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Uimhir 24 de 1971
ACHT AN BHAINC CEANNAIS, 1971
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
CUID I
Réamhráiteach agus Ginearálta
Gearrtheideal, comhlua, forléiriú agus tosach feidhme.
1.—(1) Féadfar Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1971, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Déanfar Achtanna an Airgid Reatha agus an Bhainc Ceannais, 1927 go 1964, agus an tAcht seo a fhorléiriú le chéile mar aon Acht amháin agus féadfar Achtanna an Airgid Reatha agus an Bhainc Ceannais, 1927 go 1971, a ghairm díobh le chéile.
(3) Ach amháin mar a fhoráiltear a mhalairt go sainráite leis an Acht seo, tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i ngníomh cibé lá a cheapfaidh an tAire le hordú faoin alt seo.
Mínithe.
2.—San Acht seo—
ciallaíonn “Acht 1927” an tAcht Airgid Reatha, 1927;
ciallaíonn “Acht 1942” Acht an Bhainc Cheannais, 1942;
ciallaíonn “an Banc” Banc Ceannais na hÉireann;
ciallaíonn “ceadúnas baincéara” ceadúnas arna eisiúint faoi alt 47 d'Acht 1942, agus déanfar aon tagairt in aon reacht nó in aon ionstraim faoi reacht do cheadúnas baincéara a fhorléiriú mar thagairt a fholaíonn tagairt do cheadúnas;
ciallaíonn “gnó baincéireachta”—
(a) gnó ag glacadh taiscí is iníoctha ar éileamh nó ar fhógra nó ar dháta socair todhchaí nó ar dháta todhchaí is inchinnte, ach gan áireamh a dhéanamh ar thaiscí arna dtaisceadh le trádálaí ó dhaoine i bhfostaíocht faoi ina ghnó trádála nó óna chustaiméirí i ngnáthchúrsa a ghnó trádála agus taiscí nó tráthchodanna i leith earraí a ligean nó a dhíol faoi chomhaontú fruilcheannaigh nó faoi chomhaontú díola chreidmheasa, nó
(b) an gnó réamhráite agus aon ghnó eile is gnách a bheith á sheoladh ag banc,
agus forléireofar dá réir sin “baincéireacht” agus focail ghaolmhara dó;
ciallaíonn “cuideachta” cuideachta arna corprú sa Stát nó lasmuigh den Stát agus folaíonn sé Banc na hÉireann;
ciallaíonn “an Chúirt” an Ard-Chúirt;
tá le “ciste ginearálta”, “buillean óir”, “eisiúint” “nóta dlíthairgthe” agus “ciste nótaí dlíthairgthe” na bríonna céanna atá le “ciste ginearálta”, “builleon óir”, “tabhairt amach”, “nóta dlí-thairgthe” agus “ciste nótaí dlí-thairgthe” in Acht 1927;
ciallaíonn “sealbhóir”, maidir le ceadúnas, an duine dar deonaíodh an ceadúnas;
ciallaíonn “cuideachta iontaobhais infheistíochta” cuideachta arb é a príomh-ghnó a cistí a infheistiú in urrúis;
ciallaíonn “ceadúnas” ceadúnas atá i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire agus a deonaíodh faoi alt 9 den Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Airgeadais;
ciallaíonn “urrúis”—
(a) scaireanna i scairchaipiteal aon chomhlachta chorpraithe nó stoc de chuid aon chomhlachta chorpraithe nó bintiúir, stoc bintiúra nó bannaí de chuid aon chomhlachta chorpraithe, cibé acu is muirear nó nach muirear iad ar shócmhainní na cuideachta, nó cearta nó leasanna (tuairiscithe mar aonaid nó ar shlí eile) in aon scaireanna, stoc, bintiúir, stoc bintiúra nó bannaí den sórt sin,
(b) urrúis de chuid an Rialtais nó rialtais aon tíre nó críche lasmuigh den Stát, nó
(c) cearta (iarbhír nó teagmhasach) i leith airgead a tugadh ar iasacht d'aon chumann tionscail agus coigiltis, d'aon chara-chumann nó do aon chumann foirgníochta nó atá i dtaisce le haon chumann den sórt sin,
agus folaíonn sé cearta nó leasanna (tuairiscithe mar aonaid nó ar shlí eile) is féidir a fháil faoi aon scéim iontaobhais aonad ar urrúis den sórt a luaitear i mír (a), (b) nó (c) den mhíniú seo an mhaoin go léir atá de thuras na huaire faoi réir aon iontaobhais nó aon chomhshocraíocht eile a bunaíodh nó a rinneadh de bhun na scéime;
ciallaíonn “scéim iontaobhais aonad” aon chomhshocraíochtaí arna ndéanamh le haghaidh, nó ag a bhfuil d'éifeacht, saoráidí a sholáthar chun an pobal a bheith páirteach, mar thairbhithe faoi iontaobhas nó ar shlí eile, i mbrabúis nó ioncam ó urrúis, nó ó aon mhaoin eile ar aon chor, a fháil, a shealbhú, a bhainistí nó a dhiúscairt agus déanfar tagairt san Acht seo do bhainisteoir faoi scéim aonaid iontaobhais a fhorléiriú mar thagairt don duine dá bhfuil na cumhachtaí bainistí dílsithe a bhaineann leis an maoin atá de thuras na huaire faoi réir aon iontaobhas nó comhshocraíocht eile arna bhunú nó arna dhéanamh de bhun na scéime.
Caiteachais.
3.—Íocfar amach as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas na caiteachais a thabhóidh an tAire ag riaradh an Achta seo.
Orduithe agus rialacháin a leagan faoi bhráid Thithe an Oireachtais.
4.—Déanfar gach ordú agus rialachán a dhéanfaidh an tAire faoin Acht seo a leagan faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta agus má dhéanann ceachtar Teach acu sin, laistigh den lá is fiche a shuífidh an Teach sin tar éis an t-ordú nó an rialachán a leagan faoina bhráid, rún a rith ag neamhniú an ordaithe nó an rialacháin beidh an t-ordú nó an rialachán ar neamhní dá réir sin ach sin gan dochar do bhailíocht aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoi.
Aisghairm.
5.—Déantar leis seo na hachtacháin a luaitear sa dara colún den Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo a aisghairm a mhéid a shonraítear sa tríú colún den Sceideal sin.
Foráil idirlinne.
6.—Aon cheadúnas baincéara a bheidh i bhfeidhm díreach roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo leanfaidh sé i bhfeidhm ar feadh na tréimhse ón tosach feidhme sin—
(a) go dtí an dáta ar a ndeonófar ceadúnas do shealbhóir an cheadúnais baincéara,
(b) go dtí an 31ú lá de Nollaig díreach tar éis an tosach feidhme sin, nó
(c) má chúlghairtear an ceadúnas baincéara, go dtí dáta na cúlghairme,
cibé acu is túisce, agus beidh feidhm ag forálacha an Achta seo i gcaitheamh na tréimhse réamhráite maidir leis an sealbhóir agus leis an gceadúnas baincéara ionann is dá mba shealbhóir ceadúnais an sealbhóir agus dá mba cheadúnas baincéara an ceadúnas.
CUID II
Ceadúnú agus Maoirseacht Banc
Srian le gnó baincéireachta a sheoladh.
7.—(1) Faoi réir forálacha an Achta seo, ní dhéanfaidh duine, seachas an Banc, thar a cheann féin ná thar ceann aon duine eile sa Stát nó lasmuigh den Stát, gnó baincéireachta a sheoladh ná a thabhairt le tuiscint ná le fios gur baincéir é nó go seolann sé gnó baincéireachta mura rud é—
(a) gur sealbhóir ceadúnais é, agus
(b) go bhfuil suim arna cinneadh de réir alt 13 den Acht seo i dtaisce sa Bhanc aige.
(2) Chun críocha an Achta seo measfar (ach amháin mar a fhoráiltear a mhalairt leis an Acht seo) duine dá thabhairt le tuiscint gur baincéir é—
(a) más rud é, i gcás inar comhlacht corpraithe é a sheolann aon ghnó, go bhfuil in ainm an chomhlachta sin aon cheann de na focail “bank”, “banker” nó “banking” nó aon fhocal is malairt leagain nó tiontú ar aon fhocal acu sin nó is díorthaíoch uaidh nó is analach dó, nó
(b) más rud é, i gcás inarb aonaí é, go seolann sé aon ghnó faoi ainm nó teideal (seachas a ainm féin gan aon ní curtha leis) ina bhfuil aon cheann de na focail “bank”, “banker”, nó “banking” nó aon fhocal is malairt leagain nó tiontú ar aon fhocal acu sin nó is díorthaíoch uaidh nó is analach dó, nó
(c) más rud é, i gcás comhlacht neamhchorpraithe daoine a sheolann aon ghnó, go bhfuil san ainm faoina seolann an comhlacht an gnó sin (nach éard é, i gcás comhpháirtíochta, ainm nó ainmneacha duine amháin nó níos mó de na comhpháirtithe gan aon ní curtha leis nó leo) aon cheann de na focail “bank”, “banker” nó “banking” nó aon fhocal is malairt leagain nó tiontú ar aon fhocal acu sin nó is díorthaíoch uaidh nó is analach dó, nó
(d) in aon chás, má dhéanann sé, trí úsáid a dhéanamh, i bhfógrán, i gciorclán, i gcárta gnó nó in aon doiciméad eile, d'aon cheann de na focail “bank”, “banker” nó “banking” nó d'aon fhocal is malairt leagain nó tiontú ar aon fhocal acu sin nó is díorthaíoch uaidh nó d'aon fhocal nó abairt is analach dó, a thabhairt le tuiscint nó le fios go seolann sé gnó baincéireachta nó go bhfuil sé toilteanach gnó baincéireachta a sheoladh.
(3) Ní bheidh feidhm ag fo-alt (1) den alt seo, ar feadh cibé tréimhse a chinnfidh an Banc, maidir le duine a thugann le tuiscint gur baincéir é ach nach bhfuil gnó baincéireachta á sheoladh aige agus a shealbhaigh ceadúnas baincéireachta a bhí i bhfeidhm díreach roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo nó ceadúnas atá cúlghairthe.
(4) Ní bheidh feidhm ag fo-alt (1) den alt seo maidir le Corparáid an Chairde Thalmhaíochta Teoranta, maidir leis an gCuideachta Chairde Thionscail, Teoranta, maidir le Banc Taisce an Phoist, maidir le banc taisce iontaobhais atá deimhnithe faoi na hAchtanna um Bainc Thaisce Iontaobhais, 1863 go 1965, maidir le cumann foirgníochta, maidir le cumann tionscail agus coigiltis, maidir le cara-chumann, maidir le haontas creidmheasa, maidir le cuideachta infheistíochta iontaobhais ná maidir le bainisteoir faoi scéim iontaobhais aonaid i leith gnó na scéime a sheoladh.
Daoine a dhíolmhadh ó Alt 7.
8.—I gcás a measfaí, ar an aon-chúis de bharr úsáid a dhéanamh, in ainm nó i dteideal ag duine, d'aon cheann de na focail “bank”, “banker” nó “banking” nó d'aon fhocal is malairt leagain nó tiontú air nó díorthaíoch uaidh nó is analach d'aon cheann de na focail sin, an duine a bheith á thabhairt le tuiscint gur baincéir é, féadfaidh an Banc an duine a dhíolmhadh ó fhorálacha alt 7 den Acht seo más rud é, i dtuairim an Bhainc, nach bhfuil sé, iarbhír, ag seoladh gnó baincéireachta ná chun gnó baincéireachta a sheoladh agus nach dtugann sé le tuiscint ná le fios ar aon slí eile gur bancéir é nó go seolann sé gnó baincéireachta.
Ceadúnais a dheonú.
9.—(1) Faoi réir forálacha an ailt seo, féadfaidh an Banc, mar is rogha leis, ceadúnas, ag údarú dá shealbhóir gnó baincéireachta a sheoladh, a dheonú, nó diúltú ceadúnas den sórt sin a dheonú, d'aon duine a iarrfaidh ar an mBanc ceadúnas den sórt sin a dheonú dó.
(2) Ní dhiúltóidh an Banc gan toiliú an Aire ceadúnas a dheonú agus mura deimhin leis an mBanc nár leas do bhaincéireacht a rialáil go hordúil cuí an ceadúnas a dheonú, agus ní thabharfaidh an tAire a thoiliú leis an diúltú mura deimhin leis nár leas do bhaincéireacht a rialáil go hordúil cuí an ceadúnas a dheonú.
(3) Aon uair a bheartóidh an Banc diúltú ceadúnas a dheonú do dhuine—
(a) cuirfidh an Banc in iúl i scríbhinn don duine go bhfuil sé chun toiliú an Aire leis an diúltú a iarraidh agus na cúiseanna a bheidh ag an mBanc leis an diúltú agus go bhféadfaidh an duine, laistigh de lá agus fiche tar éis dáta an fhógra a thabhairt, uiríolla scríofa a chur faoi bhráid an Aire maidir leis an diúltú a bheidh beartaithe,
(b) féadfaidh an duine uiríolla den sórt sin a chur, i scríbhinn, faoi bhráid an Aire laistigh den am réamhráite, agus
(c) sula gcinnfidh an tAire a thoiliú a thabhairt nó gan a thabhairt breithneoidh sé aon uiríolla a chuirfear faoina bhráid go cuí faoin bhfo-alt seo maidir leis an diúltú a bheidh beartaithe.
(4) Aon iarratas ar cheadúnas is i cibé foirm a bheidh sé agus beidh cibé sonraí ann a chinnfidh an Banc ó am go ham.
(5) Ní bheidh ceadúnas a dheonú ina bharántas ar shócmhainneacht an duine dá mbeidh sé deonaithe agus ní bheidh an Banc faoi dhliteanas i leith aon chaillteanais a thabhófar mar gheall ar dhócmhainneacht nó mainneachtain duine dá mbeidh ceadúnas deonaithe.
Coinníollacha ceadúnais.
10.—(1) Faoi réir fho-alt (2) den alt seo, beidh ceadúnas faoi réir cibé coinníollacha (abairt nach bhfolaíonn san fho-alt seo ná sa chéad fho-alt eile coinníoll den chineál a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (4) den alt seo) a fhorchuirfidh agus a shonróidh an Banc tráth an cheadúnais a dheonú, is coinníollacha is dóigh leis an mBanc a rachadh chun rialáil ordúil chuí bhaincéireachta a chur ar aghaidh.
(2) Féadfar coinníollacha ceadúnais a leasú nó a chúlghairm nó féadfar cur leo agus féadfaidh an Banc coinníollacha a fhorchur ó am go ham maidir le ceadúnas más dóigh leis an mBanc go rachadh an leasú, an chúlghairm, an cur le coinníollacha nó an forchur chun rialáil ordúil chuí bhaincéireachta a chur chun cinn.
(3) Aon uair a bheartóidh an Banc coinníoll a fhorchur maidir le ceadúnas nó coinníollacha ceadúnais a leasú nó cur leo—
(a) tabharfaidh sé fógra ag cur in iúl don duine ag a bhfuil an ceadúnas nó a mbeartaítear an ceadúnas a dheonú dó go mbeartaíonn sé coinníoll a fhorchur maidir leis an gceadúnas nó coinníollacha an cheadúnais a leasú nó cur leo, de réir mar a bheidh, agus ag insint na gcúiseanna atá aige faoi sin a dhéanamh agus go bhféadfaidh an duine, laistigh de lá is fiche tar éis an fógra a thabhairt, uiríolla i scríbhinn a chur faoi bhráid an Bhainc maidir leis an bhforchur, an leasú nó an cur le coinníollacha, de réir mar a bheidh, agus sonróidh sé san fhógra an coinníoll, an leasú nó an cur le coinníollacha, de réir mar a bheidh,
(b) féadfaidh an duine uiríolla den sórt sin a chur faoi bhráid an Bhainc laistigh den am réamhráite, agus
(c) sula gcinne an Banc an coinníoll a fhorchur nó coinníollacha an cheadúnais a leasú nó cur leo, de réir mar a bheidh, breithneoidh sé aon uiríolla a cuireadh go cuí faoina bhráid faoin bhfo-alt seo maidir leis an bhforchur, maidir leis an leasú nó maidir leis an gcur le coinníollacha, de réir mar a bheidh.
(4) (a) Féadfaidh an tAire le hordú, má iarrann an Banc é, a fhoráil gur coinníoll é de chuid gach ceadúnais (cibé acu roimh dháta an ordaithe a dhéanamh nó dá éis sin a deonaíodh é) gur cuideachta sealbhóir an cheadúnais.
(b) Féadfaidh an tAire le hordú, má iarrann an Banc é, ordú faoin bhfo-alt seo, lena n-áirítear ordú faoin bhfomhír seo, a leasú nó a chúlghairm.
(c) Beidh éifeacht ag ceadúnais faoi réim agus de réir téarmaí aon orduithe a bheidh i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire faoin bhfo-alt seo.
(d) Ní dhéanfaidh an Banc aon iarratas faoin bhfo-alt seo murab é a thuairim go gcomhairtear go dtiocfadh de ghéilleadh don iarratas rialáil ordúil chuí baincéireachta a chur ar aghaidh.
Ceadúnais a chúlghairm.
11.—(1) Féadfaidh an Banc, le toiliú an Aire, ceadúnas a chúlghairm—
(a) má iarrann sealbhóir an cheadúnais sin,
(b) má mhainníonn an sealbhóir a bheith, nó má éiríonn sé as bheith, ag seoladh gnó baincéireachta,
(c) má bhreithnítear an sealbhóir ina fhéimheach,
(d) más comhpháirtíocht an sealbhóir agus go mbeidh an chomhpháirtíocht arna díscaoileadh trí bhás nó féimheacht aon chomhpháirtí nó ar shlí eile faoi dhlí comhpháirtíochta,
(e) má bhíonn an sealbhóir, ar cuideachta é, á fhoirceannadh,
(f) má éiríonn an sealbhóir neamhábalta ar na fiacha a íoc a bheidh ag creidiúnaithe air nó má fhionraíonn sé íoc íocaíochtaí a bheidh dlite go dleathach de,
(g) má mhainníonn an sealbhóir an oiread de thaisce is a bheidh cinnte de réir alt 13 den Acht seo a choimeád i dtaisce sa Bhanc,
(h) má chiontaítear an sealbhóir ar díotáil i gcion faoi aon fhoráil den Acht seo nó i gcion lena ngabhann calaois, míchneastacht nó sárú iontaobhais,
(i) má bhíonn, ó deonaíodh an ceadúnas, na dála a bhaineann leis an deonú athraithe agus gurb amhlaidh dóibh, dá ndéanfaí iarratas ar cheadúnas sna dála athraithe, go ndiúltófaí é a dheonú.
(2) Aon uair a bheartóidh an Banc ceadúnas a chúlghairm (seachas de bhun iarratais ón sealbhóir á iarraidh air sin a dhéanamh)—
(a) tabharfaidh sé fógra don sealbhóir go bhfuil sé chun toiliú an Aire leis an gcúlghairm a iarraidh agus ag insint na gcúiseanna a bheidh ag an mBanc leis an gcúlghairm agus go bhféadfaidh an sealbhóir, laistigh de lá agus fiche tar éis dáta an fhógra a thabhairt, uiríolla i scríbhinn a chur faoi bhráid an Aire maidir leis an gcúlghairm a bheidh beartaithe,
(b) féadfaidh an sealbhóir uiríolla den sórt sin a chur, i scríbhinn, faoi bhráid an Aire laistigh den am réamhráite,
(c) sula gcinne an tAire a thoiliú a thabhairt nó gan a thabhairt breithneoidh sé aon uiríolla a chuirfear faoina bhráid go cuí faoin bhfo-alt seo maidir leis an diúltú a bheidh beartaithe.
(3) I gcás ina gcúlghairfear ceadúnas, leanfaidh an duine ba shealbhóir de bheith faoi réir na ndualgas agus na n-oibleagáidí a bhí forchurtha air le hAchtanna an Airgid Reatha agus an Bhainc Ceannais, 1927 go 1971, nó fúthu, nó go mbeidh aon dliteanais de chuid an duine i leith taiscí (lena n-áirítear taiscí ar chuntais reatha) a ghlac sé glanta chun sástacht an Bhainc, agus, go dtí go socrófar na héilithe go léir maidir leis na taiscí, féadfaidh an Banc, faoi réir ailt 29 agus 30 den Acht seo, iomlán na taisce a thaisc an duine leis an mBanc de bhun alt 7 den Acht seo a choimeád siar.
Ainmneacha sealbhóirí ceadúnas agus fógraí i dtaobh cúlghairm cheadúnas a fhoilsiú.
12.—(1) Foilseoidh an Banc ó am go ham, nach lú mhinice ná uair sa bhliain, i cibé slí is cuí leis ainmneacha sealbhóirí ceadúnas.
(2) Déanfaidh an Banc, a luaithe is féidir tar éis ceadúnas a chúlghairm, fógra i dtaobh na cúlghairme a fhoilsiú i cibé slí is cuí leis.
(3) Coimeádfaidh an Banc scéala ar ainmneacha sealbhóirí ceadúnas le Cláraitheoir na Cúirte Uachtaraí, leis an oifigeach a bheidh de thuras na huaire ag bainistí Príomh-Oifig na hArd-Chúirte, le gach Cláraitheoir Contae agus le Cléireach gach Cúirte Dúiche.
Taiscí sa Bhanc chun críocha ceadúnas.
13.—(1) Is é méid na taisce a chothabhálfaidh sealbhóir ceadúnais sa Bhanc de bhun alt 7 den Acht seo (dá ngairtear an taisce san alt seo) cúig faoin gcéad de thaiscí iomlána (lena n-áirítear taiscí ar chuntais reatha) in oifigí sa Stát de chuid an tsealbhóra ach ní lú ná £20,000 agus ní mó ná £500,000 a bheidh an méid sin.
(2) Ríomhfaidh an Banc méid na taisce a luaithe is féidir é tar éis tosach feidhme an ailt seo nó tráth a iarrfar an ceadúnas de réir mar is iomchuí agus athríomhfar é faoi dhó sa bhliain (i gceann eatramh ar eatraimh chomhfhada iad a mhéid is féidir sin) faoi threoir tuairisceán ó shealbhóir an cheadúnais chun an Bhainc faoi alt 18 den Acht seo.
(3) I gcás inar gá sin, méadóidh sealbhóir an cheadúnais lena mbainfidh, tráth nach déanaí ná seacht lá tar éis an dáta a gheobhfaidh sé fógra ón mBanc faoin méid is gá chun an méadú a dhéanamh, méid na taisce go dtí an méid iomchuí a athríomhfar faoi fho-alt (2) den alt seo.
(4) Féadfaidh an Banc méid na taisce a shocrú ar an slán-uimhir céadta punt is gaire.
(5) Béarfaidh an taisce cibé ús de réir cibé ráta (nach lú ná ráta athlascaine an Bhainc de thuras na huaire do bhillí státchiste a bheidh socraithe agus foilsithe aige faoi alt 7 (1) (g) d'Acht 1942) agus a bheidh iníoctha i cibé slí agus cibé tráthanna a chinnfidh an Banc ó am go ham.
(6) Beidh aon mhuirear ar neamhní a airbheartóidh a bheith bunaithe ar an taisce.
(7) D'ainneoin aon ní san Acht seo, i gcás nach mó luach ainmniúil caipitil eisithe i stoic nó scaireanna de chuid gnó—
(a) lena mbaineann ceadúnas nó a mbeartaítear ceadúnas a dheonú maidir leis, agus
(b) a raibh ceadúnas baincéara i bhfeidhm maidir leis roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo,
ná cúig mhíle dhéag punt, féadfar, faoi réir toiliú an Bhainc agus cibé coinníollacha a fhorchuirfidh an Banc, an taisce faoi alt 7 den Acht seo a thaisceadh go hiomlán nó go páirteach trí urrúis a thaisceadh leis an mBanc ar comhluach le méid na taisce faoin alt sin 7 nó (de réir mar a bheidh) le méid na coda di nach airgead.
(8) Ní bheidh an taisce faoi réir aon sórt forghníomhaithe do shásamh aon éilimh de chuid, nó aon bhreithiúnais, ordaithe nó foraithne ó aon chúirt sa Stát i bhfabhar, aon chreidiúnaí, seachas faoi réim agus de réir forálacha an Achta seo.
Srian le focail áirithe a úsáid.
14.—(1) (a) Baineann an fo-alt seo le cumann foirgníochta, le cumann tionscail agus coigiltis, le carachumann, le haontas creidmheasa agus le cuideachta iontaobhais infheistíochta.
(b) Ní úsáidfidh duine lena mbaineann an fo-alt seo ina ainm ná ina thuairisc aon cheann de na focail “bank” “banker” nó “banking” ná aon fhocal is malairt leagain nó tiontú ar aon fhocal acu sin nó is díorthaíoch uaidh nó is analach dó.
(2) Ní úsáidfear in ainm ná i dtuairisc scéime iontaobhais aonad aon cheann de na focail “bank”, “banker” ná “banking” ná aon fhocail is malairt leagain nó tiontú ar aon fhocal acu sin nó is díorthaíoch uaidh nó is analach dó.
Forálacha maidir le cuideachtaí baincéireachta a chorprú.
15.—(1) Sula gcorprófar cuideachta faoi Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963, agus dá n-ionchorprófaí í, a bheadh, i dtuairim chláraitheoir na gcuideachtaí, de réir brí an Achta sin, á thabhairt le tuiscint gur baincéir í nó gur cuspóir dá cuid ina meabhrán comhlachais gnó baincéireachta a sheoladh, cuirfidh an cláraitheoir in iúl don Bhanc gur seachadadh dó meabhrán agus airteagail arb iad, de réir brí an Achta sin, meabhrán agus airteagail na cuideachta iad agus ní thabharfaidh sé deimhniú corpraithe faoin Acht sin i leith na cuideachta mura gcuirfidh agus go gcuirfidh an Banc in iúl don chláraitheoir go bhfuil an Banc toilteanach ceadúnas a dheonú don chuideachta nó í a dhíolmhadh faoi alt 8 den Acht seo.
(2) Nuair a sheachadfar don chláraitheoir cuideachtaí sin de bhun alt 352 d'Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963, na doiciméid a shonraítear san alt sin maidir le cuideachta, déanfaidh an cláraitheoir, más cuideachta de shórt an chuideachta go mbeadh sí, dá mbeadh gnó á sheoladh sa Stát aici, á thabhairt le tuiscint gur baincéir í nó gur cuspóir aici ina meabhrán comhlachais gnó baincéireachta a sheoladh an seachadadh a chur in iúl don Bhanc a luaithe is féidir.
(3) Aon uair a thabharfar fógra don chláraitheoir cuideachtaí i dtaobh athrú ar aon ionstraim a chomhdhéanann nó a shainíonn bunreacht aon chuideachta, cuirfidh sé in iúl, a luaithe is féidir é, don Bhanc faoin athrú, más dóigh leis an gcláraitheoir go mbeadh an chuideachta á thabhairt le tuiscint, de bhua an athraithe, gur baincéir í nó gur cuspóir aici gnó baincéireachta a sheoladh.
Forálacha maidir le hainm gnó nó athrú ar ainm gnó a chlárú.
16.—(1) Tabharfaidh an cláraitheoir chun críocha an Achta um Chlárú Ainmneacha Gnó, 1963, fógra don Bhanc faoi aon togra ainm nó athrú ar ainm a chlárú faoin Acht sin más é tuairim an chláraitheora go mbeadh, de bhua an togra, duine á thabhairt le tuiscint gur baincéir é nó gnó baincéireachta a bheith á sheoladh aige agus ní chláróidh an cláraitheoir sin an t-ainm ná an t-athrú ar ainm mura gcuirfidh agus go gcuirfidh an Banc in iúl dó go bhfuil an Banc toilteanach ceadúnas a dheonú i leith an ghnó iomchuí nó é a dhíolmhadh faoi alt 8 den Acht seo.
(2) Rachaidh an tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála i gcomhairle leis an mBanc maidir le haon togra ainm cuideachta (de réir brí Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963) a athrú más é tuairim an Aire go mbeadh an chuideachta, de bhua an athraithe, á thabhairt le tuiscint gur baincéir í nó gur dhealraitheach gnó baincéireachta a bheith á sheoladh aici.
Forálacha maidir le leabhair agus taifid shealbhóirí ceadúnas.
17.—(1) Coimeádfaidh sealbhóir ceadúnais in oifig sa Stát cibé leabhair agus taifid a shonróidh an Banc ó am go ham i gcomhlíonadh cuí a fheidhmeanna faoi Achtanna an Airgid Reatha agus an Bhainc Ceannais, 1927 go 1971, agus cuirfidh seoladh na hoifige ina gcoimeádtar iad in iúl don Bhanc.
(2) Féadfaidh an Banc leabhair agus taifid éagsúla a shonrú chun críocha an ailt seo maidir le sealbhóirí éagsúla ceadúnas.
(3) (a) Aon oifigeach don Bhanc a bheidh údaraithe go cuí chuige sin i scríbhinn ag Rialtóir an Bhainc nó aon duine ag a mbeidh cáilíocht aitheanta i gcuntasaíocht agus a bheidh údaraithe go cuí chuige sin i scríbhinn ag Rialtóir an Bhainc, féadfaidh sé, chun an Banc do chomhlíonadh feidhmeanna reachtúla an Bhainc, ar a údarás a thabhairt ar aird, gach tráth réasúnach, na leabhair agus na taifid a bheidh á gcoimeád de bhun an ailt seo agus aon leabhair chuntais a bheidh á gcoimeád faoi alt 147 d'Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963, a scrúdú agus sleachta a thógáil astu nó cóipeanna a dhéanamh díobh, agus dul isteach chun na gcríocha sin san oifig ina mbeidh siad á gcoimeád.
(b) Aon duine a bhfuil aon leabhar nó taifead acu sin a dúradh, ina chumhacht, ina sheilbh nó ar fáil aige tabharfaidh sé ar aird iad ar aon duine a bheidh údaraithe go cuí mar a dúradh á iarraidh sin air agus ceadóidh sé don duine na leabhair nó na taifid a scrúdú agus cóipeanna a dhéanamh díobh nó sleachta a thógáil astu agus tabharfaidh sé dó aon eolas a iarrfaidh sé le réasún maidir le haon ní a bheidh iontu.
(4) Na leabhair agus na taifid a choimeádfar de bhun an ailt seo is leabhair agus taifid iad i dteannta aon leabhair nó taifid eile a cheanglaíonn aon achtachán eile nó a cheanglaítear faoi a choimeád.
Eolas a thabhairt don Bhanc.
18.—(1) Tabharfaidh sealbhóir ceadúnais agus aon duine a sheolann gnó cumainn fhoirgníochtas gnó cumainn thionscail agus choigiltis, gnó cumainn chreidmheasa, gnó cuideachta iontaobhais infheistíochta nó gnó scéime iontaobhais aonad don Bhanc—
(i) cibé tráthanna a shonróidh an Banc ó am go ham, cibé eolas agus tuairisceáin maidir leis an ngnó lena mbaineann an ceadúnas nó leis an ngnó réamhráite, de réir mar a bheidh, a iarrfaidh an Banc i scríbhinn, is eolas agus tuairisceáin a mheasfaidh an Banc is gá dó a bheith aige chun a fheidhmeanna reachtúla a chomhlíonadh go cuí;
(ii) laistigh de cibé tréimhse a shonróidh an Banc, aon eolas agus tuairisceáin (nach eolas ná tuairisceáin a shonrófar faoi mhír (i) den fho-alt seo) faoin ngnó lena mbaineann an ceadúnas nó faoin ngnó réamhráite, de réir mar a bheidh, a iarrfaidh an Banc i scríbhinn, is eolas agus tuairisceáin a mheasfaidh an Banc is gá dó a bheith aige chun a fheidhmeanna reachtúla a chomhlíonadh go cuí.
(2) Ní dhéanfaidh aon duine eolas ná tuairisceáin is eol dó a bheith bréagach a thabhairt faoin alt seo.
(3) Measfar chun críche an ailt seo gurb é an bainisteoir faoi scéim iontaobhais aonad an duine a sheolann gnó na scéime.
Sealbhóirí ceadúnas d'fhoilsiú ráiteas gnó.
19.—(1) Déanfaidh sealbhóir ceadúnais ráitis i leith an ghnó lena mbaineann an ceadúnas a fhoilsiú i cibé foirm agus slí agus cibé tráthanna a shonróidh an Banc ó am go ham chun a fheidhmeanna reachtúla a chomhlíonadh.
(2) Féadfaidh an Banc foirmeacha éagsúla a shonrú chun críocha an ailt seo maidir le sealbhóirí éagsúla ceadúnas.
Sealbhóirí ceadúnas do chur ráiteas airgeadais ar taispeáint.
20.—(1) Déanfaidh sealbhóir ceadúnais mar a leanas—
(a) taispeáinfidh sé, agus coimeádfaidh sé ar taispeáint, i gcónaí, in áit fheiceálach i ngach oifig, brainse nó áit eile ina seolann sé gnó baincéireachta agus freisin, más cuideachta theoranta atá corpraithe sa Stát an sealbhóir, in oifig chláraithe na cuideachta, ráiteas (san fhoirm a cheanglaítear leis an alt seo) maidir leis an ngnó baincéireachta a sheolann sé, agus
(b) tabharfaidh sé, ar éileamh, cóip den ráiteas is déanaí den sórt sin do gach creidiúnaí dá chuid agus, más cuideachta theoranta atá corpraithe sa Stát nó lasmuigh de an sealbhóir, do gach comhalta den chuideachta.
(2) An ráiteas a cheanglaíonn an t-alt seo ar shealbhóir ceadúnais a thaispeáint, is í foirm a mbeidh sé, i gcás Bainc Chomhpháirtigh, foirm cóipe den chlár comhardaithe is déanaí aige agus, i ngach cás eile, cibé foirm a fhorordóidh an Banc.
Treoracha ón mBanc do shealbhóirí ceadúnas.
21.—(1) I gcás inarb é tuairim an Bhainc go bhfuil sealbhóir ceadúnais éirithe neamhábalta, nó gur dóigh dó éirí neamhábalta, íoc as a oibleagáidí dá chreidiúnaithe, féadfaidh an Banc treoir i scríbhinn a thabhairt don sealbhóir ceachtar gníomh nó an dá ghníomh acu seo a leanas a fhionraí go ceann cibé tréimhse, nach faide ná dhá mhí, a shonrófar san ordú, is é sin le rá, taiscí a ghlacadh nó íocaíochtaí a dhéanamh nach mbeidh údaraithe ag an mBanc.
(2) Féadfaidh an Banc treoir a tugadh faoin alt seo a chúlghairm mura mbeidh ordú faoi fho-alt (4) den alt seo déanta i leith na treorach.
(3) Féadfaidh sealbhóir ceadúnais dá dtabharfar treoir faoi fho-alt (4) den alt seo a iarraidh ar an gCúirt, agus féadfaidh an Chúirt, ordú a dhéanamh do chur na treorach ar ceal.
(4) Féadfaidh an Banc a iarraidh ar an gCúirt, agus féadfaidh an Chúirt, ordú a dhéanamh, do dhaingniú treorach faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo nó do dhaingniú na treorach agus d'fhadú tréimhse a ghnímh ar feadh cibé faid is cuí leis an gCúirt ag féachaint di do na himthosca go léir.
(5) Féadfaidh an Chúirt, i dteannta nó in ionad ordú a dhéanamh faoi fho-alt (4) den alt seo, cibé ordú eile maidir leis an ábhar a dhéanamh is dóigh léi is gá.
(6) Féadfar an t-iomlán nó aon chuid d'imeachtaí faoin alt seo nó d'achomharc maidir leo a éisteacht i ndlísheomraí.
(7) I gcás ina ndéanfar ordú faoi fho-alt (4) den alt seo do dhaingniú nó d'fhadú treorach faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo—
(a) más cuideachta an duine dá dtabharfar an treoir, measfar, chun críocha an dlí a bhaineann le cuideachtaí, an chuideachta a bheith neamhábalta ar a fiacha a íoc,
(b) más aonaí nó comhpháirtíocht an duine dá dtabharfar an treoir, measfar, chun críocha an dlí a bhaineann le féimheacht, gníomh féimheachta a bheith déanta ag an aonaí nó ag gach comhpháirtí, de réir mar a bheidh, agus
(c) beidh feidhm agus éifeacht ag forálacha fho-ailt (8) go (10) d'alt 29 den Acht seo ionas dá mbeadh ar na tagairtí sa chéanna d'orduithe faoi fho-alt (3) den alt sin tagairtí d'orduithe faoi fho-alt (4) den alt seo, dá mbeadh ar na tagairtí sa chéanna d'imeachtaí faoin alt sin tagairtí d'imeachtaí faoin alt seo agus dá scriosfaí “nó in ionad” as fo-alt (8) (a) den alt sin.
(8) Féadfaidh an Chúirt le hordú ordú a rinne sí faoi fho-alt (3), (4) nó (5) den alt seo a chúlghairm nó a leasú.
Treoracha ón mBanc maidir le fógráin de chuid sealbhóirí ceadúnas.
22.—(1) Féadfaidh an Banc treoir i scríbhinn a thabhairt do shealbhóir ceadúnais maidir leis an eolas a chuirfidh an sealbhóir in aon fhógrán a fhoilseoidh sé nó a fhoilseofar thar a cheann nó in aon ráiteas chun an phobail a dhéanfaidh sé nó a dhéanfar thar a cheann.
(2) Féadfaidh an Banc treoir a thabhairt do shealbhóir ceadúnais staonadh ó fhógrán ar lorg taiscí ar an bpobal a fhoilsiú nó ó bheith ag foilsiú fógráin den sórt sin in imeacht cibé tréimhse a shonrófar sa treoir.
(3) Ní thabharfaidh an Banc treoir faoin alt seo mura deimhin leis gur inmhianaithe í a thabhairt ar mhaithe le baincéireacht a rialáil go cuí ordúil.
Rialáil ar na coibhneasa idir sócmhainní agus dliteanais sealbhóirí ceadúnas.
23.—(1) Féadfaidh an Banc ó am go ham a cheangal ar shealbhóir ceadúnais—
(a) coibhneas sonraithe,
(b) coibhneas nach mó ná coibhneas sonraithe, nó
(c) coibhneas nach lú ná coibhneas sonraithe,
a chothabháil idir a shócmhainní agus a dhliteanais agus féadfar an coibhneas sonraithe a lua mar chéatadán de na sócmhainní nó de na dliteanais iomchuí.
(2) Féadfaidh ceanglas faoin alt seo a rá—
(a) go bhfuil feidhm aige maidir le gach sealbhóir ceadúnais nó gur maidir le sealbhóirí d'earnáil shonraithe nó d'earnála sonraithe atá feidhm aige,
(b) go bhfuil feidhm aige maidir le sócmhainní iomlána nó maidir le dliteanais iomlána na sealbhóirí ceadúnas iomchuí nó gur maidir le sócmhainní sonraithe nó sócmhainní de chineál sonraithe nó maidir le dliteanais shonraithe nó dliteanais de chineál sonraithe de chuid na sealbhóirí sin atá feidhm aige,
(c) go bhfuil feidhm aige maidir le tráth sonraithe nó tráthanna sonraithe nó maidir le tréimhse shonraithe nó tréimhsí sonraithe,
agus beidh éifeacht aige de réir a théarmaí.
(3) Féadfaidh an Banc ceanglas faoin alt seo a bheidh i bhfeidhm a chúlghairm nó féadfar ceanglas den sórt sin a leasú le ceanglas ina dhiaidh sin faoin alt seo.
(4) San alt seo ciallaíonn rud a bheith sonraithe é a bheith sonraithe ag an mBanc i gceanglas faoin alt seo.
Cumhacht an Bhainc taiscí a éileamh ar shealbhóirí ceadúnas in imthosca áirithe.
24.—(1) Má fheictear don Bhanc aon tráth gur foirsteanach sin a dhéanamh, féadfaidh an Banc rialacháin a dhéanamh, le toiliú an Aire, á cheangal ar gach sealbhóir ceadúnais taisce (neamhúsmhar) a mbeidh an méid inti a shonrófar sna rialacháin nó a ríomhfar sa tslí a shonrófar sna rialacháin a thaisceadh, i dteannta na taisce faoi alt 7 den Acht seo, leis an mBanc má thiteann, agus aon uair, tar éis dáta a shonrófar sna rialacháin, a thitfidh, sócmhainní an tsealbhóra sa Stát faoi bhun an choibhneasa sin maidir lena dhliteanais sa Stát a shonrófar sna rialacháin, agus an taisce sin a chothabháil an fad a bheidh na sócmhainní sin faoi bhun an choibhneasa shonraithe sin.
(2) Féadfaidh rialacháin faoin alt seo ceanglais éagsúla a fhorordú maidir le sealbhóirí éagsúla ceadúnas.
Cumhacht an Bhainc maidir le himréiteachaí sealbhóirí ceadúnas.
25.—(1) Más dealraitheach aon tráth don Bhanc gur foirsteanach déanamh amhlaidh, féadfaidh an Banc, le toiliú an Aire, rialacháin a dhéanamh á cheangal ar gach sealbhóir ceadúnais a chuid imréiteach go léir nó cibé aicme áirithe nó aicmí áirithe dá chuid imréiteach a shonrófar sna rialacháin a shocrú trí sheiceanna a bheidh tarraingthe (mar a shonrófar sna rialacháin) ar an mBanc nó ar an ngníomhaire a cheapfaidh an Banc chuige sin agus á cheangal ar gach sealbhóir den sórt sin, chun na himréiteacha sin a shocrú amhlaidh, cibé comharduithe is gá chuige sin a bhunú agus a chothabháil sa Bhanc.
(2) Más dóigh leis an mBanc aon tráth gurb oiriúnach sin a dhéanamh, féadfaidh an Banc, le toiliú an Aire, rialacháin a dhéanamh á cheangal ar gach sealbhóir ceadúnais na hionstraimí sin go léir is iníoctha lasmuigh den Stát agus a bheidh taiscthe le himréiteach in oifig sa Stát de chuid an tsealbhóra agus a shonrófar sna rialacháin a thaisceadh leis an mBanc le himréiteach.
(3) Na rialacháin faoi alt 51 d'Acht 1942 a bheidh i bhfeidhm díreach roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo leanfaidh siad i bhfeidhm agus beidh éifeacht acu ionann is dá mba faoin alt seo a rinneadh iad agus féadfariad a leasú nó a chúlghairm le rialacháin faoin alt seo.
Seiceanna, etc. atá tarraingthe ar shealbhóirí ceadúnas a bhailiú.
1882, c. 61.
26.—I gcás ina ndéanfaidh aon duine nó ina ndéanfar thar a cheann ionstraim lena mbaineann an t-alt seo a thairiscint le bailiú do shealbhóir ceadúnais lena gcothabhálann an duine cuntas (agus nach é an sealbhóir é ar a bhfuil an ionstraim tarraingthe), glacfaidh an sealbhóir an ionstraim le bailiú agus creidiúnóidh sé aon fháltais ón mbailiú don chuntas réamhráite.
(2) Beidh aon táille a ghearrfaidh sealbhóir ceadúnais ar shealbhóir eile nó ar bhanc taisce iontaobhais a bheidh deimhnithe faoi na hAchtanna um Bainc Thaisce Iontaobhais, 1863 go 1965, maidir le hionstraim a bhailiú lena mbaineann an t-alt seo agus maidir le creidiúnaí aon fháltais ó bhailiú de bhun fho-alt (1) den alt seo faoi réir a ceadaithe ag an mBanc.
(3) Beidh aon téarmaí nó coinníollacha arb orthu nó faoina réir a ghníomhóidh sealbhóir ceadúnais mar bhaincéir do shealbhóir eile ceadúnais nó banc taisce iontaobhais a bheidh deimhnithe faoi na hAchtanna um Bainc Thaisce Iontaobhais, 1863 go 1965, faoi réir a gceadaithe ag an mBanc.
(4) Nuair a bheidh an Banc a bhreithniú cibé acu a thabharfaidh sé nó a choimeádfaidh sé siar a cheadú faoi fho-alt (2) nó (3) den alt seo tabharfaidh sé aird ar a inmhianaithe é coimhlint chothrom idir sealbhóirí ceadúnas a áirithiú.
(5) Ní fhorléireofar aon ní san alt seo mar ní a thugann aon teideal chun ionstraime lena mbaineann an t-alt seo do dhuine a thairgfidh, nó a dtairgfear thar a cheann, an ionstraim de bhun fho-alt (1) den alt seo.
(6) Baineann an t-alt seo leis na na hionstraimí seo a leanas, is é sin—
(a) billí malairte (abairt a bhfuil an bhrí chéanna léi san fho-alt seo atá leis an abairt bills of exchange sa Bills of Exchange Act, 1882) atá tarraingthe ar shealbhóir ceadúnais agus iníoctha ar éileamh;
(b) aon doiciméad arna eisiúint ag duine a chothabhálann cuntas le sealbhóir ceadúnais nó leis an mBanc agus, cé nach bille malairte é, atá beartaithe chun a chumasú do dhuine íoc na suime a luaitear sa doiciméad a fháil ón sealbhóir sin nó ón mBanc;
(c) aon dréacht is iníoctha ar éileamh agus atá tarraingthe ag sealbhóir ceadúnais air féin, cibé acu i gceann-oifig a bhainc nó in aon oifig eile de chuid a bhainc is iníoctha é;
(d) aon doiciméad arna eisiúint ag oifigeach poiblí agus atá beartaithe chun a chumasú do dhuine íoc na suime a luaitear sa doiciméad a fháil ó Aire Stáit;
(e) aon doiciméid arna eisiúint ag duine a choimeádann cuntas i mbanc taisce iontaobhais atá dheimhnithe faoi na hAchtanna um Bainc Thaisce Iontaobhais, 1863 go 1965, is doicméad atá beartaithe chun a chumasú do dhuine íoc na suime a luaitear sa doicméad a fháil ón mbanc.
Srian le fógraíocht ag iarraidh taiscí.
27.—(1) Faoi réir fho-alt (2) den alt seo, ní dhéanfaidh aon duine fógraíocht ag iarraidh taiscí, ná ní shirfidh sé ar aon slí eile taiscí, thar a cheann féin ná thar ceann aon duine eile.
(2) Ní bhaineann fo-alt (1) den alt seo le fógraíocht ag iarraidh taiscí ná le taiscí a shireadh ar aon slí eile—
(a) ag sealbhóir ceadúnais nó an Banc nó duine nach mbaineann alt 7 (1) den Acht seo leis de bhua alt 7 (4) den Acht seo, nó
(b) ag aon duine thar ceann duine a shonraítear i mhír (a) den fho-alt seo.
(3) San alt seo—
ní fholaíonn “taiscí” taiscí arna dtaisceadh le trádálaí ag daoine ar fostú faoi ina ghnó trádála nó ag a chuistiméirí i gcúrsa a ghnó trádála nó taiscí i leith earraí a ligean nó a dhíol faoi chomhaontú fruilcheannaigh nó faoi chomhaontú díola chreidhmheasa;
folaíonn “taiscí a shireadh” aon ní fhoilsiú nó a thaispeáint ag sireadh taiscí, cibé acu trí fhógra, cearclán, grianghraf, scannan cineamatograf, fuaimchraoladh, teilifís canbhasáil phearsanta nó ar shlí eile.
Forálacha maidir le breithiúnais in aghaidh sealbhóirí ceadúnas.
28.—(1) Aon uair a gheobhaidh duine (dá ngairtear creidiúnaí breithiúnais san alt seo) breithiúnas, ordú nó foraithne in aon chúirt sa Stát in aghaidh sealbhóir ceadúnais (dá ngairtear féichiunaí breithiúnais san alt seo) chun go n-íocfar suim airgid a bheidh dlite don chreidiúnaí breithiúnais den fhéichiúnaí breithiúnais ina fheidhmeannas mar bhaincéir—
(a) cuirfidh claráitheoir nó cléireach na cúirte lena mbainfidh in iúl a luaithe is féidir é don Bhanc faoin mbreithiúnas faoin ordú nó faoin bhforaithne agus faoi théarmaí an chéanna agus faoi aon achomharc i gcoinne an bhreithiúnais, an ordaithe nó na foraithne agus faoi thoradh an achomhairc sin,
(b) faoi réir mhír (c) den fho-alt seo, mura ndéanfaidh an féichiúnaí breithiúnais, laistigh den tréimhse lá agus fiche dar tosach dáta an bhreithiúnais, an ordaithe nó na foraithne, an t-airgead go léir a íoc a bheidh dlite (nó, i gcás costas, mar is rogha leis an bhféichiúnaí breithiúnais, urrús a thabhairt ina leith in ionad é a íoc), nó sásamh a thabhairt i ngach uile éileamh, faoin mbreithiúnas, faoin ordú nó faoin bhforaithne, beidh feidhm ag forálacha mhír (e) den fho-alt seo ar éag don tréimhse sin,
(c) má thionscnaítear achomharc in aon chúirt i gcoinne an bhreithiúnais, an ordaithe nó na foraithne, féadfaidh an chúirt sin, nó an chúirt a rinne an breithiúnas, an t-ordú nó an fhoraithne, le hordú, feidhm mhír (e) den fho-alt seo a chur siar go ceann cibé tréimhse agus, faoi réir mhír (d) den fho-alt seo, ar cibé téarmaí a dhéanfaidh an chúirt lena mbainfidh a shocrú agus a shonrú san ordú,
(d) ma dhéanann cúirt ordú faoi mhír (c) den fho-alt seo, féadfaidh an chúirt, de réir mar is cuí léi, a cheangal ar an bhféichiúnaí breithiúnais lena mbainfidh an t-ordú suim ar cóimhéid leis an méid airgid go léir a bheidh dlite faoin mbreithiúnas, faoin ordú nó faoin bhforaithne (nó cibé suim is lú ná sin a ordóidh an chúirt) a lóisteáil sa chúirt nó cibé urrúis a thabhairt a chinnfidh an chúirt go n-íocfar an t-airgead sin go léir leis an gcreidiúnaí breithiúnais agus ina theannta sin, i gceachtar cás, cibé suim bhreise nó urrús breise le haghaidh costais an achomhairc a mheasfaidh an chúirt a bheith cóir,
(e) measfar an féichiúnaí breithiúnais a bheith neamhábalta íoc as a oibleagaidí dá chreidiúnaithe, agus—
(i) más cuideachta an féichiúnaí breithiúnais, measfar, chun críche an dlí a bhaineann le cuideachtaí, an féichiúnaí breithiúnais a bheith neamhábalta ar a fhiacha a íoc,
(ii) más aonaí an féichiúnaí breithiúnais, measfar, chun críche an dlí a bhaineann le féimheacht, gníomh féimheachta a bheith déanta ag an aonaí,
(iii) más comhpháirtíocht an féichiúnaí breithiúnais, measfar, chun críche an dlí a bhaineann le féimheacht, gníomh féimheachta a bheith déanta ag gach comhpháirtí,
(f) féadfaidh an chúirt a rinne ordú faoi mhír (c) den fho-alt seo nó a dtabharfar achomharc maidir leis os a comhair an t-ordú sin a chúlghairm nó a athrú.
(2) I gcás aon ghníomh féimheachta a mheasfar de bhua fho-alt (1) den alt seo a bheith déanta ag féichiúnaí breithiúnais, féadfaidh aon chreidiúnaí a mbeidh a dhóthain féich aige lena chur faoi deara an féichiúnaí breithiúnais a bhreithniú ina fhéimheach é a ghlacadh de dheis, laistigh den tréimhse sé mhí ó dháta an ghnímh sin, lena chur faoi deara an féichiúnaí breithiúnais a bhreithniú ina fhéimheach.
Imeachtaí maidir le taiscí faoi alt 7.
29.—(1) Aon uair a gheobhaidh duine breithiúnas, ordú nó foraithne in aon chúirt sa Stát in aghaidh sealbhóir ceadúnais chun go n-íocfar taisce (lena n-áirítear taisce ar chuntas reatha) a bheidh á chothabháil aige nó dó leis an sealbhóir, nó a thionscnóidh sé imeachtaí in aghaidh an tsealbhóra ag éileamh an íoca sin, ansin an duine nó aon duine eile a chothabhálann taisce leis an sealbhóir—
(a) féadfaidh sé trí fhoriarratas ex parte iarratas a dhéanamh chun na Cúirte ar ordú faoi fho-alt (2) den alt seo, agus
(b) ar chláraitheoir nó cléireach na cúirte ina bhfuarthas an breithiúnas, ar t-ordú nó an fhoraithne nó inar tionscnaíodh na himeachtaí a shásamh go mbeartaíonn sé iarratas a dhéanamh faoin alt seo beidh sé i dteideal deimhniú a fháil faoi láimh an chláraitheora nó an chléirigh á rá go bhfuil an breithiúnas, an t-ordú nó an fhoraithne faighte nó gur tionscnaíodh na himeachtaí, de réir mar a bheidh, agus beidh an deimhniú ina fhianaise ar na fíorais a bheidh ráite amhlaidh ann.
(2) I gcás ina ndéanfar iarratas faoi fho alt (1) den alt seo—
(a) féadfaidh an Chúirt, le hordú, a ordú nach ndéanfar an taisce, nó aon chuid den taisce a bheidh á cothabháil sa Bhanc ag sealbhóir ceadúnais lena mbaineann an t-iarratas faoi alt 7 den Acht seo a scaoileadh in imeacht cibé tréimhse is cuí leis an gCúirt agus a shonróidh sí san ordú, agus
(b) má bhíonn an duine a dhéanfaidh an t-iarratas tar éis breithiúnas, ordú nó foraithne a fháil in aghaidh an tsealbhóra agus gur dealraitheach don Chúirt, tar éis cibé fiosrú a dhéanamh is cuí léi—
(i) nach dóigh go ndéanfar aon éilithe eile i gcoinne na taisce maidir leis na suimeanna a bheidh dlite den sealbhóir an tráth sin, nó
(ii) go bhfuil dóthain sa taisce sin le freastal go hiomlán d'éilithe den sórt sin má dhéantar iad,
féadfaidh an Chúirt, le hordú, a ordú go ndéanfar an tsuim a shonrófar sa bhreithiúnas, san ordú nó san fhoraithne (de réir mar a bheidh), i dteannta nó d'éagmais costais an iarratais, a íoc leis an duine amach as an taisce.
(3) I gcás ina ndéanfar ordú faoi fho-alt (2) (a) den alt seo, féadfaidh an Chúirt ordú a dhéanamh freisin—
(a) á ordú nach ndéanfaidh daoine a sheolann gnó baincéireachta, ach amháin faoi réir cibé coinníollacha nó i cibé imthosca a shonrófar san ordú, aon íocaíocht as aon chuntas baincéireachta a choimeádtar in ainm an duine a mbeidh an t-ordú déanta ina aghaidh, nó
(b) á ordú nach ndéanfaidh duine nó daoine sonraithe a sheolann gnó baincéireachta, ach amháin faoi réir cibé coinníollacha nó i cibé imthosca a shonrófar san ordú, aon íocaíocht as aon chuntas baincéireachta ná as cuntas baincéireachta sonraithe ná as cineál sonraithe cuntais bhaincéireachta a choimeádtar in ainm an duine a mbeidh an t-ordú déanta ina aghaidh ag an duine nó na daoine sonraithe.
(4) Más rud é—
(a) i gcás breithiúnas, ordú nó foraithne den chineál dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo a bheith faighte in aghaidh sealbhóir ceadúnais, go ndéanfar ordú faoi fho-alt (2) (a) den alt seo ar iarratas ón duine a fuair an breithiúnas, an t-ordú nó a fhoraithne, nó
(b) go ndéanfar ordú faoi fho-alt (3) den alt seo,
beidh éifeacht ag ba forálacha seo a leanas—
(i) más cuideachta an sealbhóir, measfar chun críche an dlí a bhaineann le cuideachtaí, an chuideachta a bheith neamhábalta ar a fiacha a íoc,
(ii) más comhpháirtíocht an sealbhóir, measfar, chun críche an dlí a bhaineann le féimheacht, gníomh féimheachta a bheith déanta ag gach comhpháirtí,
(iii) in aon chás eile, measfar, chun críche an dlí a bhaineann le féimheacht, gníomh féimheachta a bheith déanta ag an sealbhóir.
(5) Má thionscnaítear achomharc sa Chúirt Uachtarach—
(a) in aghaidh ordaithe ón gCúirt a rinneadh faoi fho-alt (2) (a) nó faoi fho-alt (3) den alt seo ar iarratas ó dhuine a fuair breithiúnas, ordú nó foraithne den chineál dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo, nó
(b) in aghaidh ordaithe ón gCuirt a rinneadh faoi fho-alt (3) den alt seo ar iarratas ó dhuine a thionscain imeachtaí den chineál dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo,
beidh feidhm ag fo-alt (6) agus, i gcás inarb iomchuí sin, ag fo-alt (7) den alt seo.
(6) Féadfaidh an Chúirt Uachtarach nó an Chúirt, le hordú, feidhm fho-alt (4) den alt seo a chur siar go ceann cibé tréimhse agus, faoi réir fho-alt (7) den alt seo i gcás achomharc dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (5) (a) den alt seo, ar cibé téarmaí a dhéanfaidh an chúirt lena mbainfidh a shocrú agus a shonrú san ordú.
(7) Má dhéanann an Chúirt Uachtarach nó an Chúirt ordú faoi fho-alt (6) den alt seo i gcás achomhairc dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (5) (a) den alt seo, féadfaidh an chúirt lena mbainfidh a cheangal ar shealbhóir ceadúnais lena mbainfidh an t-ordú go ndéanfaidh sé, de réir mar is oiriúnadh leis an gcúirt, suim ar cóimhéid leis an méid airgid go léir a bheidh dlite faoin mbreithiúnas, faoin ordú nó faoin bhforaithne (nó cibé suim is lú ná sin a ordóidh an chúirt) a lóisteáil sa chúirt nó cibé urrús a thabhairt a chinnfidh an chúirt chun an t-airgead sin go léir a íoc, agus, ina theannta sin, i gceachtar cás, cibé suim bhreise nó urrús breise le haghaidh costais an achomhairc a mheasfaidh an chúirt a bheith cóir.
(8) (a) I dteannta nó in ionad ordú a dhéanamh faoi fho-alt (3) den alt seo, féadfaidh an Chúirt, d'ainneoin aon ní sa dlí a bhaineann le féimheacht nó sa dlí a bhaineann le cuideachtaí, uaithi féin agus tar éis cibé fógra a mheasfaidh sí a bheith réasúnach a thabhairt don sealbhóir ceadúnais a bhfuil an t-ordú déanta ina aghaidh nó a bhfuiltear ag iarraidh an ordaithe ina aghaidh agus d'aon duine eile a measfaidh sí gur ceart fógra a thabhairt dó—
(i) más cuideachta an sealbhóir, ordú a dhéanamh chun an chuideachta a fhoirceannadh agus chun an Sannaí Oifigiúil a cheapadh mar leachtaitheoir na cuideachta,
(ii) más comhpháirtíocht an sealbhóir, gach comhpháirtí a bhreithniú le hordú ina fhéimheach,
(iii) in aon chás eile, an sealbhóir a bhreithniú ina fhéimheach.
(b) I gcás ina gceapfar an Sannaí Oifigiúil ina leachtaitheoir faoi mhír (a) den fho-alt seo—
(i) ní bhainfidh forálacha mhíreanna (a) agus (d) d'alt 228 d'Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963, leis,
(ii) measfar chun gach críche gur gnó a sannadh d'Oifig an tSannaí Oifigiúil i bhFéimheacht agus a dhéantar san oifig sin feidhmiú cumhacht agus comhlíonadh dualgas an tSannaí Oifigiúil i bhFéimheacht mar leachtaitheoir (lena n-áirítear íocaíochtaí a dhéanamh as aon taisce agus dáileadh aon taisce a chothabháiltear faoi alt 7 den Acht seo agus a thiocfaidh chun bheith dílsithe dó).
(9) I gcás ina ndéanfar, in imeachtaí faoin alt seo, sealbhóir ceadúnais a bhreithniú ina fhéimheach, beidh ag an dlí a bhaineann le féimheacht (lena n-áirítear an tAcht seo) feidhm mar bheadh dá mba ar achainí féimheachta faoin dlí sin a breithníodh an sealbhóir ina fhéimheach agus ionann is dá ndéanfaí tagairt don ordú breithnithe a dhéanamh faoin alt seo a chur in ionad aon tagartha sa dlí sin d'achainí féimheachta a thíolacadh nó a chomhadú.
(10) I gcás ina ndéanfar ordú foirceannta in imeachtaí faoin alt seo inar cuideachta an sealbhóir ceadúnais arb ina aghaidh a bheidh na himeachtaí, beidh ag an dlí a bhaineann le féimheacht (lena n-áirítear an tAcht seo) feidhm mar bheadh dá mba ar achainí foirceannta faoin dlí sin a rinneadh an t-ordú sin agus ionann is dá ndéanfaí tagairt don ordú foirceannta a dhéanamh faoin alt seo a chur in ionad aon tagartha sa dlí sin don achainí foirceannta a thíolacadh.
(11) Féadfaidh an Chúirt nó an Chúirt Uachtarach, de réir mar a bheidh, ordú faoi fho-alt 2 (a), (3) nó (6) den alt seo a chúlghairm nó a athrú.
(12) Féadfar an t-iomlán nó aon chuid d'imeachtaí faoin alt seo nó d'achomharc maidir leo a éisteacht i ndlísheomraí.
(13) San alt seo agus san alt díreach ina dhiaidh seo ciallaíonn “an Sannaí Oifigiúil” an duine arb é an Sannaí Oifigiúil i bhFéimheacht é de thuras na huaire.
Forálacha maidir féimheacht agus foirceannadh.
30.—I gcás—
(a) aonaí a bheith ina shealbhóir ceadúnais agus é a bhreithniú ina fhéimheach,
(b) comhpháirtíocht a bheith ina sealbhóir ceadúnais agus gach comhpháirtí di a bhreithniú ina fhéimheach,
(c) comhpháirtíocht a bheith ina sealbhóir ceadúnais agus an chomhpháirtíocht a scaoileadh trí fhéimheacht aon chomhpháirtí agus an ceadúnas a chúlghairm, nó
(d) cuideachta a bheith ina sealbhóir ceadúnais, a bheith dócmhainneach agus í a bheith á foirceannadh,
beidh éifeacht ag na forálacha seo a leanas:
(i) i gcás an aonaí nó na comhpháirtíochta, ansin, an tsium a bheidh taiscthe aige nó aici leis an mBanc faoi alt 7 den Acht seo mar aon le haon ús a bheidh faibhrithe ar an tsuim sin dílseoidh sí don Sannaí Oifigiúil,
(ii) i gcás na cuideachta—
(I) más é an Sannaí Oifigiúil leachtaitheoir na cuideachta ansin an tsuim a bheidh taiscthe aici faoin alt sin 7 mar aon le haon ús a bheidh faibhrithe ar an tsuim sin dílseoidh siad don Sannaí Oifigiúil, agus
(II) in aon chás eile, féadfaidh an Chúirt, ar iarratas ó leachtaitheoir na cuideachta, a ordú go ndílseoidh an tsuim a bheidh taiscthe ag an gcuideachta leis an mBanc faoin alt sin 7, mar aon le haon ús a bheidh faibhrithe ar an tsuim sin, don leachtaitheoir faoina ainm oifigiúil agus air sin dílseoidh an tsuim sin agus an t-ús sin dá réir sin.
(iii) íocfaidh an Sannaí Oifigiúil nó an leachtaitheoir, as an tsuim a bheidh sannta dó mar a dúradh, leis na daoine a chothabhálann taiscí leis an sealbhóir (ar a n-áirítear taiscí ar chuntais reatha) suim gach taisce (ar a n-áirítear ús a bheidh creidiúnaithe do na daoine sin) a bheidh dlite den sealbhóir do na daoine sin agus cuntas a bheith glactha ar aon suimeanna a bheidh dlite de na daoine sin don sealbhóir i leith an ghnó lena mbaineann an ceadúnas, nó, mura leor chun na críche sin an tsuim a bheidh dílsithe dó mar a dúradh, dáilfidh an Sannaí Oifigiúil nó an leachtaitheoir í i gcomhréir le suim gach taisce den sórt sin a bheidh dlite mar a dúradh, agus, sula ndéanfaidh an Sannaí Oifigiúil nó an leachtaitheoir aon íocaíocht nó dáileadh mar a dúradh íocfaidh sé nó coimeádfaidh sé as an tsuim a bheidh dílsithe dó mar a dúradh—
(I) aon chostais, taillí agus caiteachais a thabhaigh nó a thabhóidh an Sannaí Oifigiúil nó an leachtaitheoir nó is iníoctha leis an Sannaí Oifigiúil nó leis an leachtaitheoir (más é an Sannaí Oifigiúil an leachtaitheoir) maidir leis an tsuim réamhráite agus maidir leis an íoc le cibé daoine nó an dáileadh ar cibé daoine a cheadóidh an Chúirt,
(II) cibé costais agus caiteachais, más ann, de chuid an leachtaitheora (murab é an Sannaí Oifigiúil an leachtaitheoir) maidir leis an tsuim réamhráite agus maidir leis an íoc le cibé daoine, nó an dáileadh ar cibé daoine, a cheadóidh an Chúirt,
(iv) déanfar aon iarmhéid den tsuim réamhráite a bheidh dílsithe don Sannaí Oifigiúil nó don leachtaitheoir a úsáid—
(I) sa chéad ásc, do shásamh aon éilimh maidir le hús is iníoctha ag an sealbhóir trí chomhaontú ar shuimeanna atá taiscthe leis an sealbhóir, agus
(II) sa dara ásc, d'íoc úis de réir cibé ráta a mheasfaidh an Chúirt a bheith réasúnach (ach gan é a bheith níos mó ná an meán-ráta úis is iníoctha ag an sealbhóir) ar shuimeanna atá taiscthe leis an sealbhóir sin agus nach bhfuil aon chomhaontú ann ina leith do dhéanamh socrú le haghaidh an sealbhóir d'íoc úis,
agus íocfar le heastát ginearálta an tsealbhóra aon suim a bheidh fágtha tar éis an t-iarmhéid sin a úsáid amhlaidh,
(v) mura mbeidh an tsuim iomlán a bheidh dílsithe don Sannaí Oifigiúil nó don leachtaitheoir mar a dúradh sách mór chun íoc as éilithe na ndaoine a cheanglaíonn mír (iii) den alt seo air í a dháileadh orthu, féadfaidh na daoine sin éileamh mar ghnáth-chreidiúnaithe de chuid an tsealbhóra i leith na coda gan sásamh dá n-éilithe.
Dualgais sealbhóra ceadúnais ar ghnó baincéireachta a fhoirceannadh.
31.—(1) I gcás ina scoirfidh sealbhóir ceadúnais, in imthosca seachas iad sin a shonraítear i míreanna (a) go (d) d'alt 30 den Acht seo de ghnó baincéireachta a sheoladh, tabharfaidh sé, a luaithe is féidir é, fógra faoin scor sin do na daoine go léir ag a mbeidh taiscí (ar a n-áirítear taiscí ar chuntais reatha) i dtaisce acu leis le linn an scoir agus déanfaidh sé, má éilíonn aon duine den sórt sin air sin a dhéanamh, méid taisce an duine sin a íoc leis mar aon le méid aon úis a bheidh faibhrithe ar an taisce sin.
(2) I gcás ina mbeartóidh sealbhóir ceadúnais scor de ghnó baincéireachta a sheoladh, tabharfaidh sé, laistigh de thrí mhí roimh dháta an scoir, fógra i scríbhinn don Bhord i dtaobh sin a bheith beartaithe aige.
(3) Níl feidhm ag an alt seo maidir le scor de dhroim an gnó lena mbaineann an ceadúnas a aistriú chuig sealbhóir ceadúnais eile.
CUID III
Bancanna a Aistriú
Léiriú (Cuid III).
32.—Sa Chuid seo—
folaíonn “urrús” morgáiste (dlíthiúil nó cothromasach), muirear, bintiúr, bille malairte, nóta geallúna, ráthaíocht, lian, gealltán nó meán eile d'urrú fiach láithreach nó todhchaí a íoc, nó oibleagáid nó dliteanas, iarbhír nó teagmhasach, a ghlanadh;
tá le “an t-aistreoir”, le “an t-aistrí” agus le “an dáta aistrithe” na bríonna a shanntar dóibh le halt 33 den Acht seo.
An tAire do cheadú banc a aistriú.
33.—(1) Aon uair a thoileoidh sealbhóir ceadúnais (dá ngairtear an t-aistreoir sa Chuid seo) an gnó lena mbaineann an ceadúnas a aistriú, go hiomlán nó go páirteach, chuig sealbhóir ceadúnais eile (dá ngairtear an t-aistrí sa Chuid seo)—
(a) féadfaidh an t-aistreoir agus an t-aistrí, ceithre mhí ar a laghad roimh an dáta a bheartaítear a ghlacfaidh an t-aistriú éifeacht (dá ngairtear an dáta aistrithe sa Chuid seo), scéim don aistriú a chur faoi bhráid an Aire lena ceadú,
(b) déanfaidh an t-aistreoir agus an t-aistrí, mí ar a laghad roimh an dáta aistrithe, fógra faoin aistriú a fhoilsiú i nuachtán laethúil amháin ar a laghad a fhoilsítear sa Stát,
(c) féadfaidh an tAire, tar éis dul i gcomhairle leis an mBanc, dhá mhí ar a laghad roimh an dáta aistrithe an scéim a cheadú, nó diúltú don scéim a cheadú, le hordú,
(d) má cheadaíonn an tAire an scéim faoin alt seo, beidh éifeacht maidir leis an aistriú ag forálacha ailt 34 go 39 agus 42 den Acht seo má fhorálann agus amháin a mhéid a fhóralann an scéim amhlaidh,
(e) féadfaidh an tAire, ar iarratas ón aistreoir agus ón aistrí, cibé forálacha a chur in ordú do cheadú na scéime faoi mhír (c) den fho-alt seo is forálacha teagmhasacha, iarmartacha agus forlíontacha is dóigh leis is iomchuí chun an t-aistriú a urasú agus a dhéanamh agus a áirithiú go gcuirfear i gcrích go hiomlán éifeachtúil é, lena n-áirítear forálacha chun ainm an aistrí a chur in ionad ainm an aistreora nó oiriúnú eile a dhéanamh ar thagairtí don aistreoir in aon reacht nó ionstraim a rinneadh faoi reacht.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire ordú faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo nó faoin bhfo-alt seo a leasú le hordú tar éis dul i gcomhairle leis an mBanc agus le toiliú an aistreora agus an aistrí lena mbaineann sé.
Cuntais a aistriú.
34.—Aon chuntas a bheidh ar áireamh an ghnó a chomhaontófar a aistriú agus is cuntas idir an t-aistreoir agus aon duine in aon oifig nó brainse de chuid an aistreora sa Stát aistreofar é agus measfar é bheith arna aistriú chun an aistrí ar an dáta aistrithe agus tiocfaidh sé, amhail ar an dáta aistrithe agus uaidh sin amach, chun bheith ina chuntas idir an t-aistrí agus an duine sin leis na cearta céanna agus faoi réir na n-oibleagáidí céanna agus na dteagmhas céanna (lena n-áirítear cearta fritháirimh) ab infheidhmithe i leith an chéanna dá leanadh an cuntas sin idir an t-aistreoir agus an t-aistrí de bheith ann agus aon ordú, treoir, ordachán, sainordú nó údarás a thug an duine sin, roimh an dáta sin nó dá éis, maidir leis an gcuntas sin agus aon oibleagáid a ghlac an t-aistreoir air féin maidir le haon duine agus a bheidh ann ar an dáta sin beidh feidhm agus éifeacht aige tar éis an cuntas a aistriú chuig an aistrí mar a dúradh, agus aon airgead a bheidh dlite ar an gcuntas den duine sin don aistreoir ar an dáta sin tiocfaidh sé chun bheith dlite den duine sin don aistrí agus iníoctha aige leis in ionad é bheith dlite de don aistreoir agus iníoctha aige leis, agus aon airgead a bheidh dlite ar an dáta sin ar an gcuntas sin den aistreoir don duine sin tiocfaidh sé chun bheith dlite den aistrí don duine sin agus iníoctha aige leis in ionad é bheith dlite den aistreoir dó agus iníoctha ag an aistreoir leis.
Urrúis a aistriú.
35.—Aon urrús a bheidh ar teachtadh ag an aistreoir i ndáil leis an ngnó a chomhaontaítear a aistriú mar urrús go n-íocfar fiacha nó dliteanais (láithreach nó todhchaí, iarbhír nó teagmhasach) de chuid aon duine in aon oifig nó brainse de chuid an aistreora aistreofar é, nó measfar é bheith arna aistriú, ar an dáta aistrithe agus beidh sé ar teachtadh agus ar fáil ag an aistrí mar urrús go n-íocfar na fiacha agus na dliteanais sin leis an aistrí; agus i gcás ina mbeidh ar áireamh an airgid a bheidh urraithe leis an urrús sin airleacain sa todhchaí chuig aon duine nó dliteanais dá chuid, beidh an t-urrús sin, amhail ón dáta sin, ar teachtadh agus ar fáil ag an aistrí mar urrús i leith airleacain sa todhchaí ón aistrí chuig an duine sin agus dliteanais sa todhchaí de chuid an duine sin don aistrí an méid céanna a bhí airleacain sa todhchaí ón aistreoir nó dliteanais don aistreoir urraithe leis an urrús sin díreach roimh an dáta sin.
Cearta agus oibleagáidí maidir le hurrúis aistrithe.
6 Anne, c. 2 (Ir.).
36.—Beidh an t-aistrí, maidir le haon urrús a bheidh nó a mheasfar a bheith arna aistriú chun an aistrí de réir nó de bhua forálacha alt 35 den Acht seo agus maidir leis an airgead a bheidh urraithe leis an urrús sin de réir na bhforálacha sin, i dteideal na gceart agus na dtosaíochtaí céanna agus faoi réir na n-oibleagáidí agus na dteagmhas céanna a mbeadh an t-aistreoir ina dteideal nó faoina réir dá mbeadh an céanna ar teachtadh fós féin ag an aistreoir, agus maidir leis sin beidh éifeacht ag na forálacha seo a leanas—
(a) ní riachtanach an t-aistriú a dhéantar nó a mheastar a dhéantar le halt 35 den Acht seo a chlárú faoi réim ná de bhun an Achta um Chlárú Gníomhas, 1707, an reachta réamh-Aontachta 33 Geo. 2, c. 14 (Ir.), an Achta um Chlárú Teidil, 1964, nó Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963, ach oibreoidh sé chun críche na nAchtanna sin ionann is dá mba le gníomh a rinneadh é is gníomh an cuí-chláraíodh ar an dáta aistrithe faoi réim nó de bhun cibé Acht acu sin is infheidhmithe ina leith;
(b) i gcás ina ndéanann alt 35 den Acht seo leathnú ar aon urrús den sórt sin nó maidir leis ionas go bhfolaítear airleacain sa todhchaí ón aistrí nó dliteanais thodchaí chuig an aistrí, ní riachtanach an leathnú sin a chlárú faoi réim ná de bhun an Achta um Chlárú Gníomhas, 1707, na Bills of Sale (Ireland) Acts, 1879 and 1883, an Achta um Chlárú Teidil, 1964, nó alt 99 d'Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963, ach oibreoidh sé chun críocha na hAchtanna sin ionann is dá mba le gníomh a rinneadh é is gníomh a cuí-chláraíodh ar an dáta aistrithe faoi réim agus de bhun cibé Acht acu sin is infheidhmithe ina leith.
Aistriú i gcás maoin ar teachtadh earbtha.
37.—Beidh coimeád aon doiciméid, earraí nó maoine eile a bheidh ar teachtadh ag an aistreoir i ndáil leis an ngnó a chomhaontaítear a aistriú mar earbaí d'aon duine eile in aon oifig nó brainse de chuid an aistreora sa Stát beidh sé arna aistriú nó measfar é a bheith arna aistriú chun an aistrí ar an dáta aistrithe agus beidh cearta agus oibleagáidí an aistreora faoi aon chonradh earbtha a bhaineann leis an doiciméad, leis na hearraí nó leis an maoin beidh siad, agus measfar iad a bheith, arna n-aistriú ar an dáta sin chun an aistrí.
Oifigigh, cléirigh agus seirbhísigh a aistriú.
38.—(1) Aon oifigeach (seachas stiúrthóir nó iniúchóir), cléireach nó seirbhíseach i seirbhís nó i bhfostaíocht faoin aistreoir agus a chomhaontóidh an t-aistreoir agus an t-aistrí a aistreofaí faoin alt seo i ndáil leis an ngnó a aistreofar beidh sé ar an dáta aistrithe arna aistriú ó sheirbhís nó fostaíocht faoin aistreoir chun an aistrí agus tiocfaidh sé ar an dáta sin chun bheith ina oifigeach, ina chléireach nó ina sheirbhíseach (de réir mar a bheidh) don aistrí agus na cearta céanna aige agus é faoi réir na n-oibleagáidí agus na dteagmhas céanna i leith na seirbhíse sin nó na fostaíochta sin a bheadh aige nó a mbeadh sé faoina réir mar oifigeach, cléireach nó seirbhíseach don aistreoir.
(2) Gach oifigeach, cléireach nó seirbhíseach den sórt sin a dúradh is comhalta de scéim pinsean nó aoisliúntas de chuid an aistreora nó atá i dteideal sochair faoi scéim den sórt sin agus gach oifigeach, cléireach nó seirbhíseach a bhí ar fostú faoin aistreoir i ndáil leis an ngnó a chomhaontaítear a aistriú agus is comhalta d'aon scéim den sórt sin nó atá i dteideal sochair faoi aon scéim den sórt sin tiocfaidh sé chun bheith, le héifeacht on dáta aistrithe, ina chomhalta de scéim chomhréire pinsean nó aoisliúntas, nó i dteideal an tsochair chomhréire faoi scéim den sórt sin de chuid an aistrí ar théarmaí nach 1ú fabhair ná téarmaí faoin scéim chéadluaite sin agus aon duine a bheidh i dteideal sochair faoin scéim chéadluaite sin mar gheall ar aon oifigeach, cléireach nó seirbhíseach atá ar fostú nó a bhí ar fostú i ndáil leis an ngnó a chomhaontaítear a aistriú a bheith ina chomhalta den scéim sin nó a bheith i dteideal sochair faoin scéim sin, beidh teideal aige, le héifeacht on dáta aistrithe, chun an tsochair chomhréire faoin scéim chomhréire sin ar théarmaí nach 1ú fabhair ná na téarmaí faoin scéim chéadluaite sin.
(3) Aon sochar is iníoctha faoi scéim pinsean nó aoisliúntas de chuid an aistreora le hionadaí pearsanta (ina cháil mar ionadaí pearsanta) aon oifigigh, cléirigh nó seirbhísigh éagtha a bhí ar fostú leis an ngnó a chomhaontaítear a aistriú agus a bheidh gan íoc ar an dáta aistrithe tiocfaidh sé chun bheith agus beidh sé iníoctha ag an aistrí ar an dáta sin nó faoi scéim pinsean nó aoisliúntas chomhréire de chuid an aistrí.
(4) Déanfar, d'fhonn an ceart chun sochair faoi aon scéim chomhréire den sórt sin a dhéanamh amach agus a ríomh, seirbhís nó fostaíocht faoin aistreoir a chur i gcuntas ionann is dá mba sheirbhís nó fostaíocht faoin aistrí í, ach ní bheidh seirbhís nó fostaíocht a aistriú ón aistreoir chuig an aistrí ina bhonn, ann féin, le haon éileamh ar shochar faoi aon scéim den sórt sin.
(5) Féadfaidh an tAire, ar iarratas ón aistreoir agus ón aistrí, cibé forálacha a chur san ordú faoi alt 33 den Acht seo is dóigh leis is iomchuí chun an t-iomlán nó aon chuid de mhaoin agus de shócmhainní aon scéime pinsean nó aoisliúntas de chuid an aistreora a aistriú go dtí scéim pinsean nó aoisliúntas chomhréire de chuid an aistrí agus an céanna a dhílsiú do na hiontaobhaithe nó do na daoine eile ar a mbeidh sé curtha de chúram an scéim chomhréire sin a riaradh agus chun an scéim chomhréire sin de chuid an aistreoira a fhoirceannadh, a dhíscaoileadh, a mhodhnú nó deireadh a chur léi agus beidh éifeacht ag an scéim de réir aon fhorálacha den sórt sin, aon scéim den sórt sin de chuid an aistreora a fhoirceannadh, a dhíscaoileadh, a mhodhnú nó deireadh a chur léi, de réir mar a bheidh.
(6) San alt seo—
ciallaíonn “sochar” aon phinsean, blianacht, cnapshuim, aisce nó íocaíocht eile dá shórt a thugtar ar scor nó is iníoctha tar éis scor i leith seirbhíse a tugadh nó ar bhás a fháil nó i ndáil le bás a fháil le linn seirbhíse nó tar éis scor;
ciallaíonn “scéim pinsean nó aoisliúntas de chuid an aistreora” scéim, comhshocraíocht nó ciste arna bhunú i ndáil le gnó an aistreora chun sochar a sholáthar d'oifigigh, do chléirigh nó do sheirbhísigh (de réir mar a bheidh) an aistreora nó dá gcleithiúnaithe ar iad scor nó d'fháil bháis;
ciallaíonn “scéim pinsean nó aoisliúntais de chuid an aistrí” scéim, comhshocraíocht nó ciste arna bhunú i ndáil le gnó an aistrí chun sochar a sholáthar d'oifigigh, do chléirigh nó do sheirbhísigh (de réir mar a bheidh) an aistrí nó dá gcleithiúnaithe ar iad scor nó d'fháil bháis.
Feidhm ionstraimí áirithe.
39.—I gcás—
(a) inarb é an gnó nó ar den ghnó a chomhaontaítear a aistriú gnó ag gníomhú mar iontaobhaí, seiceadóir, caomhnóir nó in aon cháil mhuiníneach eile, agus
(b) inar deonaíodh nó ina ndeonófar probháid nó riarachán don aistreoir nó inar ceapadh nó ina gceapfar an t-aistreoir ina iontaobhaí, ina sheiceadóir, ina chaomhnóir nó in aon cháil mhuiníneach eile le hionstraim arb éard í—
(i) ordú cúirte,
(ii) gníomhas iontaobhais, socraíocht, cúnant nó comhaontú, nó
(iii) uacht, codaisíl nó ionstraim tiomnachta eile,
nó
le haon ghníomh tiomnachta seachas na cinn réamhráite (cibé acu roimh an dáta aistrithe nó dá éis sin a rinneadh nó a forghníomhaíodh an ionstraim nó an gníomh),
léifear agus forléireofar an ionstraim nó an gníomh, agus beidh éifeacht ag an ionstraim nó ag an ngníomh, amhail ón dáta aistrithe, ionann is dá gcuirfí tagairt don aistrí in ionad aon tagartha sa chéanna don aistreoir.
Feidhm an Bankers' Books Evidence Act,1879.
1879, c. 11.
40.—(1) Leanfaidh an Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1879, d'fheidhm a bheith aige maidir le haon leabhair de chuid an aistreora a aistreofar chun an aistrí i ndáil leis an ngnó a chomhaontófar a aistriú agus maidir le taifid a chuirfear sna leabhair sin roimh an dáta aistrithe.
(2) San alt seo folaíonn “leabhair” mórleabhair, leabhair laethúla, leabhair airgid, leabhair chuntais agus taifid a úsáideadh i ngnáth-ghnó an aistreora roimh an lá ceaptha.
Imeachtaí dlíthiúla a choimeád i bhfeidhm.
41.—Má tharlaíonn, díreach roimh an dáta aistrithe, go mbeidh ar feitheamh aon imeachtaí dlíthiúla ar páirtí ann an t-aistreoir agus go mbainfidh na himeachtaí leis an ngnó a chomhaontaítear a aistriú, déanfar ainm an aistrí a chur, ar an dáta aistrithe, in ionad ainm an aistreora agus ní rachaidh na himeachtaí ar ceal mar gheall ar an gcur in ionad sin.
Díolúine ó dhleacht stampa.
1895, c. 16.
42.—(1) Ní bhainfidh alt 12 den Finance Act, 1895, le haon mhaoin leis an aistreoir a dhílsiú don aistrí de bhua an Achta seo.
(2) Ní mhuirearófar dleacht stampa ar aon chomhaontú a dhéanfar idir an aistreoir agus an t-aistrí chun an gnó lena mbaineann an ceadúnas atá ag an aistreoir a aistriú, go hiomlán nó go páirteach, chun an aistrí.
(3) Ní mhuirearófar dleacht stampa ar aon ionstraim a fhorghníomhófar chun na haistrithe a dhéantar nó a mheastar a dhéantar le hailt 34 agus 35 den Acht seo a fhorlíonadh.
CUID IV.
Airgead Reatha
An caighdeán luacha.
43.—(1) Is é luach-ionad caighdéanach an Stáit an punt Éireannach le parluach 2.13281 gram d'ór fíneáilte a eiseofar i bhfoirm nóta dlíthairgthe.
(2) Féadfaidh an Rialtas le hordú, tar éis dul i gcomhairle leis an mBanc, an parluach a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo a athrú.
(3) Féadfaidh an Rialtas le hordú, tar éis dul i gcomhairle leis an mBanc, ordú faoin alt seo, lena n-áiritear ordú faoin bhfo-alt seo, a leasú nó a chúlghairm.
(4) Aon uair a bheidh ordú faoin alt seo i bhfeidhm beidh éifeacht ag fo-alt (1) den alt seo de réir téarmaí an ordaithe.
(5) Leagfar faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas gach ordú faoin alt seo a luaithe is feidir tar éis a dhéanta.
An Banc d'eisiúint nótaí dlíthairgthe.
44.—Is dleathach don Bhanc nótaí dlíthairgthe a eisiúint chuig aon duine ar éileamh nó chun an chiste ghinearálta in aghaidh—
(a) buillean óir, nó
(b) aon airgead reatha, urrús nó foirm eile sócmhainne a bheidh á choimeád mar chuid de chaipiteal an chiste nótaí dlíthairgthe de réir alt 61 d'Acht 1927, arna leasú le hailt 2 agus 3 den Acht Airgid Reatha (Leasú), 1930,
a sheachadfar dó i cibé slí agus faoi réir cibé coinníollacha a fhorordóidh sé.
Leasú ar alt 49 d'Acht 1927.
45.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 49 d'Acht 1927—
(a) trí na fo-ailt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-ailt (1) agus (2):
“(1) Beidh sealbhóir nóta dhlíthairgthe d'aon ainmluach i dteideal, ar éileamh a dhéanfaidh sé i rith uaire oifige in oifig an Bhainc i mBaile Atha Cliath, go bhfaighidh sé mar mhalairt ar an nóta nóta dlíthairgthe nó nótaí dlíthairgthe ina mbeidh an luach iomlán céanna.
(2) Beidh gach nóta dlíthairgthe inmhalartaithe arna thíolacadh i nGníomhaireacht Londain ar airgead in aon fhoirm is dlíthairiscint de thuras na huaire sa Bhreatain Mhór ar shuimeanna neamhtheoranta.
(2A) Féadfaidh an Banc, más oiriúnach leis agus aon uair is oiriúnach leis agus a mhéid is oiriúnach leis, aon nótaí dlíthairgthe a thíolacfar dó le malartú in oifig an Bhainc in mBaile Átha Cliath ar airgead in aon fhoirm is dlíthairiscint de thuras na huaire sa Bhreatain Mhór ar shuimeanna neamhtheoranta, nó ar dhréacht ar Londain nó, faoi réir agus de réir na nAchtanna um Rialú Iomlaoide, 1954 go 1970, ar airgid reatha choigríche eile.”,
agus
(b) trí “a mhalartú” a chur in ionad “d'athcheannach” gach áit a bhfuil sé i bhfo-alt (3) agus “malartaithe” a chur in ionad “athcheannuithe” i bhfo-alt (4).
Leasú ar alt 50 d'Acht 1927 agus ar alt 5 den Acht Airgid Reatha (Leasú), 1930.
46.—(1) Leasaítear leis seo alt 50 d'Acht 1927 trí “malartódh” a chur in ionad “n-athcheannódh” gach áit a bhfuil sé i bhfo-ailt (1) agus (2) agus “malartú” a chur in ionad “athcheannach” i bhfo-alt (2).
(2) Leasaítear leis seo alt 5(3) den Acht Airgid Reatha (Leasú), 1930, trí “a mhalartú” a chur in ionad “d'athcheannach” gach áit a bhfuil sé.
CUID V
Ilghnéitheach
Cumhachtaí agus feidhmeanna breise de chuid an Bhainc.
47.—Is dleathach don Bhanc chun críocha nó trí mheán an chiste ghinearálta, i dteannta na bhfeidhmeanna sin a fheidhmiú agus a chomhlíonadh a shanntar go sonrach dó leis na hAchtanna Airgid Reatha agus an Bhainc Ceannais, 1927 go 1971, cumhachtaí agus feidhmeanna a fheidhmiú agus a chomhlíonadh de chineál is féidir, de réir gnáth-chleachtais bhaincéireachta, le bancanna agus baincéirí a fheidhmiú.
Bannaí Cúlchiste Bainc Ceannais.
48.—(1) Féadfaidh an Banc urrúis (ar a dtabharfar Bannaí Cúlchiste Banc Ceannais agus dá ngairtear bannaí san alt seo) a eisiúint trí na hurrúis ciste ghinearálta ina ainm féin mar mhalairt ar cibé airgead reatha nó airgid reatha a shonróidh an Banc.
(2) Beidh eisiúint, teachtadh agus díol aon bhannaí faoi réim agus faoi réir cibé téarmaí agus coinníollacha a chinnfidh an Banc an tráth a eiseofar na bannaí sin, lena n-áirítear téarmaí agus coinníollacha do shocrú praghais eisiúna na mbannaí, an ráta úis a íocfar orthu, na dátaí a íocfar ús orthu agus an dáta a aibeoidh na bannaí.
(3) Ní eiseoidh an Banc bannaí chuig aon duine seachas sealbhóir ceadúnais.
(4) Clarófar bannaí sa Bhanc.
(5) Féadfaidh sealbhóir bannaí iad a aistriú chuig aon sealbhóir eile ceadúnais ach ní aistreoidh sé iad chuig aon duine eile.
(6) Féadfaidh an Banc bannaí a cheannach ó shealbhóir na mbannaí sin agus cealóidh sé aon bhannaí a cheannóidh sé.
(7) Ní bheidh dleacht stampa inmhuirir ar bhannaí a eisiúint, a shannadh, a iomairliú nó a fhuascailt.
Cuntas an Státchiste a aistriú chun an Bhainc.
1866, c. 39.
49.—(1) Aistreofar chun an Bhainc Cuntas an Státchiste atá i mBanc na hÉireann agus, dá réir sin, forléireofar mar thagairtí don Bhanc na tagairtí do Bhanc na hÉireann atá in ailt 10, 11, 13 agus 15 den Exchequer and Audit Departments Act, 1866.
(2) Tiocfaidh an t-alt seo i ngníomh cibé lá a cheapfaidh an tAire le hordú faoin alt seo.
Cláir de bhannaí talún a aistriú chun an Bhainc.
50.—(1) D'ainneoin aon ní sna hAchtanna Talamh-Cheannaigh nó in aon ordú faoi na hAchtanna sin, aistreofar chun an Bhainc na cláir de bhannaí Talún atá á gcoimeád ag Banc na hÉireann.
(2) Tiocfaidh an t-alt seo i ngníomh cibé lá a cheapfaidh an tAire le hordú faoin alt seo.
Forálacha a bhaineann le Banc na hÉireann.
1929, Uimh. 4 (Príobháideach).
51.—(1) Ní oibreoidh aon ní sa Chairt, in Achtanna an Bhainc nó in Acht 1929—
(a) chun cúirt ghinearálta a chosc, ó am go ham, ó dhéanamh mar leanas le rún—
(i) cuspóirí Bhanc na hÉireann a athrú trí aon chuspóir láithreach a thréigean, a shrianadh nó a leasú nó cuspóir nua a ghlacadh chuici, nó
(ii) cibé socrú is oiriúnach léi a dhéanamh maidir le bainistí cúrsaí nó seoladh gnó Bhanc na hÉireann (lena n-áirítear, go háirithe, ach gan dochar do ghinearáltacht an mhéid sin roimhe seo, socrú a bhainfidh le Stiúrthóirí (lena n-áirítear Rialtóir agus Leas-Rialtóir Bhanc na hÉireann) Bhanc na hÉireann nó le cúirteanna ginearálta nó imeachtaí nó vótáil sa chéanna), nó
(b) chun Banc na hÉireann a chosc ó bheith ag gabháil d'aon ghnó, nó ó bheith ag seoladh aon ghnó, a shonraítear in aon rún den sórt sin agus ó aon ní a dhéanamh atá comhghabhálach nó coimhdeach le haon ghnó den sórt sin.
(2) Má dhéantar aon iarratas chun na Cúirte de réir an ailt seo á iarraidh go neamhneofar rún faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo (dá ngairtear rún sna forálacha ina dhiaidh seo den alt seo), ní bheidh éifeacht aige ach amháin an mhéid a dhaingneoidh an Chúirt é.
(3) Faoi réir fho-alt (4) den alt seo, féadfaidh sealbhóirí chuid nach 1ú san iomlán na 15 faoin gcéad de luach ainmniúil stoic chaipitil eisithe agus aon scair-chaipitil eisithe de chuid Bhanc na hÉireann iarratas a dhéanamh faoin alt seo.
(4) Ní dhéanfaidh aon duine a mbeidh toilithe aige le rún nó a mbeidh vótáilte aige ar son rúin aon iarratas faoin alt seo maidir leis an rún.
(5) Déanfar iarratas faoin alt seo laistigh de 21 lá tar éis an dáta a ritheadh an rún agus féadfar é a dhéanamh thar cheann na ndaoine a bheidh i dteideal an t-iarratas a dhéanamh ag cibé duine nó daoine dá líon a cheapfaidh siad i scríbhinn chuige sin.
(6) Ar iarratas a bheith déanta faoin alt seo, féadfaidh an Chúirt ordú a dhéanamh do neamhniú an rúin nó do dhaingniú an rúin go hiomlán nó go páirteach agus ar cibé téarmaí agus coinníollacha is oiriúnach léi, agus féadfaidh sí, más oiriúnach léi, na himeachtaí a chur ar atráth ionas go bhféadfar comhshocraíocht a dhéanamh chun sástacht na Cúirte chun leasanna comhaltaí neamhaontacha Bhanc na hÉireann a cheannach, agus féadfaidh sí cibé treoracha a thabhairt agus cibé orduithe a dhéanamh is dóigh léi a bheith foirsteanach chun aon chomhshocraíocht den sórt sin a urasú nó a chur in éifeacht ar shlí, ámh, nach gcaithfear aon chuid de chaipiteal Bhanc na hÉireann ag déanamh aon cheannach den sórt sin.
(7) I gcás ina rithfear rún—
(a) mura ndéanfar aon iarratas maidir leis faoin alt seo, déanfaidh Banc na hÉireann, laistigh de 15 lá ó dheireadh na tréimhse chun iarratas den sórt sin a dhéanamh, cóip chlóbhuailte den rún a sheachadadh do chláraitheoir na gcuideachtaí, de réir brí Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963; agus
(b) má dhéantar iarratas den sórt sin, déanfaidh Banc na hÉireann—
(i) fógra ar an bhfíoras sin a thabhairt láithreach don chláraitheoir; agus
(ii) laistigh de 15 lá ó dháta aon ordaithe do neamhniú nó do dhaingniú an rúin, cóip oifige den ordú agus, i gcás ordú do dhaingniú an rúin, cóip chlóbhuailte den rún a sheachadadh don chláraitheoir.
Féadfaidh an Chúirt aon tráth le hordú an t-am chun doiciméid a sheachadadh don chláraitheoir faoi mhír (b) den fho-alt seo a shíneadh go ceann cibé tréimhse is cuí leis an gCúirt.
(8) Má mhainíonn Banc na hÉireann fógra a thabhairt nó aon doiciméad a sheachadadh don chláraitheoir mar a cheanglaítear le fo-alt (7) den alt seo, dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná céad punt a chur ar Bhanc na hÉireann agus ar gach oifigeach do Bhanc na hÉireann a mbeidh an mhainneachtain san déanta aige.
(9) San alt seo—
ciallaíonn “Acht 1929” Acht Bhanc na hÉireann, 1929,
tá le “Achtanna an Bhainc”, “an Chairt”, agus le “cúirt ghinearálta” na bríonna céanna faoi seach atá leo in Acht 1929.
Leasú ar Achtanna na nIasachtaithe Airgid, 1900 agus 1933.
1900, c. 51.
52.—(1) Ní bheidh feidhm ag Achtanna na nIasachtaithe Airgid, 1900 agus 1933, maidir le sealbhóir ceadúnais ná le banc taisce iontaobhais atá cláraithe faoi na hAchtanna um Bainc Thaisce Iontaobhais, 1863 go 1965.
(2) Leasaítear leis seo alt 6(d) den Moneylenders Act, 1900, trí “banking or” a scriosadh.
Stiúrthóirí an Bhainc.
53.—(1) Leasaítear leis seo alt 5 d'Acht 1942—
(a) trí “beirt” a chur in ionad “triúr” i bhfo-alt (3) (b), agus
(b) trí “seisear” a chur in ionad “cúigear” i bhfo-alt (3) (c).
(2) Ceapfar na Stiúrthóirí baincéireachta, tar éis don Aire dul i gcomhairle leis an Rialtóir, as i measc daoine a shealbhaíonn oifig mar stiúrthóirí Bainc Chomhlachais.
(3) Má scoireann agus aon uair a scoirfidh Stiúrthóir baincéireachta d'oifig a shealbhú mar stiúrthóir ar Bhanc Comhlachais tiocfaidh sé chun bheith, agus beidh sé, láithreach, dícháilithe chun oifig Stiúrthóra baincéireachta a shealbhú.
(4) (a) Tiocfaidh fo-ailt (1) agus (2) den alt seo i ngníomh an chéad lá (nach luaithe ná an lá a cheapfar faoi alt 1 (3) den Acht seo) a scoirfidh Stiúrthóir baincéireachta den oifig sin a shealbhú.
(b) Ní bheidh feidhm ag fo-alt (3) den alt seo maidir le duine a shealbhaíonn oifig mar Stiúrthóir baincéireachta an lá a cheapfar faoin alt sin 1 (3) i rith an téarma oifige dar ceapadh amhlaidh é.
Aoisliúntás.
54.—(1) D'ainneoin aon ní in alt 3 d'Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1961, féadfaidh leasú faoin Acht sin ar an scéim a rinneadh de bhun alt 33 (1) (c) d'Acht 1942 a fhoráil go bhféadfar dámhachtain a dhéanamh do dhuine, nó maidir le duine, a bheidh faoi bhun seasca bliain d'aois nuair a scoirfidh sé d'oifig mar Rialtóir a shealbhú ar chúiseanna seachas bás, éiglíocht mheabhrach nó choirp nó deireadh a chur le hoifig, má bhíonn téarma amháin curtha isteach aige mar Rialtóir.
(2) Féadfaidh an Banc ó am go ham, le ceadú an Aire, scéim a dhéanamh do leasú scéime faoi alt 31 (4) d'Acht 1927 nó faoi alt 33 (1) (c) d'Acht 1942 nó scéime faoin bhfo-alt seo agus, gan dochar do ghinearáltacht an mhéid sin roimhe seo, féadfaidh socrú a bheith i scéim faoin bhfo-alt seo chun sochair aoisliúntais (lena n-áirítear pinsin, liúntais agus aiscí) a dheonú do bhaintreacha agus do leanaí daoine lena mbaineann na scéimeanna sin agus chun na daoine lena mbaineann na scéimeanna sin d'íoc ranníocaí i leith na sochar sin.
(3) Leagfar gach scéim faoin alt seo faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta agus má dhéanann ceachtar Teach, laistigh den lá agus fiche a shuífidh an Teach sin tar éis an scéim a leagan faoina bhráid, rún a rith ag neamhniú na scéime, beidh an scéim ar neamhní dá réir sin, ach sin gan dochar d'aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin scéim.
Taiscí faoi Acht 1942 a thabhairt ar ais.
55.—Ar alt 42 d'Acht 1942 a chúlghairm, tabharfaidh Cuntasóir na gCúirteanna Breithnúnais ar ais, a luaithe is féidir, d'aon duine a choimeád taisce lóisteáilte sa Chúirt de bhun an ailt sin díreach roimh an gcúlghairm sin an taisce agus aon ús nó ioncam a bheidh faibhrithe chun bheidh dlite i leith an taisce sin.
Leasú ar an Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1879.
56.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 9 (a cuireadh isteach leis an Acht um Fhianaise Leabhar Baincéirí (Leasú), 1959) den Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1879, tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur isteach i ndiaidh fho-alt (3):
“(4) A certificate which—
(a) purports to be signed by an officer of the Bank, and
(b) certifies that a licence was granted under section 9 of the Central Bank Act, 1971, to a specified person.
shall be prima facie evidence of the licence for the purposes of this Act, and it shall not be necessary to prove the signature of the officer or that he was in fact an officer of the Bank.”
57.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 14 den Acht um Airgead Reatha Deachúil, 1970, tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (1);
“(1) Gan dochar d'alt 2 den Acht seo, forléireofar alt 10 den Acht Airgid Reatha, 1927, mar alt a leanann de chead conarthaí, díolacháin, billí, nótaí, ionstraimí agus urrúis ar airgead agus gach uile shórt idirbheart, déileáil, ábhar, agus ní a bhaineann le hairgead nó a bhaineann le haon hairgead a íoc nó le dliteanas aon airgead a íoc, a dhéanamh, a fhorghníomhú nó a shealbhú de réir an tsean-airgid reatha, an airgid reatha nua nó airgid reatha stáit nó tíre éigin seachas an Stát, faoi réir an choinníll go mbeidh feidhm ag alt 13 den Acht seo a maidir le haon suim sa seanairgead reatha nach slánuimhir punt agus atá dlite nó a bheidh dlite le híoc an lá ceaptha nó dá éis.”
Cionta agus pionóis.
58.—(1) Aon duine a sháróidh alt 7, 14, 17, 18 nó 27 den Acht seo agus aon sealbhóir ceadúnais—
(a) a sháróidh alt 19, 20, 26, 31 nó 33 den Acht seo,
(b) a sháróidh coinníoll a bheidh ag gabháil le ceadúnas,
(c) a mhainneoidh déanamh de réir treorach faoi alt 21 nó 22 den Acht seo, nó de réir foriarratais faoi alt 25 den Acht seo,
(d) a sháróidh rialacháin faoi alt 24 nó 25 den Acht seo,
beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus dlífear—
(i) ar é a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná céad punt a chur air, nó
(ii) ar é chiontú ar díotáil, fíneáil nach mó ná cúig mhíle punt a chur air,
agus, má leantar tar éis an chiontaithe den sárú nó den mhainneachtain arb ina leith a ciontaíodh é, beidh sé ciontach i gcion breise agus dlífear, ar é a chiontú ar díotáil, fíneáil nach mó ná dhá chéad agus caoga punt a chur air in aghaidh gach lae ar leanadh amhlaidh den sárú nó den mhainneachtain.
(2) I gcás alt 14 (2) den Acht seo a shárú maidir le scéim iontaobhais aonad, measfar an bainisteoir faoin scéim do shárú alt 14 den Acht seo.
An Banc d'ionchúiseamh cionta.
59.—Féadfaidh an Banc cion faoin Acht seo a bheidh á thriail go hachomair a ionchúiseamh.
Cionta maidir le comhlachtaí áirithe.
60.—I gcás cion a dhéanamh faoin Acht seo ag comhlacht corpraithe nó ag duine a airbheartaíonn a bheith ag gníomhú thar ceann comhlachta chorpraithe nó comhlachta neamhchorpraithe daoine agus go gcruthófar go ndearnadh é le toiliú nó le ceadú, nó gur urasaíodh a dhéanamh le haon fhaillí thoiliúil ar thaobh, aon stiúrthóra, bainisteora, comhalta d'aon choiste bainistí nó d'údarás rialála eile de chuid an chomhlachta sin nó ar thaobh aon oifigigh don chomhlacht sin beidh an duine sin, freisin, ciontach sa chion.
AN SCEIDEAL
Achtacháin a Aisghairtear
Seisiún agus Caibidil nó Uimhir agus Bliain | Gearrtheidil | Méid na hAisghairme |
6 Geo. 4, c. 42 | Bankers (Ireland) Act, 1825. | An tAcht iomlán. |
11 Geo. 4 agus 1 Will. 4, c. 32 | Banks (Ireland) Act, 1830. | An tAcht iomlán. |
1 and 2 Vict., c. 96 | Joint Stock Banks Act, 1838. | An tAcht iomlán. |
8 and 9 Vict., c. 37 | Bankers (Ireland) Act, 1845. | Alt 22. |
Ailt 4 go 9; ailt 11 go 13 agus ailt 37 agus 42; na focail “sa tslí chéanna agus sa mhéid chéanna ina mbeidh agus chó hiomlán agus bheidh monaí óir a tabharfar amach fé Chuid II. den Acht so ag rith nuair a bheid tabhartha amach amhlaidh” in alt 45 (1); alt 47; “do réir a n-agha-luacha i monaí óir a bheidh de thurus na huaire ina ndlí-thairisgint fén Acht so i Saorstát Éireann ar shuimeanna nea-theoranta nó in airgead in aon fhuirm a bheidh de thurus na huaire ina dhlí-thairisgint sa Bhreatain Mhóir ar shuimeanna nea-theoranta nó” agus “nó, más toil san leis an té bheidh ag tíolaice na nótaí sin, tré tharrac ar Lundain” in alt 48; alt 50 (4). | ||
Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1942. | Alt 23 (2); na focail “ag féachaint do na caighdeáin a bheidh i bhfeidhm de thurus na huaire ag na Bainc Chópáirteacha agus iad ag ceapadh luach saothair, liúntaisí, agus coinníollacha seirbhíse a stiúrthóirí” in alt 23 (4); ailt 26 agus 27; Codanna V agus VI. |
Number 24 of 1971
CENTRAL BANK ACT, 1971
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Preliminary and General
Section | |
Short title, collective citation, construction and commencement. | |
Laying of orders and regulations before Houses of the Oireachtas. | |
Licensing and Supervision of Banks
Transfers of Banks
Rights and obligations in relation to transferred securities. | |
Currency
Amendment of section 50 of Act of 1927 and of section 5 of the Currency (Amendment) Act, 1930. |
Miscellaneous
Enactments Repealed
Acts Referred to | |
1927, No. 32 | |
1942, No. 22 | |
1963, No. 33 | |
1963, No. 30 | |
Bills of Exchange Act, 1882 | 1882, c. 61 |
Registration of Deeds Act, 1707 | 6 Anne, c. 2 (Ir.) |
1964, No. 16 | |
Bankers'Books Evidence Act, 1879 | 1879, c. 11 |
Finance Act, 1895 | 1895, c. 16 |
1930, No. 30 | |
Exchequer and Audit Departments Act, 1866 | 1866. c. 39 |
Bank of Ireland Act, 1929 | 1929, No. 4 (Private) |
Moneylenders Act, 1900 | 1900, c 51 |
1961, No. 8 | |
1959, No. 21 | |
1970, No. 21 | |
Number 24 of 1971
CENTRAL BANK ACT, 1971
PART I.
Preliminary and General
Short title, collective citation, construction and commencement.
1.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Central Bank Act, 1971.
(2) The Currency and Central Bank Acts, 1927 to 1964, and this Act shall be construed together as one Act and may be cited together as the Currency and Central Bank Acts, 1927 to 1971.
(3) Save as otherwise specifically provided thereby, this Act shall come into operation on such day as the Minister appoints by order under this section.
Definitions.
2.—In this Act—
“the Act of 1927” means the Currency Act, 1927;
“the Act of 1942” means the Central Bank Act, 1942;
“the Bank” means the Central Bank of Ireland;
“banker's licence” means a licence issued under section 47 of the Act of 1942, and a reference in any statute or instrument under statute to a banker's licence shall be construed as including a reference to a licence;
“banking business” means business which consists of—
(a) the business of accepting deposits payable on demand or on notice or at a fixed or determinable future date, but excluding deposits with a trader from persons employed by him in his trading business or from his customers in the normal course of his trading business and deposits or instalments in respect of the letting or selling of goods under a hire-purchase agreement or a credit-sale agreement, or
(b) the business aforesaid and any other business normally carried on by a bank,
and “banking” and words cognate thereto shall be construed accordingly;
“company” means a company incorporated in or outside the State and includes the Bank of Ireland;
“the Court” means the High Court;
“general fund”, “gold bullion”, “issue”, “legal tender note” and “legal tender note fund” have the same meanings as in the Act of 1927;
“holder”, in relation to a licence, means the person to whom a licence is granted;
“investment trust company” means a company whose main business consists of the investment of its funds in securities;
“licence” means a licence for the time being in force granted under section 9 of this Act;
“the Minister” means the Minister for Finance;
“securities” means—
(a) shares in the share capital of any body corporate or stock of any body corporate or debentures, debenture stock or bonds of any body corporate, whether constituting a charge on the assets of the body or not, or rights or interests (described whether as units or otherwise) in any such shares, stock, debentures, debenture stock or bonds,
(b) securities of the Government or the government of any country or territory outside the State, or
(c) rights (whether actual or contingent) in respect of money lent to, or deposited with, any industrial and provident society, friendly society or building society,
and includes rights or interests (described whether as units or otherwise) which may be acquired under any unit trust scheme under which all property for the time being subject to any trust or other arrangement created or made in pursuance of the scheme consists of such securities as are mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this definition;
“unit trust scheme” means any arrangements made for the purpose, or having the effect, of providing facilities for the participation by the public, as beneficiaries under a trust or otherwise, in profits or income arising from the acquisition, holding, management or disposal of securities or any other property whatsoever and a reference in this Act to a manager under a unit trust scheme shall be construed as a reference to the person in whom is vested the powers of management relating to property for the time being subject to any trust or other arrangement created or made in pursuance of the scheme.
Expenses.
3.—The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
Laying of orders and regulations before Houses of the Oireachtas.
4.—Every order and regulation made by the Minister or the Bank under this Act shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the order or regulation is passed by either such House within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the order or regulation is laid before it, the order or regulation shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.
Repeals.
5.—The enactments mentioned in the second column of the Schedule to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule.
Transitional provision.
6.—A banker's licence in force immediately before the commencement of this section shall continue in force during the period from such commencement—
(a) to the date of the grant of a licence to the holder of the banker's licence,
(b) to the 31st day of December immediately following such commencement, or
(c) if the banker's licence is revoked, to the date of the revocation,
whichever shall first occur, and the provisions of this Act shall apply during the period aforesaid in relation to the holder and the banker's licence as if the holder were the holder of a licence and the banker's licence were a licence.
PART II
Licensing and Supervision of Banks
Restriction on carrying on of banking business.
7.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, a person, other than the Bank, shall not, on his own behalf or on behalf of any other person in or outside the State, carry on banking business or hold himself out or represent himself as a banker or as carrying on banking business unless—
(a) he is the holder of a licence, and
(b) he maintains a deposit in the Bank of an amount determined in accordance with section 13 of this Act.
(2) For the purposes of this Act a person shall (save as is otherwise provided by this Act) be deemed to hold himself out as a banker—
(a) if, being a body corporate carrying on any business, the name of the body includes any of the words “bank”, “banker” or “banking” or any word which is a variant, derivative or translation of or is analogous to any of those words, or
(b) if, being an individual, he carries on any business 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 word which is a variant, derivative or translation of or is analogous to any of those words, or
(c) if, being an unincorporated body of persons carrying on any business, the name under which the body carries on that 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, derivative or translation of or is analogous to 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 word which is a variant, derivative or translation of any of those words or any word or phrase analogous thereto, he holds himself out or represents himself as conducting or being willing to conduct banking business.
(3) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply during such period as may be determined by the Bank to a person who holds himself out as a banker but is not carrying on banking business and who held a banker's licence in force immediately before the commencement of this section or a licence which has been revoked.
(4) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply in relation to the Agricultural Credit Corporation, Limited, the Industrial Credit Company, Limited, the Post Office Savings Bank, a trustee savings bank certified under the Trustee Savings Banks Acts, 1863 to 1965, a building society, an industrial and provident society, a friendly society, a credit union, an investment trust company or the manager under a unit trust scheme in respect of the carrying on of the business of the scheme.
Exemption of persons from section 7.
8.—Where, by reason only of a person's use in a name or title of any of the words “bank”, “banker” or “banking” or any word which is a variant, derivative or translation of or is analogous to any of those words, the person would be deemed to be holding himself out as a banker, the Bank may exempt the person from the provisions of section 7 of this Act if, in the opinion of the Bank, the person does not in fact carry on or propose to carry on hanking business and does not otherwise hold himself out or represent himself as a banker or as carrying on banking business.
Grant of licences.
9.—(1.) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Bank may, in its discretion, grant or refuse to grant to any person applying to it for the grant thereof a licence authorising the holder to carry on banking business.
(2) The Bank shall not refuse to grant a licence without the consent of the Minister and unless it is satisfied that the grant of the licence would not be in the interest of the orderly and proper regulation of banking, and the Minister shall not grant his consent to the refusal unless he is satisfied that the grant of the licence would not be in the interest of the orderly and proper regulation of banking.
(3) Whenever the Bank proposes to refuse to grant a licence to a person—
(a) it shall notify the person in writing that it intends to seek the consent of the Minister to the refusal and of its reasons for the refusal and that the person may, within twenty-one days after the date of the giving of the notification, make representations in writing to the Minister in relation to the proposed refusal,
(b) the person may make such representations in writing to the Minister within the time aforesaid, and
(c) the Minister shall, before deciding to give or withhold his consent, consider any representations duly made to him under this subsection in relation to the proposed refusal.
(4) An application for a licence shall be in such form and contain such particulars as the Bank may from time to time determine.
(5) The grant of a licence to a person shall not constitute a warranty as to the solvency of the person to whom it is granted and the Bank shall not be liable in respect of any losses incurred through the insolvency or default of a person to whom a licence is granted.
Conditions of licences.
10.—(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, a licence shall be subject to such conditions (which expression in this and the next following subsection does not include a condition of the kind specified in subsection (4) of this section), if any, as the Bank may impose and specify at the time of the grant thereof, being conditions which in the opinion of the Bank are calculated to promote the orderly and proper regulation of banking.
(2) The conditions of a licence may be amended, revoked or added to and conditions may be imposed in relation to a licence from time to time by the Bank if in the opinion of the Bank the amendment, revocation, addition or imposition is calculated to promote the orderly and proper regulation of banking.
(3) Whenever the Bank proposes to impose a condition in relation to a licence or to amend or add to the conditions of a licence—
(a) it shall notify in writing the person who holds the licence or to whom the licence is intended to be granted that it intends to impose a condition in relation to the licence or to amend or add to the conditions of the licence, as the case may be, and of its reasons for so doing and that the person may, within twenty-one days after the date of the giving of the notification, make representations in writing to the Bank in relation to the imposition, amendment or addition, as the case may be, and shall specify in the notification, the condition or the amendment or addition, as the case may be,
(b) the person may make such representations to the Bank within the time aforesaid, and
(c) the Bank shall, before deciding to impose the condition or amend or add to the conditions of the licence, as the case may be, consider any representations duly made to it under this subsection in relation to the imposition, amendment or addition, as the case may be.
(4) (a) The Minister may by order, if the Bank so requests, provide that it shall be a condition of every licence (whether granted before or after the making of the order) that the holder thereof shall be a company.
(b) The Minister may by order, if the Bank so requests, amend or revoke an order under this subsection, including an order under this subparagraph.
(c) Licences shall have effect subject to and in accordance with the terms of any orders for the time being in force under this subsection.
(d) The Bank shall not make a request under this subsection unless it is of opinion that the grant of the request is calculated to promote the orderly and proper regulation of banking.
Revocation of licences.
11.—(1) The Bank may, with the consent of the Minister, revoke a licence—
(a) if the holder of the licence so requests,
(b) if the holder fails or ceases to carry on banking business,
(c) if the holder is adjudicated bankrupt,
(d) if the holder is a partnership and the partnership is dissolved by the death or bankruptcy of any partner, or otherwise under the law of partnership,
(e) if the holder, being a company, is being wound up,
(f) if the holder becomes unable to meet his obligations to his creditors or suspends payments lawfully due by him,
(g) if the holder fails to maintain a deposit in the Bank of an amount determined in accordance with section 13 of this Act,
(h) if the holder is convicted on indictment of an offence under any provision of this Act or an offence involving fraud, dishonesty or breach of trust,
(i) if, since the grant of the licence, the circumstances relevant to the grant have changed and are such that, if an application for a licence were made in the changed circumstances, it would be refused.
(2) Whenever the Bank proposes to revoke a licence (other than in pursuance of a request by the holder to do so)—
(a) it shall notify the holder in writing that it intends to seek the consent of the Minister to the revocation and of the reasons for the revocation and that the holder may, within twenty-one days after the date of the giving of the notification, make representations in writing to the Minister in relation to the proposed revocation,
(b) the holder may make such representations in writing to the Minister within the time aforesaid, and
(c) the Minister shall, before deciding to give or withhold his consent, consider any representations duly made to him under this subsection in relation to the proposed revocation.
(3) Where a licence is revoked, the person who was the holder shall continue to be subject to the duties and obligations imposed on him by or under the Currency and Central Bank Acts, 1927 to 1971, until any liabilities of the person in respect of deposits (including deposits on current accounts) accepted by him have been discharged to the satisfaction of the Bank, and, pending the settlement of all claims in relation to the deposits, the Bank may, subject to sections 29 and 30 of this Act, retain the full amount of the deposit of the person made with it in pursuance of section 7 of this Act.
Publication of names of holders of licences and notices of revocation of licences.
12.—(1) The Bank shall publish from time to time, but not less frequently than once a year, in such manner as it thinks fit the names of the holders of licences.
(2) The Bank shall as soon as may be after the revocation of a licence publish notice of the revocation in such manner as it thinks fit.
(3) The Bank shall keep the Registrar of the Supreme Court, the officer for the time being managing the Central Office of the High Court, each County Registrar and each District Court Clerk informed of the names of the holders of licences.
Deposits at Bank for purposes of licences.
13.—(1) The amount of a deposit maintained by a holder of a licence in the Bank pursuant to section 7 of this Act (in this section referred to as the deposit) shall be five per cent of the total deposits (including deposits on current accounts) at offices in the State of the holder but shall not be less than £20,000 nor more than £500,000.
(2) The amount of the deposit shall be calculated by the Bank as soon as may be after the commencement of this section or at the time of the application for the licence as may be appropriate and shall be re-calculated twice yearly (at intervals which, in so far as is practicable, are of equal length) by reference to returns made by the holder of the licence to the Bank under section 18 of this Act.
(3) The amount of the deposit shall, where necessary, be increased to the appropriate amount re-calculated under subsection (2) of this section by the holder of the licence concerned not later than seven days after the date of the receipt by him of notification from the Bank of the amount required to effect the increase.
(4) The Bank may settle the amount of the deposit at the nearest round figure in hundreds of pounds.
(5) The deposit shall carry interest at such a rate (not being less than the Bank's minimum rediscount rate for the time being for exchequer bills fixed and published by it under section 7 (1) (g) of the Act of 1942) and payable in such manner and at such times as may be determined by the Bank from time to time.
(6) Any charge purported to be created on the deposit shall be void.
(7) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, where the nominal value of the issued capital in stock or shares of a business—
(a) to which a licence relates or in relation to which it is proposed to grant a licence, and
(b) in relation to which a banker's licence was in force immediately before the commencement of this section,
does not exceed fifteen thousand pounds, the deposit under section 7 of this Act may, subject to the consent of the Bank and to such conditions as the Bank may impose, be made wholly or partly by depositing with the Bank securities which are equal in value to the amount of the deposit under the said section 7 or (as the case may be) to the amount of the part thereof which is not in money.
(8) The deposit shall not be subject to any form of execution in satisfaction of any claim of, or any judgment, order or decree of any court in the State in favour of, any creditor, otherwise than under and in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
Restriction on use of certain words.
14.—(1) (a) This subsection applies to a building society, an industrial and provident society, a friendly society, a credit union and an investment trust company.
(b) A person to whom this subsection applies shall not use in his or its name or description any of the words “bank”, “banker” or “banking” or any word which is a variant, derivative or translation of or is analogous to any of those words.
(2) There shall not be used in the name or description of a unit trust scheme any of the words “bank”, “banker” or “banking” or any word which is a variant, derivative or translation of or is analogous to any of those words.
Provisions in relation to incorporation of banking companies.
15.—(1) Before the incorporation of a company under the Companies Act, 1963, which, if incorporated, would, in the opinion of the registrar of companies, within the meaning of that Act, be holding itself out as a banker or have as one of its objects in its memorandum of association the carrying on of banking business, the registrar shall notify the Bank of the delivery to him of the memorandum and articles, within the meaning of that Act, of the company and shall not give a certificate of incorporation under that Act in respect of the company unless and until the Bank indicates to the registrar its willingness to grant a licence to the company or to exempt it under section 8 of this Act.
(2) Upon delivery to the said registrar of companies pursuant to section 352 of the Companies Act, 1963, of the documents specified in that section in relation to a company, the registrar shall, if the company is such that if it carried on business in the State it would be holding itself out as a banker or have as one of its objects in its memorandum of association the carrying on of banking business, notify the Bank as soon as may be of the delivery.
(3) Whenever the registrar of companies is given notice of an alteration in any instrument constituting or defining the constitution of any company, he shall inform the Bank as soon as may be of the alteration if, in the opinion of the registrar, the company would, by virtue of the alteration, be holding itself out as a banker or have as one of its objects the carrying on of banking business.
Provisions in relation to registration or change of business name.
16.—(1) The registrar for the purposes of the Registration of Business Names Act, 1963, shall notify the Bank of any proposal to register a name or a change in a name under that Act if, in the opinion of the registrar, there would, by virtue of the proposal, be in relation to the business to which the proposal relates, a holding out as a banker or as carrying on banking business and the said registrar shall not register the name or change of name unless and until the Bank indicates to him its willingness to grant a licence in respect of the business concerned or to exempt it under section 8 of this Act.
(2) The Minister for Industry and Commerce shall consult the Bank in relation to any proposal to change the name of a company (within the meaning of the Companies Act, 1963) if, in the opinion of that Minister, the company would, by virtue of the change, be holding itself out as a banker or appear to be carrying on banking business.
Provisions in relation to books and records of holders of licences.
17.—(1) A holder of a licence shall keep at an office within the State such books and records as may be specified from time to time by the Bank in the due discharge of its functions under the Currency and Central Bank Acts, 1927 to 1971, and shall notify the Bank of the address of the office at which they are kept.
(2) Different books and records may be specified by the Bank for the purposes of this section in relation to different holders of licences.
(3) (a) An officer of the Bank duly authorised in writing in that behalf by the Governor of the Bank or a person who holds a recognised qualification in accountancy duly authorised in writing in that behalf by the Governor of the Bank may, for the purpose of the performance by the Bank of its statutory functions, upon production of his authorisation, at all reasonable times, inspect and take copies of or extracts from the books and records kept pursuant to this section and any books of account kept under section 147 of the Companies Act, 1963, and for those purposes enter the office at which they are kept.
(b) A person who has in his power, possession or procurement any of the books or records aforesaid shall produce them at the request of a person duly authorised as aforesaid and permit the person to inspect and take copies of or extracts from the books or records and give to him any information which he may reasonably require with regard to any entries therein.
(4) Books and records kept pursuant to this section shall be in addition to any books or other records required to be kept by or under any other enactment.
Furnishing of information to Bank.
18.—(1) A holder of a licence and any person who carries on the business of a building society, an industrial and provident society, a credit union, an investment trust company or a unit trust scheme shall furnish to the Bank—
(i) at such times as the Bank may specify from time to time, such information and returns concerning the business to which the licence relates or the business aforesaid, as the case may be, as the Bank may specify from time to time, being information and returns which the Bank considers it necessary to have for the due performance of its statutory functions;
(ii) within such period as the Bank may specify, any information and returns (not being information or returns specified under paragraph (i) of this subsection) concerning the business to which the licence relates or the business aforesaid, as the case may be, that the Bank may request in writing, being information and returns which the Bank considers it necessary to have for the due performance of its statutory functions.
(2) A person shall not furnish information or returns under this section which he knows to be false.
(3) The manager under a unit trust scheme shall for the purpose of this section be deemed to be a person carrying on the business of the scheme.
Publication of business statements by holders of licences.
19.—(1) A holder of a licence shall publish statements in respect of the business to which the licence relates in such form and manner and at such times as may be specified by the Bank from time to time for the purpose of the performance of its statutory functions.
(2) Different forms may be specified by the Bank for the purposes of this section in relation to different holders of licences.
Displaying of financial statements by holders of licences.
20.—(1) A holder of a licence—
(a) shall display and at all times keep displayed in a conspicuous place in every office, branch or other place in which he carries on banking business and also, if the holder is 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 each of his creditors and, if the holder is a limited company incorporated in or outside the State, to each member of the company, a copy of the latest such statement.
(2) The statement required by this section to be displayed by a holder of a licence 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 may be prescribed by the Bank.
Directions by Bank to holders of licences.
21.—(1) Where the Bank is of opinion that the holder of a licence has become, or is likely to become, unable to meet his obligations to his creditors, the Bank may give a direction in writing to the holder to suspend, for such period, not exceeding two months, as shall be specified in the direction, either or both of the following, that is to say, the taking of deposits or the making of payments which have not been authorised by the Bank.
(2) The Bank may revoke a direction given under this section unless an order under subsection (4) of this section has been made in respect of the direction.
(3) The holder of a licence to whom a direction is given under subsection (1) of this section may apply to the Court for, and the Court may grant, an order setting aside the direction.
(4) The Bank may apply to the Court for, and the Court may grant, an order confirming a direction under subsection (1) of this section or confirming the direction and extending the period of its operation for such time as the Court may, having regard to all the circumstances, consider appropriate.
(5) The Court may, in addition to or in lieu of making an order under subsection (4) of this section, make such other order in relation to the matter as may appear to it to be necessary.
(6) The whole or any part of proceedings under this section or of an appeal in relation thereto may be heard in chambers.
(7) Where an order is made under subsection (4) of this section confirming and extending a direction under subsection (1) of this section—
(a) if the person to whom the direction is given is a company, the company shall be deemed, for the purpose of the law relating to companies, to be unable to pay its debts,
(b) if the person to whom the direction is given is an individual or a partnership, the individual or each partner, as the case may be, shall be deemed, for the purpose of the law relating to bankruptcy, to have committed an act of bankruptcy, and
(c) the provisions of subsections (8) to (10) of section 29 of this Act shall apply and have effect as if the references therein to orders under subsection (3) of that section included references to orders under subsection (4) of this section, the references therein to proceedings under that section included references to proceedings under this section and “or in lieu of” in subsection (8) (a) of that section were deleted.
(8) The Court may by order revoke or amend an order made by it under subsection (3), (4) or (5) of this section.
Directions by Bank in relation to advertisements of holders of licences.
22.—(1) The Bank may give a direction in writing to a holder of a licence in relation to the information which the holder shall include in any advertisement to be published by him or on his behalf or in any statement to the public to be made by him or on his behalf
(2) The Bank may give a direction to a holder of a licence to refrain from publishing or continuing to publish during such period as shall be specified in the direction an advertisement inviting deposits from the public.
(3) The Bank shall not give a direction under this section unless it is satisfied that it is desirable to do so in the interest of the orderly and proper regulation of banking.
Regulation of ratios between assets and liabilities of holders of licences.
23.—(1) The Bank may from time to time require a holder of a licence to maintain—
(a) a specified ratio,
(b) a ratio which does not exceed a specified ratio, or
(c) a ratio which is not less than a specified ratio,
between his assets and his liabilities and the specified ratio may be expressed as a percentage of the assets or liabilities concerned.
(2) A requisition under this section may be expressed to apply—
(a) in relation to all holders of licences or to holders of a specified category or specified categories,
(b) in relation to the total assets or total liabilities of the holders of licences concerned or to specified assets or assets of a specified kind or specified liabilities or liabilities of a specified kind of those holders,
(c) in relation to a specified time or times or during a specified period or periods,
and shall have effect in accordance with its terms.
(3) A requisition under this section which is in force may be revoked by the Bank or may be amended by a subsequent requisition under this section.
(4) In this section “specified” means specified by the Bank in a requisition under this section.
Power of Bank to require deposits by holders of licences in certain circumstances.
24.—(1) If at any time it should appear to the Bank that it is expedient so to do, the Bank may, with the consent of the Minister, make regulations requiring every holder of a licence to make with the Bank, in addition to the deposit under section 7 of this Act, a deposit (not bearing interest) of an amount specified in the regulations or calculated in a manner specified in the regulations if and whenever after a date specified in the regulations the assets of the holder within the State fall below such proportion in relation to his liabilities within the State as is specified in the regulations, 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 holders of licences.
Power of Bank in respect of clearances of holders of licences.
25.—(1) If at any time it should appear to the Bank that it is expedient so to do, the Bank may, with the consent of the Minister, make regulations requiring every holder of a licence to settle all or such particular class or particular classes of his clearances as may be specified in the regulations 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 such holder, for the purpose of so settling such clearances, to create and maintain with the Bank such balances as may be necessary for the purpose.
(2) If at any time it should appear to the Bank that it is expedient so to do, the Bank may, with the consent of the Minister, make regulations requiring every holder of a licence to lodge with the Bank for clearance all such instruments payable outside the State and lodged for clearance at an office in the State of the holder as may be specified in the regulations.
(3) Regulations under section 51 of the Act of 1942 in force immediately before the commencement of this Act shall continue in force and shall have effect as if made under this section and may be amended or revoked by regulations under this section.
Collection of cheques, etc., drawn on holders of licences.
26.—(1) Where an instrument to which this section applies is tendered by or on behalf of any person for collection to the holder of a licence with whom the person maintains an account (not being the holder on whom the instrument is drawn), the holder shall accept the instrument for collection and shall credit any proceeds of collection to the account aforesaid.
(2) Any charge imposed by the holder of a licence on another holder or a trustee savings bank certified under the Trustee Savings Banks Acts, 1863 to 1965, in relation to the collection of an instrument to which this section applies and the crediting of any proceeds of collection pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall be subject to the approval of the Bank.
(3) Any terms or conditions upon or subject to which a holder of a licence acts as banker for another holder of a licence or a trustee savings bank certified under the Trustee Savings Banks Acts, 1863 to 1965, shall be subject to the approval of the Bank.
(4) In considering whether to grant or withhold an approval under subsection (2) or (3) of this section, the Bank shall have regard to the desirability of ensuring fair competition between holders of licences.
(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed as conferring any title to an instrument to which this section applies on a person by or on whose behalf the instrument is tendered pursuant to subsection (1) of this section.
(6) This section applies to the following instruments, namely—
(a) bills of exchange (which expression has the same meaning in this subsection as in the Bills of Exchange Act, 1882) drawn on a holder of a licence payable on demand;
(b) any document issued by a person who maintains an account with a holder of a licence or the Bank which, though not a bill of exchange, is intended to enable a person to obtain payment from that holder or the Bank of the sum mentioned in the document;
(c) any draft payable on demand drawn by a holder of a licence upon himself, whether payable at the head office or some other office of his bank;
(d) any document issued by a public officer which is intended to enable a person to obtain payment from a Minister of State of the sum mentioned in the document;
(e) any document issued by a person who maintains an account with a trustee savings bank certified under the Trustee Savings Banks Acts, 1863 to 1965, which is intended to enable a person to obtain payment from the bank of the sum mentioned in the document.
Restriction on advertising for deposits.
27.—(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, a person shall not advertise for or otherwise solicit deposits on his own behalf or on behalf of any other person.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to advertising for or otherwise soliciting deposits—
(a) by the holder of a licence or the Bank or a person to whom, by virtue of section 7 (4) of this Act, section 7 (1) of this Act does not apply, or
(b) by any person on behalf of a person specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection.
(3) In this section—
“deposits” does not include deposits with a trader by persons employed by him in his trading business or by his customers in the normal course of his trading business or deposits in respect of the letting or selling of goods under a hire-purchase agreement or a credit-sale agreement;
“solicit deposits” includes publish or display any matter soliciting deposits whether by notice, circular, photograph, cinematograph film, sound broadcasting, television, personal canvassing or otherwise.
Provisions in relation to judgments against holders of licences.
28.—(1) Whenever a person (in this section referred to as a judgment creditor) obtains in any court in the State a judgment, order or decree against the holder of a licence (in this section referred to as a judgment debtor) for the payment of a sum of money due to the judgment creditor by the judgment debtor in his capacity as a banker—
(a) the registrar or clerk of the court concerned shall notify the Bank as soon as may be of the judgment, order or decree and of its terms and of any appeal against the judgment, order or decree and of the result thereof,
(b) subject to paragraph (c) of this subsection, if within the period of twenty-one days beginning on the date of the judgment, order or decree, the judgment debtor does not pay all moneys due (or, in the case of costs, at the option of the judgment debtor, give security therefor in lieu of payment), or satisfy all claims, under the judgment, order or decree, the provisions of paragraph (e) of this subsection shall apply upon the expiration of such period,
(c) if an appeal is instituted in any court against the judgment, order or decree, that court or the court by which the judgment, order or decree was made may by order postpone the application of paragraph (e) of this subsection for such period and, subject to paragraph (d) of this subsection, on such terms as the court concerned may fix and specify in the order,
(d) if a court makes an order under paragraph (c) of this subsection, it may require the judgment debtor to whom the order relates either, as the court thinks fit, to lodge in court an amount equal to the amount of all moneys due under the judgment, order or decree (or such lesser amount as the court may direct) or give such security as the court may determine for the payment to the judgment creditor of all such moneys, together with, in either case, such further sum or security for the costs of the appeal as the court shall consider just,
(e) the judgment debtor shall be deemed to be unable to meet his obligations to creditors, and—
(i) if the judgment debtor is a company, the judgment debtor shall be deemed, for the purpose of the law relating to companies, to be unable to pay its debts,
(ii) if the judgment debtor is an individual, he shall be deemed, for the purpose of the law relating to bankruptcy, to have committed an act of bankruptcy,
(iii) if the judgment debtor is a partnership, each of the partners shall be deemed, for the purpose of the law relating to bankruptcy, to have committed an act of bankruptcy,
(f) an order under paragraph (c) of this subsection may be revoked or varied by the court that made it or before which an appeal in relation to it is brought.
(2) An act of bankruptcy which is deemed by virtue of subsection (1) of this section to have been committed by a judgment debtor may be availed of within the period of six months from the date of such act by any creditor with a sufficient debt for the purpose of having the judgment debtor adjudicated bankrupt.
Proceedings in relation to deposits under section 7.
29.—(1) Whenever a person obtains a judgment, order or decree in any court in the State against the holder of a licence for payment of a deposit (including a deposit on current account) maintained by or for him with the holder, or institutes proceedings against the holder claiming such payment, the person or any other person maintaining a deposit with the holder—
(a) may by motion ex parte apply to the Court for an order under subsection (2) of this section, and
(b) on satisfying the registrar or clerk of the court in which the judgment, order or decree was obtained or the proceedings were instituted that he proposes to make an application under this section, shall be entitled to obtain a certificate signed by the registrar or clerk and stating that the judgment, order or decree has been obtained or that the proceedings were instituted, as the case may be, and the certificate shall be evidence of the facts so stated therein.
(2) Where an application is made under subsection (1) of this section—
(a) the Court may by order direct that the deposit or any part thereof maintained in the Bank by the holder of a licence to whom the application relates under section 7 of this Act be not released during such period as the Court may deem proper and specify in the order, and
(b) if the person making the application has obtained a judgment, order or decree against the holder and it appears to the Court, after such enquiry as it deems appropriate, either—
(i) that it is unlikely that further claims will be made against the deposit in respect of sums then owed by the holder, or
(ii) that, if such claims are made, the deposit is sufficient to meet them in full,
the Court may by order direct that the sum specified in the judgment, order or decree (as the case may be), with or without the costs of the application, shall be paid to the person out of the deposit.
(3) Where an order is made under subsection (2) (a) of this section, the Court may also make an order directing either—
(a) that persons carrying on banking business shall not, except subject to such conditions or in such circumstances as may be specified in the order, make any payment out of any banking account kept in the name of the person against whom the order is made, or
(b) that a specified person or persons carrying on banking business shall not, except subject to such conditions or in such circumstances as may be specified in the order, make any payment out of any banking account or out of a specified banking account or type of banking account kept in the name of the person against whom the order is made by the person or persons specified.
(4) Where—
(a) a judgment, order or decree of the kind referred to in subsection (1) of this section having been obtained against the holder of a licence, an order is made under subsection (2) (a) of this section on the application of the person who obtained the judgment, order or decree, or
(b) an order is made under subsection (3) of this section,
the following provisions shall have effect—
(i) in case the holder is a company, the holder shall be deemed, for the purpose of the law relating to companies, to be unable to pay its debts,
(ii) in case the holder is a partnership, each of the partners shall be deemed, for the purpose of the law relating to bankruptcy, to have committed an act of bankruptcy,
(iii) in any other case, the holder shall be deemed, for the purpose of the law relating to bankruptcy, to have committed an act of bankruptcy.
(5) If an appeal is instituted in the Supreme Court—
(a) against an order of the Court made under subsection (2) (a) or subsection (3) of this section on the application of a person who has obtained a judgment, order or decree of the kind referred to in subsection (1) of this section, or
(b) against an order of the Court made under subsection (3) of this section on the application of a person who has instituted proceedings of the kind referred to in subsection (1) of this section,
subsection (6) and, where appropriate, subsection (7) of this section shall apply.
(6) The Supreme Court or the Court may by order postpone the application of subsection (4) of this section for such period and, subject to subsection (7) of this section in the case of an appeal referred to in subsection (5) (a) of this section, on such terms as the court concerned may fix and specify in the order.
(7) If the Supreme Court or the Court makes an order under subsection (6) of this section in the case of an appeal referred to in subsection (5) (a) of this section, the court concerned may require the holder of a licence to whom the order relates either, as the court thinks fit, to lodge in court an amount equal to the amount of all the moneys due under the judgment, order or decree (or such lesser amount as the court may direct) or to give such security as the court may direct for the payment of all such moneys, together with, in either case, such further sum or security for costs of the appeal as the court shall consider just.
(8) (a) In addition to or in lieu of making an order under subsection (3) of this section, the Court may, notwithstanding anything contained in the law relating to bankruptcy or the law relating to companies, of its own motion and after giving to the holder of a licence against whom the order is made or sought, and to any other person to whom it considers notice should be given, such notice as it considers reasonable—
(i) in case the holder is a company, make an order for its winding up and for the appointment of the Official Assignee as liquidator of the company.
(ii) in case the holder is a partnership, by order adjudicate each of the partners bankrupt,
(iii) in any other case, adjudicate the holder bankrupt.
(b) Where the Official Assignee is appointed liquidator under paragraph (a) of this subsection—
(i) the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (d) of section 228 of the Companies Act, 1963, shall not apply to him,
(ii) the exercise of his powers and the performance of his duties as liquidator (including the making of payments from and the distribution of any deposit maintained under section 7 of this Act which becomes vested in him) shall for all purposes be deemed to be business assigned to the Office of the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy and transacted therein.
(9) Where, in proceedings under this section, the holder of a licence is adjudicated bankrupt, the law relating to bankruptcy (including this Act) shall apply in the same way as if the holder had been adjudicated bankrupt on a petition of bankruptcy under that law and as if for any reference in that law to the presentation or filing of a petition of bankruptcy there were substituted a reference to the making of the order of adjudication under this section.
(10) Where, in proceedings under this section in which the holder of a licence against whom they are brought is a company, a winding up order is made, the law relating to companies (including this Act) shall apply in the same way as if the order had been made on a winding up petition under that law and as if for any reference in that law to the presentation of the winding up petition there were substituted a reference to the making of the winding up order under this section.
(11) An order under subsection (2) (a), (3) or (6) of this section may be revoked or varied by the Court or the Supreme Court, as the case may be.
(12) The whole or any part of proceedings under this section or of an appeal in relation thereto may be heard in chambers.
(13) In this and in the next following section “the Official Assignee” means the person who is for the time being the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy.
Provisions in relation to bankruptcy and winding up.
30.—Where—
(a) an individual is the holder of a licence and is adjudicated bankrupt,
(b) a partnership is the holder of a licence and each of the partners thereof is adjudicated bankrupt,
(c) a partnership is the holder of a licence and the partnership is dissolved by the bankruptcy of any partner and the licence is revoked, or
(d) a company is the holder of a licence, is insolvent and is being wound up,
the following provisions shall have effect:
(i) in the case of the individual or partnership, the amount deposited by him or it with the Bank under section 7 of this Act together with any interest accrued thereon shall vest in the Official Assignee,
(ii) in the case of the company—
(I) in case the Official Assignee is the liquidator of the company, the amount deposited by it under the said section 7 together with any interest accrued thereon shall vest in the Official Assignee, and
(II) in any other case, the Court may, on the application of the liquidator of the company, order that the amount deposited by it with the Bank under the said section 7 together with any interest accrued thereon shall vest in the liquidator by his official name and thereupon the said amount and interest shall vest accordingly,
(ii) the Official Assignee or the liquidator shall pay from the amount vested in him as aforesaid to the persons maintaining deposits with the holder (including deposits on current accounts) the amount of each deposit (including interest credited to such persons) remaining due by the holder to such persons, account having been taken of any sums due by such persons to the holder in respect of the business to which the licence relates, or, if the amount vested in him as aforesaid is insufficient for such purpose, the Official Assignee or the liquidator shall distribute it to such persons in proportion to the amount of each such deposit remaining due as aforesaid, and, before making such payments or distribution, the Official Assignee or the liquidator shall pay or retain out of the amount vested in him as aforesaid—
(I) any costs, fees and expenses incurred by or payable to the Official Assignee or the liquidator (in case the Official Assignee is the liquidator) in relation to the amount aforesaid and to the payments or distribution to such persons, and
(II) such costs and expenses, if any, of the liquidator (in case the Official Assignee is not the liquidator) in relation to the amount aforesaid and to the payments or distribution to such persons as the Court may allow,
(iv) any balance of the amount aforesaid vested in the Official Assignee or the liquidator shall be used—
(I) first, towards satisfying any claim in relation to interest payable by the holder by agreement on amounts deposited with the holder, and
(II) secondly, towards paying interest at such rate as the Court may consider reasonable (but not exceeding the average rate of interest payable by agreement by the holder on amounts deposited with the holder) on amounts deposited with such holder in respect of which there is no agreement providing for the payment of interest by the holder,
and any amount remaining after such use of the said balance shall be paid to the general estate of the holder,
(v) if the total amount vested in the Official Assignee or the liquidator as aforesaid is not sufficient to discharge the claims of the persons among whom he is required by paragraph (iii) of this section to distribute it, those persons may claim as ordinary creditors of the holder in respect of the unsatisfied portion of their claims.
Duties of holder of licence on termination of banking business.
31.—(1) Where a holder of a licence ceases in circumstances other than those specified in paragraphs (a) to (d) of section 30 of this Act to carry on banking business, he shall, as soon as may be, notify all persons having deposits (including deposits on current accounts) with him of such cesser and he shall, if any such person so demands, pay to that person forthwith the amount of his deposit together with the amount of any interest accrued thereon.
(2) Where a holder of a licence proposes to cease carrying on banking business, he shall notify the Bank in writing of the proposal not less than three months before the date of the cesser.
(3) This section does not apply in relation to a cesser occasioned by the transfer of the business to which a licence relates to another holder of a licence.
PART III
Transfers of Banks
Interpretation (Part III).
32.—In this Part—
“security” includes a mortgage (whether legal or equitable), charge, debenture, bill of exchange, promissory note, guarantee, lien, pledge or other means of securing the payment of a debt whether present or future, or the discharge of an obligation or liability whether actual or contingent;
“the transferor”, “the transferee” and “the transfer date” have the meanings assigned to them by section 33 of this Act.
Approval by Minister of transfer of bank.
33.—(1) Whenever the holder of a licence (in this Part referred to as the transferor) agrees to transfer, in whole or in part, to another holder of a licence (in this Part referred to as the transferee) the business to which the licence relates—
(a) the transferor and transferee may, not less than four months before the date on which the transfer is intended to take effect (in this Part referred to as the transfer date), submit to the Minister for his approval a scheme for the transfer,
(b) the transferor and transferee shall, not less than one month before the transfer date, publish notice of the transfer in at least one daily newspaper published in the State,
(c) the Minister, after consultation with the Bank, may, not less than two months before the transfer date, either approve of or decline to approve of the scheme by order,
(d) if the Minister approves of the scheme under this section, the provisions of sections 34 to 39 and 42 of this Act shall, if, and to the extent only that, the scheme so provides, have effect in relation to the transfer,
(e) the Minister may, at the request of the transferor and transferee, include in an order approving of the scheme under paragraph (c) of this subsection such incidental, consequential and supplemental provisions as he thinks appropriate for facilitating and implementing the transfer and securing that it shall be fully and effectively carried out, including provisions for substituting the name of the transferee for the transferor or otherwise adapting references to the transferor in any statute or instrument made under statute.
(2) An order under subsection (1) of this section or under this subsection may, after consultation with the Bank and with the consent of the transferor and the transferee to whom it relates, be amended by the Minister by order.
Transfer of accounts.
34.—Any account which is included in the business agreed to be transferred and is between the transferor and any person at any office or branch of the transferor in the State shall be transferred or deemed to be transferred to the transferee on the transfer date and become as and from that date an account between the transferee and that person with the same rights and subject to the same obligations and incidents (including rights of set-off) as would have been applicable thereto if such account between the transferor and the person had continued and any order, instruction, direction, mandate or authority given, whether before or after that date, by that person in relation to such account or any obligation entered into by the transferor in relation to any person and subsisting at that date shall apply and have effect after the transfer of the account to the transferee as aforesaid, and any moneys owing on such account by that person to the transferor at that date shall become due and payable by that person to the transferee instead of to the transferor, and any moneys owing on such account by the transferor to that person at that date shall become due and payable by the transferee to that person instead of by the transferor.
Transfer of securities.
35.—Any security held by the transferor in connection with the business agreed to be transferred as security for the payment of the debts or liabilities (whether present or future, actual or contingent) of any person at any office or branch of the transferor shall be transferred or deemed to be transferred on the transfer date and be held by and be available to the transferee as security for the payment of such debts and liabilities to the transferee; and where the moneys secured by such a security include future advances to or liabilities of any person, the said security shall as from that date be held by and be available to the transferee as security for future advances to that person by and future liabilities of that person to the transferee to the same extent to which future advances by or liabilities to the transferor were secured thereby immediately before that date.
Rights and obligations in relation to transferred securities.
36.—The transferee shall, in relation to any security transferred or deemed to have been transferred to the transferee in accordance with J or by virtue of the provisions of section 35 of this Act and the moneys thereby secured in accordance with those provisions, be entitled to the same rights and priorities and subject to the same obligations and incidents as the transferor would have been entitled and subject to if the same had continued to be held by the transferor, and in relation thereto the following provisions shall have effect—
(a) the transfer of any such security effected or deemed to be effected by section 35 of this Act shall not require registration under or in pursuance of the Registration of Deeds Act, 1707, the pre-Union Irish statute 33 Geo. 2, c. 14 (Ir.), the Registration of Title Act, 1964, or section 99 of the Companies Act, 1963, but shall operate for the purposes of those Acts as if it were made by deed duly registered on the transfer date under or in pursuance of whichever of those Acts may be applicable thereto;
(b) where section 35 of this Act effects an extension of or in relation to any such security so as to include future advances by or future liabilities to the transferee, such extension shall not require registration under or in pursuance of the Registration of Deeds Act, 1707, the Bills of sale (Ireland) Acts, 1879 and 1883, the Registration of Title Act, 1964, or section 99 of the Companies Act, 1963, but shall operate for the purposes of those Acts as if it were made by deed duly registered on the transfer date under or in pursuance of whichever of those Acts may be applicable thereto.
Transfer in the case of property held on bailment.
37.—The custody of any document, goods or other property held by the transferor in connection with the business agreed to be transferred as bailee for any other person at any office or branch of the transferor in the State shall be transferred or deemed to be transferred to the transferee on the transfer date and the rights and obligations of the transferor under any contract of bailment relating to the document, goods or property shall be transferred or deemed to be transferred on that date to the transferee.
Transfer of officers, clerks and servants.
38.—(1) Any officer (other than a director or auditor), clerk or servant in the service or employment of the transferor and agreed by the transferor and transferee to be transferred under this section in connection with the business to be transferred shall on the transfer date be transferred from the service or employment of the transferor to and become an officer, clerk or servant (as the case may be) of the transferee with the same rights and subject to the same obligations and incidents in respect of such service or employment as he would have had or been subject to as an officer, clerk or servant of the transferor.
(2) Every such officer, clerk or servant as aforesaid who is a member of or entitled to benefit under a pension or superannuation scheme of the transferor and every officer, clerk or servant who was formerly employed by the transferor in connection with the business agreed to be transferred and is a member of or entitled to benefit under any such scheme shall with effect from the transfer date become a member of and entitled to the corresponding benefit under a corresponding pension or superannuation scheme of the transferee on terms not less favourable than those under the first mentioned scheme and any person who is, by reason of the membership of or entitlement to benefit under the first mentioned scheme of any officer, clerk or servant employed or formerly employed in connection with the business agreed to be transferred, entitled to benefit thereunder, shall be entitled with effect from the transfer date to the corresponding benefit under the said corresponding scheme on terms not less favourable than those under the first mentioned scheme.
(3) Any benefit payable under a pension or superannuation scheme of the transferor to the personal representative (in his capacity as personal representative) of any deceased officer, clerk or servant formerly employed in the business agreed to be transferred and remaining unpaid on the transfer date shall become and be payable on that date by the transferee or under a corresponding pension or superannuation scheme of the transferee.
(4) Service or employment with the transferor shall, for the purpose of ascertaining and calculating the right to benefit under any such corresponding scheme, be taken into account as if it were service or employment with the transferee but the transfer of service or employment from the transferor to the transferee shall not, of itself, give rise to any claim to benefit under any such scheme.
(5) The Minister may, at the request of the transferor and transferee, include in the order under section 33 of this Act such provisions as he thinks appropriate for transferring the whole or any part of the property and assets of any pension or superannuation scheme of the transferor to a corresponding pension or superannuation scheme of the transferee and vesting it in the trustees or other persons charged with the administration of such corresponding scheme and for winding-up, dissolving, terminating or modifying any such scheme of the transferor and the scheme shall have effect in accordance with any such provisions, any such scheme of the transferor being wound up, dissolved, terminated or modified, as the case may be.
(6) In this section—
“benefit” means any pension, annuity, lump sum, gratuity or other like payment given on retirement or payable after retirement in respect of past service or on or in connection with death during service or after retirement;
“pension or superannuation scheme of the transferor” means a scheme, arrangement or fund established in connection with the business of the transferor for the provision of benefit for the officers, clerks or servants (as the case may be) of the transferor or their dependants on their retirement or death;
“pension or superannuation scheme of the transferee” means a scheme, arrangement or fund established in connection with the business of the transferee for the provision of benefit for the officers, clerks or servants (as the case may be) of the transferee or their dependants on their retirement or death.
Application of certain instruments.
39.—Where
(a) the business agreed to be transferred consists of or includes the business of acting as trustee, executor, guardian or in any other fiduciary capacity, and
(b) the transferor was or is granted probate or administration or appointed trustee, executor, guardian or in any other fiduciary capacity by an instrument consisting of—
(i) an order of a court,
(ii) a trust deed, settlement, covenant or agreement, or
(iii) a will, codicil or other testamentary instrument,
or
by any testamentary act other than those aforesaid (whether the instrument or act was made, executed or done before or after the transfer date),
the instrument or act shall as from the transfer date be read and construed and have effect as if for any reference therein to the transferor there were substituted a reference to the transferee.
Application of Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1879.
40.—(1) The Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1879, shall continue to apply with respect to any books of the transferor transferred to the transferee in connection with the business agreed to be transferred and to entries made in those books before the transfer date.
(2) In this section “books” includes ledgers, day books, cash books, account books and all other books and records used in the ordinary business of the transferor before the appointed day.
Continuance of pending legal proceedings.
41.—Where, immediately before the transfer date, any legal proceedings are pending to which the transferor is a party and the proceedings have reference to the business agreed to be transferred, the name of the transferee shall on the transfer date be substituted for that of the transferor and the proceedings shall not abate by reason of such substitution.
Exemptions from stamp duty.
42.—(1) Section 12 of the Finance Act, 1895, shall not apply to the vesting in the transferee of any property of the transferor by virtue of this Act.
(2) Stamp duty shall not be charged on any agreement made between the transferor and the transferee for the transfer, in whole or in part, to the transferee of the business to which the licence held by the transferor relates.
(3) Stamp duty shall not be charged on any instrument executed in order to supplement the transfers effected or deemed to be effected by sections 34 and 35 of this Act.
PART IV
Currency
Standard of value.
43.—(1) The standard unit of value of the State shall be the Irish pound having a par value of 2.13281 grams of fine gold which shall be issued in the form of a legal tender note.
(2) The Government may by order, after consultation with the Bank, change the par value specified in subsection (1) of this section.
(3) The Government may by order, after consultation with the Bank, amend or revoke an order under this section, including this subsection.
(4) Whenever an order under this section is in force, subsection (1) of this section shall have effect in accordance with the terms of the order.
(5) Every order under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made.
Issue of legal tender notes by Bank.
44.—It shall be lawful for the Bank to issue legal tender notes to any person on demand or to the general fund against—
(a) gold bullion, or
(b) any currency, security or other form of asset which may be held as part of the capital of the legal tender note fund in accordance with section 61 of the Act of 1927, as amended by sections 2 and 3 of the Currency (Amendment) Act, 1930,
delivered to it in such manner and subject to such conditions as it may prescribe.
Amendment of section 49 of Act of 1927.
45.—Section 49 of the Act of 1927 is hereby amended by—
(a) the substitution for subsections (1) and (2) of the following subsections:
“(1) The holder of a legal tender note of any denomination shall be entitled, on demand made by him during office hours at the office of the Bank in Dublin, to receive in exchange for the note a legal tender note or legal tender notes to the same total value.
(2) Every legal tender note shall be exchangeable on presentation at the London Agency for money in any form which is for the time being legal tender in Great Britain for unlimited amounts.
(2A) The Bank may, if and whenever and to such extent as it thinks fit, exchange any legal tender notes presented to it for exchange at the office of the Bank in Dublin for money in any form which is for the time being legal tender in Great Britain for unlimited amounts, or for a draft on London or, subject to and in accordance with the Exchange Control Acts, 1954 to 1970, for other foreign currencies.”,
and
(b) the substitution of “exchange” for “redeem” in subsection (3) and “exchanged” for “redeemed” in subsections (3) and (4).
Amendment of section 50 of Act of 1927 and of section 5 of the Currency (Amendment) Act, 1930.
46.—(1) Section 50 of the Act of 1927 is hereby amended by the substitution of “exchange” for “redemption” in each place where it occurs in subsections (1) and (2).
(2) Section 5 (3) of the Currency (Amendment) Act, 1930, is hereby amended by the substitution of “exchange” for “redeem” in each place where it occurs.
PART V
Miscellaneous
Additional powers and functions of Bank.
47.—It shall be lawful for the Bank, for the purposes of or through the general fund, to exercise and carry out, in addition to those functions specifically assigned to it by the Currency and Central Bank Acts, 1927 to 1971, powers and functions of a kind which, in accordance with normal banking practice, may be exercised and carried out by banks or bankers.
Central Bank Reserve Bonds.
48.—(1) The Bank may issue through the general fund securities (which shall be known as Central Bank Reserve Bonds and are in this section referred to as bonds) in its own name in exchange for such currency or currencies as the Bank may specify.
(2) The issue, holding and sale of any bonds shall be on and subject to such terms and conditions as the Bank may determine at the time of the issue of those bonds, including terms and conditions fixing the issue price of the bonds, the rate of interest to be paid thereon, the dates of payment of the interest thereon and the date of maturity of the bonds.
(3) The Bank shall not issue bonds to any person other than a holder of a licence.
(4) Bonds shall be registered in the Bank.
(5) A holder of bonds may transfer them to any other holder of a licence but shall not transfer them to any other person.
(6) The Bank may purchase bonds from a holder thereof and shall cancel any bonds it purchases.
(7) Stamp duty shall not be chargeable on the issue, assignment, negotiation or redemption of bonds.
Transfer of Exchequer Account to Bank.
49.—(1) The Exchequer Account in the Bank of Ireland shall be transferred to the Bank and, accordingly, references in sections 10, 11, 13 and 15 of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act, 1866, to the Bank of Ireland shall be construed as references to the Bank.
(2) This section shall come into operation on such day as the Minister appoints by order under this section.
Transfer of land bond registers to Bank.
50.—(1) Notwithstanding anything in the Land Purchase Acts or in any order under those Acts the registers of land bonds kept by the Bank of Ireland shall be transferred to the Bank.
(2) This section shall come into operation on such day as the Minister appoints by order under this section.
Provisions relating to Bank of Ireland.
51.—(1) Nothing in the Chater, the Bank's Acts or the Act of 1929 shall operate—
(a) to Prevent a general court from time to time by resolution—
(i) altering the objects of the Bank of Ireland by abandoning, restricing or amending any existing object or by adopting a new object, or
(ii) making such provision as it thinks fit in relation to the management of the affairs of or the conduct of the business of the Bank of Ireland (including, in particular, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, provision relating to the Directors (including the Governor and Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ireland) of the Bank of Ireland or general courts or proceedings or voting thereat), or
(b) to prevent the Bank of Ireland from engaging in and carrying on any business specified in any such resolution and from doing anything incidental or ancillary to any such business.
(2) If any application is made to the Court in accordance with this section for the annulment of a resolution under subsection (1) of this section (in the subsequent provisions of this section referred to as a resolution), it shall not have effect except in so far as it is confirmed by the Court.
(3) Subject to subsection (4) of this section, an application under this section may be made by the holders of not less in the aggregate than 15 per cent in nominal value of the issued capital stock and any issued share capital of the Bank of Ireland.
(4) An application in relation to a resolution shall not be made under this section by any person who has consented to or voted in favour of the resolution.
(5) An application under this section shall be made within 21 days after the date on which the resolution was passed and may be made on behalf of the persons entitled to make the application by such one or more of their number as they may appoint in writing for the purpose.
(6) On an application under this section, the Court may make an order annulling the resolution or confirming the resolution either wholly or in part and on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit, and may, if it thinks fit, adjourn the proceedings in order that an arrangement may be made to the satisfaction of the Court for the purchase of the interests of dissentient members of the Bank of Ireland, and may give such directions and make such orders as it may think expedient for facilitating or carrying into effect any such arrangement so, however, that no part of the capital of the Bank of Ireland shall be expended in any such purchase.
(7) Where a resolution is passed—
(a) if no application is made with respect thereto under this section, the Bank of Ireland shall, within 15 days from the end of the period for making such an application, deliver to the registrar of companies, within the meaning of the Companies Act, 1963, a printed copy of the resolution; and
(b) if such an application is made, the Bank of Ireland shall—
(i) forthwith give notice of that fact to the registrar; and
(ii) within 15 days from the date of any order annulling or confirming the resolution, deliver to the registrar an office copy of the order and, in the case of an order confirming the resolution, a printed copy of the resolution.
The Court may by order at any time extend the time for delivery of documents to the registrar under paragraph (b) of this subsection for such period as the Court may think proper.
(8) If the Bank of Ireland makes default in giving notice or delivering any document to the registrar as required by subsection (7) of this section, the Bank of Ireland and every officer of the Bank of Ireland who is in default shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds.
(9) In this section—
“the Act of 1929” means the Bank of Ireland Act, 1929,
“the Bank's Acts”, “the Charter”, and “general court” have the same meanings, respectively, as in the Act of 1929.
Amendment of Moneylenders Acts, 1900 and 1933.
52.—(1) The Moneylenders Acts, 1900 and 1933, shall not apply in relation to the holder of a licence or a trustee savings bank certified under the Trustee Savings Banks Acts, 1863 to 1965.
(2) Section 6 (d) of the Moneylenders Act, 1900, is hereby amended by the deletion of “banking or”.
Directors of Bank.
53.—(1) Section 5 of the Act of 1942 is hereby amended—
(a) by the substitution of “two” for “three” in subsection (3) (b), and
(b) by the substitution of “six” for “five” in subsection (3) (c).
(2) The banking Directors shall be appointed, after consultation by the Minister with the Governor, from among persons who at the time of the appointment hold office as directors of an Associated Bank.
(3) If and whenever a banking Director ceases to hold office as a director of an Associated Bank, he shall forthwith become and be disqualified from holding the office of banking Director.
(4) (a) Subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall come into operation on the first day (not being earlier than the day appointed under section 1 (3) of this Act) upon which a person who is a banking Director ceases to hold that office.
(b) Subsection (3) of this section shall not apply in relation to a person who holds office as a banking Director on the day appointed under the said section 1 (3) during the term of office for which he was so appointed.
Superannuation.
54.—(1) Notwithstanding anything in section 3 of the Central Bank Act, 1961, an amendment under that Act of the scheme made pursuant to section 33 (1) (c) of the Act of 1942 may provide that an award may be made under that scheme to or in relation to a person who is less than sixty years of age when he ceases to hold office as Governor for reasons other than death, infirmity of mind or body or abolition of office, if he has completed one term of office as Governor.
(2) The Bank may from time to time, with the approval of the Minister, make a scheme amending a scheme under section 31 (4) of the Act of 1927 or section 33 (1) (c) of the Act of 1942 or a scheme under this subsection and a scheme under this subsection may, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, provide for the granting of superannuation benefits (including pensions, allowances and gratuities) to widows and children of persons to whom those schemes apply and for the payment of contributions in respect of such benefits by the persons to whom those schemes apply.
(3) Every scheme under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and if either House, within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the scheme is laid before it, passes a resolution annulling the scheme, the scheme shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.
Return of deposits under Act of 1942.
55.—Upon the repeal of section 42 of the Act of 1942, the Accountant of the Courts of Justice shall return, as soon as may be, to any person who kept a deposit in the Court pursuant to that section immediately before such repeal the deposit and any accrued interest or income due thereon.
Amendment of Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1879.
56.—Section 9 (inserted by the Bankers' Books Evidence (Amendment) Act, 1959) of the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1879, is hereby amended by the insertion after subsection (3) of the following subsection:
“(4) A certificate which—
(a) purports to be signed by an officer of the Bank, and
(b) certifies that a licence was granted under section 9 of the Central Bank Act, 1971, to a specified person,
shall be prima facie evidence of the licence for the purposes of this Act, and it shall not be necessary to prove the signature of the officer or that he was in fact an officer of the Bank.”
Amendment of section 14 of Decimal Currency Act, 1970.
57.—Section 14 of the Decimal Currency Act, 1970, is hereby amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (1):
“(1) Without prejudice to section 2 of this Act, section 10 of the Currency Act, 1927, shall be construed as continuing to permit contracts, sales, payments, bills, notes, instruments, and securities for money, and every transaction, dealing, matter, and thing whatever relating to money or involving the payment or the liability to pay any money to be made, executed, entered into, done or had according to the old currency, the new currency or the currency of some state or country other than the State, subject to the proviso that section 13 of this Act shall apply in relation to any amount in the old currency which is not a whole number of pounds and which is or becomes due for payment on or after the appointed day.”
Offences and punishments.
58.—(1) Any person who contravenes section 7, 14, 17, 18 or 27 of this Act and a holder of a licence who—
(a) contravenes section 19, 20, 26, 31 or 33 of this Act,
(b) commits a breach of a condition attached to a licence,
(c) fails to comply with a direction under section 21 or 22 of this Act, or a requisition under section 23 of this Act, or
(d) contravenes regulations under section 24 or 25 of this Act,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable—
(i) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds, or
(ii) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding five thousand pounds,
and, if the contravention, breach or failure in respect of which he was convicted is continued after the conviction, he shall be guilty of a further offence and shall be liable on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty pounds for each day on which the contravention, breach or failure was so continued.
(2) Where there is a contravention in relation to a unit trust scheme of section 14 (2) of this Act, the manager under the scheme shall be deemed to have contravened section 14 of this Act.
Prosecution of offences by Bank.
59.—An offence under this Act which is being tried summarily may be prosecuted by the Bank.
Offences in relation to certain bodies.
60.—Where an offence under this Act is committed by a body corporate or by a person purporting to act on behalf of a body corporate or an unincorporated body of persons and is proved to have been so committed with the consent or approval of, or to have been facilitated by any wilful neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary, member of any committee of management or other controlling authority of such body or official of such body, such person shall also be guilty of the offence.
SCHEDULE
Enactments Repealed
Session and Chapter or Number and Year | Short Title | Extent of Repeal |
6 Geo. 4, c. 42 | Bankers (Ireland) Act, 1825. | The whole Act. |
11 Geo. 4 and 1 Will. 4, c. 32 | Banks (Ireland) Act, 1830. | The whole Act. |
1 and 2 Vict., c. 96 | Joint Stock Banks Act, 1838. | The whole Act. |
8 and 9 Vict., c. 37 | Bankers (Ireland) Act, 1845. | Section 22. |
No. 32 of 1927 | Sections 4 to 9; sections 11 to 13, and sections 37 and 42; the words “in the same manner and to the same extent and as fully as gold coins to be issued under Part II of this Act will when so issued be current” in section 45 (1); section 47; the words “at their face value in gold coins which are for the time being legal tender under this Act in Saorstát Éireann for unlimited amounts or in money in any form which is for the time being legal tender in Great Britain for unlimited amounts or” and “or, if the person presenting such notes so agrees, by a draft on London” in section 48; section 50 (4). | |
No. 22 of 1942 | Section 23 (2); the words “having regard to the prevailing standards of the Associated Banks in fixing the remuneration, allowances and conditions of service of their directors” in section 23 (4); sections 26 and 27; Parts V and VI. |