As Ann Déscrolláil

Help

Cuir Déscrolláil ar siúl chun an dá leagan a scrolláil le chéile.

[EN]

Uimhir 7 de 1956.


[EN]

AN tACHT CUSTAM, 1956.

[An tiontó oifigiúil].


ACHT DO LEASÚ AGUS DO LEATHNÚ NA nACHT CUSTAM. [21 Márta, 1956.] ACHTAÍTEAR AG AN OIREACHTAS MAR LEANAS:— [EN]

Mínithe.

1.—San Acht seo—

[EN]

ciallaíonn “Acht 1876” an Customs Consolidation Act, 1876, arna leasú nó arna oiriúnú le haon achtacháin ina dhiaidh sin nó fúthu;

[EN]

ciallaíonn “achtachán” aon achtachán arb é atá ann—

[EN]

(a) reacht Breataineach,

[EN]

(b) reacht de chuid Shaorstáit Éireann, nó

[EN]

(c) Acht ón Oireachtas (pé acu roimh an Acht seo a ritheadh nó dá éis a rithfear é);

[EN]

forléireofar tagairtí d'onnmhuiriú mar thagairtí a fholaíos tagairt d'earraí a liongsiú mar stóranna loinge nó d'earraí a lódáil mar stóranna d'aerárthaigh;

[EN]

folaíonn “oifigeach Custam agus Máil” comhalta den Gharda Síochána agus duine ar bith sa tseirbhís phoiblí atá de thuras na huaire ar fostú chun allmhuiriú nó onnmhuiriú earraí go neamhdhleathach a chosc;

[EN]

ciallaíonn “ionstraim reachtúil” ionstraim atá i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire agus arb é atá inti—

[EN]

(a) ordú arna dhéanamh (roimh an Acht seo a rith nó dá éis) i bhfeidhmiú cumhacht a bheirtear le haon achtachán, nó

[EN]

(b) ordú arna dhéanamh (roimh an Acht seo a rith nó dá éis) nó ordachán i scríbhinn arna thabhairt (roimh an Acht seo a rith nó dá éis) i bhfeidhmiú cumhacht a bheirtear le hordú arna dhéanamh i bhfeidhmiú cumhacht a bheirtear le haon achtachán.

[EN]

Allmhuiriú earraí go neamhdhleathach.

2.—Aon earraí a mbeidh a n-allmhuiriú toirmiscthe nó srianta de thuras na huaire le haon achtachán nó ionstraim reachtúil, measfar iad a bheith ar na hearraí a háirítear agus a tuairiscítear sa Táible de Thoirmisc agus Srianta maidir le hEarraí a Thabhairt Isteach atá in alt 42 d'Acht 1876, agus beidh feidhm dá réir sin ag forála Achta 1876.

[EN]

Pionós mar gheall ar earraí d'onnmhuiriú go neamhdhleathach.

3.—(1) Gach duine—

[EN]

(a) a onnmhuireos aon earraí contrártha d'aon achtachán nó ionstraim reachtúil, nó

[EN]

(b) a bhéarfas faoi aon earraí d'onnmhuiriú contrártha d'aon achtachán nó ionstraim reachtúil, nó

[EN]

(c) a bhéarfas nó a chuirfeas aon earraí go dtí aon áit chun iad d'onnmhuiriú contrártha d'aon achtachán nó ionstraim reachtúil, nó

[EN]

(d) a bhéarfas faoi aon earraí a bhreith nó a chur go dtí aon áit chun iad d'onnmhuiriú contrártha d'aon achtachán nó ionstraim reachtúil, nó

[EN]

(e) a bheas páirteach go feasach i ndéileáil le haon earraí (is earraí a mbeidh a n-onnmhuiriú toirmiscthe nó srianta le haon achtachán nó ionstraim reachtúil) le hintinn an toirmeasc nó an srianadh sin a sheachaint, nó

[EN]

(f) a choimeádfas aon earraí in aon áit chun go mb'fhusaide iad d'onnmhuiriú contrártha d'aon achtachán nó ionstraim reachtúil, nó

[EN]

(g) a chabhrós, a neartós, a chuideos nó a chomhcheilgfeas le duine eile chun cion faoi mhír (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) nó (f) den fho-alt seo a dhéanamh,

[EN]

beidh sé ciontach i gcion i gcoinne na nAcht Custam agus in aghaidh gach ciona faoi leith den tsórt sin forghéillfidh sé trí oiread luacha na n-earraí nó céad punt, pé acu is rogha leis na Coimisinéirí Ioncaim, agus féadfar an duine sin a choinneáil nó imeachta ina choinne a thionscnamh trí thoghairm.

[EN]

(2) I gcás ina mbeidh an pionós i leith aon chiona faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo le ríomh do réir trí oiread luacha aon earraí áirithe, measfar gurb é is luach do na hearraí an praghas ar ar díoladh, an tráth nó um an tráth a rinneadh an cion, earraí dá samhail, ach iad a bheith ina n-earraí den chéad scoth, ar ar híocadh an dleacht nó na dleachta (más ann).

[EN]

(3) I gcás—

[EN]

(a) duine (dá ngairmtear an príomh-chiontóir sa bhfo-alt seo) a chiontú i gcion (dá ngairmtear an príomh-chion sa bhfo-alt seo) faoi mhír (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) nó (f) d'fho-alt (1) den alt seo, agus

[EN]

(b) imeachta a thionscnamh i gcoinne duine eile á chúiseamh i gcion faoi gur chabhraigh, gur neartaigh, gur chuidigh nó gur chomhcheilg sé leis an bpríomhchiontóir chun an príomh-chion a dhéanamh,

[EN]

beidh fianaise gur ciontaíodh an príomh-chiontóir sa phríomhchion ina fianaise, sna himeachta sin, go ndearnadh an príomhchion.

[EN]

Forála mar chabhair chun daoine a bheas ag onnmhuiriú earraí go neamhdhleathach a bhrath agus a chiontú.

4.—(1) Aon uair a bheas amhras réasúnach ag oifigeach Custam agus Máil go bhfuiltear ar intinn aon earraí d'onnmhuiriú contrártha d'aon achtachán nó ionstraim reachtúil, féadfaidh sé a iarraidh ar dhuine ar bith, a bhfaighfear na hearraí ina sheilbh nó faoina urláimh nó ar a thalamh nó ann nó ar a áitreabh nó ann nó i ngarchomharsanacht a thalún nó a áitribh, an t-eolas ábhartha go léir, maidir le gach ceann nó aon cheann de na hábhair fiosruithe seo a leanas, atá ag an duine sin nó a bhfuil fios aige ina thaobh, a thabhairt dó, agus gach doiciméad ábhartha, maidir le haon ábhar fiosruithe den tsórt sin, atá ina sheilbh nó ina choimeád ag an duine sin, a thabhairt ar aird dó, is é sin le rá:

[EN]

(a) ainm agus seoladh únaera na n-earraí,

[EN]

(b) an chúis a bhfuil na hearraí san áit ina bhfuarthas iad,

[EN]

(c) an ní atá beartaithe a dhéanamh leis na hearraí,

[EN]

(d) an bhfuiltear ar intinn na hearraí d'onnmhuiriú,

[EN]

(e) má táthar ar intinn na hearraí d'onnmhuiriú, an bhfuar thas ceadúnas nó údarás eile chun na hearraí d'onnmhuiriú nó, mura bhfuarthas, ar hiarradh sin.

[EN]

(2) Nuair a iarrfas oifigeach Custam agus Máil, i bhfeidhmiú na gcumhacht a bheirtear dó le fo-alt (1) den alt seo, ar dhuine ar bith a bhfaighfear aon earraí (is earraí a mbeidh amhras réasúnach aige go bhfuiltear ar intinn iad d'onnmhuiriú contrártha d'aon achtachán nó ionstraim reachtúil) ina sheilbh nó faoina urláimh nó ar a thalamh nó ann nó ar a áitreabh nó ann, nó i ngar-chomharsanacht a thalún nó a áitribh, aon eolas den tsórt a luaitear sa bhfo-alt sin a thabhairt dó nó aon doiciméad den tsórt a luaitear sa bhfo-alt sin a thabhairt ar aird dó, beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas—

[EN]

(a) déanfaidh an duine sin láithreach, do réir mar is fios nó mar is cumas dó, an t-eolas sin a thabhairt nó an doiciméad sin a thabhairt ar aird amhlaidh (pé acu é),

[EN]

(b) má mhainníonn nó má dhiúltaíonn an duine sin déanamh amhlaidh nó má thugann sé aon eolas atá bréagach nó míthreorach, beidh sé ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo agus ar a chiontú ann dlífear pionós custam caoga punt a chur air agus féadfar é a choinneáil nó imeachta ina choinne a thionscnamh trí thoghairm.

[EN]

Forghéilleadh earraí a bheas á n-onnmhuiriú, nó a mbeifear ag tabhairt faoina n-onnmhuiriú, go neamhdhleathach, etc.

5.—(1) Más rud é gur déileáladh nó go mbeifear ag déileáil le haon earraí (is earraí a mbeidh a n-onnmhuiriú toirmiscthe nó srianta le haon achtachán nó ionstraim reachtúil) in aon tslí acu seo a leanas, is é sin le rá:

[EN]

(a) go ndearnadh iad d'onnmhuiriú contrártha don achtachán nó don ionstraim reachtúil sin, nó

[EN]

(b) go mbeifear ag tabhairt faoina n-onnmhuiriú contrártha don achtachán nó don ionstraim reachtúil sin, nó

[EN]

(c) gur tugadh nó gur cuireadh iad go dtí aon áit chun iad d'onnmhuiriú contrártha don achtachán nó don ionstraim reachtúil sin, nó

[EN]

(d) go mbeifear á mbreith nó á gcur go dtí aon áit chun iad d'onnmhuiriú contrártha don achtachán nó don ionstraim reachtúil sin, nó

[EN]

(e) gur déileáladh nó go mbeifear ag déileáil leo in aon tslí eile le hintinn an toirmeasc nó an srianadh sin a sheachaint, nó

[EN]

(f) gur coimeádadh iad nó go mbeifear á gcoimeád in aon áit chun go mb'fhusaide iad d'onnmhuiriú contrártha don achtachán nó don ionstraim reachtúil sin,

[EN]

dlífear na hearraí d'fhorghéilleadh.

[EN]

(2) Dlífear forghéilleadh a dhéanamh ar gach long, bád, carráiste nó cóir iompair eile, maraon le gach capall agus gach ainmhí agus rud eile a húsáidfear chun aon earraí d'onnmhuiriú nó d'iompar, a ndlitear, de bhuaidh fo-alt (1) den ailt seo, iad d'fhorghéilleadh.

[EN]

Fógra i dtaobh earraí d'urghabháil.

6.—I gcás aon earraí d'urghabháil mar earraí a ndlitear iad d'fhorghéilleadh, féadfar an fógra urghabhála is gá do réir ailt 207 d'Acht 1876 a thabhairt d'únaer na n-earraí a thabhairt, murab eol aon tseoladh ag an únaer sa Stát, trí fhógra i dtaobh na hurghabhála d'fhoilsiú san Iris Oifigiúil.

[EN]

Fógra éilimh maidir le hurghabháil.

7.—Má tugtar fógra, de bhun ailt 207 d'Acht 1876, go bhfuil duine (dá ngairmtear an t-éilitheoir san alt seo) ag déanamh éilimh nó ar intinn éileamh a dhéanamh maidir le hurghabháil, beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas:

[EN]

(a) beidh an fógra neamhbhailí agus measfar nár tugadh é mura luaitear ann ainm agus seoladh an éilitheora,

[EN]

(b) más seoladh lasmuigh den Stát atá ag an éilitheoir, beidh an fógra neamhbhailí agus measfar nár tugadh é mura luaitear ann ainm agus seoladh aturnae do na Cúirteanna Breithiúnais atá ag cleachtadh sa Stát agus a bhfuil údarás aige glacadh le seirbheáil gach doiciméid is gá a sheirbheáil ar an éilitheoir sna himeachta a luaitear san alt sin 207, agus

[EN]

(c) más rud é, de bhuaidh míre (b) den alt seo, go luaitear sa bhfógra ainm agus seoladh aturnae, measfar, má seirbheáltar aon doiciméad den tsórt a luaitear sa mhír sin ar an aturnae, gur seirbheáladh an doiciméad sin ar an éilitheoir.

[EN]

Alt 1 den Acht Custam (Leasú) 1942, a leasú.

8.—Forléireofar fo-alt (6) d'alt 1 den Acht Custam (Leasú) 1942 (Uimh. 21 de 1942), agus beidh éifeacht aige amhail is dá ndéantaí na focail “agus féadfar é a choinneáil nó féadfar imeachta ina choinne a thionscnamh trí thoghairm” a chur isteach i ndeireadh an fho-ailt sin.

[EN]

Imeachta chun earraí d'fhorghéilleadh agus a dhaoradh.

9.—Féadfar imeachta a thionscnamh in ainm nó ar agra an Ard-Aighne in aon chúirt dlínse inniúla chun earraí d'fhorghéilleadh agus a dhaoradh.

[EN]

Meáchan earraí d'fháil amach.

10.—Féadfaidh na Coimisinéirí Ioncaim rialacháin a dhéanamh ag ordú na slí ina ndéanfar meáchan earraí de shaghas sonraithe (arna mhíniú i pé slí agus faoi threoir pé nithe a mheasfaidh na Coimisnéirí Ioncaim is ceart) d'fháil amach chun críocha na nAcht Custam nó aon ionstraime reachtúla a bhaineas leis na Custaim agus, i gcás aon rialacháin faoin alt seo maidir le hearraí de shaghas áirithe a bheith i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire, déanfar, chun na gcríocha sin, meáchan na n-earraí sin d'fháil amach sa tslí a hordófar leis na rialacháin sin.

[EN]

Míniú ar na hAchta Custam.

11.—San Acht seo agus i ngach Acht eile ón Oireachtas (pé acu roimh an Acht seo a ritheadh nó dá éis a rithfear é) ciallóidh “na hAchta Custam” agus, i gcás aon Achta ón Oireachtas a ritheadh roimh an Acht seo, measfar gur chiallaigh sé riamh, gach achtachán a bhaineas leis na Custaim.

[EN]

Athghairm.

12.—Athghairmtear leis seo an tAcht Custam (Forála Sealadacha), 1945 (Uimh. 14 de 1945), agus an tAcht Custam (Forála Sealadacha), 1945 (Buanú), 1955 (Uimh. 6 de 1955).

[EN]

Gearrtheideal agus forléiriú.

13.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht Custam, 1956, a ghairm den Acht seo.

[EN]

(2) Forléireofar an tAcht seo agus na hAchta Custam mar aon ní amháin.

[GA]

harp.jpg


Number 7 of 1956.


[GA]

CUSTOMS ACT, 1956.


ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Section

1.

Definitions.

2.

Illegal importation of goods.

3.

Penalty for illegally exporting goods.

4.

Provisions in aid of detection and conviction of persons illegally exporting goods.

5.

Forfeiture of goods being or attempted to be illegally exported, etc.

6.

Notice of seizure of goods.

7.

Notice of claim in relation to seizure.

8.

Amendment of section 1 of the Customs (Amendment) Act, 1942.

9.

Proceedings for forfeiture and condemnation of goods.

10.

Ascertainment of weight of goods.

11.

Definition of Customs Acts.

12.

Repeals.

13.

Short title and construction.


Acts Referred to

Customs (Amendment) Act, 1942

No. 21 of 1942

Customs (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1945

No. 14 of 1945

Customs (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1945 (Continuance) Act, 1955

No. 6 of 1955

harp.jpg


Number 7 of 1956.


CUSTOMS ACT, 1956.


AN ACT TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE CUSTOMS ACTS. [21st March, 1956.] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:— [GA]

Definitions.

1.—In this Act—

[GA]

the Act of 1876” means the Customs Consolidation Act, 1876, as amended or adapted by or under any subsequent enactments;

[GA]

enactment” means any enactment being—

[GA]

(a) a British statute,

[GA]

(b) a Saorstát Éireann statute, or

[GA]

(c) an Act of the Oireachtas (whether passed before or after this Act);

[GA]

references to exportation shall be construed as including references to the shipment of articles as ship's stores, or to the loading of articles as stores for aircraft;

[GA]

officer of Customs and Excise” includes a member of the Garda Síochána and any person in the public service who is for the time being employed in the prevention of the illegal importation or exportation of goods;

[GA]

statutory instrument” means an instrument for the time being in force being—

[GA]

(a) an order made (whether before or after the passing of this Act) in exercise of powers conferred by any enactment, or

[GA]

(b) an order made (whether before or after the passing of this Act) or a direction in writing given (whether before or after the passing of this Act) in exercise of powers conferred by an order made in exercise of powers conferred by any enactment.

[GA]

Illegal importation of goods.

2.—Any goods, the importation of which is for the time being prohibited or restricted by any enactment or statutory instrument, shall be deemed to be included amongst the goods enumerated and described in the Table of Prohibitions and Restrictions Inwards contained in section 42 of the Act of 1876, and the provisions of the Act of 1876 shall apply accordingly.

[GA]

Penalty for illegally exporting goods.

3.—(1) Every person who—

[GA]

(a) exports any goods in contravention of any enactment or statutory instrument, or

[GA]

(b) attempts to export any goods in contravention of any enactment or statutory instrument, or

[GA]

(c) brings or sends any goods to any place for the purpose of exportation in contravention of any enactment or statutory instrument, or

[GA]

(d) attempts to bring or send any goods to any place for the purpose of exportation in contravention of any enactment or statutory instrument, or

[GA]

(e) is knowingly concerned in dealing with any goods (being goods the exportation of which is prohibited or restricted by any enactment or statutory instrument) with intent to evade such prohibition or restriction, or

[GA]

(f) keeps any goods at any place for the purpose of facilitating their exportation in contravention of any enactment or statutory instrument, or

[GA]

(g) aids, abets or assists another person or conspires with another person to commit an offence under paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) of this subsection,

[GA]

shall be guilty of an offence against the Customs Acts and shall for each such offence forfeit either treble the value of the goods or one hundred pounds, at the election of the Revenue Commissioners, and such person may either be detained or proceeded against by summons.

[GA]

(2) Where the penalty for any offence under subsection (1) of this section is to be calculated by reference to treble the value of any goods, the value of the goods shall be taken to be the price at which goods of the like kind, but of the best quality, upon which the duty or duties (if any) had been paid were sold at or about the time of the commission of the offence.

[GA]

(3) Where—

[GA]

(a) a person (in this subsection referred to as the principal offender) is convicted of an offence (in this subsection referred to as the principal offence) under paragraph (a), (b), (c) (d), (e) or (f) of subsection (1) of this section, and

[GA]

(b) proceedings are instituted against another person charging him with the offence of aiding, abetting or assisting the principal offender or of conspiring with the principal offender to commit the principal offence,

[GA]

evidence of the conviction of the principal offender of the principal offence shall, in those proceedings, be evidence of the commission of the principal offence.

[GA]

Provisions in aid of detection and conviction of persons illegally exporting goods.

4.—(1) Whenever an officer of Customs and Excise reasonably suspects that any goods are intended to be exported in contravention of any enactment or statutory instrument, he may request any person, in whose possession or control or on or in whose land or premises or in the immediate vicinity of whose land or premises the goods are found, to give him all information, relevant to all or any of the following subjects of inquiry, which is in the possession or knowledge of such person, and to produce to him all documents relevant to any such subject of inquiry, which are in the possession or custody of such person, that is to say:

[GA]

(a) the name and address of the owner of the goods,

[GA]

(b) the purpose for which the goods are at the place where they are found,

[GA]

(c) the intended disposition of the goods,

[GA]

(d) whether the goods are intended to be exported,

[GA]

(e) if the goods are intended to be exported, whether a licence or other authorisation to export the goods has been obtained or, if not obtained, has been applied for.

[GA]

(2) When an officer of Customs and Excise, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by subsection (1) of this section, requests any person, in whose possession or control or on or in whose land or premises or in the immediate vicinity of whose land or premises any goods (being goods which he reasonably suspects are intended to be exported in contravention of any enactment or statutory instrument) are found, to give him any such information as is mentioned in the said subsection or to produce any such document as is mentioned in the said subsection, the following provisions shall have effect—

[GA]

(a) that person shall forthwith to the best of his knowledge or ability so give such information or produce such document (as the case may be),

[GA]

(b) if that person fails or refuses so to do or gives any information which is false or misleading, he shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on conviction to a customs penalty of fifty pounds and may either be detained or proceeded against by summons.

[GA]

Forfeiture of goods being or attempted to be illegally exported, etc.

5.—(1) If any goods (being goods the exportation of which is prohibited or restricted by any enactment or statutory instrument) have been or are being dealt with in any of the following ways, that is to say:

[GA]

(a) have been exported in contravention of such enactment or statutory instrument, or

[GA]

(b) are attempted to be exported in contravention of such enactment or statutory instrument, or

[GA]

(c) have been brought or sent to any place for the purpose of exportation in contravention of such enactment or statutory instrument, or

[GA]

(d) are being brought or sent to any place for the purpose of exportation in contravention of such enactment or statutory instrument, or

[GA]

(e) have been or are being dealt with in any other manner with intent to evade such prohibition or restriction, or

[GA]

(f) have been or are being kept at any place for the purpose of facilitating their exportation in contravention of such enactment or statutory instrument,

[GA]

the goods shall be liable to forfeiture.

[GA]

(2) All ships, boats, carriages or other conveyances, together with all horses and other animals and things made use of in the exportation or conveyance of any goods, which are, by virtue of subsection (1) of this section, liable to forfeiture, shall themselves be liable to forfeiture.

[GA]

Notice of seizure of goods.

6.—Where any goods are seized as liable to forfeiture, the notice of seizure required by section 207 of the Act of 1876 to be given to the owner of the goods may, if the owner has no known address in the State, be given by the publication of a notice of the seizure in Iris Oifigiúil.

[GA]

Notice of claim in relation to seizure.

7.—Where, pursuant to section 207 of the Act of 1876, a notice is given that a person (in this section referred to as the claimant) makes or intends to make a claim in relation to a seizure, the following provisions shall have effect:

[GA]

(a) the notice shall be invalid and be deemed not to have been given unless it states the name and address of the claimant,

[GA]

(b) in case the address of the claimant is outside the State, the notice shall be invalid and be deemed not to have been given unless it states the name and address of a solicitor of the Courts of Justice practising in the State who is authorised to accept service of every document required to be served on the claimant in the proceedings mentioned in the said section 207, and

[GA]

(c) in case, pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section, the notice states the name and address of a solicitor, service of any such document as is mentioned in that paragraph on the solicitor shall be deemed to be service of the document on the claimant.

[GA]

Amendment of section 1 of the Customs (Amendment) Act, 1942.

8.—Subsection (6) of section 1 of the Customs (Amendment) Act, 1942 (No. 21 of 1942), shall be construed and have effect as if the words “and may either be detained or proceeded against by summons” were inserted at the end of the said subsection.

[GA]

Proceedings for forfeiture and condemnation of goods.

9.—Proceedings in any court of competent jurisdiction for the forfeiture and condemnation of goods may be brought in the name or at the suit of the Attorney General.

[GA]

Ascertainment of weight of goods.

10.—The Revenue Commissioners may make regulations prescribing the manner in which the weight of goods of a specified kind (defined in such manner and by reference to such things as the Revenue Commissioners think proper) shall be ascertained for the purposes of the Customs Acts or any statutory instrument relating to the Customs, and, where any regulations under this section in relation to goods of a particular kind are for the time being in force, the weight thereof shall, for the said purposes, be ascertained in the manner prescribed by those regulations.

[GA]

Definition of Customs Acts.

11.—In this and every other Act of the Oireachtas (whether passed before or after this Act) “the Customs Acts” shall mean, and, in the case of any Act of the Oireachtas passed before this Act, shall be deemed always to have meant, all enactments relating to the Customs.

[GA]

Repeals.

12.—The Customs (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1945 (No. 14 of 1945), and the Customs (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1945 (Continuance) Act, 1955 (No. 6 of 1955), are hereby repealed.

[GA]

Short title and construction.

13.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Customs Act, 1956.

[GA]

(2) This Act shall be construed as one with the Customs Acts.