Uimhir 9 de 1987

AN tACHT GÁIS (LEASÚ), 1987

RIAR NA nALT

Uimhir 9 de 1987

AN tACHT GÁIS (LEASÚ), 1987

[An tiontú oifigiúil]

ACHTAÍTEAR AG AN OIREACHTAS MAR A LEANAS:

Mínithe.

1.—San Acht seo—

ciallaíonn “an Chuideachta” Cuideachta Gháis Bhaile Átha Cliath;

folaíonn “feidhmeanna”, cumhachtaí, dualgais, cearta agus oibleagáidí agus folaíonn tagairtí do chomhlíonadh feidhmeanna, maidir le cumhachtaí, dualgais, cearta agus oibleagáidí, tagairtí d'fheidhmiú na gcumhachtaí agus na gceart agus do chomhall na ndualgas agus na n-oibleagáidí;

ciallaíonn “an Príomh-Acht” an tAcht Gáis, 1976.

Feidhmeanna breise a thabhairt don Bhord i ndáil le gás a sholáthar, a tharchur, a dháileadh agus a dhíol, etc.

2.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire le hordú na feidhmeanna seo a leanas a thabhairt don Bhord—

(a) feidhmeanna ar comhréir leis na feidhmeanna, nó le cibé de na feidhmeanna a mheasfaidh an tAire a bheith cuí, a thugtar don Chuideachta leis an Alliance and Dublin Gas Acts, 1866 go 1909, i ndáil le gás a sholáthar, a tharchur, a dháileadh agus a dhíol agus píblínte a chur ar fáil, a chothabháil, a dheisiú agus a athshuíomh chun na gcríoch sin agus fearais gháis a dhíol, a fhruiliú, a ligean ar léas, a chur ar fáil trí fhruilcheannach nó trí dhíol creidmheasa, a shuiteáil, a dheisiú agus a chothabháil,

(b) aon fheidhmeanna atá, i dtuairim an Aire, teagmhasach nó coimhdeach i ndáil le haon fheidhmeanna a thugtar don Bhord faoi mhír (a) den fho-alt seo nó atá, i dtuairim an Aire, riachtanach nó tairbhiúil i ndáil le comhlíonadh aon fheidhmeanna den sórt sin ag an mBord, nó a urasaíonn an comhlíonadh sin, agus

(c) aon fheidhmeanna is gá nó is fóirsteanach, i dtuairim an Aire, d'fhonn a chinntiú go ndéanfar sábháilteacht an phobail agus sábháilteacht maoine a áirithiú, a mhéid is féidir, nuair a bheidh na feidhmeanna a thugtar don Bhord faoi mhíreanna (a) agus (b) den fho-alt seo á gcomhlíonadh aige.

(2) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht mhír (c) d'fho-alt (1) den alt seo, féadfaidh ordú faoin bhfo-alt sin cumhacht a thabhairt don Bhord, agus do chomhaltaí d'fhoireann an Bhoird arna n-údarú go cuí ag an mBord chuige sin, dul isteach in aon áitreabh agus é a iniúchadh agus cibé bearta a ghlacadh ansin a mheasfaidh siad a bheith cuí (lena n-áirítear daoine a gheofar san áitreabh sin a aslonnú) d'fhonn a chinntiú go ndéanfar sábháilteacht an phobail agus sábháilteacht maoine a áirithiú, a mhéid is féidir, nuair a bheidh na feidhmeanna a thugtar don Bhord faoi mhíreanna (a) agus (b) den fho-alt sin (1) á gcomhlíonadh aige.

(3) Foilseoidh an Bord gach bliain cuntais iniúchta ar leith d'oibríocht Chuideachta Gháis Bhaile Átha Cliath a thaispeánfaidh staid airgeadais iomlán na cuideachta, lena n-áirítear sonraí maidir leis an gconradh chun gás a cheannach agus tuairisc ghinearálta ar na taraifí chun gás a dhíol le custaiméirí.

(4) Féadfaidh ordú faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo foráil a dhéanamh le haghaidh cibé ábhair theagmhasacha nó choimhdeacha a mheasfaidh an tAire a bheith riachtanach nó fóirsteanach agus féadfaidh foráil a bheith san ordú gur cionta is inphionóis, ar chiontú achomhair, le cibé pionóis a bheidh sonraithe san ordú agus a fhorchuirfidh an chúirt, bac nó treampán a chur ar an mBord nó ar chomhaltaí dá fhoireann le linn dóibh a bhfeidhmeanna faoin alt seo a chomhlíonadh nó mainniú nó diúltú déanamh de réir ordachán a thabharfaidh an Bord nó comhaltaí dá fhoireann le linn dóibh a bhfeidhmeanna faoi mhír (c) den fho-alt sin a chomhlíonadh.

(5) Ní fhéadfar feidhmeanna a thugtar don Bhord le hordú faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo a chomhlíonadh ach amháin i cibé limistéir a bheidh sonraithe san ordú agus féadfaidh ordú den sórt sin feidhmeanna éagsúla i ndáil le limistéir éagsúla a thabhairt don Bhord.

(6) (a) Faoi réir mhír (b) den fho-alt seo agus d'ainneoin fho-alt (1) den alt seo, beidh feidhm ag alt 8 (7) den Phríomh-Acht maidir le píblíne a dhéanamh de bhun agus de réir feidhme a thugtar don Bhord faoin alt seo mar atá feidhm aige maidir le píblíne a dhéanamh de bhun agus de réir feidhme a thugtar don Bhord leis an Acht sin.

(b) Féadfaidh an tAire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, a dhearbhú le fógra i scríbhinn arna sheachadadh ar an mBord nach mbeidh feidhm ag an alt sin 8 (7) maidir le píblínte nó píblínte sonraithe nó aicmí píblínte a dhéanamh de bhun agus de réir feidhme a thugtar don Bhord faoin bhfo-alt sin (1) i limistéar ina bhféadfar feidhmeanna a thugtar le hordú faoin bhfo-alt sin (1) a chomhlíonadh, nó i gcuid shonraithe den limistéar sin agus, cibé uair a bheidh fógra faoin mír seo i bhfeidhm, ní bheidh feidhm ag an alt sin 8 (7) i ndáil le píblínte, nó na píblínte nó na haicmí píblínte sin a shonraítear san fhógra, a dhéanamh sa limistéar a shonraítear san fhógra.

(c) Féadfaidh an tAire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, cibé coinníollacha (más ann) a mheasfaidh sé is inmhianaithe i ndáil le déanamh, cothabháil, deisiú nó athshuíomh na bpíblínte nó na n-aicmí píblínte lena mbaineann fógra faoi mhír (b) den fho-alt seo a shonrú san fhógra agus déanfaidh an Bord de réir aon choinníollacha a bheidh sonraithe amhlaidh.

(d) Féadfaidh an tAire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, trí fhógra i scríbhinn a sheachadadh ar an mBord, fógra faoin bhfo-alt seo (lena n-áirítear fógra faoin mír seo) a leasú nó a chúlghairm.

(7) Féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú faoin bhfo-alt seo, ordú faoin alt seo (lena n-áirítear ordú faoin bhfo-alt seo) a chúlghairm nó a leasú.

(8) Déanfar ordú faoin alt seo 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 t-ordú a leagan 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.

Leasú ar alt 8 den Phríomh-Acht.

3.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 8 den Phríomh-Acht tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (7):

“(7) Ní onnmhaireoidh an Bord gás ná ní dhéanfaidh sé píblíne ach amháin de bhun agus de réir toiliú ón Aire faoin bhfo-alt seo le comhthoiliú an Aire Airgeadais agus déanfaidh an tAire, más oiriúnach leis, le comhthoiliú an Aire Airgeadais, nuair a bheidh toiliú den sórt sin á thabhairt aige, coinníollacha a chur ag gabháil leis an toiliú agus i dteannta an méid sin roimhe seo, i gcás go mbainfidh an toiliú le gás a onnmhairiú, is tar éis dul i gcomhairle leis an Aire Tionscail agus Tráchtála, agus ansin amháin, a thabharfar an toiliú.”.

Leasú ar alt 18 den Phríomh-Acht.

4.—(1) Leasaítear leis seo alt 18 den Phríomh-Acht tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur isteach i ndiaidh fho-alt (7):

“(7A) San alt seo—

folaíonn ‘oifigigh agus seirbhísigh don Bhord’ agus ‘oifigeach nó seirbhíseach don Bhord’ daoine ar oifigigh nó seirbhísigh iad, nó a bhí tráth ar bith ina n-oifigigh nó ina seirbhísigh, do Chuideachta Gháis Bhaile Átha Cliath, do chuideachta ar fochuideachta í, nó a bhí tráth ar bith ina fochuideachta (de réir bhrí Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963) de chuid Chuideachta Gháis Bhaile Átha Cliath nó do chuideachta a bhfaighidh an Bord a cuid sócmhainní tráth ar bith;

folaíonn ‘ar scor nó ar éag’ maidir le scor nó éag agus folaíonn ‘ar éirí as, scor nó éag’ maidir leis an éirí-as, leis an scor nó leis an éag.”.

(2) Tiocfaidh an t-alt seo i ngníomh cibé lá a cheapfaidh an tAire le hordú.

Leasú ar alt 23 den Phríomh-Acht.

5.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 23 den Phríomh-Acht trí “£170,000,000” a chur in ionad “£80,000,000” (a cuireadh isteach leis an Acht Gáis (Leasú), 1982) i bhfo-alt (2) agus tá an fo-alt sin, arna leasú amhlaidh, leagtha amach sa Tábla a ghabhann leis an bhfo-alt seo:

Leasú ar an gCéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an bPríomh-Acht.

6.—Leasaítear leis seo an Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an bPríomh-Acht tríd an Airteagal seo a leanas a chur in ionad Airteagal 2:

“2. Is iad a bheidh ar an mBord cathaoirleach agus cibé líon comhaltaí eile, nach mó ná 8, a chinnfidh an tAire le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais.”.

An Chuideachta d'fhuascailt a stoc bintiúir.

7.—Féadfaidh an Chuideachta aon stoc bintiúir a d'eisigh sí roimh dháta an Achta seo a fhuascailt agus a chealú agus féadfar an fhuascailt sin a dhéanamh tríd an gCuideachta do sheoladh le gnáthphostas réamhíoctha chuig gach sealbhóir ar stoc den sórt sin, ag an seoladh de chuid an tsealbhóra sin a shonraítear i gclár shealbhóirí na stoc a choimeádann an chuideachta, an méid a shonraítear sa deimhniú dá shealúchas a bheidh arna eisiúint ag an gCuideachta mar aon le haon ús ar an gcéanna, de réir an ráta a shonraítear sa deimhniú, a d'fhaibhrigh suas go dtí dáta an tseolta sin agus nár íocadh roimhe sin agus, ar an seoladh sin a dhéanamh, scoirfidh an stoc de bheith ina mhuirear ar shócmhainní na Cuideachta.

Gearrtheideal, forléiriú agus comhlua.

8.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht Gáis (Leasú), 1987, a ghairm den Acht seo.

(2) Forléireofar na hAchtanna Gáis, 1976 go 1982, agus an tAcht seo le chéile mar aon Acht amháin agus féadfar na hAchtanna Gáis, 1976 go 1987, a ghairm díobh le chéile.

Number 9 of 1987

GAS (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1987

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Number 9 of 1987

GAS (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1987

Definitions.

1.—In this Act—

“the Company” means the Dublin Gas Company;

“functions” includes powers, duties, rights and obligations and references to the performance of functions include, as respects powers, duties, rights and obligations, references to the exercise of the powers and rights and the carrying out of the duties and obligations;

“the Principal Act” means the Gas Act, 1976.

Conferral on Board of additional functions in relation to supply, transmission, distribution and sale etc., of gas.

2.—(1) The Minister may by order confer on the Board—

(a) functions corresponding to the functions, or such of them as the Minister considers appropriate, that are conferred on the Company by the Alliance and Dublin Gas Acts, 1866 to 1909, in relation to the supply, transmission, distribution and sale of gas and the provision, maintenance, repair and replacement for those purposes of pipelines and the sale, hire, leasing, provision by means of hire-purchase or credit-sale, installation, repair and maintenance of gas appliances,

(b) any functions that, in the opinion of the Minister are incidental or ancillary to any functions conferred on the Board under paragraph (a) of this subsection or that, in the opinion of the Minister, are requisite or advantageous to, or facilitate, the performance by the Board of any such functions, and

(c) any functions that, in the opinion of the Minister, are necessary or expedient for ensuring that, in the performance by the Board of the functions conferred on it under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection, the safety of the public and property is, as far as is practicable, secured.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of this section, an order under that subsection may confer on the Board, and members of the staff of the Board duly authorised by the Board in that behalf, power to enter and inspect any premises and there to take such measures as they consider appropriate (includingthe evacuation of persons found on those premises) for the purpose of ensuring that, in the performance by the Board of the functions conferred on it under paragraphs (a) and (b) of the said subsection (1), the safety of the public and property is, as far as is practicable, secured.

(3) The Board shall publish each year separate audited accounts of the Dublin Gas Company operation showing the full financial position of the company, including details of the contract for purchase of gas and a general description of the tariffs for sale of gas to customers.

(4) An order under subsection (1) of this section may make provision for such incidental or ancillary matters as the Minister considers necessary or expedient and may include a provision that obstruction of or interference with the Board or members of its staff in the performance of their functions under this section or failure or refusal to comply with directions given by the Board or members of its staff in the performance of their functions under paragraph (c) of that subsection shall be offences punishable on summary conviction by such penalties specified in the order as the court may impose.

(5) Functions conferred on the Board by an order under subsection (1) of this section may be performed only in such areas as may be specified in the order and such an order may confer on the Board different functions in relation to different areas.

(6) (a) Subject to paragraph (b) of this subsection and notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, section 8 (7) of the Principal Act shall apply to the construction of a pipeline pursuant to and in accordance with a function conferred on the Board under this section as it applies to the construction of a pipeline pursuant to and in accordance with a function conferred on the Board by that Act.

(b) The Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, by notice in writing delivered to the Board declare that the said section 8 (7) shall not apply to the construction pursuant to and in accordance with a function conferred on the Board under the said subsection (1).of pipelines or specified pipelines or classes of pipelines in an area in which functions conferred by an order under the said subsection (1) may be performed, or a specified part of that area and, whenever a notice under this paragraph is in force, the said section 8 (7) shall not apply in relation to the construction of pipelines, or those pipelines or classes of pipelines specified in the notice, in the area specified in the notice.

(c) The Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, specify in a notice under paragraph (b) of this subsection such conditions (if any) as he thinks desirable in relation to the construction, maintenance, repair or replacement of the pipelines or classes of pipelines to which the notice relates and the Board shall comply with any conditions so specified.

(d) The Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, by notice in writing delivered to the Board, amend or revoke a notice under this subsection (including a notice under this paragraph).

(7) The Minister may, by order under this subsection, revoke or amend an order under this section (including an order under this subsection).

(8) An order under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made, and, if a resolution annulling the order is passed by either such House within the next 21 days on which that House has sat after the order is laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.

Amendment of section 8 of Principal Act.

3.—Section 8 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (7):

“(7) The Board shall not export gas or construct a pipeline, except pursuant to and in accordance with a consent given by the Minister under this subsection with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance and the Minister shall, if he thinks fit, with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance, when giving such a consent, attach conditions to the consent and, in addition to the foregoing, where the consent relates to the export of gas, the consent shall be given only after consultation with the Minister for Industry and Commerce.”.

Amendment of section 18 of Principal Act.

4.—(1) Section 18 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the insertion after subsection (7) of the following subsection:

“(7A) in this section—

‘officers and servants of the Board’ and ‘officer or servant of the Board’ include persons who are, or were at any time, officers or servants of the Dublin Gas Company, a company that is, or was at any time, a subsidiary (within the meaning of the Companies Act, 1963) of the Dublin Gas Company or a company whose assets are acquired at any time by the Board;

‘on retirement or death’ includes in respect of retirement or death and ‘on the resignation, retirement or death’ includes in respect of the resignation, retirement or death.”.

(2) This section shall come into operation on such day as the Minister may appoint by order.

Amendment of section 23 of Principal Act.

5.—Section 23 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution in subsection (2) of “£170,000,000” for “£80,000,000” (inserted by the Gas (Amendment) Act, 1982) and that subsection, as so amended, is set out in the Table to this subsection:

TABLE

“(2) The aggregate at any one time either of the borrowings under this section, or of such borrowings and any advances under section 22 of this Act, which have not been repaid, shall not exceed £170,000,000.”.

Amendment of First Schedule to Principal Act.

6.—(1) The First Schedule to the Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution of the following Article for Article 2:

“2. The Board shall consist of a chairman and such number of other members, not being more than 8, as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance may determine.”.

Redemption by Company of its debenture stock.

7.—The Company may redeem and cancel any debenture stock issued by it before the passing of this Act and such redemption maybe effected by the sending by prepaid ordinary post by the Company to each holder of any such stock, at the address of such holder specified in the register of holders of the stock kept by the company, of the amount specified in the certificate of his holding issued by the Company together with any interest thereon at the rate specified in the certificate accrued up to the date of such sending and not previously paid and, upon such sending, the stock shall cease to be a charge on the assets of the Company.

Short title, construction and collective citation.

8.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Gas (Amendment) Act, 1987.

(2) The Gas Acts, 1976 to 1982, and this Act shall be construed together as one Act and may be cited together as the Gas Acts, 1976 to 1987.