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Uimhir 22 de 1942.
ACHT AN BHAINC CHEANNAIS, 1942.
[An tionntódh oifigeamhail.]
CUID I.
Reamhraiteach agus Generalta.
Gearr-theideal, có-luadh, agus léiriú.
1.—(1) Féadfar Acht an Bhainc Cheannais, 1942, do ghairm den Acht so.
(2) Féadfar Achtanna an Airgid Reatha agus an Bhainc Cheannais, 1927 go 1942, do ghairm de na hAchtanna Airgid Reatha, 1927 agus 1930, agus den Acht so le chéile.
(3) Léireofar mar éinní amháin an tAcht so agus na hAchtanna Airgid Reatha, 1927 agus 1930.
(4) I ngach áit ina bhfuil an abairt “an tAcht so” san Acht Airgid Reatha léireofar í, agus beidh éifeacht aici, mar abairt fholuíonn an tAcht Airgid Reatha (Leasú), 1930 (Uimh. 30 de 1930), agus an tAcht so.
Mínithe.
2.—San Acht so—
cialluíonn an abairt “an tAire” an tAire Airgeadais;
cialluíonn an abairt “an tAcht Airgid Reatha” an tAcht Airgid Reatha, 1927 (Uimh. 32 de 1927), arna oiriúnú de bharr an Bunreacht d'achtú;
cialluíonn an abairt “an Coimisiún” Coimisiún an Airgid Reatha;
cialluíonn an abairt “an Banc” Banc Ceannais na hÉireann arna bhunú leis an Acht so;
cialluíonn an abairt “an Bord” Bord Stiúrthóirí an Bhainc;
cialluíonn an focal “Gobharnóir” Gobharnóir an Bhainc;
ní fholuíonn an abairt “Stiúrthóir ar an mBanc” an Gobharnóir;
cialluíonn an focal “Stiúrthóir” Stiúrthóir ar an mBanc (lasmuich de chás ina n-iarrann an có-théacs a mhalairt);
cialluíonn an abairt “Stiúrthóir seirbhíse” Stiúrthóir i mbuantseirbhís an Stáit;
cialluíonn an abairt “bancaer ceadúnuithe” sealbhóir ceadúnais bhancaera arna eisiúint dó fén Acht so agus é i bhfeidhm de thurus na huaire;
tá leis na habairtí “nóta dlí-thairgthe”, “nóta bainc códhlúite”, “ciste na nótaí dlí-thairgthe”, “cúl-chiste na nótaí”, agus “an ciste generálta” na bríonna céanna atá leo fé seach san Acht Airgid Reatha.
An lá ceaptha.
3.—(1) Déanfaidh an tAire, le hordú, lá do cheapadh chun bheith ina lá cheaptha chun crícheanna an Achta so.
(2) San Acht so cialluíonn an abairt “an lá ceaptha” an lá ceapfar fén alt so chun bheith ina lá cheaptha chun crícheanna an Achta so.
Athghairm.
4.—(1) Na hailt uile agus fé seach den Acht Airgid Reatha luaidhtear sa chéad cholún de Chuid I den Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht so, athghairmtear leis seo iad sa mhéid a luaidhtear sa dara colún, agus amhail ar an dáta agus ón dáta luaidhtear sa tríú colún, den Chuid sin den Sceideal san os coinne luadh an ailt sin sa chéad cholún san.
(2) Na hachtacháin uile agus fé seach a luaidhtear i gCuid II den Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht so, athghairmtear leis seo iad sa mhéid a luaidhtear sa tríú colún, agus amhail ar na dátaí agus o na dátaí fé seach a luaidhtear sa cheathrú colún, den Chuid sin den Sceideal san.
CUID II.
Banc Ceannais na hÉireann do Bhunu agus Coimisiun an Airgid Reatha do Dhiochur.
An Banc do bhunú.
5.—(1) Déanfar, an lá ceaptha, agus déantar leis seo cólucht do bhunú do réir an Achta so ar a dtabharfar mar ainm agus mar theideal Banc Ceannais na hÉireann no, sa Bhéarla, The Central Bank of Ireland, chun na feidhmeanna ceaptar dó leis an Acht so do chólíonadh.
(2) Beidh an Banc ina chólucht chorpruithe agus síor-chomharbas aige agus séala oifigiúil (ar a dtabharfar áird i gcúrsaí breithiúntais) agus féadfaidh dul chun dlí agus féadfar dul chun dlí leis féna ainm chorpruithe agus féadfaidh talamh do shealbhú agus do chur de láimh.
(3) Déanfar an Banc do sheoladh agus do bhainistighe do réir an Achta so ag Bord Stiúrthóirí bheidh códhéanta de—
(a) Gobharnóir, agus
(b) triúr Stiúrthóirí ar a dtabharfar agus dá ngairmtear san Acht so Stiúrthóirí bancaerachta, agus
(c) an uimhir sin de Stiúrthóirí eile (nach mó ná cúigear agus gan thar dhá Stiúrthóir sheirbhíse ortha uair ar bith) a chinnfidh an tAire o am go ham.
(4) Déanfaidh an Bord Stiúrthóirí feidhmeanna, comhachta agus dualgais an Bhainc d'fheidhmiú agus do chólíonadh don Bhanc agus in ainm an Bhainc.
(5) Is dleathach don Bhord gach ní no aon ní no nithe aca so leanas do dhéanamh le rialacháin a dhéanfaidh an Bord, sé sin le rá:—
(a) a údarú go mbunófaí coistí den Bhord ar a mbeadh ball no baill den Bhord ina n-aonar no in éineacht le hoifigeach no oifigigh don Bhanc;
(b) nós imeachta aon choiste bunófar amhlaidh do rialáil agus a fheidhmeanna agus a chomhachta agus a dhualgais do leagadh amach;
(c) feidhmiú agus cólíonadh aon cheann no cinn d'fheidhmeanna, comhachta agus dualgais an Bhainc no an Bhuird do thairmleigean chun aon choiste den tsórt san;
(d) feidhmiú agus cólíonadh aon cheann no cinn d'fheidhmeanna, comhachta agus dualgais an Bhainc no an Bhuird do thairmleigean chun an Ghobharnóra (agus an Leas-Ghobharnóir d'áireamh) no chun aon Stiúrthóra no chun aon bheirt no níos mó de bhaill an Bhuird no chun aon oifigigh no oifigeach don Bhanc;
(e) coinníollacha no teoranta no srianta do chur le haon choiste no daoine no duine den tsórt san d'fheidhmiú agus do chólíonadh na bhfeidhmeanna, na gcomhacht agus na ndualgas a tairmleigfear chuca no chuige fén bhfo-alt so;
(f) a shocrú go ndéanfaidh an Bord, i gcásanna oiriúnacha, athmheas ar chomhairlí cinnfear no nithe déanfar ag aon choiste no daoine no duine den tsórt san agus iad no é ag feidhmiú no ag cólíonadh aon fheidhme no comhachta no dualgais a tairmleigfear chuca no chuige fén bhfo-alt so.
(6) Ní bhainfidh alt 9 den Acht Airí agus Rúnaithe, 1924 (Uimh. 16 de 1924), leis an mBanc.
Feidhm agus dualgas generálta an Bhainc.
6.—(1) Mar bhreis agus gan docharú ar na feidhmeanna, na comhachta, agus na dualgais a bheidh dílsithe le dlí sa Choimisiún díreach roimh an lá ceaptha agus ar na feidhmeanna, na comhachta, agus na dualgais a bhronnann no chuireann an tAcht so go sonnrach ar an mBanc, beidh d'fheidhm agus de dhualgas ghenerálta ag an mBanc na nithe sin do dhéanamh (laistigh de theorainn na gcomhacht a bheidh dílsithe ann le dlí de thurus na huaire) a mheasfaidh an Bord o am go ham do bheith oiriúnach agus ionhmolta chun sláine an airgid reatha do chaomhnadh agus chun a áirithiú gurb é leas an phobail i gcoitinne is príomh-chuspóir buan ina mbaineann le hurlámhas creidiúnais.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire, ar na hócáidí sin a mheasfaidh is ceart, a iarraidh ar an nGobharnóir thar ceann an Bhuird no ar an mBord comhairle do ghlacadh leis i dtaobh an Banc d'fheidhmiú agus do chólíonadh na feidhme agus an dualgais ghenerálta cuirtear ar an mBanc leis an bhfo-alt san roimhe seo den alt so, agus géillfidh an Bord do gach iarratas den tsórt san.
Comhachta sonnracha áirithe don Bhanc.
7.—(1) Is dleathach don Bhanc gach ní no aon ní no nithe aca so leanas do dhéanamh, chun crícheanna no tré bhíthin an chiste ghenerálta, ar na hócaidí agus sa mhéid a mheasfaidh an Bord is ceart, sé sin le rá:—
(a) mona no buillcon óir no airgid, no aon airgead reatha coigríche, do cheannach no do dhíol;
(b) taiscí (ná beidh ús iníoctha ortha) do ghlacadh o Aire Stáit no o aon údarás puiblí no o aon Bhanc Cópháirteach, no o aon bhanc no foras creidiúnais eile dhéanann a ghnó i bpáirt no go hiomlán sa Stát;
(c) cuntais d'oscailt i dtíortha eile no gníomhú mar ghníomhaire no taiscidhe no cófhreagróir d'aon Bhanc a dhéanann gnó sa Stát no lasmuich dhe;
(d) scaireanna in aon bhanc eadarnáisiúnta bheidh códhéanta ar fad no go furmhór de bhancanna is príomh-údarás airgid reatha ina dtíortha féin fé seach do thógáil, do shealbhú, no do chur de láimh le toil an Aire;
(e) athlascainiú do dhéanamh ar bhillí stát-chiste agus ar bhillí údarás áitiúla bheidh faomhtha no lascainithe no formhuinithe roimhe sin ag Banc Cópháirteach no aon bhanc no foras creidiúnais eile dhéanann a ghnó i bpáirt no go hiomlán sa Stát agus a aibeoidh i gceann dhá mhí dhéag ar a dhéanaighe óna ndáta;
(f) athlascainiú do dhéanamh ar bhillí malairte is dóich leis an mBord is billí tráchtála den chéad-scoth agus a aibeoidh, i gcás billí bheidh tarraingthe chun crícheanna talmhaíochta no bunuithe ar eallach stuic, i gcionn dhá mhí dhéag ar a dhéanaighe (gan laetheanta iardaighe d'áireamh) óna ndáta no, in aon chás eile, i gcionn sé mí ar a dhéanaighe (gan laetheanta iardaighe d'áireamh) óna ndáta;
(g) an ráta no na rátaí minimum ar a n-athlascaineoidh an Banc billí stát-chiste no billí údarás áitiúla no billí malairte den tsórt a luaidhtear i gceachtar den dá mhír dheiridh sin roimhe seo den alt so do cheapadh agus d'fhoillsiú o am go ham;
(h) urrúis is leis an Stát no bheidh urruithe ag an Stát agus a bheidh fógartha chun a suibscríobhtha no a dtairgthe ag an bpuiblíocht roimh an mBanc dá gceannach agus a bheidh á luadh go hoifigiúil ar Bhúrsa Bhaile Atha Cliath agus ar Bhúrsa Chorcaighe no urrúis is le Rialtas, no bheidh urruithe ag Rialtas, aon tíre eile do cheannach no do shealbhú no do dhíol;
(i) urrúis do cheannach no do shealbhú no do dhíol is le haon údarás puiblí agus a mbeidh údaruithe le dlí cistí iontaobhais do shuncáil ionta agus a bheidh fógartha chun a suibscríobhtha no a dtairgthe ag an bpuiblíocht roimh an mBanc dá gceannach agus a bheidh á luadh go hoifigiúil ar Bhúrsa Bhaile Atha Cliath agus ar Bhúrsa Chorcaighe;
(j) iasachtaí no réimhíocanna do thabhairt do bhainc agus d'fhorais chreidiúnais eile (a dhéanann a ngnó i bpáirt no go hiomlán sa Stát) ar urrús billí malairte den tsórt a gcomhachtuítear anso roimhe seo don Bhanc iad d'athlascainiú no ar urrús urrúsanna den tsórt a gcomhachtuítear anso roimhe seo don Bhanc iad do cheannach no ar urrús mona óir no builleoin óir no scríbhinní bhaineann le loingsiú no stóráil mona óir no builleoin óir;
(k) cláir d'urrúis an Stáit do choimeád;
(l) cláir d'aon stoc a bheidh eisithe ag aon údarás puiblí do choimeád don údarás san no thar a gceann;
(m) na cuntais ar imréitíocht aon bhancaerí do choimeád;
(2) Is údarás puiblí chun crícheanna an fho-ailt sin roimhe seo den alt so gach cólucht aca so leanas, agus léireofar an abairt “údarás puiblí” agus beidh éifeacht aici dá réir sin sa bhfo-alt san, sé sin le rá:—
(a) coimisiún, bord, no cólucht eile (corpruithe no neachorpruithe) ar a mbeidh curtha le dlí feidhmeanna rialtais no riaradh puiblí d'fheidhmiú ar fuaid an Stáit no aon tseirbhís phuiblí (agus soláthar creidiúnais d'áireamh ach gan iompar d'áireamh) do riaradh ar fuaid an Stáit, agus
(b) bárdas, comhairle, coiste, no cólucht eile (corpruithe no nea-chorpruithe) ar a mbeidh curtha le dlí feidhmeanna rialtais áitiúil d'fheidhmiú laistigh de líomatáiste sonnruithe sa Stát no feidhmeanna riaracháin phuiblí no seirbhíse puiblí (seachas iompar) de chineál áitiúil d'fheidhmiú.
Comhachta áirithe eile don Bhanc.
8.—Is dleathach don Bhanc gach ní no aon ní no nithe aca so leanas do dhéanamh ar na hócáidí agus sa mhéid a mheasfaidh an Bord is ceart, sé sin le rá:—
(a) socrú do dhéanamh chun data bhaineann le fadhbanna mona agus creidiúnais do bhailiú agus do scrúdú agus abhar colasmhar ina dtaobh d'fhoillsiú;
(b) teangmháil do bhunú agus do chothabháil, go díreach no go nea-dhíreach, idir iad féin agus na húdaráis airgid a bheidh bunuithe i dtíortha eile;
(c) gach ní do dhéanamh a chabhróidh no ghabhfaidh le feidhmiú no cólíonadh, no leanfaidh as feidhmiú no cólíonadh, aon chomhachta no dualgais dá gcuirtear no dá mbronntar ar an mBanc leis an alt so no le haon alt eile den Acht so no dá mbronnfar no dá gcuirfear ar an mBanc o am go ham le dlí.
Caipital an Bhainc.
9.—(1) Isé is caipital don Bhanc dachad míle punt agus íocfaidh an tAire ceithre mhíle fichead punt de sin leis an mBane an lá ceaptha no chó luath agus is féidir ina dhiaidh sin agus íocfaidh an tAire an chuid eile dhe leis an mBanc an tráth no na tráthanna ar a gcó-áontóidh an Bord agus an tAire.
(2) Is ar an bPrímh-Chiste no ar a thora fáis a bheidh muirear agus íoc gach airgid is iníoctha ag an Aire leis an mBanc fén bhfo-alt san roimhe seo den alt so.
(3) Nuair a bheidh an ceithre mhíle fichead punt íoctha ag an Aire leis an mBanc de bhun an bhforálacha san roimhe seo den alt so, aisíocfaidh an Banc láithreach le gach banc is Banc Scairshealbhach díreach roimh an lá ceaptha gach suim d'íoc an banc san leis an gCoimisiún de bhun ailt 64 den Acht Airgid Reatha maraon leis an díbhinn oiriúnach ar gach suim den tsórt san in aghaidh na tréimhse ón dáta deiridh go dtí n-ar híocadh díbhinn uirthi go dtí dáta an aisíoctha san.
(4) Leasuítear leis seo fo-alt (4) d'alt 63 den Acht Airgid Reatha tré na focail “a bheidh íoctha ag Bainc Scair-shealbhacha de thurus na huaire ar cuntas a bhfiachais chaipitiúla” do scriosadh as agus na focail “de chaipital an Bhainc a bheidh íoctha de thurus na huaire” do chur in ionad na bhfocal a scriostar amhlaidh.
Séala an Bhainc.
10.—(1) Soláthróidh an Banc séala dhó féin an lá ceaptha no chó luath agus is féidir é ina dhiaidh sin.
(2) Is amhlaidh a fíorófar séala an Bhainc le sighniú an Ghobharnóra no Stiúrthóra go n-údarás chuige sin ón mBord agus le contra-shighniú rúnaidhe an Bhainc no oifigigh eile don Bhanc go n-údarás chuige sin ón mBord.
(3) Gach scríbhinn uirchiallfaidh bheith déanta no eisithe ag an mBanc agus bheith séaluithe le séala an Bhainc arna fhíorú sa tslí foráltar leis an alt so glacfar i bhfianaise í agus, gan cruthúnas ar shighniú no ar údarás éinne a n-uirchiallfaidh an scríbhinn sin í bheith sighnithe no contra-shighnithe aige, is tuigthe, no go gcruthófar a mhalairt, gurb é an Banc do rinne no d'eisigh í.
(4) Go dtí go mbeidh séala soláthruithe dhó féin ag an mBanc de bhun an ailt seo, is tuigthe gurb é séala an Choimisiúin séala an Bhainc agus is dleathach don Bhanc séala an Choimisiúin d'úsáid dá réir sin.
(5) Nuair a bheidh séala soláthruithe dhó féin ag an mBanc de bhun an ailt seo, bhéarfaidh an Bord séala an Choimisiúin do bhriseadh no d'agh-lot i riocht nach féidir é úsáid.
Tagairtí don Choimisiún san Acht Airgid Reatha, 1927, do léiriú.
11.—(1) Ar an lá ceaptha agus dá éis sin agus fé réir na n-athghairm agus na leasuithe déantar leis an Acht so beidh éifeacht ag na hAchtanna Airgid Reatha, 1927 agus 1930, i dteanta agus fé réir an athruithe go ndéanfar gach luadh no tagairt don Chathaoirleach do léiriú mar luadh no mar thagairt don Ghobharnóir agus gach luadh no tagairt don Choimisiún do léiriú mar luadh no mar thagairt don Bhanc, ach go déanfar aon luadh no tagairt den tsórt san a thagrann go follas, no as ar tuigthe go riachtanach go dtagrann sé, do bhaill an Choimisiúin do léiriú mar luadh no mar thagairt don Bhord.
(2) Ar an lá ceaptha agus dá éis sin féadfaidh nóta dlí-thairgthe bheith do réir pé fuirme, tuise, agus deara agus clóbhuailte i pé slí agus ar pé páipéar agus uimhrithe agus fíoruithe i pé slí d'orduigh no ordóidh an Coimisiún (roimh an Acht so do rith no dá éis sin) fé fho-alt (2) d'alt 45 den Acht Airgid Reatha (arna mhodhnú leis an bhfo-alt san roimhe seo den alt so) roimh an lá ceaptha no do réir pé fuirme, tuise, agus deara agus clóbhuailte i pé slí agus ar pé páipéar agus uimhrithe agus fíoruithe i pé slí ordóidh an Banc fén bhfo-alt san (2) den alt san 45 (arna mhodhnú mar adubhradh) an lá ceaptha no dá éis sin.
(3) Ar an lá ceaptha agus dá éis sin féadfaidh nóta bainc códhlúite bheith do réir pé fuirme, tuise agus deara agus clóbhuailte i pé slí agus ar pé páipéar agus uimhrithe agus fíoruithe i pé slí d'orduigh no ordóidh an Coimisiún (roimh an Acht so do rith no dá éis sin) fé fho-alt (3) d'alt 51 den Acht Airgid Reatha (arna mhodhnú leis an gcéad fho-alt den alt so) roimh an lá ceaptha no do réir pé fuirme, tuise agus deara agus clóbhuailte i pé slí agus ar pé páipéar agus uimhrithe agus fíoruithe i pé slí ordóidh an Banc fén bhfo-alt san (3) den alt san 51 (arna mhodhnú mar adubhradh) an lá ceaptha no dá éis sin.
Na Bainc Chópháirteacha.
12.—(1) Beidh i gcópháirtíocht leis an mBanc na bainc eile sin a luaidhtear no dá bhforáltar san alt so agus Bainc Chópháirteacha bhéarfar ar na bainc sin agus a gairmtear díobh san Acht so.
(2) Na hocht mbainc a hainmnítear sa dara colún den Tríú Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht so tiocfaid chun bheith agus beid ina mBainc Chópháirteacha an lá ceaptha.
(3) Ar an lá ceaptha agus dá éis beidh feidhm agus éifeacht ag ailt 42 agus 43 den Acht Airgid Reatha maidir leis na Bainc Chópháirteacha i dteanta agus fé réir na n-athruithe go gcuirfear na habairtí “an Bord”, “Bainc Chópháirteacha”, agus “Banc Cópháirteach” fé seach in ionad na n-abairtí fé seach “an Coimisiún”, “Bainc Scair-shealbhacha”, agus “Banc Scairshealbhach” i ngach áit ina bhfuil na habairtí deiridh sin fé seach sna hailt sin 42 agus 43.
(4) Gach luadh no tagairt a déantar do na Bainc Scair-shealbhacha (san uatha no san iolra) san Acht Airgid Reatha (lasmuich d'ailt 42 agus 43) léireofar é agus beidh éifeacht aige an lá ceaptha agus dá éis mar luadh no mar thagairt do na Bainc Chópháirteacha (san uatha no san iolra fé mar is gá sa chás).
(5) Leasuítear leis seo fo-alt (4) d'alt 5 den Acht Airgid Reatha (Leasú), 1930 (Uimh. 30 de 1930), tríd an bhfocal “Scair-shealbhach” do scriosadh as.
Glacadh le banc ina Bhanc Chópháirteach.
13.—(1) Féadfaidh banc ar bith trath ar bith, an lá ceaptha no dá éis, a iarraidh ar an Aire glacadh leis ina Bhanc Chópháirteach agus féadfaidh an tAire, tar éis dul i gcomhairle leis an mBord, an t-iarratas san do dheonadh no do dhiúltú do réir mar is rogha leis féin.
(2) Aon uair a dheonfaidh an tAire iarratas fén alt so o bhanc á iarraidh go nglacfaí leis ina Bhanc Chópháirteach tiocfaidh an banc san chun bheith agus beidh, amhail ar dháta agus o dháta deonta an iarratais sin, ina Bhanc Chópháirteach chun crícheanna an Achta so agus an Achta Airgid Reatha arna thonasc, arna mhodhnú, no arna leasú leis an Acht so.
(3) Feadfaidh an tAire a cheangal ar bhanc iarrfaidh air fén alt so glacadh leis ina Bhanc Chópháirteach pé faisnéis i dtaobh a ghnótha do thabhairt don Aire agus leigcan don Ghobharnóir, no do bhuan-oifigeach don Bhanc go n-údarás speisialta chuige sin i scríbhinn ón Aire, pé iniúchadh do dhéanamh ar a leabhair a chífear don Aire do bheith riachtanach chun é do bhreithniú an iarratais sin go cuibhe.
Banc do scur ó bheith ina Bhanc Chópháirteach.
14.—(1) Tráth ar bith an lá ceaptha no dá éis féadfaidh au tAire, as a chomhairle féin, aon Bhanc Cópháirteach do scur o bheith ina Bhanc Chópháirteach agus san (tar éis dul i gcomhairle leis an mBord) ar aon fhoras dá n-údaruítear go follas leis an Acht Airgid Reatha arna oiriúnú leis an Acht so no (le toiliú an Bhuird) ar aon fhoras eile chífear don Aire is leor.
(2) Tráth ar bith an lá ceaptha no dá éis féadfaidh aon Bhanc Cópháirteach a iarraidh ar an Aire é scur o bheith ina Bhanc Chópháirteach agus, aon uair a dhéanfaidh Banc Cópháirteach iarratas den tsórt san, scuirfidh an tAire an banc san láithreach o bheith ina Bhanc Chópháirteach.
(3) Aon uair a dhéanfaidh an tAire fén alt so Banc Cópháirteach do scur o bheith ina Bhanc Chópháirteach stadfaidh an banc san láithreach de bheith ina Bhanc Chópháirteach, ach ní chuirfidh an scur san cosc le glacadh leis an mbanc san ina dhiaidh sin fén Acht so ina Bhanc Chópháirteach ná ní shaorfaidh an banc san óna bheith air méid gach nóta bainc chódhlúite bheidh amuich leis am an scuir sin d'íoc ar an nóta san do thíolacadh go cuibhe ná óna bheith air íocaíochta do dhéanamh ar nótaí bainc códhlúite bheidh amuich leis roimh an scur san no ina dhiaidh.
(4) Lasmuich de chás ina scuirfear Banc Cópháirteach ar a iarratas féin, ní dhéanfaidh an tAire Banc Cópháirteach do scur fén alt so o bheith ina Bhanc Chópháirteach gan caoi réasúnach do thabhairt don bhanc san ar éisteacht d'fháil.
(5) Ní vótálfaidh aon Stiúrthóir bancaerachta ar aon rún i dtaobh Banc Cópháirteach ar ar stiúrthóir é no ag á mbeidh sé ar fostú do scur.
An Coimisiún do scur.
15.—(1) Ar an lá ceaptha tiocfaidh an Coimisiún chun bheith, agus beidh sé, scurtha agus stadfaidh a bhaill de bheith i seilbh oifige ach ní chuirfidh san iad o bheith incheaptha mar Ghobharnóir no mar Stiúrthóir ar an mBanc.
(2) Ar na lá ceaptha beidh éifeacht ag na forálacha so leanas, sé sin le rá:—
(a) ciste na nótaí dlí-thairgthe, cúl-chiste na nótaí (más ann dó an uair sin), agus an ciste generálta mar a bheid fé seach díreach roimh an lá ceaptha agus gach suncáil, airgead, agus sócmhainn a bheidh sna cistí sin fé seach an uair sin agus fós gach maoin eile, réalta no pearsanta (agus rudaí-ar-fionnraighe d'áireamh), a bheidh díreach roimh an lá ceaptha dílsithe sa Choimisiún no ar a sheilbh, tiocfaid chun bheith agus beid, ar an lá ceaptha agus gan aon leithliú ná sannadh ach fé réir a n-aistrithe i leabhair aon bhainc no corparáide no cuideachtan más gá san, dílsithe sa Bhanc chun an estáit agus an téarma agus an leasa uile chun a rabhdar dílsithe sa Choimisiún díreach roimh an lá ceaptha;
(b) aon mhaoin a haistrítear chun an Bhainc leis an mír sin roimhe seo den fho-alt so agus a bheidh, díreach roimh an lá ceaptha, curtha síos i leabhair aon bhainc laistigh de dhlighinse an Oireachtais in ainm an Choimisiúin no cláruithe i leabhair aon bhainc no corparáide no cuideachtan laistigh den dlighinse sin in ainm an Choimisiúin, aistreoidh an banc no an chorparáid no an chuideachta san iad sna leabhair sin chun ainm an Bhainc arna iarraidh sin don Bhord an lá ceaptha no aon uair dá éis sin;
(c) i gcás aon mhaoin a haistrítear no adeirtear a haistrítear chun an Bhainc le mír (a) den fho-alt so do bheith, díreach roimh an lá ceaptha, lasmuich de dhlighinse an Oireachtais no curtha síos no cláruithe i leabhair aon bhainc no corparáide no cuideachtan lasmuich den dlighinse sin, isé dualgas an Bhuird gach ní is gá do dhéanamh chun a áirithiú go n-aistreofar únaeracht, dlíthiúil agus éifeachtach, na maoine sin chun an Bhainc;
(d) féadfaidh an Banc ina ainm féin dul chun dlí i dtaobh gach rud-ar-fionnraighe a haistrítear chun an Bhainc le mír (a) den fho-alt so no é bhaint amach no é fhoirfheidhmiú agus ní gá don Bhanc fógra do thabhairt don duine ar a mbeidh an rud-ar-fionnraighe sin ina cheangal i dtaobh an aistrithe déantar leis an mír sin;
(e) na fiacha agus na fiachais eile go léir (ar a n-áirmhítear fiachais nea-shocruithe de dhruim tortanna no sáruithe connartha) a bheidh, díreach roimh an lá ceaptha, dlite ar an gCoimisiún agus gan íoc aige no curtha suas agus gan glanadh aige, tiocfaid chun bheith agus beid, ar an lá ceaptha, ina bhfiacha no ina bhfiachais ar an mBanc agus íocfaidh no glanfaidh an Banc iad agus féadfar iad do bhaint den Bhanc no iad d'fhoirfheidhmiú ina aghaidh dá réir sin;
(f) gach connradh, idir an Coimisiún agus aon duine eile, bheidh i bhfeidhm no ionfhoirfheidhmithe díreach roimh an lá ceaptha agus ná beidh cólíonta no feidhmithe ar fad, tiocfa sé chun bheith agus beidh sé, ar an lá ceaptha, ina chonnradh idir an Banc agus an duine eile sin agus beidh sé ionfhoirfheidhmithe ag an mBanc no ina aghaidh dá réir sin.
(3) Aisíocfaidh an tAire leis an mBanc, as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas, méid na ndiúitéthe stampa uile íocfaidh an Banc (de bhun dlithe an Stáit no de bhun dlithe tíre eile) maidir le haon aistriú no leithliú maoine déanfar chun an t-aistriú déantar ar an maoin sin leis an bhfo-alt deiridh sin roimhe seo den alt so d'fhoirlíonadh no chun lán-éifeacht do thabhairt dó.
(4) Gach duine bheidh, díreach roimh an lá ceaptha, i bhfostaíocht an Choimisiúin i bhfeadhmannas ar bith tiocfa sé chun bheith agus beidh sé, ar an lá ceaptha, aistrithe chun fostaíocht an Bhainc sa bhfeadhmannas céanna agus an tsealbhaíocht agus an luach saothair agus na coinníollacha seirbhíse céanna aige bhí aige i bhfostaíocht an Choimisiúin díreach roimh an lá ceaptha, agus d'fhonn a áirithiú go mbeidh ag gach duine den tsórt san, ar an lá ceaptha agus dá éis sin, na cirt agus na sochair chéanna (más ann) do bhí aige díreach roimh an lá ceaptha maidir le haoisliúntas agus cúiteamh i gcailliúint fostaíochta, beidh éifeacht ag na forálacha so leanas, sé sin le rá:—
(a) gach scéim a bheidh déanta ag an gCoimisiún fé fho-alt (4) d'alt 31 den Acht Airgid Reatha agus a bheidh i bhfeidhm díreach roimh an lá ceaptha, leanfaidh i bhfeidhm an lá ceaptha agus dá éis agus coimeádfaidh agus cólíonfaidh an Banc í dá réir sin;
(b) chun crícheanna gach scéime buanuítear leis an mír sin roimhe seo den fho-alt so agus gach scéime dhéanfaidh an Banc fén bhfo-alt san (4) d'alt 31 an lá ceaptha no dá éis, is tuigthe gur seirbhís i bhfostaíocht an Bhainc seirbhís i bhfostaíocht an Choimisiúin (lena n-áirmhítear seirbhís in aon fhostaíocht eile is tuigthe, do réir na scéime sin, do bheith ina seirbhís i bhfostaíocht an Choimisiúin) agus is tuigthe gurb aon tréimhse leanúnach amháin sheirbhíse i bhfostaíocht an Bhainc an tréimhse sheirbhíse (lena n-áirmhítear seirbhís is tuigthe do bheith ina seirbhís den tsórt san adubhradh) a bheidh tugtha ag duine ar bith i bhfostaíocht an Choimisiúin agus a chríochnóidh díreach roimh an lá ceaptha agus an tréimhse sheirbhíse bhéarfaidh an duine sin i bhfostaíocht an Bhainc agus a thosnóidh an lá ceaptha agus a leanfaidh dá éis.
Ceapacháin chun fuireann an Bhainc.
16.—(1) Fé réir forálacha an chéad fho-ailt ina dhiaidh seo den alt so, is tré chomórtas (a mbeidh triail cháilitheach no triail chomórtais sa Ghaedhilg mar chuid de), a stiúrfar do réir rialachán a dhéanfaidh an Bord, a ceapfar gach oifigeach no seirbhíseach den Bhanc fé fho-alt (2) d'alt 31 den Acht Airgid Reatha, agus féadfaidh an Bord, maidir le haon chomórtas den tsórt san, pé coinníollacha iontrála agus teoranta agus caomhanta d'fhorchur a mheasfaidh is ceart.
(2) Ní bhainfidh an fo-alt san roimhe seo den alt so le ceapachán chun puist is dóich leis an mBord do bheith neamhoiriúnach chun ceapachán chuige do dhéanamh tré chomórtas.
Cóipcheart i nótaí eiseoidh an Banc.
17.—Beidh feidhm agus éifeacht ag alt 12 den Acht Maoine Tionnscail agus Tráchtála (Cosaint) (Leasú), 1929 (Uimh. 13 de 1929), maidir le nótaí dlí-thairgthe agus nótaí bainc có-dhlúite fé seach eiseoidh an Banc fé mar atá agus chó hiomlán agus atá feidhm agus éifeacht aige maidir le nótaí dlí-thairgthe agus nótaí bainc có-dhlúite arna n-eisiúint ag an gCoimisiún ach amháin gur leis an mBanc, de bhuadh an ailt sin 12, an cóipcheart in aon nótaí den tsórt san eiseoidh an Banc.
Oiriúnú generálta ar thagairtí don Choimisiún.
18.—Gach luadh no tagairt don Choimisiún atá in aon achtachán (seachas na hAchtanna Airgid Reatha, 1927 agus 1930) a bheidh i bheidhm an lá ceaptha, léireofar é agus beidh éifeacht aige, an lá ceaptha agus dá éis mar luadh no mar thagairt don Bhanc.
CUID III.
Bord Stiurthoiri an Bhainc.
An Gobharnóir do cheapadh, a shealbhaíocht oifige, etc.
19.—(1) Ceapfar an Gobharnóir ag an Uachtarán ar chomhairle an Riaghaltais agus gheobha sé pé luach saothair agus liúntais agus beidh sé fé réir pé coinníollacha seirbhíse a chinnfidh an Bord o am go ham.
(2) Isé téarma oifige gach Gobharnóra (marab éag, eirghe as no cur as oifig no teacht fé dhí-cháilíocht roimhe sin dó) seacht mbliana ón lá ceaptha i gcás an chéad Ghobharnóra no, i gcás gach Gobharnóra ina dhiaidh sin, ón am a bheidh sealbhaíocht oifige a réamhtheachtaidhe caithte le himeacht aimsire no scurtha roimhe sin ar chúis ar bith (fé mar a bheidh).
(3) Gobharnóir a raghaidh as oifig ar bheith caithte dá théarma oifige le himeacht aimsire, beidh sé ionathcheaptha.
(4) Beidh feidhm agus éifeacht ag na forálacha so leanas maidir le gach Gobharnóir, sé sin le rá:—
(a) beidh sé, ar feadh a théarma oifige, dí-cháilithe óna ainmniú no a thogha agus o shuidhe no o íocaíocht d'fháil mar chomhalta de Dháil Éireann no de Sheanad Éireann no mar Uachtarán;
(b) beidh sé, ar feadh a théarma oifige, neamh-iontoghtha mar stiúrthóir ar bhanc ar bith;
(c) más stiúrthóir ar bhanc ar bith é tráth a cheaptha scarfa sé leis an stiúrthóireacht san fé cheann deich lá tar éis a cheaptha agus mara ndéanaidh amhlaidh beidh sé dícháilithe i gceann an deich lá san o bheith i seilbh oifige an Ghobharnóra;
(d) má thárlann agus aon uair a thárlóidh go mbreithiúnófar ina fhéimhidhe é (sa Stát no in aon tír eile) no go ndéanfaidh socrú no réiteach lena chreidiúnaithe no go ndaorfaidh cúirt dlighinse inniúla é chun príosúntachta no pian-tseirbhíse, tiocfaidh chun bheith agus beidh, láithreach, dí-cháilithe o bheith i seilbh oifige an Ghobharnóra.
(5) Sa bhfo-alt deiridh sin roimhe seo den alt so ní fholuíonn an abairt “banc ar bith” banc eadarnáisiúnta ar na chódhéanamh ar fad no go furmhór de bhainc is príomh-údarás airgid reatha ina dtíortha féin fé seach.
Toirmeasc ar an nGobharnóir do shealbhú scaireanna i mbanc.
20.—(1) Gach duine ceapfar ina Ghobharnóir déanfaidh fé cheann trí mí tar éis a cheaptha gach scair a bheidh aige in aon bhanc agus is leis no ina mbeidh leas aige chun tairbhe dhó féin am a cheaptha do dhíol no do chur de láimh ar shlí eile, amuich is amach.
(2) Má thárlann agus aon uair a thárlóidh aon scaireanna i mbanc do theacht chun an Ghobharnóra, no do dhílsiú ann, le huacht no le comharbas chun tairbhe dhó féin, déanfaidh fé cheann trí mí tar éis an céanna do theacht chuige no do dhílsiú ann amhlaidh an céanna no a leas ionta do dhíol no do chur de láimh ar shlí eile, amuich is amach.
(3) Ní dhéanfaidh an Gobharnóir aon scaireanna i mbanc ar bith do cheannach ná do ghlacadh ná leas do ghlacadh ionta chun tairbhe dhó féin.
(4) Má dhéanann an Gobharnóir aon scaireanna i mbanc ar bith do choinneáil no do cheannach no do ghlacadh, no leas ionta do ghlacadh no do choimeád, contrárdha don alt so, tiocfaidh chun bheith agus beidh, láithreach, dí-cháilithe o bheith i seilbh oifige an Ghobharnóra.
(5) San alt so foluíonn an focal “banc” banc arna ionchorprú lasmuich den Stát chó maith le banc arna ionchorprú sa Stát, agus léireofar tagairtí do scaireanna i mbanc mar thagairtí fholuíonn stoc, scaireanna, bintiúirí, stoc bintiúra, bannaí no urrúis eile leis an mbanc san.
An Gobharnóir do chur as oifig.
21.—(1) Má thagann ar an nGobharnóir, de dheascaibh easláinte, éagcumas buan ná leigfidh dó a dhualgais Ghobharnóra do chólíonadh, féadfaidh an tUachtarán é chur as oifig ar chomhairle an Riaghaltais.
(2) Má iarrann an Bord ar an Uachtarán tré vóta aonghuthach na Stiúrthóirí uile an Gobharnóir do chur as oifig ar chúis a luadhfar, is dleathach don Uachtarán an Gobharnóir do chur as oifig ar chomhairle an Riaghaltais.
An Leas-Ghobharnóir.
22.—(1) Aon uair a bheidh an Gobharnóir éagcumasach go sealadach, toisc nea-láithreacht no easláinte no éinní eile, ar dhualgais a oifige do chólíonadh, féadfa sé éinne de na Stiúrthóirí do cheapadh chun gníomhú mar Leas-Ghobharnóir feadh ré an éagcumais sin agus, mara ndéanaidh amhlaidh, féadfaidh an Bord éinne de na Stiúrthóirí do cheapadh chun gníomhú mar adubhradh.
(2) Aon uair a thárlóidh folúntas sa Ghobharnóireacht féadfaidh an Bord éinne de na Stiúrthóirí do cheapadh chun gníomhú mar Leas-Ghobharnóir feadh ré an fholúntais sin, ach Stiúrthóir a ceapfar amhlaidh ní ghníomhóidh mar Leas-Ghobharnóir tar éis trí mhí do bheith caithte ón uair a thárla an folúntas ba chúis lena cheapadh.
(3) Le linn do Stiúrthóir a ceapfar fén alt so chun gníomhú mar Leas-Ghobharnóir bheith ag gníomhú amhlaidh, beidh aige agus feidhmeoidh agus cólíonfaidh an chuid sin de chirt agus comhachta agus dualgais an Ghobharnóra a dhéanfaidh an Gobharnóir no, más é an Bord a cheapfaidh é, an Bord do thairmleigean chuige.
(4) Le linn do Stiúrthóir a ceapfar fén alt so chun gníomhú mar Leas-Ghobharnóir bheith ag gníomhú amhlaidh, íocfar leis pé luach saothair agus liúntais (más ann) a chinnfidh an Bord.
(5) Stiúrthóir a ceapfar fén alt so chun gníomhú mar Leas-Ghobharnóir ní scuirfidh de bhíthin an cheaptha san de bheith ina Stiúrthóir.
Na Stiúrthóirí do cheapadh, a luach saothair, etc.
23.—(1) Ceapfar na Stiúrthóirí ag an Aire.
(2) Ceapfar na Stiúrthóirí bancaerachta as painéal a hullmhófar chuige sin ag ionadaithe do na Bainc Chópháirteacha do réir an Achta so.
(3) Ní bhainfidh Achtanna Rialuithe na Stát-Sheirbhíse, 1924 agus 1926, le Stiúrthóir.
(4) Gheobhaidh gach Stiúrthóir pé luach saothair agus liúntais agus beidh fé réir pé coinníollacha seirbhíse a chinnfidh an tAire o am go ham ag féachaint do na caighdeáin a bheidh i bhfeidhm de thurus na huaire ag na Bainc Chópháirteacha agus iad ag ceapadh luach saothair, liúntaisí, agus coinníollacha seirbhíse a stiúrthóirí.
(5) Ní foláir do gach Stiúrthóir bheith ina ghnáth-chomhnaidhe sa Stát agus ní hincheaptha mar Stiúrthóir duine ná beidh ina ghnáth-chomhnaidhe amhlaidh.
(6) Faid a bheidh Stiúrthóir i seilbh na hoifige sin beidh sé dícháilithe óna ainmniú no a thogha agus o shuidhe no o íocaíocht d'fháil mar chomhalta de Dháil Éireann no de Sheanad Éireann no mar Uachtarán.
(7) Faid a bheidh Stiúrthóir (seachas Stiúrthóir bancaerachta) i seilbh na hoifige sin beidh sé neamh-iontoghtha mar stiúrthóir ar bhanc ar bith agus, más stiúrthóir é ar bhanc ar bith tráth a cheaptha, scarfa sé leis an stiúrthóireacht san fé cheann deich lá tar éis a cheaptha agus, mara ndéanaidh amhlaidh, beidh sé dícháilithe i gceann an deich lá san o bheith i seilbh oifige Stiúrthóra.
Sealbhaíocht oifige na Stiúrthóirí.
24.—(1) Maidir leis na Céad-stiúrthóirí bancaerachta—
(a) beidh duine aca, a roghnófar tré chrannchur ar chéadchruinniú an Bhuird, i seilbh oifige, marab éag no eirghe as no teacht fé dhí-cháilíocht níos túisce dhó, go gceann dhá bhlian ón lá ceaptha, agus
(b) beidh duine eile aca, a roghnófar tré chrannchur ar chéadchruinniú an Bhuird freisin, i seilbh oifige, marab éag no eirghe as no teacht fé dhí-cháilíocht níos túisce dhó, go ceann ceithre mblian ón lá ceaptha.
(2) Maidir leis na Céad-stiúrthóirí nach Stiúrthóirí bancaerachta ná Stiúrthóirí seirbhíse—
(a) beidh duine aca, a roghnófar tré chrannchur ar chéad chruinniú an Bhuird, i seilbh oifige, marab éag no eirghe as no teacht fé dhí-cháilíocht níos túisce dhó, go ceann bliana ón lá ceaptha, agus
(b) beidh duine eile aca, a roghnófar tré chrannchur ar chéadchruinniú an Bhuird freisin, i seilbh oifige, marab éag no eirghe as no teacht fé dhí-cháilíocht níos túisce dhó, go ceann trí mblian ón lá ceaptha.
(3) Fé réir forálacha an dá fho-alt san roimhe seo den alt so, beidh gach Stiúrthóir (nach Stiúrthóir seirbhíse ná Stiúrthóir arna cheapadh chun foth-fholúntais) i seilbh oifige, marab éag no eirghe as no teacht fé dhí-cháilíocht níos túisce dhó, go ceann cúig mblian ón lá ceaptha no ón am a bheidh téarma oifige a réamh-theachtaidhe caithte le himeacht aimsire (pé aca is gá sa chás).
(4) Gach Stiúrthóir (seachas Stiúrthóir bancaerachta no Stiúrthóir seirbhíse) a ceapfar, tar éis na Céad-stiúrthóirí do bheith ceaptha, chun críche seachas chun folúntas imeasc na Stiúrthóirí (seachas mar adubhradh) do líonadh beidh sé i seilbh oifige go ceann cúig mblian ón lá gur amhail air agus uaidh a ceapfar é.
(5) Beidh gach Stiúrthóir seirbhíse i seilbh oifige faid is toil leis an Aire agus féadfaidh an tAire é chur as oifig aon uair.
(6) Duine ceapfar chun foth-fholúntas do líonadh in oifig Stiúrthóra (seachas oifig Stiúrthóra sheirbhíse), beidh sé i seílbh oifige go ceann a mbeidh fágtha den téarma do bheadh seilbh oifige ag an Stiúrthóir, ar tréna éag no a eirghe as no a theacht fé dhícháilíocht a tháinig an foth-fholúntas, mara mbeadh é d'éag no d'eirghe as no do theacht fé dhí-cháilíocht.
Stiúrthóirí do dhí-cháiliú.
25.—Má thárlann agus aon uair a thárlóidh do Stiúrthóir seachas Stiúrthóir seirbhíse —
(a) go dtiocfaidh tré easláinte fé éagcumas bhuan ná leigfidh dó a dhualgais mar Stiúrthóir den tsórt san do chólíonadh, no
(b) go mbreithiúnófar ina fhéimhidhe é (sa Stát no in aon tír eile) no go ndéanfaidh socrú no réiteach lena chreidiúnaithe, no
(c) go ndaorfaidh cúirt dlighinse inniúla é chun príosúntachta no pian-tseirbhíse, no
(d) go scuirfidh de bheith ina ghnáth-chomhnaidhe sa Stát, no
(e) go mbeidh as láthair o chruinnithe uile an Bhuird ar feadh tréimhse de shé mhí gan cead ón mBord,
tiocfaidh chun bheith agus beidh, láithreach, dí-cháilithe o bheith i seilbh oifige Stiúrthóra.
Painéal chun na Céadstiúrthóirí bancaerachta do cheapadh.
26.—(1) Tríocha lá ar a mhéid agus deich lá ar a laghad roimh an lá ceaptha, ceapfaidh an tAire am agus ionad (dá ngairmtear an t-am agus an t-ionad ceaptha san alt so) chun ionadaithe do na Bainc Chópháirteacha do chruinniú chun an painéal do thogha óna mbeidh na Céad-stiúrthóirí bancaerachta le ceapadh.
(2) Bhéarfaidh an tAire an t-am agus an t-ionad ceaptha do chur in iúl i scríbhinn do gach Banc Cópháirteach.
(3) Féadfaidh gach Banc Cópháirteach a thabhairt go dtiocfaidh ionadaidhe amháin, agus gan ach ionadaidhe amháin. arna ainmniú aca chuige sin, i láthair san am agus san ionad ceaptha, agus, na hionadaithe uile den tsórt san a thiocfaidh i láthair san am agus san ionad san, déanfaid, ansan no fé cheann trí lá ina dhiaidh sin, painéal do thogha, do réir na Rialacha atá sa Dara Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht so, de sheisear a bheidh incheaptha agus toilteanach ar ghníomhú mar Stiúrthóirí bancaerachta, agus cuirfid in iúl don Aire láithreach do réir na Rialacha san ainmneacha an tseisir a toghfar amhlaidh.
(4) Má toghtar painéal go cuibhe do réir na bhforálacha san roimhe seo den alt so ceapfar na Céad-stiúrthóirí bancaerachta as na daoine toghfar amhlaidh chun an phainéil sin.
(5) Mara ndéanaidh na hionadaithe sin do no Bainc Chópháirteacha thiocfaidh i láthair san am agus san ionad ceaptha an painéal san de sheisear do thogha do réir an ailt seo no mara dtagaidh aon ionadaithe do na Bainc Chópháirteacha i láthair san am agus san ionad ceaptha, is dleathach don Aire pé triúr daoine incheaptha a mheasfaidh is ceart do cheapadh ina gCéad-stiúrthóirí bancaerachta, ach san fé réir na sriantacht ná ceapfaidh an tAire fén bhfo-alt so duine ar bith nach Stiúrthóir ar Bhanc Chópháirteach más féidir agus sa mhéid gur féidir daoine oiriúnacha incheaptha, a bheidh toilteanach ar ghníomhú, d'fháil imeasc Stiúrthóirí na mBanc Cópháirteach uile agus fé seach, agus ar aon chuma ná ceapfar amhlaidh duine ar bith a bheidh i mbuantseirbhís an Stáit.
Painéal chun Stiúrthóirí bancaerachta seachas na Céadstiúrthóirí bancaerachta do cheapadh.
27.—(1) Tríocha lá ar a mhéid agus deich lá ar a laghad roimh théarma oifige Stiúrthóra bhancaerachta do bheith caithte tré imeacht aimsire agus fós chó luath agus a bheidh caothúil tar éis oifig Stiúrthóra bhancaerachta do theacht chun bheith folamh ar shlí seachas tré imeacht aimsire, bhéarfaidh an Bord fógra i scríbhinn do gach Banc Cópháirteach á rá go mbeidh no go bhfuil an folúntas san ann agus iarrfaidh sa bhfógra san ar an mBanc Cópháirteach san a thabhairt go dtiocfaidh ionadaidhe amháin, agus gan ach ionadaidhe amháin, i láthair in am agus in ionad (dá ngairmtear an t-am agus an t-ionad ceaptha san alt so) a cheapfaidh an Bord agus a luadhfar sa bhfógra san chun painéal de thriúr do thogha as a bhféadfar an folúntas san do líonadh.
(2) Aon uair a thárlóidh dhá fholúntas no trí imeasc na Stiúrthóirí bancaerachta le linn no timpeall an ama chéanna, féadfaidh an Bord, más caothúil leo é, fógra amháin agus gan ach fógra amháin do chur go dtí gach Banc Cópháirteach fén bhfo-alt san roimhe seo den alt so i dtaobh na bhfolúntas uile den tsórt san agus nuair ná cuirfidh an Bord ach fógra amháin den tsórt san amach amhlaidh déarfaid sa bhfógra san go mbeidh ar na hionadaithe thiocfaidh i láthair san am agus san ionad ceaptha, má bhíonn dhá fholúntas den tsórt san agus gan ach san ann, painéal de chúigear do thogha no, má bhíonn trí folúntais den tsórt san ann, painéal de sheisear do thogha as a bhféadfar na folúntais sin do líonadh.
(3) Na hionadaithe uile agus fé seach do na Bainc Chópháirteacha (eadhon, ionadaidhe amháin ar a mhéid o gach Banc aca) a thiocfaidh i láthair san am agus san ionad ceaptha, déanfaid, ansan no fé cheann trí lá ina dhiaidh sin, painéal do thogha, do réir na Rialacha atá sa Dara Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht so, de dhaoine bheidh incheaptha agus toilteanach ar ghníomhú mar Stiúrthóir bhancaerachta agus cuirfid in iúl don Aire agus don Bhord láithreach ainmneacha na ndaoine a toghfar amhlaidh.
(4) An painéal a toghfar de bhun an fho-ailt deiridh sin roimhe seo den alt so beidh sé, mara mbeidh ach folúntas amháin le líonadh, ina phainéal de thriúr no, má bhíonn dhá fholúntas agus gan níos mó ná san le líonadh, ina phainéal de chúigear no, má bhíonn trí folúntais le líonadh, ina phainéal de sheisear.
(5) Má toghtar painéal go cuibhe do réir na bhforálacha san roimhe seo den alt so, líonfar an folúntas no na folúntais sin (pé aca ann no le bheith ann dóibh) as na daoine toghfar amhlaidh chun an phainéil sin.
(6) Mara ndéanaidh na hionadaithe sin do na Bainc Chópháirteacha a thiocfaidh i láthair san am agus san ionad ceaptha an painéal san do thogha do réir an ailt seo no mara dtagaidh aon ionadaithe do na Bainc Chópháirteacha i láthair san am agus san ionad ceaptha, is dleathach don Aire pé duine no daoine incheaptha a mheasfaidh is ceart do cheapadh chun an folúntas no na folúntais sin do líonadh, ach fé réir na sriantacht ná ceapfaidh an tAire fén bhfo-alt so duine ar bith nach stiúrthóir ar Bhanc Chópháirteach, más féidir duine oiriúnach incheaptha no más féidir agus sa mhéid gur féidir daoine oiriúnacha incheaptha, a bheidh toilteanach ar ghníomhú, d'fháil imeasc Stiúrthóirí na mBanc Cópháirteach uile agus fé seach, agus ar aon chuma ná ceapfar amhlaidh duine ar bith a bheidh i mbuan-tseirbhís an Stáit.
Fógraí i dtaobh folúntas agus i dtaobh Stiúrthóirí áirithe do cheapadh.
28.—(1) Ní bhaineann an t-alt so ach le Stiúrthóirí nach Stiúrthóirí bancaerachta ná Stiúrthóirí seirbhíse.
(2) Deich lá ar a laghad roimh théarma oifige Stiúrthóra lena mbaineann an t-alt so do bheith caithte tré imeacht aimsire cuirfidh an Bord in iúl don Aire go mbeidh an folúntas san ann.
(3) Chó luath agus is féidir é tar éis don Bhord eolas d'fháil i dtaobh oifig Stiúrthóra lena mbaineann an t-alt so do theacht chun bheith folamh ar shlí seachas tré imeacht aimsire, bhéarfaidh an Bord fógra don Aire i dtaobh an fholúntais sin.
(4) Aon uair a cheapfaidh an tAire duine chun bheith ina Stiúrthóir lena mbaineann an t-alt so, cuirfe sé fé ndear fógra do thabhairt láithreach don Bhord i dtaobh an ceapadh san do bheith déanta agus i dtaobh ainm agus sonnraí eile an duine bheidh ceaptha.
(5) Aon uair a thárlóidh do Stiúrthóir lena mbaineann an t-alt so scur ar aon tslí de bheith i seilbh oifige mar Stiúrthóir den tsórt san agus go gcinnfidh an tAire uimhir na Stiúrthóirí sin do laghdú agus, chuige sin, gan an folúntas a thiocfaidh den scur san do líonadh, is tuigthe chun crícheanna an Achta so (lasmuich den alt so) gan folúntas imeasc ballra an Bhuird do theacht den scur san.
(6) Aon uair a chinnfidh an tAire, d'fhonn uimhir na Stiúrthóirí lena mbaineann an t-alt so do laghdú, gan folúntas a bheidh tagtha imeasc na Stiúrthóirí sin do líonadh, bhéarfaidh an cinneadh sin do chur in iúl don Bhord.
Toirmeasc ar Stiúrthóirí áirithe do shealbhú scaireanna i mbanc.
29.—(1) Baineann an t-alt so le gach Stiúrthóir nach Stiúrthóir bancaerachta.
(2) Déanfaidh Stiúrthóir lena mbaineann an t-alt so gach scair a bheidh aige in aon bhanc agus is leis no ina mbeidh leas aige chun tairbhe dhó féin am a cheaptha do dhíol no do chur de láimh ar shlí eile, amuich is amach, fé cheann trí mí tar éis a cheaptha.
(3) Má thárlann agus aon uair a thárlóidh aon scaireanna i mbanc do theacht chun Stiúrthóra lena mbaineann an t-alt so, no do dhílsiú ann, le huacht no le comharbhas chun tairbhe dhó féin, déanfaidh, fé cheann trí mí tar éis an céanna do theacht chuige no do dhílsiú ann amhlaidh, an céanna no a leas ionta do dhíol no do chur de láimh ar shlí eile, amuich is amach.
(4) Ní dhéanfaidh Stiúrthóir lena mbaineann an t-alt so aon scaireanna in aon bhanc do cheannach ná do ghlacadh ná leas do ghlacadh ionta chun tairbhe dhó féin.
(5) Má dhéanann Stiúrthóir lena mbaineann an t-alt so aon scaireanna i mbanc ar bith do choinneáil no do cheannach no do ghlacadh, no leas ionta do ghlacadh no do choimeád, contrárdha don alt so, tiocfaidh chun bheith agus beidh, láithreach, dí-cháilithe o bheith i seilbh oifige Stiúrthóra.
(6) San alt so foluíonn an focal “banc” banc arna ionchorprú lasmuich den Stát chó maith le banc arna ionchorprú sa Stát, agus léireofar tagairtí do scaireanna i mbanc mar thagairtí fholuíonn stoc, scaireanna, bintiúirí, stoc bintiúra, bannaí, no urrúis eile leis an mbanc san.
Mar oibreoidh dí-cháiliú an Ghobharnóra no Stiúrthóra.
30.—(1) Dí-cháiliú ar bith a bhainfidh don Ghobharnóir no do Stiúrthóir fé aon fhoráil den Acht so ní oibreoidh chun é chur as oifig go dtí go rithfidh an Bord rún á dhearbhú é bheith dí-cháilithe ar chúis a luadhfar ón oifig sin aige do shealbhú.
(2) Ní vótálfaidh aon bhall den Bhord ar rún fén alt so i dtaobh é féin do dhí-cháiliú.
Mionn sicréideachta le tabhairt ag an nGobharnóir, na Stiúrthóirí agus na hoifigigh.
31.—(1) Déanfaidh an Gobharnóir agus gach Stiúrthóir agus fós gach oifigeach don Bhanc, díreach tar éis a cheaptha agus roimh thosnú dhó ar ghníomhú mar Ghobharnóir no Stiúrthóir no mar oifigeach den tsórt san, mionn sa bhfuirm seo leanas do thabhairt agus do shighniú i láthair Feadhmannaigh Shíochána:—
“Bheirim-se,.........................................., mo mhionn go solamanta ná nochtfad faisnéis ar bith a bhainfidh le gnó no breacacháin no leabhair aon bhainc agus a thiocfaidh ar m'eolas. de bhuadh mé bheith im Ghobharnóir no im Stiúrthóir no im oifigeach do Bhanc Ceannais na hÉireann, ach amháin do pé daoine bheidh ag gníomhú i bhfeidhmiú reachtanna rialálta an Bhainc sin agus i gcás ina mbeidh sé riachtanach an céanna do nochtadh dhóibh chun crícheanna aon reachta den tsórt san.”
(2) Gach duine bheidh ceaptha ina Ghobharnóir no ina Stiúrthóir no is oifigeach no bheidh ceaptha ina oifigeach don Bhanc agus a ghníomhóidh mar Ghobharnóir no Stiúrthóir no mar oifigeach den tsórt san (fé mar a bheidh) roimh an mionn is gá do réir an ailt seo do thabhairt, beidh sé ciontach i gcionta fén alt so agus ar a chiontú ann ar an slí achmair dlighfear fíneáil ná raghaidh thar céad punt do chur air.
(3) Gach oifigeach don Choimisiún a thiocfaidh ar an lá ceaptha chun bheith ina oifigeach don Bhanc de bhuadh an Achta so, bhéarfaidh an mionn is gá do réir an ailt seo an lá ceaptha no chó luath agus is caothúil ina dhiaidh sin, agus má bheireann an mionn san amhlaidh is tuigthe é do chólíonadh an ailt seo agus ní dlighfear aon phionós do chur air toisc gníomhú mar oifigeach don Bhanc roimh an mionn san do thabhairt.
Nós imeachta an Bhuird.
32.—(1) Féadfaidh an Bord, le rialacha no eile fé mar is oiriúnach leis, a nós imeachta féin do rialáil.
(2) Ceathrar ball den Bhord agus iad i láthair i bpearsain is cuorum ag cruinniú den Bhord.
(3) Féadfaidh an Bord gníomhú d'ainneoin folúntas no folúntais do bheith ina bhallra.
(4) Ar chruinniú ar bith den Bhord féadfaidh an Gobharnóir, má bhíonn có-ionannas vótaí ann, vóta breise no réitigh do chaitheamh.
Cúiteamh agus aoisliúntas don Chathaoirleach, do na Coimisinéirí, don Ghobharnóir agus do na Stiúrthóirí.
33.—(1) Féadfaidh an Coimisiún, aon uair roimh an lá ceaptha, scéim do dhéanamh, le ceadú an Aire, ag socrú i dtaobh na nithe seo leanas, sé sin le rá:—
(a) an Banc do dheonadh cúitimh i gcailliúint oifige don té is Cathaoirleach ar an gCoimisiún díreach roimh an lá ceaptha, mara gceaptar an duine sin ina Ghobharnóir ámhail ar an lá ceaptha agus ón lá san amach, agus
(b) an Banc do dheonadh cúitimh i gcailliúint oifige d'aon duine bheidh, díreach roimh an lá ceaptha, ina bhall den Choimisiún i seilbh oifige ar shlí seachas faid is toil leis an Aire agus ná tiocfaidh chun bheith ina Stiúrthóir i seilbh oifige amhail ar an lá ceaptha agus ón lá san amach, agus
(c) an Banc do dheonadh aoisliúntais no aisce do gach Gobharnóir no chun tairbhe do gach Gobharnóir a scuirfidh de bheith i seilbh oifige ar shlí seachas tréna dhícháiliú, agus
(d) an Banc do dheonadh aoisliúntais no aisce do gach duine no chun tairbhe do gach duine is Stiúrthóir (seachas Stiúrthóir seirbhíse) a bhéarfaidh a chuid ama go léir do na dualgais a bheidh air mar Stiúrthóir den tsórt san agus a scuirfidh de bheith i seilbh oifige ar shlí seachas tréna dhí-cháiliú.
(2) Mara ndéanaidh an Coimisiún fén bhfo-alt san roimhe seo den alt so scéim den tsórt a luaidhtear sa bhfo-alt san, is dleathach don Bhord scéim den tsórt san do dhéanamh an lá ceaptha no aon uair ina dhiaidh le ceadú an Aire.
(3) Cuirfidh an Banc in éifeacht an scéim a déanfar fé na forálacha san roimhe seo den alt so.
(4) Féadfar le scéim a déanfar fén alt so a shocrú go bhféadfaidh Gobharnóir do bhí i seilbh oifige mar Chathaoirleach ar an gCoimisiún an tréimhse sheirbhíse thug sé mar Chathaoirleach den tsórt san do chur, chun crícheanna na scéime sin, lena thréimhse sheirbhíse mar Ghobharnóir agus an dá thréimhse sin d'áireamh mar aon tréimhse leanúnach amháin sheirbhíse mar Ghobharnóir.
CUID IV.
Notai Bainc Codhluite do Dhiobhadh.
Mínithe maidir leis an gCuid seo den Acht so.
34.—(1) Sa Chuid seo den Acht so cialluíonn an focal “leathbhliain” tréimhse de shé mhí dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta no an 30adh lá de Mheán Fhómhair, agus cialluíonn an abairt “Banc Cópháirteach” ceann de na hocht mbainc a hainmnítear sa dara colún den Tríú Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht so agus ní bhaineann le haon Bhanc eile.
(2) Na tagairtí atá sa Chuid seo den Acht so do nótaí bainc códhlúite amuich le Banc Cópháirteach léireofar iad mar thagairtí thagrann do na nótaí bainc códhlúite uile, agus fholuíonn na nótaí bainc códhlúite uile, bheidh, an tráth lena mbaineann an tagairt sin, eisithe ag an gCoimisiún no ag an mBanc don Bhanc Chópháirteach san agus ná beidh glactha ag an gCoimisiún ná ag an mBanc chun iad do tharraing siar.
Teora leis an méid i nótaí bainc códhlúite bheidh amuich.
35.—(1) An méid maximum i nótaí bainc códhlúite is cead do bheith amuich le haon Bhanc Cópháirteach áirithe luaidhtear sa dara colún den Tríú Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht so—
(a) aon lá i rith na tréimhse dar tosach an lá tar éis dáta an Achta so do rith agus dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhí na Nodlag, 1944, ní ragha sé thar an méid a luaidhtear sa tríú colún den Tríú Sceideal san os coinne ainm an Bhainc Chópháirtigh sin sa dara colún den Sceideal san;
(b) aon lá i rith na tréimhse de thrí bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhí na Nodlag, 1947, ní ragha sé thar an méid a luaidhtear sa cheathrú colún den Tríú Sceideal san os coinne ainm an Bhainc Chópháirtigh sin sa dara colún den Sceideal san;
(c) aon lá i rith na tréimhse de thrí bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhí na Nodlag, 1950, ní ragha sé thar an méid a luaidhtear sa chúigiú colún den Tríú Sceideal san os coinne ainm an Bhainc Chópháirtigh sin sa dara colún den Sceideal san;
(d) aon lá i rith na tréimhse de thrí bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhí na Nodlag, 1953, ní ragha sé thar an méid a luaidhtear sa séú colún den Tríú Sceideal san os coinne ainm an Bhainc Chópháirtigh sin sa dara colún den Sceideal san.
(2) Déanfaidh an Coimisiún roimh an lá ceaptha, agus déanfaidh an Banc an lá ceaptha agus dá éis sin, pé nithe, le srianadh eisiúna no eile, is oiriúnach leis chun a áirithiú nach mó an méid i nótaí bainc códhlúite bheidh amuich le Banc Cópháirteach aon lá i rith tréimhse luaidhtear sa bhfo-alt san roimhe seo den alt so ná an méid maximum a luaidhtear sa bhfo-alt san maidir leis an mBanc Cópháirteach san don tréimhse sin.
(3) Ní eiseoidh an Banc aon nótaí bainc códhlúite d'aon Bhanc Cópháirteach tar éis an 31adh lá de Mhí na Nodlag, 1953.
(4) Ní dleathach d'aon Bhanc Cópháirteach aon nótaí bainc códhlúite arb é an banc freagarthach é ina dtaobh d'íoc amach tar éis an 31adh lá de Mhí na Nodlag, 1953, agus, má dhéanann aon Bhanc Cópháirteach aon nóta bainc códhlúite d'íoc amach contrárdha don fho-alt so, dlighfidh an Banc Cópháirteach san suim is có-ionann leis an deichiú cuid de mhéid an nóta san d'íoc leis an mBanc.
(5) Scuirfidh fo-alt (3) d'alt 58 den Acht Airgid Reatha d'éifeacht do bheith aige amhail ar an 1adh lá d'Eanar, 1954, agus ón lá san amach, agus gach rialachán a bheidh déanta agus gach ordachán a bheidh tugtha fén bhfo-alt san agus a bheidh i bhfeidhm díreach roimh an lá san scuirfid mar an gcéanna d'éifeacht do bheith aca.
(6) Ní eiseoidh an Coimisiún ná an Banc aon nótaí bainc códhlúite do bhanc ar bith nach ceann de na hocht mbainc a hainmnítear sa dara colún den Tríú Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht so.
(7) Aon uair a thiocfaidh aon chónascadh, eadarscaradh, aistriú, no athrú eile imeasc ná n-ocht mbanc a luaidhtear sa dara colún den Tríú Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht so, is dleathach don Bhord, le toiliú an Aire, pé coigeartú (más ann) is dóich leis an mBord is gá no is inmhianta de bhíthin an chónasctha, an eadarscartha, an aistrithe, no an athruithe eile sin do dhéanamh ar gach méid no aon mhéid no méideanna dá luaidhtear sa tríú, sa cheathrú, sa chúigiú agus sa séú colún fé seach den Tríú Sceideal san.
Toc alos nótaí bainc códhlúite bheidh amuich tar éis a n-eisiúint do stad.
36.—(1) Íocfaidh gach Banc Cópháirteach leis an mBanc, tar éis an 31adh lá de Mhí na Nodlag, 1953, agus roimh an 1adh lá d'Eanar, 1957, suim is có-ionann leis an méid (más ann) i nótaí bainc códhlúite a bheidh amuich leis an mBanc Cópháirteach san ar dháta an íoca san.
(2) Gach suim íocfaidh Banc Cópháirteach leis an mBanc do réir fo-ailt (1) den alt so cuirfidh an Banc i gcreidiúint do chúl-chiste an airgid reatha é.
(3) Nuair íocfaidh Banc Cópháirteach leis an mBanc do réir fo-ailt (1) den alt so an tsuim is gá don Bhanc Chópháirteach san do réir an fho-ailt sin d'íoc amhlaidh, beidh éifeacht ag na forálacha so leanas maidir leis an mBanc Cópháirteach san, sé sin le rá:—
(a) ní dhlighfidh an Banc Cópháirteach san feasta íoc do dhéanamh i méid aon nóta bhainc chódhlúite bheidh amuich leis an mBanc Cópháirteach san ar dháta an íoca san ná aon íocaíocht d'íoc ar nótaí bainc códhlúite in aghaidh aon tréimhse i ndiaidh dáta déanta an íoca san leis an mBanc;
(b) bhéarfaidh an Banc suas don Bhanc Chópháirteach san na hurrúis uile bheidh, ar dháta déanta an íoca san leis an mBanc, ar seilbh ag an mBanc ón mBanc Cópháirteach san alos nótaí bainc códhlúite;
(c) na nótaí bainc códhlúite uile bheidh amuich leis an mBanc Cópháirteach san ar an dáta san, beid iníoctha ag an mBanc arna dtíolacadh ina phríomh-oifig i mBaile Atha Cliath agus is as cúl-chiste an airgid reatha a bheid iníoctha amhlaidh.
Na Bainc Chópháirteacha do dhéanamh íocaíocht ar nótaí bainc códhlúite.
37.—(1) Íocfaidh gach Banc Cópháirteach leis an gCoimisiún no leis an mBanc (mar is gá sa chás), in aghaidh gach leath-bhliana chríochnóidh tar éis dáta an Achta so do rith, na suimeanna so leanas, sé sin le rá:—
(a) in aghaidh na leath-bhliana (más ann) a mbeidh cuid di roimh dháta agus ar dháta an Achta so do rith agus cuid di i ndiaidh an dáta san no a thosnóidh ar an dáta san—
(i) i leith na coda den leath-bhliain sin dar críoch dáta an Achta so do rith no arb í an dáta san í, suim a háirmheofar do réir fo-ailt (1) (lasmuich de mhír (e) dhe) d'alt 65 den Acht Airgid Reatha, agus
(ii) i leith na coda den leath-bhliain sin a thiocfaidh tar éis dáta an Achta so do rith, suim a háirmheofar do réir pé ráta, nach mó ná dó go leith fén gcéad sa bhliain, a cheapfaidh an tAire chuige sin o am go ham ar an méid i nótaí bainc códhlúite bheidh amuich (suas go dtí an méid maximum a húdaruítear leis an Acht so do bheith amuich amhlaidh) o lá go lá leis an mBanc Cópháirteach san i rith na coda san den leath-bhliain sin;
(b) in aghaidh gach leath-bhliana thosnóidh tar éis dáta an Achta so do rith, suim a háirmheofar do réir pé ráta, nach mó ná dó go leith fén gcéad sa bhliain, a cheapfaidh an tAire chuige sin o am go ham ar an méid i nótaí bainc códhlúite bheidh amuich (suas go dtí an méid maximum a húdaruítear leis an Acht so do bheith amuich amhlaidh) o lá go lá leis an mBanc Cópháirteach san i rith na leath-bhliana san;
(c) in aghaidh gach leath-bhliana chríochnóidh tar éis dáta an Achta so do rith, suim a háirmheofar do réir pé ráta, nach mó ná trí fén gcéad sa bhliain, a cheapfaidh an tAire chuige sin o am go ham ar an méid (más ann) i nótaí bainc códhlúite a bheidh amuich tar éis an dáta san o lá go lá leis an mBanc Cópháirteach san i rith na leath-bhliana san de bhreis ar an méid a húdaruítear leis an Acht so do bheith amuich amhlaidh;
(d) in aghaidh gach leath-bhliana chríochnóidh tar éis dáta an Achta so do rith, pé cion de na costais féna raghaidh an Coimisiún no an Banc i rith na leath-bhliana san chun nótaí bainc códhlúite do chur ar fáil a hordófar le rialacháin a bheidh déanta ag an gCoimisiún no ag an mBanc agus a bheidh i bhfeidhm de thurus na huaire.
(2) I gceann gach leath-bhliana déanfar amach ag an gCoimisiún no ag an mBanc (mar is gá sa chás), maidir le gach Banc Cópháirteach, méid na n-íocaíocht ar nótaí bainc códhlúite is iníoctha fén alt so ag an mBanc san in aghaidh na leath-bhliana san agus cuirfidh go dtí gach Banc Cópháirteach deimhniú ina luadhfar an méid sin a bheidh déanta amach amhlaidh maidir leis agus conus do rinneadh suas an méid sin, agus íocfaidh gach Banc Cópháirteach leis an gCoimisiún no leis an mBanc (mar is gá sa chás), fé cheann ceithre lá déag tar éis aon deimhniú den tsórt san d'fháil, an méid adéarfar sa deimhniú san do bheith iníoctha aige.
(3) Beidh gach suim is iníoctha ag Banc Cópháirteach leis an gCoimisiún fén alt so ionbhainte ag an gCoimisiún no ag an mBanc (fé mar a bheidh) den Bhanc Chópháirteach san mar fhiacha síbhialta in aon chúirt dlighinse inniúla, agus má bhíonn aon tsuim den tsórt san gan íoc ag Banc Cópháirteach fé cheann na haimsire luaidhtear san alt so chun a híoctha beidh san ina fhoras ar a bhféadfar an Banc san do scur o bheith ina Bhanc Chópháirteach.
(4) Deimhniú fé shéala an Choimisiúin no an Bhainc, á rá cadé an méid is iníoctha ar aon ócáid áirithe ag Banc Cópháirteach leis an gCoimisiún no leis an mBanc fén alt so agus go bhfuil an méid sin no cuid áirithe dhe dlighte agus gan íoc, beidh sé, in aon imeachta bhunóidh an Coimisiún no an Banc chun an méid sin do bhaint amach, ina fhianaise, go dtí go gcruthófar a mhalairt, ar na nithe déarfar amhlaidh sa deimhniú san.
Diúité stampa alos nótaí bainc códhlúite.
38.—Beidh feidhm agus éifeacht ag alt 49 den Acht Airgid, 1932 (Uimh. 20 de 1932), arna leasú le halt 15 den Acht Airgid, 1937 (Uimh. 18 de 1937), maidir leis an leath-bhliain (más ann) a mbeidh cuid di roimh dháta agus ar dháta an Achta so do rith agus cuid di i ndiaidh an dáta san no a thosnóidh ar an dáta san fé is dá mba leath-bhliain an chuid den leath-bhliain sin dar críoch an dáta san no arb í an dáta san í, agus an t-alt san 49 arna leasú amhlaidh beidh sé, de bhun a athghairmthe leis an Acht so, gan feidhm ná éifeacht aige maidir leis an gcuid den leath-bhliain sin a thiocfaidh i ndiaidh an dáta san.
Nótaí seanbhanc eisiúna.
39.—(1) I gcás gach Bainc Chópháirtigh ba bhanc eisiúna le linn an Achta Airgid Reatha do rith, is tuigthe chun crícheanna na Coda so den Acht so gan an méid, den chion de nótaí luaidhtear i bhfo-alt (4) d'alt 60 den Acht so, a bheidh de thurus na huaire gan fuascailt de bhun an ailt sin do bheith, maidir le haon lá tar éis dáta an Achta so do rith, ina nótaí bainc códhlúite amuich leis an mBanc Cópháirteach san.
(2) Amhail ar an lá tar éis dáta an Achta so do rith agus as san amach, isé is ráta ceart fén gcéad sa bhliain chun crícheanna fo-ailt (1) d'alt 66 den Acht Airgid Reatha ná pé ráta, nach mó ná dó go leith fén gcéad sa bhliain, a cheapfaidh an tAire o am go ham.
Comhacht do bhainc eisiúna chun nótaí áirithe do dhíscríobhadh.
40.—(1) Más gá, chun na híocaíochta d'áireamh a bheidh le déanamh fé alt 66 den Acht Airgid Reatha ag Banc Cópháirteach ba bhanc eisiúna ar dháta an Achta san do rith, féachaint don mhéid iomlán, arna dhéanamh amach ag an gCoimisiún, do bhí amuich i nótaí leis an mBanc Cópháirteach san (agus nótaí i dtileanna no i mboghtaí an Bhainc Chópháirtigh sin d'áireamh) díreach roimh an lá ceaptha luaidhtear in alt 60 den Acht Airgid Reatha, féadfaidh an Banc Cópháirteach san, chun na críche sin agus le ceadú an Aire, dí-scríobhadh do dhéanamh o am go ham, as an méid iomlán san arna dhéanamh amach amhlaidh, ar mhéid nach mó ná méid an oiread, de na nótaí sin leis an mBanc Cópháirteach san a bheidh amuich fós tráth an dí-scríobhtha san, a mheasfaidh an Banc Cópháirteach san nach dócha a tíolacfar choíche don Bhanc Chópháirteach san chun a n-íoctha.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire pé coinníollacha a mheasfaidh is ceart, ag féachaint do chúrsaí an cháis, do chur ag gabháil le haon cheadú bhéarfaidh chun dí-scríobhadh do dhéanamh fén bhfo-alt san roimhe seo den alt so, agus féadfaidh go sonnrach a cheangal ar an mBanc Cópháirteach a dhéanfaidh an dí-scríobhadh sin cion áirithe den mhéid a dí-scríobhfar amhlaidh d'íoc leis an mBanc chun a churtha le cúl-chiste an airgid reatha ach san fé réir na teorann ná raghaidh méid an cheana áirithe sin thar méid an cheana do bhain le Saorstát Éireann arna shocrú ag an gCoimisiún fé fho-alt (4) d'alt 60 den Acht Airgid Reatha maidir leis na nótaí sin leis an mBanc Cópháirteach san do bhí amuich díreach roimh an lá ceaptha luaidhtear sa bhfo-alt san.
(3) Gach dí-scríobhadh dhéanfaidh Banc Cópháirteach fén alt so beidh éifeacht aige amhail ar an dáta agus ón dáta ar a gceadóidh an tAire é.
(4) Aon uair a bheidh méid dí-scríobhtha ag Banc Cópháirteach fén alt so, féachfar go cuibhe don dí-scríobhadh sin le linn bheith ag áireamh méid aon íocaíochta fé alt 66 den Acht Airgid Reatha, arna leasú leis an Acht so, is iníoctha ag an mBanc Cópháirteach san in aghaidh tréimhse bheidh i bpáirt no go hiomlán i ndiaidh an dáta gur amhail air agus uaidh a bheidh éifeacht ag an díscríobhadh sin.
(5) Ní oibreoidh aon dí-scríobhadh, dhéanfaidh Banc Cópháirteach fén alt so, chun an Banc Cópháirteach san do shaoradh óna bheith air aon chuid áirithe dá nótaí d'íoc.
CUID V.
Earlaisi o Bhancaeri.
Léiriú ar thagairtí do dhuine dá thabhairt le tuigsint gur bancaer é.
41.—(1) Chun crícheanna na Coda so den Acht so, is tuigthe (lasmuich de chás dá bhforáltar a mhalairt leis an gcéad fho-alt eile den alt so) duine dá thabhairt le tuigsint gur bancaer é—
(a) más rud é, i gcás é bheith ina chuideachtain no ina chólucht chorpruithe eile bheidh ag seoladh gnótha ar bith, go mbeidh ina chuid d'ainm an chóluchta san aon cheann de na focail “bank”, “banker”, no “banking” no aon fhocal is malairt leagain ar aon fhocal aca san no is díorthú uaidh, no
(b) más rud é, i gcás gur pearsa é, go mbeidh sé ag seoladh gnótha ar bith fé ainm no teideal (seachas a ainm féin gan éinní curtha léi) dar cuid aon cueann de na focail “bank”, “banker”, no “banking” no aon mhalairt leagain ar aon fhocal aca san no aon díorthú uaidh, no
(c) más rud é, i gcás é bheith ina pháirtnéireacht no ina chólucht nea-chorpruithe eile bheidh ag seoladh gnótha ar bith, go mbeidh ina chuid den ainm féna mbeidh an cólucht san ag seoladh an ghnótha san (ainm nach ionann, i gcás páirtnéireachta, agus ainm no ainmneacha duine no níos mó de na páirtnéirí gan éinní curtha léi no leo) aon cheann de na focail “bank”, “banker”, no “banking” no aon fhocal is malairt leagain ar aon fhocal aca san no is díorthú uaidh, no
(d) i gcás ar bith, más rud é, tré aon cheann de na focail “bank”, “banker”, no “banking” no aon mhalairt leagain ar na focail sin no díorthú uatha no aon abairt is analach dóibh d'úsáid i bhfógrán no ciorcalán no cárta gnótha no scríbhinn eile, go dtabharfa sé le tuigsint no le fios é bheith ag déanamh oibrithe bancaerachta le daoine den phuiblíocht no dhóibh no thar a gceann no é bheith toilteanach san do dhéanamh.
(2) D'ainneoin éinní atá sa bhfo-alt san roimhe seo den alt so, ní tuigthe aon bhanc aca so leanas, sé sin le rá, an Banc, Banc Taisce Oifig an Phuist, agus banc taisce iontaobhais arna dheimhniú (roimh an Acht so do rith no dá éis sin) fén Trustee Savings Banks Act, 1863, dá thabhairt le tuigsint gur bancaer é do réir bhrí no chun crícheanna na Coda so den Acht so.
A bheith d'oblagáid éarlais do léisteáil san Ard-Chúirt.
42.—(1) I rith na tréimhse de thrí bliana dar tosach an chéad 1adh lá d'Eanar tar éis dáta an Achta so do rith ní dleathach do dhuine ar bith a thabhairt le tuigsint gur bancaer é mara mbeidh lóisteálta agus á coimeád ar lóisteáil aige san Ard-Chúirt do réir na Coda so den Acht so suim deich míle punt no, i gcás duine lena mbainfidh ordú fé fho-alt (3) den alt so, an tsuim a luadhfar san ordú san.
(2) Tar éis deireadh na tréimhse de thrí bliana luaidhtear sa bhfo-alt san roimhe seo den alt so ní dleathach do dhuine ar bith a thabhairt le tuigsint gur bancaer é mara mbeidh lóisteálta agus á coimeád ar lóisteáil aige san Ard-Chúirt do réir na Coda so den Acht so suim fiche míle punt no, i gcás duine lena mbainfidh ordú fé fho-alt (3) den alt so, an tsuim a luadhfar san ordú san.
(3) Más deimhin leis an Aire é bheith cóir de bhíthin tosca speisialta, féadfaidh, le hordú, a cheadú do dhuine bheireann le tuigsint gur bancaer é suim is lugha ná an tsuim a luaidhtear i bhfo-alt (1) no i bhfo-alt (2) den alt so (pé ceann aca bhaineann leis an gcás) ach nach lugha ná cúig mhíle punt do lóisteáil agus do choimeád ar lóisteáil san Ard-Chúirt do réir na Coda so den Acht so.
(4) Féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, aon ordú fén alt so do chúlghairm no do leasú.
(5) Gach duine bhéarfaidh le tuigsint contrárdha don alt so gur bancaer é, beidh sé ciontach i gcionta fén alt so agus dlighfear,
(a) ar a chiontú ann ar dhíotáil, fíneáil nach mó ná cúig céad punt do chur air maraon le fíneáil bhreise nach mó ná cúig puint fhichead in aghaidh gach lae leanfar den chionta, no
(b) ar a chiontú ann ar an slí achmair, fíneáil nach mó ná caoga punt do chur air maraon le fíneáil bhreise nach mó ná punt in aghaidh gach lae leanfar den chionta.
(6) Má dhéanann cuideachta no cólucht corpruithe eile cionta fén alt so, ansan, gach stiúrthóir agus gach oifigeach de chuid na cuideachtan no an chóluchta san údaróidh no a cheadóidh go toiliúil an cionta, beidh sé sin freisin ciontach sa chionta agus ar a chiontú ann dlighfear an pionós a luaidhtear sa bhfo-alt deiridh sin roimhe seo do chur air.
(7) Má dhéanann páirtnéireacht no cólucht nea-chorpruithe eile cionta fén alt so, beidh gach ball den pháirtnéireacht no den chólucht san ciontach sa chionta agus ar a chiontú ann dlighfear an pionós a luaidhtear i bhfo-alt (5) den alt so do chur air mara gcruthuighe ná raibh eolas aige agus ná féadfaidh sé, do réir réasúin, eolas do bheith aige ar an sárú san.
Forálacha generálta i dtaobh éarlaisí fén gCuid seo den Acht so.
43.—(1) Beidh feidhm agus éifeacht ag na forálacha so leanas maidir le héarlaisí lóisteálfar san Ard-Chúirt de bhun na Coda so den Acht so, sé sin le rá:—
(a) beidh gach éarlais den tsórt san fé urláimh na hArd-Chúirte agus is le privité Chuntasóir na gCúirteanna Breithiúnais a lóisteálfar í;
(b) déanfaidh Cuntasóir na gCúirteanna Breithiúnais na fuirmeacha is gá chuige do thabhairt amach in aisce, arna n-iarraidh, do dhuine ar bith a bheidh chun aon éarlais den tsórt san do lóisteáil no chun cur léi;
(c) in ionad í lóisteáil ar fad in airgead féadfar aon éarlais den tsórt san do lóisteáil i bpáírt no go hiomlán tré urrúis do lóisteáil a bheidh údaruithe le rialacha cúirte chun airgead fé urláimh na hArd-Chúirte do shuncáil ionta;
(d) i gcás aon éarlais den tsórt san do bheith lóisteálta no á coimeád i bpáirt no go hiomlán in airgead, déanfar, ar iarratas agus ar chostas an lóisteálaidhe, an t-airgead san no cuid áirithe dhe do shuncáil sna hurúis sin, a bheidh údaruithe mar adubhradh, a luadhfaidh an lóisteálaidhe;
(e) aon uair a lóisteálfar aon éarlais den tsórt san cuirfidh Cuntasóir na gCúirteanna Breithiúnais in iúl don Aire í bheidh lóisteálta, cad is ainm don té do lóisteáil í agus cá mhéid í, agus aon uair a cuirfear le haon éarlais den tsórt san cuirfidh an Cuntasóir sin in iúl don Aire láithreach gur cuireadh léi agus cá mhéid do cuireadh léi;
(f) íocfar leis an lóisteálaidhe an t-ioncum a thiocfaidh as na hurrúis dá mbeidh aon éarlais den tsórt san có-dhéanta i bpáirt no go hiomlán;
(g) gach ceann no aon cheann no cinn de na hurrúis dá mbeidh aon éarlais den tsórt san có-dhéanta i bpáirt no go hiomlán déanfar, ar iarratas agus ar chostas an lóisteálaidhe, iad d'athrú in urrúis eile bheidh údaruithe mar adubhradh agus a luadhfaidh an lóisteálaidhe no iad d'iompódh in airgead;
(h) féadfaidh lóisteálaidhe aon éarlaise den tsórt san no a leachtálaidhe, a ionadaidhe pearsanta, a shannaidhe, no comharba teidil eile dhó a iarraidh aon uair, do réir rialacha cúirte, go dtabharfaí thar n-ais an éarlais sin no pé méid di ná beidh íoctha amach de bhun orduithe ón Ard-Chúirt fén gCuid seo den Acht so;
(i) má hiarrtar go cuibhe amhlaidh éarlais do thabhairt thar n-ais, déanfar, lasmuich de chás dá bhforáltar a mhalairt leis an gCuid seo den Acht so, an éarlais sin no pé méid di ná beidh íoctha amach mar adubhradh do thabhairt thar n-ais do réir an iarratais sin fé cheann sé mí tar éis an t-iarratas san d'fháil;
(j) aon uair a déanfar aon éarlais den tsórt san no an méid sin di adubhradh do thabhairt thar n-ais de bhun na míre deiridh sin roimhe seo den fho-alt so, cuirfidh Cuntasóir na gCúirteanna Breithiúnais in iúl don Aire láithreach gur tugadh thar n-ais amhlaidh é.
(2) Ar an dara lá d'Eanar gach bliana tar éis na céad bhliana i ndiaidh na bliana ina rithfear an tAcht so déanfaidh Cuntasóir na gCúirteanna Breithiúnais amach, maidir le gach éarlais a bheidh á cothabháil san Ard-Chúirt fén gCuid seo den Acht so agus a bheidh có-dhéanta i bpáirt no go hiomlán d'urrúis, cad is luach margaidh reatha iomlán do na hurrúis a bheidh san éarlais sin agus cuirfidh láithreach fógra i scríbhinn leis an bpost chun lóisteálaidhe na héarlaise sin á luadh cadé méid an luacha mhargaidh reatha iomláin sin arna dhéanamh amach amhlaidh agus cadé méid an airgid (más ann) a bheidh san éarlais sin, agus á luadh fós cé aca tá lán-tsuim (dá ngairmtear an méid iarbhfír sa bhfo-alt so) an luacha mhargaidh reatha iomláin agus an airgid sin (más ann) níos mó no níos lugha ná méid na héarlaise, no có-ionann le méid na héarlaise, is gá do réir na Coda so den Acht so (méid dá ngairmtear an méid ceart sa bhfo-alt so) agus, más mó no más lugha méid iarbhfír na héarlaise ná a méid ceart, cad is méid don bhreis no don easnamh (fé mar a bheidh), agus nuair a cuirfear an fógra san amach amhlaidh beidh éifeacht ag an gcuid (más ann) de na forálacha so leanas a bhainfidh leis an gcás, sé sin le rá:—
(a) más mó an méid iarbhfír ná an méid ceart agus go n-iarrfaidh an lóisteálaidhe, an chéad 2adh lá d'Fheabhra tar éis dáta an fhógra san do phostáil no roimh an lá san, go dtabharfaí thar n-ais dó an bhreis no cuid áirithe den bhreis a bheidh ag an méid iarbhfír ar an méid ceart, bhéarfar thar n-ais láithreach don lóisteálaidhe suim is có-ionann leis an mbreis sin no leis an gcuid áirithe sin di (lugha-de costas aon díolacháin urrús is gá);
(b) más lugha an méid iarbhfír ná an méid ceart, féadfaidh an lóisteálaidhe méid is có-ionann leis an méid a bheidh an méid iarbhfír fé bhun an mhéid chirt do lóisteáil san Ard-Chúirt (mar bhreis leis an éarlais sin) in airgead no in urrúis a bheidh údaruithe le rialacha cúirte chun airgead fé urláimh na hArd-Chúirte do shuncáil ionta no go leathrannach in airgead agus go leathrannach in urrúis den tsórt san;
(c) má thárlann, i gcás lena mbaineann an mhír dheiridh sin roimhe seo den fho-alt so, go lóisteálfaidh an lóisteálaidhe an éarlais bhreise a húdaruítear leis an mír sin an chéad 2adh lá d'Fheabhra tar éis dáta an fhógra san do phostáil no roimh an lá san, is tuigthe an lóisteálaidhe do chothabháil na héarlaise ar an méid ceart ach má thárlann, in aon chás den tsórt san, ná lóisteálfaidh an lóisteálaidhe an éarlais bhreise sin an 2adh lá d'Fheabhra san no roimhe cuirfidh Cuntasóir na gCúirteanna Breithiúnais an méid sin in iúl don Aire.
(3) Féadfar le rialacha cúirte socrú do dhéanamh i dtaobh gach ní no aon ní no nithe aca so leanas do dhéanamh gan ordú ón Ard-Chúirt, sé sin le rá:—
(a) éarlaisí do lóisteáil fén gCuid seo den Acht so agus breiseanna do chur le héarlaisí den tsórt san;
(b) airgead a bheidh in aon éarlais den tsórt san do shuncáil;
(c) an t-ioncum a thiocfaidh as urrúis a bheidh in éarlais lóisteálaidhe d'íoc leis an lóisteálaidhe sin;
(d) gach ceann no aon cheann no cinn de na hurrúis a bheidh in aon éarlais den tsórt san d'athrú;
(e) aon éarlais den tsórt san no aon chuid d'aon éarlais den tsórt san do thabhairt thar n-ais don lóisteálaidhe fén alt so.
Earlais do lóisteáil thar ceann cuideachtan roimh a corprú.
44.—I gcás a bheith beartuithe cuideachta do chorprú fé na hAchtanna Cuideachtan, 1908 go 1924, fé ainm ina mbeidh aon cheann de na focail “bank”, “banker”, no “banking”, no aon fhocal is malairt leagain ar aon fhocal aca san no is díorthú uaidh, beidh éifeacht ag na forálacha so leanas, sé sin le rá:—
(a) is dleathach éarlais do lóisteáil san Ard-Chúirt fén gCuid seo den Acht so thar ceann agus in ainm na cuideachtan beartuithe sin d'ainneoin gan an chuideachta san do bheith corpruithe;
(b) féadfar ordú fé fho-alt (3) d'alt 42 den Acht so do dhéanamh i dtaobh méid na héarlaise sin d'ainneoin gan an chuideachta san do bheith corpruithe;
(c) ní thabharfaidh cláruitheoir na gcuideachtan deimhniú corpruithe i dtaobh na cuideachtan beartuithe sin mara ndéantar ná go dtí go ndéanfar an éarlais sin do lóisteáil amhlaidh thar ceann agus in ainm na cuideachtan beartuithe sin;
(d) nuair a bheidh an chuideachta bheartuithe sin corpruithe go cuibhe fé na hAchtanna san, is tuigthe chun gach críche an éarlais sin do bheith lóisteálta ag an gcuideachtain sin.
Fiacha d'íoc as éarlais.
45.—(1) Aon uair a gheobhaidh duine (dá ngairmtear an creidiúnaidhe san alt so) breithiúntas no ordú no aithne i gcúirt ar bith in aghaidh duine (dá ngairmtear an lóisteálaidhe san alt so) a mbeidh éarlais lóisteálta agus á cothabháil aige san Ard-Chúirt fén gCuid seo den Acht so, á cheangal go n-íocfaí suim airgid chun glanta fiachais (leachtáluithe no nea-leachtáluithe) a bheidh curtha suas ag an lóisteálaidhe i gcúrsa no i dtaobh an ghnótha bheidh á sheoladh aige féadfaidh an Ard-Chúirt, má mheasann san do bheith ceart arna iarraidh sin don chreidiúnaidhe ar shlí achmair, a ordú an tsuim airgid sin agus na costais (más ann) is iníoctha ag an lóisteálaidhe leis an gcreidiúnaidhe fén mbreithiúntas, fén ordú, no fén aithne sin, agus fós (má mheasann an Ard-Chúirt san do bheith ceart) costais an chreidiúnaidhe i dtaobh an iarratais sin, d'íoc leis an gcreidiúnaidhe as an éarlais sin a bheidh á cothabháil amhlaidh ag an lóisteálaidhe.
(2) Aon uair a déanfar, de bhun orduithe ón Ard-Chúirt arna dhéanamh fén bhfo-alt san roimhe seo den alt so, airgead ar bith d'íoc as éarlais san Ard-Chúirt fén gCuid seo den Acht so, beidh éifeacht ag na forálacha so leanas, sé sin le rá:—
(a) cuirfidh Cuntasóir na gCúirteanna Breithiúnais in iúl don Aire láithreach an t-íoc san do bheith déanta;
(b) déanfaidh an Cuntasóir sin amach cadé méid an iarmhéide den éarlais sin a bheidh fanta tar éis an íoca san aisti agus, más lugha an t-iarmhéid sin ná méid ceart na héarlaise sin fén gCuid seo den Acht so, cuirfidh an Cuntasóir sin chun an lóisteálaidhe leis an bpost fógra i scríbhinn á rá gur lugha an t-iarmhéid sin ná an méid ceart agus fós ag luadh an méid (dá ngairmtear an t-easnamh san sa bhfo-alt so) a bheidh in easnamh ar an iarmhéid sin amhlaidh;
(c) chun méid an iarmhéide sin do dhéanamh amach amhlaidh, luachálfar na hurrúis uile (más ann) san éarlais sin ar a luachanna margaidh reatha fé seach;
(d) nuair a bheidh fógra den tsórt san adubhradh curtha ag an gCuntasóir sin chun an lóisteálaidhe, féadfaidh an lóisteálaidhe méid is có-ionann leis an easnamh san do lóisteáil san Ard-Chúirt (mar bhreis leis an éarlais sin) in airgead, no in urrúis a bheidh údaruithe le rialacha cúirte chun airgead fé urláimh na hArd-Chúirte do shuncáil ionta, no go leathrannach in airgead agus go leathrannach in urrúis den tsórt san, agus má lóisteálann an lóisteálaidhe an méid sin amhlaidh fé cheann ceithre lá déag ar a mhéid tar éis dáta an fhógra san do phostáil is tuigthe é do chothabháil na héarlaise sin ar an méid is gá do réir na Coda so den Acht so.
CUID VI.
Ceadunais Bhancaeri agus Dualgais Bhancaeri Ceadunuithe.
Feidhm na Coda so den Acht so.
46.—Ní bhaineann an Chuid seo den Acht so leis an mBanc ná le Banc Taisce Oifig an Phuist ná le haon bhanc taisce iontaobhais arna dheimhniú (roimh an Acht so do rith no dá éis sin) fén Trustee Savings Banks Act, 1863.
Ceadúnais bhancaerí.
47.—(1) San alt so, cialluíonn an abairt “gnó bancaerachta” gnó arb é atá ann, ar fad no go leathrannach, ná taiscí do ghlacadh is iníoctha ar a n-éileamh no ar fhógra nach sia ná seacht lá, ach má ghlacann trádálaidhe taiscí o dhaoine ar fostú aige ina ghnó trádála no má ghlacann trádálaidhe, i ngnáth-chúrsa a ghnótha thrádála, taiscí o dhaoine is custaiméirí sa ghnó thrádála san no má ghlacann trádálaidhe an dá shaghas san taiscí, ní leor san ann féin chun gnó bancaerachta chun crícheanna an ailt seo do dhéanamh de ghnó thrádála an trádálaidhe sin.
(2) Ní dhéanfaidh duine ar bith (seachas banc ná baineann an Chuid seo den Acht so leis) an chéad 1adh lá d'Eanar tar éis dáta an Achta so do rith ná d'éis an lae sin gnó bancaerachta do sheoladh ná a thabhairt le tuigsint ná le fios é bheith ag seoladh aon ghnótha is gnó bancaerachta do réir bhrí an ailt seo mara mbeidh ceadúnas bancaera aige tugadh amach dó fén alt so agus a bheidh i bhfeidhm de thurus na huaire.
(3) Féadfaidh duine ar bith ceadúnas (dá ngairmtear ceadúnas bancaera san Acht so) d'iarraidh ar na Coimisinéirí Ioncuim agus d'fháil uatha, á údarú dhó gnó bancaerachta do sheoladh o dháta tabhartha amach an cheadúnais sin go dtí an chéad 31adh lá de Mhí na Nodlag ina dhiaidh sin no, i gcás ceadúnais a bhéarfar amach mar athnuachaint ar cheadúnas ná beidh imithe in éag, ón gcéad 1adh lá d'Eanar tar éis dáta tabhartha amach an cheadúnais a bhéarfar amach amhlaidh go dtí an chéad 31adh lá de Mhí na Nodlag ina dhiaidh sin.
(4) Is sa bhfuirm a hordófar le rialacháin a déanfar fén alt so a bheidh gach ceadúnas bancaera agus gach iarratas ar cheadúnas bhancaera agus má bhíonn diúité stampa iníoctha do réir dlí ar an gceadúnas san beidh méid an diúité sin ag gabháil leis an iarratas san agus beidh íoc an diúité sin ina choinníoll nach foláir a chólíonadh sara mbreithneofar an t-iarratas san.
(5) Más mian le sealbhóir ceadúnais bhancaera (dá ngairmtear sean-cheadúnas sa bhfo-alt so) ceadúnas bancaera (dá ngairmtear ceadúnas athnuachana sa bhfo-alt so) d'fháil mar athnuachaint ar an sean-cheadúnas san féadfaidh an ceadúnas athnuachana san d'iarraidh fén alt so roimh an sean-cheadúnas san do dhul in éag ach ní níos luaithe ná mí roimhe sin.
(6) Cuirfidh na Coimisinéirí Ioncuim chun an Bhainc i mí Eanair gach bliana liost ina mbeidh ainm agus seoladh gach duine dar tugadh amach fén alt so, roimh dháta curtha amach an liosta san, ceadúnas bancaera bheidh le dul in éag an 31adh lá de Mhí Nodlag na bliana san agus fós, aon uair a bhéarfar amach fén alt so, ar dháta curtha amach an liosta san no dá éis, ceadúnas bancaera bheidh le dul in éag amhlaidh, cuirfid in iúl don Bhanc láithreach an ceadúnas san do bheith tugtha amach agus ainm agus seoladh an duine dar tugadh amach é.
(7) Féadfaidh na Coimisinéirí Ioncuim, le toiliú an Aire, rialacháin do dhéanamh ag ordú fuirmeacha le haghaidh ceadúnaisí bancaera agus iarrataisí ortha agus an nós imeachta i gcoitinne maidir le hiarratais ar cheadúnais bhancaera agus lena dtabhairt sin amach.
(8) Gach duine dhéanfaidh, contrárdha don alt so, gnó bancaerachta do sheoladh no a thabhairt le tuigsint no le fios é bheith ag seoladh aon ghnótha is gnó bancaerachta do réir bhrí an ailt seo, beidh sé ciontach i gcionta fén alt so agus ar a chiontú ann ar an slí achmair dlighfear fíneáil nach mó ná céad punt do chur air maraon le fíneáil bhreise nach mó ná deich bpuint in aghaidh gach lae leanfar den tsárú san.
Bancaeri ceadúnuithe d'fhoillsiú ráitisí airgeadais.
48.—(1) San alt so cialluíonn an focal “bliain” tréimhse de dhá mhí dhéag dar tosach an 1adh lá d'Eanar.
(2) Ar an gcéad ladh lá d'Eanar tar éis dáta an Achta so do rith agus i ndiaidh an lae sin beidh alt 108 den Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908 (alt a bhaineann le cuideachtana áirithe d'fhoillsiú ráitis airgeadais áirithe) gan feidhm ná éifeacht maidir le bancaer ceadúnuithe.
(3) Déanfaidh gach bancaer ceadúnuithe, mara saoraidh an tAire fén alt so é,—
(a) ráiteas (sa bhfuirm is gá do réir an ailt seo) i dtaobh an ghnótha bhancaerachta bhíonn á sheoladh aige do phostáil suas agus do choimeád postálta suas i gcomhnaidhe in áit fheiceálach i ngach oifig, brainse, no áit eile ina mbíonn gnó bancaerachta á sheoladh aige agus fós, i gcás cuideachtan teoranta bheidh corpruithe sa Stát, in oifig chláruithe na cuideachtan, agus
(b) cóip den ráiteas deireannach den tsórt san do thabhairt, arna iarraidh sin air, do gach duine dá chreidiúnaithe agus, i gcás cuideachtan teoranta, do gach ball den chuideachtain ar shuim nach mó ná roul d'íoc aisti.
(4) Féadfaidh an tAire aon uair, má mheasann san do bheith ceart, saoirse o fhorálacha an fho-ailt deiridh sin roimhe seo den alt so do thabhairt do bhancaer cheadúnuithe do bhí, díreach roimh dháta an Achta so do rith, ag seoladh gnótha bhancaerachta sa Stát agus ná raibh an uair sin ina chuideachtain lenar bhain alt 108 den Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908.
(5) An ráiteas a cheanglann an t-alt so ar bhancaer cheadúnuithe do phostáil suas beidh sé, i gcás Bainc Chópháirtigh, i bhfuirm cóipe den chuntas chothromaíochta is déanaighe aige agus, i ngach gcás eile, sa bhfuirm ordóidh an tAire no, go dtí go n-ordóidh sé an fhuirm sin, sa bhfuirm chéanna, chó fada agus is féidir, ina mbeidh cuntais chothromaíochta na mBancanna Cópháirteacha.
(6) Gach bancaer ceadúnuithe sháróidh an t-alt so (le gníomh no le faillighe) beidh sé ciontach i gcionta fén alt so agus ar a chiontú ann ar an slí achmair dlighfear fíneáil nach mó ná céad punt do chur air agus ina theannta san, i gcás cionta leanúnaigh, fíneáil bhreise nach mó ná cúig puint in aghaidh gach lae leanfar den chionta.
(7) I gcás bancaer ceadúnuithe is cuideachta theoranta do dhéanamh cionta fén alt so, beidh gach stiúrthóir agus gach bainisteoir don chuideachtain sin údaróidh no cheadóidh an cionta go toiliúil ciontach sa chionta freisin agus ar a chiontú ann ar an slí achmair dlighfear an pionós a luaidhtear sa bhfo-alt deiridh sin roimhe seo do chur air.
Bancaeri ceadúnuithe d'fhoillsiú cuntas cothromaíochta.
49.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire, tar éis dul i gcomhairle leis an mBord, rialacháin do dhéanamh chun gach críche no aon chríche aca so leanas, sé sin le rá:—
(a) á cheangal ar bhancaerí ceadúnuithe cuntais chothromaíochta d'ullmhú agus d'fhollsiú sna trátha agus i gceann na n-eatramh a luadhfar sna rialacháin sin;
(b) ag ordú na fuirme ina n-ullmhófar cuntais chothromaíochta bancaerí ceadúnuithe.
(2) Féadfaidh rialacháin a déanfar fén alt so ceanglais deifriúla d'ordú maidir le bancaerí ceadúnuithe deifriúla.
(3) Cólíonfaidh gach bancaer ceadúnuithe ar gach slí gacli rialachán a déanfar fén alt so agus a bhainfidh leis, agus má fhágann aon bhancaer ceadúnuithe aon rialachán den tsórt san gan cólíonadh amhlaidh beidh sé ciontach i gcionta fén alt so agus ar a chiontú ann ar an slí achmair dlighfear fíneáil nach mó ná céad punt do chur air.
Comhacht chun a cheangal ar bhancaerí ceadúnuithe éarlais do lóisteáil i gcásanna áirithe.
50.—(1) Má chítear don Bhord aon uair, le haontú an Aire, é bheith oiriúnach san do dhéanamh, is dleathach don Bhord rialacháin da dhéanamh, le toiliú an Aire, á cheangal ar gach bancaer ceadúnuithe éarlais (ná tuillfidh ús) de mhéid áirithe no arna háireamh ar shlí áirithe do lóisteáil leis an mBanc aon uair a thárlóidh, tar éis dáta áirithe, na sócmhainní ar seilbh aige sa Stát do thuitim fé bhun cionúireachta áirithe i gcompráid lena fhiachais sa Stát, agus an éarlais sin do chothabháil faid a bheidh na sócmhainní sin fé bhun na cionúireachta áirithe sin.
(2) Féadfaidh rialacháin a déanfar fén alt so ceanglais deifriúla d'ordú maidir le bancaerí ceadúnuithe deifriúla.
(3) Má bhíonn agus aon uair a bheidh rialacháin i bhfeidhm a bheidh déanta ag an mBord fén alt so, beidh de dhualgas ar gach bancaer ceadúnuithe an chuid sin de na rialacháin sin a bhainfidh leis do chólíonadh agus má theipeann ar aon bhancaer ceadúnuithe (tré ghníomh no tré fhaillighe) san do dhéanamh beidh sé ciontach i gcionta fén alt so agus ar a chiontú ann ar an slí achmair dlighfear fíneáil nach mó ná céad punt do chur air in aghaidh gach lae leanfar den teip sin.
Comhachta maidir le réiteachta bancaerí ceadúnuithe.
51.—(1) Má chítear don Bhord aon uair, le haontú an Aire, é bheith oiriúnach san do dhéanamh, is dleathach don Bhord rialacháin do dhéanamh, le toiliú an Aire, á cheangal ar gach bancaer ceadúnuithe a réiteachta uile no aicme áirithe no aicmí áirithe dhíobh (arna míniú sna rialacháin) do shocrú le seiceanna tarraingeofar fé mar a luadhfar sna rialacháin ar an mBanc no ar ghníomhaire bheidh ceaptha ag an mBanc chuige sin agus á cheangal ar gach bancaer ceadúnuithe, d'fhonn na réiteachta san do shocrú amhlaidh, pé iarmhéidí is gá chuige sin do lóisteáil agus do chothabháil leis an mBanc.
(2) Má chítear don Bhord aon uair, le haontú an Aire, é bheith oiriúnach san do dhéanamh, is dleathach don Bhord rialacháin do dhéanamh, le toiliú an Aire, á cheangal ar gach bancaer ceadúnuithe go lóisteálfadh sé leis an mBanc chun a réitithe gach seic, bille, nóta, no ionstruim iontráchta eile (is iníoctha lasmuich den Stát agus a lóisteálfar chun a réitithe in oifig sa Stát leis an mbancaer sin) ordóidh an Bord chuige sin leis na rialacháin sin no fútha.
(3) Má bhíonn agus aon uair a bheidh rialacháin i bhfeidhm a bheidh déanta ag an mBord fé aon fho-alt aca san roimhe seo den alt so, beidh de dhualgas ar gach bancaer ceadúnuithe na rialacháin sin do chólíonadh agus má theipeann ar aon bhancaer ceadúnuithe (tré ghníomh na tré fhaillighe) san do dhéanamh beidh sé ciontach i gcionta fén alt so agus ar a chiontú ann ar an slí achmair dlighfear fíneáil nach mó ná céad punt do chur air in aghaidh gach lae leanfar den teip sin.
CUID VII.
Airgead Reatha Breige no Neamh-Udaruithe.
Míniú ar “nóta bainc” sa Chuid seo den Acht so.
52.—Sa Chuid seo den Acht so tá an bhrí chéanna leis an abairt “nóta bainc” atá leis an abairt “bank note” sa Forgery Act, 1913, arna leasú no arna leathnú leis an Acht Airgid Reatha agus leis an gCuid seo den Acht so.
An Forgery Act, 1913, do leathnú.
53.—(1) Is tuigthe gur nótaí bainc do réir bhrí an Forgery Act, 1913, nótaí airgid reatha arna n-eisiúint ag Rialtas tíre ar bith lasmuich den Stát no thar a gceann.
(2) Sa bhfo-alt san roimhe seo den alt so foluíonn an abairt “nóta airgid reatha” nótaí ar bith (pé ainm do bheirtear ortha) is dlíthairgsint i dtír a n-eisiúna.
Nótaí bainc, etc., a gabhfar fén Forgery Act, 1913, do chur de láimh.
54.—Aon uair a gabhfar go dleathach, fé bharántas arna dheonadh fé fho-alt (1) d'alt 16 (arna oiriúnú le hachtacháin iaraimseardha no fútha) den Forgery Act, 1913, no ar aon tslí eile, aon nóta bainc fallsuithe no aon inneallra, úirlis, fearas, no abhar do húsáideadh no bheidh le húsáid chun nóta bainc d'fhallsú, déanfar an nóta bainc, an t-inneallra, an úirlis, an fearas, no an t-abhar san (do réir mar a bheidh) do thabhairt suas, le hordú ón gcúirt a thriailfidh duine ar bith i gcionta maidir leis no, mara dtriailtear aon duine amhlaidh, le hordú ón mbreitheamh den Chúirt Dúithche no le hordachán ón bhFeadhmannach Síochána (pé aca é) do dheon an barántas san, don Choimisiún no do dhuine bheidh údaruithe ag an gCoimisiún chun an céanna do ghlacadh no, más tar éis an lae cheaptha déanfar an t-ordú san, don Bhanc no do dhuine bheidh údaruithe ag an mBanc chun an céanna do ghlacadh.
Docaimint do dhéanamh, etc., uirchiallfaidh bheith ina nóta bainc no bheidh cosúil le nóta bainc.
55.—(1) Má dhéanann duine ar bith no má bheireann go ndéanfar, no má úsáideann chun críche ar bith, no má chúrsuíonn aon docaimint uirchiallfaidh bheith ina nóta bainc no ina cuid de nóta bhainc no bheidh cosúil in aon tslí le ceachtar aca san no bheidh chó cosúil sin le ceachtar aca san gur deallrathach go meallfaí duine léi, beidh sé ciontach i gcionta fén bhfo-alt so agus ar a chiontú ann ar an slí achmair dlighfear fíneáil nach mó ná cúig puint do chur air.
(2) I gcás duine do chiontú i gcionta fén bhfo-alt san roimhe seo den alt so, is dleathach don chúirt a chiontóidh é amhlaidh a ordú go dtabharfar suas don Choimisiún no, más tar éis an lac cheaptha déanfar an t-ordú san, don Bhanc an docaimint a ndearnadh an cionta san ina taobh agus gach cóip den docaimint sin agus gach pláta, bloc, díosla, agus ionstruim eile do húsáideadh no is féidir d'úsáid chun an docaimint sin do chlóbhualadh no do mhacsamhlú agus a bheidh i seilbh an duine ciontófar amhlaidh.
(3) I gcás duine ar bith, a mbeidh a ainm ar dhocaimint gur cionta fé fho-alt (1) den alt so a déanamh, dá dhiúltú, gan leathscéal dleathach, ainm agus seoladh an duine do chlóbhuail no do rinne ar shlí eile an docaimint sin do nochtadh do bhall den Ghárda Síochána ar an mball san dá cheangal air san do dhéanamh, beidh an duine sin a dhiúltóidh amhlaidh ciontach i gcionta fén bhfo-alt so agus ar a chiontú ann ar an slí achmair dlighfear fíneáil nach mó ná deich bpuint do chur air.
(4) Má bhíonn ainm aon duine áirithe le feicsint ar dhocaimint a líomhnófar cionta fé fho-alt (1) den alt so air féin no ar aon duine eile ina taobh no ar aon docaimint eile do húsáideadh no do hiomdháileadh i ndáil leis an docaimint sin, beidh san, go dtí go gcruthófar a mhalairt, ina fhianaise go ndearna an duine a mbeidh a ainm le feicsint amhlaidh an docaimint a ndéanfar an líomhnadh san ina taobh no gur chuir sé dá déanamh í.
Toirmeasc ar airgead neamhúdaruithe.
56.—(1) Ní dhéanfaidh duine ar bith, ní chuirfidh ar fáil, ní eiseoidh ná ní ath-eiseoidh, ná ní thabharfaidh ná ní ghlacfaidh in íocaíocht aon docaimint (nach docaimint a heiscítear leis an alt so o oibriú an ailt seo) i scríbhinn (pé aca ar pháipéar no ar aon tsubstaint no abhar eile bheidh sí scríobhtha) a bheidh do réir an dá choinníoll so leanas, sé sin le rá:—
(a) an docaimint dá uirchialladh no dá rá í bheith, no í bheith iarbhfír, ionmhalartuithe ar shuim áirithe airgid dleathaigh ar an duine is sealbhóir uirthi de thurus na huaire dá tíolacadh do dhuine áirithe no d'aon bheirt daoine áirithe no níos mó, pé aca bheidh an duine no na daoine sin luaidhte sa docaimint no ná beidh agus pé aca bheidh an tíolacadh san fé réir srianta maidir le ham agus áit no ná beidh agus pé aca bheidh na srianta san (más ann) luaidhte sa docaimint no ná beidh, agus
(b) an docaimint do bheith ceaptha, no í dá uirchialladh no dá dheallrú í bheith ceaptha, chun cúrsú mar airgead no chun í d'úsáid chun ionad airgid dleathaigh do dhéanamh, pé aca i gcoitinne no chun críche áirithe no i líomatáiste áirithe é.
(2) Gach duine dhéanfaidh, a chuirfidh ar fáil, eiseoidh no athciseoidh, no bhéarfaidh no ghlacfaidh in íocaíocht aon docaimint contrárdha don fho-alt san roimhe seo den alt so beidh sé cionfach i gcionta fén alt so agus ar a chiontú ann ar an slí achmair dlighfear fíneáil nach mó ná caoga punt do chur air.
(3) I gcás docaimint do bheith, no í dá uirchialladh no dá rá í bheith, déanta no curtha ar fáil no eisithe no ath-eisithe no tugtha no glactha in íocaíocht ag cumann, comhlachas, coiste, comhairle, no cólucht eile ná beidh corpruithe no thar ceann an chéanna, beidh gach ball den chólucht san ciontach i gcionta fén alt so agus inphionósuithe dá réir sin.
(4) Má cúisítear duine i gcionta fén alt so, is ar an duine cúiseofar amhlaidh a bheidh a chruthú, i dtaobh na docaiminte ar maidir léi líomhnófar a rinneadh an cionta, ná raibh sí ceaptha agus ná huirchiallann no ná deallruíonn sí bheith ceaptha chun cúrsú mar airgead no chun í d'úsáid chun ionad airgid dleathaigh do dhéanamh (pé aca i gcoitinne no chun críche áirithe no i líomatáiste áirithe é) agus, mara gcruthuítear agus go dtí go gcruthófar a mhalairt, is tuigthe go raibh an docaimint sin ceaptha (contrárdha don alt so) chun cúrsú mar airgead agus chun í d'úsáid chun ionad airgid dleathaigh do dhéanamh.
(5) Eiscítear na docaimintí uile seo leanas o oibriú an ailt seo, sé sin le rá:—
(a) nótaí bainc;
(b) orduithe puist, orduithe airgid post-oifige, agus docaimintí eile arna n-eisiúint ag an Aire Puist agus Telegrafa;
(c) dreachta bainc, admhála taisce, agus docaimintí cile arna n-eisiúint ag banc ar bith;
(d) billí malairte nach iníoctha ar a dtíolacadh;
(e) nótaí geallúna ar shuim nach lugha ná cúig puint;
(f) seiceanna arna dtarraing ar bhancaer, ar a n-áirmhítear seiceanna arna dtarraing ag bancaer air féin;
(g) táilleáin—
(i) arna n-eisiúint no arna gcur ar fáil (roimh an Acht so do rith no dá éis sin) ag club no comhlachas ar daoine atá díomhaoin de thurus na huaire iomlán no furmhór na mball. agus
(ii) ná cúrsuíonn ach imeasc ballra an chlub no an chomhlachais sin, agus
(iii) gur chuige amháin a n-eisiúint agus a gcur ar fáil amhlaidh agus gur chuige amháin a húsáidtear iad chun gur féidir earraí tháirgeann no seirbhísí dhéanann baill den chlub no den chomhlachas san do mhalairtiú idir baill den chlub no den chomhlachas san.
An Customs Consolidation Act, 1876, do leasú.
57.—(1) Leasuítear leis seo alt 17 den Customs Consolidation Act, 1876, tré no focail “British currency” do scriosadh amach agus na focail “currency which is for the time being legal tender in the State” do chur in ionad na bhfocal san.
(2) Léireofar alt 42 den Customs Consolidation Act, 1876, agus beidh éifeacht aige fé is dá mbeadh na nithe seo leanas curtha leis an Táible de Thoirmisc agus de Shrianta maidir le hEarraí do Theacht Isteach atá san alt san, sé sin le rá:—
(a) fallsuithe ar nótaí dlí-thairgthe, agus
(b) fallsuithe ar nótaí bainc códhlúite.
CUID VIII.
Monaiocht.
An tAcht Coighneála, 1926, do leasú.
58.—(1) Leasuítear leis seo mar leanas an tAcht Coighneála, 1926 (Uimh. 14 de 1926), maidir le monaí d'ainmníocht reulach no d'ainmníocht leathreulach agus, i gceachtar cás, dáta is déanaighe ná an bhliain 1941 ortha agus ní maidir le haon mhonaí eile, sé sin le rá:—
(a) déantar leis seo an focal “copra-niocal” do chur in ionad an fhocail “niocal” i bhfo-alt (1) d'alt 2, i bhfo-alt (2) d'alt 5, agus sa chéad cholún den Sceideal, agus léireofar na fo-ailt agus an Sceideal san agus beidh éifeacht aca dá réir sin maidir leis na monaí sin;
(b) déantar leis seo na focail “copra-niocal, có-dhéanta de 75 per cent. de chopar agus de 25 per cent. de niocal” do chur in ionad na bhfocal “niocal ar fad”, agus léireofar an Sceideal san agus fós alt 2 agus beidh éifeacht aca dá réir sin maidir leis na monaí sin.
(2) Beidh feidhm agus éifeacht ag fo-alt (1) d'alt 8 den Acht Coighneála, 1926 (Uimh. 14 de 1926), maidir le monaí copra-niocail arna n-eisiúint fén Acht san sa tslí chéanna ina mbaineann le monaí niocail arna n-eisiúint amhlaidh, agus chuige sin déanfar na tagairtí atá in alt 1 den Coinage Offences Act, 1861, do mhonaí d'airgead bhán do léiriú mar thagairtí fholuíonn tagairtí do mhonaí copraniocail chó maith le monaí niocail.
(3) Leasuítear leis seo an Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht Coighneála, 1926 (Uimh. 14 de 1926), tré na focail “Umha, có-dhéanta de 95½ per cent. de chopar, de 3 per cent. de stán, agus de 1½ per cent. de shionca” do scriosadh as an tríú colún de agus tré na focail “Miotal measctha, có-dhéanta de chopar, stán agus sionca” do chur in ionad na bhfocal san.
(4) Léighfear mar éinní amháin an t-alt so agus an tAcht Coighneála, 1926 (Uimh. 14 de 1926), agus léireofar é agus beidh éifeacht aige dá réir sin.
An Gold and Silver (Export Control, etc.) Act, 1920, do leasú.
59.—Beidh feidhm agus éifeacht ag alt 2 den Gold and Silver (Export Control, etc.), Act, 1920, arna oiriúnú le hachtacháin iaraimseardha no fútha, maidir le monaí de niocal, de chopraniocal, d'umha, no de mhiotal eile no de mhiotail mheasctha fé mar atá feidhm agus éifeacht aige maidir le monaí d'ór no d'airgead bhán.
Monaí d'eisiúint fén Acht Coighneála, 1926.
60.—(1) Na monaí uile eiseoidh an tAire fén Acht Coighneála, 1926 (Uimh. 14 de 1926), an lá ceaptha no dá éis, is tríd an mBanc eiseoidh an tAire iad agus déanfar sochar gach eisiúna monaí den tsórt san d'íoc isteach sa chiste ghenerálta agus do chur chun creidiúnais cúl-chiste an airgid reatha sa chiste sin.
(2) Na suimeanna uile is gá chun monaí do sholáthar fén Acht Coighneála, 1926 (Uimh. 14 de 1926), an lá ceaptha no dá éis no chun monaí do heisíodh aon uair fén Acht san d'fhuascailt an lá san no dá éis, íocfar as an gciste generálta iad agus féichiúnófar sa chiste sin iad ar chúl-chiste an airgid reatha.
(3) Na taiscí uile fé fho-alt (2) d'alt 38 den Acht Airgid Reatha bheidh sa chiste ghenerálta díreach roimh an lá ceaptha in ainm an Aire no in ainm an Choimisiúin thar ceann an Aire déanfar, an lá ceaptha, iad d'úsáid agus do chur de láimh mar leanas, sé sin le rá:—
(a) na réimhíoca uile as an bPrímh-Chiste chun crícheanna an Achta Coighneála, 1926 (Uimh. 14 de 1926), a bheidh amuich díreach roimh an lá ceaptha, aisíocfar as na taiscí sin, iad;
(b) déanfar suim trí chéad míle punt do chur i leataoibh as na taiscí sin agus do bhreith chun cuntais fiunraíochta sa chiste ghenerálta agus íocfar í le Ciste na gCairteacha Coigiltis (Có-ionannú Us-mhuirir) sna tráthchoda agus na tráthanna san ordóidh an tAire;
(c) béarfar an chuid eile de na taiscí sin chun creidiúnais cúl-chiste an airgid reatha.
Cóipcheart i monaí.
61.—(1) An cóipcheart sna monaí uile arna n-eisiúint (roimh an Acht so do rith no dá éis sin) fén Acht Coighneála, 1926 (Uimh. 14 de 1926), no fé Chuid II den Acht Airgid Reatha agus an cóipcheart san obair ealadhnach ag léiriú deara aon mhonaí den tsórt san, beid biothbhuan agus is leis an Aire iad agus, i gcás aon mhonaí den tsórt san do heisíodh roimh dháta an Achta so do rith, is tuigthe gur leis an Aire riamh iad.
(2) D'ainneoin éinní atá i bhfo-alt (1) d'alt 155 den Acht Maoine Tionnscail agus Tráchtála (Cosaint), 1927 (Uimh. 16 de 1927), is sárú ar an gcóipcheart in aon mhona den tsórt a luaidhtear sa bhfo-alt san roimhe seo den alt so an mona san no aon chuid de do mhacsamhlú, gan toiliú an Aire, in aon obair liteardha no ealadhnach a foillseofar.
CUID IX.
Ilghneitheach.
Cúl-chiste na nótaí d'fhoirceannadh agus cúl-chiste an airgid reatha do bhunú.
62.—(1) Chó luath agus is féidir tar éis dáta an Achta so do rith agus, ar aon chuma, tráth nach déanaighe ná mí tar éis an dáta san, foirceannfar cúl-chiste na nótaí agus chuige sin beidh éifeacht ag na forálacha so leanas, sé sin le rá:—
(a) bunófar sa chiste ghenerálta cuntas ar a dtabharfar cúlchiste an airgid reatha;
(b) aistreofar as sócmhainní cúl-chiste na nótaí chun ciste na nótaí dlí-thairgthe pé sócmhainní (nach mó ná dhá chéad míle punt a luach iomlán do réir na bpraghsanna margaidh tráth an aistrithe) a mheasfaidh an Coimisiún is ceart;
(c) na sócmhainní a haistreofar chun ciste na nótaí dlí thairgthe de bhun na míre deiridh sin roimhe seo den fho-alt so úsáidfear iad chun laghdú, oiread agus a mheasfaidh an Coimisiún is ceart, do dhéanamh, i leabhair an chiste sin, ar na hainm-luachanna bheidh curtha síos sna leabhair sin do pé cuid de shócmhainní an chiste sin a mheasfaidh an Coimisiún is ceart;
(d) aistreofar chun an chiste ghenerálta sóchmhainní cúl-chiste na nótaí (lasmuich de na sócmhainní sin a haistreofar chun ciste na nótaí dlí-thairgthe fé na forálacha san roimhe seo den alt so) agus cuirfear a méid chun creidiúnais cúl-chiste an airgid reatha;
(e) na haistrithe is gá, do réir fo-ailt (7) d'alt 61 (arna leasú leis an Acht so) den Acht Airgid Reatha, do dhéanamh o chiste na nótaí dlí-thairgthe no chuige chun cúl-chiste na nótaí no uaidh, is amhlaidh a déanfar iad, o dháta cúl-chiste na nótaí d'fhoirceannadh de bhun an-ailt seo agus dá éis sin, o chiste na nótaí dlí-thairgthe no chuige chun cúl-chiste an airgid reatha sa chiste ghenerálta no uaidh.
(2) Más ar an lá ceaptha no dá éis sin a foirceannfar cúlchiste na nótaí de bhun an fho-ailt sin roimhe seo den alt so, léireofar gach luadh sa bhfo-alt san ar an gCoimisiún, agus beidh éifeacht aige, mar luadh ar an mBord.
(3) Déantar leis seo alt 50 agus fo-alt (7) d'alt 58 den Acht Airgid Reatha do leasú, amhail ón dáta críochnófar foirceannadh cúl-chiste na nótaí, tríd an abairt “cúl-chiste an airgid reatha” do chur in ionad na habairte “cúl-chiste na nótaí” i ngach áit ina bhfuil an abairt deiridh sin san alt san 50 agus sa bhfo-alt san (7) fé seach.
(4) Déantar leis seo alt 4 den Acht Airgid Reatha (Leasú), 1930 (Uimh. 30 de 1930), do leasú, amhail ón dáta críochnófar foirceannadh cúl-chiste na nótaí, tríd an abairt “cúl-chiste an airgid reatha” do chur in ionad na habairte “cúl-chiste na nótaí” i ngach áit ina bhfuil an abairt duiridh sin san alt san 4, agus tré na focail “inar ceaduithe de thurus na huaire sócmhainní de chuid chiste na nótaí dlí-thairgthe do choimeád” do chur in ionad na bhfocal agus na bhfigiúirí “luaidhtear i bhfo-alt (2) d'alt 62 den Phríomh-Acht” san áit ina bhfuil na focail agus na figiúirí sin i bhfo-alt (1) den alt san 4.
Alt 61 den Acht Airgid Reatha do leasú.
63.—Leasuítear leis-seo alt 61 den Acht Airgid Reatha tré fho-alt (7) de do scriosadh agus tríd an bhfo-alt so leanas do chur san alt san in ionad an fho-ailt sin a scriostar amhlaidh, sé sin le rá:—
“(7) Chó luath agus is féidir é tar éis an lae dheiridh d'Fheabhra agus tar éis an 31adh lá de Lúnasa i ngach bliain, luachálfaidh an Coimisiún, ar luachanna nach mó ná na praghsanna margaidh reatha bhí ann an lá deiridh sin d'Fheabhra no an 31adh lá san de Lúnasa (pé aca é), sócmhainní caipitiúla ciste na nótaí dlí-thairgthe mar a bhíodar an lá deiridh sin d'Fheabhra no an 31adh lá san de Lúnasa (pé aca é) agus gheobhaid amach an méid glan (más ann) a bheidh na sócmhainní caipitiúla san, arna luacháil amhlaidh (lugha-de méid caipitiúil aon iasachta sealadaighe fuarthas fén bhfo-alt deiridh sin roimhe seo den alt so agus a bheidh amuich an uair sin), os cionn no fé bhun an méid i nótaí dlí-thairgthe bhí amuich an lá deiridh sin d'Fheabhra no an 31adh lá san de Lúnasa (pé aca é), agus chó luath agus is féidir é tar éis an t-eolas san d'fháil amach aistreoid o chiste na nótaí dlí-thairgthe no chuige chun cúl-chiste na nótaí no uaidh (fé mar is gá sa chás) cothrom luacha aon bharrachais no easnaimh a bheidh ann (má bhíonn) de shócmhainní caipitiúla in aon cheann no cinn de na fuirmeacha inar ceaduithe de thurus na huaire sócmhainní de chuid chiste na nótaí dlí-thairgthe do choimeád.”
Alt 3 den Acht Airgid Reatha (Leasú), 1930, do leasú.
64.—Leasuítear alt 3 den Acht Airgid Reatha (Leasú), 1930 (Uimh. 30 de 1930), leis seo mar leanas, sé sin le rá:—
(a) tré na focail “d'aon aonta” do scriosadh as an áit ina bhfuilid i bhfo-alt (1), agus
(b) tré na focail “d'aon aonta” do scriosadh as an áit ina bhfuilid i bhfo-alt (2), agus
(c) tré na focail “ar iarratas ón gCoimisiún nach iarratas d'aon aonta” do chur i bhfo-alt (3) i ndiaidh an fhocail “seo”, agus
(d) tré fho-alt nua mar leanas do chur isteach roimh fho-alt (4), sé sin le rá:—
“(3A) Gach ordú déanfar fé fho-alt (1) no fé fho-alt (2) den alt so ar iarratas d'aon aonta ón gCoimisiún leagfar é fé bhráid gach Tighe den Oireachtas chó luath agus is féidir é tar éis a dhéanta, agus má dhéanann ceachtar Tigh aca san, fé cheann an lá is fiche shuidhfidh an Tigh sin tar éis an t-ordú san do leagadh féna bhráid, rún do rith ag cur an orduithe sin ar nea-mbrí, beidh an t-ordú san curtha ar nea-mbrí dá réir sin ach beidh san gan dochar do bhailíocht éinní do rinneadh roimhe sin fén ordú san.”
Comhacht don Bhanc chun faisnéis d'fháil ar ghnóthaí cíoscheannaigh.
65.—(1) Is dleathach don Bhanc go bhfuigheadh sé—
(a) o aon duine dhéanann, mar thrádáil, earraí do dhíol ar na téarmaí ar a dtugtar cíos-cheannach de ghnáth no ar aon téarmaí eile féna mbíonn an praghas (i dteannta no d'éamais suime breise mar ús) iníoctha ina thráthchoda, no
(b) o aon duine dhéanann, mar ghnó, díol earraí ar aon cheann no cinn de na téarmaí luaidhtear sa mhír sin roimhe seo den alt so d'airgeadasú (le hiasacht, le hurraíocht, no le héinní eile),
gach faisnéis a mheasfaidh an Bord do bheith riachtanach no inmhianuithe ar an trádáil no ar an ngnó san (pé aca é) a dhéanann an duine sin, agus is dleathach don Bhanc, d'fhonn an fhaisnéis sin d'fháil, fógra i scríbhinn do sheirbheáil ar aon duine den tsort san á cheangal air an fhaisnéis sin (a sonnrófar sa bhfógra) do thabhairt i scríbhinn don Bhanc fé cheann aimsire áirithe nach giorra ná ceithre lá déag tar éis an fógra do shéirbheáil no d'eile go tréimhsiúil i gceann eatramh nach giorra ná trí mhí.
(2) Beidh de dhualgas ar gach duine ar a seirbheálfaidh an Banc fógra fén bhfo-alt san roimhe seo den alt so déanamh do réir an fhógra san fé cheann na haimsire no ar na hócáidí tréimhsiúla (fé mar a bheidh) a luadhfar sa bhfógra san, agus má theipeann air déanamh amhlaidh beidh sé ciontach i gcionta fén alt so agus ar a chiontú ann ar an slí achmair dlighfear fíneáil nach mó na fiche punt do chur air maraon le fíneáil bhreise nach mó ná punt in aghaidh gach lae leanfar den teip sin.
(3) Féadfar fógra sheirbheálfaidh an Banc ar aon duine fén alt so do sheirbheáil amhlaidh tréna chur leis an bpost réimhíoctha agus é dírithe chun an duine sin ina áit ghnótha no, má bhíonn níos mó ná aon áit amháin den tsórt san aige, san áit a chífear don Bhord is príomh-áit ghnótha dhó sa Stát no, más cuideachta theoranta arna corprú sa Stát an duine sin, in oifig chláruithe na cuideachtan san.
An Bills of Exchange Act, 1882, do leasú maidir le dreachta bancaera.
66.—(1) San alt so cialluíonn an abairt “dreacht bancaera” dreacht is iníoctha arna éileamh san agus é arna tharraing ag banc no thar a cheann air féin, pé aca i bpríomh-oifig an Bhainc sin no in oifig éigin eile leis bheidh sé iníoctha.
(2) Bainfidh ailt 76 go 82 (a bhaineann le seiceanna crosálta) den Bills of Exchange Act, 1882, arna leasú leis an Bills of Exchange (Crossed Cheques) Act, 1906, le dreacht bancaera fé is dá mba sheic an dreacht san.
Banc-thaisce do bheith dleathach mar shuncáil iontaobhais.
67.—Mara dtoirmeasctar san air go soiléir leis an ionstruim (má ann) lenar cruthuíodh an t-iontaobhas, féadfaidh iontaobhaidhe, i dteannta aon tslí eile suncála bheidh údaruithe de thurus na huaire le dlí no leis an ionstruim sin (más ann), aon chistí iontaobhais ar a láimh (pé aca bheidh na cistí sin suncálta an uair sin no ná beid) do shuncáil tré na cistí sin do chur i gcuntas taisce ús-bheirtheach i mBanc Cópháirteach no i mBanc ina mbeidh leas urlámhach ag Banc Cópháirteach.
Alt 22 den Bankers (Ireland) Act, 1845, do leasú.
68.—Ar an Acht so do rith ní bheidh éifeacht a thuilleadh ag an méid sin d'alt 22 den Bankers (Ireland) Act, 1845, (arna oiriúnú le hachtacháin iaraimseardha no fútha) a cheanglann ar na Coimisinéirí Ioncuim tuairisceáin a bhéarfar dóibh fén alt san d'fhoillsiú san Iris Oifigiúil.
AN CHEAD SCEIDEAL
Actachain a hAthghairmtear.
Cuid I.
Ailt den Acht Airgid Reatha a hathghairmtear i bpáirt no go hiomlán.
An tAlt a hAthghairmtear | Méid na hAthghairme | Dáta na hAthghairme |
Ailt I4 go 28 | Iomlán gach ailt. | An lá ceaptha. |
Alt 30. | An t-alt iomlán. | An lá ceaptha. |
Ailt 32 go 34. | Iomlán gach ailt. | An lá ceaptha. |
Alt 38. | Fo-ailt (2) agus (3). | An lá ceaptha. |
Ailt 39 agus 44. | Iomlán gach ailt. | Dáta an Achta so do rith. |
Ailt 40 agus 4I. | Iomlán gach ailt. | An lá ceaptha. |
Alt 47. | Na focail “no do chúlchiste na nótaí” sna háiteanna ina bhfuil na focail sin i bhfo-ailt (4), (5) agus (6) fé seach. | An dáta ar a gcríochnófar foirceannadh cúl-chiste na nótaí. |
Ailt 53, 54 agus 55 | Iomlán gach ailt. | An lá tar éis dáta an Achta so do rith. |
Alt 62. | An t-alt iomlán. | An dáta ar a gcríochnófar foirceannadh cúl-chiste na nótaí. |
Alt 63. | I bhfo-alt (2), na focail “ná d'íoc isteach i gcúl-chiste na notaí” agus na focail “ná amach as cúl-chiste na nótaí.” | An dáta ar a gcríochnófar foirceannadh cúl-chiste na nótaí. |
Alt 63. | Fo-ailt (3) agus (6); i bhfo-alt (7) na focail “no a mbeidh fágtha den bharrachas ioncuim sin tar éis dividenda d'íoc fén bhfo-alt san roimhe seo (pe'ca aca é)”. | An lá ceaptha. |
Alt 64. | An t-alt iomlán. | An lá ceaptha. |
Alt 65. | An t-alt iomlán. | An lá tar éis dáta an Achta so do rith. |
Alt 66. | Fo-alt (2). | An lá tar éis dáta an Achta so do rith. |
Cuid II.
Achtacháin eile a hathghairmtear.
Uimhir agus Bliain | Gearr-theideal | Méid na hAthghairme | Dáta na hAthghairme |
Alt. II. | An lá ceaptha. | ||
I bhfo-alt (1) d'alt 3 na focail “no cúl-chiste na nótaí no an dá chiste sin” agus na focail “no leis an liost d'fhuirmeacha atá i bhfo-alt (2) d'alt 62 den Phríomh-Acht no leis an dá liost san” agus, i bhfo-alt (4) den alt san 3, na focail “no alt 62” agus na focail “no an dá alt san (do réir mar bheidh)”. | An dáta ar a gcríochnófar foirceannadh cúl-chiste na nótaí. | ||
Alt 49. | An lá tar éis dáta an Achta so do rith. | ||
Alt 15. | An lá tar éis dáta an Achta so do rith. |
AN DARA SCEIDEAL
Rialacha i dtaobh Paineil do Thogha chun Stiurthoiri Bancaerachta do Cheapadh.
Ralacha bhaineann le gach cás.
1.—Sa Sceideal so cialluíonn an focal “ionadaidhe” ionadaidhe do Bhanc Chópháirteach agus é ar chruinniú chun painéal do thogha, agus cialluíonn an focal “cruinniú” cruinniú d'ionadaithe chun painéal do thogha.
2.—Toghfaidh na hionadaithe duine aca féin ina chathaoirleach ar an gcruinniú agus stiúrfaidh an cathaoirleach san na himeachta ag an gcruinniú ach ní bheidh aon dara vóta no vóta réitigh aige.
3.—Lasmuich de chás dá bhforáltar a mhalairt leis na Rialacha so, bhéarfar breith ar gach ceist eireoidh ag an gcruinniú le vóta móráireamh na n-ionadaithe.
4.—Féadfar an cruinniú do chur ar athló o am go ham ach ní cuirfear ar athló é go dtí am is déanaighe ná trí lá tar éis an ama ceapfar fén Acht so don chruinniú.
5.—Ar bheith críochnuithe don toghchán ullmhóidh an cathaoirleach ráiteas i scríbhinn ina mbeidh ainmneacha na n-ionadaithe agus ainmneacha na mBanc d'ionadaíodar fé seach agus ainmneacha, seolta, agus tuairiscí na ndaoine sa phainéal do toghadh ag an gcruinniú, agus ansan sighneoidh an cathaoir leach agus trian ar a laghad de na hionadaithe eile an ráiteas san agus cuirfidh an cathaoirleach chun an Aire é do réir an Achta so.
Rialacha bhaineann le togha an phainéil le haghaidh na gCéadstiúrthóirí bancaerachta.
6.—Féadfaidh gach ionadaidhe sé iarrthóir agus ní níos mó d'ainmniú chun iad do thogha.
7.—Is de chuarta déanfar an toghchán agus ar gach cuairt beidh sé vóta ag gach ionadaidhe ach ní fhéadfaidh níos mó ná vóta amháin do thabhairt d'aon iarrthóir áirithe ar aon chuairt áirithe.
8.—Ar an gcéad chuairt, vótálfar ar na hiarrthóirí uile agus, fé réir Rialacha 11 agus 12 de na Rialacha so, aon iarrthóir a gheobhaidh ar an gcuairt sin uimhir de vótaí is mó ná leath uimhir na n-ionadaithe bheidh i láthair beidh sé toghtha agus leigfear ar lár an sé iarrthóir (no pé uimhir féna bhun san a cheapfaidh an cathaoirleach) is lugha gheobhaidh de vótaí.
9.—Ar an dara cuairt, vótálfar ar na hiarrthóirí uile ach amháin an méid a toghadh no leigeadh ar lár ar an gcéad chuairt agus, fé réir Rialacha 11 agus 12 de na Rialacha so, aon iarrthóir a gheobhaidh ar an gcuairt sin uimhir de vótaí is mó ná leath uimhir na n-ionadaithe bheidh i láthair beidh sé toghtha agus leigfear ar lár an sé iarrthóir (no pé uimhir féna bhun san a cheapfaidh an cathaoirleach) is lugha gheobhaidh de vótaí.
10.—Déanfar an tríú cuairt agus gach cuairt ina dhiaidh ar an gcuma gcéanna.
11.—Má thárlann ar aon chuairt, toisc có-ionannas vótaí idir na hiarrthóirí is lugha gheobhaidh de vótaí, nach féidir sé dhuine (no an uimhir féna bhun san a bheidh ceaptha ag an gcathaoirleach) de na hiarrthóirí do leigean ar lár, cinnfidh an cathaoirleach cá mhéad agus cé aca de na híarrthóirí bheidh le leigean ar lár ár an gcuairt sin.
12.—Má thárlann ar aon chuairt go bhfuighidh níos mó iarrthóirí ná mar is gá do thogha uimhir de vótaí is mó ná leath uimhir na n-ionadaithe bheidh i láthair, cinnfidh an cathaoirleach cá mhéad iarrthóir, más ann, a bheidh toghtha ar an gcuairt sin.
13.—Leanfar den toghchán no go mbeidh an lán-phainéal de shé dhuine toghtha.
Rialacha bhaineann le togha an phainéil le haghaidh Stiúrthóirí bancaerachta seachas na Céad-stiúrthóirí bancaerachta.
14.—I gcás ina mbeidh painéal de thriúr le togha, beidh feidhm agus éifeacht ag na Rialacha san roimhe seo Uimh. 6 go 13 (go huile) fé is dá gcuirtí síos anso arís iad ach an uimhir “trí” do chur in ionad na huimhreach “sé” i ngach áit ina luaidhtear an uimhir dheiridh sin sna Rialacha san.
15.—I gcás ina mbeidh painéal de chuigear le togha, beidh feidhm agus éifeacht ag na Rialacha san roimhe seo Uimh. 6 go 13 (go huile) fé is dá gcuirtí síos anso arís iad ach an uimhir “cúig” do chur in ionad na huimhreach “sé” i ngach áit ina luaidhtear an uimhir dheiridh sin sna Rialacha san.
16.—I gcás ina mbeidh painéal de sheisear le togha, beidh feidhm agus éifeacht ag na Rialacha san roimhe seo Uimh. 6 go 13 (go huile) fé is dá gcuirtí síos anso arís iad gan athrú ortha.
AN TRIU SCEIDEAL.
An Meid Maximum i Notai Bainc Codhluite is Cead do Bheith Amuich leis na Bainc Chophairteacha fe seach.
An Meid Maximum i Notai Bainc Codhluite | |||||
Uimh. Thag. | Ainm an Bhainc Chópháirtigh | Sa tréimhse ón lá tar éis dáta an Achta so do rith go dtí an 3Iadh Mí na Nodlag, 1944 | Sa tréimhse trí mblian dar críoch an 3Iadh Mí na Nodlag, 1947 | Sa tréimhse trí mblian dar críoch an 3Iadh Mí na Nodlag, 1950 | Sa tréimhse trí mblian dar críoch an 3Iadh Mí na Nodlag, 1953 |
(1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) | (6) |
£ | £ | £ | £ | ||
1 | Banc na hÉireann. | 1,286,000 | 965,000 | 643,000 | 322,000 |
2 | An Banc Ibernach, Teoranta. | 550,000 | 413,000 | 275,000 | 138,000 |
3 | Banc Mumhan agus Laighean, Teoranta. | 900,000 | 675,000 | 450,000 | 225,000 |
4 | An Banc Náisiúnta, Teoranta. | 1,141,000 | 856,000 | 571,000 | 286,000 |
5 | Banc an Tuaiscirt, Teoranta. | 160,000 | 120,000 | 80,000 | 40,000 |
6 | Banc Proibhinseach na hÉireann, Teoranta. | 555,000 | 417,000 | 278,000 | 139,000 |
7 | Banc Ríoga na hÉireann, Teoranta. | 273,000 | 205,000 | 137,000 | 69,000 |
8 | Banc Uladh, Teoranta. | 319,000 | 240,000 | 160,000 | 80,000 |
Number 22 of 1942.
CENTRAL BANK ACT, 1942.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Preliminary and General.
Section | |
Establishment of the Central Bank of Ireland and Dissolution of the Currency Commission.
Interpretation of references to the Commission in the Currency Act, 1927. | |
the Board of Directors of the Bank.
Extinction of Consolidated Bank Notes.
Restrictions on amount of consolidated bank notes outstanding. | |
Payment in respect of consolidated bank notes outstanding after cesser of issue. | |
Deposits by Bankers.
Construction of references to holding oneself out as a banker. | |
General provisions in relation to deposits under this Part of this Act. | |
Bankers' Licences and the Duties of Licensed Bankers.
Power to required deposit by licensed bankers in certain circumstances. | |
Counterfeit and Unauthorised Currency.
Disposal of bank notes, etc., seized under the Forgery Act, 1913. | |
Making, etc., a document purporting to be or resembling a bank note. | |
Coinage.
Amendment of the Gold and Silver (Export Control, etc.) Act, 1920. | |
Miscellaneous.
Enactments Repealed.
Rules for the Elections of Panels for the Appointment of Banking Directors.
Maximum Amounts Of Consolidated Bank Notes Which May Be Outstanding With The Associated Banks Respectively.
Acts Referred to | |
No. 30 of 1930 | |
No. 32 of 1927 | |
No. 16 of 1924 | |
Industrial and Commercial Property (Protection) (Amendment) Act, 1929 | No. 13 of 1929 |
No. 20 of 1932 | |
No. 18 of 1937 | |
No. 14 of 1926 | |
No. 16 of 1927 | |
Number 22 of 1942.
CENTRAL BANK ACT, 1942.
PART I.
Preliminary and General.
Short title, collective citation, and construction.
1.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Central Bank Act, 1942.
(2) The Currency Acts, 1927 and 1930, and this Act may be cited together as the Currency and Central Bank Acts, 1927 to 1942.
(3) This Act shall be construed as one with the Currency Acts, 1927 and 1930.
(4) The expression “this Act” wherever it occurs in the Currency Act shall be construed and have effect as including the Currency (Amendment) Act, 1930 (No. 30 of 1930), and this present Act.
Definitions.
2.—In this Act—
the expression “the Minister” means the Minister for Finance;
the expression “the Currency Act” means the Currency Act, 1927 (No. 32 of 1927), as adapted in consequence of the enactment of the Constitution;
the expression “the Commission” means the Currency Commission;
the expression “the Bank” means the Central Bank of Ireland established by this Act;
the expression “the Board” means the Board of Directors of the Bank;
the word “Governor” means the Governor of the Bank;
the expression “Director of the Bank” does not include the Governor;
the word “Director” means (save where the context otherwise requires) a Director of the Bank;
the expression “service Director” means a Director who is in the permanent service of the State;
the expression “licensed banker” means the holder of a banker's licence issued to him under this Act and for the time being in force;
the expressions “legal tender note”, “consolidated bank note”, “legal tender note fund”, “note reserve fund”, and “general fund” have the same meanings as they respectively have in the Currency Act.
The appointed day.
3.—(1) The Minister shall, by order appoint a day to be the appointed day for the purposes of this Act.
(2) In this Act the expression “the appointed day” means the day appointed under this section to be the appointed day for the purposes of this Act.
Repeals.
4.—(1) The several sections of the Currency Act mentioned in the first column of Part I of the First Schedule to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent mentioned in the second column, and as on and from the date specified in the third column, of the said Part of the said Schedule opposite the mention of such section in the said first column.
(2) The several enactments specified in Part II of the First Schedule to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent mentioned in the third column, and as on and from the respective dates mentioned in the fourth column, of the said Part of the said Schedule.
PART II.
Establishment of the Central Bank of Ireland and Dissolution of the Currency Commission.
Establishment of the Bank.
5.—(1) On the appointed day there shall be and is hereby established in accordance with this Act a body to be called and known as Banc Ceannais na hEireann or, in the English language, the Central Bank of Ireland, to fulfil the functions assigned to it by this Act.
(2) The Bank shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and an official seal (which shall be judicially noticed) and power to sue and be sued in its corporate name and to hold and dispose of land.
(3) The Bank shall be conducted and managed in accordance with this Act by a Board of Directors consisting of—
(a) a Governor, and
(b) three Directors to be known and in this Act referred to as banking Directors, and
(c) such number of other Directors (not exceeding five and not including at any one time more than two service Directors) as the Minister shall from time to time determine.
(4) 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.
(5) It shall be lawful for the Board to do, by regulations made by the Board, all or any of the following things, that is to say:—
(a) authorise the setting up of committees of the Board consisting of one or more members of the Board either solely or together with one or more officers of the Bank;
(b) regulate the procedure and define the functions, powers, and duties of any committee so set up;
(c) delegate to any such committee the exercise and performance of any one or more of the functions, powers, and duties of the Bank or of the Board;
(d) delegate to the Governor (including the Deputy Governor) or to any Director or to any two or more members of the Board or to any one or more officers of the Bank the exercise and performance of any one or more of the functions, powers, and duties of the Bank or of the Board;
(e) impose conditions, limitations, or restrictions on the exercise and performance by any such committee or persons or person of the functions, powers, and duties delegated to them or him under this sub-section;
(f) provide in appropriate cases for the review by the Board of decisions taken or things done by any such committee or persons or person in the exercise or performance of any function, power, or duty delegated to them or him under this sub-section.
(6) Section 9 of the Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924 (No. 16 of 1924), shall not apply to the Bank.
General function and duty of the Bank.
6.—(1) In addition and without prejudice to the functions, powers, and duties vested by law in the Commission immediately before the appointed day and to such functions, powers, and duties as are specifically conferred or imposed by this Act on the Bank, the Bank shall have the general function and duty of taking (within the limit of the powers for the time being vested in it by law) such steps as the Board may from time to time deem appropriate and advisable towards safeguarding the integrity of the currency and ensuring that, in what pertains to the control of credit, the constant and predominant aim shall be the welfare of the people as a whole.
(2) The Minister may, on such occasions as he shall think proper, request the Governor on behalf of the Board or the Board to consult and advise with him in regard to the execution and performance by the Bank of the general function and duty imposed on the Bank by the foregoing sub-section of this section, and the Board shall comply with every such request.
Certain particular powers of the Bank.
7.—(1) It shall be lawful for the Bank to do, for the purposes of or through the general fund, all or any of the following things on such occasions and to such extent as the Board shall think proper, that is to say:—
(a) buy or sell coin or gold or silver bullion or any foreign currency;
(b) receive deposits (not bearing interest) from a Minister of State or any public authority or any Associated Bank, or any other bank or credit institution carrying on business wholly or partly within the State;
(c) open accounts in other countries or act as agent, depository, or correspondent of any bank carrying on business in or outside the State;
(d) with the consent of the Minister, acquire, hold, or dispose of shares in any international bank formed wholly or mainly by banks which are the principal currency authority in their respective countries;
(e) re-discount exchequer bills and bills of local authorities which have previously been accepted, discounted, or endorsed by an Associated Bank or any other bank or credit institution carrying on business wholly or partly within the State and which mature in not more than twelve months from their date;
(f) re-discount bills of exchange which are, in the opinion of the Board, first class commercial bills and mature, in the case of bills drawn for agricultural purposes or based on live stock, in not more than twelve months (excluding days of grace) from their date or, in any other case, in not more than six months (excluding days of grace) from their date;
(g) fix and publish from time to time the minimum rate or rates at which the Bank will re-discount such exchequer bills, bills of local authorities, or bills of exchange as are mentioned in either of the two next preceding paragraphs of this sub-section;
(h) buy, hold, or sell securities of or guaranteed by the State which have been offered for public subscription or tender before being bought by the Bank and are officially quoted on the Dublin Stock Exchange and the Cork Stock Exchange or securities of or guaranteed by the Government of any other country;
(i) buy, hold, or sell securities of any public authority which are authorised by law for the investment of trust funds and have been offered for public subscription or tender before being bought by the Bank and are officially quoted on the Dublin Stock Exchange and on the Cork Stock Exchange;
(j) make loans or advances to banks and other credit institutions (carrying on business wholly or partly within the State) on the security of such bills of exchange as the Bank is hereinbefore empowered to re-discount or of such securities as the Bank is hereinbefore empowered to buy, or of gold coin or bullion or of documents relating to the shipment or storage of gold coin or bullion;
(k) keep registers of securities of the State;
(l) keep, for or on behalf of any public authority, registers of any stock issued by such authority;
(m) keep the accounts of any bankers' clearing.
(2) Each of the following bodies shall be a public authority for the purposes of the foregoing sub-section of this section, and the expression “public authority” shall in that sub-section be construed and have effect accordingly, that is to say:—
(a) a commission, board, or other body (whether corporate or unincorporated) charged by law with the execution throughout the State of functions of government or public administration or with the administration throughout the State of any public service (including the provision of credit but excluding transport), and
(b) a corporation, council, committee, or other body (whether corporate or unincorporated) charged by law with the execution of functions of local government within a defined area of the State or the execution of functions of public administration or public service (other than transport) of a local character.
Certain further powers of the Bank.
8.—It shall be lawful for the Bank to do all or any of the following things on such occasions and to such extent as the Board shall think proper, that is to say:—
(a) make provision for the collection and study of data relating to monetary and credit problems and publish informative material in regard thereto;
(b) establish and maintain, either directly or indirectly, contact with the monetary authorities established in other countries;
(c) do all such things as may be ancillary or incidental to or consequential on the exercise of any of the powers or the performance of any of the duties conferred or imposed on the Bank by this or any other section of this Act or from time to time conferred or imposed on the Bank by law.
The capital of the Bank.
9.—(1) The capital of the Bank shall be the sum of forty thousand pounds whereof the sum of twenty-four thousand pounds shall be paid to the Bank by the Minister on the appointed day or as soon thereafter as may be and whereof the residue shall be paid to the Bank by the Minister at such time or times as may be agreed upon by the Board and the Minister.
(2) All moneys payable to the Bank by the Minister under the foregoing sub-section of this section shall be charged on and paid out of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof.
(3) When the Minister has paid to the Bank the sum of twenty-four thousand pounds in pursuance of the foregoing provisions of this section, the Bank shall forthwith repay to every bank which is a Shareholding Bank immediately before the appointed day all sums paid by such bank to the Commission in pursuance of section 64 of the Currency Act together with the appropriate dividend on every such sum for the period from the last date up to which dividend had been paid thereon to the date of such repayment.
(4) Sub-section (4) of section 63 of the Currency Act is hereby amended by the deletion of the words “for the time being paid up by Shareholding Banks on account of their capital liability”, and the insertion in the said sub-section of the words “of the capital of the Bank for the time being paid up” in lieu of the words so deleted.
The seal of the Bank.
10.—(1) The Bank shall provide itself with a seal on or as soon as may be after the appointed day.
(2) The seal of the Bank shall be authenticated by the signature of the Governor or of a Director authorised in that behalf by the Board and by the counter-signature of the secretary of the Bank or some other officer of the Bank authorised in that behalf by the Board.
(3) Every document purporting to be made or issued by the Bank and to be sealed with the seal of the Bank authenticated in the manner provided by this section shall be received in evidence and shall, without proof of the signature or the authority of any of the persons purporting to sign or counter-sign such document, be deemed, until the contrary is proved, to have been made or issued by the Bank.
(4) Until the Bank shall have provided itself with a seal in pursuance of this section, the seal of the Commission shall be deemed to be the seal of the Bank and it shall be lawful for the Bank to use the seal of the Commission accordingly.
(5) When the Bank has provided itself with a seal in pursuance of this section, the Board shall cause the seal of the Commission to be so broken or defaced as to be incapable of being used.
Interpretation of references to the Commission in the Currency Act, 1927.
11.—(1) On and after the appointed day and subject to the repeals and amendments effected by this Act, the Currency Acts, 1927 and 1930, shall have effect with and subject to the modification that every mention of or reference to the Chairman shall be construed as a mention of or reference to the Governor and every mention of or reference to the Commission shall be construed as a mention of or reference to the Bank, save that any such mention or reference which, expressly or by necessary implication, refers to the members of the Commission shall be construed as a mention of or reference to the Board.
(2) A legal tender note may, on and after the appointed day, be either of such form, size and design and printed in such manner and on such paper and numbered and authenticated in such manner as shall have been prescribed (whether before or after the passing of this Act) by the Commission under sub-section (2) of section 45 of the Currency Act (as modified by the foregoing sub-section of this section) before the appointed day or of such form, size and design and printed in such manner and on such paper and numbered and authenticated in such manner as shall be prescribed by the Bank under the said sub-section (2) of the said section 45 (as modified as aforesaid) on or after the appointed day.
(3) A consolidated bank note may, on and after the appointed day, be either of such form, size and design, and printed in such manner and on such, paper and numbered and authenticated in such manner as shall have been prescribed (whether before or after the passing of this Act) by the Commission under sub-section (3) of section 51 of the Currency Act (as modified by the first sub-section of this section) before the appointed day or of such form, size and design and printed in such manner and on such paper and numbered and authenticated in such manner as shall be prescribed by the Bank under the said sub-section (3) of the said section 51 (as modified as aforesaid) on or after the appointed day.
The Associated Banks.
12.—(1) There shall be associated with the Bank such other banks as are specified or provided for in this section and those banks shall be known and are in this Act referred to as Associated Banks.
(2) The eight banks named in the second column of the Third Schedule to this Act shall, on the appointed day, become and be Associated Banks.
(3) Sections 42 and 43 of the Currency Act shall, on and after the appointed day, apply and have effect in relation to the Associated Banks with and subject to the modifications that the expressions “the Board”, “Associated Banks”, and “Associated Bank” shall respectively be substituted for the several expressions “the Commission”, “Shareholding Banks”, and “Shareholding Bank” wherever the latter expressions respectively occur in the said sections 42 and 43.
(4) Every reference to or mention of the Shareholding Banks (whether in the singular or the plural) contained in the Currency Act (other than sections 42 and 43) shall be construed and have effect on and after the appointed day as a reference to or mention of the Associated Banks (in the singular or the plural as the case may require).
(5) Sub-section (4) of section 5 of the Currency (Amendment) Act, 1930 (No. 30 of 1930), is hereby amended by the deletion therefrom of the word “Shareholding”.
Admission of a bank to be an Associated Bank.
13.—(1) Any bank may, at any time, on or after the appointed day, apply to the Minister to be admitted to be an Associated Bank, and the Minister, after consultation with the Board, may in his absolute discretion grant or refuse such application.
(2) Whenever the Minister grants under this section an application by a bank to be admitted to be an Associated Bank, such bank shall, as on and from the date on which such application is granted, become and be an Associated Bank for the purposes of this Act and of the Currency Act as applied, modified, or amended by this Act.
(3) The Minister may require a bank applying under this section to be admitted to be an Associated Bank to furnish to him such information in relation to its business and to permit the Governor or a permanent officer of the Bank specially authorised in that behalf in writing by the Minister to make such inspection of its books as appears to the Minister to be necessary for the due consideration by him of such application.
Removal of a bank from being an Associated Bank.
14.—(1) The Minister may, at any time on or after the appointed day, in his absolute discretion remove any Associated Bank from being an Associated Bank either (after consultation with the Board) on any of the grounds expressly authorised by the Currency Act as adapted by this Act or (with the consent of the Board) on any other ground which appears to the Minister to be sufficient.
(2) Any Associated Bank may, at any time on or after the appointed day, apply to the Minister to be removed from being an Associated Bank, and, whenever such application is so made by an Associated Bank, the Minister shall forthwith remove such bank from being an Associated Bank.
(3) Whenever the Minister removes under this section an Associated Bank from being an Associated Bank, such bank shall forthwith cease to be an Associated Bank, but such removal shall not prevent the subsequent admission under this Act of such bank to be an Associated Bank nor relieve such bank from liability to pay on due presentation the amount of every consolidated bank note outstanding with it at the time of such removal or from liability for payments on consolidated bank notes outstanding with it whether before or after such removal.
(4) Except when an Associated Bank is removed on its own application, the Minister shall not remove under this section an Associated Bank from being an Associated Bank without giving such bank a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
(5) No banking Director shall vote on any resolution relating to the removal of an Associated Bank of which he is a director or by which he is employed.
Dissolution of the Commission.
15.—(1) On the appointed day, the Commission shall become and be dissolved and the members thereof shall cease to hold office but shall not thereby be rendered ineligible for appointment as the Governor or a Director of the Bank.
(2) On the appointed day the following provisions shall have effect, that is to say:—
(a) the legal tender note fund, the note reserve fund (if then subsisting), and the general fund as they respectively subsist immediately before the appointed day and all investments, moneys, and assets then comprised in those funds respectively and also all other property, whether real or personal (including choses-in-action), which immediately before the appointed day is vested in or held by the Commission shall, on the appointed day and without any conveyance or assignment but subject, where necessary, to transfer in the books of any bank, corporation, or company, become and be vested in the Bank for all the estate, term, and interest for which the same were vested in the Commission immediately before the appointed day;
(b) any property transferred by the foregoing paragraph of this sub-section to the Bank which, immediately before the appointed day, is standing in the books of any bank within the jurisdiction of the Oireachtas in the name of the Commission or is registered in the books of any bank, corporation, or company within the said jurisdiction in the name of the Commission shall, upon the request of the Board made on or at any time after the appointed day, be transferred in such books by such bank, corporation, or company into the name of the Bank;
(c) where any property transferred or expressed to be transferred to the Bank by paragraph (a) of this sub-section is, immediately before the appointed day, situate outside the jurisdiction of the Oireachtas or is standing or registered in the books of any bank, corporation, or company outside the said jurisdiction, it shall be the duty of the Board to take all such steps as may be requisite to secure the transfer to the Bank of the legal and effective ownership of such property;
(d) every chose-in-action transferred to the Bank by paragraph (a) of this sub-section may be sued upon, recovered, or enforced by the Bank in its own name, and it shall not be necessary for the Bank to give notice to the person bound by such chose-in-action of the transfer effected by the said paragraph;
(e) every debt and other liability (including unliquidated liabilities arising from torts or breaches of contract) which, immediately before the appointed day, is owing and unpaid or has been incurred and is undischarged by the Commission shall, on the appointed day, become and be the debt or liability of the Bank and shall be paid or discharged by and may be recovered from or enforced against the Bank accordingly;
(f) every contract made between the Commission and any other person which is in force or is enforceable immediately before the appointed day and is not fully performed or executed shall, on the appointed day, become and be a contract between the Bank and the said other person and shall be enforceable by or against the Bank accordingly.
(3) The amount of all stamp duties paid (whether in pursuance of the laws of the State or of the laws of another country) by the Bank in respect of any transfer or conveyance of property which is executed in order to supplement or give full effect to the transfer of such property effected by the next preceding sub-section of this section shall be refunded to the Bank by the Minister out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
(4) Every person who, immediately before the appointed day, is in the employment of the Commission in any capacity shall, on the appointed day, become and be transferred to the employment of the Bank in the same capacity and with the same tenure, remuneration, and conditions of service as he had in the employment of the Commission immediately before the appointed day, and in order to secure to every such person on and after the appointed day the like rights and benefits (if any) in relation to superannuation and compensation for loss of employment as he had immediately before the appointed day, the following provisions shall have effect, that is to say:—
(a) every scheme made by the Commission under sub-section (4) of section 31 of the Currency Act which is in force immediately before the appointed day shall continue in force on and after the appointed day and shall be observed and performed by the Bank accordingly;
(b) for the purposes of every scheme continued in force by the foregoing paragraph of this sub-section and of every scheme which may be made by the Bank under the said sub-section (4) of section 31 on or after the appointed day, service in the employment of the Commission (including service in any other employment which is deemed by such scheme to be service in the employment of the Commission) shall be deemed to be service in the employment of the Bank and the period of service (including service deemed as aforesaid) of any person in the employment of the Commission ending immediately before the appointed day and the period of service of such person in the employment of the Bank beginning on and continuing after the appointed day shall be deemed to be one continuous period of service in the employment of the Bank.
Appointments to the staff of the Bank.
16.—(1) Subject to the provisions of the next following sub-section of this section, every appointment, under sub-section (2) of section 31 of the Currency Act of an officer or servant of the Bank shall be made by competition (including a qualifying or competitive test in Irish) to be conducted according to regulations to be made by the Board, and the Board may, in relation to any such competition, impose such conditions of entry, limitations, and safeguards as it thinks proper.
(2) The foregoing sub-section of this section shall not apply to appointment to a position in respect of which appointment by competition is, in the opinion of the Board, unsuitable.
Copyright in notes issued by the Bank.
17.—Section 12 of the Industrial and Commercial Property (Protection) (Amendment) Act, 1929 (No. 13 of 1929), shall apply and have effect in relation to legal tender notes and consolidated bank notes respectively issued by the Bank in like manner and as fully as it applies and has effect in relation to legal tender notes and consolidated bank notes issued by the Commission, save that the copyright in any such notes issued by the Bank shall belong, by virtue of the said section 12, to the Bank.
General adaptation of references to the Commission.
18.—Every mention of or reference to the Commission which is contained in any enactment (other than the Currency Acts, 1927 and 1930) in force on the appointed day shall, on and after that day, be construed and have effect as a mention of or reference to the Bank.
PART III.
The Board of Directors of the Bank.
Appointment, tenure of office, etc., of the Governor.
19.—(1) The Governor shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Government and shall receive such remuneration and allowances and be subject to such conditions of service as the Board shall from time to time determine.
(2) The term of office of every Governor shall (unless he sooner dies, resigns, is removed, or becomes disqualified) be seven years from, in the case of the first Governor, the appointed day or, in the case of every subsequent Governor, the expiration by effluxion of time or the earlier cesser from any cause (as the case may be) of the tenure of office of his predecessor.
(3) A Governor retiring on the expiration by effluxion of time of his term of office shall be eligible for re-appointment.
(4) The following provisions shall apply and have effect in relation to every Governor, that is to say:—
(a) he shall, during his term of office, be disqualified from being nominated or elected and for sitting or receiving payment as a member of Dáil Eireann or of Seanad Eireann or as Uachtarán;
(b) he shall, during his term of office, be ineligible for election as a director of any bank whatsoever;
(c) if, at the time of his appointment, he is a director of any bank whatsoever, 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;
(d) if and whenever he is adjudged bankrupt (whether in the State or in any other country) or makes a composition or arrangement with his creditors or is sentenced by a court of competent jurisdiction to suffer imprisonment or penal servitude, he shall forth-with become and be disqualified from holding the office of Governor.
(5) In the next preceding sub-section of this section the expression “any bank whatsoever” does not include an international bank formed wholly or mainly by banks which are the principal currency authority in their respective countries.
Prohibition of the Governor holding shares in a bank.
20.—(1) Every person appointed to be Governor shall within three months after his appointment absolutely sell or otherwise dispose of all shares in any bank which he shall, at the time of his appointment, own or be interested in for his own benefit.
(2) If and whenever any shares in a bank shall come to or vest in the Governor by will or succession for his own benefit, he shall, within three months after the same shall have so come to or vested in him, absolutely sell or otherwise dispose of the same or his interest therein.
(3) The Governor shall not purchase, take or become interested in for his own benefit any shares in any bank.
(4) If the Governor shall retain, purchase, take, or become or remain interested in any shares in any bank in contravention of this section he shall forthwith become and be disqualified from holding the office of Governor.
(5) In this section the word “bank” includes a bank incorporated outside the State as well as a bank incorporated in the State, and references to shares in a bank shall be construed as including stock, shares, debentures, debenture stock, bonds, or other securities of such bank.
Removal of the Governor.
21.—(1) If the Governor becomes by ill-health permanently incapacitated for performing his duties as Governor he may be removed from office by the President on the advice of the Government.
(2) If the Board, by unanimous vote of all the Directors, requests the President to remove the Governor from office for cause stated, it shall be lawful for the President on the advice of the Government to remove the Governor from office.
The Deputy Governor.
22.—(1) Whenever the Governor is temporarily unable, by reason of absence, ill-health, or any other cause, to discharge the duties of his office, he may appoint any one of the Directors to act as Deputy Governor during such inability and, if he fails so to do, the Board may appoint any one of the Directors to act as aforesaid.
(2) Whenever the office of Governor becomes vacant, the Board may appoint any one of the Directors to act as Deputy Governor during such vacancy, but no Director so appointed shall act as Deputy Governor after the expiration of three months from the occurrence of the vacancy which occasioned his appointment.
(3) A Director appointed under this section to act as Deputy Governor shall, while so acting, have, exercise, and perform such of the rights, powers, and duties of the Governor as shall be delegated to him by the Governor or, where he is appointed by the Board, by the Board.
(4) A Director appointed under this section to act as Deputy Governor shall, while so acting, be paid such (if any) remuneration and allowances as the Board shall determine.
(5) A Director appointed under this section to act as Deputy Governor shall not, by reason of such appointment, vacate his office as Director.
Appointment, remuneration, etc. of the Directors.
23.—(1) The Directors shall be appointed by the Minister.
(2) The banking Directors shall be appointed from a panel prepared for the purpose by representatives of the Associated Banks in accordance with this Act.
(3) The Civil Service Regulation Acts, 1924 and 1926, shall not apply to a Director.
(4) Every Director shall receive such remuneration and allowances and be subject to such conditions of service as the Minister shall from time to time determine having regard to the prevailing standards of the Associated Banks in fixing the remuneration, allowances, and conditions of service of their directors.
(5) Every Director shall be ordinarily resident within the State, and a person who is not so resident shall not be eligible for appointment as a Director.
(6) A Director shall, while he holds that office, be disqualified from being nominated or elected and from sitting or receiving payment as a member of Dáil Eireann or of Seanad Eireann or as Uachtarán.
(7) A Director (other than a banking Director) shall, while he holds that office, be ineligible for election as a director of any bank whatsoever and shall, if at the time of his appointment he is a director of any bank whatsoever, 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 Director.
Tenure of office of the Directors.
24.—(1) Of the first banking Directors—
(a) one, to be selected by lot at the first meeting of the Board, shall, unless he sooner dies, resigns, or becomes disqualified, hold office for two years from the appointed day, and
(b) one other, also to be selected by lot at the first meeting of the Board, shall, unless he sooner dies, resigns, or becomes disqualified, hold office for four years from the appointed day.
(2) Of the first Directors who are neither banking Directors nor service Directors—
(a) one, to be selected by lot at the first meeting of the Board, shall, unless he sooner dies, resigns, or becomes disqualified, hold office for one year from the appointed day, and
(b) one other, also to be selected by lot at the first meeting of the Board, shall, unless he sooner dies, resigns, or becomes disqualified, hold office for three years from the appointed day.
(3) Subject to the provisions of the two foregoing sub-sections of this section, every Director (other than a service Director and a Director appointed to fill a casual vacancy) shall, unless he sooner dies, resigns, or becomes disqualified, hold office for five years from (as the case may require) the appointed day or the expiration by effluxion of time of the term of office of his predecessor.
(4) Every Director (other than a banking Director or a service Director) who, after the appointment of the first Directors, is appointed for a purpose other than filling a vacancy amongst the Directors (other than as aforesaid) shall hold office for five years from the day as on and from which he is appointed.
(5) Every service Director, shall hold office at the pleasure of the Minister and may be removed by the Minister at any time.
(6) A person appointed to fill a casual vacancy in the office of Director (other than the office of a service Director) shall hold office for the residue of the term for which the Director whose death, resignation, or disqualification created the vacancy would have held office if he had not died, resigned, or become disqualified.
Disqualification of Directors.
25.—If and whenever a Director other than a service Director—
(a) becomes by ill-health permanently incapacitated for performing his duties as such Director, or
(b) is adjudged bankrupt (whether in the State or in any other country) or makes a composition or arrangement with his creditors, or
(c) is sentenced by a court of competent jurisdiction to suffer imprisonment or penal servitude, or
(d) ceases to be ordinarily resident within the State, or
(e) absents himself from all meetings of the Board for a period of six months without the permission of the Board,
he shall forthwith become and be disqualified from holding the office of Director.
Panel for appointment of the first banking Directors.
26.—(1) Not more than thirty nor less than ten days before the appointed day, the Minister shall appoint a time and place (in this section referred to as the appointed time and place) for the meeting of representatives of the Associated Banks for the election of the panel from which the first banking Directors are to be appointed.
(2) The Minister shall cause every Associated Bank to be informed in writing of the appointed time and place.
(3) Every Associated Bank may cause one, and only one, representative nominated by it in that behalf to attend at the appointed time and place, and the several such representatives who attend at that time and place shall then or within three days thereafter elect, in accordance with the Rules contained in the Second Schedule to this Act, a panel of six persons eligible and willing to act as banking Directors, and shall forthwith communicate to the Minister in accordance with the said Rules the names of the six persons so elected.
(4) If a panel is duly elected in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this section, the first banking Directors shall be appointed from amongst the persons so elected to such panel.
(5) If the said representatives of the Associated Banks who attend at the appointed time and place fail to elect in accordance with this section the said panel of six persons or if no representatives of the Associated Banks attend at the appointed time and place, it shall be lawful for the Minister to appoint such three eligible persons as he shall think proper to be the first banking Directors, but subject to the restrictions that, if and so far as eligible and suitable persons willing to act can be found amongst the directors of the several Associated Banks, no person who is not a director of an Associated Bank shall be appointed by the Minister under this sub-section, and in any event no person who is in the permanent service of the State shall be so appointed.
Panel for the appointment of banking Directors other than the first such Directors.
27.—(1) Not more than thirty nor less than ten days before the expiration by effluxion of time of the term of office of a banking Director and also as soon as conveniently may be after the office of a banking Director becomes vacant otherwise than by effluxion of time, the Board shall notify every Associated Bank in writing of such prospective or actual vacancy and shall in such, notification request such Associated Bank to cause one, and only one, representative to attend at a time and place (in this section referred to as the appointed time and place) appointed by the Board and stated in such notification to elect a panel of three persons from amongst whom such vacancy may be filled.
(2) Whenever two or three vacancies amongst the banking Directors occur at or about the same time, the Board may, if they think it convenient so to do, send to every Associated Bank one, and only one, notification under the foregoing sub-section of this section in respect of all such vacancies, and where the Board so send only one such notification they shall, in such notification, state that the representatives attending at the appointed time and place are required to elect, if there are two and only two such vacancies, a panel of five persons or, if there are three such vacancies, a panel of six persons from amongst whom such vacancies may be filled.
(3) The several representatives of the Associated Banks (not being more than one representative from each such Bank) who attend at the appointed time and place shall then or within three days thereafter elect, in accordance with the Rules contained in the Second Schedule to this Act, a panel of persons eligible and willing to act as banking Director and shall forthwith communicate to the Minister and to the Board the names of the persons so elected.
(4) The panel to be elected in pursuance of the next preceding sub-section of this section shall be, if there is only one vacancy to be filled, a panel of three persons or, if there are two and only two vacancies to be filled, a panel of five persons, or, if there are three vacancies to be filled, a panel of six persons.
(5) If a panel is duly elected in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this section, the said vacancy or vacancies (whether prospective or actual) shall be filled from amongst the persons so elected to such panel.
(6) If the said representatives of the Associated Banks who attend at the appointed time and place fail to elect in accordance with this section the said panel or if no representatives of the Associated Banks attend at the appointed time and place, it shall be lawful for the Minister to appoint such eligible person or persons as he shall think proper to fill the said vacancy or vacancies, but subject to the restrictions that, if an eligible and suitable person or if and so far as eligible and suitable persons willing to act can be found amongst the directors of the several Associated Banks, no person who is not a director of an Associated Bank shall be appointed by the Minister under this sub-section, and in any event no person who is in the permanent service of the State shall be so appointed.
Notices of vacancies and appointments of certain Directors.
28.—(1) This section applies only to Directors who are neither banking Directors nor service Directors.
(2) Not less than ten days before the expiration by effluxion of time of the term of office of a Director to whom this section applies the Board shall notify the Minister of such prospective vacancy.
(3) As soon as may be after the Board becomes aware that the office of a Director to whom this section applies has become vacant otherwise than by effluxion of time, the Board shall notify the Minister of such vacancy.
(4) Whenever the Minister appoints a person to be a Director to whom this section applies he shall cause notice of such appointment having been made and of the name and other particulars of the person appointed to be given forthwith to the Board.
(5) Whenever a Director to whom this section applies ceases by any means to hold office as such Director and the Minister determines to reduce the number of such Directors and for that purpose not to fill the vacancy occasioned by such cesser, such cesser shall for the purposes of this Act (except this section) be deemed not to have occasioned a vacancy in the membership of the Board.
(6) Whenever the Minister, for the purpose of reducing the number of Directors to whom this section applies, determines not to fill a vacancy which has occurred amongst those Directors, he shall cause the Board to be informed of such determination.
Prohibition of certain Directors holding shares in a bank.
29.—(1) This section applies to all Directors except banking Directors.
(2) A Director to whom this section applies shall within three months after his appointment absolutely sell or otherwise dispose of all shares in any bank which he shall, at the time of his appointment, own or be interested in for his own benefit.
(3) If and whenever any shares in a bank shall come to or vest in a Director to whom this section applies by will or succession for his own benefit, he shall within three months after the same shall have so come to or vested in him, absolutely sell or otherwise dispose of the same or his interest therein.
(4) A Director to whom this section applies shall not purchase, take, or become interested in for his own benefit any shares in any bank.
(5) If a Director to whom this section applies shall retain, purchase, take, or become or remain interested in any shares in any bank in contravention of this section he shall forthwith become and be disqualified from holding the office of Director.
(6) In this section the word “bank” includes a bank incorporated outside the State as well as a bank incorporated in the State and references to shares in a bank shall be construed as including stock, shares, debentures, debenture stock, bonds, or other securities of such bank.
Operation of disqualification of the Governor or a Director.
30.—(1) No disqualification of the Governor or a Director under any provision of this Act shall operate to remove him from his office until a resolution has been passed by the Board declaring him to be disqualified on a stated ground from holding his said office.
(2) No member of the Board shall vote on a resolution under this section in relation to his own disqualification.
Oath of secrecy to be taken by the Governor, Directors, and officers.
31.—(1) The Governor and every Director and also every officer of the Bank shall, immediately after his appointment and before he begins to act as Governor or Director or as such officer, take and subscribe before a Peace Commissioner an oath in the following form:—
“I, __________, do solemnly swear that I will not disclose any information relative to the business, records, or books of any bank which may come to my knowledge by virtue of my position as the Governor or a Director or an officer of the Central Bank of Ireland, except to such persons only as shall act in the execution of the statutes regulating the said Bank and where it shall be necessary to disclose the same to them for the purposes of any such statute.”
(2) Every person who, having been appointed to be the Governor or a Director or being or having been appointed to be an officer of the Bank, acts as the Governor or a Director or as such officer (as the case may be) before he has taken the oath required by this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds.
(3) Every officer of the Commission who on the appointed day becomes an officer of the Bank by virtue of this Act shall take, the oath required by this section on or as soon as conveniently may be after the appointed day, and if he so takes the said oath he shall be deemed to have complied with this section and shall not be liable to any penalty for acting as an officer of the Bank before having taken the said oath.
Procedure of the Board.
32.—(1) The Board may, by rules or otherwise as it thinks fit, regulate its own procedure.
(2) Four members of the Board personally present shall form a quorum at a meeting of the Board.
(3) The Board may act notwithstanding one or more vacancies in its membership.
(4) At any meeting of the Board the Governor may, in the event of an equality of votes, exercise a second or casting vote.
Compensation and superannuation of Chairman, Commissioners, Governor, and Directors.
33.—(1) The Commission may, at any time before the appointed day, make, with the approval of the Minister, a scheme providing for the following things, that is to say:—
(a) the grant by the Bank of compensation for loss of office to the person who is the Chairman of the Commission immediately before the appointed day, provided that person is not appointed to be the Governor as on and from the appointed day, and
(b) the grant by the Bank of compensation for loss of office to any person who is, immediately before the appointed day, a member of the Commission holding office otherwise than at the pleasure of the Minister and does not become a Director holding office as on and from the appointed day, and
(c) the grant by the Bank of a superannuation allowance or gratuity to or for the benefit of every Governor who ceases to hold office otherwise than by becoming disqualified, and
(d) the grant by the Bank of a superannuation allowance or gratuity to or for the benefit of every Director (other than a service Director) who devotes the whole of his time to his duties as such Director and ceases to hold office otherwise than by becoming disqualified.
(2) If the Commission does not make under the foregoing sub-section of this section such scheme as is mentioned in that sub-section, it shall be lawful for the Board to make, with the approval of the Minister, such scheme on or at any time after the appointed day.
(3) The Bank shall carry into effect the scheme made under the foregoing provisions of this section.
(4) A scheme made under this section may provide that a Governor who has held office as Chairman of the Commission may, for the purposes of such scheme, add his period of service as such Chairman to his period of service as Governor and reckon both those periods as one continuous period of service as Governor.
PART IV.
Extinction of Consolidated Bank Notes.
Definitions in respect of this Part of this Act.
34.—(1) In this Part of this Act the word “half-year” means a period of six months ending on the 31st day of March or the 30th day of September, and the expression “Associated Bank” means one of the eight banks named in the second column of the Third Schedule to this Act and does not apply to any other bank.
(2) References in this Part of this Act to consolidated bank notes outstanding with an Associated Bank shall be construed as referring to and including all consolidated bank notes which, at the time to which the reference relates, have been issued by the Commission or by the Bank to that Associated Bank and have not been accepted by either the Commission or the Bank for retirement.
Restrictions on amount of consolidated bank notes outstanding.
35.—(1) The maximum amount of consolidated bank notes which may be outstanding with any particular Associated Bank mentioned in the second column of the Third Schedule to this Act—
(a) on any day during the period commencing on the day after the date of the passing of this Act and ending on the 31st day of December, 1944, shall not exceed the amount stated in the third column of the said Third Schedule opposite the name of such Associated Bank in the second column of that Schedule;
(b) on any day during the triennial period ending on the 31st day of December, 1947, shall not exceed the amount stated in the fourth column of the said Third Schedule opposite the name of such Associated Bank in the second column of that Schedule;
(c) on any day during the triennial period ending on the 31st day of December, 1950, shall not exceed the amount stated in the fifth column of the said Third Schedule opposite the name of such Associated Bank in the second column of that Schedule;
(d) on any day during the triennial period ending on the 31st day of December, 1953, shall not exceed the amount stated in the sixth column of the said Third Schedule opposite the name of such Associated Bank in the second column of that Schedule.
(2) The Commission shall before the appointed day and the Bank shall on and after that day each take such steps, by restriction of issue or otherwise, as it thinks fit towards ensuring that the amount of consolidated bank notes outstanding with an Associated Bank on any day during a period mentioned in the foregoing sub-section of this section does not exceed the maximum amount indicated in that sub-section in respect of such Associated Bank for such period.
(3) No consolidated bank notes shall be issued by the Bank to any Associated Bank after the 31st day of December, 1953.
(4) It shall not be lawful for any Associated Bank to pay out any consolidated bank notes in respect of which it is the responsible bank after the 31st day of December, 1953, and if any Associated Bank shall pay out any consolidated bank note in contravention of this sub-section, such Associated Bank shall be liable to pay to the Bank a sum equal to one-tenth of the amount of such note.
(5) Sub-section (3) of section 58 of the Currency Act shall cease to have effect as on and from the 1st day of January, 1954, and every regulation made and direction given under that sub-section which is in force immediately before that day shall similarly cease to have effect.
(6) No consolidated bank notes shall be issued by the Commission or by the Bank to any bank which is not one of the eight banks named in the second column of the Third Schedule to this Act.
(7) Whenever any amalgamation, partition, transfer, or other change occurs amongst the eight banks mentioned in the second column of the Third Schedule to this Act, it shall be lawful for the Board, with the consent of the Minister, to make such (if any) adjustment of all or any of the amounts stated in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth columns respectively of the said Third Schedule as shall, in the opinion of the Board, be requisite or desirable in consequence of such amalgamation, partition, transfer, or other change.
Payment in respect of consolidated bank notes outstanding after cesser of issue.
36.—(1) Every Associated Bank shall, after the 31st day of December, 1953, and before the 1st day of January, 1957, pay to the Bank such sum as shall be equal to the amount (if any) of consolidated bank notes outstanding with such Associated Bank on the date of such payment.
(2) Every sum paid by an Associated Bank to the Bank in accordance with sub-section (1) of this section shall be placed by the Bank to the credit of the currency reserve.
(3) Upon payment by an Associated Bank to the Bank in accordance with sub-section (1) of this section of the sum required by that sub-section to be so paid by such Associated Bank, the following provisions shall have effect in respect of such Associated Bank, that is to say:—
(a) such Associated Bank shall cease to be liable to pay the amount of any consolidated bank note outstanding with such Associated Bank on the date of such payment or to pay any payment on consolidated bank notes in respect of any period subsequent to the date of such payment to the Bank;
(b) the Bank shall surrender to such Associated Bank all securities which, on the date of such payment to the Bank, are held by the Bank from such Associated Bank in respect of consolidated bank notes;
(c) all consolidated bank notes outstanding with such Associated Bank on the said date shall be payable by the Bank on presentation at its principal office in Dublin and shall be so payable out of the currency reserve.
Payments by Associated Banks on consolidated bank notes.
37.—(1) Every Associated Bank shall pay to the Commission or to the Bank (as the case may require), in respect of every half-year ending after the date of the passing of this Act, the following sums, that is to say:—
(a) in respect of the half-year (if any) which is partly before and on and partly after the date of the passing of this Act or which commences on that date—
(i) for the portion of such half-year which ends on or consists of the date of the passing of this Act, a sum calculated in accordance with sub-section (1) (except paragraph, (e) thereof) of section 65 of the Currency Act, and
(ii) for the portion of such half-year which is subsequent to the date of the passing of this Act, a sum calculated at such rate, not exceeding two and one-half per cent. per annum, as shall from time to time be appointed in that behalf by the Minister on the amount of consolidated bank notes outstanding (up to the maximum amount authorised by this Act to be so outstanding) from day to day with such Associated Bank during the said portion of such half-year;
(b) in respect of every half-year which begins after the date of the passing of this Act, a sum calculated at such rate, not exceeding two and one-half per cent. per annum, as shall from time to time be appointed in that behalf by the Minister on the amount of consolidated bank notes outstanding. (up to the maximum amount authorised by this Act to be so outstanding) from day to day with such Associated Bank during such half-year;
(c) in respect of every half-year ending after the date of the passing of this Act, a sum calculated at such rate, not exceeding three per cent. per annum, as shall from time to time be appointed in that behalf by the Minister on the amount of consolidated bank notes (if any) outstanding after the said date from day to day with such Associated Bank during such half-year in excess of the amount authorised by this Act to be so outstanding;
(d) in respect of every half-year, ending after the date of the passing of this Act, such share of the expenses incurred during such half-year by the Commission or by the Bank in providing consolidated bank notes as shall be prescribed by regulations made by the Commission or by the Bank and for the time being in force.
(2) At the end of every half-year the Commission or the Bank (as the case may require) shall ascertain in respect of every Associated Bank the amount of the payments on consolidated bank notes payable under this section by such bank in respect of such half-year and shall send to every Associated Bank a certificate showing the said amount so ascertained in respect of it and how such amount is made up, and every Associated Bank shall within fourteen days after receiving any such certificate pay to the Commission or the Bank (as the case may require) the amount stated in such certificate to be payable by it.
(3) Every sum payable by an Associated Bank to the Commission under this section shall be recoverable by the Commission or the Bank (as the case may be) from such Associated Bank as a civil debt in any court of competent jurisdiction, and the non-payment of any such sum by an Associated Bank within the time specified in this section for payment thereof shall be a ground for removing such bank from being an Associated Bank.
(4) A certificate under the seal of the Commission or of the Bank stating the amount payable on any occasion by an Associated Bank to the Commission or the Bank under this section and that such amount or a specified portion thereof is due and unpaid shall, in any proceedings by the Commission or the Bank to recover such amount, be evidence until the contrary is proved of the said matters so stated in such certificate.
Stamp duty in respect of consolidated bank notes.
38.—Section 49 of the Finance Act, 1932 (No. 20 of 1932), as amended by section 15 of the Finance Act, 1937 (No. 18 of 1937), shall apply and have effect in relation to the half-year (if any) which is partly before and on and partly after the date of the passing of this Act or which commences on that date as if the portion of such half-year which ends on or consists of the said date were a half-year, and the said section 49 as so amended shall, in pursuance of the repeal thereof by this Act, not apply or have effect in relation to the portion of such half-year which is subsequent to the said date.
Notes of former banks of issue.
39.—(1) In the case of every Associated Bank which was, at the passing of the Currency Act, a bank of issue, so much of the proportion of notes mentioned in sub-section (4) of section 60 of that Act as is for the time being not redeemed in pursuance of that section shall not, in respect of any day after the date of the passing of this Act, be deemed for the purposes of this Part of this Act to be consolidated bank notes outstanding with such Associated Bank.
(2) As on and from the day after the date of the passing of this Act, the appropriate rate per cent. per annum for the purposes of sub-section (1) of section 66 of the Currency Act shall be such rate, not exceeding two and one-half per cent. per annum, as shall from time to time be appointed by the Minister.
Power of banks of issue to write off certain notes.
40.—(1) Where, for the purpose of computing the payments to be made under section 66 of the Currency Act by an Associated Bank which was, at the passing of that Act, a bank of issue, it is necessary to have regard to the total amount, as ascertained by the Commission, of the notes of such Associated Bank outstanding (including notes in the tills or vaults of such Associated Bank) immediately before the appointed day mentioned in section 60 of the Currency Act, such Associated Bank may, for the said purpose, from time to time write off, with the sanction of the Minister, from the said total amount as so ascertained an amount not exceeding the amount of so many of the said notes of such Associated Bank still outstanding at the time of such writing off as are estimated by such Associated Bank to be unlikely ever to be presented to such Associated Bank for payment.
(2) The Minister may attach to any sanction given by him to a writing off under the foregoing sub-section of this section such conditions as he shall, having regard to the circumstances, think proper, and may in particular require that the Associated Bank making such writing off shall pay to the Bank for addition to the currency reserve a specified proportion of the amount so written off, but subject to the limitation that the amount of such specified proportion shall not exceed the amount of the proportion appertaining to Saorstát Eireann determined by the Commission under sub-section (4) of section 60 of the Currency Act in respect of the notes of such Associated Bank outstanding immediately before the appointed day mentioned in that sub-section.
(3) Every writing off under this section by an Associated Bank shall have effect as on and from the date on which the sanction of the Minister thereto is given.
(4) Whenever an Associated Bank has written off an amount under this section, due regard shall be had to such writing off when computing the amount of any payment under section 66 of the Currency Act, as amended by this Act, payable by such Associated Bank in respect of a period wholly or partly subsequent to the date as on and from which such writing off has effect.
(5) No writing off under this section by an Associated Bank shall operate to release such Associated Bank from liability to pay any of its notes.
PART V.
Deposits by Bankers.
Construction of references to holding oneself out as a banker.
41.—(1) For the purposes of this Part of this Act, a person shall (save as is otherwise provided by the next following sub-section of this section) be deemed to hold himself out as a banker—
(a) if, being a company or other corporate body carrying on any business whatsoever, the name of such body includes any of the words “bank”, “banker”, or “banking” or any word which is a variant or a derivative of any of those words, or
(b) if, being an individual, he carries on any business whatsoever under a name or title (other than his own name without any addition thereto) which includes any of the words “bank”, “banker”, or “banking” or any variant or derivative of any of those words, or
(c) if, being a partnership or other unincorporated body carrying on any business whatsoever, the name under which such body carries on such business (not being in the case of a partnership the name or names of one or more of the partners without any addition thereto) includes any of the words “bank” “banker”, or “banking” or any word which is a variant or a derivative of any of those words, or
(d) in any case, if by the use, in an advertisement, circular, business card, or other document, of any of the words “bank”, “banker”, or “banking” or any variant or derivative of those words or any phrase analogous thereto he holds himself out or represents himself as conducting or being willing to conduct banking operations with, for, or on behalf of members of the public.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing sub-section of this section, none of the following banks, that is to say, the Bank, the Post Office Savings Bank, and a trustee savings bank certified (whether before or after the passing of this Act) under the Trustee Savings Banks Act, 1863, shall be deemed to hold itself out as a banker within the meaning or for the purposes of this Part of this Act.
Obligation to make deposit in the High Court.
42.—(1) During the period of three years beginning on the 1st day of January next after the passing of this Act it shall not be lawful for any person to hold himself out as a banker unless he has deposited and keeps deposited in the High Court in accordance with this Part of this Act the sum of ten thousand pounds or, in the case of a person to whom an order under sub-section (3) of this section relates, the sum mentioned in such order.
(2) From and after the expiration of the period of three years mentioned in the foregoing sub-section of this section it shall not be lawful for any person to hold himself out as a banker unless he has deposited and keeps deposited in the High Court in accordance with this Part of this Act the sum of twenty thousand pounds or, in the case of a person to whom an order under sub-section (3) of this section relates, the sum mentioned in such order.
(3) The Minister, where satisfied that special considerations so warrant, may by order permit a person holding himself out as a banker to deposit and keep deposited in the High Court in accordance with this Part of this Act a sum less than that mentioned in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of this section (whichever is applicable) but not less than five thousand pounds.
(4) The Minister may by order revoke or amend any order under this section.
(5) Every person who holds himself out as a banker in contravention of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable,
(a) on conviction thereof on indictment, to a fine not exceeding five hundred pounds together with a further fine not exceeding twenty-five pounds for every day on which the offence is continued, or
(b) on summary conviction thereof, to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds together with a further fine not exceeding one pound for every day on which the offence is continued.
(6) Where a company or other corporate body commits an offence under this section, every director and every officer of such company or body who wilfully authorises or permits the offence shall also be guilty of the offence and be liable on conviction thereof to the penalty mentioned in the next preceding sub-section.
(7) Where a partnership or other unincorporated body commits an offence under this section, every member of such partnership or body shall be guilty of the offence and be liable on conviction thereof to the penalty mentioned in sub-section (5) of this section, unless he proves that he did not know and could not reasonably have known of such contravention.
General provisions in relation to deposits under this Part of this Act.
43.—(1) The following provisions shall apply and have effect in relation to deposits in the High Court made in pursuance of this Part of this Act, that is to say:—
(a) every such deposit shall be under the control of the High Court and shall be made with the privity of the Accountant of the Courts of Justice;
(b) the Accountant of the Courts of Justice shall issue free of charge on request to any person proposing to make or add to any such deposit the forms requisite for that purpose;
(c) any such deposit may, in lieu of being made wholly in money, be made wholly or partly by the deposit of securities authorised by rules of court for the investment of moneys under the control of the High Court;
(d) where any such deposit is made or held wholly or partly in money, such money or a specified part thereof shall, on the request and at the cost of the depositor, be invested in such securities authorised as aforesaid as the depositor shall specify;
(e) whenever any such deposit has been made, the Accountant of the Courts of Justice shall forthwith inform the Minister of the making of such deposit, the name of the person by whom such deposit was made, and the amount of such deposit, and whenever any such deposit has been added to the said Accountant shall forthwith inform the Minister of the making of such addition and of the amount thereof;
(f) the income derived from the securities of which any such deposit is wholly or partly composed shall be paid to the depositor;
(g) all or any of the securities of which any such deposit is wholly or partly composed shall, at the request and cost of the depositor, be varied into other securities authorised as aforesaid specified by the depositor or be converted into money;
(h) the depositor of any such deposit or his liquidator, personal representative, assignee, or other successor in title may at any time apply, in accordance with rules of court, for the return of such deposit or so much thereof as has not been paid out in pursuance of an order of the High Court under this Part of this Act;
(i) where any such application for the return of a deposit has been duly made, such deposit, or so much thereof as has not been paid out as aforesaid, shall, save as is otherwise provided by this Part of this Act, be returned in accordance with such application at the expiration of six months from the receipt of such application;
(j) whenever any such deposit, or so much thereof as aforesaid, has been returned in pursuance of the next preceding paragraph of this sub-section, the Accountant of the Courts of Justice shall forthwith inform the Minister of such return.
(2) On the 2nd day of January in every year subsequent to the year next after the year in which this Act is passed the Accountant of the Courts of Justice shall, in respect of every deposit maintained in the High Court under this Part of this Act which is wholly or partially composed of securities, ascertain the total current market value of the securities comprised in such deposit and shall forthwith send by post to the depositor of such deposit notice in writing stating the amount of the said total current market value so ascertained and the amount of the money (if any) comprised in such deposit, and also stating whether the aggregate amount (in this sub-section referred to as the actual amount) of the said total current market value and the said money (if any) exceeds, equals, or falls short of the amount (in this sub-section referred to as the proper amount) of the deposit required by this Part of this Act, and, where the actual amount of the deposit exceeds or falls short of the proper amount thereof, the amount of the excess or the deficit (as the case may be), and upon such notice being so sent such (if any) of the following provisions as is or are applicable shall have effect, that is to say:—
(a) if the actual amount, exceeds the proper amount and the depositor, on or before the 2nd day of February next after the posting of the said notice, requests the return of the excess or a specified part of the excess of the actual amount over the proper amount, a sum equal to such excess or such specified part thereof (less the cost of any requisite sale of securities) shall forthwith be returned to the depositor;
(b) if the actual amount is less than the proper amount, the depositor may deposit in the High Court (by way of addition to the said deposit) an amount in money or in securities authorised by rules of court for the investment of moneys under the control of the High Court or partly in money and partly in such securities equal to the amount by which the actual amount falls short of the proper amount;
(c) where, in a case to which the next preceding paragraph of this sub-section applies, the depositor makes the additional deposit authorised by that paragraph on or before the 2nd day of February next after the posting of the said notice, the depositor shall be deemed to have maintained the deposit at the proper amount, but where, in any such case, the depositor fails to make such additional deposit on or before the said 2nd day of February the Accountant of the Courts of Justice shall forthwith inform the Minister of such failure.
(3) Rules of court may provide for all or any of the following things being done without an order of the High Court, that is to say:—
(a) the making of deposits under this Part of this Act and of additions to such deposits;
(b) the investment of money comprised in any such deposit;
(c) the payment to a depositor of the income derived from securities comprised in his deposit;
(d) the variation of all or any of the securities comprised in any such, deposit;
(e) the return under this section of any such deposit or part of any such deposit to the depositor.
Deposit on behalf of a company before its incorporation.
44.—Where a company is intended to be incorporated under the Companies Acts, 1908 to 1924, with, a name which includes any of the words “bank”, “banker”, or “banking”, or any word which is a variant or a derivative of any of those words, the following provisions shall have effect, that is to say:—
(a) it shall be lawful for a deposit to be made in the High Court under this Part, of this Act on behalf and in the name of such intended company notwithstanding that such company has not been incorporated;
(b) an order under sub-section (3) of section 42 of this Act in relation to the amount of such deposit shall be capable of being made notwithstanding that such company has not been incorporated;
(c) the registrar of companies shall not give a certificate of incorporation in respect of such intended company unless or until such deposit has been so made on behalf and in the name of such intended company;
(d) when such intended company has been duly incorporated under the said Acts, the said deposit shall be deemed for all purposes to have been made by such company.
Payment of debts out of deposit.
45.—(1) Whenever a person (in this sub-section referred to as the creditor) obtains in any Court a judgment, order, or decree against a person (in this section referred to as the depositor) who has made and maintains a deposit in the High Court under this Part of this Act for the payment of a sum of money in discharge of a liability (whether liquidated or unliquidated) incurred by the depositor in the course of or in relation to the business carried on by him, the High Court may, if it so thinks proper on the application in a summary manner of the creditor, order that the said sum of money and the costs (if any) payable by the depositor to the creditor under the said judgment, order, or decree and also (if the High Court so thinks proper) the creditor's costs of such application be paid to the creditor out of the said deposit so maintained by the depositor.
(2) Whenever any money is paid, in pursuance of an order of the High Court made under the foregoing sub-section of this section, out of a deposit in the High Court under this Part of this Act, the following provisions shall have effect, that is to say:—
(a) the Accountant of the Courts of Justice shall forthwith inform the Minister of such payment;
(b) the said Accountant shall ascertain the amount of the balance of the said deposit remaining after such payment thereout and, if that balance is less than the proper amount of the said deposit under this Part of this Act, the said Accountant shall send by post to the depositor a notice in writing stating that the said balance falls short of the said proper amount and also stating the amount (in this sub-section referred to as the said deficiency) by which the said balance so falls short;
(c) for the purpose of the said ascertainment of the amount of the said balance, all (if any) securities comprised in the said deposit shall be valued at their respective current market values;
(d) when the said Accountant has sent to the depositor such notice as aforesaid, the depositor may deposit in the High Court (by way of addition to the said deposit) in money or in securities authorised by rules of court for the investment of moneys under the control of the High Court or partly in money and partly in such securities an amount equal to the said deficiency, and, if the depositor so deposits the said amount not more than fourteen days after the posting of the said notice, he shall be deemed to have maintained the said deposit at the amount required by this Part of this Act.
PART VI.
Bankers' Licences and the Duties of Licensed Bankers.
Application of this Part of this Act.
46.—This Part of this Act does not apply to the Bank or to the Post Office Savings Bank or to any trustee savings bank certified (whether before or after the passing of this Act) under the Trustee Savings Banks Act, 1863.
Bankers' licences.
47.—(1) In this section, the expression “banking business” means a business which consists of or includes the acceptance of deposits payable on demand or on not more than seven days notice, but the acceptance by a trader of deposits from persons employed by him in his trading business or the acceptance by a trader in the normal course of his trading business of deposits from persons who are customers of that trading business or the acceptance by a trader of both those classes of deposits shall not of itself make the trading business of such trader a banking business for the purposes of this section.
(2) No person (other than a bank to which this Part of this Act does not apply) shall, on or after the 1st day of January next after the passing of this Act, carry on a banking business or hold himself out or represent himself as carrying on any business which is banking business within the meaning of this section unless he holds a banker's licence issued to him under this section and for the time being in force.
(3) Any person may apply to the Revenue Commissioners and obtain from them a licence (in this Act referred to as a banker's licence) authorising him to carry on banking business from the date of issue of such licence until the next following 31st day of December or, in the case of a licence issued by way of renewal of a licence which has not expired, from the 1st day of January next after the date of issue of the licence so issued until the next following 31st day of December.
(4) Every banker's licence and every application for a banker's licence shall be in the form prescribed by regulations made under this section and, if a stamp duty is payable by law on such licence, such application shall be accompanied by the amount of such duty and the payment of such duty shall be a condition precedent to the consideration of such application.
(5) Where the holder of a banker's licence (in this sub-section referred to as an existing licence) desires to obtain a banker's licence (in this sub-section referred to as a renewal licence) by way of renewal of such existing licence he may apply under this section for such renewal licence before but not more than one month before the expiration of such existing licence.
(6) The Revenue Commissioners shall send to the Bank in the month of January in every year a list containing the name and address of every person to whom a banker's licence expiring on the 31st day of December in that year has been issued under this section before the date on which such list is so sent, and shall also, whenever a banker's licence so expiring is issued under this section on or after the date on which such list is so sent, forthwith notify the Bank of the issue of such licence and of the name and address of the person to whom it is issued.
(7) The Revenue Commissioners may, with the consent of the Minister, make regulations prescribing forms for bankers' licences and applications therefor and the procedure generally in relation to applications for and the issue of bankers' licences.
(8) Every person who, in contravention of this section, carries on banking business or holds himself out or represents himself as carrying on any business which is banking business within the meaning of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds together with a further fine not exceeding ten pounds for every day during which such contravention is continued.
Publication of financial statements by licensed bankers.
48.—(1) In this section the word “year” means a period of twelve months beginning on the 1st day of January.
(2) On and after the 1st day of January next after the passing of this Act, section 108 (which relates to the publication of a certain financial statement by certain companies) of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908, shall not apply or have effect in relation to a licensed banker.
(3) Every licensed banker, unless exempted by the Minister under this section,—
(a) shall post up and at all times keep posted up in a conspicuous place in every office, branch, or other place in which he carries on banking business and also, in the case of a limited company incorporated in the State, in the registered office of the company, a statement (in the form required by this section) in relation to the banking business carried on by him, and
(b) shall furnish on demand to every of his creditors and, in the case of a limited company, to every member of the company a copy of the latest such statement on payment of a sum not exceeding sixpence therefor.
(4) The Minister may at any time, if he so thinks proper, exempt from the provisions of the next preceding sub-section of this section a licensed banker who, immediately before the passing of this Act, carried on banking business in the State and was not then a company to which section 108 of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908, applied.
(5) The statement required by this section to be posted up by a licensed banker shall, in the case of an Associated Bank, be in the form of a copy of its latest balance sheet and, in every other case, be in such form as shall be prescribed by the Minister or, until such form is so prescribed, in the same form as nearly as may be as the balance sheets of the Associated Banks.
(6) Every licensed banker who shall contravene (whether by act or omission) this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds together with, in the case of a continuing offence, a further fine not exceeding five pounds for every day during which the offence is continued.
(7) Where a licensed banker who is a limited company commits an offence under this section, every director and every manager of such company who wilfully authorises or permits the offence shall also be guilty of the offence and be liable on summary conviction thereof to the penalty mentioned in the next preceding sub-section.
Publication of balance sheets by licensed bankers.
49.—(1) The Minister may, after consultation with the Board, make regulations for either or both of the following purposes, that is to say:—
(a) requiring licensed bankers to prepare and publish balance sheets at the times and intervals specified in such regulations;
(b) prescribing the form in which the balance sheets of licensed bankers are to be prepared.
(2) Regulations made under this section may prescribe different requirements in respect of different licensed bankers.
(3) Every licensed banker shall comply in all respects with every regulation made under this section and applicable to him, and if any licensed banker fails so to comply with any such regulation he shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds.
Power to required deposit by licensed bankers in certain circumstances.
50.—(1) If at any time it should appear to the Board, with the concurrence of the Minister, that it is expedient so to do, it shall be lawful for the Board to make, with the consent of the Minister, regulations requiring every licensed banker to make with the Bank a deposit (not bearing interest) of a specified amount or calculated in a specified manner whenever after a specified date the assets held by him within the State fall below a specified proportion in relation to his liabilities within the State, and to maintain such deposit so long as such assets are below the said specified proportion.
(2) Regulations made under this section may prescribe different requirements in respect of different licensed bankers.
(3) If and whenever regulations made by the Board under this section are in force, it shall be the duty of every licensed banker to comply with such of those regulations as are applicable to him, and, if any licensed banker fails (whether by act or omission) so to do, he shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds for every day during which such failure is continued.
Powers in respect of licensed bankers' clearances.
51.—(1) If at any time it should appear to the Board, with the concurrence of the Minister, that it is expedient so to do, it shall be lawful for the Board to make, with the consent of the Minister, regulations requiring every licensed banker to settle all or a particular class or particular classes (defined in the regulations) of his clearances by cheques drawn either (as shall be specified in the regulations) on the Bank or on an agent appointed for the purpose by the Bank and requiring every licensed banker, for the purposes of so settling such clearances, to make and maintain with the Bank such balances as may be necessary for the purpose.
(2) If at any time it should appear to the Board, with the concurrence of the Minister, that it is expedient so to do, it shall be lawful for the Board to make, with the consent of the Minister, regulations requiring every licensed banker to lodge with the Bank for clearance all such cheques, bills, notes, or other negotiable instruments (payable outside the State and lodged for clearance at an office in the State of such banker) as shall be prescribed in that behalf by the Board by or under the regulations.
(3) If and whenever regulations made by the Board under either of the foregoing sub-sections of this section are in force, it shall be the duty of every licensed banker to comply with those regulations and, if any licensed banker fails (whether by act or omission) so to do, he shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds for every day during which such failure is continued.
PART VII.
Counterfeit and Unauthorised Currency.
Definition of “bank note” in this Part of this Act.
52.—In this Part of this Act the expression “bank note” has the same meaning as it has in the Forgery Act, 1913, as amended or extended by the Currency Act and by this Part of this Act.
Extension of the Forgery Act, 1913.
53.—(1) Currency notes issued by or on behalf of the Government of any country outside the State shall be deemed to be bank notes within the meaning of the Forgery Act, 1913.
(2) In the foregoing sub-section of this section the expression “currency note” includes any notes (by whatever name they are called) which are legal tender in the country in which they are issued.
Disposal of bank notes, etc. seized under the Forgery Act, 1913.
54.—Where any forged bank note, or any machinery, implement, utensil, or material used or intended to be used for the forgery of a bank note is lawfully seized under a warrant granted under sub-section (1) of section 16 (as adapted by or under subsequent enactments) of the Forgery Act, 1913, or otherwise, such bank note, machinery, implement, utensil, or material (as the case may be) shall, by order of the court by which any person is tried for an offence in relation thereto or, if no person is so tried, by order of the justice of the District Court or by direction of the Peace Commissioner (as the case may be) by whom such warrant was granted, be delivered up to the Commission or a person authorised by the Commission to receive the same or, if such order is made after the appointed day, to the Bank or a person authorised by the Bank to receive the same.
Making, etc. a document purporting to be or resembling a bank note.
55.—(1) If any person makes, or causes to be made, or uses for any purpose whatsoever, or utters any document purporting to be, or in any way resembling, or so nearly resembling as to be calculated to deceive, a bank note or part of a bank note, he shall be guilty of an offence under this sub-section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof, to a fine not exceeding five pounds.
(2) Where a person, is convicted of an offence under the foregoing sub-section of this section, it shall be lawful for the court by which he is so convicted to order that the document in respect of which such offence was committed and all copies of such document and all plates, blocks, dies, and other instruments used for or capable of being used for printing or reproducing such document which are in the possession of the person so convicted to be delivered up to the Commission or, if such order is made after the appointed day, to the Bank.
(3) If any person whose name appears on a document the making of which is an offence under sub-section (1) of this section refuses without lawful excuse to disclose to a member of the Gárda Síochána, on being required by such member so to do, the name and address of the person by whom such document was printed or otherwise made, the said person so refusing shall be guilty of an offence under this sub-section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
(4) The fact that the name of a particular person appears on a document in respect of which he or any other person is charged with an offence under sub-section (1) of this section or appears on any other document used or distributed in connection with that document shall, until the contrary is proved, be evidence that the person whose name so appears made or caused to be made the said document in respect of which the said charge is brought.
Prohibition of unauthorised money.
56.—(1) No person shall make, provide, issue, re-issue, or give or receive in payment any document (not being a document excluded by this section from the operation of this section) in writing (whether written on paper or on any other substance or material) which complies with both of the following conditions, that is to say:—
(a) the document purports or is expressed to be or is in fact exchangeable for a specified sum of lawful money on presentation by the holder for the time being thereof to a particular person or any two or more particular persons, whether such person or persons is or are or is not or are not specified in the document and whether such presentation is or is not subject to restrictions as to time and place and whether such restrictions (if any) are or are not stated in the document, and
(b) the document is intended or purports or appears to be intended to circulate as money or to be used as a substitute for lawful money, whether generally or for a particular purpose or within a particular area.
(2) Every person who makes, provides, issues, re-issues, or gives or receives in payment any document in contravention of the foregoing sub-section of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds,
(3) Where a document is or purports or is expressed to be made, provided, issued, re-issued, or given or received in payment by or on behalf of a club, association, committee, council, or other body which is not incorporated, every member of that body shall be guilty of an offence under this section and be punishable accordingly.
(4) In any prosecution of a person for an offence under this section, the burden of proof that the document in relation to which the offence is alleged to have been committed was not intended and does not purport or appear to be intended to circulate as money or to be used as a substitute for lawful money (whether generally or for a particular purpose or within a particular area) shall lie on the person so prosecuted, and, unless and until the contrary is proved, it shall be presumed that the said document was intended (in contravention of this section) to circulate as money and be used as a substitute for lawful money.
(5) Every of the following documents is excluded from the operation of this section, that is to say:—
(a) bank notes;
(b) postal orders, post office money orders, and other documents issued by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs;
(c) bank drafts, deposit receipts, and other documents issued by any bank;
(d) bills of exchange not payable on presentation;
(e) promissory notes for not less than five pounds;
(f) cheques drawn on a banker, including cheques drawn by a banker on himself;
(g) tallies which—
(i) are (whether before or after the passing of this Act) issued or provided by a club or association the members of which consist wholly or mainly of persons who are for the time being unemployed, and
(ii) circulate only amongst the members of such club or association, and
(iii) are so issued or provided and are used solely for the purpose of enabling goods produced or services rendered by members of such club or association to be exchanged between members of such club or association.
Amendment of the Customs Consolidation Act, 1876.
57.—(1) Section 17 of the Customs Consolidation Act, 1876, is hereby amended by the deletion of the words “British currency” and the insertion, in lieu of those words, of the words “currency which is for the time being legal tender in the State”.
(2) Section 42 of the Customs Consolidation Act, 1876, shall be construed and have effect as if the following articles were added to the Table of Prohibitions and Restrictions Inwards in that section, that is to say:—
(a) counterfeits of legal tender notes, and
(b) counterfeits of consolidated bank notes.
PART VIII.
Coinage.
Amendment of the Coinage Act, 1926.
58.—(1) The Coinage Act, 1926 (No. 14 of 1926), is hereby amended, in relation to coins of the denomination of sixpence or of the denomination of threepence and in either case bearing a date subsequent to the year 1941 and no other coins, as follows, that is to say:—
(a) in sub-section (1) of section 2, sub-section (2) of section 5, and the first column of the Schedule, the word “cupro-nickel” is hereby substituted for the word “nickel”, and the said sub-sections and Schedule shall, in relation to the said coins, be construed and have effect accordingly;
(b) in the third column of the Schedule the words “cupro-nickel made up of 75 per cent. copper and 25 per cent. nickel” are hereby substituted for the words “pure nickel”, and the said Schedule and also section 2 shall, in relation to the said coins, be construed and have effect accordingly.
(2) Sub-section (1) of section 8 of the Coinage Act, 1926 (No. 14 of 1926), shall apply and have effect in relation to cupro-nickel coin issued under that Act in like manner as it applies to nickel coin similarly issued, and for that purpose the references in section 1 of the Coinage Offences Act, 1861, to silver coin shall be construed as including cupro-nickel coin as well as nickel coin.
(3) The Schedule to the Coinage Act, 1926 (No. 14 of 1926), is hereby amended by the deletion in the third column thereof of the words “Bronze, made up of 95½ per cent. copper, 3 per cent. tin, and 1½ per cent. zinc” and the substitution in lieu of those words of the words “Mixed metal made up of copper, tin and zinc”.
(4) This section shall be read as one with the Coinage Act, 1926 (No. 14 of 1926), and shall be construed and have effect accordingly.
Amendment of the Gold and Silver (Export Control, etc.) Act, 1920.
59.—Section 2 of the Gold and Silver (Export Control, etc.) Act, 1920, as adapted by or under subsequent enactments, shall apply and have effect in relation to coins of nickel, cupro-nickel, bronze, or other metal or mixed metals in like manner as it applies and has effect in relation to gold or silver coin.
The issue of coins under the Coinage Act, 1926.
60.—(1) All coins issued by the Minister under the Coinage Act, 1926 (No. 14 of 1926), on or after the appointed day shall be issued by the Minister through the Bank, and the proceeds of every such issue of coins shall be paid into the general fund and carried therein to the credit of the currency reserve.
(2) All sums required for the provision of coins under the Coinage Act, 1926 (No. 14 of 1926), on or after the appointed day or for the redemption, on or after that day, of coins issued at any time under that Act shall be defrayed out of the general fund and debited therein to the currency reserve.
(3) On the appointed day all deposits under sub-section (2) of section 38 of the Currency Act which are, immediately before the appointed day, standing in the general fund, whether in the name of the Minister or in the name of the Commission on behalf of the Minister, shall be applied and disposed of as follows, that is to say:—
(a) all advances from the Central Fund for the purposes of the Coinage Act, 1926 (No. 14 of 1926), which are out standing immediately before the appointed day shall be repaid out of the said deposits;
(b) the sum of three hundred thousand pounds shall be set aside out of the said deposits and carried to a suspense account in the general fund and shall be paid to the Savings Certificates (Interest Charge Equalisation) Fund in such instalments and at such times as the Minister shall direct;
(c) the residue of the said deposits shall be carried to the credit of the currency reserve.
Copyright in coins.
61.—(1) The copyright in all coins issued (whether before or after the passing of this Act) under the Coinage Act, 1926 (No. 14 of 1926), or under Part II of the Currency Act and the copyright in the artistic work defining the design of any such coins shall be perpetual and shall belong and, in the case of any such coins issued before the passing of this Act, be deemed always to have belonged to the Minister
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) of section 155 of the Industrial and Commercial Property (Protection) Act, 1927 (No. 16 of 1927), the reproduction in any published literary or artistic work without the consent of the Minister of the whole or any part of any such coin as is mentioned in the foregoing sub-section of this section shall constitute an infringement of the copyright in such coin.
PART IX.
Miscellaneous.
Winding-up of the note reserve fund and establishment of the currency reserve.
62.—(1) As soon as may be after the passing of this Act and in any event not later than one month after such passing, the note reserve fund shall be wound up and for that purpose the following provisions shall have effect, that is to say:—
(a) there shall be established in the general fund an account to be called the currency reserve;
(b) out of the assets of the note reserve fund there shall be transferred to the legal tender note fund such assets (not exceeding two hundred thousand pounds in total value at the market prices current at the time of the transfer) as the Commission shall think proper;
(c) the assets transferred to the legal tender note fund in pursuance of the next preceding paragraph of this sub-section shall be applied in writing down in the books of that fund to such extent as the Commission shall think proper the values in such books of such of the assets of the said fund as the Commission shall think proper;
(d) the assets of the note reserve fund (other than those assets transferred to the legal tender note fund under the foregoing provisions of this section) shall be transferred to the general fund and the amount thereof shall be placed to the credit of the currency reserve;
(e) from and after the winding-up of the note reserve fund in pursuance of this section, the transfers required by sub-section (7) of section 61 (as amended by this Act) of the Currency Act to be made from or to the legal tender note fund to or from the note reserve fund shall be made from or to the legal tender note fund to or from the currency reserve in the general fund.
(2) If the winding-up of the note reserve fund in pursuance of the foregoing sub-section of this section takes place on or after the appointed day, every mention in that sub-section of the Commission shall be construed and have effect as a mention of the Board.
(3) Section 50 and sub-section (7) of section 58 of the Currency Act are hereby amended, as from the completion of the winding-up of the note reserve fund, by the substitution of the expression “currency reserve” for the expression “note reserve fund” wherever the latter expression occurs in the said section 50 and the said sub-section (7) respectively.
(4) Section 4 of the Currency (Amendment) Act, 1930 (No. 30 of 1930), is hereby amended, as from the completion of the winding-up of the note reserve fund, by the substitution of the expression “currency reserve” for the expression “note reserve fund” wherever the latter expression occurs in the said section 4, and by the substitution of the words “in which assets of the legal tender note fund are for the time being permitted to be held” for the words and figures “mentioned in sub-section (2) of section 62 of the Principal Act” where those words and figures occur in sub-section (1) of the said section 4.
Amendment of section 61 of the Currency Act.
63.—Section 61 of the Currency Act is hereby amended by the deletion of sub-section (7) thereof and the insertion in the said section of the following sub-section in lieu of the said sub-section so deleted, that is to say:—
“(7) As soon as may be after the last day of February and after the 31st day of August in every year the Commission shall value, at values not exceeding the current market prices on such last day of February or 31st day of August (as the case may be), the capital assets of the legal tender note fund on such last day of February or 31st day of August (as the case may be), and shall ascertain the extent of the net surplus or deficiency, if any, of such capital assets as so valued (less by the capital amount of any temporary borrowing under the next preceding sub-section of this section then outstanding) above or below the amount of legal tender notes outstanding on such last day of February or 31st day of August (as the case may be), and shall, as soon as may be after such ascertainment, transfer (as the case may require) from or to the legal tender note fund to or from the note reserve fund capital assets in any one or more of the forms in which assets of the legal tender note fund are for the time being permitted to be held equal in value to the amount of such surplus or deficiency, if any.”
Amendment of section 3 of the Currency (Amendment) Act, 1930.
64.—Section 3 of the Currency (Amendment) Act, 1930 (No. 30 of 1930), is hereby amended as follows, that is to say:—
(a) by the deletion of the word “unanimously” where it occurs in sub-section (1), and
(b) by the deletion of the word “unanimous” where it occurs in sub-section (2), and
(c) by the insertion in sub-section (3) after the word “sub-sections” of the words “upon a request of the Commission which is not unanimous”, and
(d) by the insertion, before sub-section (4), of a new sub-section as follows, that is to say:—
“(3A) Every order made under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of this section on a unanimous request of the Commission shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made, and if a resolution annulling such order is passed by either such House within the next subsequent twenty-one days on which such House has sat after such order is laid before it, such order shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under such order.”
Power of Bank to obtain information as to hire-purchase businesses.
65.—(1) It shall be lawful for the Bank to obtain from—
(a) any person who by way of trade sells goods on the terms commonly called hire-purchase or on any other terms under which the price (with or without an additional sum for interest) is payable by instalments, or
(b) any person who carries on the business of financing (whether by loan, guarantee, or otherwise) the sale of goods on any of the terms mentioned in the foregoing paragraph of this section,
all such information in relation to the said trade or business (as the case may be) carried on by such person as shall appear to the Board to be necessary or desirable, and it shall be lawful for the Bank, for the purpose of obtaining such information, to serve on any such person a notice in writing requiring him to furnish in writing to the Bank such information (which shall be specified in the notice) either within a specified time not less than fourteen days after the service of the notice or periodically at intervals of not less than three months.
(2) It shall be the duty of every person on whom a notice is served by the Bank under the foregoing sub-section of this section to comply with such notice within the time or on the periodic occasions (as the case may be) specified in such notice, and if he fails so to do he shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds together with a further fine not exceeding one pound for every day on which such failure is continued.
(3) A notice served by the Bank under this section on any person may be so served by sending it by prepaid post addressed to such person at his place of business or, where he has more than one such place, the place which appears to the Board to be his principal place of business within the State or, where such person is a limited company incorporated in the State, at the registered office of such company
Amendment of the Bills of Exchange Act, 1882, in respect of banker's drafts.
66.—(1) In this section the expression “banker's draft” means a draft payable on demand drawn by or on behalf of a bank upon itself, whether payable at the head office or at some other office of such bank.
(2) Sections 76 to 82 (which relate to crossed cheques) of the Bills of Exchange Act, 1882, as amended by the Bills of Exchange (Crossed Cheques) Act, 1906, shall apply to a banker's draft as if such draft were a cheque.
Legalisation of bank deposit as a trustee investment.
67.—A trustee, unless expressly forbidden by the instrument (if any) creating the trust, may, in addition to any other mode of investment for the time being authorised by law or by the said instrument (if any), invest any trust funds in his hands (whether such funds are or are not at the time in a state of investment) by placing such funds in an interest bearing deposit account with an Associated Bank or a bank of which a controlling interest is held by an Associated Bank.
Amendment of section 22 of the Bankers (Ireland) Act, 1845.
68.—So much of section 22 of the Bankers (Ireland) Act, 1845, (as adapted by or under subsequent enactments) as requires the Revenue Commissioners to publish in the Iris Oifigiúil returns made to them under that section shall cease to have effect on the passing of this Act.
FIRST SCHEDULE.
Enactments Repealed.
Sections of the Currency Act repealed in whole or in part.
Section Repealed | Extent of Repeal | Date of Repeal |
Sections 14 to 28. | The whole of each section. | The appointed day. |
Section 30. | The whole of the section. | The appointed day. |
Sections 32 to 34. | The whole of each section. | The appointed day. |
Section 38. | Sub-sections (2) and (3). | The appointed day. |
Sections 39 and 44. | The whole of each section. | The passing of this Act. |
Sections 40 and 41. | The whole of each section. | The appointed day. |
Section 47. | The words “or the note reserve fund” where those words occur in sub-sections (4), (5), and (6) respectively. | The completion of the winding-up of the note reserve fund. |
Sections 53, 54, and 55. | The whole of each section. | The day after the date of the passing of this Act. |
Section 62. | The whole of the section. | The completion of the winding-up of the note reserve fund. |
Section 63. | In sub-section (2), the words “or paid into the note reserve fund,” and the words “or out of the note reserve fund.” | The completion of the winding-up of the note reserve fund. |
Section 63. | Sub-sections (3) and (6); in sub-section (7), the words “or the balance of such surplus income remaining after payment of dividends under the foregoing sub-section (as the case may be)”. | The appointed day. |
Section 64. | The whole of the section. | The appointed day. |
Section 65. | The whole of the section. | The day after the date of the passing of this Act. |
Section 66. | Sub-section (2). | The day after the date of the passing of this Act. |
Other enactments repealed.
Number and Year | Short Title | Extent of Repeal | Date of Repeal |
No. 14 of 1926. | The Coinage Act, 1926. | The appointed day. | |
No. 30 of 1930. | In sub-section (1) of section 3 the words “or the note reserve fund or both those funds” and the words “or to the list of forms contained in sub-section (2) of section 62 of the Principal Act or to both of those lists,” and in sub-section (4) of the said section 3, the words “or section 62” and the words “or both those sections (as the case may be)”. | The completion of the winding-up of the note reserve fund. | |
No. 20 of 1932. | The Finance Act, 1932. | The day after the date of the passing of this Act. | |
No. 18 of 1937. | The Finance Act, 1937. | The day after the date of the passing of this Act. |
SECOND SCHEDULE.
Rules for the Elections of Panels for the Appointment of Banking Directors.
Rules applicable to every case.
1.—In this Schedule the word “representative” means a representative of an Associated Bank present at a meeting for the election of a panel, and the word “meeting” means a meeting of representatives to elect a panel.
2.—The representatives shall elect one of their number to be the chairman of the meeting and such chairman shall conduct the proceedings at the meeting, but shall not have any second or casting vote.
3.—Save as is otherwise provided by these Rules, all questions arising at the meeting shall be decided by the vote of the majority of the representatives.
4.—The meeting may be adjourned from time to time but shall not be adjourned to a time later than three days after the time appointed under this Act for the meeting.
5.—At the conclusion of the election the chairman shall prepare a statement in writing setting forth the names of the representatives and the names of the banks they respectively represented and the names, addresses, and descriptions of the persons forming the panel elected at the meeting, and such statement shall then be signed by the chairman and at least one-third of the other representatives and shall be sent by the chairman to the Minister in accordance with this Act.
Rules applicable to the election of the panel for the first banking Directors.
6.—Every representative may nominate six candidates and no more for election.
7.—The election shall be by rounds and on each round every representative shall have six votes but may not, in any one round, give more than one vote to any one candidate.
8.—On the first round, all the candidates shall be voted on and, subject to Rules Nos. 11 and 12 of these Rules, any candidate who on such round receives a number of votes exceeding half the number of representatives present shall be elected and the six (or such lesser number as the chairman shall fix) candidates who receive the least number of votes shall be eliminated.
9.—On the second round, all the candidates except those elected or eliminated on the first round shall be voted on and, subject to Rules Nos. 11 and 12 of these Rules, any candidate who on such round receives a number of votes exceeding half the number of representatives present shall be elected and the six (or such lesser number as the chairman shall fix) candidates who receive the least number of votes shall be eliminated.
10.—The third and every subsequent round shall be conducted in a similar manner.
11.—If on any round, by reason of an equality of votes amongst the candidates who receive the least number of votes, it is not possible to eliminate six (or the lesser number fixed by the chairman) of the candidates, the chairman shall determine how many and which candidates are to be eliminated on that round.
12.—If on any round a greater number of candidates than the number required to be elected receive a number of votes exceeding half the number of representatives present, the chairman shall determine how many candidates, if any, shall be elected on that round
13.—The election shall be continued until the full panel of six persons has been elected.
Rules applicable to the election of the panel for banking Directors other than the first such Directors.
14.—Where a panel of three persons is to be elected, the foregoing Rules Nos. 6 to 13 (inclusive) shall apply and have effect as if they were here repeated with the substitution of the number “three” for the number “six” wherever the latter number is mentioned in those Rules.
15.—Where a panel of five persons is to be elected, the foregoing Rules Nos. 6 to 13 (inclusive) shall apply and have effect as if they were here repeated with the substitution of the number “five”for the number “six” wherever the latter number is mentioned in those Rules.
16.—Where a panel of six persons is to be elected, the foregoing Rules Nos. 6 to 13 (inclusive) shall apply and have effect as if they were here repeated without modification.
THIRD SCHEDULE.
Maximum Amounts Of Consolidated Bank Notes Which May Be Outstanding With The Associated Banks Respectively.
Maximum Amount Of Consolidated Bank Notes | |||||
Ref. No. | Name of Associated Bank | In the period from the day after the date of the passing of this Act to the 31st December, 1944 | In the triennial period ending on 31st December, 1947 | In the triennial period ending on 31st December, 1950 | In the triennial period ending on 31st December, 1953 |
(1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) | (6) |
£ | £ | £ | £ | ||
1 | The Bank of Ireland. | 1,286,000 | 965,000 | 643,000 | 322,000 |
2 | The Hibernian Bank, Limited. | 550,000 | 413,000 | 275,000 | 138,000 |
3 | The Munster & Leinster Bank, Limited. | 900,000 | 675,000 | 450,000 | 225,000 |
4 | The National Bank, Limited. | 1,141,000 | 856,000 | 571,000 | 286,000 |
5 | The Northern Bank, Limited. | 160,000 | 120,000 | 80,000 | 40,000 |
6 | The Provincial Bank of Ireland, Limited. | 555,000 | 417,000 | 278,000 | 139,000 |
7 | The Royal Bank of Ireland, Limited. | 273,000 | 205,000 | 137,000 | 69,000 |
8 | The Ulster Bank, Limited. | 319,000 | 240,000 | 160,000 | 80,000 |