As Ann Déscrolláil
Cuir Déscrolláil ar siúl chun an dá leagan a scrolláil le chéile.
Number 4 of 1958.
PRICES ACT, 1958.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Preliminary And General.
Section | |
Construction of references to selling and rendering a service. | |
Prices Advisory Committees.
Prices For Commodities And Charges For Services.
Effect on contracts of orders controlling prices and charges. | |
Miscellaneous Provisions
Offences in relation to bodies corporate and unincorporated bodies. | |
Enactments Repealed
Prices Advisory Committees
Commodities in Respect of Which the Minister May Make Retail Price Display Orders
Acts Referred to | |
No. 22 of 1946 | |
No. 28 of 1939 | |
No. 26 of 1937 | |
No. 15 of 1938, | |
No. 14 of 1953 | |
No. 16 of 1946 | |
No. 23 of 1941 | |
No. 43 of 1936 | |
No. 14 of 1939 | |
Number 4 of 1958.
PRICES ACT, 1958.
(a) the wide powers (in this Preamble referred to as the emergency powers) of controlling by order the prices of commodities and the charges for services conferred on a member of the Government by Article 31 of the Emergency Powers Order, 1939 (S.R. & O., No. 224 of 1939), as amended by the Emergency Powers (No. 173) Order, 1942 (S.R. & O., No. 166 of 1942), (which Orders were made under the Emergency Powers Act, 1939 (No. 28 of 1939), now expired, and were continued in force by the said Supplies and Services (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1946) will cease to be exercisable after the said date, and
(b) any orders, made in exercise of the emergency powers, which were in force on the said date will cease to be in force after the said date;
AND WHEREAS the Control of Prices Act, 1937 (No. 26 of 1937), is unsuited to the present needs of the State, and it is therefore expedient to repeal it, and consequentially, the Prices Commission (Extension of Functions) Act, 1938 (No. 15 of 1938);
AND WHEREAS it is desirable, in the public interest, to provide for controlling, in certain cases hereinafter mentioned in this Recital, the prices for certain commodities (excluding, amongst other commodities, commodities sold for export or exported for sale) and the charges for rendering certain services (excluding, amongst other services, services to be rendered outside the State), and for that purpose to authorise the Minister for Industry and Commerce to control the prices for any such commodity and the charges which may be made for any such service, where—
(a) he is of opinion that, by reason of the existence of restrictive trade practices in connection with the supply or distribution of the commodity, excessive prices are being or may be charged, or
(b) he is of opinion that, by reason of the existence of restrictive trade practices in connection with the rendering of the service, excessive charges are being or may be made, or
(c) he is of opinion that, by reason of causes within the control of manufacturers or undue labour costs, excessive prices are being or may be charged for the commodity by manufacturers, or
(d) he is of opinion that by reason of causes within the control of persons rendering the service or undue labour costs, excessive charges are being or may be made for rendering the service by those persons, or
(e) there is in force an order made by the Government declaring that a state of emergency affecting the supply of the commodity exists;
AND WHEREAS it is also desirable, in the public interest, to authorise the Minister for Industry and Commerce to make, whenever and so often as he thinks fit, orders controlling the wholesale and retail prices for bread and sugar and the retail prices for butter and milk;
AND WHEREAS it is also desirable, in the public interest, to authorise the Minister for Industry and Commerce to provide for the display, by persons selling certain commodities, of the retail prices thereof.
BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:—
PART I.
Preliminary And General.
Short Title And Commencement.
1.— (1) This Act may be cited as the Prices Act, 1958.
(2) This Act shall come into operation on such day as the Minister appoints by order.
Definitions generally.
2.—In this Act—
“the Act of 1953” means the Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1953 (No. 14 of 1953);
“Advisory Committee” means a Prices Advisory Committee constituted under section 9 of this Act;
“authorised officer” means a person appointed to be an authorised officer under section 23 of this Act;
“the Minister” means the Minister for Industry and Commerce;
“restrictive practices” has the same meaning as in the Act of 1953.
Construction of references to selling and rendering a service.
3.—In this Act—
a reference to selling shall be construed as including a reference to agreeing or offering to sell or inviting an offer to buy;
a reference to rendering a service shall be construed as including a reference to agreeing or offering to render a service or inviting an offer for its rendering;
a reference to an offer.to sell shall be construed as including a reference to a notification by a person of the price proposed by him for the sale of a commodity made by the publication of a price list or by exposing the commodity for sale in association with a mark indicating price or by the furnishing of a condition or otherwise;
a reference to an offer to render a service shall be construed as indicating a reference to a notification by a person of the charge proposed by him for its rendering made by the publication of a list of charges or by the furnishing of a condition or otherwise.
Hire-purchase agreements.
4.—For the purposes of this Act, a hire-purchase agreement, within the meaning of section 1 of the Hire-Purchase Act, 1946 (No. 16 of 1946), shall be deemed to be an agreement to sell and the sale shall be deemed to take place on the date on which the agreement is entered into.
Restriction of Act.
5.—This Act does not apply to any of the following—
(a) activities carried on by or on behalf of a Minister of State, a local authority, within the meaning of the Local Government Act, 1941 (No. 23 of 1941), a vocational education committee, a railway, road, air or water transport undertaking or a harbour authority;
(b) prices for commodities (other than bread or milk), the prices for which are or may be controlled, regulated, or specified either under any other enactment or any instrument made thereunder or in discharge of any statutory duty;
(c) charges for services, the charges for which are or may be controlled, regulated, or specified either under any other enactment or any instrument made thereunder or in discharge of any statutory duty;
(d) prices paid to producers, or received by dealers at factories, for primary agricultural products (including eggs, poultry, milk and milk products) and horticultural products;
(e) charges for artificial insemination;
(f) ex-boat prices of fish and all transactions of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara;
(g) charges for services wholly of a professional character;
(h) charges for services rendered in connection with banking or insurance;
(i) prices for commodities sold for export or exported for sale;
(j) charges for services rendered outside the State.
Laying of orders before Houses of the Oireachtas.
6.—Every order made by the Government or the Minister under this Act 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, within the next twenty-one days on 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.
Expenses.
7.—The expenses incurred in the administration 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.
Repeals.
8.—The enactments mentioned in the First Schedule to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent mentioned in the third column of the said Schedule.
PART II.
Prices Advisory Committees.
Constitution of Prices Advisory Committees.
9.—(1) The Minister may from time to time by warrant under his hand constitute such and so many bodies of persons as he thinks fit, each of which bodies shall be called a Prices Advisory Committee and is in this Act referred to as an Advisory Committee.
(2) The warrant constituting an Advisory Committee shall state the names of the persons who are to be members of it.
(3) The provisions of the Second Schedule to this Act shall apply to each Advisory Committee.
Functions of an Advisory Committee.
10.—(1) The functions of an Advisory Committee shall be to enquire into, and report to the Minister upon, such of the following matters as may be specified in the warrant constituting it, namely—
(a) the prices charged for the commodity specified in the warrant by manufacturers thereof,
(b) the methods of marketing that commodity by manufacturers thereof,
(c) the charges made for rendering the service specified in the warrant by persons rendering it,
(d) the methods of rendering that service by persons rendering it.
(2) An enquiry by an Advisory Commitee shall, as may be specified in the warrant constituting it, be—
(a) general, or
(b) relate to a particular area or to prices charged or charges made under particular conditions, or be otherwise limited in its scope.
(3) An Advisory Committee shall report to the Minister not later than the date specified in that behalf in the warrant constituting it, and, if it reports that the prices or charges specified in its report are unduly high owing to causes within the control of manufacturers or of persons rendering services or to undue labour costs, shall state whether in its opinion circumstances are such as to require the Minister to make an order under section 14 of this Act fixing maximum prices or charges.
Dissolution of Advisory Committees.
11.—(1) Where the warrant constituting an Advisory Committee provides for the date of its dissolution, it shall stand dissolved on that date unless it has prior thereto furnished its report to the Minister, in which case it shall stand dissolved immediately after furnishing its report.
(2) Where the warrant constituting an Advisory Committee does not provide for the date of its dissolution, it shall stand dissolved immediately after furnishing its report to the Minister.
Notice of constitution of an Advisory Committee.
12.—Where the Minister constitutes an Advisory Committee, he shall cause to be published, in such manner as he thinks fit, notice of its constitution and of the matters into which it is to enquire.
PART III.
Prices for Commodities and Charges for Services.
Fixing of maximum prices of commodities and charges for services consequential on a report by the Fair Trade Commission.
13.—(1) Where the Minister, having considered a report of the Fair Trade Commission under the Act of 1953, is of opinion that—
(a) restrictive practices, in connection with the supply or distribution of any commodity, exist, and
(b) by reason of the existence of such restrictive practices, excessive prices are being or may be charged for that commodity,
the Minister may by order fix the maximum price at which that commodity may be sold.
(2) Where the Minister, having considered a report of the Fair Trade Commission under the Act of 1953, is of opinion that—
(a) restrictive practices, in connection with the rendering of any service, exist, and
(b) by reason of the existence of such restrictive practices, excessive charges are being or may be made for rendering that service,
the Minister may by order fix the maximum charge which may be made for rendering that service.
Fixing of maximum prices of commodities and maximum charges for services consequential on a report by an Advisory Committee.
14.—(1) Where the Minister, having considered a report of an Advisory Committee, is of opinion that the prices charged for a commodity by manufacturers thereof are excessive, owing to causes within the control of manufacturers or to undue labour costs, the Minister may by order fix the maximum price at which that commodity may be sold.
(2) Where the Minister, having considered a report of an Advisory Committee, is of opinion that the charges made for rendering any service by persons rendering it are excessive owing to causes within the control of those persons or to undue labour costs, the Minister may by order fix the maximum charge which may be made for rendering that service.
Declaration by the Government of existence of a state of emergency affecting the supply of commodities.
15.—(1) Whenever and so often as the Government are of opinion that abnormal circumstances prevail or are likely to prevail in relation to the supply of any commodity, the Government may by order declare that a state of emergency affecting the supply of that commodity exists.
(2) An order under subsection (1) of this section may define a commodity in such manner as the Government think fit.
(3) An order under subsection (1) of this section may relate to one or more than one commodity.
(4) An order under subsection (1) of this section shall remain in force for such period (not exceeding six months from the date of the making thereof) as the Government think proper and specify in the order and shall then expire, unless continued in force by an order made under subsection (5) of this section.
(5) Where—
(a) there is for the time being in force an order (in this subsection referred to as the principal order) under subsection (1) of this section declaring that a state of emergency affecting the supply of a commodity exists, and
(b) the Government are of opinion that abnormal circumstances still prevail in relation to the supply of that commodity the following provisions shall have effect—
(i) the Government may by order (in this subsection referred to as a continuance order) made before the expiration of the principal order, continue the principal order in force for such period (not exceeding six months from the date on which the principal order would but for the continuance order expire) as the Government think proper and specify in the continuance order, and may thereafter from time to time by order (in this subsection also referred to as a continuance order), made before the expiration of the principal order under the last previous continuance order, continue the principal order in force for such period (not exceeding six months from the date on which the principal order would have expired under the last previous continuance order) as the Government think proper and specify in the continuance order,
(ii) if only one continuance order is made, the principal order shall continue in force until the expiration of the period for which it is continued in force by that continuance order, and shall then expire,
(iii) if two or more continuance orders are made, the principal order shall continue in force until the expiration of the period for which it is continued in force by the last of those continuance orders, and shall then expire.
(6) Every order made under this section shall, as soon as may be after it is made, be published in the Iris Oifigiúil.
Fixing of maximum price of a commodity and maximum charge for a service during currency of an order under section 15 (1).
16.—(1) Where there is for the time being in force an order under subsection (1) of section 15 of this Act declaring that a state of emergency affecting the supply of a commodity exists, the Minister may by order do either or both of the following things—
(a) fix the maximum price at which that commodity may be sold,
(b) fix the maximum charge which may be made for rendering, in the course of carrying on any trade or business, any service affecting the supply or distribution of that commodity.
(2) Where, during the continuance in force of an order (in this subsection referred to as the emergency order) under subsection (1) of section 15 of this Act declaring that a state of emergency affecting the supply of a commodity exists, the Minister makes an order (in this subsection referred to as the Ministerial order) under subsection (1) of this section fixing the maximum price at which that commodity may be sold or fixing the maximum charge which may be made for rendering in the course of carrying on any trade or business, any service affecting the supply or distribution of that commodity, the Ministerial order shall, if not previously revoked, expire on the expiration of the emergency order.
Fixing of maximum wholesale and retail prices of bread and sugar and maximum retail prices of butter and milk.
17.—(1) The Minister may from time to time by order fix the maximum wholesale and retail prices of bread and sugar.
(2) The Minister, after consultation with the Minister for Agriculture, may from time to time by order fix the maximum retail prices of—
(a) butter,
(b) milk when sold in an area, declared by an order for the time being in force, made under section 6 of the Milk (Regulation of Supply and Price) Act, 1936 (No. 43 of 1936), to be a sale district for the purposes of Part II of that Act.
Provisions in relation to orders.
18.—An order made by the Minister under any of the foregoing provisions of this Part may—
(a) define a commodity or service in such manner as the Minister thinks fit,
(b) define the conditions by reference to which a maximum price or charge is fixed, and fix different maximum prices or charges in relation to different conditions,
(c) relate to the whole State or to a particular area in the State,
(d) fix a maximum price or charge by specifying it or by setting out provisions by means of which it may be ascertained,
(e) contain all such incidental or ancillary provisions (including a requirement that the commodity to which the order relates shall be sold only in specified units of weight or measure) as shall appear to the Minister to be necessary or expedient for giving full effect to any provision inserted in the order under the powers conferred on him by this Act or to secure compliance with the order.
Retail price display orders.
19.—The Minister may from time to time by order require every person, who carries on in a specified area the business of selling by retail any commodity specified in the Third Schedule to this Act, to display in a specified manner the retail price charged by him for that commodity.
Revocation and amendment of orders under Part III.
20.—(1) The Minister may by order revoke any order made by him under this Part.
(2) The Minister may by order amend any order made by him under this Part.
Effect on contracts of orders controlling prices and charges.
21.—(1) An order under this Part controlling the price of a commodity or the charge for a service shall not affect the legality of a contract made before the date on which the order comes into force, or of anything done under the contract.
(2) Any order under this Part controlling the price of a commodity or the charge for a service shall not affect the legality of a contract made on or after the date on which the order comes into force, or of anything done under the contract if—
(a) the contract is made in pursuance of a legal obligation arising from a prior contract made before that date, or
(b) the contract is made by a local authority with an official contractor appointed under section 3 of the Local Authorities (Combined Purchasing) Act, 1925 (No. 20 of 1925), or under section 6 of the Local Authorities (Combined Purchasing) Act, 1939 (No. 14 of 1939), as the result of an application made by him before that date.
Offences under Part III.
22.—If any person—
(a) contravenes, whether by act or omission, a provision of an order made under this Part, or
(b) sells a commodity at a greater retail price than that shown in any list which he is required by an order under section 19 of this Act to display,
such person shall be guilty of an offence under this section.
PART IV.
Miscellaneous Provisions.
Authorised officers.
23.—(1) The Minister may appoint such and so many of his officers as he thinks fit to be authorised officers for the purposes of this Act.
(2) Every authorised officer shall be furnished with a warrant of his appointment as an authorised officer, and, when exercising any power conferred on an authorised officer by section 24 of this Act, shall, if requested by any person affected, produce the warrant to that person.
Powers of authorised officers.
24.—(1) An authorised officer may, for the purpose of obtaining any information which the Minister may require for enabling him to exercise his functions under this Act, do any one or more of the following things—
(a) at all reasonable times enter premises at which any activity in connection with the business of manufacturing or processing or packaging or supplying or distributing commodities or in connection with the organisation or assistance of persons engaged in any such business is carried on, and inspect the premises,
(b) require the person who carries on such activity and any person employed in connection therewith to produce to him any books, documents or records relating to such activity which are in that person's power or control and to give him such information as he may reasonably require in regard to any entries in such books, documents or records,
(c) inspect and copy or take extracts from such books, documents or records,
(d) require such person to give to him any information he may reasonably require in regard to the persons carrying on such activity (including, in particular, in the case of an unincorporated body of persons, information in regard to the membership thereof and of its committee of management or other controlling authority) or employed in connection therewith,
(e) require such person to give to him any other information which he may reasonably require in regard to such activity.
(2) If any person obstructs or impedes an authorised officer in the exercise of his powers under subsection (1) of this section or does not comply with a requirement of an authorised officer under the said subsection (1), that person shall be guilty of an offence under this section.
Prohibition on disclosure of information.
25.—(1) No person shall disclose information available to him by virtue of the powers of obtaining information conferred on him by this Act or through being present at a meeting of an Advisory Committee held in private.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to—
(a) a communication made by a member of an Advisory Committee or an authorised officer in the execution of his duties under this Act, or
(b) the disclosure of information in a report of an Advisory Committee or for the purpose of legal proceedings under this Act.
(3) If any person contravenes subsection (1) of this section he shall be guilty of an offence under this section.
Penalties for offences.
26.—Every person who commits or is deemed to have committed an offence under any section of this Act shall on summary conviction thereof be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds (together with, in the case of a continuing offence, a fine not exceeding ten pounds for every day on which the offence is continued) or, at the discretion of the Court, imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or both such fine and such imprisonment.
Offences in relation to bodies corporate and unincorporated bodies.
27.—Where an offence under any section of this Act is committed by a body corporate or by a person purporting to act on behalf of a body corporate or an unincorporated body of persons and is proved to have been so committed with the consent or approval of, or to have been facilitated by any neglect on the part of any person, being a director, member of the committee of management or other controlling authority thereof, or manager, secretary, or other officer thereof, that person shall also be deemed to have committed the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
Prosecution of offences.
28.—(1) Proceedings in relation to an offence under any section of this Act may be brought and prosecuted by the Minister.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (4) of section 10 of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, summary proceedings for an offence under any section of this Act may be instituted within twelve months from the date of the offence.
FIRST SCHEDULE.
Enactments Repealed.
Number and Year | Short title | Extent of Repeal |
(1) | (2) | (3) |
No. 26 of 1937. | The whole Act. | |
No. 15 of 1938. | The whole Act. |
SECOND SCHEDULE.
Prices Advisory Committees.
The Panel.
1. In this Schedule, “the Panel” means the Prices Advisory Committees Panel to be maintained under paragraph 2 of this Schedule.
Prices Advisory Committees Panel.
2. (1) The Minister shall for the purposes of this Schedule maintain a panel (to be called and known as the Prices Advisory Committees Panel) consisting of such number (not exceeding twelve) as the Minister thinks fit of persons willing and able to act as members of Advisory Committees.
(2) Every member of the Panel shall be appointed by the Minister and shall remain a member for a term of twelve months from the date of his appointment and shall be eligible for re-appointment at the expiration of any such term of office.
(3) Where a person who is a member of the Panel becomes a member of either House of the Oireachtas, he shall, upon his becoming entitled, under the Standing Orders of that House, to sit therein, cease to be a member of the Panel.
(4) A person who is for the time being entitled under the Standing Orders of either House of the Oireachtas to sit therein shall be disqualified from being a member of the Panel.
(5) A person who is a member of the Panel shall be disqualified from being and shall cease to be a member of the Panel if he—
(a) is adjudged bankrupt or makes a composition with his creditors, or
(b) is sentenced by a court of competent jurisdiction to suffer imprisonment or penal servitude, or
(c) ceases to be ordinarily resident in the State.
(6) The Minister shall, from time to time, as he thinks appropriate publish in the Iris Oifigiúil, the names of the persons for the time being forming the Panel.
Membership of Advisory Committee.
3. An Advisory Committee shall consist of not less than three and not more than five members, all of whom shall be appointed by the Minister from persons who, at the time of appointment, are members of the Panel.
Chairman of an Advisory Committee.
4. (1) There shall be a chairman of each Advisory Committee.
(2) The following provisions shall apply to the office of the chairman of an Advisory Committee—
(a) the chairman shall be such member of that Advisory Committee as the Minister shall nominate as the chairman,
(b) whenever the chairman ceases to be a member of that Advisory Committee, he shall cease to be the chairman,
(c) whenever the person holding that office becomes from any cause temporarily unable to discharge the duties of that office, the Minister may nominate a member of the Panel, who is not then a member of that Advisory Committee, to perform, during a specified period (not exceeding the duration of such temporary inability), the duties of that office, and the person so nominated shall, during such period, have all the powers of the chairman and be deemed, for the purposes of this Act, to be the chairman and a member of that Advisory Committee.
Resignation of or removal from office of member of Advisory Committee.
5. (1) A member of an Advisory Committee may resign from office.
(2) The Minister may remove from office a member of an Advisory Committee if—
(a) he has become incapable through ill-health of performing efficiently his duties as such member, or
(b) he has ceased to be a member of the Panel, or
(c) his removal appears to the Minister to be necessary in the interests of the effective and economical performance of the duties of that Advisory Committee.
Casual vacancies.
6. If a casual vacancy occurs in the membership of an Advisory Committee, the Minister may appoint to fill the vacancy a person who is for the time being a member of the Panel.
Remuneration and expenses of members of Advisory Committees.
7. A member of an Advisory Committee may be paid such remuneration and allowance for expenses as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, determines.
Declaration of interest by member of an Advisory Committee.
8. Where a member of an Advisory Committee enquiring into the price of any commodity or the charge for any service is personally interested in any business selling that commodity or providing that service, he shall inform the Minister accordingly, and thereupon the following provisions shall have effect—
(a) he shall not, unless authorised by the Minister, act as a member of that Advisory Committee,
(b) the Minister may remove him from that Advisory Committee and appoint in his place from the Panel a new member of that Advisory Committee.
Officers and servants of an Advisory Committee.
9. (1) The Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, appoint such officers and servants as he thinks necessary to assist an Advisory Committee in the performance of its functions.
(2) Officers and servants appointed under subparagraph (1) of this paragraph shall hold office on such terms and receive such remuneration as the Minister for Finance determines.
Appointment of person to assist an Advisory Committee.
10. (1) Where an Advisory Committee requests the appointment of a person to assist it in the conduct of an enquiry, the Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, appoint such person as he thinks fit for the purpose.
(2) A person appointed under subparagraph (1) of this paragraph may be paid such remuneration and allowance for expenses as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, determines.
Procedure at meetings of an Advisory Committee.
11. (1) The chairman of an Advisory Committee shall preside at each meeting of that Advisory Committee, and no meeting of that Advisory Committee shall be held in his absence.
(2) Every question at a meeting of an Advisory Committee shall be determined by a majority of the members present and voting on the question, and, in the case of an equal division of votes, the chairman of that Advisory Committee shall have a second or casting vote.
(3) An Advisory Committee may act notwithstanding one or more vacancies amongst the members.
(4) The quorum for a meeting of an Advisory Committee shall be such number as it may from time to time fix, and if no quorum is for the time being so fixed, three.
(5) An enquiry by an Advisory Committee shall not be held wholly or partly in public, except with the prior consent in writing of the Minister.
(6) Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, an Advisory Committee may regulate its procedure and business, including the manner in which persons may make submissions in relation to the subject matter of any enquiry which it is making.
Power of the chairman of an Advisory Committee to summon witnesses, etc.
12. (1) The chairman of an Advisory Committee may for the purposes of its functions—
(a) summon witnesses to attend before it;
(b) examine on oath (which the chairman is hereby authorised to administer) any witness attending before that Advisory Committee;
(c) require any such witness to produce to that Advisory Committee any document in his power or control.
(2) A summons to a witness to attend before an Advisory Committee shall be signed by the chairman thereof.
(3) A witness before an Advisory Committee shall be entitled to the same immunities and privileges as if he were a witness before the High Court.
(4) If any person—
(a) on being duly summoned before an Advisory Committee makes default in attending, or
(b) being in attendance as a witness refuses to take an oath legally required to be taken by him, or to produce any document in his power or control legally required to be produced by him, or to answer any question to which that Advisory Committee may legally require an answer, or
(c) does any thing which if that Advisory Committee were a court of justice having power to commit for contempt of court, would be contempt of such court,
that Advisory Committee may certify the offence of that person under their hands to the High Court, and the High Court may, after such inquiry as it thinks fit, punish or take steps for the punishment of that person in like manner as if he had been guilty of contempt of the High Court,
THIRD SCHEDULE.
Commodities in Respect of Which the Minister May Make Retail Price Display Orders.
1. Batch Bread—that is to say, bread which is not baked in containers and is sold or offered for sale in loaves of which the outside is not all crust.
2. Flour.
3. Butter.
4. Tea.
5. Eggs.
6. Potatoes.
7. Beef.
8. Mutton.
9. Bacon.
10. Pork.
11. Oranges.
Uimhir 4 de 1958.
AN tACHT PRAGHSANNA, 1958.
[An tiontó oifigiúil.]
(a) nach mbeidh na cumhachta forleitheadúla (dá ngairmtear na cumhachta éigeandála sa Réamhrá seo) chun rialú a dhéanamh, le hordú, ar phraghsanna earraí agus ar na táillí i leith seirbhísí agus a tugadh do chomhalta den Rialtas le Airteagal 31 den Ordú Cumhachta Práinne, 1939 (R. & O.R., Uimh. 224 de 1939), arna leasú leis an Ordú Cumhachta Práinne (Uimh. 173), 1942 (R. & O.R., Uimh. 166 de 1942), (Orduithe a rinneadh faoin Acht Cumhachta Práinne, 1939 (Uimh. 28 de 1939), atá tar éis dul in éag, agus a buanaíodh leis an Acht Soláthairtí agus Seirbhísí (Forála Sealadacha), 1946), adúradh infheidhmithe tar éis an dáta sin, agus
(b) go scoirfidh aon orduithe de bheith i bhfeidhm tar éis an dáta sin a bhí i bhfeidhm ar an dáta sin agus a rinneadh i bhfeidhmiú na gcumhacht éigeandála;
AGUS DE BHRÍ go bhfuil an tAcht chun Praghsanna a Rialú, 1937 (Uimh. 26 de 1937), neamhoiriúnach do riachtanais láithreacha an Stáit, agus gur fóirstineach dá bhrí sin é a athghairm, agus, dá dhroim sin, an tAcht um an gCoimisiún Praghsanna (Feidhmeanna a Leathnú), 1938 (Uimh. 15 de 1938);
AGUS DE BHRÍ gur inmhianaithe, ar mhaithe leis an bpobal. foráil a dhéanamh chun rialú a dhéanamh, i gcásanna áirithe a luaitear anseo ina dhiaidh seo sa Réamhaithris seo, ar phraghsanna earraí áirithe (agus earraí a díolfar le honnmhuiriú nó a honnmhuireofar le díol a fhágáil, i dteannta earraí eile, gan áireamh) agus ar na táillí i leith seirbhísí áirithe a dhéanamh (agus seirbhísí a bheidh le déanamh lasmuigh den Stát a fhágáil, i dteannta seirbhísí eile, gan áireamh), agus chuige sin údarás a thabhairt don Aire Tionscail agus Tráchtála praghsanna aon earra den tsórt sin agus na táillí a fhéadfar a éileamh i leith aon tseirbhíse den tsórt sin a rialú más rud é—
(a) gur dóigh leis go bhfuil praghsanna iomarcacha á n-éileamh nó go bhféadfaí iad a éileamh mar gheall ar chleachtais srianta trádála a bheith ann i ndáil le soláthar nó imdháil an earra, nó
(b) gur dóigh leis go bhfuil táillí iomarcacha á n-éileamh nó go bhféadfaí iad a éileamh mar gheall ar chleachtais srianta trádála a bheith ann i ndáil leis an tseirbhís a dhéanamh, nó
(c) gur dóigh leis go bhfuil praghsanna iomarcacha á n-éileamh ar an earra ag monaróirí, nó go bhféadfaidís a bheith á n-éileamh acu, mar gheall ar chúiseanna a bhfuil neart orthu ag na monaróirí nó mar gheall ar ró-chostais oibreachais, nó
(d) gur dóigh leis go bhfuil, mar gheall ar chúiseanna a bhfuil neart orthu ag daoine a bhíonn ag déanamh na seirbhíse nó mar gheall ar ró-chostais oibreachais, táillí iomarcacha á n-éileamh, i leith na seirbhíse a dhéanamh, ag na daoine sin nó go bhféadfaidís a bheith á n-éileamh acu, nó
(e) go bhfuil ordú ón Rialtas i bhfeidhm á dhearbhú go bhfuil staid éigeandála ann a bhaineann le soláthar an earra;
AGUS DE BHRÍ gur inmhianaithe freisin, ar mhaithe le leas an phobail, a údarú don Aire Tionscail agus Tráchtála orduithe a dhéanamh aon uair agus a mhinicí is oiriúnach leis, a rialú praghsanna mór-reaca agus mionreaca aráin agus siúcra agus praghsanna mionreaca ime agus bainne;
AGUS DE BHRÍ gur inmhianaithe freisin, ar mhaithe le leas an phobail, a údarú don Aire Tionscail agus Tráchtála a fhoráil go ndéanfadh daoine a dhíolann earraí áirithe praghsanna mionreaca na n-earraí sin a thaispeáint.
ACHTAÍTEAR DA BHRI SIN AG AN OIREACHTAS MAR LEANAS:—
CUID I.
Réamhráiteach agus Ginearálta.
Gearrtheideal agus tosach feidhme.
1.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht Praghsanna, 1958, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i ngníomh pé lá a cheapfaidh an tAire le hordú.
Mínithe i gcoitinne.
2.—San Acht seo—
ciallaíonn “Acht 1953” an tAcht um Chleachtais Srianta Trádála, 1953 (Uimh. 14 de 1953);
ciallaíonn “Coiste Comhairlitheach” Coiste Comhairlitheach Praghsanna arna bhunú faoi alt 9 den Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “oifigeach údaraithe” duine arna cheapadh ina oifigeach údaraithe faoi alt 23 den Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála;
tá le “cleachtais srianta” an bhrí chéanna atá leis in Acht 1953.
Forléiriú tagairtí d'earra a dhíol agus do sheirbhís a dhéanamh.
3.—San Acht seo—
forléireofar tagairt d'earra a dhíol mar thagairt a fholaíonn tagairt do chomhaontú nó tairiscint a dhéanamh chun earra a dhíol nó tairiscint a lorg chun earra a cheannach;
forléireofar tagairt do sheirbhís a dhéanamh mar thagairt a fholaíonn tagairt do chomhaontú nó tairiscint a dhéanamh chun seirbhís a dhéanamh nó tairiscint a lorg i leith seirbhís a dhéanamh;
forléireofar tagairt do thairiscint chun earra a dhíol mar thagairt a fholaíonn tagairt d'fhógra ó dhuine i dtaobh an phraghais a bheidh beartaithe aige i leith earra a dhíol arna thabhairt trí phraghas-liosta a fhoilsiú nó tríd an earra a thaispeáint le díol agus marc ag lua an phraghas ag gabháil leis nó trí choinníoll a lua nó eile;
forléireofar tagairt do thairiscint chun seirbhís a dhéanamh mar lua ar thagairt d'fhógra ó dhuine i dtaobh na táille a bheidh beartaithe aige i leith a déanta arna thabhairt trí liosta táillí a fhoilsiú nó trí choinníoll a lua nó eile.
Comhaontuithe fruilcheannaigh.
4.—Chun críocha an Achta seo, measfar gur comhaontú díola comhaontú fruilcheannaigh do réir bhrí ailt 1 den Acht Fost-Cheannaigh, 1946 (Uimh. 16 de 1946), agus measfar go ndearnadh an díol an dáta a rinneadh an comhaontú.
Srian ar Acht.
5.—Ní bhaineann an tAcht seo le aon cheann acu seo a leanas—
(a) gníomhachtaí a sheolann Aire Stáit, údarás áitiúil do réir bhrí an Achta Rialtais Áitiúil, 1941 (Uimh. 23 de 1941), coiste gairm-oideachais, gnóthas iompair d'iarnród, de bhóthar, d'aer nó d'uisce nó údarás cuain nó a seoltar thar ceann aon ar bith acu sin;
(b) praghsanna earraí (seachas arán nó bainne) a ndéantar nó a bhféadfaí na praghsanna orthu a rialú, a rialáil nó a shonrú faoin aon achtachán eile nó faoi aon ionstraim arna déanamh faoi sin nó i gcomhlíonadh aon dualgais reachtúil;
(c) táillí i leith seirbhísí a ndéantar nó a bhféadfaí na táillí ina leith a rialú, a rialáil nó a shonrú faoi aon achtachán eile nó faoi aon ionstraim arna déanamh faoi sin nó i gcomhlíonadh aon dualgais reachtúil;
(d) praghsanna a híoctar le táirgeoirí, nó a gheibheann déileálaithe i monarchana, ar tháirgí príomha talmhaíochta (lena n-áirítear uibhe, éanlaithe clóis, bainne agus táirgí bainne) agus ar tháirgí garnóireachta;
(e) táillí i leith inseamnaithe shaorga;
(f) praghsanna éisc as an mbád agus idirbhearta uile an Bhoird Iascaigh Mhara;
(g) táillí i leith seirbhísí ar seirbhísí gairmiúla go hiomlán iad;
(h) táillí i leith seirbhísí a tugtar i ndáil le bancaeracht nó árachas;
(i) praghsanna earraí a díoltar le honnmhuiriú nó a honnmhuirítear le díol;
(j) táillí i leith seirbhísí a tugtar lasmuigh den Stát.
Orduithe a leagadh faoi bhráid Titho an Oireachtais.
6.—Gach ordú a dhéanfaidh an Rialtas nó an tAire faoin Acht seo leagfar é faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta, agus má dhéanann ceachtar Teach, laistigh den lá agus fiche a shuífeas an Teach sin tar éis an t-ordú a leagadh faoina bhráid, rún a rith ag neamhniú an ordaithe, beidh an t-ordú ar neamhní dá réir sin ach sin gan dochar do bhailíocht aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin ordú sin.
Caiteachais.
7.—Íocfar as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas, a mhéid a cheadóidh an tAire Airgeadais é, na caiteachais faoina rachfar ag riaradh an Achta seo.
Athghairm.
8.—Déantar leis seo na hachtacháin a luaitear sa Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo a athghairm a mhéid a luaitear sa tríú colún den Sceideal sin.
CUID II.
Coistí Comhairlitheacha Praghsanna.
Comhdhéanamh Coistí Comhairlitheacha Praghsanna.
9.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire ó am go ham le barántas faoina láimh pé comhlachtaí agus pé méid comhlachtaí daoine a chomhdhéanamh is oiriúnach leis, agus Coiste Comhairlitheach Praghsanna a tabharfar ar gach comhlacht díobh sin agus Coiste Comhairlitheach a gairmtear de san Acht seo.
(2) Luafar sa bharántas a chomhdhéanfaidh Coiste Comhairlitheach ainmneacha na ndaoine a bheidh ina gcomhaltaí de.
(3) Bainfidh forála an Dara Sceidil a ghabhann leis an Acht seo le gach Coiste Comhairlitheach.
Feidhmeanna Choiste Chomhairlithigh.
10.—(1) Is iad feidhmeanna Choiste Chomhairlithigh fiosrú a dhéanamh, agus tuarascáil a thabhairt don Aire, i dtaobh cibé ní acu seo a leanas a sonrófar i mbarántas a chomhdhéanta, eadhon—
(a) na praghsanna a héilítear ar an earra a sonraítear sa bharántas ag monaróirí a mhonaraíonn an t-earra,
(b) na modhanna ar a ndéanann monaróirí a mhonaraíonn an t-earra sin é a chur ar margadh,
(c) na táillí a héilítear as déanamh na seirbhíse a sonraítear sa bharántas ag daoine a dhéanann í,
(d) na modhanna ar a ndéantar an tseirbhís sin ag daoine a dhéanann í.
(2) Is é a bheidh i bhfiosrú a dhéanfaidh Coiste Comhairlitheach, mar sonrófar i mbarántas a chomhdhéanta—
(a) fiosrú ginearálta, nó
(b) fiosrú a bhainfidh le límistéar áirithe nó le praghsanna nó táillí a héilítear faoi choinníollacha áirithe, nó a bheidh teoranta ar shlí eile ina réim.
(3) Bhéarfaidh Coiste Comhairlitheach tuarascáil don Aire ar dháta nach déanaí ná an dáta a sonrófar chuige i mbarántas a chomhdhéanta agus má thugann sé tuarascáil go bhfuil na praghsanna nó na táillí a sonrófar ina bharántas ró-ard mar gheall ar chúiseanna a bhfuil neart orthu ag monaróirí nó ag daoine a dhéanann seirbhísí nó mar gheall ar ró-chostais oibreachais, déarfaidh sé arb é a thuairim gurb amhlaidh do na himthosca gur gá go ndéanfadh an tAire ordú faoi alt 14 den Acht seo ag socrú praghsanna nó táillí uasta.
Díscaoileadh Coistí Comhairlitheacha.
11.—(1) I gcás ina mbeidh sa bharántas a chomhdhéanfaidh Coiste Comhairlitheach foráil i dtaobh dáta a dhíscaoilte, beidh sé arna dhíscaoileadh ar an dáta sin mura mbeidh a thuarascáil tugtha aige roimhe sin don Aire, agus sa chás sin beidh sé arna dhíscaoileadh láithreach tar éis dó a thuarascáil a thabhairt.
(2) Mura mbeidh sa bharántas a chomhdhéanfaidh Coiste Comhairlitheach foráil i dtaobh dáta a dhíscaoilte, beidh sé arna dhíscaoileadh láithreach tar éis dó a thuarascáil a thabhairt don Aire.
Fógra i dtaobh Coiste Comhairlitheach a chomhdhéanamh.
12.—I gcás ina gcomhdhéanfaidh an tAire Coiste Comhairlitheach, cuirfidh sé faoi deara go bhfoilseofar, i pé slí is oiriúnach leis, fógra i dtaobh a chomhdhéanta agus i dtaobh na nithe faoina ndéanfaidh sé fiosrú.
CUID III.
Praghsanna Earraí agus Táillí i leith Seirbhísí.
Praghsanna uasta earraí agus taillí uasta i leith seirbhísí a shocrú de dhroim tuarascála ón gCoimisiún Cóir-Thrádála.
13.—(1) Más dóigh leis an Aire, tar éis dó tuarascáil ón gCoimisiún Cóir-Thrádála faoi Acht 1953 a bhreithniú—
(a) go bhfuil cleachtais srianta ann maidir le soláthar nó imdháil aon earra, agus
(b) de dheasca na gcleachtas srianta sin a bheith ann, go bhfuil praghsanna iomarcacha á n-éileamh, nó go bhféadfaí iad a éileamh, ar na earra sin,
féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, an praghas uasta a shocrú ar a bhféadfar an t-earra sin a dhíol.
(2) Más dóigh leis an Aire, tar éis dó tuarascáil ón gCoimisiún Cóir-Thrádála faoi Acht 1953 a bhreithniú—
(a) go bhfuil cleachtais srianta ann maidir le déanamh aon tseirbhíse, agus
(b) de dheasca na gcleachtas srianta sin a bheith ann, go bhfuil táillí iomarcacha á n-éileamh, nó go bhféadfaí iad a éileamh, i leith na seirbhíse sin a dhéanamh,
féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, an táille uasta a shocrú a féadfar a éileamh i leith na seirbhíse sin a dhéanamh.
Praghsanna uasta earraí agus táillí uasta i leith seirbhísí a shocrú de dhroim tuarascála ó Choiste Comhairlitheach.
14.—(1) Más dóigh leis an Aire, tar éis dó tuarascáil ó Choiste Chomhairlitheach a bhreithniú, go bhfuil na praghsanna atá á n-éileamh ar earra ag monaróirí a mhonaraíonn an t-earra iomarcach, mar gheall ar chúiseanna a bhfuil neart orthu ag monaróirí nó mar gheall ar ró-chostais oibreachais, féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, an praghas uasta a shocrú ar a bhféadfar an t-earra sin a dhíol.
(2) Más dóigh leis an Aire, tar éis dó tuarascáil ó Choiste Comhairlitheach a bhreithniú, go bhfuil na táillí atá á n-éileamh, i leith aon tseirbhíse a dhéanamh, ag daoine a dhéanann í iomarcach mar gheall ar chúiseanna a bhfuil neart orthu ag na daoine sin nó mar gheall ar ró-chostais oibreachais, féadfaidh an tAire le hordú, an táille uasta a shocrú a féadfar a éileamh i leith na seirbhíse sin a dhéanamh.
Dearbhú ón Rialtas go bhfuil staid éigeandála ann maidir le soláthar earraí.
15.—(1) Aon uair agus a mhinicí is dóigh leis an Rialtas imthosca neamhghnáthacha a bheith ann nó gur dóigh dhóibh a bheith ann maidir le soláthar aon earra, féadfaidh an Rialtas, le hordú, a dhearbhú go bhfuil staid éigeandála ann maidir le soláthar an earra sin.
(2) Féadfaidh ordú faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo earra a mhíniú i pé slí is oiriúnach leis an Rialtas.
(3) Féadfaidh ordú faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo baint le earra amháin nó níos mó.
(4) Fanfaidh ordú faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo i bhfeidhm go ceann pé tréimhse (nach sia ná sé mhí ó dháta an ordaithe sin a dhéanamh) is cuí leis an Rialtas agus a shonróidh san ordú agus éagfaidh sé ansin, mura gcoimeádfar i bhfeidhm é le hordú arna dhéanamh faoi fho-alt (5) den alt seo.
(5) I gcás—
(a) ina mbeidh ordú i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire (dá ngairmtear an príomh-ordú sa bhfo-alt seo) faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo á dhearbhú go bhfuil staid éigeandála ann maidir le soláthar earra, agus
(b) gur dóigh leis an Rialtas imthosca neamhghnáthacha a bheith fós ann maidir le soláthar an earra sin, beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas—
(i) féadfaidh an Rialtas le hordú (dá ngairmtear ordú buanaithe sa bhfo-alt seo), a déanfar sara n-éaga an príomh-ordú, an príomh-ordú a choimeád i bhfeidhm go ceann pé tréimhse (nach sia na sé mhí ón dáta d'éagfadh an príomh-ordú mura mbeadh an t-ordú buanaithe) is cuí leis an Rialtas agus a shonróidh san ordú buanaithe, agus féadfaidh ina dhiaidh sin ó am go ham le hordú (dá ngairmtear ordú buanaithe freisin sa bhfo-alt seo), a déanfar sara n éaga an príomhordú faoin ordú buanaithe deiridh roimhe sin, an príomh-ordú a choimeád i bhfeidhm go ceann pé tréimhse (nach sia ná sé mhí ón dáta d'éagfadh an príomh-ordú faoin ordú buanaithe deiridh roimhe sin) is cuí leis an Rialtas agus a shonróidh san ordú buanaithe,
(ii) mura ndéantar ach ordú buanaithe amháin, leanfaidh an príomh-ordú i bhfeidhm go dtí deireadh na tréimhse a gcoimeádtar i bhfeidhm é ar a feadh leis an ordú buanaithe sin, agus éagfaidh sé ansin,
(iii) má déantar dhá ordú buanaithe nó níos mó, leanfaidh an príomh-ordú i bhfeidhm go dtí deireadh na tréimhse a gcoimeádtar i bhfeidhm é ar a feadh leis an gceann deiridh de na horduithe buanaithe, agus éagfaidh sé ansin.
(6) Déanfar gach ordú faoin alt seo a fhoilsiú san Iris Oifigiúil a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta.
Praghas uasta earra agus táille uasta i leith seirbhíse a shocrú le linn ré feidhme ordaithe faoi alt 15 (1).
16.—(1) I gcás ina mbeidh ordú i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire faoi fho-alt (1) d'alt 15 den Acht seo á dhearbhú go bhfuil staid éigeandála ann maidir le soláthar earra, féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, ceachtar den dá ní seo nó an dá ní seo a leanas a dhéanamh—
(a) an praghas uasta a shocrú ar a bhféadfar an t-earra sin a dhíol,
(b) an táille uasta a shocrú a féadfar a éileamh i leith aon tseirbhís, a bhainfidh le soláthar nó imdháil an earra sin, a dhéanamh i gcúrsa aon trádáil nó gnó a sheoladh.
(2) Más rud é, le linn ordú (dá ngairmtear an t-ordú éigeandála sa bhfo-alt seo) a bheith i bhfeidhm faoi fho-alt (1) d'alt 15 den Acht seo á dhearbhú go bhfuil staid éigeandála ann maidir le soláthar earra, go ndéanfaidh an tAire ordú (dá ngairmtear an t-ordú ón Aire sa bhfo-alt seo) faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo ag socrú an phraghais uasta ar a bhféadfar an t-earra sin a dhíol nó ag socrú na táille uasta a féadfar a éileamh i leith aon tseirbhís, a bhainfidh le soláthar nó imdháil an earra sin, a dhéanamh i gcúrsa aon trádáil nó gnó a sheoladh, ansin, mura mbeidh an t-ordú ón Aire cúlghairmthe roimhe sin, éagfaidh sé ar éag don ordú éigeandála.
Praghsanna uasta mór-reaca agus mionreaca aráin agus siúcra agus praghsanna uasta mionreaca ime agus bainne a shocrú.
17.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire ó am go ham, le hordú, praghsanna uasta mór-reaca agus mionreaca aráin agus siúcra a shocrú.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire ó am go ham le hordú, tar éis dó dul i gcomhairle leis an Aire Talmhaíochta, praghsanna mionreaca uasta na n-earraí seo a leanas a shocrú—
(a) im,
(b) bainne nuair a díolfar é i límistéar a ndearbhófar le hordú a bheidh i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire faoi alt 6 d'Acht an Bhainne (Soláthar agus Praghas a Rialáil), 1936 (Uimh. 43 de 1936), gur ceantar díola é chun críocha Coda II den Acht sin.
Forála maidir le hordaithe.
18.—Aon ordú a dhéanfaidh an tAire faoi aon cheann de na forála roimhe seo den Chuid seo—
(a) féadfaidh sé earra nó seirbhís a mhíniú i pé slí is oiriúnach leis an Aire,
(b) féadfaidh sé na coinníollacha a leagadh amach ar faoina dtreoir a socrófar praghas nó táille uasta, agus praghsanna nó táillí uasta éagsúla a shocrú i ndáil le coinníollacha éagsúla,
(c) féadfaidh sé baint leis an Stát go léir nó le límistéar áirithe sa Stát,
(d) féadfaidh sé praghas nó táille uasta a shocrú trína shonrú nó trí fhorála a leagadh amach a bhféadfar an praghas nó an táille sin a fhionnadh faoina dtreoir,
(e) féadfaidh gach foráil, teagmhasach nó fo-ghabhálach (lena n-áirítear ceanglas nach ndéanfar an t-earra lena mbaineann an t-ordú a dhíol ach amháin in aonaid shonraithe meáchain nó tomhais) a bheith ann is dóigh leis an Aire is gá nó is fóirstineach chun lán-éifeacht a thabhairt d'aon fhoráil a cuireadh san ordú faoi na cumhachta a bheirtear dó leis an Acht seo nó chun go ndéanfaí do réir an ordaithe.
Orduithe á cheangal an praghas mionreaca a thaispeáint.
19.—Féadfaidh an tAire ó am go ham, le hordú, a cheangal ar gach duine a sheolann gnó i límistéar sonraithe ag díol aon earra ar mionreic a sonraítear sa Tríú Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo an praghas mionreaca a bheidh á éileamh aige ar an earra sin a thaispeáint ar shlí shonraithe.
Orduithe faoi Chuid III a chúlghairm agus a leasú.
20.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, aon ordú a dhéanfaidh sé faoin gCuid seo a chúlghairm.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, aon ordú a dhéanfaidh sé faoin gCuid seo a leasú.
An éifeacht a bheidh ar chonartha ag ordaithe a rialú praghsanna agus táillí.
21.—(1) Ní dhéanfaidh ordú faoin gCuid seo ag rialú praghais earra nó na táille i leith seirbhíse difir do dhlíthiúlacht chonartha a bheidh déanta roimh an dáta a thiocfaidh an t-ordú i ngníomh, ná d'aon ní a bheidh déanta faoin gconradh.
(2) Ní dhéanfaidh aon ordú faoin gCuid seo ag rialú praghais earra nó na táille i leith seirbhíse difir do dhlíthiúlacht chonartha a déanfar an dáta a thiocfaidh an t-ordú i ngníomh nó dá éis sin, ná d'aon ní a déanfar faoin gconradh más rud é—
(a) go ndéanfar an conradh de bhun oblagáide dlíthiúla ó chonradh i dtosaíocht air a rinneadh roimh an dáta sin, nó
(b) gur údarás áitiúil a dhéanfaidh an conradh le conraitheoir oifigiúil arna cheapadh faoi alt 3 d'Acht na nÚdarás nÁitiúil (Comhcheannach), 1925 (Uimh. 20 de 1925), nó faoi alt 6 d'Acht na nÚdarás nÁitiúil (Comhcheannach), 1939 (Uimh. 14 de 1939), de thoradh iarratais uaidh roimh an dáta sin,
Cionta faoi Chuid III.
22.—Má dhéanann duine ar bith—
(a) sárú, trí ghníomh nó neamhghníomh, ar fhoráil aon ordaithe faoin gCuid seo, nó
(b) earra a dhíol ar phraghas mionreaca is mó ná an praghas a bheidh ar aon liosta a ceanglaítear air le hordú faoi alt 19 den Acht seo a thaispeáint,
beidh an duine sin ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo.
CUID IV.
Forála Ilghnéitheacha.
Oifigigh údaraithe.
23.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire pé oifigigh, agus pé méid oifigeach, dá chuid is oiriúnach leis a cheapadh ina n-oifigigh údaraithe chun críocha an Achta seo.
(2) Tabharfar do gach oifigeach údaraithe barántas a cheaptha mar oifigeach údaraithe agus, nuair a bheidh sé ag feidhmiú aon chumhachta a thugtar d'oifigeach údaraithe le halt 24 den Acht seo déanfaidh sé, má iarrann an duine lena mbainfidh air é, an barántas a thabhairt ar aird don duine sin.
Cumhachta oifigeach údaraithe.
24.—(1) Féadfaidh oifigeach údaraithe, d'fhonn aon eolas a fháil a theastóidh ón Aire chun go bhféadfaidh sé a fheidhmeanna faoin Acht seo a fheidhmiú aon ní nó nithe acu seo a leanas a dhéanamh—
(a) dul isteach gach tráth réasúnach in áitreabh ina mbíonn aon ghníomhacht á seoladh i ndáil le gnó ag monarú, ag próisiú, ag pacáistiú, ag soláthar nó ag imdháil earraí nó i ndáil le heagrú daoine, nó le cabhrú le daoine, a bhíonn ag gabháil d'aon ghnó den tsórt sin, agus an t-áitreabh d'iniúchadh,
(b) a cheangal ar an duine a sheolann an ghníomhacht sin agus ar aon duine atá fostaithe i ndáil leis sin aon leabhair, doiciméid nó taifid a bhaineann leis an ngníomhacht sin agus atá ar chumas an duine sin nó faoina urláimh a thabhairt ar aird dó agus pé eolas a thabhairt dó a theastóidh uaidh le réasún maidir le haon iontrála sna leabhair sna doiciméid nó sna taifid sin,
(c) na leabhair, na doiciméid nó na taifid sin a iniúchadh agus cóipeanna díobh a dhéanamh nó sleachta a thógáil astu,
(d) a cheangal ar an duine sin aon eolas a thabhairt dó a theastóidh uaidh le réasún maidir leis na daoine a bheidh ag seoladh na gníomhachta sin (lena n-áiritear, go háirithe, i gcás comhlucht neamhchorpraithe daoine, eolas i dtaobh a chomhaltais agus a choiste bhainistí nó údaráis rialaithe eile) nó a bheidh fostaithe i ndáil léi,
(e) a cheangal ar an duine sin aon eolas eile a thabhairt dó a theastóidh uaidh le réasún maidir leis an ngníomhacht sin.
(2) Duine ar bith a dhéanfaidh oifigeach údaraithe a bhac nó a chosc agus é ag feidhmiú a chumhacht faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo nó nach ndéanfaidh do réir cheanglas oifigigh údaraithe faoin bhfo-alt sin (1) beidh an duine sin ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo.
Toirmeasc le heolas a nochtadh.
25.—(1) Ní nochtfaidh duine ar bith eolas a bheidh ar fáil aige de bhun na gcumhacht chun eolas a fháil a tugtar dó leis an Acht seo nó trí bheith i láthair ag cruinniú de Choiste Comhairlitheach a tionólfar go príobháideach.
(2) Ní bhaineann fo-alt (1) den alt seo—
(a) le cumarsáid ó chomhalta de Choiste Comhairlitheach nó ó oifigeach údaraithe i gcomhlíonadh a dhualgas faoin Acht seo, ná
(b) le nochtadh eolais i dtuarascáil ó Choiste Comhairlitheach nó chun críche imeacht dlíthiúla faoin Acht seo.
(3) Má sháraíonn aon duine fo-alt (1) den alt seo beidh sé ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo.
Pionóis mar gheall ar chionta.
26.—Gach duine a dhéanfaidh cion, nó a meastar cion a bheith déanta aige, faoi aon alt den Acht seo, dlífidh sé, ar a chiontú ann go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná céad punt a chur air (agus ina theannta sin, más cion leanúnach é, fíneáil nach mó ná deich bpuint in aghaidh gach lae a leanfar den chion) nó, de roghain na Cúirte, príosúntacht ar feadh téarma nach sia ná dhá mhí dhéag nó an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúntacht sin le chéile.
Cionta maidir le comhlachta corpraithe agus comhlachta neamhchorpraithe.
27.—Má dhéanann comhlacht corpraithe nó comhlucht neamhchorpraithe nó duine a airbheartóidh a bheith ag gníomhú thar ceann comhlachta chorpraithe nó comhlachta neamhchorpraithe daoine cion faoi aon alt den Acht seo agus go gcruthófar go ndearnadh amhlaidh é le toiliú nó aontú nó gur hurasaíodh a dhéanamh trí aon mhainneachtaint ar thaobh aon duine agus é ina stiúrthóir nó ina chomhalta de choiste bainistí nó d'údarás rialaithe eile an chéanna nó ina bhainisteoir, ina rúnaí nó ina oifigeach eile don chéanna, measfar an cion a bheith déanta ag an duine sin freisin agus dlífear imeachta a bhunú ina choinne agus é a phionósú dá réir sin.
Inchúiseamh i leith cionta.
28.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire imeachta i leith ciona faoi aon alt den Acht seo a thionscnamh agus a thabhairt ar aghaidh.
(2) D'ainneoin fo-ailt (4) d'alt 10 den Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, féadfar imeachta achomaire i leith ciona faoi aon alt den Acht seo a thionscnamh laistigh de dhá mhí dhéag ó dháta an chiona.
AN CHEAD SCEIDEAL.
Achtacháin a hAthghairmtear.
Uimhir agus Bliain | Gearrtheideal | Méid na hAthghairme |
(1) | (2) | (3) |
An tAcht chun Praghsanna a Rialú, 1937. | An tAcht iomlán. | |
An tAcht um an gCoimisiún Praghsanna (Feidhmeanna a Leathnú), 1938. | An tAcht iomlán. |
AN DARA SCEIDEAL
Coistí Comhairlitheacha Praghsanna.
1. Sa Sceideal seo, ciallaíonn “an Painéal” Painéal na gCoistí Comhairlitheacha Praghsanna a bheidh le coimeád faoi mhír 2 den Sceideal seo.
2. (1) Chun críocha an Sceidil seo, coimeádfaidh an tAire painéal (ar a dtabharfar mar ainm agus dá ngairmfear Painéal na gCoistí Comhairlitheacha Praghsanna) a bheidh comhdhéanta de pé méid daoine (nach mó ná dáréag) is oiriúnach leis an Aire agus ar daoine iad a bheidh toilteanach agus ábalta gníomhú mar chomhaltaí de Choistí Comhairlitheacha.
(2) Is é an tAire a cheapfaidh gach comhalta den Phainéal agus leanfaidh an duine sin de bheith ina chomhalta go ceann téarma dhá mhí dhéag ó dháta a cheaptha agus beidh sé i dteideal a athcheaptha ar bheith caite d'aon téarma oifige den sórt sin.
(3) Má thagann duine is comhalta den Phainéal chun bheith ina chomhalta de cheachtar Teach den Oireachtas, ansin, ar é a theacht, faoi Bhuan-Orduithe an Tí sin, chun bheith i dteideal suí sa Tigh sin, scoirfidh sé de bheith ina chomhalta den Phainéal.
(4) Duine a bheidh de thuras na huaire i dteideal faoi Bhuan-Ordaithe cheachtar Tí den Oireachtas chun suí sa Tigh sin, beidh sé dícháilithe chun bheith ina chomhalta den Phainéal.
(5) Beidh duine is comhalta den Phainéal dícháilithe chun bheith agus scoirfidh sé de bheith ina chomhalta den Phainéal más rud é—
(a) go mbreithneofar ina fhéimheach é nó go ndéanfaidh sé comhshocraíocht lena chreidiúnaithe, nó
(b) go dtabharfaidh cúirt dlínse inniúla pianbhreith phríosúntachta nó phianseirbhíse air, nó
(c) go scoirfidh sé de bheith ina ghnáth-chónaí sa Stát.
(6) Déanfaidh an tAire, ó am go ham do réir mar is oiriúnach leis, ainmneacha na ndaoine a bheidh ar an bPainéal de thuras na huaire a fhoilsiú san Iris Oifigiúil.
3. Beidh Coiste Comhairlitheach comhdhéanta de thriúr comhaltaí ar a laghad agus cúigear comhaltaí ar a mhéid, agus is é an tAire a cheapfaidh iad go léir ó dhaoine is comhaltaí den Phainéal tráth an cheapacháin.
4. (1) Beidh cathaoirleach ar gach Coiste Comhairlitheach.
(2) Bainfidh na forála seo a leanas le hoifig chathaoirligh Choiste Comhairlithigh—
(a) is é a bheidh ina chathaoirleach pé comhalta den Choiste Comhairlitheach sin a ainmneoidh an tAire chun bheith ina chathaoirleach,
(b) má scoireann an cathaoirleach de bheith ina chomhalta den Choiste Comhairlitheach sin, scoirfidh sé de bheith ina chathaoirleach,
(c) má tharlaíonn don duine a shealbhóidh an oifig sin go mbeidh sé neamhábalta go sealadach ar chúis ar bith ar dhualgais na hoifige sin a chomhlíonadh, féadfaidh an tAire comhalta den Phainéal nach comhalta den Choiste Comhairlitheach sin san am a ainmniú chun dualgais na hoifige sin a chomhlíonadh ar feadh tréimhse sonraithe (nach sia ná ré na neamhábaltachta sealadaí sin), agus, ar feadh na tréimhse sin, beidh cumhachta uile an chathaoirligh ag an duine a hainmneofar amhlaidh agus measfar, chun críocha an Achta seo, gurb é cathaoirleach an Choiste Chomhairlithigh sin é agus gur comhalta dhe é.
5. (1) Féadfaidh comhalta de Choiste Comhairlitheach éirí as oifig.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire comhalta de Choiste Comhairlitheach a chur as oifig—
(a) má bhíonn sé éagumasach mar gheall ar easláinte ar a dhualgais mar chomhalta den tsórt sin a chomhlíonadh go héifeachtúil, nó
(b) má bhíonn sé tar éis scor de bheith ina chomhalta den Phainéal, nó
(c) más dóigh leis an Aire gur gá é a chur as oifig ar mhaithe le dualgais an Choiste Chomhairlithigh sin a chomhlíonadh go héifeachtúil tíobhasach.
6. Má tharlaíonn corr-fholúntas i gcomhaltas Choiste Chomhairlithigh, féadfaidh an tAire duine is comhalta den Phainéal de thuras na huaire a cheapadh chun an folúntas a líonadh.
7. Féadfar pé luach saothair agus liúntas le haghaidh caiteachais a chinnfeas an tAire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, a íoc le comhalta Choiste Chomhairlithigh.
8. I gcás Coiste Comhairlitheach a bheith ag fiosrú faoi phraghas aon earra nó faoin táille i leith aon tseirbhíse agus leas pearsanta a bheith ag aon chomhalta den Choiste sin in aon ghnó a bheidh ag díol an earra sin nó ag déanamh na seirbhíse sin, cuirfidh an comhalta sin é sin in iúl don Aire, agus air sin beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas—
(a) ní ghníomhóidh sé, gan údarás ón Aire, mar chomhalta den Choiste Comhairlitheach sin,
(b) Féadfaidh an tAire é a chur den Choiste Comhairlitheach sin agus duine eile den Phainéal a cheapadh ina chomhalta nua ina ionad ar an gCoiste Comhairlitheach sin.
9. (1) Féadfaidh an tAire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, pé oifigigh agus seirbhísigh a cheapadh is dóigh leis is gá chun cabhrú le Coiste Comhairlitheach i gcomhlíonadh a dhualgas.
(2) Na hoifigigh agus na seirbhísigh a ceapfar faoi fho-mhír (1) den mhír seo sealbhóid oifig ar pé téarmaí agus gheobhaid pé luach saothair a chinnfidh an tAire Airgeadais.
10. (1) I gcás ina n-iarrfaidh Coiste Comhairlitheach go gceapfar duine chun cabhrú leis ag seoladh fiosrúcháin, féadfaidh an tAire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, pé duine is cuí leis a cheapadh chuige sin.
(2) Féadfar pé luach saothair agus liúntas le haghaidh caiteachais a chinnfidh an tAire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, a íoc le duine a ceapfar faoi fho-mhír (1) den mhír seo.
11. (1) Is é cathaoirleach Choiste Chomhairlithigh a bheidh i gceannas gach cruinnithe den Choiste Comhairlitheach sin, agus ní comórfar aon chruinniú den Choiste Comhairlitheach sin mura mbeidh sé i láthair.
(2) Gach ceist a éireoidh ag cruinniú de Choiste Comhairlitheach cinnfear é le tromlach vótaí na gcomhaltaí a bheidh i láthair agus a vótálfaidh ar an gceist, agus, i gcás comhionannas vótaí, beidh an dara vóta nó vóta réitigh ag cathaoirleach an Choiste Chomhairlithigh sin.
(3) Féadfaidh Coiste Comhairlitheach gníomhú d'ainneoin folúntas nó folúntais i measc na gcomhaltaí.
(4) Is é is córam do chruinniú de Choiste Comhairlitheach pé líon a shocróidh sé ó am go ham, agus, mura mbeidh córam socair amhlaidh de thuras na huaire, triúr.
(5) Aon fhiosrúchán a dhéanfaidh Coiste Comhairlitheach ní deanfar go hiomlán nó go páirteach go poiblí é, ach amháin le toiliú an Aire roimh ré i scríbhinn.
(6) Faoi réir forál na míre seo, féadfaidh Coiste Comhairlitheach a nós imeachta agus a ghnó a rialú, lena n-áirítear an modh ar a gcuirfidh daoine faoina bhráid nithe maidir le hábhar aon fhiosrúcháin a bheidh á dhéanamh aige.
12. (1) Féadfaidh Cathaoirleach Choiste Chomhairlithigh, chun críocha feidhmeanna an Choiste Chomhairlithigh sin—
(a) finnéithe a thoghairm chun teacht i láthair an Choiste Chomhairlithigh sin;
(b) aon fhinné a thiocfaidh i láthair an Choiste Chomhairlithigh sin a cheistiú faoi mhionn (agus údaraítear leis seo don chathaoirleach é a chur faoi mhionn);
(c) a cheangal ar aon fhinné den tsórt sin aon doiciméid ar a chumas nó faoina urláimh a thabhairt ar aird don Choiste Comhairlitheach sin.
(2) Aon toghairm chun finné a ghairm i láthair Choiste Chomhairlithigh beidh sé faoi láimh chathaoirligh an Choiste Chomhairlithigh sin.
(3) Beidh finné i láthair Choiste Chomhairlithigh i dteideal na ndíolúintí agus na bpribhléidí céanna chun a mbeadh teideal aige dá mb'fhinné os comhair na hArd-Chúirte é.
(4) Duine ar bith—
(a) a thoghairmfear go cuí os comhair Choiste Chomhairlithigh agus a mhainneoidh teacht i láthair, nó
(b) a bheidh i láthair mar fhinné agus a dhiúltóidh mionn a thabhairt a ceanglófar air go dlíthiúil a thabhairt nó aon doiciméid ar a chumas nó faoina urláimh a thabhairt ar aird a ceanglófar air go dlíthiúil a thabhairt ar aird nó aon cheist a fhreagairt a cheanglóidh an Coiste Comhairlitheach sin air go dlíthiúil a fhreagairt, nó
(c) a dhéanfaidh aon ní a bheadh, dá mba chúirt bhreithiúnais ag a raibh cumhacht chimithe mar gheall ar dhísbeagadh cúirte an Coiste Comhairlitheach sin, ina dhísbheagadh ar an gcúirt sin,
féadfaidh an Coiste Comhairlitheach sin cion an duine sin a dheimhniú faoina lámha don Ard-Chúirt agus féadfaidh an Ard-Chúirt, tar éis pé fiosrúchán a dhéanamh is cuí léi, an duine sin a phionósú nó bearta a dhéanamh chun é a phionósú amhail is dá mbeadh sé ciontach i ndísbeagadh ar an Ard-Chúirt.
AN TRIU SCEIDEAL.
Earraí a bhféadafaidh an tAire Orduithe um Praghas Mionreaca a Thaispeáint a Dhéanamh ina Leith.
1. Arán luchta—is é sin le rá, arán nach i gcoimeádáin a bacáiltear é agus a díoltar nó a tairgtear le díol ina bhulóga nach screamhóg ar fad an taobh amuigh díobh.
2. Plúr.
3. Im.
4. Tae.
5. Uibhe.
6. Prátaí.
7. Mairteoil.
8. Caoireoil.
9. Bagún.
10. Muiceoil.
11. Oráistí.