthar poiblí nó ar iarnród agus a gluaistear le cumhacht leictreachais, beidh sí trealmhaithe agus oibreofar í ar chuma nach gcuirfear isteach ar chomarsáid telegrafa trí aon líne thelegrafa (do réir bhrí an Telegraph Act, 1878) is leis an Aire Poist agus Telegrafa nó a úsáideas sé.
Fo-dhlithe.
15.—(1) Féadfaidh an Bord fo-dhlithe a dhéanamh chun gach críche nó aon chríche acu seo a leanas:—
(a) chun rialú a dhéanamh ar thrátha teachta agus imeachta a fheithiclí;
(b) chun rialú a dhéanamh ar luchtú agus díluchtú a fheithiclí agus, faoi réir aon fhorál reachtúla chuige sin, ar na meáchain a iomprós a fheithiclí;
(c) chun rialú a dhéanamh ar ghlacadh agus seachadadh marsantais agus nithe eile a hiomprófar ar a fheithiclí;
(d) chun cosc a chur le núiseanna a dhéanamh in, nó ar, a fheithiclí nó in, nó ar, na stáisiúin, na hiostaí nó na háitribh eile atá á n-áitiú ag an mBord;
(e) chun ord a choimeád sna stáisiúin, na hiostaí nó na háitribh eile atá á n-áitiú ag an mBord agus sna bealaí tarrachtana chucu, agus chun úsáid an chéanna a rialú;
(f) chun aon chríche a raibh, díreach roimh an dáta bunuithe, cumhacht ag an gCuideachta fo-dhlithe a dhéanamh chuici;
(g) chun socrú a dhéanamh le haghaidh slán-choimeád agus athsheachadadh nó diúscairt aon mhaoine a gheofar ar, nó in, aon áitribh a úsáideas nó a áitíos an Bord. nó in, nó ar, aon fheithiclí is leis an mBord nó a úsáideas an Bord, agus chun na muirir a shocrú a ghearrfas an Bord ina leith sin;
(h) go ginearálta, chun rialú a dhéanamh, faoi réir aon fhorál reachtúla chuige sin, ar thaisteal ina fheithiclí, nó ar a n-úsáid, agus ar oibriú a sheirbhísí iompair.
(2) Cuirfidh an Bord faoi bhráid an Aire, lena ndaingniú, aon fho-dhlithe a dhéanfas an Bord faoin alt seo, agus air sin beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas:—
(a) déanfaidh an Bord, a luaithe is caothúil tar éis na fo-dhlithe a chur faoi bhráid an Aire, fógra á rá go ndearnadh amhlaidh d'fhoilsiú uair amháin ar a laghad gach seachtain de dhá sheachtain as a chéile i ngach ceann de na nuachtáin laethúla maidne a foilsítear agus a léitear sa Stát;
(b) sa bhfógra sin—
(i) beidh ráiteas ar na críocha chun a ndearnadh na fo-dhlithe, agus
(ii) cuirfear in iúl go bhfuil cóip de na fo-dhlithe ar fáil chun a hiniúchta ag an bpobal i bpríomhoifig an Bhoird sa Stát, agus
(iii) cuirfear in iúl go bhféadfaidh duine ar bith agóidí a chur faoi bhráid an Aire i gcoinne na fodhlithe a dhaingniú, tráth ar bith i rith na tréimhse tríocha lá dár tosach dáta céad-fhoilsithe an fhógra;
(c) déanfaidh an Bord, ar feadh na tréimhse tríocha lá sin, cóip de na fo-dhlithe a choimeád ar fáil chun a hiniúchta ag an bpobal le linn gnáth-uaireanta oifige sa phríomh-oifig sin adúradh;
(d) duine ar bith a bheas i gcoinne na fo-dhlithe a dhaingniú, féadfaidh sé, aon tráth i rith na tréimhse tríocha lá sin, a agóidí a chur faoi bhráid an Aire i scríbhinn;
(e) do réir mar is cuí leis an Aire, diúltóidh sé na fo-dhlithe a dhaingniú nó déanfaidh, le hordú, na fo-dhlithe a dhaingniú gan modhnú nó le pé modhnuithe is cuí leis agus a chuirfeas sé isteach sna fo-dhlithe, ach ní dhéanfaidh aon ordú den tsórt sin go ceann na tréimhse tríocha lá sin ná go dtí go mbeidh breithniú déanta aige ar aon agóidí i gcoinne an daingnithe a cuireadh faoina bhráid i rith na tréimhse sin.
(3) Aon fho-dhlithe a dhéanfas an Bord faoin alt seo, tiocfaid i ngníomh i gcás (agus sa chás sin amháin) iad a dhaingniú le hordú faoin alt seo agus, má daingnítear amhlaidh iad, is é lá a thiocfaid i ngníomh an lá a sonrófar chuige sin san ordú dá ndaingniú.
(4) Má sháraíonn duine ar bith foráil d'aon fho-dhlithe a déanfar faoin alt seo, beidh sé ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo agus ar a chiontú ann go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná deich bpuint a chur air.
(5) Aon fho-dhlithe a déanfar faoin alt seo agus a daingneofar le hordú faoin alt seo, foilseofar iad i pé slí a ordós an tAire.
(6) Aon fho-dhlithe a déanfar faoin alt seo, ní dhéanfaid dochar ná difir d'oibriú aon fho-dhlithe a rinneadh faoi réim nó de bhun aon fhorál reachtúla ag aon údarás cuain nó ag aon údarás sláintíochta.
(7) Aon doiciméad a airbheartós bheith ina chóip d'fhodhlithe a rinneadh faoin alt seo agus a mbeidh deimhniú (a airbheartós a bheith sínithe ag oifigeach don Bhord a raibh údarás aige chuige sin) formhuinithe air dá rá gur cóip dhílis de na fo-dhlithe an doiciméad agus go raibh na fo-dhlithe i bhfeidhm ar dháta sonraithe, beidh sé, gan cruthúnas ar shíniú an oifigigh sin ná gurbh é an t-oifigeach sin é iarbhír ná go raibh údarás aige amhlaidh, ina fhianaise (go dtí go gcruthaítear a mhalairt) i ngach cúirt agus i ngach imeacht dlí ar na fo-dhlithe agus ar iad a bheith i bhfeidhm ar an dáta a bheas sonraithe amhlaidh.
(8) Na fo-dhlithe go léir a rinne an Chuideachta agus a bheas i bhfeidhm díreach roimh an dáta bunuithe, leanfaid, ar an dáta sin agus dá éis, de bheith i bhfeidhm agus measfar gur faoin alt seo a rinneadh iad agus féadfar iad a leasú nó a chúlghairm le fo-dhlithe a déanfar faoin alt seo.
(9) Gach ordú a déanfar faoin alt seo leagfar é faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta, agus má dhéanann ceachtar Teach den Oireachtas, laistigh den lá agus fiche a shuífeas an Teach sin tar éis an t-ordú a leagadh faoina bhráid, rún a rith ag neamhniú an orduithe, beidh an t-ordú ar neamhní dá réir sin ach sin gan dochar do bhailíocht aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin ordú.
(10) Ní bhainfidh alt 127 den Acht um Thrácht ar Bhóithre, 1933 (Uimh. 11 de 1933), le maoin a fágfar i bhfeithiclí seirbhíse poiblí is leis an mBord nó a oibríos an Bord.
Cosaint do rialacha agus rialacháin láithreacha.
16.—Na rialacha agus na rialacháin uile a rinne an Chuideachta agus a bheas i bhfeidhm díreach roimh an dáta bunuithe, leanfaid i bhfeidhm, ar an dáta bunuithe agus dá éis, go dtí go ndéanfar iad a chúlghairm nó d'athrú nó cinn eile a chur ina n-ionad.
Doiciméid a sheirbheáil ar an mBord.
17.—Aon doiciméad a ceanglaítear nó a húdaraítear le dlí a sheirbheáil ar an mBord, féadfar é a sheirbheáil amhlaidh—
(a) trína thabhairt do rúnaí an Bhoird i bpríomh-oifig an Bhoird sa Stát, nó
(b) trína fhágaint sa phríomh-oifig adúradh i gclúdach faoi sheoladh rúnaí an Bhoird, nó
(c) trína chur leis an bpost i litir chláraithe réamhíoctha faoi sheoladh rúnaí an Bhoird ag an bpríomh-oifig adúradh.
Cumhachta an Aire.
Cúrsaí an Bhoird d'fhiosrú.
18.—(1) Beidh cumhacht ag an Aire, ag gníomhú dhó i gcomhar leis an Aire Tráchtála, pé fiosruithe is dóigh leis is gá a dhéanamh i dtaobh cúrsaí an Bhoird agus chun daoine a cheapadh chun na fiosruithe sin a stiúradh agus tuarascáil orthu a thabhairt do gach Aire acu.
(2) Beidh cumhacht ag an Aire pé fiosruithe is dóigh leis is gá a dhéanamh i dtaobh oibriú an ghnóthais sa Stát agus ansin amháin agus daoine a cheapadh chun na fiosruithe sin a stiúradh agus tuarascáil orthu a thabhairt don Aire.
(3) Beidh cumhacht ag duine a ceapfar faoin alt seo dul isteach agus iniúchadh a dhéanamh gach tráth réasúnach ar thailte, áitribh, oibreacha agus feithiclí an ghnóthais agus leabhair agus doiciméid uile an Bhoird a scrúdú agus déanfaidh an Bord agus gach comhalta dhe agus gach oifigeach agus seirbhíseach dó pé eolas agus saoráidí a thabhairt don duine sin a theastós uaidh do réir réasúin chun a fheidhmeanna a chomhlíonadh.
(4) Aon duine a chuirfeas bac le duine a ceapfar faoin alt seo agus é ag comhlíonadh a fheidhmeanna, nó a dhiúltós nó a fhailleos an t-eolas sin nó na saoráidí sin a thabhairt dó a theastós uaidh do réir réasúin, beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus ar a chiontú ann go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná fiche punt a chur air nó príosúntacht ar feadh téarma nach sia ná dhá mhí nó an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúntacht sin le chéile.
(5) Is iad táillí is iníoctha le daoine a ceapfar faoi fho-alt (1) pé táillí a cheadós an tAire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, agus a cheadós an Aireacht agus íocfaidh an tAire a leath.
(6) Is iad táillí is iníoctha le daoine a ceapfar faoi fho-alt (2) pé táillí a cheadós an tAire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, agus is é an tAire a íocfas iad.
Tuarascáil bhliantúil agus eolas.
19.—(1) Bhéarfaidh an Bord tuarascáil gach bliain don Aire ar oibriú an ghnóthais i gcaitheamh na bliana roimhe sin.
(2) Bhéarfaidh an tAire go leagfar an tuarascáil faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas agus cuirfidh an Bord cóipeanna dhi ar díol.
(3) Bhéarfaidh an Bord don Aire pé eolas i dtaobh an ghnóthais a theastós ón Aire ó am go ham.
Talamh a Thógaint agus a Dhíol.
Talamh a thógaint.
20.—(1) (a) Féadfaidh an Bord, le toiliú an Aire agus an Aire Airgeadais, talamh a thógaint, in ainm agus thar ceann an Aire, chun úsáide an Bhoird.
(b) Aon talamh a tógfar faoin bhfo-alt seo beidh sainráite ina leith í do dhílsiú san Aire agus dílseoidh sí ann agus, dá réir sin, beidh feidhm ag alt 10 maidir léi.
(2) Féadfaidh an Bord, le toiliú an Aire agus na hAireachta, talamh bhreise a thógaint chun críocha Oibreacha Dhún Dealgan.
(3) Bainfidh ailt 17 agus 18 den Acht Iompair, 1950 (Uimh. 12 de 1950), le talamh a thógaint chun críocha an ailt seo, ach tagairtí sna hailt sin don “Bhord” d'fhorléiriú mar thagairtí don Bhord a bunaítear leis an Acht seo.
Talamh barrachais a dhíol.
21.—(1) Más deimhin leis an Aire, tar éis dó dul i gcomhairle leis an mBord, nach bhfuil aon talamh a dílsíodh ann le halt 9 nó faoi alt 20 ag teastáil níos sia ón mBord chun críocha an ghnóthais, féadfaidh an tAire, nó an Bord ag gníomhú dhó le toiliú agus thar ceann an Aire, an talamh a dhíol nó a dhiúscairt ar shlí eile (faoi réir ailt 27 i gcás línte iarnróid).
(2) Déanfar an fáltas as talamh a dhíol nó a dhiúscairt faoin alt seo d'íoc isteach sa Stát-Chiste nó a chur tairbhe don Stát-Chiste i pé slí a threorós an tAire Airgeadais.
CUID III.
Seirbhísí Traenach d'Fhorceannadh.
Comhsheirbhís.
22.—Sa Chuid seo ciallaíonn “comhsheirbhís” an tseirbhís, do phaisnéirí agus marsantas nó do cheachtar acu, a cuirtear ar fáil idir an Stát agus Tuaisceart Éireann leis na traenacha uile a oibríos laistigh agus lasmuigh den Stát thar líne iarnróid a sonraítear sa Cheathrú Sceideal.
Comhsheirbhís d'fhorceannadh.
23.—(1) D'ainneoin aon oblagáide reachtúla nó aon oblagáide eile contrártha dhóibh sin, beidh feidhm maidir le comhsheirbhís d'fhorceannadh ag na forála ina dhiaidh seo den alt seo.
(2) Féadfaidh an Bord, an tAire nó an tAire Tráchtála togra a dhéanamh comhsheirbhís d'fhorceannadh agus air sin—
(a) cuirfear an togra faoi bhráid an Aire agus an Aire Thráchtála lena bhreithniú acu i gcomhar,
(b) féadfaidh an tAire, más cuí leis, an togra a chur, le comhaontú an Aire Thráchtála, faoi bhráid Chathaoirleach an Bhinse Iompair chun comhairle agus tuarascáil a thabhairt i gcomhar le Cathaoirleach Bhinse Iompair Thuaisceart Éireann,
(c) beidh cumhacht ag Cathaoirleach an Bhinse Iompair, i gcomhar le Cathaoirleach Bhinse Iompair Thuaisceart Éireann, seirbhísí daoine eile d'fhruiliú chun cabhrú leo ag breithniú an togra agus fiosrúchán poiblí a dhéanamh i dtaobh an togra,
(d) is iad táillí is iníoctha le haon duine a fruileofar mar adúradh pé táillí a cheadós an tAire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, agus a cheadós an Aireacht, agus íocfaidh an tAire a leath seo a leanas—
(i) aon táillí a ceadófar amhlaidh, agus
(ii) na caiteachais faoina raghaidh Cathaoirleach gach Binse ar leith maidir le comhairle agus tuarascáil a thabhairt i dtaobh an togra, agus
(iii) na caiteachais a bhainfeas le haon fhiosrúchán poiblí a dhéanamh i dtaobh an togra.
(3) Tar éis dóibh aon chomhairle agus tuarascáil den tsórt adúradh a bhreithniú, féadfaidh an tAire agus an tAire Tráchtála le chéile—
(a) a údarú an chomhsheirbhís d'fhorceannadh, nó
(b) diúltú do thoiliú leis an seirbhís d'fhorceannadh.
(4) Más rud é, tar éis dóibh aon chomhairle agus tuarascáil den tsórt adúradh a bhreithniú, go dtoileoidh an tAire Tráchtála le comhsheirbhís d'fhorceannadh ach nach dtoileoidh an tAire, coimeádfaidh an Bord an tseirbhís ar siúl agus dlífidh an tAire aon chaillteanas a chúiteamh leis an mBord a thiocfas den tseirbhís a choimeád ar siúl.
(5) Aon cheart atá ag an mBord faoin alt seo chun comhsheirbhís d'fhorceannadh ar aon líne iarnróid, ní dhéanfaidh sé difir in aon tslí d'aon oblagáid a bheas ar an mBord leanúint d'aon tseirbhís eile a chur ar fáil a bhíodh ar fáil go dtí sin ar an líne sin, ach féadfaidh an Bord, ar é a theacht i dteideal an chomhsheirbhís d'fhorceannadh, dul ar aghaidh agus, má threoraíonn an tAire dhó é, raghaidh sé ar aghaidh, do réir ailt 24, chun an tseirbhís eile sin d'fhorceannadh ar fad.
(6) I gcás ina ndéanfaidh an Bord comhsheirbhís d'fhorceannadh de bhuaidh an ailt seo—
(a) ní dhéanfaidh an forceannadh sin difir ar aon tslí d'aon dliteanas de chuid an Bhoird chun droichid, crosairí comhréidh, fáil, silteáin agus oibreacha eile a chothabháil a rinneadh agus a cothabháladh chun úsáide, cóiríochta nó cosanta an phobail i gcoitinne nó aon daoine den phobal nó únaeraí, nó áititheoirí tailte áirithe;
(b) an méid sin d'alt 47 den Railways Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845, a cheanglaíos daoine cuí d'fhostú chun geataí d'oscailt agus a dhúnadh ag crosaire comhréidh, ní bhainfidh sé le haon chrosaire comhréidh ar aon chuid den líne iarnróid iomchuí nach bhfuil d'oblagáid de thuras na huaire ar an mBord aon tseirbhís eile a chur ar fáil thairsti má déantar agus an fhad a déanfar na geataí go léir ar an gcrosaire comhréidh sin a choimeád agus a dhaingniú ar chuma go mbeidh saorbhealach ag trácht bóthair trasna na líne ag an gcrosaire comhréidh sin.
Seirbhísí eile d'fhorceannadh.
24.—(1) D'ainneoin aon oblagáide reachtúla nó aon oblagáide eile contrártha dhó sin, féadfaidh an Bord, dul ar aghaidh agus, má threoraíonn an tAire dhó é, raghaidh sé ar aghaidh, faoin alt seo, chun seirbhís iompair (seachas comhsheirbhís) ar aon líne iarnróid leis an ngnóthas d'fhorceannadh ar fad.
(2) Má déantar údarás a lorg chun seirbhís lena mbaineann an t'alt seo d'fhorceannadh, déanfaidh an Bord fógra i dtaobh an togra d'fhoilsiú san Iris Oifigiúil agus i nuachtán amháin ar a laghad a léitear sa límistéir ina n-oibríonn an tseirbhís.
(3) Sonróidh an fógra an tseirbhís a ndéantar togra í d'fhorceannadh agus aon tseirbhísí bóthair a cuirfear ar fáil ina hionad agus an t-am (nach lú ná mí tar éis an fógra d'fhoilsiú) ar laistigh de a fhéadfas aon chomhlucht nó comhlachas daoine lena mbaineann an togra agóidí i gcoinne an togra a chur chun an Aire.
(4) Más rud é nach bhfaighidh an tAire aon agóid laistigh den am sonraithe, ní fhorceannóidh an Bord an tseirbhís go dtí go mbeidh an tAire tar éis deis d'fháil ar aon chomh-leas a ndéanfadh an forceannadh difir dó a phlé leis an Aire Tráchtála agus tar éis scéala dá réir a thabhairt don Bhord.
(5) Má gheibheann an tAire aon agóidí go cuí, ní fhorceannóidh an Bord an tseirbhís mura rud é—
(a) go mbeidh sin údaraithe dhó le hordú ón mBinse Iompair faoi fho-alt 7, agus
(b) go mbeidh an tAire tar éis deis d'fháil, ar an ordú a bheith déanta, ar aon chomh-leas a ndéanfadh an forceannadh difir dó a phlé leis an Aire Tráchtála agus tar éis scéala dá réir a thabhairt don Bhord.
(6) Ar scéala d'fháil faoi fho-alt (4) nó (5), féadfaidh an Bord an tseirbhís d'fhorceannadh nó féadfaidh, le toiliú an Aire, a chomhaontú an tseirbhís a choimeád ar siúl ar an Aire Tráchtála do thabhairt geallúna aon chaillteanas a chúiteamh leis an mBord a thiocfas den tseirbhís a choimeád ar siúl.
(7) I gcás ina n-iarrfaidh an Bord ordú ar an mBinse á údarú don Bhord seirbhís d'fhorceannadh cuirfidh an tAire chun an Bhinse na hagóidí a fuair sé go cuí, agus tar éis don Bhinse an Bord agus na hagóideoirí d'éisteacht beidh cumhacht aige—
(a) an t-ordú a dhéanamh, le modhnuithe nó gan modhnuithe, agus le tórainn nó gan tórainn ar thréimhse a fheidhme, nó
(b) diúltú d'ordú a dhéanamh.
(8) Foilseoidh an Bord, pé trátha agus i pé slí a threorós an Binse, fógra go ndearnadh ordú faoi fho-alt 7.
(9) I gcás an Bord a theacht, de bhuaidh an ailt seo, i dteideal seirbhís d'fhorceannadh—
(a) Ní dhéanfaidh an forceannadh sin difir ar aon tslí d'aon dliteanas de chuid an Bhoird chun droichid, crosairí comhréidh, fáil, silteáin agus oibreacha eile a chothabháil a rinneadh agus a cothabháladh chun úsáide, cóiríochta, nó cosanta an phobail i gcoitinne nó aon daoine den phobal nó únaeraí nó áititheoirí tailte áirithe,
(b) an méid sin d'alt 47 den Railways' Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845, a ceanglaíos daoine cuí d'fhostú chun geataí d'oscailt agus a dhúnadh ag crosaire comhréidh, ní bhainfidh sé le haon chrosaire comhréidh ar an líne iarnróid iomchuí nach bhfuil d'oblagáid de thuras na huaire ar an mBord aon tseirbhís eile a chur ar fáil thairsti má déantar agus an fhad a déanfar na geataí go léir ar an gcrosaire comhréidh sin a choimeád agus a dhaingniú ar chuma go mbeidh saorbhealach ag trácht bóthair trasna na líne ag an gcrosaire comhréidh sin.
Cumhacht an Aire chun caillteanas i leith seirbhísí lasmuigh den Stát a ghlacadh air féin.
25.—Más rud é—
(a) go ndéanfaidh an Bord nó an tAire Tráchtála togra aon tseirbhísí iompair d'fhorceannadh a chuireas an Bord ar fáil lasmuigh den Stát, agus
(b) gur deimhin leis an Aire gur gá nó gurb inmhianuithe, i ndáil le saoráidí iompair a chur ar fáil laistigh den Stát, na seirbhísí sin a choimeád ar siúl, féadfaidh an tAire a gheallúint go mbeidh sé freagarthach i méid aon chaillteanais a thiocfas den tseirbhís a choimeád ar siúl,
Línte iarnróid a thréigint.
26.—I gcás an Bord a theacht, faoin gCuid seo, i dteideal na seirbhísí a cuirtear ar fáil ar aon líne iarnróid d'fhorceannadh ar fad, féadfaidh an tAire, ar an mBord dá iarraidh isn, le hordú (dá ngairmtear ordú tréigin san Acht seo) a údarú don Bhord an líne a thréigint.
(2) Bainfidh fo-ailt (3), (4), (5), (6) agus (8) d'alt 21 den Acht Iompair, 1950 (Uimh. 12 de 1950), le hordú tréigin, ach tagairtí don “Bhord” d'fhorléiriú mar thagairtí don Bhord a bunaítear leis an Acht seo.
Talamh líne iarnróid thréigithe a dhíol.
27.—(1) Nuair a bheas ordú tréigin déanta i leith líne iarnróid, féadfaidh an tAire, nó an Bord ag gníomhú dhó le toiliú agus thar ceann an Aire, an talamh faoin líne agus dá tadhall a dhíol, trí ghnóthaíocht phríobháideach, le húnaer na talún ar dhá thaobh na líne nó trí cheant poiblí le duine ar bith, lena n-áirítear an t-únaer sin.
(2) Déanfar an fáltas as talamh a dhíol faoin alt seo d'íoc isteach sa Stát-Chiste nó a chur chun tairbhe don Stát-Chiste i pé slí a threorós an tAire Airgeadais.
CUID IV.
Airgeadas.
Seoladh an ghnóthais.
28.—Beidh de dhualgas ginearálta ar an mBord a ghnóthas a sheoladh ar shlí go n-áiritheofar a luaithe is féidir nach mbeidh ioncam an Bhoird, ar na blianta a thógaint le chéile, níos lú ná mar is gá chun na muirir a ghlanadh atá, le ceart, inmhuirir ar an ioncam.
Scéim chionroinnte brabús agus caillteanas.
29.—A luaithe is féidir tar éis an dáta bunuithe, agus aon uair dá éis sin a iarrfas an tAire agus an tAire Tráchtála é, cuirfidh an Bord faoi bhráid an Aire agus an Aire Thráchtála, lena breithniú, scéim chun brabúis agus caillteanais an ghnóthais a chinneadh agus a chionroinnt do réir téarmaí an chomhaontuithe atá leagtha amach sa Chéad Sceideal (dá ngairmtear san Acht seo an comhaontú sceidealta).
Brabúis agus caillteanais a dháiliú.
30.—(1) Déanfar brabúis agus caillteanais an ghnóthais a mheasúnú do réir na scéime cionroinnte ar a mbeidh comhaontaithe de thuras na huaire ag an Aire agus ag an Aire Tráchtála.
(2) Íocfaidh an tAire leis an mBord méid aon chaillteanais a mbeidh an tAire freagarthach ann de bhun míre 2 den chomhaontú sceidealta.
(3) Déanfar íocaíochtaí faoi fho-alt (2) ar pé téarmaí, maidir le haisíoc nó ús nó eile, ar a gcomhaontóidh an tAire agus an Bord, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais.
(4) Féadfar pé suim nó suimeanna is oiriúnach leis an Aire d'airleacan chun an Bhoird, as airgead a sholáthrós an tOireachtas, pé trátha a shocrós an tAire tar éis dó dul i gcomhairle leis an Aire Tráchtála, faoi chomhair aon chaillteanais a meastar a bheas ann in aon bhliain agus a mbeadh an tAire freagarthach ann.
(5) Má bhíonn an méid a hairleacfar amhlaidh níos mó ná an méid a gheofar sa deireadh a bheith dlite don Bhord ón Aire don bhliain sin aisíocfaidh an Bord an bhreis leis an Aire a luaithe is féidir.
(6) Má bhíonn an méid a hairleacfar amhlaidh níos lú ná an méid a gheofar sa deireadh a bheith dlite don Bhord ón Aire don bhliain sin íocfaidh an tAire méid an easnaimh leis an mBord a luaithe is féidir.
(7) Íocfaidh an Bord leis an Aire an méid den bhrabús is inchurtha i leith oibriú an ghnóthais sa Stát i gcaitheamh aon bhliana.
Sócmhainní a dhíol.
31.—(1) Beidh teideal ag an mBord aon chuid dá shócmhainní a dhíol is dóigh leis an mBord nach gá a thuilleadh chun críocha an ghnóthais.
(2) Aon mhéid a bheas, de bhun an chomhaontuithe sceidealta, le creidiúnú don Aire ar aon chuid de shócmhainní an Bhoird a dhíol, beidh sé, arna éileamh, dlite don Aire agus iníoctha leis ón mBord.
Airgead a gheobhas an tAire a dhiúscairt.
32.—Déanfar na suimeanna go léir a gheobhas an tAire faoin Acht seo d'íoc isteach sa Stát-Chiste nó a chur chun tairbhe don Stát-Chiste mar threorós an tAire Airgeadais.
Iocaíochtaí i leith caiteachas caipitiúla.
33.—(1) Íocfaidh an tAire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, leis an mBord leath aon mhéide a comhaontófar idir an tAire agus an Aireacht a sholáthar ina scaireanna comhionanna de bhun fo-mhíre (1) de mhír 7 den chomhaontú sceidealta.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, íocaíochtaí a dhéanamh leis an mBord chun go bhféadfaidh an Bord íoc as aon chaiteachais chaipitiúla de chuid an ghnóthais a bheas le soláthar ag an Aire de bhun fo-mhíreanna (2), (3), agus (4) de mhír 7 den chomhaontú sceidealta.
(3) Déanfar íocaíochtaí faoin alt seo ar pé téarmaí, maidir le haisíoc nó ús nó eile, ar a gcomhaontóidh an tAire agus an Bord, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais.
Cumhachta an Bhoird chun airgead d'fháil ar iasacht.
34.—(1) Féadfaidh an Bord, ó am go ham, pé suimeanna d'fháil ar iasacht a bheas ag teastáil uaidh chun a oblagáidí d'fhreastal agus a dhualgais a chomhlíonadh.
(2) Ní dhéanfaidh an Bord a chumhachta faoin alt seo d'fheidhmiú ar shlí gur mó ná milliún punt aon tráth a fhéichiúnas iomlán i leith iasachtaí sealadacha.
Cuntais agus iniúchadh.
35.—(1) (a) Coimeádfaidh ar Bord gach cuntas is cuí agus is gnáth ar an airgead go léir a gheobhas nó a chaithfeas sé agus go háirithe coimeádfaidh gach cuntas a threorós an tAire agus an tAire Tráchtála i gcomhar.
(b) Féadfaidh an tAire agus an tAire Tráchtála, i gcomhar, an fhoirm a threorú ina gcoimeádfar cuntais an Bhoird.
(2) (a) Taispeánfaidh cuntais an Bhoird, ar an dáta bunaithe, mar dhliteanas caipitiúil an Bhoird don Aire, suim dhá mhilliún dhá chéad agus caoga míle punt, is é sin, an méid a bheas íoctha ag an Aire leis an gCuideachta faoi fho-alt (1) d'alt 46, agus a chomhshuim mar dhliteanas caipitiúl don Aire Tráchtála.
(b) Féadfar ús a mhuirearú ar an mBord i leith an dliteanais sin don Aire do réir pé ráta a shocrós an tAire ó am go ham le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais,
(3) (a) Ullamhóidh an Bord ráiteas cuntas bliantúil a bheas i pé foirm agus ina mbeidh pé sonraí agus a tiomsófar as pé taifid agus i pé slí a threorós an tAire agus an tAire Tráchtála i gcomhar.
(b) Déanfar cuntais an Bhoird d'iniúchadh gach bliain ag iniúchóir nó iniúchóirí a cheapfas an Bord gach bliain le toiliú an Aire agus an Aire Thráchtála.
(c) Íocfaidh an Bord táillí iniúchóra agus costais an iniúchta.
(4) Déanfaidh an Bord, laistigh de thrí mhí, nó de pé tréimhse is sia ná sin a threorós an tAire agus an tAire Tráchtála i gcomhar, tar éis deireadh bliana airgeadais an Bhoird, cóip den ráiteas cuntas bliantúil maraon le tuarascáil an iniúchóra air a chur chun an Aire.
(5) Bhéarfaidh an tAire go ndéanfar cóip de na cuntais agus den tuarascáil a bhéarfar dó faoin alt seo a leagadh faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas agus cuirfidh an Bord cóipeanna díobh ar díol.
CUID V.
Foireann an Bhoird.
Ceapadh oifigeach agus seirbhíseach an Bhoird.
36.—(1) Ceapfaidh an Bord rúnaí agus pé oifigigh agus seirbhísigh eile a chinnfeas an Bord, agus íocfaidh an Bord a luach saothair.
(2) Ach amháin mar foráltar san alt seo agus in alt 37, is trí scrúdú comórtais oscailte do réir rialacha a dhéanfas an Bord a glacfar daoine isteach sna gráid chléireachais de sheirbhís an Bhoird.
(3) Féadfaidh an Bord a fhoráil le rialacha speisialta go ndéanfar pé cionúireacht a cheadós an tAire agus an Aireacht de na folúntais sna gráid chléireachais dá sheirbhís a líonadh trí scrúduithe comórtais tóranta agus, i gcás scrúdú a thórainniú amhlaidh, ní ligfear isteach ar an scrúdú ach daoine atá nó a bhí ar fostú ag an gCuideachta nó ag an mBord.
Oifigigh agus seirbhísigh na Cuideachtan d'aistriú.
37.—Gach duine a bhí díreach roimh an dáta bunuithe ina oifigeach nó ina sheirbhíseach don Chuideachta, tiocfaidh sé, ar an dáta sin, chun bheith ina oifigeach nó ina sheirbhíseach don Bhord ar na téarmaí agus na coinníollacha céanna seirbhíse.
Cúiteamh d'fhostaithe a scaoilfear lena seirbhísí nó a ndéanfar dochar dóibh ina gcoinníollacha de dheasca seirbhísí traenach d'fhorceannadh.
38.—(1) Má dhéanann an Bord seirbhís iompair a cuirtear ar fáil ar aon líne iarnróid de chuid an ghnóthais d'fhorceannadh ar fad agus go dtiocfaidh de sin nach gá oifigeach nó seirbhíseach don Bhord (is duine a chónaíos sa Stát agus a bhí go dtí sin ar fostú go díreach ar an tseirbhís sin nó ar fostú go hiomlán i ndáil léi) a choinneáil sa phost a bhí aige roimh an bhforceannadh sin, beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas—
(a) má scaoileann an Bord lena sheirbhísí, íocfaidh an Bord cúiteamh leis a ríomhfar do réir an Cheathrú Sceidil a ghabhas leis an Acht Iompair, 1950 (Uimh. 12 de 1950), arna oiriúnú le fo-alt (2) den alt seo;
(b) más rud é—
(i) go n-aistreoidh an Bord é go dtí post eile ina sheirbhís, agus
(ii) go ndéanfaidh sin dochar dó ina choinníollacha seirbhíse mar oifigeach nó seirbhíseach don Bhord,
déanfaidh an Bord cnapshuim réasúnach d'íoc leis mar chúiteamh.
(2) Chun críocha an ailt seo—
(a) déanfar tagairtí sa Cheathrú Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht Iompair, 1950, do shean-chuideachta iompair nó do shean-cheadúnaí ród-iompair d'fhorléiriú mar thagairtí don Chuideachta, agus
(b) beidh feidhm ag ailt 41 go 43 den Acht sin maidir le cúiteamh faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo ach tagairtí don “Bhord” d'fhorléiriú mar thagairtí don Bhord a bunaítear faoin Acht seo.
(3) Chun críocha an ailt seo measfar dochar a dhéanamh d'oifigeach nó seirbhíseach don Bhord ina choinníollacha seirbhíse mar oifigeach nó seirbhíseach don Bhord más rud é, de dhroim an aistrithe—
(a) go gcaillfidh sé aon airgead go díreach nó gur measa a staid maidir le coinníollacha a sheirbhíse ina n-iomláine (ar a n-áirítear sealbhaíocht oifige nó fostaíochta, luach saothair, aiscí, aoisliúntas, sochair nó liúntais ó chiste breoiteachta nó sochair nó liúntais eile, pé acu dlí nó gnás is foras dóibh agus pé acu maidir leis féin nó lena bhaintreach nó lena chlann nó le cleithiúnaithe eile leis atá feidhm acu) i gcóimeas leis na coinníollacha seirbhíse a bhain leis roimh an aistriú, nó
(b) go gceanglaíonn an Bord air dualgais a chomhlíonadh sa phost chun ar haistríodh é nach bhfuil i gcosúlacht, nó nach breis réasúnach, leis na dualgais a bhí de cheangal air, roimh an aistriú, a chomhlíonadh sa phost ónar haistríodh amhlaidh é.
Scéim aoisliúntais.
39.—(1) Féadfaidh an Bord scéim (dá ngairmtear scéim aoisliúntais san alt seo) d'ullmhú agus a chur faoi bhráid an Aire chun ciste aoisliúntais a bhunú ar fhoras ranníocach ar mhaithe le fostaithe nó le haon aicme áirithe d'fhostaithe an Bhoird nó chun scéim aoisliúntais a bhí i bhfeidhm cheana féin faoin alt seo a leasú.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire, tar éis dul i gcomhairle leis an Aireacht agus le ceadú an Aire Airgeadais, daingniú, gan modhnú nó le pé modhnuithe (trí bhreisiú, laghdú nó athrú) is cuí leis an Aire, a dhéanamh, le hordú, ar scéim aoisliúntais a cuirfear faoina bhráid faoin alt seo.
(3) Ní thiocfaidh aon scéim aoisliúntais i ngníomh mura ndéantar ná go dtí go ndéanfar í a dhaingniú le hordú ón Aire, ach ar í a dhaingniú amhlaidh tiocfaidh sí i ngníomh ar an dáta a sonrófar chuige sin san ordú agus, amhail ar an dáta sin agus ón dáta sin, beidh feidhm dlí aici sa bhfoirm inar daingníodh amhlaidh í.
(4) Aon chiste a bunófar chun críocha scéime aoisliúntais, measfar gur faoi iontaobhas do-chúlghairmthe a bunaíodh é.
Scéimeanna aoisliúntais láithreacha.
40.—(1) San alt seo—
ciallaíonn “scéim aoisliúntais” aon chiste nó scéim aoisliúntais nó pinsin, nó aon chiste nó scéim soláthrach do bhaintreacha agus dílleachtaí, nó aon chiste nó scéim sochair eile;
ciallaíonn “scéim aoisliúntais láithreach” scéim aoisliúntais a bhunaigh an Chuideachta agus a bhí ar marthain díreach roimh an dáta bunuithe agus folaíonn sé Ciste Aoisliúntais Chóras Imreitigh na nIarnród.
(2) Faoi réir forál an ailt seo, leanfaidh gach scéim aoisliúntais láithreach, agus bainistí na scéime, ar marthain ar an dáta bunaithe agus dá éis.
(3) Chun críocha aon achtacháin reachtúil agus aon rialach agus rialachán a bhaineas le haon scéim aoisliúntais láithreach, beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas ar an dáta bunuithe agus dá éis:
(a) aon chumhacht a bhí ag an gCuideachta, nó ag a stiúrthóirí nó ag aon oifigeach di, maidir leis an scéim sin, féadfaidh an Bord, nó aon oifigeach don Bhord ag a mbeidh údarás chuige sin ón mBord, í d'fheidhmiú,
(b) measfar, maidir le seirbhís nó fostaíocht nó díbhe faoin mBord nó ag an mBord i gcás aon oifigigh nó seirbhísigh don Chuideachta a haistríodh de bhuaidh an Achta seo chun an Bhoird, gur seirbhís nó fostaíocht nó díbhe faoin gCuideachta nó ag an gCuideachta é,
(c) i gcás cumhacht a bheith ag stiúrthóirí na Cuideachtan, faoi rialacha na scéime sin, chun oifigigh agus seirbhísigh a cheapadh chun aon choiste bhainistí, déanfaidh an Bord, ag feidhmiú na gcumhacht sin dó, oifigigh nó seirbhísigh don Bhord a cheapadh atá ina gcomhaltaí den scéim sin nó a bheadh, mura mbeadh an tAcht seo, incheaptha chun an choiste bhainistí sin.
(4) Na hoblagáidí, pé acu dlí nó gnás is foras dóibh, atá ar an gCuideachta maidir le haon scéim aoisliúntais láithreach agus maidir le gach comhalta den scéim aoisliúntais láithreach sin, beid ina gceangal ar an mBord.
(5) Na daoine uile atá nó bhí ina gcomhaltaí d'aon scéim aoisliúntais láithreach agus na daoine uile a bheas ag déanamh éilimh de dhroim cirt aon chomhaltaí den tsórt sin, beid i dteideal na sochar, na gceart agus na bpribhléidí céanna agus faoi réir na n-oblagáidí céanna, pé acu dlí nó gnás is foras dóibh, a mbeadh na daoine sin, nó a dtiocfaidís chun bheith, ina dteideal nó faoina réir mura mbeadh an tAcht seo.
(6) Aon duine—
(a) a bheas i seirbhís na Cuideachtan díreach roimh an dáta bunuithe, agus
(b) nach comhalta d'aon scéim aoisliúntais láithreach, beidh aige, fad a fhanfas sé i seirbhís an Bhoird, an ceart céanna (más ann) chun bheith ina chomhalta d'aon scéim den tsórt sin a bheadh aige mura mbeadh an tAcht seo dá bhfanadh sé i seirbhís na Cuideachtan.
(7) Ní déanfar aon ní san alt seo d'fhorléiriú mar ní a choisceas an Bord ó scéim aoisliúntais láithreach a leasú do réir cumhachta chuige sin sa scéim.
(8) Measfar gur faoi iontaobhas do-chúlghairmthe a bunaíodh scéim aoisliúntais láithreach.
Coinníollacha seirbhíse a rialú.
41.—Na tagairtí atá in alt 55 d'Acht na mBóthar Iarainn, 1924 (Uimh. 29 de 1924), agus in ailt 10 agus 16 d'Acht na mBóthar Iarainn, 1933 (Uimh. 9 de 1933), do chuideachta iarnróid, forléireofar iad mar thagairtí a fholaíos tagairtí don Bhord.
CUID VI.
Feidhm Achtachán.
Seasamh an Bhoird mar chuideachta iarnróid.
42.—Beidh ag an mBord, chun críche aon achtacháin, an seasamh céanna a bhí ag an gCuideachta roimh an dáta bunuithe mar chuideachta iarnróid.
Feidhm na nAcht um Iompar ar Bhóithre, 1932 agus 1933.
43.—(1) Chun críocha alt 28 agus 30 den Acht um Iompar ar Bhóithre, 1932 (Uimh. 2 de 1932), measfar gur cuideachta lena mbaineann Cuid III den Acht sin an Bord.
(2) Measfar, chun críocha an Achta um Iompar ar Bhóithre, 1933 (Uimh. 8 de 1933), gur cuideachta údaraithe chun marsantas d'iompar agus cuideachta údaraithe chun paisnéirí d'iompar an Bord.
Modhnú ar an Public Authorities Protection Act, 1893.
44.—Bainfidh an Public Authorities Protection Act, 1893, leis an mBord faoi réir na modhnuithe go gcuirfear tagairt do dhá mhí dhéag in ionad aon tagairtí do shé mhí i mír (a) d'alt 1 de agus nach mbeidh feidhm ag míreanna (b), (c) agus (d) den alt sin (a dhéanas foráil speisialta maidir le costais).
Gan feidhm a bheith ag achtacháin áirithe maidir leis an mBord.
45.—Ní bheidh feidhm maidir leis an mBord ag na hachtacháin a luaitear sa Chúigiú Sceideal.
CUID VII.
An Great Northern Railway Company (Ireland) d'Fhorceannadh.
Cúiteamh do Stocshealbhóirí.
46.—(1) Ar an dáta bunuithe íocfaidh an tAire leis an gCuideachta suim dhá mhilliún dhá chéad agus caoga míle punt, is é sin, leath na suime ceithre mhílliún agus cúig chéad míle punt a chomhaontaigh an tAire agus an Aireacht d'íoc leis an gCuideachta mar chúiteamh i leith a gnóthas d'aistriú faoin Acht seo.
(2) (a) Laistigh de dhá mhí ón dáta bunuithe, imdháilfidh an Chuideachta an tsuim sin ceithre mhilliún agus cúig chéad míle punt trí shuim d'íoc le gach duine a bhí, díreach roimh an dáta bunuithe, ina shealbhóir cláraithe ar aon urrús a luaitear sa chéad cholún den Séú Sceideal is ionann in aghaidh gach céad punt den urrús sin a shealbhaigh sé agus an tsuim a sonraítear sa dara colún den Sceideal os coinne lua an urrúis sin agus cion dá réir sin in aghaidh méideanna den urrús sin is mó nó is lua ná céad punt.
(b) I dteannta na suime is iníoctha faoi mhír (a) le sealbhóir stoic bhintiúir, íocfaidh an Chuideachta le gach sealbhóir den tsórt sin ús ar mhéid an stoic sin arna ríomh do réir a ceathair faoin gcéad sa bhliain in aghaidh na tréimhse dhá mhí dár tosach an dáta bunuithe nó in aghaidh na tréimhse dár tosach an dáta sin agus dár críoch dáta imdhála na suime sin, pé acu is giorra.
(c) Íocfaidh an tAire leis an gCuideachta leath an airgid a theastós ón gCuideachta chun críche míre (b).
(d) Ní dearbhófar ná ní híocfar aon díbhinn agus, ach amháin mar foráltar le mír (b), ní bheidh aon ús iníoctha ná ní híocfar aon ús ar aon cheann d'urrúis na Cuideachtan in aghaidh aon tréimhse tar éis an Bord a bhunú.
(3) Duine a gheobhas suim faoi fho-alt (2) i leith aon urrúis, teachtfaidh sé an tsuim sin sa cheart céanna, ar na hiontaobhais chéanna agus faoi réir na gcumhacht, na bpribhléidí, na muirear agus na ndliteanas céanna ar theachtaigh sé an t-urrús iontu, orthu nó faoina réir; agus i gcás inar teachtadh an t-urrús de bhun aon fhorála i ngníomhas, uacht, diúscairt nó ionstraim eile, beidh éifeacht ag an ionstraim sin amhail is dá n-údaródh sí go sainráite an tsuim a fuarthas amhlaidh d'infheistiú in aon infheistíocht a húdaraítear faoi alt 1 den Trustee Act, 1893.
(4) Mura féidir leis an gCuideachta ar chúis ar bith aon tsuim áirithe d'íoc faoi fho-alt (2) leis an duine atá ina teideal, féadfar an tsuim sin d'íoc isteach san Ard-Chúirt (nó, mura mó ná míle punt í, isteach sa Chúirt Chuarda) agus cuirfear chun feidhme í agus déileálfar léi do réir na bhforál den Lands Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845, a bhaineas le hairgead ceannaigh nó cúiteamh a thagas chun páirtithe a bhfuil leasa tóranta acu i dtalamh a tógadh go héigeantach nó a gcoistcear orthu gnóthaíocht a dhéanamh nó nach mbunaíonn teideal chuige sin, agus beidh feidhm dá réir sin ag na forála sin; agus chun críche an ailt seo beidh ag an gCúirt Chuarda an dlínse uile is infheidhmithe ag an Ard-Chúirt faoin Acht sin.
(5) Ach amháin mar foráltar san alt seo ní bheidh aon chúiteamh iníoctha le duine ar bith de dhroim gnóthas na Cuideachtan d'aistriú chun an Bhoird.
(6) Nuair a dhéanfas an Chuideachta íocaíocht faoin alt seo i leith aon urrúis, oibreoidh an íocaíocht chun an Chuideachta d'urscaoileadh ó gach dliteanas do dhuine ar bith i leith an urrúis agus air sin beidh an dliteanas cealaithe.
Admháil i gcás duine nach bhfuil sui juris.
47.—Má bhíonn aon airgead iníoctha ag an gCuideachta le sealbhóir stoic sa Chuideachta, is mionaoiseach nó duine mímheabhrach, beidh admháil a chaomhnóra nó chúramaí a eastáit ina urscaoileadh leordhóthaineach don Chuideachta.
Airgead d'airleaoan as an bPríomh. Chiste.
48.—(1) Déanfar an t-airgead a theastós ón Aire faoi chomhair na n-íocaíochtaí is gá dhó a dhéanamh faoi fho-alt (1) d'alt 46 d'airleacan as an bPríomh Chiste nó a thoradh fáis.
(2) Chun airgead a sholáthar le haghaidh an airleacain faoin alt seo, féadfaidh an tAire Airgeadais aon tsuim nó suimeanna d'fháil ar iasacht ó dhuine ar bith agus, chun an céanna d'fháil ar iasacht, féadfaidh sé urrúis a chruthnú agus d'eisiúint agus iad faoi pé ráta úis agus faoi réir pé coinníoll i dtaobh aisíoca nó fuascailte nó eile is oiriúnach leis, agus íocfaidh sé isteach sa Stát-Chiste an t-airgead a gheofar ar iasacht amhlaidh.
(3) Is ar an bPríomh Chiste nó a thoradh fáis a bheas muirear príomhshuime nó muirear úis aon urrús a heiseofar faoin alt seo agus muirear na gcostas faoina raghfar i ndáil leis na hurrúis sin d'eisiúint.
An Chuideachta d'fhorceannadh.
49.—(1) (a) Nuair a bheas an Chuideachta tar éis an t-airgead cúitimh d'imdháil go cuí agus aon treoracha a chomhlíonadh a thug an Bord di chun a áirithiú go ndéanfar únaeracht aon mhaoine nó sócmhainní nó aon cheart d'aistriú go héifeachtúil chun an Bhoird agus tar éis a fháil amach nach mian leis an mBord aon treoracha eile a thabhairt, bhéarfaidh an Chuideachta fógra dá réir sin don Aire.
(b) Más deimhin leis an Aire, tar éis dó dul i gcomhairle leis an Aire Tráchtála (pé acu a tugadh aon fhógra den tsórt sin dó nó nár tugadh), gur déileáladh amhlaidh leis an airgead cúitimh agus gur comhlíonadh aon treoracha a tugadh amhlaidh agus nach mian leis an mBord aon treoracha eile a thabhairt, déanfaidh an tAire ordú nach bhfuil aon chúis leis an gCuideachta do leanúint ar marthain agus bhéarfaidh sé go bhfoilseofar an t-ordú san Iris Oifigiúil, agus ar an ordú d'fhoilsiú beidh an Chuideachta díscaoilte agus scoirfidh alt 6 den Great Northern Railway (Ireland) Act, 1877, trínar corpraíodh an Chuideachta, d'éifeacht a bheith aige.
(2) I gcaitheamh na tréimhse dár tosach an dáta bunuithe agus dár críoch dáta na Cuideachtan a dhíscaoileadh fanfaidh na forála reachtúla agus na hionstraimí eile a bhaineas leis an gCuideachta i bhfeidhm maidir leis an gCuideachta amhail is nár ritheadh an tAcht seo, a mhéid a bheas na cumhachta a bheirtear leo ag teastáil le haghaidh a mbeidh fágtha de chríocha na Cuideachtan.
(3) Ar an dáta bunuithe nó dá éis—
(a) ní bheidh oblagáid ann aon fholúntas i measc na stiúrthóirí a líonadh ach féadfaidh na stiúrthóirí a bheas fágtha leanúint de chumhachta uile na stiúrthóirí d'fheidhmiú suas go dtí tráth an díscaoilte;
(b) d'ainneoin aon fhorála reachtúla nó aon fhorála eile, ní bheidh oblagáid ann cruinniú ginearálta den Chuideachta a chomóradh;
(c) féadfaidh aon stiúrthóir nó iniúchóir leanúint d'oifig a shealbhú nó féadfar é a thoghadh nó a cheapadh chun oifige aon tráth d'ainneoin—
(i) deireadh a theacht leis an tréimhse dár toghadh nó dár ceapadh é roimhe an dáta sin; agus
(ii) nach sealbhóir é ar an méid urrúis sa Chuideachta ba ghá dhó, roimh an dáta sin, a shealbhú lena cháiliú chun na hoifige sin.
(4) Íocfaidh an Bord na caiteachais go léir (lena n-áirítear aon chíosa, rátaí, cánacha agus eisíocaíochtaí eile i leith aon oifigí) faoina raghaidh an Chuideachta go réasúnach agus go cuí tar éis an dáta bunuithe, agus cuirfidh an Bord pé saoráidí ar fáil don Chuideachta a theastós do réir réasúin ón gCuideachta chun scrúdú a dhéanamh ar leabhair, cuntais agus doiciméid a tugadh suas don Bhord agus chun sleachta a thógaint astu nó cóipeanna a dhéanamh díobh agus cuirfidh an Bord ar fáil don Chuideachta seirbhísí pé oifigeach agus seirbhíseach, agus sin ar pé téarmaí agus coinníollacha, agus go ceann pé tréimhse, ar a gcomhaontóidh an Bord agus an Chuideachta nó, cheal comhaontuithe, a chinnfeas an tAire le comhaontú na hAireachta, agus íocfaidh an Bord luach saothair na n-oiflgeach agus na seirbhíseach sin.
(5) Íocfaidh an Bord le stiúrthóirí na Cuideachtan, as aon tseirbhísí a bhéarfas na stiúrthóirí don Chuideachta tar éis an dáta bunuithe, pé luach saothair ar a gcomhaontóidh an Bord agus na stiúrthóirí nó, cheal comhaontuithe, a chinnfeas an Bord le ceadú an Aire agus an Aire Thráchtála a bheith réasúnach ag féachaint do na himthosca go léir.
(6) Féadfaidh stiúrthóirí na Cuideachtan déileáil mar is oiriúnach leo le haon chuid den airgead cúitimh a bheas fágtha tar éis na himdhála.
Fógraí áirithe do leanúint i bhfeidhm.
50.—Gach fógra a sheirbheáil an Chuideachta nó a seirbheáladh uirthi roimh an dáta bunuithe agus nach raibh a éifeacht nó a théarma caite roimh an dáta bunuithe, leanfaidh sé, sa mhéid nach bhfuil sé ar neamhréir leis an Acht seo, d'fheidhm agus éifeacht a bheith aige ar an dáta bunuithe agus dá éis amhail is dá mba fógra é a sheirbheáil an Bord nó a seirbheáladh ar an mBord ar an dáta a seirbheáladh é iarbhír agus amhail is dá mbeadh na feidhmeanna nó an mhaoin lena mbaineann an fógra sin dílsithe cheana féin sa Bhord ar an dáta sin.
Forála maidir le cáin ioncaim is inmhuirir ar an gCuideachta.
51.—(1) Leanfaidh an Chuideachta, ar an dáta bunuithe agus dá éis, de bheith faoi dhliteanas, faoi na hAchta Cánach Ioncaim, aon ráiteas, tuairisceán nó sonraí d'ullmhú agus a sheachadadh is gá chun críocha na nAcht sin d'aon bhliain mheasúnuithe a chríochnós ar, nó roimh, an gcéad 5ú lá d'Aibreán tar éis an dáta bunuithe.
(2) Féadfar measúnuithe cánach ioncaim d'aon bhliain mheasúnuithe a chríochnós ar, nó roimh, an gcéad 5ú lá d'Aibreán tar éis an dáta bunuithe a dhéanamh ar an gCuideachta ar an dáta bunuithe nó dá éis, agus aon cháin ioncaim i leith aon mheasúnuithe den tsórt sin a déanfar amhlaidh, agus is measúnú críochnaitheach dochloíte, measfar, nuair a thiocfas sé chun bheith dlite agus iníoctha, é a theacht chun bheith dlite agus iníoctha roimh an dáta bunuithe.
(3) An duine arb é rúnaí an Bhoird nó an t-oifigeach eile a chomhlíonas dualgais rúnaí an Bhoird é, measfar, chun críocha fo-alt (1) agus (2), gurb é rúnaí na Cuideachtan nó an t-oifigeach eile a chomhlíonas dualgais rúnaí na Cuideachtan é.
(4) Beidh ag an mBord, agus bheirtear leis seo don Bhord, cumhacht chun go mbainfeadh sé as sochair oifige aon duine a shealbhaios oifig nó fostaíocht sochair faoin mBord aon cháin ioncaim a muirearaíodh ar an gCuideachta i leith aon oifige nó fostaíochta sochair a shealbhaigh an duine sin faoin gCuideachta.
(5) Chun críocha an ailt seo, ach ní chun aon chríche eile ná ar aon tslí eile é, measfar an Chuideachta do leanúint ar marthain ar an dáta díscaoilte faoi alt 49 agus dá éis sin.
AN CHEAD SCEIDEAL.
Dreacht Théarmaí Comhaontuithe atá LE Déanamh idir an tAire agus an Aireacht.
1. Íocfar leis an Great Northern Railway Company (Ireland) suim cheithre mhilliún agus cúig chéad míle punt mar chúiteamh ina ghnóthas a thógaint faoi Acht Mhór-Iarnród an Tuaiscirt, 1953, agus faoin Great Northern Railway Act (Northern Ireland), 1953 (dá ngairmtear na hAchta anseo feasta). Íocfaidh gach páirtí ar leith sa chomhaontú seo nó íocfar thar a cheann leath na suime sin.
2. (1) Déanfar brabúis agus caillteanais an Bhoird a bunaítear faoi na hAchta a chinneadh agus a chionroinnt, faoi réir na bhforál ina dhiaidh seo den Chomhaontú seo, in aghaidh na bliana mar leanas:—
(a) déanfar an méid de na brabúis nó de na caillteanais is inchurtha i leith oibriú an ghnóthais i límistéir pháirtí amháin agus sa límistéir sin amháin a chionroinnt ar an bpáirtí sin;
(b) déanfar na brabúis nó na caillteanais nach inchurtha amhlaidh a chionroinnt go cothromasach idir na páirtithe.
(2) Beidh gach páirtí ar leith i ndteideal na mbrabús agus freagarthach sna caillteanais a cionroinnfear ar an bpáirtí sin.
3. An scéim chionroinnte brabús agus caillteanas a chuirfeas an Bord faoi bhráid na bpáirtithe sa Chomhaontú seo, glacfaidh an dá pháirtí léi mura rud é go gcomhaontóid, laistigh de shé mhí tar éis í a chur faoina mbráid, glacadh lena malairt de scéim.
4. An scéim lena nglacfar de bhun míre 3, bainfidh sí leis an ngnóthas ó dháta bunuithe an Bhoird. Beidh sí i bhfeidhm go ceann na tréimhse trí bliana dár tosach an dáta sin.
5. Cuirfidh an dá pháirtí de cheangal ar an mBord scéim chionrointe in aghaidh gach tréimhse trí bliana as a chéile a chur faoina mbráid. Glacfaidh an dá pháirtí leis an scéim mura rud é go gcomhaontóid, laistigh de shé mhí tar éis í a chur faoina mbráid, glacadh lena malairt de scéim don tréimhse sin.
6. (1) I gcás ina ndéanfar togra comhsheirbhís mar mínítear sin leis na hAchta d'fhorceannadh agus go n-aontóidh ceann de na páirtithe sa Chomhaontú seo, ach nach n-aontóidh an ceann eile, lena forceannadh, beidh an páirtí easaontach freagarthach in aon chaillteanas a thiocfas den tseirbhís a choimeád ar siúl agus modhnófar dá réir sin an scéim chionroinnte a mbeidh glactha léi de thuras na huaire.
(2) Modhnófar an scéim freisin chun socrú a dhéanamh i dtaobh aon chaillteanais a bhainfeas don Bhord trí aon tseirbhís, seachas comhsheirbhís, d'oibriú i gcás freagarthacht sa chaillteanas a bheith glactha ag páirtí na límistéire nach inti atá an tseirbhís á hoibriú.
(3) Forálfaidh modhnú ar an scéim faoin mír seo—
(a) go ríomhfar an caiteachas faoina raghaidh an Bord de dhroim leanúint d'oibriú na seirbhíse lena mbaineann an modhnú i pé slí ar a gcomhaontóidh na páirtithe agus go n-áireofar ann suim i leith aon línte iarnróid, tailte agus áitribh d'úsáid i ndáil leis an seirbhís, agus
(b) go bhfaibhreoidh aon bhrabúis de dhroim leanúint d'oibriú na seírbhíse chun an pháirtí a ghlac freagarthacht sa chaillteanas de dhroim an tseirbhís a choimeád ar siúl go dtí go mbeidh suim faighte ag an bpáirtí sin is comhionann le méid na n'íocaíochtaí a rinne an páirtí sin leis an mBord i leith an chaillteanais sin.
7. (1) An t-airgead a bheas ag teastáil ón mBord chun rothdhíle iarnróid d'fháil nó chun críocha Oibreacha Dhún Dealgan, a dílsítear sa Bhord, nó chun talamh bhreise a thógaint chun críocha na nOibreacha sin, déanfaidh na páirtithe sa Chomhaontú seo, a mhéid a chomhaontós na páirtithe, é a sholáthar ina scaireanna comhionanna. An fáltas a gheofar as—
(a) aon roth-dhíle iarnróid, nó
(b) aon chuid de na hOibreacha sin (lena n-áirítear aon talamh bhreise den tsórt sin) nó aon airnéisí a húsáideadh nó a fuarthas sna hOibreacha sin nó i ndáil leo, nó
(c) aon chuid d'infheistíochtaí an Bhoird,
a dhíol, déanfaidh an Bord (ach amháin, maidir leis an rothdhíle nó na hairnéisí sin sa mhéid a gcuirtear sin in ionad rothdhíle nó airnéisí eile) é a chreidiúnú do na páirtithe ina scaireanna comhionanna.
(2) An t-airgead a bheas ag teastáil chun talamh nó áitribh d'fháil agus d'fhorbairt chun críocha an ghnóthais (seachas Oibreacha Dhún Dealgan), déanfaidh an páirtí ar ina límistéir atá na tailte nó na háitribh sin é a sholáthar, a mhéid a chomhaontós an páirtí sin.
(3) An t-airgead a bheas ag teastáil ón mBord chun airnéisí d'fháil lena n-úsáid ina sheirbhísí bóthair nó i ndáil leo, soláthróidh an tAire é a mhéid a chomhaontós an tAire agus déanfaidh an Bord an fáltas as díol aon airnéisí a húsáideadh nó a fuarthas amhlaidh a chreidiúnú (ach amháin sa mhéid go gcuirtear na hairnéisí sin in ionad airnéisí eile) don Aire.
(4) Ach amháin mar foráltar a mhalairt in áit eile sa Chomhaontú seo, má bhíonn airgead ag teastáil ón mBord chun airnéisí d'fháil lena n-úsáid in aon talamh nó áitreabh (seachas Oibreacha Dhún Dealgan), nó i ndáil leis, i límistéir cheachtar páirtí nó chun críocha aon chaiteachas caipitúla eile ag an ngnóthas i gceachtar límistéir, déanfaidh páirtí na límistéire sin é a sholáthar a mhéid a chomhaontós an páirtí sin agus déanfaidh an Bord an fáltas as díol aon áirnéisí a chreidiúnú (ach amháin sa mhéid go gcuirtear na hairnéisí sin in ionad airnéisí eile) don pháirti ar ina límistéir nó dá límistéir a húsáideadh nó a fuarthas amhlaidh na hairnéisí sin.
(5) Déanfar socrú sa scéim chionroinnte i dtaobh an airgid a caithfear chun sócmhainní corpartha a bheas dílsithe sa Bhord nó á n-úsáid aige a chothabháil agus chun cinn eile a chur ina n-ionad. Ní bhaineann na fo-mhíreanna roimhe seo den mhír seo le hairgead den tsórt sin.
8. Comhaontaíonn an tAire go bhféadfaidh an Ulster Transport Authority cearta agus oblagáidí na hAireachta faoin gComhaontú seo (seachas oblagáidí na hAireachta chun na híocaíochtaí sin a dhéanamh dá dtagartar i míreanna 1 agus 6 den Chomhaontú seo) d'fheidhmiú agus a chomhlíonadh in ionad na hAireachta.
9. Más rud é, tráth ar bith tar éis cúig bliana a bheith caite ó dháta an Chomhaontuithe seo, gur mian le ceachtar páirtí an Comhaontú seo d'athrú, raghaidh an dá pháirtí i gceann iomairle athuair d'fhonn pé athrú ar a gcomhaontófar a dhéanamh.
AN DARA SCEIDEAL.
Bord Mhór-Iarnród an Tuaiscirt
1. Beidh an Bord ina chomhlucht corpraithe le comharbas suthain agus gnáthshéala.
2. Beidh deichniúr comhaltaí ar an mBord.
3. (1) Ceapfaidh an tAire cúigear comhaltaí agus ceapfaidh an tAire Tráchtála cúigear.
(2) Mura chun corrfholúntas a líonadh a ceapfar é, ceapfar gach comhalta go ceann tréimhse nach sia ná sé bliana.
(3) Má tharlaíonn corrfholúntas i measc na gcomhaltaí, déanfaidh an tAire a cheap an comhalta a chuaigh as oifig duine a cheapadh chun an folúntas a líonadh go ceann na coda eile den téarma dár ceapadh a réamhtheachtaí.
(4) Féadfar comhalta a bheas ag dul as oifig d'athcheapadh.
4. Sealbhóidh gach comhalta a oifig ar pé tearmaí agus coinníollacha (lena n-áirítear an Bord d'íoc luach saothair agus liúntas in aghaidh caiteachas) a chinnfeas an tAire agus an tAire Tráchtála, i gcomhar, tráth a cheaptha.
5. (1) Déanfaidh an tAire, agus déanfaidh an tAire Tráchtála, duine de na comhaltaí a cheap sé d'ainmniú ina chomhalta sinsearach.
(2) Is é céad chathaoirleach a bheas ar an mBord an comhalta sinsearach sin a thoghfas na comhaltaí. Má bhíonn an bheirt ar cothrom toghfar é trí chrannchur.
(3) Sealbhóidh an chéad chathaoirleach a oifig go ceann bliana.
(4) Ag deireadh na bliana sin beidh an comhalta sinsearach eile ina chathaoirleach go ceann tréimhse bliana, agus as sin amach beidh seilbh na hoifige, go ceann bliana, ag gach re duine de na comhaltaí sinsearacha.
(5) Beidh an comhalta sinsearach eile ina leas-chathaoirleach ar an mBord.
(6) Má scoireann duine de bheith ina chomhalta i rith a théarma oifige mar chathaoirleach nó leas-chathaoirleach, sealbhóidh an comhalta a hainmneofar ina chomhalta sinsearach ina ionad an oifig sin go ceann na coda eile den téarma sin.
(7) Is comhionann an luach saothair a gheobhas an cathaoirleach agus an leas-chathaoirleach.
6. Féadfaidh comhalta éirí as oifig trí fhógra i scríbhinn faoina láimh a thabhairt don Aire a cheap é.
7. (1) Beidh duine dícháilithe chun bheith, agus scoirfidh de bheith, ina chomhalta den Bhord má bhíonn teideal aige suí i gceachtar Tigh den Oireachtas nó de Pharlaimint Thuaisceart Éireann.
(2) Má bhíonn comhalta as láthair ó chruinnithe an Bhoird ar feadh níos mó ná sé mhí as a chéile, ach amháin ar chúis is leor leis an Aire a cheap é, nó má tharlaíonn é a dhícháiliú chun bheith ina chomhalta nó má déantar féimheach de nó má dhéanann sé imshocraíocht nó comhshocraíocht lena chreidiún aithe, dearbhóidh an tAire sin an oifig a bheith folamh agus fógróidh sin i pé slí is oiriúnach leis, agus air sin beidh an oifig folamh.
(3) Féadfaidh an tAire a cheap é comhalta a chur as oifig mar gheall ar mhí-iompar nó éagumas nó má mheasann an tAire sin gur gá, chun leasa an phobail, é a chur as oifig, agus déanfaidh an tAire sin ráiteas ag lua na gcúiseanna ar cuireadh as oifig é a leagadh faoi bhráid gach Tí den reachtas a bhfuil an tAire sin ina chomhalta dhe.
8. (1) Is coinníoll a ghabhfas le seirbhís chomhalta nach mbeidh aon leas airgeadais ná leas eile aige a dhéanfadh dochar do chomhlíonadh a fheidhmeanna aige mar chomhalta, agus aon duine is comhalta, nó a mbeartóidh an tAire é a cheapadh ina chomhalta, déanfaidh sé, má hiarrtar sin air, pé colas a thabhairt don Aire a theastós ón Aire chun a dheimhniú dhó féin go bhfuil an coinníoll sin á chomhlíonadh.
(2) Ní sárú ar an gcoinníoll seo comhaltas ná seirbhís i gCóras Iompair Eíreann ná san Ulster Transport Authority.
9. Aon chomhalta a bhfuil aige aon leas in aon chuideachta nó gnólucht (seachas Córas Iompair Éireann nó an Ulster Transport Authority) a mbeartóidh an Bord conradh a dhéanamh leis, nó aon leas sa chonradh, nochtfaidh sé don Bhord go bhfuil an leas sin aige agus cad é an leas é agus ní ghlacfaidh aon pháirt in aon bhreithniú ná cinneadh a dhéanfas an Bord maidir leis an gconradh; agus cuirfear an nochtadh sin ar taifead i miontuairiscí an Bhoird.
10. (1) Ag cruinniú den Bhord, is é an cathaoirleach, má bhíonn sé i láthair, a bheas ina chathaoirleach ar an gcruinniú.
(2) Má bhíonn an cathaoirleach as láthair, nó má bhíonn an oifig folamh, is é an leas-chathaoirleach a bheas ina chathaoirleach ar an gcruinniú.
(3) Má bhíonn siad araon as láthair nó má bhíonn an dá oifig folamh, toghfaidh na comhaltaí a bheas i láthair duine dá líon chun bheith ina chathaoirleach ar an gcruinniú.
11. (1) Is é is córam do chruinniú den Bhord ceathrar nó pé uimhir is mó ná sin a chinnfeas an Bord ó am go ham.
(2) Mura rud é, maidir le hOibreacha Dhún Dealgan, a dílsítear sa Bhord, nó maidir le cionroinnt bhrabús agus caill teanas an Bhoird, go dtreoróidh an tAire agus an tAire Tráchtála a mhalairt, i gcomhar, déanfar gach ceist a éireos ag cruinniú a chinneadh le vótaí thromlach na gcomhaltaí a bheas i láthair agus a vótálfas, agus i gcás comhionannas vótaí beidh an dara vóta nó vóta réitigh ag cathaoirleach an chruinnithe.
(3) Faoi réir fo-mhíre (1), féadfaidh an Bord gníomhú d'ainneoin folúntas ina chomhaltas.
(4) Faoi réir forál an Sceidil seo, féadfaidh an Bord, le buanorduithe nó ar shlí eile, a nós imeachta agus a ghnó a rialú.
12. Beidh príomh-oifig i mBaile Atha Cliath agus príomhoifig i mBéal Feirste ag an mBord.
13. Déanfar tuairim is leath na gcruinnithe a bheas ag an mBord in aon bhliain a thionól i ngach ceann de na príomhoifigí.
14. Féadfaidh an Bord agra a dhéanamh, agus féadfar agra a dhéanamh ina choinne, ina ainm féin.
15. (1) Déanfar gnáthshéala an Bhoird, nuair a cuirfear ar dhoiciméad é, d'fhianú le síniú comhalta amháin a cheap an tAire agus comhalta amháin a cheap an tAire Tráchtála, agus le síniú rúnaí an Bhoird nó oifigigh don Bhord d'údaraigh an Bord go cuí chun gníomhú chuige sin.
(2) Bhéarfar aird bhreithiúnach ar ghnáthshéala an Bhoird agus glacfar i bhfianaise gach doiciméad a airbheartós a bheith ina ionstraim arna déanamh ag an mBord agus a bheith séalaithe le gnáthshéala an Bhoird agus a bheith fianaithe do réir na míre seo, agus measfar, gan a thuilleadh cruthúnais, gurb í an ionstraim sin í, mura gcruthaítear a mhalairt.
16. Aon chonradh nó ionstraim nár ghá a bheith faoi shéala dá mba phearsa a dhéanfadh nó d'fhorghníomódh é, féadfaidh aon duine a bheas údaraithe go ginearálta nó go speisialta ag an mBord chuige sin é a dhéanamh nó d'fhorghníomhú thar ceann an Bhoird.
17. Féadfaidh an Bord aon cheann dá fheidhmeanna d'fheidhmiú trí aon duine dá oifigigh nó dá sheirbhísigh a bheas údaraithe ag an mBord chuige sin.
AN TRIU SCEIDEAL.
Cuid I.
Oibreacha Dhún Dealgan.
Na dáileachtaí talún sin uile, coda de thalamh na Cuideachtan, atá tuairiscithe agus léirithe trína ndathú dearg ar an bplean a séalaíodh le séala an Aire an 19ú lá de Mhárta, 1953, agus a cuireadh isteach, maraon le téacs an Achta seo, ina iris in oifig Chláraitheoir na Cúirte Uachtaraí, dáileachtaí atá suite i mBailte Fearainn Townparks, Mounthamilton, Demesne agus Marsh's Lower, Paróiste Dhún Dealgan, Barúntacht Dhún Dealgan, Uachtair, agus Contae Lughbhaidh.
Cuid II.
An chuid de líne iarnróid an Dundalk, Newry and Greenore Railway Company a dílsítear san Aire.
An stiall talún sin uile, cuid d'iarnród agus de thalamh an Dundalk, Newry and Greenore Railway Company, atá ina cheangal idir iarnród agus talamh an Great Northern Railway Company (Ireland) ag Sráid an Bhearaic, Dún Dealgan, agus iarnród agus talamh Choimisinéirí Cuain Dhún Dealgan ag Cé Seoirse, Dún Dealgan, agus atá tuairiscithe agus léirithe níos cruinne trína dhathú dearg ar an bplean a séalaíodh le séala an Aire an 19ú lá de Mhárta, 1953, agus a cuireadh isteach, maraon le téacs an Achta seo, ina iris in oifig Chláraitheoir na Cúirte Uachtaraí, stiall talún atá suite i mBaile Fearainn Townparks, Paróiste Dhún Dealgan, Barúntacht Dhún Dealgan, Uachtair, agus Contae Lughbhaidh.
AN CEATHRU SCEIDEAL.
Línte Iarnróid Comhsheirbhíse.
Baile Átha Cliath—Béal Feirste.
An Cabhán—Port an Dúnáin.
Dún Dealgan—Cluain Eois—Inis Ceithleann—Doire.
Acomhal Bhun Dobhráin—Bun Dobhráin.
AN CUIGIU SCEIDEAL.
Ahtacháin nach mBaineann leis an mBord.
1. Ailt 6 go 13 agus ailt 34 agus 38 den Regulation of Railways Act, 1868 (31 & 32 Vic., c. 119).
2. Ailt 9 agus 10 den Regulation of Railways Act, 1871 (34 & 35 Vic., c. 78).
3. Ailt 14 agus 15 den Regulation of Railways Act, 1873 (36 & 37 Vic., c. 48).
4. Ailt 31, 32, 33 agus 34 den Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888 (51 & 52 Vic., c. 25).
5. Ailt 1, 3 agus 4 den Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1894 (57 & 58 Vic., c. 54).
6. An Railway Companies (Accounts and Returns) Act, 1911 (1 & 2 Geo. V., c. 34).
7. Alt 84 den Railways Act, 1921 (11 & 12 Geo. V., c. 55).
8. Alt 23 den Acht um Iompar ar Bhóithre, 1932 (Uimh. 2 de 1932), agus aon rialacháin a rinneadh faoi alt 4 den Acht sin chun críocha ailt 23 den Acht sin.
10. Ailt 110 agus 129 den Acht Iompair, 1944 (Uimh. 21 de 1944).
11. Aon achtachán a bhaineas—
(a) le haicmiú marsantais chun feidhm a thabhairt maidir leis do rátaí muirear a gearrfar i leith iompair mharsantais,
(b) leis na muirir uasta nó na muirir iarbhír as marsantas nó paisnéirí agus a mbagáiste d'iompar, nó as aon tseirbhísí nó saoráidí eile a thabhairt.
AN SEU SCEIDEAL.
Cionroinnt Chúitimh ar Stocshealbhóirí.
Tuairisc an Stoic de chuid an Great Northern Railway Company (Ireland). | An méid cúitimh a híocfar mar mhalairt ar gach £100 Stoic. | |||||
Stoc Bintiúir 4% | ... | ... | ... | ... | £89⅛ | |
Stoc Ráthaithe Comhdhlúite 4% | ... | ... | £66 | |||
Stoc Tosaíochta Comhdhlúite 4% | ... | ... | £35 | |||
Gnáth-Stoc | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | £28½ |
Number 17 of 1953.
GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY ACT, 1953.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PRELIMINARY AND GENERAL.
Section | |
THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY BOARD.
Charges and terms and conditions of carriage of merchandise. | |
TERMINATION OF TRAIN SERVICES.
Power of Minister to undertake to bear loss on services outside the State. | |
FINANCE.
STAFF OF BOARD.
APPLICATION OF ENACTMENTS.
WINDING-UP OF GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY (IRELAND).
Provisions in relation to income tax chargeable on the Company. |
Draft Terms of Agreement to be made between the Minister and the Ministry
The Great Northern Railway Board
PART I.
Dundalk Works
PART II.
Part of railway line of Dundalk, Newry and Greenore Railway Company vested in Minister
Common Service Railway Lines
Enactments not Applying to the Board
Acts Referred to | |
No. 12 of 1950 | |
No. 11 of 1933 | |
No. 29 of 1924 | |
No. 9 of 1933 | |
No. 2 of 1932 | |
No. 8 of 1933 | |
No. 21 of 1944 | |
Number 17 of 1953.
GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY ACT, 1953.
PART I.
Preliminary and General.
Short title.
1.—This Act may be cited as the Great Northern Railway Act, 1953.
Interpretation.
2.—(1) In this Act—
“the Board” means the Board established by section 6;
“the Company” means the Great Northern Railway Company (Ireland);
“enactment” includes any instrument made under an enactment;
“the establishment date” means the date fixed under section 6;
“land” includes land covered by water and any easement, profit or right in or over land or land covered by water;
“the Minister” means the Minister for Industry and Commerce;
“the Minister of Commerce” means the Minister of Commerce for Northern Ireland;
“the Ministry” means the Ministry of Commerce for Northern Ireland;
“railway line” includes a section of railway line;
“the Transport Tribunal” means the Transport Tribunal established by section 54 of the Transport Act, 1950 (No. 12 of 1950).
(2) References in this Act to any enactment shall be construed as references to that enactment as amended by any subsequent enactment.
(3) In this Act a reference by number to a Part, section or Schedule is to the Part, section or Schedule of this Act bearing that number unless it is indicated that a reference to another Act is intended.
Power to Minister to enter into agreement.
3.—The Minister is hereby authorised to enter into an agreement with the Ministry in the terms of the draft set out in the First Schedule.
Exemption from stamp duties.
4.—(1) Section 12 of the Finance Act, 1895, shall not operate so as to require the Board to deliver to the Revenue Commissioners a copy of this Act or to pay any stamp duty under that section on any copy of this Act.
(2) Stamp duty shall not be chargeable on any instrument made for the purpose of section 20.
(3) Stamp duty shall not be chargeable on any agreement, bond, affidavit, statutory declaration, arbitration award or other instrument made for the purpose of section 38.
Expenses.
5.—The expenses incurred by the Minister in the execution of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
PART II.
The Great Northern Railway Board.
Establishment and Functions.
Establishment.
6.—(1) There shall be a Board to be known as the Great Northern Railway Board.
(2) The Board shall stand established on such date as is agreed upon by the Minister and the Minister of Commerce.
(3) The establishment date shall be declared by the Minister by order.
(4) The provisions of the Second Schedule shall apply to the Board.
General powers and duties.
7.—(1) The general function of the Board shall be to operate the undertaking carried on before the establishment date by the Company and the Board shall have all such powers as are necessary for that purpose.
(2) The Board shall have power—
(a) to enter into and carry out working agreements or arrangements for the provision by any person of transport services which the Board is required or authorised to provide, or for the provision by the Board of any transport services which any other person has power to provide,
(b) to enter into and carry out agreements with other transport undertakers with a view to co-ordinating the transport services provided by the Board with other transport services.
(3) The Board shall comply with such directions as may be given by the Minister, jointly with the Minister of Commerce, as to matters of policy relating to the conduct of the undertaking.
(4) The Board shall comply with such directions as may be given by the Minister as to matters of policy relating exclusively to the conduct of the undertaking in the State.
Transfer of Assets of Great Northern Railway Company (Ireland).
Transfer of undertaking other than land.
8.—(1) On the establishment date the whole of the undertaking of the Company (other than the land of the Company) including all property, assets, powers, rights, licences and privileges held or enjoyed in connection therewith or appertaining thereto shall by virtue of this section be transferred to the Board.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act the Board may exercise and enforce all rights, powers and privileges, other than powers of raising money, which were, immediately before the establishment date, vested in the Company.
(3) Subject to the provisions of this Act the Board shall, to the exclusion of the Company, be subject to all liabilities, whether arising by statute or otherwise, to which the Company was subject immediately before the establishment date.
(4) The Board shall not be subject to any liability in respect of any security of the Company for which compensation is payable under this Act, or in respect of any agreement for the rendering to the Company of personal services as a director.
(5) The Company shall, at the request of the Board, execute all such instruments and do all such acts as may be necessary to enable the Board to have effectively transferred into its name any property or assets vested in the Board by virtue of this section.
(6) No proceeding (including an arbitration) or cause of action pending or existing immediately before the establishment date by or against the Company shall abate, be discontinued or be in any way prejudicially affected by reason of anything in this Act, but the proceeding or cause of action may be continued and enforced by or against the Board as it might have been by or against the Company if this Act had not been passed, but not further or otherwise.
(7) Subject to the provisions of this Act, all contracts, deeds, bonds, agreements (other than agreements for the rendering to the Company of personal services as a director) and other instruments and all working arrangements subsisting immediately before the establishment date and affecting the Company shall be of as full force and effect against or in favour of the Board and may be enforced as fully and effectually as if, instead of the Company, the Board had been a party thereto.
Vesting of land.
9.—(1) On the establishment date—
(a) all land (except the Dundalk Works) held by the Company in the State shall vest in the Minister, and
(b) the Dundalk Works (described in Part I of the Third Schedule) shall vest in the Board,
for all the estate, right, title and interest of the Company.
(2) On the establishment date that part of the railway line and land of the Dundalk, Newry and Greenore Railway Company described in Part II of the Third Schedule and extending between George's Quay, Dundalk, and the junction with the Great Northern Railway at Barrack Street, Dundalk, shall vest in the Minister for all the estate, right, title and interest of that Company.
Particular Powers and Duties.
Licence to use land.
10.—(1) Subject to this section, the Board is hereby authorised and empowered, for the purposes of carrying on its undertaking, to occupy and use the land for the time being vested in the Minister by section 9 or under section 20.
(2) For the purpose of the exercise, enforcement and performance of all powers, privileges, rights and obligations attaching to the estate, right, title and interest of the Minister in the land, the Board shall stand in the place of the Minister but shall not, save as provided by sections 21 and 27, have power to sell any such land or, without the consent of the Minister, to let it for a period exceeding three years.
(3) The Board shall—
(a) at its own expense maintain the land, including all railway lines, roads, bridges, viaducts, tunnels, drains, premises, works and structures of whatsoever kind;
(b) discharge all rent, rates and other outgoings due by it by virtue of this section in respect thereof;
(c) satisfy the Minister, whenever he so requests, that the use or occupation of any land by the Board continues to be necessary for the proper operation of the undertaking; and
(d) permit the Minister and persons authorised by him to enter upon and use and occupy any land so far as such entry, user and occupation do not affect the proper operation of the undertaking.
(4) The use or occupation by the Board of any hereditament or tenement, within the meaning of the Valuation Acts, shall not be regarded as use or occupation of a public nature or for a public purpose, within the meaning of any enactment conferring exemption from a rate leviable by any local authority.
Classification of merchandise.
11.—The Board may adopt such classification of merchandise for the purpose of the application thereto of rates of charges to be made in respect of the carriage of merchandise as the Board thinks fit.
Charges and terms and conditions of carriage of merchandise.
12.—(1) In this section—
“charges” include fares, rates or tolls;
“services” means any of the following—
(a) the conveyance of passengers and their luggage,
(b) the receiving, forwarding, carrying and delivering of merchandise,
(c) any other transport service or facility;
“the railway classification of merchandise” means the classification of merchandise for the time being in force adopted by the Board for the purposes of the application of rates of charges to be made by the Board for the carriage of merchandise by rail.
(2) Subject to subsection (3) the Board may fix, demand, take and recover such charges as the Board thinks fit for services provided by it.
(3) Where the Board proposes to make a general increase in the charges for any services, the following provisions shall have effect:—
(a) the Board shall give to the Minister one month's notice in advance of its proposal;
(b) the Board shall not put into force any proposal of which the Minister, within that month, notifies the Board of his disapproval.
(4) Where the Board agrees with a trader for the carriage of his merchandise at charges which represent a reasonable commutation of the charges otherwise applicable to the merchandise of that trader carried by the Board, the Board may, notwithstanding anything contained in any enactment, make as regards the carrying of the trader's merchandise the charges so agreed.
(5) (a) The Board shall keep for sale copies of the following:—
(i) the railway classification of merchandise,
(ii) scales of charges made, in conjunction with the railway classification of merchandise, by the Board in respect of the carriage of merchandise by rail.
(b) The Board shall keep for public inspection at its principal office in the State copies of the following:—
(i) the railway classification of merchandise,
(ii) scales of charges made, in conjunction with the railway classification of merchandise, by the Board in respect of the carriage of merchandise by rail.
(c) The Board shall keep for public inspection at each depot owned by it at which merchandise is received for carriage by rail a copy of each of the following:—
(i) the railway classification of merchandise,
(ii) scales of charges made, in conjunction with the railway classification of merchandise, by the Board for the carriage of merchandise by rail from that depot.
(6) The Board may attach to the services afforded by it such terms and conditions as the Board thinks fit.
Carriage of dangerous goods by rail.
13.—(1) Nothing in this Act shall impose any obligation on the Board to accept dangerous goods for conveyance by rail or shall prejudice or derogate from the powers of any Minister of State under the Explosives Act, 1875, or affect the validity or operation of any order, rule or bye-law made under the powers contained in that Act.
(2) If the Board accepts dangerous goods for conveyance by rail the goods shall be conveyed subject to such bye-laws, regulations and conditions as the Board may think fit in regard to the conveyance or storage thereof, and the owner or consignor of such goods shall indemnify the Board from and against all loss or damage which may result to the Board or to which the Board may be or become liable owing to non-compliance with the said bye-laws, regulations and conditions as to such goods and shall pay full compensation for all injury to the Board's servants and damage to its property so arising unless it is proved that the injury or damage is due to the wilful misconduct of the Board's servants.
(3) Where the Company or the Board has declared any article to be dangerous it shall lie on the person requiring the article to be carried to show that it is not dangerous.
Protection of telegraphs.
14.—Every vehicle operated by the Board for use on any public road or on rail and moved by electrical power shall be so equipped and worked as to prevent any interference with telegraphic communication by means of any telegraphic line (within the meaning of the Telegraph Act, 1878) belonging to or used by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.
Bye-laws.
15.—(1) The Board may make bye-laws for all or any of the following purposes:—
(a) for regulating the times of arrival and departure of its vehicles;
(b) for regulating the loading and unloading of its vehicles and, subject to any statutory provisions in that behalf, the weights which its vehicles are to carry;
(c) for regulating the receipt and delivery of merchandise and other things which are to be carried on its vehicles;
(d) for preventing the commission of nuisances in or upon its vehicles or the stations, depots or other premises occupied by the Board;
(e) for maintaining order in and regulating the use of the stations, depots or other premises occupied by the Board and the approaches thereto;
(f) for any purpose for which the Company had, immediately before the establishment date, power to make bye-laws;
(g) for providing for the safe custody and re-delivery or disposal of any property found on or in any premises used or occupied by or vehicles belonging to or used by the Board and for fixing the charges to be made by the Board in respect thereof;
(h) generally for regulating, subject to any statutory provisions in that behalf, the travelling upon or using of its vehicles and the working of its transport services.
(2) The Board shall submit to the Minister for confirmation any bye-laws made by it under this section, and thereupon the following provisions shall have effect:—
(a) the Board shall, as soon as conveniently may be after the submission, publish a notice of the submission at least once in each of two successive weeks in each of the daily morning newspapers published in and circulating in the State;
(b) the notice shall include—
(i) a statement of the purposes for which the bye-laws are made, and
(ii) an intimation that a copy of the bye-laws is open for public inspection at the principal office in the State of the Board, and
(iii) an intimation that any person may at any time during the period of thirty days commencing on the date of the first publication of the notice submit to the Minister objections to the confirmation of the bye-laws;
(c) the Board shall, during the said period of thirty days, keep a copy of the bye-laws open for public inspection during ordinary office hours at its principal office aforesaid;
(d) any person who objects to the confirmation of the bye-laws may, at any time during the said period of thirty days, submit his objections in writing to the Minister;
(e) the Minister shall, as he thinks proper, refuse to confirm the bye-laws or by order confirm the bye-laws without modification or with such modifications as he thinks proper and inserts in the bye-laws, but shall not make any such order until the expiration of the said period of thirty days and until he has considered any objections to the confirmation submitted to him during that period.
(3) Bye-laws made by the Board under this section shall come into operation if, but only if, they are confirmed by order under this section, and if they are so confirmed, the day on which they shall come into operation shall be the day specified in that behalf in the order confirming them.
(4) Where a person contravenes a provision of bye-laws made under this section, 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.
(5) Bye-laws made under this section which have been confirmed by order under this section shall be published in such manner as the Minister may direct.
(6) Bye-laws made under this section shall not prejudice or affect the operation of any bye-laws made under or in pursuance of any statutory provisions by any harbour or sanitary authority.
(7) A document which purports to be a copy of bye-laws made under this section and which has endorsed thereon a certificate (purporting to be signed by an officer of the Board authorised in that behalf) stating that the document is a true copy of the bye-laws and that the bye-laws were in force on a specified date shall, without proof of the signature of such officer or that he was in fact such officer or was so authorised, be evidence (until the contrary is proved) in every court and in all legal proceedings of the bye-laws and of the fact that they were in force on the date so specified.
(8) All bye-laws made by the Company and in force immediately before the establishment date shall, on and after that date, continue in force and be deemed to have been made under this section and shall be capable of being amended or revoked by bye-laws made under this section.
(9) Every order under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made, and if a resolution annulling the order is passed by either House of the Oireachtas within the next twenty-one days upon which that House has sat after the order has been laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.
(10) Section 127 of the Road Traffic Act, 1933 (No. 11 of 1933), shall not apply to property left in public service vehicles owned or operated by the Board.
Saving for existing rules and regulations.
16.—All rules and regulations made by the Company and in force immediately before the establishment date shall, on and after the establishment date, continue in force until revoked, altered or superseded.
Service of documents on the Board.
17.—Any document required or authorised by law to be served on the Board may be so served by—
(a) handing it to the secretary of the Board at the principal office in the State of the Board, or
(b) leaving it at the principal office aforesaid in an envelope addressed to the secretary of the Board, or
(c) sending it by post in a prepaid registered letter addressed to the secretary of the Board at the principal office aforesaid.
Powers of Minister.
Investigation of affairs of the Board.
18.—(1) The Minister acting jointly with the Minister of Commerce shall have power to make such investigations as he thinks necessary into the affairs of the Board and to appoint persons to conduct such investigations and report to each Minister thereon.
(2) The Minister shall have power to make such investigations as he thinks necessary into the operation of the undertaking exclusively in the State and to appoint persons to conduct such investigations and report to the Minister thereon.
(3) A person appointed under this section shall have power to enter and inspect at all reasonable times the lands, premises, works and vehicles of the undertaking and to examine all books and documents of the Board, and the Board and each of its members and every officer and servant thereof shall furnish him with such information and afford him such facilities as he may reasonably require for the performance of his functions.
(4) Any person who impedes a person appointed under this section in the performance of his functions or refuses or neglects to furnish him with such information or to afford him such facilities as he may reasonably require shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(5) The fees of persons appointed under subsection (1) shall be such as are approved of by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, and by the Ministry and shall to the extent of one-half thereof be paid by the Minister.
(6) The fees of persons appointed under subsection (2) shall be such as are approved of by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, and shall be paid by the Minister.
Annual report and information.
19.—(1) The Board shall in each year make to the Minister a report on the operation of the undertaking during the preceding year.
(2) The Minister shall cause the report to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and copies thereof shall be placed on sale by the Board.
(3) The Board shall furnish the Minister with such information relating to the undertaking as the Minister may from time to time require.
Acquisition and Sale of Land.
Acquisition of land.
20.—(1) (a) The Board, with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Finance, may, in the name and on behalf of the Minister, acquire land for the use of the Board.
(b) Land acquired under this subsection shall be expressed to vest and shall vest in the Minister and, accordingly, section 10 shall apply in relation to it.
(2) The Board, with the consent of the Minister and the Ministry, may acquire additional land for the purposes of the Dundalk Works.
(3) Sections 17 and 18 of the Transport Act, 1950 (No. 12 of 1950), shall apply to the acquisition of land for the purposes of this section, references therein to “the Board” being construed as references to the Board established by this Act.
Sale of surplus land.
21.—(1) Where, after consultation with the Board, the Minister is satisfied that any land vested in him by section 9 or under section 20 is no longer required by the Board for the purposes of the undertaking, the Minister, or the Board acting with the consent and on behalf of the Minister, may (subject, in regard to railway lines, to section 27) sell or otherwise dispose of the land.
(2) The proceeds of sale or disposal of land under this section shall be paid into or disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer in such manner as the Minister for Finance may direct.
PART III.
Termination of Train Services.
Common service.
22.—In this Part “common service” means the service, for passengers and merchandise or either of them, provided between the State and Northern Ireland by all trains which operate both within and outside the State over a railway line specified in the Fourth Schedule.
Termination of common service.
23.—(1) The succeeding provisions of this section shall, not-withstanding any statutory or other obligation to the contrary, apply to the termination of a common service.
(2) The Board, the Minister or the Minister of Commerce may propose the termination of a common service and thereupon—
(a) the proposal shall be submitted for the joint consideration of the Minister and the Minister of Commerce,
(b) the Minister, if he thinks proper, may, in agreement with the Minister of Commerce, refer the proposal to the Chairman of the Transport Tribunal to advise and report in collaboration with the Chairman of the Transport Tribunal for Northern Ireland,
(c) the Chairman of the Transport Tribunal shall have power, jointly with the Chairman of the Transport Tribunal for Northern Ireland, to engage the services of other persons for the purpose of assisting them in considering the proposal and to hold a public inquiry on the proposal,
(d) the fees of any person engaged as aforesaid shall be such as are approved of by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, and by the Ministry, and the Minister shall pay one-half of the amount of—
(i) any fees so approved, and
(ii) the expenses incurred by the Chairman of each Tribunal in advising and reporting on the proposal, and
(iii) the expenses of holding any public inquiry on the proposal.
(3) After considering any advice and report as aforesaid, the Minister and the Minister of Commerce may together—
(a) authorise the termination of the common service, or
(b) refuse to consent to the termination of the service.
(4) Where after considering any advice and report as aforesaid the Minister of Commerce consents to the termination of a common service but the Minister does not consent, the Board shall continue the service and the Minister shall be liable to make good to the Board any loss sustained by the continuance of the service.
(5) Any right of the Board under this section to terminate a common service on any railway line shall not affect in any way any obligation of the Board to continue to provide any other service theretofore provided on that line, but the Board, on becoming entitled to terminate the common service, may, and shall if so directed by the Minister, proceed in accordance with section 24 to terminate wholly that other service.
(6) Where the Board by virtue of this section terminates a common service—
(a) such termination shall not affect in any way any liability of the Board to maintain bridges, level crossings, fences, drains and other works constructed and maintained for the use, accommodation or protection of the public generally or of any members of the public or of the owners or occupiers of particular lands;
(b) so much of section 47 of the Railways' Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845, as makes it obligatory to employ proper persons to open and shut gates at a level crossing shall not apply to any level crossing on any part of the railway line concerned over which the Board is not for the time being obliged to provide any other service if and so long as all the gates on that level crossing are kept and secured in such position as to permit the free passage of road traffic across the line at that level crossing.
Termination of other services.
24.—(1) Notwithstanding any statutory or other obligation to the contrary, the Board may, and shall if so directed by the Minister, proceed under this section to terminate wholly a transport service (other than a common service) on any railway line of the undertaking.
(2) Where it is proposed to seek authority to terminate a service to which this section applies, the Board shall publish notice of the proposal in Iris Oifigiúil and in at least one newspaper circulating in the area in which the service operates.
(3) The notice shall specify the service which it is proposed to terminate and any alternative road services to be provided and the time (not being less than one month after publication of the notice) within which objections to the proposal may be sent to the Minister by any body or association of persons affected by the proposal.
(4) If, within the specified time, no objection is received by the Minister, the Board shall not terminate the service until the Minister has had an opportunity for discussion with the Minister of Commerce of any common interest which may be affected by the termination and has notified the Board accordingly.
(5) If any objections have been duly received by the Minister, the Board shall not terminate the service unless—
(a) it has been so authorised by order of the Transport Tribunal under subsection (7), and
(b) the Minister has had an opportunity, following the making of the order, for discussion with the Minister of Commerce of any common interest which may be affected by the termination and has notified the Board accordingly.
(6) On receipt of notification under subsection (4) or (5), the Board may terminate the service or, with the consent of the Minister, may agree to continue the service on an undertaking being given by the Minister of Commerce to make good to the Board any loss sustained by the continuance of the service.
(7) Where the Board applies to the Tribunal for an order authorising the Board to terminate a service the Minister shall transmit to the Tribunal the objections duly received by him and the Tribunal, having heard the Board and the objectors, shall have power—
(a) to make the order, with or without modifications, and with or without a limitation on the period of its operation, or
(b) to refuse to make an order.
(8) The Board shall publish, at such times and in such manner as the Tribunal direct, notice of the making of an order under subsection (7).
(9) Where the Board becomes entitled, by virtue of this section, to terminate a service—
(a) such termination shall not affect in any way any liability of the Board to maintain bridges, level crossings, fences, drains and other works constructed and maintained for the use, accommodation or protection of the public generally or of any members of the public or of the owners or occupiers of particular lands,
(b) so much of section 47 of the Railways' Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845, as makes it obligatory to employ proper persons to open and shut gates at a level crossing shall not apply to any level crossing on the railway line concerned over which the Board is not for the time being obliged to provide any other service if and so long as all the gates on that level crossing are kept and secured in such position as to permit the free passage of road traffic across the line at that level crossing.
Power of Minister to undertake to bear loss on services outside the State.
25.—Where—
(a) the Board or the Minister of Commerce proposes to terminate any transport services provided by the Board outside the State, and
(b) the Minister is satisfied that the continued operation of those services is necessary or desirable in connection with the provision of transport facilities within the State, the Minister may undertake to be responsible for the amount of any loss sustained by the continuance of the service.
Abandonment of railway lines.
26.—(1) Where the Board becomes entitled under this Part to terminate wholly the services provided on any railway line, the Minister, on the application of the Board, may by order (in this Act referred to as an abandonment order) authorise the Board to abandon the line.
(2) Subsections (3), (4), (5), (6) and (8) of section 21 of the Transport Act, 1950 (No. 12 of 1950), shall apply to an abandonment order, references to “the Board” being construed as references to the Board established by this Act.
Sale of land of abandoned railway line.
27.—(1) Where an abandonment order has been made in respect of a railway line, the Minister, or the Board acting with the consent and on behalf of the Minister, may sell the land under and adjoining the line either by private treaty to the owner of the land on both sides of the line or by public auction to any person, including such owner.
(2) The proceeds of sale of land under this section shall be paid into or disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer in such manner as the Minister for Finance may direct.
PART IV.
Finance.
Conduct of undertaking.
28.—It shall be the general duty of the Board so to conduct its undertaking as to secure, as soon as may be, that taking one year with another the revenue of the Board shall be not less than sufficient to meet the charges properly chargeable to revenue.
Scheme of apportionment of profits and losses.
29.—The Board shall as soon as possible after the establishment date and thereafter whenever so required by the Minister and the Minister of Commerce submit to the Minister and the Minister of Commerce for their consideration a scheme for the ascertainment and apportionment of the profits and losses of the undertaking in accordance with the terms of agreement set out in the First Schedule (in this Act referred to as the scheduled agreement).
Allocation of profits and losses.
30.—(1) The profits and losses of the undertaking shall be assessed in accordance with the scheme of apportionment for the time being agreed upon by the Minister and the Minister of Commerce.
(2) The amount of any loss for which, in pursuance of paragraph 2 of the scheduled agreement, the Minister is liable, shall be paid to the Board by the Minister.
(3) Payments under subsection (2) shall be made on such terms as to repayment, interest or otherwise as may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, be agreed between the Minister and the Board.
(4) There may be advanced to the Board, out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas, at such times as the Minister, after consultation with the Minister of Commerce, may fix, such sum or sums as the Minister may think fit towards making good during any year any anticipated loss for which the Minister would be liable.
(5) If the amount so advanced is in excess of the amount ultimately found to be due to the Board by the Minister for that year the Board shall, as soon as possible, repay the excess to the Minister.
(6) If the amount so advanced is less than the amount ultimately found to be due to the Board by the Minister for that year the Minister shall, as soon as possible, pay to the Board the amount of the deficiency.
(7) The amount of the profit attributable to the operation of the undertaking in the State during any year shall be paid to the Minister by the Board.
Sale of assets.
31.—(1) The Board shall be entitled to sell any of its assets which, in the opinion of the Board, are no longer required for the purposes of the undertaking.
(2) Any amount which, in pursuance of the scheduled agreement, is to be credited to the Minister on the sale of any of the assets of the Board shall, on demand, be due and payable to the Minister by the Board.
Disposal of moneys received by Minister.
32.—All sums received by the Minister under this Act shall be paid into or disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer in such manner as the Minister for Finance may direct.
Payments for capital expenses.
33.—(1) The Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, shall pay to the Board one-half of any amount agreed between the Minister and the Ministry to be provided in equal shares in pursuance of subparagraph (1) of paragraph 7 of the scheduled agreement.
(2) The Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may make payments to the Board to enable the Board to meet any capital expenses of the undertaking to be provided by the Minister in pursuance of subparagraphs (2), (3) and (4) of paragraph 7 of the scheduled agreement.
(3) Payments under this section shall be made on such terms as to repayment, interest or otherwise as may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, be agreed between the Minister and the Board.
Borrowing powers of the Board.
34.—(1) The Board may from time to time borrow such sums as it may require for meeting its obligations and carrying out its duties.
(2) The Board shall not so exercise its powers under this section that its total indebtedness in respect of temporary borrowing exceeds at any one time one million pounds.
Accounts and audit.
35.—(1) (a) The Board shall keep all proper and usual accounts of all moneys received or expended by it and in particular shall keep all such accounts as the Minister and the Minister of Commerce may jointly direct.
(b) The Minister and the Minister of Commerce may jointly direct the form in which the Board's accounts are to be kept.
(2) (a) The accounts of the Board shall show at the establishment date as a capital liability of the Board to the Minister the sum of two million, two hundred and fifty thousand pounds, being the amount paid by the Minister to the Company under subsection (1) of section 46, and a similar sum as a capital liability to the Minister of Commerce.
(b) Interest may be charged to the Board in respect of the said liability to the Minister at such rate as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may fix from time to time.
(3) (a) The Board shall prepare an annual statement of accounts in such form and containing such particulars and compiled from such records and in such manner as the Minister and the Minister of Commerce may jointly direct.
(b) The accounts of the Board shall in each year be audited by an auditor or auditors to be appointed annually by the Board with the consent of the Minister and the Minister of Commerce.
(c) The fees of an auditor and the expenses of the audit shall be paid by the Board.
(4) Within three months, or such longer period as the Minister and the Minister of Commerce may jointly direct, after the end of the Board's financial year the Board shall send to the Minister a copy of the annual statement of accounts, together with the auditor's report thereon.
(5) The Minister shall cause a copy of the accounts and report furnished to him under this section to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and copies thereof shall be placed on sale by the Board.
PART V.
Staff of Board.
Appointment of officers and servants of the Board.
36.—(1) The Board shall appoint a secretary and such other officers and servants as the Board may determine, and their remuneration shall be paid by the Board.
(2) Save as provided in this section and in section 37, entry to the clerical grades of the service of the Board shall be by means of open competitive examination in accordance with rules made by the Board.
(3) The Board may by special rules provide that such proportion as may be approved by the Minister and the Ministry of the vacancies in the clerical grades of its service shall be filled by means of limited competitive examinations, and where an examination is so limited only persons in or who have been in the employment of the Company or the Board shall be admitted thereto.
Transfer of officers and servants of the Company.
37.—Every person who, immediately before the establishment date, was an officer or servant of the Company shall on that date become an officer or servant of the Board on the same terms and conditions of service.
Compensation of employees whose services are dispensed with or conditions worsened on termination of train services.
38.—(1) Where the Board terminates wholly a transport service provided on any railway line of the undertaking and as a consequence thereof the retention of an officer or servant of the Board (being a person who is resident in the State and was theretofore directly employed on that service or wholly in connection therewith) in the position which he held before the termination becomes unnecessary, the following provisions shall have effect—
(a) if the Board dispenses with his services, he shall be paid by the Board compensation calculated in accordance with the Fourth Schedule to the Transport Act, 1950 (No. 12 of 1950), as adapted by subsection (2) of this section;
(b) if—
(i) the Board transfers him to another position in its service, and
(ii) he thereby suffers a worsening of his conditions of service as an officer or servant of the Board,
he shall be paid by the Board compensation consisting of a lump sum of such amount as is reasonable.
(2) For the purposes of this section—
(a) references in the Fourth Schedule to the Transport Act, 1950, to a former transport company or a former road transport licensee shall be construed as references to the Company, and
(b) sections 41 to 43 of the said Act shall apply in regard to compensation under subsection (1) of this section, references to “the Board” being construed as references to the Board established under this Act.
(3) For the purposes of this section an officer or servant of the Board shall be deemed to suffer a worsening of his conditions of service as an officer or servant of the Board if, by reason of the transfer—
(a) he suffers any direct pecuniary loss or is in a worse position in respect of the conditions of his service as a whole (including tenure of office or employment, remuneration, gratuities, superannuation, sick fund or other benefits or allowances, whether obtaining legally or by customary practice and whether applicable to himself or his widow or children or other dependents) as compared with those obtaining in respect of him before the transfer, or
(b) he is required by the Board to perform in the position to which he is transferred duties which are not analogous to or are an unreasonable addition to those which he was required to perform in his former position.
Superannuation scheme.
39.—(1) The Board may prepare and submit to the Minister a scheme (in this section referred to as a superannuation scheme) for establishing on a contributory basis a superannuation fund for the benefit of the employees or any particular class of the employees of the Board or for amending a superannuation scheme already in force under this section.
(2) The Minister, after consultation with the Ministry, may, with the approval of the Minister for Finance, by order confirm, either without modification or with such modifications (whether by way of addition, omission or variation) as the Minister thinks fit, a superannuation scheme submitted under this section.
(3) No superannuation scheme shall become operative unless and until it has been confirmed by order of the Minister but, upon being so confirmed, it shall come into operation on the date specified in that behalf in the order and shall on and after that date have the force of law in the form in which it was so confirmed.
(4) A fund set up for the purposes of a superannuation scheme shall be deemed to be set up under an irrevocable trust.
Existing superannuation schemes.
40.—(1) In this section—
“superannuation scheme” means any superannuation, pension, provident widows' and orphans' or other benefit fund or scheme,
“existing superannuation scheme” means a superannuation scheme established by the Company and in existence immediately before the establishment date and includes the Railway Clearing System Superannuation Fund.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this section, every existing superannuation scheme and the management thereof shall, on and after the establishment date, continue in being.
(3) For the purposes of any statutory enactment and of rules and regulations relating to any existing superannuation scheme, the following provisions shall, on and after the establishment date, have effect:
(a) any power of the Company or the directors or any officer thereof in relation to the said scheme may be exercised by the Board or any officer of the Board authorised by the Board in that behalf,
(b) the service or employment or dismissal under or by the Board of any officer or servant of the Company who is transferred, by virtue of this Act, to the Board shall be deemed to be service or employment or dismissal under or by the Company,
(c) where under the rules of the said scheme the directors of the Company are empowered to appoint officers and servants to any managing committee, the Board in exercising those powers shall appoint officers or servants of the Board who are members of the said scheme or who, but for this Act, would have been eligible for appointment to such managing committee.
(4) The obligations, whether obtaining legally or by customary practice, of the Company in respect of any existing superannuation scheme and in respect of every member of the said existing superannuation scheme shall be binding on the Board.
(5) All persons who are or have been members of any existing superannuation scheme and all persons claiming in right of any such members shall be entitled to the same benefits, rights and privileges and subject to the same obligations, whether obtaining legally or by customary practice, as such persons would have been or might have become entitled or subject to but for this Act.
(6) Any person who—
(a) is in the service of the Company immediately before the establishment date, and
(b) is not a member of any existing superannuation scheme, shall, so long as he remains in the service of the Board, have the same right (if any) to become a member of any such scheme as he would have had but for this Act if he had remained in the service of the Company.
(7) Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing the Board from amending an existing superannuation scheme in accordance with a power in that behalf contained therein.
(8) An existing superannuation scheme shall be deemed to have been set up under an irrevocable trust.
Regulation of conditions of service.
41.—The references in section 55 of the Railways Act, 1924 (No. 29 of 1924), and in sections 10 and 16 of the Railways Act, 1933 (No. 9 of 1933), to a railway company shall be construed as including references to the Board.
PART VI.
Application of Enactments.
Status of the Board as a railway company.
42.—The Board shall, for the purpose of any enactment, have the same status as the Company had before the establishment date as a railway company.
Application of Road Transport Acts, 1932 and 1933.
43.—(1) For the purposes of sections 28 and 30 of the Road Transport Act, 1932 (No. 2 of 1932), the Board shall be deemed to be a company to which Part III of the said Act applies.
(2) The Board shall be deemed to be an authorised (merchandise carrying) company and an authorised (passenger carrying) company for the purposes of the Road Transport Act, 1933 (No. 8 of 1933).
Modification of Public Authorities Protection Act, 1893.
44.—The Public Authorities Protection Act, 1893, shall apply to the Board subject to the modifications that for any references to six months in paragraph (a) of section 1 thereof there shall be substituted a reference to twelve months and that paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of that section (which make special provision as to costs) shall not apply.
Non-application of certain enactments to the Board.
45.—The enactments mentioned in the Fifth Schedule shall not apply to the Board.
PART VII.
Winding-up of Great Northern Railway Company (Ireland).
Compensation of Stockholders.
46.—(1) On the establishment date the Minister shall pay to the Company the sum of two million, two hundred and fifty thousand pounds, being one-half of the sum of four million, five hundred thousand pounds agreed by the Minister and the Ministry to be paid to the Company as compensation in respect of the transfer of its undertaking under this Act.
(2) (a) The Company shall, within two months from the establishment date, distribute the said sum of four million, five hundred thousand pounds by paying to each person who was, immediately before the establishment date, the registered holder of any security mentioned in the first column of the Sixth Schedule, for every hundred pounds of that security held by him the sum specified in the second column of the Schedule opposite the mention of that security and so in proportion for amounts of that security greater or less than one hundred pounds.
(b) In addition to the sum payable under paragraph (a) to a holder of debenture stock, the Company shall pay to each such holder interest calculated on the amount of such stock at the rate of four per cent. per annum in respect of the period of two months beginning on the establishment date or the period beginning on that date and ending on the date of distribution of the said sum, whichever is the shorter.
(c) The moneys required by the Company for the purpose of paragraph (b) shall, as to one-half thereof, be paid to the Company by the Minister.
(d) No dividend shall be declared or paid and, save as provided by paragraph (b), no interest shall be payable or paid on any of the securities of the Company in respect of any period after the establishment of the Board.
(3) A person who receives a sum under subsection (2) in respect of any security shall hold the sum in the same right and on the same trusts and subject to the same powers, privileges, charges and liabilities as those in, on or subject to which he held the security; and where the security was held pursuant to any provision of a deed, will, disposition or other instrument, that instrument shall have the like effect as if it expressly authorised the investment of the sum so received in any investment authorised under section 1 of the Trustee Act, 1893.
(4) If for any reason the Company is unable to make payment of any sum under subsection (2) to the person entitled thereto, that sum may be paid into the High Court (or, if it does not exceed one thousand pounds, into the Circuit Court) and shall be applied and dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845, with respect to purchase money or compensation coming to parties having limited interests in land compulsorily acquired or prevented from treating or not making title thereto, and those provisions shall have effect accordingly; and for the purpose of this section the Circuit Court shall have all the jurisdiction exercisable by the High Court under that Act.
(5) Save as provided in this section no compensation shall be payable to any person by reason of the transfer of the undertaking of the Company to the Board.
(6) Where payment is made by the Company under this section in respect of any security the payment shall operate to discharge the Company from all liability to any person in respect of the security which shall thereupon be cancelled.
Receipt in case of person not sui juris.
47.—If any money is payable by the Company to a holder, who is a minor or a person of unsound mind, of stock of the Company, the receipt of the guardian or committee of his estate shall be a sufficient discharge to the Company.
Advance of moneys out of Central Fund.
48.—(1) The money required by the Minister to meet the payments required to be made by him under subsection (1) of section 46 shall be advanced out of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof.
(2) For the purpose of providing money for the advance under this section the Minister for Finance may borrow from any person any sum or sums, and for the purpose of such borrowing he may create and issue securities bearing such rate of interest and subject to such conditions as to repayment, redemption or otherwise as he thinks fit, and shall pay the moneys so borrowed into the Exchequer.
(3) The principal of or any interest on any securities issued under this section and the expenses incurred in connection with the issue of such securities shall be charged on the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof.
Winding-up of the Company.
49.—(1) (a) Where the Company has duly distributed the compensation money and has complied with any directions given to it by the Board for the purpose of securing that the ownership of any property or assets or any right is effectively transferred to the Board and ascertained that the Board does not desire to give any further directions, the Company shall notify the Minister.
(b) If the Minister, after consultation with the Minister of Commerce, is satisfied (whether any such notice has been given to him or not) that the compensation money has been so dealt with and that any directions so given have been complied with and that the Board does not desire to give any further directions, the Minister shall make an order that there is no reason for the continued existence of the Company and shall cause the order to be published in Iris Oifigiúil, and upon the publication thereof the Company shall be dissolved and section 6 of the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) Act, 1877, by which the Company was incorporated, shall cease to have effect.
(2) During the period beginning on the establishment date and ending on the dissolution of the Company, the statutory provisions and other instruments relating to the Company shall remain in force in relation thereto as if this Act had not passed, so far as the powers conferred thereby are required for the remaining purposes of the Company.
(3) On or after the establishment date—
(a) it shall not be obligatory to fill any vacancy in the directors but the remaining directors may continue to exercise all the powers of the directors up to the time of the dissolution;
(b) notwithstanding any statutory or other provision it shall not be obligatory to hold a general meeting of the Company;
(c) any director or auditor may continue to hold office or be elected or appointed thereto at any time notwithstanding—
(i) the expiration of the term for which before that date he was elected or appointed; and
(ii) that he is not the holder of an amount of a security of the Company which before that date he would have been required to hold for the purpose of qualifying him for that office.
(4) All expenses (including any rents, rates, taxes and other outgoings in respect of any offices) reasonably and properly incurred by the Company after the establishment date shall be defrayed by the Board, and the Board shall make available to the Company such facilities for the examination of and the making of extracts from or copies of books, accounts and documents surrendered to the Board as the Company may reasonably require, and the Board shall make available to the Company the services of such officers and servants, on such terms and conditions, and for such period, as may be agreed upon between the Board and the Company or, failing agreement, as may be determined by the Minister in agreement with the Ministry, and the remuneration of those officers and servants shall be defrayed by the Board.
(5) The Board shall pay to the directors of the Company such remuneration for any services rendered by the directors to the Company after the establishment date as may be agreed upon between the Board and the directors or, failing agreement, as may be determined by the Board with the approval of the Minister and the Minister of Commerce to be reasonable having regard to all the circumstances.
(6) Any balance of the compensation money remaining after distribution may be dealt with by the directors of the Company as they think fit.
Continuance of certain notices.
50.—Every notice served by or on the Company before the establishment date the effect or term of which has not ceased or expired before the establishment date shall, so far as it is not inconsistent with this Act, continue in force and have effect on and after the establishment date as if it were a notice served by or on the Board on the date on which it was actually served and as if the functions or property to which the said notice relates had on the same date already vested in the Board.
Provisions in relation to income tax chargeable on the Company.
51.—(1) The Company shall, on and after the establishment date, continue to be liable under the Income Tax Acts to prepare and deliver any statement, return or particulars required for the purposes of those Acts for any year of assessment ending on or before the 5th day of April next following the establishment date.
(2) Assessments to income tax for any year of assessment ending on or before the 5th day of April next following the establishment date may be made on the Company on or after the establishment date, and income tax in respect of any such assessment so made, which shall have become final and conclusive, shall, when it becomes due and payable, be deemed to have become due and payable before the establishment date.
(3) For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2) the secretary of the Board or other officer performing the duties of secretary of the Board shall be deemed to be secretary of the Company or other officer performing the duties of secretary of the Company.
(4) The Board shall be and is hereby empowered to deduct out of the emoluments of any person holding an office or employment of profit under the Board any income tax charged on the Company in respect of any office or employment of profit held by such person under the Company.
(5) For the purposes of this section but not further or otherwise the Company shall be deemed to continue in existence on and after the date of dissolution under section 49.
FIRST SCHEDULE.
Draft Terms of Agreement to be made between the Minister and the Ministry.
1. There shall be paid to the Great Northern Railway Company (Ireland) the sum of four million, five hundred thousand pounds as compensation for the acquisition of its undertaking under the Great Northern Railway Act, 1953, and the Great Northern Railway Act (Northern Ireland) 1953 (hereinafter referred to as the Acts). One-half of this sum shall be paid by or on behalf of each party hereto.
2. (1) The profits and losses of the Board established under the Acts shall, subject to the subsequent provisions of this Agreement, be ascertained and apportioned yearly as follows—
(a) so much of the profits or losses as are attributable to the operation of the undertaking exclusively in the area of one party shall be apportioned to that party;
(b) the profits or losses not so attributable shall be equitably apportioned between the parties.
(2) Each party shall be entitled to the profits and responsible for the losses apportioned to that party.
3. The scheme of apportionment of profits and losses to be submitted to the parties hereto by the Board shall be adopted and accepted by both parties unless, within six months of its submission to them, they agree to the adoption of an alternative scheme.
4. The scheme adopted in pursuance of paragraph 3 shall apply to the undertaking from the date of establishment of the Board. It shall remain in force for the period of three years beginning on that date.
5. The Board shall, in respect of each successive period of three years, be required by each party to submit a scheme of apportionment for such period. The scheme shall be adopted and accepted by both parties unless, within six months of its submission to them, they agree to the adoption of an alternative scheme for such period.
6. (1) Where it is proposed to terminate a common service as defined by the Acts and one of the parties hereto consents, but the other does not consent, to its termination, the dissenting party shall be responsible for any loss sustained by the continuance of the service and the scheme of apportionment adopted for the time being shall be modified accordingly.
(2) The scheme shall also be modified so as to provide for any loss which may be incurred by the Board by the operation of any service other than a common service where responsibility for the loss has been accepted by the party of the area other than that in which the service is operated.
(3) A modification of the scheme under this paragraph shall provide that—
(a) the expenditure incurred by the Board as a result of the continued operation of the service to which the modification relates shall be calculated in such manner as the parties may agree and shall include an amount in respect of the use of any railway lines, lands and premises in connection with the service, and
(b) any profits resulting from the continued operation of the service shall accrue to the party responsible for the loss on the continuance of the service, until that party has received an amount equal to the amount of the payments made to the Board by that party in respect of such loss.
7. (1) Moneys needed by the Board for the acquisition of railway rolling stock or for the purposes of the Dundalk Works vested in the Board or for the acquisition of additional land for the purposes of those Works shall to such extent as the parties may agree be provided by the parties hereto in equal shares. The proceeds of sale of—
(a) any railway rolling stock, or
(b) any part of the said Works (including any such additional land) or any chattels used or acquired in or in connection therewith, or
(c) any of the Board's investments,
shall (save, as respects such rolling stock or chattels, in so far as utilised for replacements) be credited by the Board to the parties in equal shares.
(2) Moneys needed for the acquisition or development of lands or premises for the purposes of the undertaking (other than the Dundalk Works) shall to such extent as the party in whose area the lands or premises are situate may agree be provided by that party.
(3) Moneys needed by the Board for the acquisition of chattels for use in or in connection with its road services shall to such extent as the Minister may agree be provided by the Minister and the proceeds of sale of any chattels so used or acquired shall (save in so far as utilised for replacements) be credited by the Board to the Minister.
(4) Save as provided elsewhere in this Agreement, moneys needed by the Board for the acquisition of chattels for use in or in connection with any land or premises (other than the Dundalk Works) situate in the area of either party or for the purposes of any other capital expenses of the undertaking in either area shall to such extent as the party of that area may agree be provided by that party and the proceeds of sale of any chattels shall (save in so far as utilised for replacements) be credited by the Board to the party in or for whose area they were so used or acquired.
(5) The moneys applied for maintenance and replacement of physical assets vested in or used by the Board shall be provided for in the scheme of apportionment. The foregoing subparagraphs of this paragraph do not apply to such moneys.
8. The Minister agrees that the rights and obligations of the Ministry under this Agreement (other than the obligations of the Ministry to make such payments as are referred to in paragraphs 1 and 6 hereof) may be exercised and performed by the Ulster Transport Authority instead of the Ministry.
9. If, at any time after the expiration of five years from the date hereof, either party desires the revision of this Agreement, the two parties shall re-open negotiations with a view to making such revision as may be agreed upon.
SECOND SCHEDULE.
The Great Northern Railway Board.
1. The Board shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal.
2. The Board shall consist of ten members.
3. (1) Five members shall be appointed by the Minister and five by the Minister of Commerce.
(2) Each member, unless appointed to fill a casual vacancy, shall be appointed for a period not exceeding six years.
(3) If a casual vacancy occurs amongst the members, the Minister who appointed the outgoing member shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term for which his predecessor was appointed.
(4) An outgoing member may be re-appointed.
Terms and conditions of service.
4. Each member shall hold office on such terms and conditions (including the payment by the Board of remuneration and allowances for expenses) as are determined at the time of his appointment by the Minister and the Minister of Commerce jointly.
5. (1) The Minister and the Minister of Commerce shall each designate one of the members appointed by him to be a senior member.
(2) The first chairman of the Board shall be such senior member as the members may elect. In the event of a tie he shall be chosen by lot.
(3) The first chairman shall hold office for one year.
(4) At the end of that year, the other senior member shall be chairman for a period of one year and thereafter the office shall be held in rotation for one year by the senior members.
(5) The other senior member shall be vice-chairman of the Board.
(6) If a person ceases to be a member during his term of office as chairman or vice-chairman, the member designated as senior member in his place shall hold that office for the remainder of the term.
(7) The chairman and vice-chairman shall receive equal remuneration.
6. A member may resign by notice in writing under his hand given to the Minister by whom he was appointed.
7. (1) A person shall be disqualified for being and shall cease to be a member of the Board if he is entitled to sit in either House of the Oireachtas or of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.
(2) Where a member is absent from meetings of the Board for more than six months consecutively, except for a reason considered to be sufficient by the Minister by whom he was appointed, or becomes disqualified for being a member or becomes bankrupt or makes a composition or arrangement with his creditors, the said Minister shall declare the office vacant and shall notify the fact in such manner as he thinks fit, and thereupon the office shall become vacant.
(3) A member may be removed from office by the Minister by whom he was appointed for misconduct or incapacity or if the said Minister considers his removal necessary in the public interest, and that Minister shall lay before each House of the legislature of which that Minister is a member a statement of the reasons for such removal.
8. (1) It shall be a condition of service of a member that he shall have no such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially the discharge by him of his functions as a member and any person who is, or whom the Minister proposes to appoint to be, a member shall, on request, furnish to the Minister such information as the Minister requires to satisfy himself that this condition is being complied with.
(2) Membership of Córas Iompair Éireann or the Ulster Transport Authority or service with either body shall not be a breach of this condition.
9. A member who has any interest in any company or concern (other than Córas Iompair Éireann or the Ulster Transport Authority) with which the Board proposes to make a contract or any interest in the contract shall disclose to the Board the fact and nature of his interest and shall take no part in any deliberation or decision of the Board relating to the contract; and the disclosure shall be recorded in the minutes of the Board.
10. (1) At a meeting of the Board the chairman shall, if present, be chairman of the meeting.
(2) In the absence of the chairman, or if the office is vacant, the vice-chairman shall be chairman of the meeting.
(3) If both are absent or if both offices are vacant, the members present shall elect one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.
11. (1) The quorum for a meeting of the Board shall be four or such greater number as the Board may from time to time determine.
(2) Save where, in relation to the Dundalk Works vested in the Board or the apportionment of profits and losses of the Board, the Minister and the Minister of Commerce otherwise jointly direct, every question at a meeting shall be decided by the votes of the majority of those present and voting, and, in case of an equal division of votes, the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
(3) Subject to subparagraph (1), the Board may act notwithstanding vacancies in its membership.
(4) Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, the Board may regulate, by standing orders or otherwise, its procedure and business.
12. The Board shall have a principal office in Dublin and a principal office in Belfast.
13. Approximately half of the meetings of the Board in any year shall be held at each principal office.
14. The Board may sue and be sued in its own name.
15. (1) The common seal of the Board shall, when applied to a document, be attested by the signature of one member appointed by the Minister and one member appointed by the Minister of Commerce, and by the signature of the secretary of the Board or an officer of the Board duly authorised by the Board to act in that behalf.
(2) Judicial notice shall be taken of the common seal of the Board and every document purporting to be an instrument made by the Board and to be sealed with the common seal of the Board and to be attested in accordance with this paragraph shall, unless the contrary is shown, be received in evidence and be deemed to be such instrument without further proof.
16. Any contract or instrument which, if entered into or executed by an individual, would not require to be under seal may be entered into or executed on behalf of the Board by any person generally or specially authorised by the Board for that purpose.
17. The Board may exercise any of its functions through or by any of its officers or servants authorised by the Board in that behalf.
THIRD SCHEDULE.
Part I.
Dundalk Works.
All those parcels of land parts of the land of the Company described and delineated by being coloured red on the plan which, sealed with the seal of the Minister on the 19th day of March, 1953, has, together with the text of this Act, been enrolled for record in the office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court, which said parcels are situate in the Townlands of Townparks, Mounthamilton, Demesne and Marsh's Lower, Parish of Dundalk, Barony of Upper Dundalk and County of Louth.
Part II.
Part of railway line of Dundalk, Newry and Greenore Railway Company vested in Minister.
All that strip of land, forming part of the railway and land of the Dundalk, Newry and Greenore Railway Company, linking the railway and land of the Great Northern Railway Company (Ireland) at Barrack Street, Dundalk, with the railway and land of the Dundalk Harbour Commissioners at George's Quay, Dundalk, and more particularly described and delineated by being coloured red on the plan which, sealed with the seal of the Minister on the 19th day of March, 1953, has together with the text of this Act, been enrolled for record in the office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court, which said strip of land is situate in the Townland of Townparks, Parish of Dundalk, Barony of Upper Dundalk and County of Louth.
FOURTH SCHEDULE.
Common Service Railway Lines.
Dublin—Belfast.
Cavan—Portadown.
Dundalk—Clones—Enniskillen—Londonderry.
Bundoran Junction—Bundoran.
FIFTH SCHEDULE.
Enactments not Applying to the Board.
1. Sections 6 to 13 and sections 34 and 38 of the Regulation of Railways Act, 1868 (31 & 32 Vic., c. 119).
2. Sections 9 and 10 of the Regulation of Railways Act, 1871 (34 and 35 Vic., c. 78).
3. Sections 14 and 15 of the Regulation of Railways Act, 1873 (36 and 37 Vic., c. 48).
4. Sections 31, 32, 33 and 34 of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888 (51 & 52 Vic., c. 25).
5. Sections 1, 3 and 4 of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1894 (57 & 58 Vic., c. 54).
6. The Railway Companies (Accounts and Returns) Act, 1911 (1 & 2 Geo. V., c. 34).
7. Section 84 of the Railways Act, 1921 (11 & 12 Geo. V., c. 55).
8. Section 23 of the Road Transport Act, 1932 (No. 2 of 1932), and any regulations made under section 4 of that Act for the purposes of section 23 thereof.
9. Section 9 of the Railways Act, 1933 (No. 9 of 1933).
10. Sections 110 and 129 of the Transport Act, 1944 (No. 21 of 1944).
11. Any enactment relating to—
(a) the classification of merchandise for the purposes of the application thereto of rates of charges to be made in respect of the carriage of merchandise,
(b) the maximum or actual charges for the conveyance of merchandise or passengers and their luggage, or for affording any other services or facilities.
SIXTH SCHEDULE.
Apportionment of Compensation amongst Stockholders.
Description of Stock of the Great Northern Railway Company (Ireland). | Amount of compensation to be paid in exchange for each £100 of Stock. |
4% Debenture Stock | £89⅛ |
4% Consolidated Guaranteed Stock | £66 |
4% Consolidated Preference Stock | £35 |
Ordinary Stock | £28½ |