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Number 38 of 1998
ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION ACT, 1998
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Preliminary and General
Section | |
Economic and Monetary Union
General
Euro Currency System
Legal Tender and Legal Tender Amounts
Legal tender status of notes and coins denominated in Irish pounds. | |
Amendment of section 14 (prohibition of making or issuing of coins) of Act of 1969. | |
Withdrawal of Legal Tender Notes and Coins
Miscellaneous
Commemorative Coinage
Payments into and out of general fund of Central Bank of Ireland. | |
Acts Referred to | |
1942, No. 22 | |
1971, No. 24 | |
1989, No. 16 | |
1997, No. 8 | |
1998, No. 2 | |
1926, No. 14 | |
1950, No. 32 | |
1963, No. 33 | |
Companies Acts, 1963 to 1990 | |
1983, No. 13 | |
1963, No. 10 | |
1927, No. 32 | |
Currency and Central Bank Acts, 1927 to 1971 | |
1969, No. 23 | |
1970, No. 21 | |
1990, No. 2 | |
Decimal Currency Acts, 1969 to 1990 | |
1954, No. 30 | |
Number 38 of 1998
ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION ACT, 1998
PART I
Preliminary and General
Short title and commencement.
1.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Economic and Monetary Union Act, 1998.
(2) Part II shall come into operation on such day or days as the Minister may appoint by order or orders, either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision, and different days may be so appointed for different purposes or different provisions of this Act.
Interpretation (generally).
2.—(1) In this Act “the Minister” means the Minister for Finance.
(2) In this Act—
(a) a reference to a Part or section is to a Part or section of this Act, unless it is indicated that reference to some other enactment is intended, and
(b) a reference to a subsection, paragraph or subparagraph is a reference to a subsection, paragraph or subparagraph of the provision in which the reference occurs unless it is indicated that a reference to some other provision is intended.
Expenses.
3.—The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas except where otherwise provided for in this Act.
Laying of regulations and orders.
4.—Every regulation and order made under this Act (other than an order under section 1(2), 9 or 15) shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the regulation or order is passed by either such House within the next 21 days on which that House has sat after the regulation or order is laid before it, the regulation or order shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.
PART II
Economic and Monetary Union
Chapter I
General
Interpretation (Part II).
5.—(1) In this Part—
“the Act of 1969” means the Decimal Currency Act, 1969;
“conversion rate” means the irrevocably fixed conversion rate adopted for the currency of each participating Member State by the Council according to the first sentence of Article 109 1 (4) of the Treaty;
“the Council Regulation of 1998” means Council Regulation (EC) No 974/98 of 3 May 1998 on the introduction of the euro(1) ;
“euro unit” means the currency unit referred to in the second sentence of Article 2 of the Council Regulation of 1998;
“the Irish pound unit” means the unit of the Irish pound as duly defined on the 31st day of December, 1998;
“participating Member States” means Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland;
“transitional period” means the period beginning on the 1st day of January, 1999, and ending on the 31st day of December, 2001;
“the Treaty” means the Treaty Establishing the European Community done at Rome on the 25th day of March, 1957 (as amended by the Treaty on European Union done at Maastricht on the 7th day of February, 1992).
(2) A word or expression which is used in this Act and is also used in the Council Regulation of 1998 has, unless the context otherwise requires, the same meaning in this Act as it has in that Regulation.
Chapter II
Euro Currency System
Introduction of euro currency system.
6.—(1) The Central Bank Act, 1989, is hereby amended by the substitution for section 24 (as amended by section 13 of the Central Bank Act, 1998) of the following:
“24.—By virtue of Council Regulation (EC) No 974/98 of 3 May 1998 on the introduction of the euro, from the 1st day of January, 1999—
(a) the currency of the State is the euro, and
(b) the Irish pound unit (within the meaning of the Economic and Monetary Union Act, 1998) is a subdivision of the euro.”
(2) The Act of 1969 is hereby amended in section 2 by the substitution of the following for subsection (2):
“(2) The Irish pound and the penny shall be legal denominations or units of money in Irish currency.”.
Contracts during transitional period.
7.—During the transitional period and notwithstanding section 25 of the Central Bank Act, 1989, contracts may, by virtue of Article 8 of the Council Regulation of 1998, be made, entered into, done and executed in the euro unit notwithstanding the fact that notes and coins denominated in euro or in cent are not in circulation.
Chapter III
Legal Tender and Legal Tender Amounts
Definition (Chapter III)
8.—In this Chapter “earlier operative date” has the meaning assigned by section 9.
Legal tender status of notes and coins denominated in Irish pounds.
9.—(1) Notes and coins denominated in Irish pounds or multiples or subdivisions thereof shall retain legal tender status until the 30th day of June, 2002, or such earlier date (in this Chapter referred to as the “earlier operative date”) as the Minister may specify by order.
(2) The Minister may by order amend or revoke an order under this section before the earlier operative date.
(3) Where it is proposed to make an order under this section, including any order amending or revoking an order to which subsection (1) relates, a draft of the order shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and the order shall not be made until a resolution approving of the draft has been passed by each such House.
(4) Section 118(3) of the Central Bank Act, 1989, is hereby repealed with effect from the earlier operative date or, where there is no such date, the 30th day of June, 2002.
Legal tender amounts of coins.
10.—(1) No person, other than the Central Bank of Ireland and such persons as may be designated by the Minister by order, shall be obliged to accept more than 50 coins denominated in euro or in cent in any single transaction.
(2) The following provisions are hereby repealed with effect from the earlier operative date or, where there is no such date, the 30th day of June, 2002:
(a) sections 8 to 10 of the Act of 1969,
(b) section 15 of the Decimal Currency Act, 1970.
(3) The Minister may by order amend or revoke an order under this section.
Provision and issuance of coins.
11.—(1) The Minister may provide coins denominated in euro or in cent and may set out by order the technical specifications, dimensions, composition and design or designs of such coins subject to such specifications complying with the denominations and technical specifications which the Council lays down in accordance with the second sentence of Article 105a(2) of the Treaty.
(2) Coins provided under subsection (1) shall be issued by the Minister through the Central Bank of Ireland, subject to approval by the European Central Bank of the volume of the issue and, with effect from the commencement of this provision, coins issued under Part III shall be subject to such approval.
(3) Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Act of 1969 are hereby repealed with effect from the earlier operative date or, where there is no such date, the 30th day of June, 2002.
(4) The Minister may by order amend or revoke an order under this section.
Amendment of section 14 (prohibition of making or issuing of coins) of Act of 1969.
12.—Section 14 of the Act of 1969 is hereby amended by the substitution of the following for subsection (1):
“(1) Except coins issued under this Act, the Decimal Currency Act, 1990, and the Economic and Monetary Union Act, 1998, and coins denominated in euro or in cent and issued by one or more of the other participating Member States, no piece of metal or mixed metal of any purported nominal face value whatsoever shall be made or issued in the State as a coin or a token for money or as purporting (whether expressly or by implication) that the holder thereof is entitled to demand any value denoted thereon.”.
Expenses of provision of coins.
13.—All sums required for the provision of coins denominated in euro or in cent and provided under section 11 shall be defrayed out of the general fund of the Central Bank and debited therein to the currency reserve.
Proceeds of issue of coins.
14.—The proceeds of every issue of coins denominated in euro or in cent and provided under section 11 shall be paid into the general fund of the Central Bank of Ireland and carried therein to the credit of the currency reserve.
Chapter IV
Withdrawal of Legal Tender Notes and Coins
Calling in of coins.
15.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Minister may by order call in coins of any particular composition, date or denomination—
(a) issued under the repealed enactments, or
(b) issued under the Decimal Currency Acts, 1969 to 1990, or
(c) issued under this Act, or
(d) circulating in the State and issued by one or more of the other participating Member States which are comparable to coins issued under this Act,
and the Minister may by order amend or revoke an order under this section.
(2) The Minister shall not make an order under this section which relates to matters within the competence of the European Central Bank by or under paragraph 2 of Article 105a of the Treaty except with the consent of that Bank.
(3) The following shall apply in respect of every order under subsection (1):
(a) the order shall provide for its coming into operation on a particular date (in this subsection referred to as the “withdrawal date”) not being earlier than 6 months after the date of its making,
(b) the order 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 such House before the withdrawal date, the order shall be annulled accordingly.
(4) Section 12 of the Act of 1969 is hereby repealed.
(5) In this section “repealed enactments” means the Coinage Act, 1926, (including that Act as amended by the Emergency Powers (No. 140) Order, 1942, and by sections 58 and 60 of the Central Bank Act, 1942) or the Coinage Act, 1950.
Redemption of coins.
16.—The Act of 1969 is hereby amended by the substitution of the following for section 11:
“11.—The Central Bank may, if it thinks fit so to do, redeem coins—
(a) issued under the repealed enactments, or
(b) issued under the Decimal Currency Acts, 1969 to 1990, or
(c) issued under the Economic and Monetary Union Act, 1998, or
(d) circulating in the State and issued by one or more of the other participating Member States which are comparable to coins issued under the Economic and Monetary Union Act, 1998,
and all sums required for that purpose shall be defrayed out of the general fund of the Central Bank and debited therein to the currency reserve.”.
Prohibition of melting down of coins.
17.—Section 15 of the Act of 1969 shall apply to coins issued under this Act and coins circulating in the State and issued by one or more of the other participating Member States which are comparable to coins issued under this Act.
Redemption of legal tender notes.
18.—Section 121 of the Central Bank Act, 1989, is hereby amended by the addition of the following subsection after subsection 3:
“(4) The Central Bank may continue to redeem Irish pound notes issued under section 44 of the Central Bank Act, 1971, or any other note which was, immediately prior to the earlier operative date (within the meaning assigned by section 9 of the Economic and Monetary Union Act, 1998) or, where there is no such date, the 30th day of June, 2002, a legal tender note in the State and issued under the Currency Act, 1927, or under any subsequent Act.”.
Calling in of legal tender notes.
19.—Section 122 of the Central Bank Act, 1989, is hereby amended by the substitution of “with the authority of the European Central Bank and subject to such conditions as to time, place, manner and order of presentation as the Bank thinks fit” for “subject to such time, place, manner and order of presentation as it thinks fit” and the said section, as so amended, is set out in the Table to this section.
TABLE
122.—The Bank may, with the authority of the European Central Bank and subject to such conditions as to time, place, manner and order of presentation as the Bank thinks fit, call in any legal tender notes issued under this Act, or under the Currency and Central Bank Acts, 1927 to 1971, or any of those Acts, on the terms of paying for such notes on presentation in the same manner as if they were being redeemed under section 121.
Chapter V
Miscellaneous
Copyright in euro notes and coins.
20.—The Copyright Act, 1963, is hereby amended in section 57 by the insertion of the following subsections after subsection (1):
“(1A) Subsection (1) of this section and Part II of this Act are without prejudice to the copyright of the European Central Bank in legal tender notes denominated in the euro unit.
(1B) This section shall apply to any national face of coins issued under section 11 of the Economic and Monetary Union Act, 1998.”.
Modification of forms.
21.—(1) Any form set out in a statute or statutory instrument passed or made before the 1st day of January, 2002, and containing a reference to a sum of money in the Irish pound unit (whether expressly or by reference to section 11 of the Decimal Currency Act, 1970) may be modified by, or with the express permission of, the authority issuing it so as to show also the corresponding amount in the euro unit in accordance with the conversion rate.
(2) Any form set out in a statute or statutory instrument passed or made before the 1st day of January, 2002, which is designed to accommodate references to sums of money wholly or partly in the Irish pound unit (whether expressly or by reference to section 11 of the Decimal Currency Act, 1970) may be modified by, or with the express permission of, the authority issuing it so as to enable it to accommodate references to sums of money wholly or partly in the euro unit.
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) are without prejudice to any other provision authorising the modification of any such form.
Interbank offered rate.
22.—As of the 1st day of January, 1999, the rate known as the Dublin Interbank Offered Rate shall be replaced by the rate known as the Euro Interbank Offered Rate.
Redenomination of outstanding debt into euro.
23.—(1) The Minister may by order, in respect of one or more than one date and under such terms and conditions as the Minister determines, redenominate into the euro unit all or part of the outstanding debt duly issued by or on behalf of the State under the law of the State and denominated in the Irish pound unit, and the Minister may by order amend or revoke an order under this subsection but shall not revoke an order after its effective date.
(2) (a) (i) The Minister may redenominate into the euro unit all or part of the outstanding debt duly issued by or on behalf of the State and denominated in any national currency unit, where the Member State in the national currency unit of which the debt is denominated has redenominated into the euro unit all or part of its general government debt denominated in its national currency unit.
(ii) The terms and conditions in accordance with which the Minister may effect a redenomination under subparagraph (i) shall be those laid down in the law of the Member State under which the debt was issued.
(iii) Prior notice in the Iris Oifigiúil of an intention to effect a redenomination under subparagraph (i) shall be given by the Minister at least one month in advance of such redenomination.
(b) An issuer of debt other than the State may, under the terms and conditions laid down in an order under subsection (1), as if such issuer were the State, redenominate into the euro unit bonds and other forms of securitised debt negotiable in the capital markets, and money market instruments issued by them under the law of the State and denominated in any national currency unit, but only where the Member State in the national currency unit of which the debt is denominated has redenominated into the euro unit all or part of its general government debt denominated in its national currency unit.
(3) (a) Where, in respect of its borrowing, a State body and all other relevant parties to a facility agreement, denominated in any national currency unit, agree to redenominate into the euro unit the currency of the agreement and agree to redenominate the amounts specified therein and to adjust them to convenient euro-denominated sums, the consent of either or both the Minister and any other Minister of the Government which, but for this subsection, would be duly required shall not be required to such adjustments or to any other consequential adjustments to the agreement concerned arising therefrom or pursuant to the introduction of the euro but only if the aggregate amount of borrowings by the State body concerned, including borrowings by way of negotiable debt instruments, does not exceed the limit (if any) on such borrowings to which a Minister of the Government has already consented.
(b) Where the Minister has issued a guarantee in respect of the borrowings of a State body and the contract in respect of those borrowings is amended pursuant to paragraph (a), the consent of the Minister and of any other Minister of the Government to an equivalent change in the guarantee shall not be required but only if the aggregate amount of the borrowings of the State body concerned, including borrowings by way of negotiable debt instruments, which are already guaranteed by the Minister is not exceeded.
(c) In this section “State body” means a body whose borrowing is subject to the consent of a Minister of the Government.
Redenomination of share capital.
24.—(1) In this section and sections 25 and 26—
“articles of association” in the case of a company which is not a company within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Companies Act, 1963, includes its charter, bye-laws or other constituent documents;
“company” means a company within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Companies Act, 1963, and any body corporate within the meaning of section 377(1) of that Act;
“share” includes share of stock in share capital of a company.
(2) (a) Where the share capital of a company or any part of such capital is redenominated into euro after the transitional period under Article 14 (which relates to the reading, at the end of the transitional period, of references in legal instruments to national currency units as references to the euro unit) of the Council Regulation of 1998, such redenomination shall be effected at the whole or any part of the total issued or to be issued share capital, including each class of the foregoing (where any separate classes exist).
(b) The redenominated nominal share par value shall be calculated by dividing the total redenominated amount determined in accordance with paragraph (a) by the total number of shares authorised, issued or to be issued, or in the relevant class, as appropriate, so that the nominal value is expressed in unrounded euro amounts.
Transitional provisions relating to section 24.
25.—(1) This section shall apply—
(a) to every company having a share capital, and
(b) notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Companies Acts, 1963 to 1990, or in the memorandum or articles of association of a company to which this section applies.
(2) Where the whole or part of the total authorised share capital of a company, the total issued share capital or to be issued share capital of a company including any class of the foregoing (where any separate classes exist) is, in its memorandum or articles of association, expressed in Irish pounds or in the currency of another participating Member State immediately before the 1st day of January, 1999, such share capital, class or part thereof may be redenominated into the euro unit in accordance with subsection (3).
(3) (a) Subject to subsection (5) and paragraph (b), the shareholders of a company may by ordinary resolution—
(i) passed at a general meeting, or
(ii) if the articles of association of the company so permit, in writing signed by all the members of the company for the time being entitled to attend and vote on such resolution in accordance with section 141(8) of the Companies Act, 1963,
determine that the whole or part of the total authorised share capital of a company, the total issued share capital or to be issued share capital of a company including any class of the foregoing shall be redenominated into the euro unit at the conversion rate and converted in accordance with Article 4, and rounded in accordance with Article 5, of Council Regulation (EC) No 1103/97 of 17 June 1997 on certain provisions relating to the introduction of the euro.
(b) The redenominated nominal share par value shall be calculated by dividing the total redenominated amount determined in accordance with paragraph (a) by the total number of shares authorised, issued or to be issued, or in the relevant class, as appropriate, so that the nominal value is expressed in unrounded euro amounts.
(4) A reduction in the nominal value of issued share capital under this section shall be deemed not to be a reduction of share capital within the meaning of the Companies Acts, 1963 to 1990.
(5) Any redenomination pursuant to a shareholders’ resolution under subsection (3) shall not in any way change the rights, privileges or advantages that were held by, or obligations, restrictions or limitations imposed on, shareholders prior to the passing of the resolution in relation to dividends, voting at meetings or other matters.
(6) A company shall send a printed copy of any resolution under subsection (3) to the Registrar of Companies within 15 days of its passing and the Registrar shall duly record every such resolution.
(7) (a) Where a company fails to send a printed copy of any resolution under subsection (3) to the Registrar of Companies in accordance with subsection (6), it shall be guilty of an offence and be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £250.
(b) Where an offence under this subsection is committed by a body corporate and is proved to have been so committed with the consent, connivance or approval of or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of a person being a director, secretary or other officer of the body corporate, or any other person who was acting or purporting to act in any such capacity, that person as well as the body corporate shall be guilty of an offence and be liable to be proceeded against and punished as if he or she were guilty of the first-mentioned offence.
(8) This section, other than subsections (6), (7) and this subsection, shall cease to have effect from the 1st day of January, 2002.
Renominalisation of shares.
26.—(1) This section shall apply—
(a) to every company having a share capital, and
(b) notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Companies Acts, 1963 to 1990, or in the memorandum or articles of association of a company to which this section applies.
(2) Following any redenomination of share capital or any part thereof into the euro unit pursuant to section 25, or where at the end of the transitional period Article 14 (which relates to the reading, at the end of the transitional period, of references in legal instruments to national currency units as references to the euro unit) of the Council Regulation of 1998 applies, the authorised and issued, or to be issued, share capital and the nominal par value of shares in a company may be further adjusted to achieve nominal share values considered appropriate to the then share price in the euro unit (in this section referred to as “renominalisation”) in accordance with subsections (3) and (4) but such adjustments shall not reduce the nominal value of any share to zero.
(3) A company to which this section applies may by ordinary resolution—
(a) passed by the shareholders in general meeting, or
(b) if the articles of association so permit, in writing signed by all the members of the company for the time being entitled to attend and vote on such resolution in accordance with section 141(8) of the Companies Act, 1963,
alter the provisions of the memorandum and articles of association to effect renominalisation, provided there is an appropriate adjustment in distributable reserves (being profits available for distribution to which section 45(2) of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1983, relates) or through the introduction of additional capital, which shall be properly accounted for, and where there is not a decrease in share capital.
(4) (a) Where the result of the renominalisation by virtue of subsection (2) would be a decrease in the whole or part of the authorised and issued share capital, or in a class of shares, a special resolution shall be required to be passed—
(i) in the case of the authorised and issued share capital, by the shareholders, or
(ii) in the case of a class of share, by the shareholders of the class,
to the effect that there shall be transferred to a fund to be known as the Capital Conversion Reserve Fund, an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the capital reduced as a result of the renominalisation in accordance with subsection (2), and that the amount so transferred does not represent more than 10 per cent of the reduced share capital.
(b) The provisions of the Companies Act, 1963, which relate to the reduction of the share capital of a company shall, except as provided in this section, apply as if the Capital Conversion Reserve Fund were paid up share capital of the company concerned.
(5) Any renominalisation of the nominal value of issued share capital under this section shall be deemed not to be a reduction of share capital within the meaning of the Companies Acts, 1963 to 1990.
(6) Any renominalisation of shares under this section shall not of itself affect or vary the obligation of a shareholder to pay the amount, if any, unpaid on such shares.
(7) Any renominalisation under this section shall not in any way change the rights, privileges or advantages that were held by, or obligations, restrictions or limitations imposed on, shareholders prior to the passing of the resolution in relation to dividends, voting at meetings or other matters.
(8) A company shall send a printed copy of any resolution under subsection (3) or (4) to the Registrar of Companies within 15 days of the passing of any such resolution and the Registrar shall duly record every such resolution so sent.
(9) (a) Where a company fails to comply with subsection (8) it shall be guilty of an offence and be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £250.
(b) Where an offence under this subsection is committed by a body corporate and is proved to have been so committed with the consent, connivance or approval of or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of a person being a director, secretary or other officer of the body corporate, or any other person who was acting or purporting to act in any such capacity, that person as well as the body corporate shall be guilty of an offence and be liable to be proceeded against and punished as if he or she were guilty of the first-mentioned offence.
(10) The Capital Conversion Reserve Fund may, notwithstanding any other provision of this section, be applied by the company concerned in paying up unissued shares of that company (other than redeemable shares) to be allotted to shareholders of the company as fully paid bonus shares.
(11) This section, other than subsections (8), (9), (10) and this subsection, shall cease to have effect from the 30th day of June, 2003.
Amendment of Central Bank Act, 1989.
27.—The Central Bank Act, 1989, is hereby amended in section 134—
(a) by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (4):
“(4A) No direction under this section shall be made by the Minister in respect of the performance of any function or duty of the Bank, or the exercise of any power by the Bank, required by or under the Treaty or the Statute.”,
and
(b) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (7):
“(7) In this section—
‘foreign currency’ has the same meaning as it has in the Exchange Control Act, 1954;
‘the Treaty’ and ‘the Statute’ have the same meanings, respectively, as are assigned to them for the purposes of this Act by subsection (8) (inserted by the Central Bank Act, 1998) of section 23.”.
Amendment of Central Bank Act, 1997.
28.—The Central Bank Act, 1997, is hereby amended—
(a) in section 10, by the addition of the following subsection after subsection (2):
“(3) In the performance of any function or duty by the Bank, or the exercise of any power by the Bank, required by or under the Treaty or the Statute, subsections (1) and (2) shall not apply.”,
and
(b) in section 13, by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (2):
“(2A) (a) In the performance of any function or duty by the Bank, or the exercise of any power by the Bank, required by or under the Treaty or the Statute, subsections (1)(b) and (2) shall not apply.
(b) In this subsection ‘the Treaty’ and ‘the Statute’ have the same meanings, respectively, as are assigned to them for the purposes of this Act by subsection (2) (inserted by the Central Bank Act, 1998) of section 24.”.
Power to make regulations.
29.—(1) The Minister may make regulations for enabling this Part to have full effect.
(2) Regulations under this Part may contain such incidental, supplementary and consequential provisions as appear to the Minister to be expedient for any purpose of this Part.
PART III
Commemorative Coinage
Design, etc., issue and sale of coins.
30.—(1) The Minister may provide coins of a commemorative nature of such denominations, technical specifications, dimensions, composition and design or designs as the Minister may determine.
(2) Coins provided under this Part may be issued and put on sale to the public by the Minister through the Central Bank of Ireland.
Determination of price.
31.—The price at which any type of coin is put on sale under section 30 shall be determined by the Central Bank of Ireland and different prices may be determined—
(a) for different finishes applied to, or strikings of, the type of coin, and
(b) taking account of packaging (if any) or different packaging supplied with the type of coin,
but no price shall be so determined at below the face value of the coin.
Commemorative coins to be legal tender.
32.—A tender of coins issued under this Part shall be legal tender subject to any general limitation as to the number of coins being legal tender for any single transaction.
Payments into and out of general fund of Central Bank of Ireland.
33.—(1) All sums required for the provision and issuance of coins provided under this Part shall be defrayed out of the general fund of the Central Bank of Ireland and debited therein to the currency reserve.
(2) The proceeds of every issue of coins provided under this Part shall be paid into the general fund of the Central Bank of Ireland and carried therein to the credit of the currency reserve.
Copyright.
34.—Section 57 of the Copyright Act, 1963, shall apply to coins issued under this Part.
Uimhir 38 de 1998
AN tACHT UM AONTAS EACNAMAÍOCH AGUS AIRGEADAÍOCHTA, 1998
RIAR NA nALT
Réamhráiteach agus Ginearálta
Alt | |
1. | |
2. | |
3. | |
4. |
Aontas Eacnamaíoch agus Airgeadaíochta
Ginearálta
5. |
Córas Airgeadra an Euro.
6. | |
7. |
Dlíthairiscint agus Méideanna Dlíthairgthe
8. | |
9. | Stádas dlíthairgthe nótaí agus monaí arna n-ainmniú i bpuint Éireannacha. |
10. | |
11. | |
12. | Leasú ar alt 14 (toirmeasc ar dhéanamh nó eisiúint monaí) d'Acht 1969. |
13. | |
14. |
Nótaí agus Monaí Dlíthairgthe a Tharraingt Siar
15. | |
16. | |
17. | |
18. | |
19. |
Ilghnéitheach
20. | |
21. | |
22. | |
23. | |
24. | |
25. | |
26. | |
27. | |
28. | |
29. |
Monaíocht Chomórtha
30. | |
31. | |
32. | |
33. | Íocaíochtaí isteach i gciste ginearálta Bhanc Ceannais na hÉireann agus amach as. |
34. |
Na hAchtanna dá dTagraítear | |
Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1997 | 1997, Uimh. 8 |
Achtanna na gCuideachtaí, 1963 go 1990 | |
Achtanna an Airgid Reatha agus an Bhainc Ceannais, 1927 go 1971 | |
Na hAchtanna um Airgead Reatha Deachúil, 1969 go 1990 | |
Uimhir 38 de 1998
AN tACHT UM AONTAS EACNAMAÍOCH AGUS AIRGEADAÍOCHTA, 1998
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
ACHT DO DHÉANAMH SOCRÚ I nDÁIL LEIS AN EURO A THABHAIRT ISTEACH, DO DHÉANAMH SOCRÚ MAIDIR LE DEARADH, EISIÚINT AGUS DÍOL MONAÍOCHTA DLÍTHAIRGTHE COMÓRTHA AGUS DO DHÉANAMH SOCRÚ I dTAOBH NITHE GAOLMHARA. [13 Iúil, 1998]
ACHTAÍTEAR AG AN OIREACHTAS MAR A LEANAS:
CUID I
Réamhráiteach agus Ginearálta
Gearrtheideal agus tosach feidhme.
1.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht um Aontas Eacnamaíoch agus Airgeadaíochta, 1998, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Tiocfaidh Cuid II i ngníomh cibé lá nó laethanta a cheapfaidh an tAire le hordú nó le horduithe, i gcoitinne nó faoi threoir aon chríche nó forála áirithe, agus féadfar laethanta éagsúla a cheapadh amhlaidh chun críoch éagsúil nó le haghaidh forálacha éagsúla den Acht seo.
Léiriú (i gcoitinne).
2.—(1) San Acht seo ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Airgeadais.
(2) San Acht seo—
(a) aon tagairt do Chuid nó d'alt is tagairt í do Chuid nó d'alt den Acht seo, mura gcuirtear in iúl gur tagairt d'achtachán éigin eile atá beartaithe, agus
(b) aon tagairt d'fho-alt, do mhír nó d'fhomhír is tagairt í d'fho-alt, do mhír nó d'fhomhír den fhoráil ina bhfuil an tagairt, mura gcuirtear in iúl gur tagairt d'fhoráil éigin eile atá beartaithe.
Caiteachais.
3.—Déanfar na caiteachais a thabhóidh an tAire ag riaradh an Achta seo a íoc, a mhéid a cheadóidh an tAire é, as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas, ach amháin i gcás go bhforáiltear a mhalairt san Acht seo.
Rialacháin agus orduithe a leagan.
4.—Déanfar gach rialachán agus ordú a dhéanfar faoin Acht seo (seachas ordú faoi alt 1(2), 9 nó 15) a leagan faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta agus má dhéanann ceachtar Teach acu sin, laistigh den 21 lá a shuífidh an Teach sin tar éis an rialachán nó an t-ordú a leagan faoina bhráid, rún a rith ag neamhniú an rialacháin nó an ordaithe, beidh an rialachán nó an t-ordú ar neamhní dá réir sin, ach sin gan dochar do bhailíocht aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin rialachán nó faoin ordú.
CUID II
Aontas Eacnamaíoch agus Airgeadaíochta
Caibidil I
Ginearálta
Léiriú (Cuid II).
5.—(1) Sa Chuid seo—
ciallaíonn “Acht 1969” an tAcht um Airgead Reatha Deachúil, 1969;
ciallaíonn “ráta comhshó” an ráta comhshó arna shocrú go neamhinchúlghairthe a ghlacfaidh an Chomhairle le haghaidh airgeadra gach Ballstáit rannpháirtigh de réir na chéad abairte d'Airteagal 109 1 (4) den Chonradh;
ciallaíonn “Rialachán 1998 ón gComhairle” Rialachán (CE) Uimh. 974/98 an 3 Bealtaine 1998 ón gComhairle maidir leis an euro a thabhairt isteach(1);
ciallaíonn “aonad an euro” an t-aonad airgeadra dá dtagraítear sa dara habairt d'Airteagal 2 de Rialachán 1998 ón gComhairle;
ciallaíonn “aonad an phuint Éireannaigh” aonad an phuint Éireannaigh arna mhíniú go cuí ar an 31ú lá de Nollaig, 1998;
ciallaíonn “Ballstáit rannpháirteacha” an Bheilg, an Ghearmáin, an Spáinn, an Fhrainc, Éire, an Iodáil, Lucsamburg, an Ísiltír, an Ostair, an Phortaingéil agus an Fhionlainn;
ciallaíonn “idirthréimhse” an tréimhse dar tosach an 1ú lá d'Eanáir, 1999, agus dar críoch an 31ú lá de Nollaig, 2001;
ciallaíonn “an Conradh” an Conradh ag Bunú an Chomhphobail Eorpaigh arna dhéanamh sa Róimh an 25ú lá de Mhárta, 1957 (arna leasú leis an gConradh ar an Aontas Eorpach arna dhéanamh i Maastricht an 7ú lá d'Fheabhra, 1992).
(2) Aon fhocal nó abairt a úsáidtear san Acht seo agus a úsáidtear freisin i Rialachán 1998 ón gComhairle tá an bhrí chéanna leis nó léi san Acht seo atá leis nó léi sa Rialachán sin, mura n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt.
Caibidil II
Córas Airgeadra an Euro
Córas airgeadra an euro a thabhairt isteach.
6.—(1) Leasaítear leis seo Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1989, tríd an méid seo a leanas a chur in ionad alt 24 (arna leasú le halt 13 d'Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1998):
“24.—De bhua Rialachán (CE) Uimh. 974/98 an 3 Bealtaine 1998 ón gComhairle maidir leis an euro a thabhairt isteach, ón 1ú lá d'Eanáir, 1999—
(a) is é an euro airgeadra an Stáit, agus
(b) is foroinn den euro aonad an phuint Éireannaigh (de réir bhrí an Achta um Aontas Eacnamaíoch agus Airgeadaíochta, 1998).”
(2) Leasaítear leis seo Acht 1969, in alt 2, tríd an méid seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (2):
“(2) Is ainmníochtaí nó aonaid airgid dlíthiúla in airgeadra Éireannach an punt Éireannach agus an phingin.”.
Conarthaí i rith na hidirthréimhse.
7.—I rith na hidirthréimhse agus d'ainneoin alt 25 d'Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1989, féadfar, de bhua Airteagal 8 de Rialachán 1998 ón gComhairle, conarthaí a dhéanamh, a chur i gcrích agus a fhorghníomhú in aonad an euro d'ainneoin nach bhfuil nótaí agus monaí arna n-ainmniú san euro nó sa cent i gcúrsaíocht.
Caibidil III
Dlíthairiscint agus Méideanna Dlíthairgthe.
Míniú (Caibidil III).
8.—Sa Chaibidil seo tá le “dáta feidhme níos luaithe” an bhrí a shanntar le halt 9.
Stádas dlíthairgthe nótaí agus monaí arna n-ainmniú i bpuint Éireannacha.
9.—(1) Maidir le nótaí agus monaí arna n-ainmniú i bpuint Éireannacha nó in iolruithe nó i bhforanna den chéanna, coinneoidh siad stádas dlíthairgthe go dtí an 30ú lá de Mheitheamh, 2002, nó cibé dáta is luaithe ná sin (dá ngairtear an “dáta feidhme níos luaithe” sa Chaibidil seo) a shonróidh an tAire le hordú.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire le hordú ordú faoin alt seo a leasú nó a chúlghairm roimh an dáta feidhme níos luaithe.
(3) I gcás go mbeartaítear ordú a dhéanamh faoin alt seo, lena n-áirítear aon ordú ag leasú nó ag cúlghairm ordú lena mbaineann fo-alt (1), déanfar dréacht den ordú a leagan faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas agus ní dhéanfar an t-ordú go dtí go mbeidh rún ag ceadú an dréachta rite ag gach Teach acu sin.
(4) Aisghairtear leis seo alt 118(3) d'Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1989, le héifeacht ón dáta feidhme níos luaithe nó, i gcás nach bhfuil aon dáta den sórt sin ann, ón 30ú lá de Mheitheamh, 2002.
Méideanna dlíthairgthe monaí.
10.—(1) Ní bheidh d'oibleagáid ar aon duine, seachas Banc Ceannais na hÉireann agus cibé daoine a ainmneoidh an tAire le hordú, glacadh le níos mó ná 50 mona arna n-ainmniú san euro nó sa cent in aon idirbheart amháin.
(2) Aisghairtear leis seo na forálacha seo a leanas le héifeacht ón dáta feidhme níos luaithe nó, i gcás nach bhfuil aon dáta den sórt sin ann, ón 30ú lá de Mheitheamh, 2002:
(a) ailt 8 go 10 d'Acht 1969,
(3) Féadfaidh an tAire le hordú ordú faoin alt seo a leasú nó a chúlghairm.
Monaí a sholáthar agus a eisiúint.
11.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire monaí arna n-ainmniú san euro nó sa cent a sholáthar agus féadfaidh sé nó sí le hordú sonraíochtaí teicniúla, toisí, comhshuíomh agus dearadh nó dearaí na monaí sin a leagan amach, faoi réir na sonraíochtaí sin do chomhlíonadh na n-ainmníochtaí agus na sonraíochtaí teicniúla a leagfaidh an Chomhairle síos de réir an dara habairt d'Airteagal 105a(2) den Chonradh.
(2) Maidir le monaí a sholáthrófar faoi fho-alt (1), eiseoidh an tAire iad trí Bhanc Ceannais na hÉireann, faoi réir ceadú ón mBanc Ceannais Eorpach maidir le méid na heisiúna agus, le héifeacht ó thosach feidhme na forála seo, beidh monaí a eiseofar faoi Chuid III faoi réir ceadú den sórt sin.
(3) Aisghairtear leis seo ailt 3, 4 agus 5 d'Acht 1969 le héifeacht ón dáta feidhme níos luaithe nó, i gcás nach bhfuil aon dáta den sórt sin ann, ón 30ú lá de Mheitheamh, 2002.
(4) Féadfaidh an tAire le hordú ordú faoin alt seo a leasú nó a chúlghairm.
Leasú ar alt 14 (toirmeasc ar dhéanamh nó eisiúint monaí) d'Acht 1969.
12.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 14 d'Acht 1969 tríd an méid seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (1):
“(1) Ach amháin monaí a eiseofar faoin Acht seo, faoin Acht um Airgead Reatha Deachúil, 1990, agus faoin Acht um Aontas Eacnamaíoch agus Airgeadaíochta, 1998, agus monaí arna n-ainmniú san euro nó sa cent agus arna n-eisiúint ag ceann amháin nó níos mó de na Ballstáit rannpháirteacha eile, ní dhéanfar ná ní eiseofar sa Stát aon phíosa miotail nó miotail mheasctha d'aon aghaidhluach ainmniúil airbheartaithe ar bith mar mhona ná mar chomhartha ar airgead ná mar ní a airbheartaíonn (go sainráite nó go hintuigthe) go bhfuil a shealbhóir i dteideal aon luach a thaispeántar air a éileamh.”.
Caiteachais a ghabhann le soláthar monaí.
13.—Gach suim a bheidh ag teastáil chun monaí arna n-ainmniú san euro nó sa cent agus arna soláthar faoi alt 11 a sholáthar, íocfar as ciste ginearálta an Bhainc Ceannais í agus féichiúnófar ar chúlchiste an airgeadra sa chiste sin í.
Fáltais ó eisiúint monaí.
14.—Déanfar na fáltais ó gach eisiúint monaí arna n-ainmniú san euro nó sa cent agus arna soláthar faoi alt 11 a íoc isteach i gciste ginearálta Bhanc Ceannais na hÉireann agus a chur chun creidmheasa chúlchiste an airgeadra sa chiste sin.
Caibidil IV
Nótaí agus Monaí Dlíthairgthe a Tharraingt Siar
Monaí a ghlaoch isteach.
15.—(1) Faoi réir fho-alt (2), féadfaidh an tAire le hordú monaí d'aon chomhshuíomh, dáta nó ainmníocht áirithe a ghlaoch isteach, ar monaí iad—
(a) a eisíodh faoi na hachtacháin aisghairthe, nó
(b) a eisíodh faoi na hAchtanna um Airgead Reatha Deachúil, 1969 go 1990, nó
(c) a eisíodh faoin Acht seo, nó
(d) atá i gcúrsaíocht sa Stát agus a d'eisigh ceann amháin nó níos mó de na Ballstáit rannpháirteacha eile, agus ar monaí iad is inchomórtais le monaí arna n-eisiúint faoin Acht seo,
agus féadfaidh an tAire le hordú ordú faoin alt seo a leasú nó a chúlghairm.
(2) Ní dhéanfaidh an tAire ordú faoin alt seo a bhaineann le nithe a thig faoi inniúlacht an Bhainc Ceannais Eorpaigh le mír 2 d'Airteagal 105a den Chonradh, nó fúithi, ach amháin le toiliú an Bhainc sin.
(3) Beidh feidhm ag an méid seo a leanas maidir le gach ordú faoi fho-alt (1):
(a) forálfar san ordú go dtiocfaidh sé i ngníomh ar dháta áirithe (dá ngairtear an “dáta tarraingthe siar” san fho-alt seo) nach luaithe ná 6 mhí tar éis dháta a dhéanta,
(b) leagfar an t-ordú faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta agus má dhéanann ceachtar Teach acu sin, roimh an dáta tarraingthe siar, rún a rith ag neamhniú an ordaithe, beidh an t-ordú ar neamhní dá réir sin.
(4) Aisghairtear leis seo alt 12 d'Acht 1969.
(5) San alt seo ciallaíonn “achtacháin aisghairthe” an tAcht Coighneála, 1926 (lena n-áirítear an tAcht sin arna leasú leis an Ordú Comhachta Práinne (Uimh. 140), 1942, agus le hailt 58 agus 60 d'Acht an Bhainc Cheannais, 1942) nó an tAcht Monaíochta, 1950.
Monaí a fhuascailt.
16.—Leasaítear leis seo Acht 1969 tríd an méid seo a leanas a chur in ionad alt 11:
“11.—Féadfaidh an Banc Ceannais, más cuí leis déanamh amhlaidh, monaí—
(a) a eisíodh faoi na hachtacháin aisghairthe, nó
(b) a eisíodh faoi na hAchtanna um Airgead Reatha Deachúil, 1969 go 1990, nó
(c) a eisíodh faoin Acht um Aontas Eacnamaíoch agus Airgeadaíochta, 1998, nó
(d) atá i gcúrsaíocht sa Stát agus a d'eisigh ceann amháin nó níos mó de na Ballstáit rannpháirteacha eile, agus ar monaí iad is inchomórtais le monaí arna n-eisiúint faoin Acht um Aontas Eacnamaíoch agus Airgeadaíochta, 1998,
a fhuascailt agus déanfar gach suim a bheidh ag teastáil chun na críche sin a íoc as ciste ginearálta an Bhainc Ceannais agus a fhéichiúnú ar chúlchiste an airgid reatha sa chiste sin.”.
Toirmeasc ar leá monaí.
17.—Beidh feidhm ag alt 15 d'Acht 1969 maidir le monaí arna n-eisiúint faoin Acht seo agus maidir le monaí atá i gcúrsaíocht sa Stát agus a d'eisigh ceann amháin nó níos mó de na Ballstáit rannpháirteacha eile, agus ar monaí iad is inchomórtais le monaí arna n-eisiúint faoin Acht seo.
Nótaí dlíthairgthe a fhuascailt.
18.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 121 d'Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1989, tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur leis i ndiaidh fho-alt 3:
“(4) Féadfaidh an Banc Ceannais leanúint de bheith ag fuascailt nótaí puint Éireannacha a eisíodh faoi alt 44 d'Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1971, nó aon nóta eile a bhí, díreach roimh an dáta feidhme níos luaithe (de réir na brí a shanntar le halt 9 den Acht um Aontas Eacnamaíoch agus Airgeadaíochta, 1998) nó, i gcás nach bhfuil aon dáta den sórt sin ann, roimh an 30ú lá de Mheitheamh, 2002, ina nóta dlíthairgthe sa Stát agus a eisíodh faoin Acht Airgid Reatha, 1927, nó faoi aon Acht ina dhiaidh sin.”.
Nótaí dlíthairgthe a ghlaoch isteach.
19.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 122 d'Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1989, trí “le húdarás an Bhainc Ceannais Eorpaigh agus faoi réir cibé coinníollacha maidir le ham, áit, modh agus ord tíolactha is cuí leis an mBanc” a chur in ionad “faoi réir cibé coinníollacha maidir le ham, áit, modh agus ord tíolactha is cuí leis” agus tá an t-alt sin, arna leasú amhlaidh, leagtha amach sa Tábla a ghabhann leis an alt seo.
AN TÁBLA |
122.—Féadfaidh an Banc, le húdarás an Bhainc Ceannais Eorpaigh agus faoi réir cibé coinníollacha maidir le ham, áit, modh agus ord tíolactha is cuí leis an mBanc, aon nótaí dlíthairgthe a bheidh eisithe faoin Acht seo nó faoi Achtanna an Airgid Reatha agus an Bhainc Ceannais, 1927 go 1971, nó faoi aon Acht acu sin, a ghlaoch isteach ar théarmaí go n-íocfaidh sé as na nótaí sin, ar iad a thíolacadh, ar an gcaoi chéanna a n-íocfaí astu dá mbeidís á bhfuascailt faoi alt 121. |
Caibidil V
Ilghnéitheach
Cóipcheart i nótaí agus i monaí euro.
20.—Leasaítear leis seo an tAcht Cóipchirt, 1963, in alt 57, trí na fo-ailt seo a leanas a chur isteach i ndiaidh fho-alt (1):
“(1A) Ní dochar fo-alt (1) den alt seo agus Cuid II den Acht seo do chóipcheart an Bhainc Ceannais Eorpaigh i nótaí dlíthairgthe arna n-ainmniú in aonad an euro.
(1B) Beidh feidhm ag an alt seo maidir le haon aghaidh náisiúnta monaí arna n-eisiúint faoi alt 11 den Acht um Aontas Eacnamaíoch agus Airgeadaíochta, 1998.”.
Foirmeacha a mhodhnú.
21.—(1) Maidir le haon fhoirm atá leagtha amach i reacht nó in ionstraim reachtúil a rithfear nó a dhéanfar roimh an 1ú lá d'Eanáir, 2002, ar foirm í ina bhfuil tagairt do shuim airgid in aonad an phuint Éireannaigh (cibé acu go sainráite nó faoi threoir alt 11 den Acht um Airgead Reatha Deachúil, 1970), féadfaidh an t-údarás a eiseoidh an fhoirm í a mhodhnú, nó féadfar í a mhodhnú le cead sainráite an údaráis sin, chun go léireofar inti freisin an méid comhréire in aonad an euro de réir an ráta comhshó.
(2) Maidir le haon fhoirm atá leagtha amach i reacht nó in ionstraim reachtúil a rithfear nó a dhéanfar roimh an 1ú lá d'Eanáir, 2002, ar foirm í atá deartha chun freastal do thagairtí do shuimeanna airgid atá go hiomlán nó go páirteach in aonad an phuint Éireannaigh (cibé acu go sainráite nó faoi threoir alt 11 den Acht um Airgead Reatha Deachúil, 1970), féadfaidh an t-údarás a eiseoidh an fhoirm í a mhodhnú, nó féadfar í a mhodhnú le cead sainráite an údaráis sin, chun go bhféadfaidh sí freastal do thagairtí do shuimeanna airgid atá go hiomlán nó go páirteach in aonad an euro.
(3) Ní dochar fo-ailt (1) agus (2) d'aon fhoráil eile lena n-údaraítear aon fhoirm den sórt sin a mhodhnú.
Ráta tairgthe idirbhainc.
22.—Amhail ón lú lá d'Eanáir, 1999, cuirfear an ráta ar a dtugtar Ráta Tairgthe Idirbhainc an Euro in ionad an ráta ar a dtugtar Ráta Tairgthe Idirbhainc Bhaile Átha Cliath.
Fiachas neamhíoctha a athainmniú in euro.
23.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire le hordú, i leith dáta amháin nó níos mó ná dáta amháin agus faoi cibé téarmaí agus coinníollacha a chinnfidh an tAire, an fiachas neamhíoctha iomlán nó cuid den chéanna arna eisiúint go cuí ag an Stát nó thar ceann an Stáit faoi dhlí an Stáit, agus arna ainmniú in aonad an phuint Éireannaigh, a athainmniú in aonad an euro, agus féadfaidh an tAire le hordú ordú faoin bhfo-alt seo a leasú nó a chúlghairm ach ní chúlghairfidh sé ordú i ndiaidh dháta éifeachtach an ordaithe.
(2) (a) (i) Féadfaidh an tAire an fiachas neamhíoctha iomlán nó cuid den chéanna arna eisiúint go cuí ag an Stát nó thar ceann an Stáit agus arna ainmniú in aon aonad airgeadra náisiúnta a athainmniú in aonad an euro, i gcás go mbeidh an Ballstát ar ina aonad airgeadra náisiúnta atá an fiachas ainmnithe tar éis a fhiachas rialtais ghinearálta go léir, nó cuid de, arna ainmniú ina aonad airgeadra náisiúnta, a athainmniú in aonad an euro.
(ii) Is iad na téarmaí agus na coinníollacha ar dá réir a fhéadfaidh an tAire athainmniú a dhéanamh faoi fhomhír (i) na téarmaí agus na coinníollacha sin atá leagtha síos i ndlí an Bhallstáit faoinar eisíodh an fiachas.
(iii) Déanfaidh an tAire réamhfhógra go mbeartaítear athainmniú a dhéanamh faoi fhomhír (i) a thabhairt san Iris Oifigiúil mí amháin ar a laghad roimh an athainmniú sin.
(b) Féadfaidh eisitheoir fiachais seachas an Stát, faoi na téarmaí agus na coinníollacha a leagfar síos in ordú faoi fho-alt (1), amhail is dá mba é an Stát an t-eisitheoir sin, bannaí agus foirmeacha eile fiachais urrúsaithe atá soshannta sna margaí caipitil, agus ionstraimí margaidh airgid arna n-eisiúint acu faoi dhlí an Stáit agus arna n-ainmniú in aonad airgeadra náisiúnta ar bith, a athainmniú in aonad an euro, ach sin sa chás amháin go mbeidh an Ballstát ar ina aonad airgeadra náisiúnta atá an fiachas ainmnithe tar éis a fhiachas rialtais ghinearálta go léir, nó cuid de, arna ainmniú ina aonad airgeadra náisiúnta, a athainmniú in aonad an euro.
(3) (a) Más rud é, i leith iasachtaí atá aige, go gcomhaontóidh comhlacht Stáit agus gach páirtí iomchuí eile i gcomhaontú saoráide, arna ainmniú in aonad airgeadra náisiúnta ar bith, airgeadra an chomhaontaithe a athainmniú in aonad an euro agus go gcomhaontóidh siad na méideanna a shonraítear sa chéanna a athainmniú agus iad a choigeartú ina suimeanna caoithiúla arna n-ainmniú san euro, ní bheidh toiliú an Aire nó aon Aire eile den Rialtas, nó a dtoiliú araon, ag teastáil, ar toiliú é a bheadh ag teastáil go cuí murach an fo-alt seo, le coigeartuithe den sórt sin nó le haon choigeartuithe iarmhartacha eile ar an gcomhaontú lena mbaineann ag éirí as an gcéanna nó de bhun an euro a thabhairt isteach ach sin sa chás amháin nach mó méid comhiomlán na n-iasachtaí atá ag an gcomhlacht Stáit lena mbaineann, lena n-áirítear iasachtaí ar mhodh ionstraimí soshannta féich, ná an teorainn (más ann) leis na hiasachtaí sin a bhfuil Aire den Rialtas tar éis toiliú a thabhairt léi cheana féin.
(b) Más rud é go mbeidh ráthaíocht eisithe ag an Aire i leith iasachtaí atá ag comhlacht Stáit agus go leasófar an conradh i leith na n-iasachtaí sin de bhun mhír (a), ní bheidh toiliú an Aire agus aon Aire eile den Rialtas le haon athrú coibhéiseach ar an ráthaíocht ag teastáil, ach sin sa chás amháin nach rachfar thar mhéid comhiomlán na n-iasachtaí atá ag an gcomhlacht Stáit lena mbaineann, lena n-áirítear iasachtaí ar mhodh ionstraimí soshannta féich, atá ráthaithe cheana féin ag an Aire.
(c) San alt seo ciallaíonn “comhlacht Stáit” comhlacht ar faoi réir thoiliú Aire den Rialtas a fhaigheann sé iasachtaí.
Scairchaipiteal a athainmniú.
24.—(1) San alt seo agus in ailt 25 agus 26—
folaíonn “airteagail chomhlachais”, i gcás cuideachta nach cuideachta de réir bhrí alt 2(1) d'Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963, a cairt, a fodhlíthe nó doiciméid ghaolmhara eile;
ciallaíonn “cuideachta” cuideachta de réir bhrí alt 2(1) d'Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963, agus aon chomhlacht corpraithe de réir bhrí alt 377 (1) den Acht sin;
folaíonn “scair” scair stoic i scairchaipiteal cuideachta.
(2) (a) Más rud é go ndéanfar scairchaipiteal cuideachta nó aon chuid de chaipiteal den sórt sin a athainmniú in euro i ndiaidh na hidirthréimhse faoi Airteagal 14 (a bhaineann le tagairtí in ionstraimí dlíthiúla d'aonaid airgeadra náisiúnta a léamh, i ndeireadh na hidirthréimhse, mar thagairtí d'aonad an euro) de Rialachán 1998 ón gComhairle, is ar an scairchaipiteal iomlán nó ar aon chuid den scairchaipiteal iomlán atá eisithe nó le heisiúint, lena n-áirítear gach aicme den mhéid sin roimhe seo (i gcás aon aicmí ar leithligh a bheith ann) a dhéanfar an t-athainmniú sin.
(b) Déanfar an parluach scaire ainmniúil athainmnithe a ríomh tríd an méid iomlán athainmnithe arna chinneadh de réir mhír (a) a roinnt ar an líon iomlán scaireanna a bheidh údaraithe, eisithe nó le heisiúint, nó atá san aicme iomchuí, de réir mar is cuí, sa tslí go sloinnfear an luach ainmniúil i méideanna neamhchothromaithe euro.
Forálacha idirthréimhseacha a bhaineann le halt 24.
25.—(1) Beidh feidhm ag an alt seo—
(a) maidir le gach cuideachta ag a bhfuil scairchaipiteal, agus
(b) d'ainneoin aon ní dá mhalairt atá in Achtanna na gCuideachtaí, 1963 go 1990, nó i meabhrán nó in airteagail chomhlachais cuideachta lena mbaineann an t-alt seo.
(2) Más rud é, maidir le scairchaipiteal údaraithe iomlán cuideachta, le scairchaipiteal eisithe iomlán cuideachta nó lena scairchaipiteal iomlán atá le heisiúint lena n-áirítear aon aicme den mhéid sin roimhe seo (i gcás aon aicmí ar leithligh a bheith ann), gur i bpuint Éireannacha nó in airgeadra Ballstáit rannpháirtigh eile atá sé go léir nó atá cuid de sloinnte i meabhrán nó in airteagail chomhlachais na cuideachta díreach roimh an 1ú lá d'Eanáir, 1999, féadfar an scairchaipiteal sin, an aicme sin nó an chuid sin den chéanna a athainmniú in aonad an euro de réir fho-alt (3).
(3) (a) Faoi réir fho-alt (5) agus mhír (b), féadfaidh scairshealbhóirí cuideachta—
(i) le gnáthrún a rithfear ag cruinniú ginearálta, nó
(ii) má cheadaítear amhlaidh faoi airteagail chomhlachais na cuideachta, le gnáthrún i scríbhinn arna shíniú ag comhaltaí uile na cuideachta a bheidh de thuras na huaire i dteideal a bheith i láthair agus vótáil ar an rún sin de réir alt 141 (8) d'Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963,
a chinneadh, maidir le scairchaipiteal údaraithe iomlán cuideachta, le scairchaipiteal eisithe iomlán cuideachta nó lena scairchaipiteal iomlán atá le heisiúint lena n-áirítear aon aicme den mhéid sin roimhe seo, go ndéanfar é go léir nó go ndéanfar cuid de a athainmniú in aonad an euro de réir an ráta comhshó agus a chomhshó de réir Airteagal 4, agus a chothromú de réir Airteagal 5, de Rialachán (CE) Uimh. 1103/97 an 17 Meitheamh 1997 ón gComhairle ar fhorálacha áirithe a bhaineann leis an euro a thabhairt isteach.
(b) Déanfar an parluach scaire ainmniúil athainmnithe a ríomh tríd an méid iomlán athainmnithe arna chinneadh de réir mhír (a) a roinnt ar an líon iomlán scaireanna a bheidh údaraithe, eisithe nó le heisiúint, nó atá san aicme iomchuí, de réir mar is cuí, sa tslí go sloinnfear an luach ainmniúil i méideanna neamhchothromaithe euro.
(4) Measfar nach laghdú ar scairchaipiteal de réir bhrí Achtanna na gCuideachtaí, 1963 go 1990, aon laghdú ar luach ainmniúil scairchaipitil eisithe faoin alt seo.
(5) Maidir le haon athainmniú de bhun rúin scairshealbhóirí faoi fho-alt (3), ní athróidh sé in aon slí na cearta, na pribhléidí ná na buntáistí a bhí ar teachtadh ag scairshealbhóirí nó na hoibleagáidí, na srianta nó na teorainneacha a bhí forchurtha ar scairshealbhóirí sular ritheadh an rún i ndáil le díbhinní, le vótáil ag cruinnithe nó le nithe eile.
(6) Déanfaidh cuideachta cóip chlóite d'aon rún faoi fho-alt (3) a chur chuig Cláraitheoir na gCuideachtaí laistigh de 15 lá tar éis a rite agus déanfaidh an Cláraitheoir gach rún den sórt sin a thaifeadadh go cuí.
(7) (a) I gcás go mainneoidh cuideachta cóip chlóite d'aon rún faoi fho-alt (3) a chur chuig Cláraitheoir na gCuideachtaí de réir fho-alt (6), beidh sí ciontach i gcion agus dlífear, ar í a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £250 a chur uirthi.
(b) I gcás cion faoin bhfo-alt seo a bheith déanta ag comhlacht corpraithe agus go gcruthófar go ndearnadh amhlaidh é le toiliú, le cúlcheadú nó le ceadú, nó gurb inchurtha é i leith aon fhaillí ar thaobh, aon duine is stiúrthóir, rúnaí nó oifigeach eile de chuid an chomhlachta chorpraithe, nó aon duine eile a bhí ag gníomhú nó a d'airbheartaigh a bheith ag gníomhú in aon cháil den sórt sin, beidh an duine sin, chomh maith leis an gcomhlacht corpraithe, ciontach i gcion agus dlífear imeachtaí a thionscnamh ina choinne nó ina coinne agus é nó í a phionósú amhail is dá mbeadh sé nó sí ciontach sa chion céadluaite.
(8) Scoirfidh an t-alt seo, seachas fo-ailt (6), (7) agus an fo-alt seo, d'éifeacht a bheith leis ón 1ú lá d'Eanáir, 2002.
Scaireanna a athainmluacháil.
26.—(1) Beidh feidhm ag an alt seo—
(a) maidir le gach cuideachta ag a bhfuil scairchaipiteal, agus
(b) d'ainneoin aon ní dá mhalairt atá in Achtanna na gCuideachtaí, 1963 go 1990, nó i meabhrán nó in airteagail chomhlachais cuideachta lena mbaineann an t-alt seo.
(2) Tar éis aon athainmniú a dhéanamh ar scairchaipiteal nó ar aon chuid den chéanna in aonad an euro de bhun alt 25, nó más rud é, i ndeireadh na hidirthréimhse, go mbeidh feidhm ag Airteagal 14 (a bhaineann le tagairtí in ionstraimí dlíthiúla d'aonaid airgeadra náisiúnta a léamh, i ndeireadh na hidirthréimhse, mar thagairtí d'aonad an euro) de Rialachán 1998 ón gComhairle, féadfar an scairchaipiteal atá údaraithe agus eisithe, nó le heisiúint, agus parluach ainmniúil scaireanna i gcuideachta a choigeartú tuilleadh chun scairluachanna ainmniúla a bhaint amach a cheapfar a bheith cuí don scairphraghas an uair sin in aonad an euro (dá ngairtear “athainmluacháil” san alt seo) de réir fho-ailt (3) agus (4) ach ní dhéanfar, le coigeartuithe den sórt sin, luach ainmniúil aon scaire a laghdú go nialas.
(3) Féadfaidh cuideachta lena mbaineann an t-alt seo—
(a) le gnáthrún a rithfidh na scairshealbhóirí i gcruinniú ginearálta, nó
(b) má cheadaítear amhlaidh faoi airteagail chomhlachais na cuideachta, le gnáthrún i scríbhinn arna shíniú ag comhaltaí uile na cuideachta a bheidh de thuras na huaire i dteideal a bheith i láthair agus vótáil ar an rún sin de réir alt 141(8) d'Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963,
forálacha an mheabhráin agus na n-airteagal comhlachais a athrú chun ath-ainmluacháil a dhéanamh, ar choinníoll go mbeidh coigeartú cuí ann i gcúlchistí indáilte (ar brabúis iad atá ar fáil lena ndáileadh agus lena mbaineann alt 45(2) d'Acht na gCuideachtaí (Leasú), 1983) nó trí chaipiteal breise a thabhairt isteach, a dtabharfar cuntas ann go cuí, agus i gcás nach mbeidh laghdú ann ar scairchaipiteal.
(4) (a) Más é an toradh a bheadh ar an ath-ainmluacháil de bhua fho-alt (2) go mbeadh laghdú ar an scairchaipiteal údaraithe agus eisithe go léir, nó ar chuid de, nó ar aicme scaireanna, ní foláir rún speisialta a rith—
(i) i gcás an scairchaipitil údaraithe agus eisithe, ag na scairshealbhóirí, nó
(ii) i gcás aicme scaire, ag scairshealbhóirí na haicme,
lena ndearbhaítear go ndéanfar méid is comhionann le méid comhiomlán an chaipitil, arna laghdú mar thoradh ar an ath-ainmluacháil de réir fho-alt (2), a aistriú chuig ciste ar a dtabharfar an Cúlchiste Comhshó Caipitil, agus nach mó ná 10 faoin gcéad den scairchaipiteal laghdaithe an méid a aistreofar amhlaidh.
(b) Ach amháin mar a fhoráiltear san alt seo, beidh feidhm ag forálacha Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963, a bhaineann leis an laghdú ar scairchaipiteal cuideachta, amhail is dá mba scairchaipiteal íoctha de chuid na cuideachta lena mbaineann an Cúlchiste Comhshó Caipitil.
(5) Measfar nach laghdú ar scairchaipiteal de réir bhrí Achtanna na gCuideachtaí, 1963 go 1990, aon ath-ainmluacháil ar luach ainmniúil scairchaipitil eisithe faoin alt seo.
(6) Maidir le haon ath-ainmluacháil scaireanna faoin alt seo, ní dhéanfaidh sí aisti féin difear d'oibleagáid ná athrú ar oibleagáid scairshealbhóra an méid, más ann, a bheidh neamhíoctha ar na scaireanna sin a íoc.
(7) Maidir le haon ath-ainmluacháil faoin alt seo, ní athróidh sí in aon slí na cearta, na pribhléidí ná na buntáistí a bhí ar teachtadh ag scairshealbhóirí nó na hoibleagáidí, na srianta nó na teorainneacha a bhí forchurtha ar scairshealbhóirí sular ritheadh an rún i ndáil le díbhinní, le vótáil ag cruinnithe nó le nithe eile.
(8) Déanfaidh cuideachta cóip chlóite d'aon rún faoi fho-alt (3) nó (4) a chur chuig Cláraitheoir na gCuideachtaí laistigh de 15 lá tar éis aon rún den sórt sin a rith agus déanfaidh an Cláraitheoir gach rún den sórt sin a chuirfear chuige nó chuici amhlaidh a thaifeadadh go cuí.
(9) (a) I gcás go mainneoidh cuideachta fo-alt (8) a chomhlíonadh beidh sí ciontach i gcion agus dlífear, ar í a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £250 a chur uirthi.
(b) I gcás cion faoin bhfo-alt seo a bheith déanta ag comhlacht corpraithe agus go gcruthófar go ndearnadh amhlaidh é le toiliú, le cúlcheadú nó le ceadú, nó gurb inchurtha é i leith aon fhaillí ar thaobh, aon duine is stiúrthóir, rúnaí nó oifigeach eile de chuid an chomhlachta chorpraithe, nó aon duine eile a bhí ag gníomhú nó a d'airbheartaigh a bheith ag gníomhú in aon cháil den sórt sin, beidh an duine sin, chomh maith leis an gcomhlacht corpraithe, ciontach i gcion agus dlífear imeachtaí a thionscnamh ina choinne nó ina coinnne agus é nó í a phionósú amhail is dá mbeadh sé nó sí ciontach sa chion céadluaite.
(10) D'ainneoin aon fhorála eile den alt seo, féadfaidh an chuideachta lena mbaineann an Cúlchiste Comhshó Caipitil a fheidhmiú chun scaireanna neamheisithe de chuid na cuideachta sin (seachas scaireanna infhuascailte) a íoc, ar scaireanna iad atá le cionroinnt ar scairshealbhóirí na cuideachta mar scaireanna bónais láníoctha.
(11) Scoirfidh an t-alt seo, seachas fo-ailt (8), (9), (10) agus an fo-alt seo, d'éifeacht a bheith leis ón 30ú lá de Mheitheamh, 2003.
Leasú ar Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1989.
27.—Leasaítear leis seo Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1989, in alt 134—
(a) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur isteach i ndiaidh fho-alt (4):
“(4A) Ní dhéanfaidh an tAire aon ordachán faoin alt seo i leith chomhlíonadh aon fheidhme nó dualgais de chuid an Bhainc, nó i leith fheidhmiú aon chumhachta ag an mBanc, a cheanglaítear leis an gConradh nó faoi nó leis an Reacht nó faoi.”,
agus
(b) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (7):
“(7) San alt seo—
tá le ‘airgeadra coigríche’ an bhrí chéanna atá leis san Acht um Rialú Iomlaoide, 1954;
tá le ‘an Conradh’ agus ‘an Reacht’ na bríonna céanna, faoi seach, a shanntar dóibh chun críocha an Achta seo le fo-alt (8) (arna chur isteach le hAcht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1998) d'alt 23.”.
Leasú ar Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1997.
28.—Leasaítear leis seo Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1997—
(a) in alt 10, tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur leis i ndiaidh fho-alt (2):
“(3) Ní bheidh feidhm ag fo-ailt (1) agus (2) maidir le comhlíonadh aon fheidhme nó dualgais ag an mBanc, nó maidir le feidhmiú aon chumhachta ag an mBanc, a cheanglaítear leis an gConradh nó faoi nó leis an Reacht nó faoi.”,
agus
(b) in alt 13, tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur isteach i ndiaidh fho-alt (2):
“(2A) (a) Ní bheidh feidhm ag fo-ailt (1)(b) agus (2) maidir le comhlíonadh aon fheidhme nó dualgais ag an mBanc, nó maidir le feidhmiú aon chumhachta ag an mBanc, a cheanglaítear leis an gConradh nó faoi nó leis an Reacht nó faoi.
(b) San fho-alt seo tá le ‘an Conradh’ agus ‘an Reacht’ na bríonna céanna, faoi seach, a shanntar dóibh chun críocha an Achta seo le fo-alt (2) (arna chur isteach le hAcht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1998) d'alt 24.”.
Cumhacht rialacháin a dhéanamh.
29.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh chun go bhféadfaidh an Chuid seo lánéifeacht a bheith léi.
(2) Féadfaidh cibé forálacha teagmhasacha, forlíontacha agus iarmhartacha a bheith i rialacháin faoin gCuid seo is dealraitheach don Aire a bheith fóirsteanach chun aon chríche den Chuid seo.
CUID III
Monaíocht Chomórtha
Dearadh, etc., eisiúint agus díol monaí.
30.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire monaí de chineál comórtha a sholáthar ina mbeidh cibé ainmníochtaí, sonraíochtaí teicniúla, toisí, comhshuíomh agus dearadh nó dearaí a chinnfidh an tAire.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire monaí arna soláthar faoin gCuid seo a eisiúint agus a chur ar díol leis an bpobal trí Bhanc Ceannais na hÉireann.
Praghas a chinneadh.
31.—Is é Banc Ceannais na hÉireann a chinnfidh an praghas ar a gcuirfear aon chineál mona ar díol faoi alt 30 agus féadfar praghsanna éagsúla a chinneadh—
(a) le haghaidh bailchríoch éagsúil a chuirtear ar an gcineál mona nó le haghaidh buailtí éagsúla den chéanna, agus
(b) á chur i gcuntas an pacáistiú (más ann) nó an pacáistiú éagsúil a sholáthraítear leis an gcineál mona,
ach ní dhéanfar aon phraghas a chinneadh amhlaidh ar phraghas is ísle ná aghaidhluach an mhona.
Beidh monaí comórtha ina ndlíthairiscint.
32.—Aon tairiscint monaí a eiseofar faoin gCuid seo is dlíthairiscint í faoi réir aon teorann ginearálta maidir leis an líon monaí ar dlíthairiscint iad d'aon idirbheart amháin.
Íocaíochtaí isteach i gciste ginearálta Bhanc Ceannais na hÉireann agus amach as.
33.—(1) Gach suim a bheidh ag teastáil chun monaí arna soláthar faoin gCuid seo a sholáthar agus a eisiúint, íocfar as ciste ginearálta Bhanc Ceannais na hÉireann í agus féichiúnófar ar chúlchiste an airgeadra sa chiste sin í.
(2) Déanfar na fáltais ó gach eisiúint monaí arna soláthar faoin gCuid seo a íoc isteach i gciste ginearálta Bhanc Ceannais na hÉireann agus a chur chun creidmheasa chúlchiste an airgeadra sa chiste sin.
Cóipcheart.
34.—Beidh feidhm ag alt 57 den Acht Cóipchirt, 1963, maidir le monaí a eiseofar faoin gCuid seo.