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Number 2 of 1998
CENTRAL BANK ACT, 1998
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Preliminary and General
Section | |
European System of Central Banks and European Central Bank
Miscellaneous
Acts Referred to | |
1942, No. 22 | |
1971, No. 24 | |
1989, No. 16 | |
1997, No. 8 | |
Central Bank Acts, 1942 to 1997 | |
1927, No. 32 | |
1969, No. 23 | |
1989, No. 3 | |
1995, No. 11 | |
1995, No. 9 | |
European Communities (Licensing and Supervision of Credit Institutions) Regulations, 1992 | S.I. No. 395 of 1992 |
Central Bank of Ireland (Surplus Income) Regulations, 1943 | S.I. No. 93 of 1943 |
Number 2 of 1998
CENTRAL BANK ACT, 1998
PART I
Preliminary and General
Short title, construction and commencement.
1.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Central Bank Act, 1998.
(2) This Act and the Central Bank Acts, 1942 to 1997, shall be construed together as one Act and may be cited together as the Central Bank Acts, 1942 to 1998.
(3) This Act shall come into operation on such day or days as the Minister may appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision, and different days may be so appointed for different purposes or different provisions of this Act.
Interpretation.
2.—In this Act—
“Act of 1942” means the Central Bank Act, 1942;
“Act of 1971” means the Central Bank Act, 1971;
“Act of 1989” means the Central Bank Act, 1989;
“Act of 1997” means the Central Bank Act, 1997;
“Bank” means the Central Bank of Ireland;
“Minister” means the Minister for Finance;
“Statute” means the Statute on the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank as set out in Protocol (No. 3) (annexed by the Treaty on European Union done at Maastricht on the 7th day of February, 1992) to the Treaty establishing the European Community done at Rome on the 25th day of March, 1957.
PART II
European System of Central Banks and European Central Bank
Amendment of section 5 of Act of 1942.
3.—Section 5 of the Act of 1942 is hereby amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (4):
“(4) Subject to the provisions of section 5A (as inserted by the Central Bank Act, 1998) of this Act, the functions, powers and duties of the Bank shall be exercised and performed by the Board of Directors for and in the name of the Bank.”.
General powers of Bank.
4.—The Act of 1942 is hereby amended by the insertion of the following section after section 5:
“Performance by Bank of European System of Central Banks' functions.
5A.—(1) The Bank shall perform any function or duty or exercise any power required by or under the provisions of the Treaty or the Statute.
(2) With effect from the date of the establishment of the European System of Central Banks, sole authority and responsibility for the performance of any function or duty or the exercise of any power conferred or imposed upon the Bank by or under the Treaty or the Statute shall be vested in the Governor.
(3) Subject to the requirements of the Treaty and the Statute, the Governor shall keep the Board informed of, and may discuss with the Board, the discharge by the Governor of the functions, duties and powers vested in the Governor under this section.
(4) Whenever the Governor is unable, by reason of absence, ill-health or any other cause to discharge the functions, duties and powers referred to in this section, or in the case of the office of the Governor becoming vacant, the authority and responsibility vested in the Governor under subsection (2) of this section shall, during such inability or vacancy, be vested in the Director General of the Bank, who shall, for the period of such inability or vacancy, exercise and perform the functions, duties and powers vested in the Governor under this section.
(5) In this Act—
‘the Treaty’ means the Treaty establishing the European Community done at Rome on the 25th day of March, 1957 (as amended by the Treaty on European Union done at Maastricht on the 7th day of February, 1992);
‘the Statute’ means the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank as set out in Protocol (No. 3) (annexed by the Treaty on European Union done at Maastricht on the 7th day of February, 1992) to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community done at Rome on the 25th day of March, 1957.”.
Amendment of section 6 of Act of 1942.
5.—The Act of 1942 is hereby amended by the substitution of the following section for section 6:
“6.—(1) In discharging its functions as part of the European System of Central Banks, the primary objective of the Bank shall be to maintain price stability, and without prejudice to the generality of the aforesaid, the Bank may perform such functions and exercise such powers and carry out such duties as are conferred or imposed on it by the Treaty, the Statute or any Act of the Oireachtas or instrument made thereunder.
(2) In addition to the objective referred to in subsection (1) of this section, the objectives of the Bank shall include contributing to the stability of the financial system, promoting the efficient and effective operation of payment and settlement systems and discharging such other functions, duties and powers as are conferred or imposed on it by the Treaty, the Statute or any Act of the Oireachtas or instrument made thereunder.
(3) Without prejudice to the functions, powers and duties vested in the Bank immediately before the appointed day, the Bank shall have the general function and duty of taking (within the limit of the powers for the time being vested in it and, where appropriate, having regard to the provisions of the Treaty and the Statute) such steps as the Board may from time to time deem appropriate and advisable towards the discharge of any functions, powers and duties vested by law in the Board.
(4) The Minister may, on such occasions as he thinks proper, request the Governor on behalf of the Board or the Board to consult with the Minister in regard to the execution and performance by the Bank of any function and duty imposed on the Bank, other than those imposed by the Treaty or the Statute, and the Board shall comply with every such request.
(5) Subject to the requirements of the Treaty, the Statute, the Central Bank Acts, 1942 to 1997, and any other enactment, the Minister may, on such occasions as he shall think proper, request the Governor on behalf of the Board or the Board to inform the Minister in regard to the pursuit of the primary objective imposed on the Bank by subsection (1) of this section, and the Board shall comply with every such request.
(6) Without prejudice to the objective of maintaining price stability, the Bank shall support the general economic policies in the Community with a view to contributing to the achievement of the objectives of the Community as laid down in Article 2 of the Treaty.”.
Amendment of section 7 of Act of 1942.
6.—Section 7 (as substituted by section 21 of the Act of 1997) of the Act of 1942 is hereby amended—
(a) by the repeal of paragraph (g), and
(b) by the insertion after paragraph (m) of the following paragraphs:
“(mm) transfer assets, income or liabilities to the European Central Bank where required to under the Statute;
(mmm) exercise any power or perform any task or duty conferred on the Bank by or under the Treaty or the Statute;”.
Removal of Governor.
7.—Section 21 of the Act of 1942 is hereby amended—
(a) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (2):
“(2) If the Board, by unanimous vote of all the Directors, requests the President to remove the Governor from office on stated grounds of serious misconduct, it shall be lawful for the President on the advice of the Government to remove the Governor from office for such stated grounds and the removal shall take immediate effect from the date of the publication of the decision to remove the Governor from office or of the notification of that decision to the Governor.”,
(b) by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (2):
“(3) Any decision, taken in accordance with this section, to remove a Governor may be subject to referral to the European Court of Justice in such a manner and for such reasons as are consistent with Article 14.2 of the Statute.”.
Furnishing of information to Bank.
8.—The Act of 1971 is hereby amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (1) of section 18 (as substituted by section 37 of the Act of 1989):
“(1) A holder of a licence, any reporting agent designated by the European Central Bank (in this section referred to as a ‘reporting agent’) and any person carrying on a business—
(a) of an associated enterprise to which subsection (3) of this section relates,
(b) in respect of which that person is, by virtue of section 7 (4) (a) (ii) of this Act, exempted from the obligation to hold a licence,
(c) as an investment trust company,
(d) as a moneybroker,
(e) as a financial intermediary, or
(f) of issuing, holding or otherwise participating in any market in financial instruments including those to which Chapter VIII of the Central Bank Act, 1989, applies,
shall each furnish the Bank—
(i) at such times as the Bank or, in the case of a reporting agent, the Bank or the European Central Bank, may specify from time to time, such information and returns concerning the business to which the licence relates or the activities of a reporting agent or the carrying on of a business as aforesaid by such person, as the case may be, as the Bank or, in the case of a reporting agent, the Bank or the European Central Bank, may specify from time to time, being information and returns which the Bank considers it necessary to have for the due performance of the functions of the Bank imposed on it by law or, in the case of a reporting agent, the Bank or the European Central Bank, and
(ii) within such period as the Bank or, in the case of a reporting agent, the Bank or the European Central Bank, may specify, any information and returns (not being information or returns specified under subparagraph (i) of this subsection) concerning the business to which the licence relates or the activities of a reporting agent or the carrying on of a business as aforesaid by such person, as the case may be, that the Bank or, in the case of a reporting agent, the Bank or the European Central Bank, may request in writing, being information and returns which the Bank considers it necessary to have for the due performance of the functions of the Bank imposed on it by law or, in the case of a reporting agent, the Bank or the European Central Bank.”.
Minimum reserves.
9.—Section 23 (as amended by section 40 of the Act of 1989) of the Act of 1971 may be applied by the Bank to persons or classes of persons in the State specified under Article 19.1 of the Statute in pursuance of a requirement of the European Central Bank.
Disclosure of information to European Central Bank.
10.—Section 16 (as amended by section 50 of the Stock Exchange Act, 1995, section 49 of the Investment Intermediaries Act, 1995, and section 52 of the Act of 1997) of the Act of 1989 is hereby amended—
(a) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection(1)(b):
“(b) the Bank's activities in respect of the pursuit of its objectives as set out in section 6 (as amended by section 5 of the Central Bank Act, 1998) of the Central Bank Act, 1942.”,
(b) by the substitution of the following subparagraphs for subparagraph (t) of subsection (2):
“(t) made to the European Monetary Institute or to the European Central Bank where such disclosure is required in accordance with the Treaty or the Statute,
(tt) made to an auditor to which section 11 of the Central Bank Act, 1998, applies,”,
(c) by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (II) of subsection (2)(ii):
“(II) the issue by the Bank or by the European Central Bank of legal tender, or”,
and
(d) by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (III) of subsection (2)(ii):
“(III) the pursuit by the Bank of its objectives under section 6 (as amended by section 5 of the Central Bank Act, 1998) of the Principal Act.”.
Auditing of accounts of Bank.
11.—Notwithstanding section 19 of the Act of 1989, the accounts of the Bank may be audited in accordance with Article 27 of the Statute and the Bank shall provide any auditors appointed in accordance with that Article, with full information, books and records.
General fund.
12.—Section 23 of the Act of 1989 is hereby amended by the insertion after subsection (4) of the following subsections:
“(5) Any claims on or liabilities to the European Central Bank shall be treated as assets or liabilities of the general fund or such other fund as may be established by order of the Minister for that purpose.
(6) Regulations under subsection (2) may provide for any matter arising from the implementation of Chapters VI, VIII and IX of the Statute.
(7) In exercising the powers conferred on the Minister by subsections (2) and (4), the Minister shall have regard to the powers, functions and duties conferred on the Bank by or under the Treaty and the Statute.
(8) In this Act—
‘the Treaty’ means the Treaty establishing the European Community done at Rome on the 25th day of March, 1957 (as amended by the Treaty on European Union done at Maastricht on the 7th day of February, 1992);
‘the Statute’ means the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank as set out in Protocol (No. 3) (annexed by the Treaty on European Union done at Maastricht on the 7th day of February, 1992) to the Treaty establishing the European Community done at Rome on the 25th day of March, 1957.”.
Amendment of section 24 of Act of 1989.
13.—The Act of 1989 is hereby amended by the deletion of subsections (2) and (3) of section 24.
Amendment of section 5 of Decimal Currency Act, 1969.
14.—The Decimal Currency Act, 1969 is hereby amended by the substitution of the following section for section 5:
“5.—Every coin provided under section 3 or 4 of this Act shall be issued by the Minister through the Central Bank, subject to approval by the European Central Bank of the volume of issue.”.
PART III
Miscellaneous
Amendment of section 44 of Act of 1971.
15.—The Act of 1971 is hereby amended by the substitution of the following section for section 44 (as substituted by section 120 of the Act of 1989):
“44.—It shall be lawful for the Bank, with the authority of the European Central Bank, to issue legal tender notes.”.
Amendment of section 118 of Act of 1989.
16.—The Central Bank Act, 1989, is hereby amended by the substitution of the following section for section 118:
“118.—(1) It shall be lawful for the Bank to provide and issue in accordance with this Part notes to be known and in this Part referred to as legal tender notes for the following denominations, namely, £1, £5, £10, £20, £50, £100 and any other denomination in the Irish pound or in the euro unit for which the European Central Bank has authorised the issue in accordance with Article 105a of the Treaty and such notes and other notes denominated in the euro unit for which the European Central Bank has authorised the issue in accordance with Article 105a of the said Treaty shall be current in the State and shall be legal tender in the State for the payment of any amount.
(2) Every legal tender note shall be of such form, size and design and printed in such a manner and on such paper and numbered and authenticated in such manner as stood prescribed before the commencement of this section or as may be prescribed thereafter from time to time for the purpose of this section.
(3) Any legal tender note of any denomination provided and issued at any time under the Currency Act, 1927, or any subsequent Act shall continue to be current in the State and shall continue to be legal tender in the State for the payment of any amount.
(4) In this section—
‘euro unit’ has the meaning assigned to it by Council Regulation No. 1103/97 of 17 June, 1997, on certain provisions relating to the introduction of the euro;
‘paper’ includes any material capable of being printed upon;
‘prescribed’ means in the case of notes prescribed before the commencement of this section prescribed by the Bank with the sanction of the Minister and in all other cases prescribed by the Bank with the sanction of the European Central Bank.”.
Functions and duties of Governor.
17.—The Act of 1997 is hereby amended by the substitution of the following section for section 24:
“24.—(1) Subject to the requirements of the Treaty and of the Statute, the Governor of the Bank shall, if so requested, attend before a Joint Committee of the Oireachtas that is assigned the role of examining matters related to the Bank and shall furnish that Committee with such information as may be requested, subject to any restrictions in this regard as are placed on the Governor by virtue of the Central Bank Acts, 1942 to 1997, and any other enactment.
(2) In this Act—
‘the Treaty’ means the Treaty establishing the European Community done at Rome on the 25th day of March, 1957 (as amended by the Treaty on European Union done at Maastricht on the 7th day of February, 1992);
‘the Statute’ means the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank as set out in Protocol (No. 3) (annexed by the Treaty on European Union done at Maastricht on the 7th day of February, 1992) to the Treaty establishing the European Community done at Rome on the 25th day of March, 1957.”.
Amendment of section 26 of Act of 1997.
18.—The Act of 1997 is hereby amended by the substitution of the following section for section 26:
“26.— Section 19 of the Act of 1942 is hereby amended—
(a) in subsection (4):
(i) by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (b)—
‘(b) he shall, during his term of office, be ineligible for election as a director of any credit institution, financial institution, or insurance undertaking;’,
and
(ii) by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (c):
‘(c) if, at the time of appointment he is the director of any credit institution, financial institution or insurance undertaking, he shall divest himself of such directorship within ten days after his appointment and if he fails so to do he shall at the expiration of such ten days be disqualified from holding the office of Governor;’,
and
(b) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (5):
‘(5) In this section and section 20—
‘credit institution’ means an undertaking whose business it is to receive deposits or other repayable funds from the public and to grant credit on its own account but does not include the European Monetary Institute or the European Central Bank;
‘financial institution’ means an undertaking other than a credit institution providing any one or more of the financial services set out in the Schedule to the European Communities (Licensing and Supervision of Credit Institutions) Regulations, 1992 (S.I. No. 395 of 1992);
‘insurance undertaking’ has the meaning assigned to it by the Insurance Act, 1989.’”.
Amendment of section 134 of Act of 1989.
19.—Section 134 of the Act of 1989 is hereby amended by the substitution for subsections (1) and (2) of the following subsections:
“(1) Whenever the Minister considers it necessary in the national interest, he may, after consulting the Bank, give a direction that in respect of a specified day or days a person to whom the direction relates shall not effect in the course of business any transaction, or any transaction of such a kind, as may be specified in the direction.
(2) The Minister may after consulting the Bank grant an exemption from all or part of a direction under this section to any person to whom it relates where he is satisfied that such an exemption would not adversely affect the national interest.”.
Amendment of section 15 of Act of 1989.
20.—Section 15 of the Act of 1989 is hereby amended by the insertion in subsection (5), after paragraph (b), of the following paragraph:
“(bb) A scheme established under paragraph (a) or (b) may include provision for the establishment by the Bank of a fund, administered by trustees appointed by the Bank, from which superannuation benefits payable under that scheme shall be paid and, on the establishment of that fund, the Bank shall transfer to that fund, within 5 days of its establishment, such sum as has accrued to the Superannuation Reserve of the Bank, being a Reserve, established under the Central Bank of Ireland (Surplus Income) Regulations, 1943 (S.I. No. 93 of 1943), and Article 5(b) of those Regulations shall stand revoked on the day that the transfer takes place and for the avoidance of doubt the Bank may thereafter transfer to that fund such monies as are provided for in the scheme to be so transferred.”.
Uimhir 2 de 1998
ACHT AN BHAINC CEANNAIS, 1998
RIAR NA nALT
Réamhráiteach agus Ginearálta
Alt | |
1. | |
2. |
An Córas Eorpach Banc Ceannais agus an Banc Ceannais Eorpach
3. | |
4. | |
5. | |
6. | |
7. | |
8. | |
9. | |
10. | |
11. | |
12. | |
13. | |
14. |
Ilghnéitheach
15. | |
16. | |
17. | |
18. | |
19. | |
20. |
Na hAchtanna dá dTagraítear | |
Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1997 | 1997, Uimh. 8 |
Achtanna an Bhainc Ceannais, 1942 go 1997 | |
An tAcht um Idirghabhálaithe Infheistíochta, 1995 | 1995, Uimh. 11 |
An tAcht um Stocmhalartáin, 1995 | 1995, Uimh. 9 |
Uimhir 2 de 1998
ACHT AN BHAINC CEANNAIS, 1998
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
ACHT DO DHÉANAMH SOCRÚ MAIDIR LE COMHALTAS AN BHAINC CEANNAIS SA CHÓRAS EORPACH BANC CEANNAIS AGUS DO LEASÚ AGUS DO LEATHNÚ ACHTANNA AN BHAINC CEANNAIS, 1942 GO 1997, AGUS DO DHÉANAMH SOCRÚ I dTAOBH NITHE GAOLMHARA. [18 Márta, 1998]
ACHTAÍTEAR AG AN OIREACHTAS MAR A LEANAS:
CUID I
Réamhráiteach agus Ginearálta
Gearrtheideal, forléiriú agus tosach feidhme.
1.—(1) Féadfar Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1998, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Déanfar an tAcht seo agus Achtanna an Bhainc Ceannais, 1942 go 1997, a fhorléiriú le chéile mar aon Acht amháin agus féadfar Achtanna an Bhainc Ceannais, 1942 go 1998, a ghairm díobh le chéile.
(3) Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i ngníomh cibé lá nó laethanta a cheapfaidh an tAire le hordú nó le horduithe i gcoitinne nó faoi threoir aon chríche nó forála áirithe, agus féadfar laethanta éagsúla a cheapadh amhlaidh chun críoch éagsúil agus le haghaidh forálacha éagsúla den Acht seo.
Léiriú.
2.—San Acht seo—
ciallaíonn “Acht 1942” Acht an Bhainc Cheannais, 1942;
ciallaíonn “Acht 1971” Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1971;
ciallaíonn “Acht 1989” Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1989;
ciallaíonn “Acht 1997” Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1997;
ciallaíonn “Banc” Banc Ceannais na hÉireann;
ciallaíonn “Aire” an tAire Airgeadais;
ciallaíonn “Reacht” Reacht an Chórais Eorpaigh Banc Ceannais agus an Bhainc Ceannais Eorpaigh mar atá leagtha amach i bPrótacal (Uimh. 3) (atá i gceangal leis an gConradh ar an Aontas Eorpach arna dhéanamh i Maastricht an 7ú lá d'Fheabhra, 1992) a ghabhann leis an gConradh ag bunú an Chomhphobail Eorpaigh arna dhéanamh sa Róimh an 25ú lá de Mhárta, 1957.
CUID II
An Córas Eorpach Banc Ceannais agus an Banc Ceannais Eorpach
Leasú ar alt 5 d'Acht 1942.
3.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 5 d'Acht 1942 tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (4):
“(4) Faoi réir fhorálacha alt 5A (arna chur isteach le hAcht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1998) den Acht seo, déanfaidh an Bord Stiúrthóirí feidhmeanna, cumhachtaí agus dualgais an Bhainc a fheidhmiú agus a chomhlíonadh don Bhanc agus in ainm an Bhainc.”.
Cumhachtaí ginearálta an Bhainc.
4.—Leasaítear leis seo Acht 1942 tríd an alt seo a leanas a chur isteach i ndiaidh alt 5:
“An Banc do chomhlíonadh fheidhmeanna an Chórais Eorpaigh Banc Ceannais. | 5A.—(1) Comhlíonfaidh an Banc aon fheidhm nó dualgas, nó feidhmeoidh sé aon chumhacht, a cheanglaítear le forálacha an Chonartha nó an Reachta nó fúthu. (2) Le héifeacht ó dháta bunaithe an Chórais Eorpaigh Banc Ceannais, déanfar an t-aon údarás agus an t-aon fhreagracht chun aon fheidhm nó dualgas a chomhlíonadh nó aon chumhacht a fheidhmiú a thugtar don Bhanc nó a fhorchuirtear air leis an gConradh nó faoi nó leis an Reacht nó faoi, a dhílsiú sa Ghobharnóir. (3) Faoi réir cheanglais an Chonartha agus an Reachta, cuirfidh an Gobharnóir an Bord ar an eolas faoi chomhall na bhfeidhmeanna, na ndualgas agus na gcumhachtaí a dhílsítear sa Ghobharnóir faoin alt seo agus féadfaidh sé an comhall sin a phlé leis an mBord. (4) Aon uair nach mbeidh an Gobharnóir ábalta de dheasca asláithreachta nó easláinte nó aon chúise eile na feidhmeanna, na dualgais agus na cumhachtaí dá dtagraítear san alt seo a chomhall, nó i gcás oifig an Ghobharnóra a bheith folamh, déanfar an t-údarás agus an fhreagracht a dhílsítear sa Ghobharnóir faoi fho-alt (2) den alt seo, le linn na neamhábaltachta sin nó an fholúntais sin, a dhílsiú in Ard-Stiúrthóir an Bhainc, agus déanfaidh seisean, ar feadh na tréimhse a mhairfidh an neamhábaltacht nó an folúntas sin, na feidhmeanna, na dualgais agus na cumhachtaí a dhílsítear sa Ghobharnóir faoin alt seo a fheidhmiú agus a chomhlíonadh. (5) San Acht seo— ciallaíonn ‘an Conradh’ an Conradh ag bunú an Comhphobail Eorpaigh arna dhéanamh sa Róimh an 25ú lá de Mhárta, 1957 (arna leasú leis an gConradh ar an Aontas Eorpach arna dhéanamh i Maastricht an 7ú lá d'Fheabhra, 1992); ciallaíonn ‘an Reacht’ Reacht an Chórais Eorpaigh Banc Ceannais agus an Bhainc Ceannais Eorpaigh mar atá leagtha amach i bPrótacal (Uimh. 3) (atá i gceangal leis an gConradh ar an Aontas Eorpach arna dhéanamh i Maastricht an 7ú lá d'Fheabhra, 1992) a ghabhann leis an gConradh ag bunú Chomhphobal Eacnamaíochta na hEorpa arna dhéanamh sa Róimh an 25ú lá de Mhárta, 1957.”. |
Leasú ar alt 6 d'Acht 1942.
5.—Leasaítear leis seo Acht 1942 tríd an alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad alt 6:
“6.—(1) Le linn a fheidhmeanna a chomhall mar chuid den Chóras Eorpach Banc Ceannais, is é cuspóir príomhúil an Bhainc cobhsaíocht phraghsanna a choimeád ar bun, agus gan dochar do ghinearáltacht an mhéid sin atá réamhráite, féadfaidh an Banc cibé feidhmeanna a chomhlíonadh agus cibé cumhachtaí a fheidhmiú agus cibé dualgais a chur i gcrích a thabharfar dó nó a fhorchuirfear air leis an gConradh, leis an Reacht nó le haon Acht den Oireachtas nó le hionstraim arna déanamh faoi.
(2) I dteannta an chuspóra dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo, folóidh cuspóirí an Bhainc cabhrú le cobhsaíocht an chórais airgeadais, oibriú éifeachtach agus éifeachtúil córas íocaíochta agus socraíochta a chur ar aghaidh agus cibé feidhmeanna, dualgais agus cumhachtaí eile a thabharfar dó nó a fhorchuirfear air leis an gConradh, leis an Reacht nó le haon Acht den Oireachtas nó le hionstraim arna déanamh faoi a chomhall.
(3) Gan dochar do na feidhmeanna, na cumhachtaí agus na dualgais a dhílsítear sa Bhanc díreach roimh an lá ceaptha, beidh an fheidhm ghinearálta agus an dualgas ginearálta ag an mBanc maidir le cibé bearta a ghlacadh (laistigh de theorainn na gcumhachtaí atá dílsithe ann de thuras na huaire agus, más cuí, ag féachaint d'fhorálacha an Chonartha agus an Reachta) a mheasann an Bord,ó am go ham, a bheith cuí agus inmholta i gcomhair chomhall aon fheidhmeanna, cumhachtaí agus dualgais a dhílsítear le dlí sa Bhord.
(4) Féadfaidh an tAire, cibé ócáidí is cuí leis, a iarraidh ar an nGobharnóir thar ceann an Bhoird nó ar an mBord dul i gcomhairle leis an Aire maidir leis an mBanc d'fhorghníomhú agus do chomhlíonadh aon fheidhme agus dualgais a fhorchuirtear ar an mBanc, seachas na cinn sin a fhorchuirtear leis an gConradh nó leis an Reacht, agus déanfaidh an Bord de réir gach iarrata den sórt sin.
(5) Faoi réir cheanglais an Chonartha, an Reachta, Achtanna an Bhainc Ceannais, 1942 go 1997, agus aon achtacháin eile, féadfaidh an tAire, cibé ócáidí is cuí leis, a iarraidh ar an nGobharnóir thar ceann an Bhoird nó ar an mBord scéala a thabhairt don Aire maidir leis an gcuspóir príomhúil a fhorchuirtear ar an mBanc le fo-alt (1) den alt seo a shaothrú, agus déanfaidh an Bord de réir gach iarrata den sórt sin.
(6) Gan dochar don chuspóir maidir le cobhsaíocht phraghsanna a choimeád ar bun, tacóidh an Banc leis na beartais ghinearálta eacnamaíochta sa Chomhphobal d'fhonn cabhrú le cuspóirí an Chomhphobail mar atá leagtha síos in Airteagal 2 den Chonradh a bhaint amach.”.
Leasú ar alt 7 d'Acht 1942.
6.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 7 (arna ionadú le halt 21 d'Acht 1997) d'Acht 1942—
(a) trí mhír (g) a aisghairm, agus
(b) trí na míreanna seo a leanas a chur isteach i ndiaidh mhír (m):
“(mm) sócmhainní, ioncam nó dliteanais a aistriú chuig an mBanc Ceannais Eorpach i gcás ina gceanglaítear sin faoin Reacht;
(mmm) aon chumhacht a fheidhmiú nó aon chúram nó dualgas a chomhlíonadh a thugtar don Bhanc leis an gConradh nó faoi nó leis an Reacht nó faoi;”.
An Gobharnóir a chur as oifig.
7.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 21 d'Acht 1942—
(a) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (2):
“(2) Má iarrann an Bord ar an Uachtarán, trí vóta d'aonghuth na Stiúrthóirí uile, an Gobharnóir a chur as oifig ar fhorais mí-iompair thromchúisigh, a luafar, is dleathach don Uachtarán, ar chomhairle a fháil ón Rialtas, an Gobharnóir a chur as oifig ar na forais sin a luafar agus beidh éifeacht láithreach leis an gcur as oifig sin ón dáta a bhfoilseofar an cinneadh chun an Gobharnóir a chur as oifig nó ón dáta a gcuirfear an cinneadh sin in iúl don Ghobharnóir.”,
(b) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur isteach i ndiaidh fho-alt (2):
“(3) Féadfar aon chinneadh, a ghlacfar de réir an ailt seo, chun Gobharnóir a chur as oifig a tharchur chuig Cúirt Bhreithiúnais na hEorpa i cibé modh agus ar cibé cúiseanna atá ar comhréir le hAirteagal 14.2 den Reacht.”.
Faisnéis a thabhairt don Bhanc.
8.—Leasaítear leis seo Acht 1971 tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (1) d'alt 18 (arna ionadú le halt 37 d'Acht 1989):
“(1) Aon sealbhóir ceadúnais, aon ghníomhaire tuairisceoireachta a ainmneoidh an Banc Ceannais Eorpach (dá ngairtear ‘gníomhaire tuairisceoireachta’ san alt seo) agus aon duine a sheolann gnó—
(a) mar fhiontraíocht chomhlachaithe lena mbaineann fo-alt (3) den alt seo,
(b) a mbeidh an duine sin, de bhua alt 7 (4) (a) (ii) den Acht seo, díolmhaithe ina leith ón oibleagáid ceadúnas a shealbhú,
(c) mar chuideachta iontaobhais infheistíochta,
(d) mar bhróicéir airgid,
(e) mar idirghabhálaí airgeadais, nó
(f) ag eisiúint nó ag sealbhú ionstraimí airgeadais, nó ag rannpháirtiú thairis sin in aon mhargadh in ionstraimí airgeadais, lena n-áirítear ionstraimí den sórt lena mbaineann Caibidil VIII d'Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1989,
tabharfaidh gach duine díobh don Bhanc—
(i) cibé tráthanna a dhéanfaidh an Banc nó, i gcás gníomhaire tuairisceoireachta, an Banc nó an Banc Ceannais Eorpach a shonrú ó am go ham, cibé faisnéis agus tuairisceáin maidir leis an ngnó lena mbaineann an ceadúnas nó maidir le gníomhaíochtaí gníomhaire tuairisceoireachta nó maidir le seoladh gnó ag an duine sin mar a dúradh, de réir mar a bheidh, a shonróidh an Banc nó, i gcás gníomhaire tuairisceoireachta, an Banc nó an Banc Ceannais Eorpach ó am go ham, is faisnéis agus tuairisceáin a mheasfaidh an Banc is gá a bheith aige chun feidhmeanna an Bhainc a fhorchuirtear air le dlí, nó, i gcás gníomhaire tuairisceoireachta, an Bhainc nó an Bhainc Ceannais Eorpaigh, a chomhlíonadh go cuí, agus
(ii) laistigh de cibé tréimhse a dhéanfaidh an Banc nó, i gcás gníomhaire tuairisceoireachta, an Banc nó an Banc Ceannais Eorpach a shonrú, aon fhaisnéis agus tuairisceáin (nach faisnéis ná tuairisceáin a shonraítear faoi fhomhír (i) den fho-alt seo) maidir leis an ngnó lena mbaineann an ceadúnas nó maidir le gníomhaíochtaí gníomhaire tuairisceoireachta nó maidir le seoladh gnó ag an duine sin mar a dúradh, de réir mar a bheidh, a iarrfaidh an Banc nó, i gcás gníomhaire tuairisceoireachta, an Banc nó an Banc Ceannais Eorpach, i scríbhinn, is faisnéis agus tuairisceáin a mheasfaidh an Banc is gá a bheith aige chun feidhmeanna an Bhainc a fhorchuirtear air le dlí, nó, i gcás gníomhaire tuairisceoireachta, an Bhainc nó an Bhainc Ceannais Eorpaigh, a chomhlíonadh go cuí.”.
Cúlchistí íosta.
9.—Féadfaidh an Banc alt 23 (arna leasú le halt 40 d'Acht 1989) d'Acht 1971 a chur i bhfeidhm maidir le daoine nó aicmí daoine sa Stát atá sonraithe faoi Airteagal 19.1 den Reacht de bhun ceanglais ón mBanc Ceannais Eorpach.
Faisnéis a nochtadh don Bhanc Ceannais Eorpach.
10.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 16 (arna leasú le halt 50 den Acht um Stocmhalartáin, 1995, le halt 49 den Acht um Idirghabhálaithe Infheistíochta, 1995, agus le halt 52 d'Acht 1997) d'Acht 1989—
(a) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (1) (b):
“(b) i dtaobh ghníomhaíochtaí an Bhainc i leith a chuspóirí a shaothrú mar atá leagtha amach in alt 6 (arna leasú le halt 5 d'Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1998) d'Acht an Bhainc Cheannais, 1942.”,
(b) trí na fomhíreanna seo a leanas a chur in ionad fhomhír (t) d'fho-alt (2):
“(t) a dhéanfar leis an Institiúid Eorpach Airgeadaíochta nó leis an mBanc Ceannais Eorpach i gcás ina gceanglaítear an nochtadh sin a dhéanamh de réir an Chonartha nó an Reachta,
(tt) a dhéanfar le hiniúchóir lena mbaineann alt 11 d'Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1998,”,
(c) tríd an mír seo a leanas a chur in ionad mhír (II) d'fho-alt (2)(ii):
“(II) d'eisiúint dlíthairisceana ag an mBanc nó ag an mBanc Ceannais Eorpach, nó”,
agus
(d) tríd an mír seo a leanas a chur in ionad mhír (III) d'fho-alt (2)(ii):
“(III) an Banc do shaothrú a chuspóirí faoi alt 6 (arna leasú le halt 5 d'Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1998) den Phríomh-Acht.”.
Cuntais an Bhainc a iniúchadh.
11.—D'ainneoin alt 19 d'Acht 1989, féadfar cuntais an Bhainc a iniúchadh de réir Airteagal 27 den Reacht agus déanfaidh an Banc faisnéis, leabhair agus taifid iomlána a chur ar fáil d'aon iniúchóirí a cheapfar de réir an Airteagail sin.
An ciste ginearálta.
12.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 23 d'Acht 1989 trí na fo-ailt seo a leanas a chur isteach i ndiaidh fho-alt (4):
“(5) Déileálfar le haon éilimh ar an mBanc Ceannais Eorpach, nó le haon dliteanais dó, mar shócmhainní nó dliteanais de chuid an chiste ghinearálta nó de chuid cibé ciste eile a bhunófar le hordú ón Aire chun na críche sin.
(6) Féadfaidh rialacháin faoi fho-alt (2) foráil a dhéanamh maidir le haon ní a éireoidh as feidhmiú Chaibidlí VI, VIII agus IX den Reacht.
(7) Le linn na cumhachtaí a thugtar don Aire le fo-ailt (2) agus (4) a fheidhmiú, beidh aird ag an Aire ar na cumhachtaí, na feidhmeanna agus na dualgais a thugtar don Bhanc leis an gConradh nó faoi agus leis an Reacht nó faoi.
(8) San Acht seo—
ciallaíonn ‘an Conradh’ an Conradh ag bunú an Chomhphobail Eorpaigh arna dhéanamh sa Róimh an 25ú lá de Mhárta, 1957 (arna leasú leis an gConradh ar an Aontas Eorpach arna dhéanamh i Maastricht an 7ú lá d'Fheabhra, 1992);
ciallaíonn ‘an Reacht’ Reacht an Chórais Eorpaigh Banc Ceannais agus an Bhainc Ceannais Eorpaigh mar atá leagtha amach i bPrótacal (Uimh. 3) (atá i gceangal leis an gConradh ar an Aontas Eorpach arna dhéanamh i Maastricht an 7ú lá d'Fheabhra, 1992) a ghabhann leis an gConradh ag bunú an Chomhphobail Eorpaigh arna dhéanamh sa Róimh an 25ú lá de Mhárta, 1957.”.
Leasú ar alt 24 d'Acht 1989.
13.—Leasaítear leis seo Acht 1989 trí fho-ailt (2) agus (3) d'alt 24 a scriosadh.
14.—Leasaítear leis seo an tAcht um Airgead Reatha Deachuil, 1969, tríd an alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad alt 5:
“5.—Gach mona a sholáthrófar faoi alt 3 nó 4 den Acht seo, eiseoidh an tAire tríd an mBanc Ceannais é, ach sin faoi réir ceadú a fháil ón mBanc Ceannais Eorpach maidir le méid na heisiúna.”.
CUID III
Ilghnéitheach
Leasú ar alt 44 d'Acht 1971.
15.—Leasaítear leis seo Acht 1971 tríd an alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad alt 44 (arna ionadú le halt 120 d'Acht 1989):
“44.—Is dleathach don Bhanc, le húdarás an Bhainc Ceannais Eorpaigh, nótaí dlíthairgthe a eisiúint.”.
Leasú ar alt 118 d'Acht 1989.
16.—Leasaítear leis seo Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1989, tríd an alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad alt 118:
“118.—(1) Is dleathach don Bhanc nótaí ar a dtabharfar, agus dá ngairtear sa Chuid seo, nótaí dlíthairgthe a sholáthar agus a eisiúint, de réir na Coda seo, sna hainmluachanna seo a leanas, eadhon, £1, £5, £10, £20, £50, £100 agus aon ainmluach eile sa phunt Éireannach nó in aonad an euro a bhfuil an eisiúint ina leith údaraithe ag an mBanc Ceannais Eorpach de réir Airteagal 105a den Chonradh agus beidh na nótaí sin agus nótaí eile a bheidh ainmnithe in aonad an euro a bhfuil an eisiúint ina leith údaraithe ag an mBanc Ceannais Eorpach de réir Airteagal 105a den Chonradh sin i gcúrsaíocht sa Stát agus is dlíthairiscint a bheidh iontu sa Stát chun aon mhéid a íoc.
(2) Maidir le gach nóta dlíthairgthe, beidh sé i cibé foirm agus beidh cibé méid ann agus cibé dearadh air, agus beidh sé clóite i cibé caoi agus ar cibé páipéar, agus uimhrithe agus fíordheimhnithe i cibé caoi, a bhí forordaithe roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo nó a fhorordófar ó am go ham dá éis sin chun críche an ailt seo.
(3) Aon nóta dlíthairgthe d'aon ainmluach arna sholáthar nó arna eisiúint aon tráth faoin Acht Airgid Reatha, 1927, nó faoi aon Acht dá éis sin, leanfaidh sé de bheith i gcúrsaíocht sa Stát agus beidh sé ina dhlíthairiscint fós sa Stát chun aon mhéid a íoc.
(4) San alt seo—
tá le ‘aonad an euro’ an bhrí a shanntar dó le Rialachán Uimh. 1103/97 an 17 Meitheamh, 1997, ón gComhairle maidir le forálacha áirithe a bhaineann leis an euro a thabhairt isteach;
folaíonn ‘páipéar’ aon ábhar ar féidir cló air;
ciallaíonn ‘forordaithe’, i gcás nótaí a bheidh forordaithe roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo, forordaithe ag an mBanc le ceadú an Aire agus i ngach cás eile forordaithe ag an mBanc le ceadú an Bhainc Ceannais Eorpaigh.”.
Feidhmeanna agus dualgais an Ghobharnóra.
17.—Leasaítear leis seo Acht 1997 tríd an alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad alt 24:
“24.—(1) Faoi réir cheanglais an Chonartha agus an Reachta, freastalóidh Gobharnóir an Bhainc, má iarrtar amhlaidh air nó uirthi, os comhair Comhchoiste den Oireachtas dá sanntar an ról maidir le nithe a bhaineann leis an mBanc a scrúdú agus déanfaidh sé nó sí cibé faisnéis a iarrfar a thabhairt don Choiste sin, ach sin faoi réir aon srianta ina leith sin a leagtar ar an nGobharnóir de bhua Achtanna an Bhainc Ceannais, 1942 go 1997, agus aon achtacháin eile.
(2) San Acht seo—
ciallaíonn ‘an Conradh’ an Conradh ag bunú an Chomhphobail Eorpaigh arna dhéanamh sa Róimh an 25ú lá de Mhárta, 1957 (arna leasú leis an gConradh ar an Aontas Eorpach arna dhéanamh i Maastricht an 7ú lá d'Fheabhra, 1992);
ciallaíonn ‘an Reacht’ Reacht an Chórais Eorpaigh Banc Ceannais agus an Bhainc Ceannais Eorpaigh mar atá leagtha amach i bPrótacal (Uimh. 3) (atá i gceangal leis an gConradh ar an Aontas Eorpach arna dhéanamh i Maastricht an 7ú lá d'Fheabhra, 1992) a ghabhann leis an gConradh ag bunú an Chomhphobail Eorpaigh arna dhéanamh sa Róimh an 25ú lá de Mhárta, 1957.”.
Leasú ar alt 26 d'Acht 1997.
18.—Leasaítear leis seo Acht 1997 tríd an alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad alt 26:
“26.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 19 d'Acht 1942—
(a) i bhfo-alt (4):
(i) tríd an mír seo a leanas a chur in ionad mhír (b)—
‘(b) beidh sé, le linn é a bheith in oifig, neamhintofa mar stiúrthóir ar aon fhoras creidmheasa, foras airgeadais nó gnóthas árachais;',
agus
(ii) tríd an mír seo a leanas a chur in ionad mhír (c):
‘(c) más stiúrthóir ar aon fhoras creidmheasa, foras airgeadais nó gnóthas árachais é tráth an cheaptha, scarfaidh sé leis an stiúrthóireacht sin laistigh de dheich lá tar éis a cheaptha agus mura ndéanfaidh sé amhlaidh beidh sé dícháilithe, nuair a bheidh na deich lá sin caite, ó bheith i seilbh oifig an Ghobharnóra ;’,
agus
(b) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (5):
‘(5) San alt seo agus in alt 20—
ciallaíonn ‘foras creidmheasa’ gnóthas arb é a ghnó taiscí nó cistí inaisíoctha eile a ghlacadh ón bpobal agus creidmheas a dheonú ar a chuntas féin ach ní fholaíonn sé an Institiúid Eorpach Airgeadaíochta ná an Banc Ceannais Eorpach;
ciallaíonn ‘foras airgeadais’ gnóthas seachas foras creidmheasa a sholáthraíonn aon cheann amháin nó níos mó de na seirbhísí airgeadais atá leagtha amach sa Sceideal a ghabhann le Rialacháin na gComhphobal Eorpach (Forais Chreidmheasa a Cheadúnú agus a Mhaoirsiú), 1992 (I.R. Uimh. 395 de 1992);
tá le ‘gnóthas árachais’ an bhrí a shanntar dó leis an Acht Árachais, 1989.’”.
Leasú ar alt 134 d'Acht 1989.
19.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 134 d'Acht 1989 trí na fo-ailt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-ailt (1) agus (2):
“(1) Aon uair a mheasfaidh an tAire gur gá déanamh amhlaidh ar mhaithe leis an leas náisiúnta, féadfaidh sé, tar éis dó dul i gcomhairle leis an mBanc, ordachán a thabhairt, i leith lae shonraithe nó laethanta sonraithe, nach ndéanfaidh duine lena mbaineann an t-ordachán aon idirbheart, ná aon idirbheart de chineál, a bheidh sonraithe san ordachán a chur i gcrích i gcúrsa gnó.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire, tar éis dó dul i gcomhairle leis an mBanc, díolúine ó ordachán iomlán, nó ó chuid d'ordachán, faoin alt seo a dheonú d'aon duine lena mbaineann sé i gcás inar deimhin leis nach rachadh díolúine den sórt sin chun dochair don leas náisiúnta.”.
Leasú ar alt 15 d'Acht 1989.
20.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 15 d'Acht 1989 tríd an mír seo a leanas a chur isteach i bhfo-alt (5), i ndiaidh mhír (b):
“(bb) Féadfaidh foráil a bheith i scéim a bhunófar faoi mhír (a) nó (b) ar foráil í maidir leis an mbanc do bhunú ciste a riarfaidh iontaobhaithe arna gceapadh ag an mBanc agus óna n-íocfar sochair aoisliúntais a bheidh iníoctha faoin scéim sin agus, ar bhunú an chiste sin, aistreoidh an Banc chuig an gciste sin, laistigh de 5 lá ó thráth a bhunaithe, cibé suim a bheidh fabhraithe chun Cúlchiste Aoisliúntais an Bhainc, ar Cúlchiste é a bunaíodh faoi na Central Bank of Ireland (Surplus Income) Regulations, 1943 (I.R. Uimh. 93 de 1943), agus beidh Airteagal 5(b) de na Rialacháin sin arna chúlghairm an lá a dtarlóidh an t-aistriú agus d'fhonn amhras a sheachaint féadfaidh an Banc cibé airgead a aistriú chuig an gciste sin ina dhiaidh sin a ndéantar foráil ina leith sa scéim go n-aistreofar amhlaidh é.”.