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Uimhir 31 de 1987
AN tACHT UM CHLEACHTAIS SRIANTA (LEASÚ), 1987
RIAR NA nALT
Réamhráiteach agus Ginearálta
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Leasú ar an bPríomh-Acht agus ar Acht 1978
5. | An Coimisiún Cóir-Thrádála agus an Stiúrthóir Gnóthaí Tomhaltóirí agus Cóir-Thrádála. |
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Leasú ar Achtacháin áirithe eile
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33. | Orduithe faoin Acht um Fhaisnéis do Thomhaltóirí,1978, nó faoi Acht 1980. |
34. | Leasú ar alt 31 den Acht Marcanna Earraí Ceannaíochta, 1931. |
Ilghnéitheach
Achtacháin agus Ionstraimí Reachtúla faoina bhféadfaidh an Stiúrthóir ionchúisimh achoimre a thionscnamh.
Aisghairm Achtachán
Cúlghairm Ionstraimí Reachtúla
Na hAchtanna dá dTagraítear | |
Na hAchtanna um Fhianaise Leabhar Baincéirí, 1879 agus 1959 | |
Na hAchtanna Marcanna Earraí Ceannaíochta, 1887 go 1978 | |
An tAcht um Chumaisc, Táthcheangail agus Monaplachtaí (Rialú), 1978 | |
Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851 | 1851, c. 93 |
Sale of Goods Act, 1893 | 1893, c. 71 |
Na hAchtanna Aoisliúntas, 1934 go 1963 | |
Na hAchtanna um Bainc Thaisce Iontaobhais, 1863 go 1965 | |
Weights and Measures Act, 1878 | 1878, c. 49 |
Weights and Measures Act, 1889 | 1889, c. 21 |
Uimhir 31 de 1987
AN tACHT UM CHLEACHTAIS SRIANTA (LEASÚ), 1987
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
CUID I
Réamhráiteach agus Ginearálta
Gearrtheideal, comhlua agus forléiriú.
1.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht um Chleachtais Srianta (Leasú), 1987, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Féadfar na hAchtanna um Chleachtais Srianta, 1972 agus 1987, a ghairm den Phríomh-Acht agus d'ailt 10 go 23 den Acht seo, le chéile, agus forléireofar le chéile iad mar aon ní amháin.
(3) Féadfar na hAchtanna um Chumaisc, Táthcheangail agus Monaplachtaí (Rialú), 1978 agus 1987, a ghairm d'Acht 1978 agus d'ailt 24, 25 agus 26 den Acht seo, le chéile, agus forléireofar le chéile iad mar aon ní amháin.
Léiriú.
2.—(1) San Acht seo—
ciallaíonn “Acht 1978” an tAcht um Chumaisc, Táthcheangail agus Monaplachtaí (Rialú), 1978;
ciallaíonn “Acht 1980” an tAcht um Dhíol Earraí agus Soláthar Seirbhísí, 1980;
ciallaíonn “an Coimisiún” an Coimisiún Cóir-Thrádála;
ciallaíonn “an Stiúrthóir” sealbhóir oifig an Stiúrthóra Gnóthaí Tomhaltóirí a bunaíodh le halt 9 den Acht um Fhaisnéis do Thomhaltóirí, 1978, agus ar a dtugtar an Stiúrthóir Gnóthaí Tomhaltóirí agus Cóir-Thrádála de bhua alt 5 (2) den Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “an Scrúdaitheoir” an Scrúdaitheoir Cleachtas Srianta;
folaíonn ‘feidhmeanna” cumhachtaí agus dualgais;
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála;
ciallaíonn “an Príomh-Acht” an tAcht um Chleachtais Srianta, 1972.
(2) Aon tagairt san Acht seo d'alt is tagairt í d'alt den Acht seo mura léirítear gur tagairt d'fhoráil éigin eile atá beartaithe.
(3) Aon tagairt san Acht seo d'fho-alt is tagairt í don fho-alt den alt ina bhfuil an tagairt mura léirítear gur tagairt d'fhoráil éigin eile atá beartaithe.
Aisghairm agus cúlghairm.
3.—Déantar leis seo na hachtacháin agus na hionstraimí reachtúla (de réir bhrí an Achta Ionstraimí Reachtúla, 1947) a shonraítear sa Dara Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo a aisghairm nó a chúlghairm ó thráth thosach feidhme an Achta seo a mhéid a shonraítear sa tríú colún den Sceideal sin.
Tosach feidhme.
4.—Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i ngníomh cibé lá a cheapfaidh an tAire le hordú.
CUID II
Leasú ar an bPríomh-Acht agus ar Acht 1978
An Coimisiún Cóir-Thrádála agus an Stiúrthóir Gnóthaí Tomhaltóirí agus Cóir-Thrádála.
5.—(1) An Coimisiún Cóir-Thrádála a thabharfar ar an gCoimisiún Cleachtas Srianta.
(2) Oifig an Stiúrthóra Gnóthaí Tomhaltóirí agus Cóir-Thrádála a thabharfar ar oifig an Stiúrthóra Gnóthaí Tomhaltóirí agus an Stiúrthóir Gnóthaí Tomhaltóirí agus Cóir-Thrádála a thabharfar ar shealbhóir na hoifige.
Feidhmeanna an Scrúdaitheora a aistriú chuig an Stiúrthóir.
6.—(1) Déantar leis seo na feidhmeanna a dílsíodh don Scrúdaitheoir leis an bPríomh-Acht agus le halt 10 d'Acht 1978 a aistriú chuig an Stiúrthóir.
(2) Déanfar tagairtí don Scrúdaitheoir sa Phríomh-Acht nó in aon ordú arna dhéanamh faoi, agus in alt 10 d'Acht 1978 agus san Acht seo a fhorléiriú, ach amháin mar a n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt, mar thagairtí don Stiúrthóir.
(3) Más rud é go raibh, díreach roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo, aon imeachtaí dlíthiúla ar feitheamh ar páirtí iontu an Scrúdaitheoir, agus go bhfuil tagairtí sna himeachtaí d'fheidhmeanna a aistrítear leis an alt seo chuig an Stiúrthóir, déanfar ainm an Stiúrthóra, sa mhéid go mbaineann na himeachtaí le haon fheidhmeanna a aistrítear leis an alt seo, a chur in ionad ainm an Scrúdaitheora sna himeachtaí nó a chur isteach sna himeachtaí, de réir mar is cuí, agus ní rachaidh na himeachtaí ar ceal mar gheall ar an ionadú sin.
(4) Aon ní ar chuir an Scrúdaitheoir tús leis, nó ar cuireadh tús leis ar údarás uaidh, roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo féadfaidh an Stiúrthóir, sa mhéid go mbaineann an ní sin le feidhmeanna a aistrítear leis an alt seo chuig an Stiúrthóir, é a dhéanamh agus a chríochnú ar an tosach feidhme sin nó dá éis.
(5) Gach doiciméad a deonaíodh nó a rinneadh i bhfeidhmiú feidhme a aistrítear leis an alt seo beidh éifeacht leis, i gcás go raibh sé agus sa mhéid go raibh sé i ngníomh díreach roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo, amhail ar an tosach feidhme sin agus dá éis amhail is dá mba é an Stiúrthóir a rinne é.
Feidhmeanna an Scrúdaitheora a aistriú chuig an gCoimisiún.
7.—(1) Déantar leis seo na feidhmeanna a dílsíodh don Scrúdaitheoir le hAcht 1978, seachas le halt 10 den Acht sin, a aistriú chuig an gCoimisiún.
(2) Déanfar tagairtí don Scrúdaitheoir in Acht 1978 nó in aon ordú arna dhéanamh faoi, seachas in alt 10 den Acht sin, a fhorléiriú mar thagairtí don Choimisiún.
(3) Más rud é go raibh, díreach roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo, aon imeachtaí dlíthiúla ar feitheamh ar páirtí iontu an Scrúdaitheoir, agus go bhfuil tagairtí sna himeachtaí d'fheidhmeanna a aistrítear leis an alt seo chuig an gCoimisiún, déanfar ainm an Choimisiúin, sa mhéid go mbaineann na himeachtaí le haon fheidhmeanna a aistrítear leis an alt seo, a chur in ionad ainm an Scrúdaitheora sna himeachtaí nó a chur isteach sna himeachtaí, de réir mar is cuí, agus ní rachaidh na himeachtaí ar ceal mar gheall ar an ionadú sin.
(4) Aon ní ar chuir an Scrúdaitheoir tús leis, nó ar cuireadh tús leis ar údarás uaidh, roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo féadfaidh an Coimisiún, sa mhéid go mbaineann an ní sin le feidhmeanna a aistrítear leis an alt seo chuig an gCoimisiún, é a dhéanamh agus a chríochnú ar an tosach feidhme sin nó dá éis.
(5) Gach doiciméad a deonaíodh nó a rinneadh i bhfeidhmiú feidhme a aistrítear leis an alt seo beidh éifeacht leis, i gcás go raibh sé agus sa mhéid go raibh sé i ngníomh díreach roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo, amhail ar an tosach feidhme sin agus dá éis amhail is dá mba é an Coimisiún a rinne é.
Orduithe a bhaineann le cleachtais srianta.
8.—(1) D'ainneoin aon ní sa Phríomh-Acht, aon uair is dóigh leis an Aire gur fóirsteanach déanamh amhlaidh, d'fhonn rialáil rianúil chuí a dhéanamh ar iomaíocht, féadfaidh sé, le hordú, tar éis dó dul i gcomhairle leis an gCoimisiún, leis an Stiúrthóir agus le haon Aire Rialtais eile lena mbaineann, na nithe seo a leanas go léir, nó aon ní acu, a dhéanamh i ndáil le hearraí agus seirbhísí, eadhon:
(a) toirmeasc a chur ar chleachtais srianta, lena n-áirítear comhshocraíochtaí, comhaontuithe nó comhthuiscintí a choisceann nó a shrianann iomaíocht nó a choinníonn siar trádáil nó soláthar aon seirbhíse nó a bhfuil cothabháil praghais athdhíola i gceist iontu;
(b) toirmeasc a chur ar chleachtais neamhchóra nó ar mhodhanna neamhchóra iomaíochta (cibé acu a bhaineann siad le praghas nó nach mbaineann);
(c) cibé foráil a dhéanamh a mheasann an tAire is gá chun cothrom a áirithiú do gach duine maidir le soláthar nó imdháileadh earraí nó le soláthar seirbhísí;
(d) cibé foráil eile is cuí leis a dhéanamh maidir le cleachtais srianta nó cleachtais neamhchóra nó modhanna neamhchóra iomaíochta (cibé acu a bhaineann siad le praghas nó nach mbaineann) a dhéanann difear do sholáthar agus imdháileadh earraí nó do sholáthar seirbhísí.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, ordú faoin alt seo a chúlghairm nó a leasú.
(3) Ní bheidh éifeacht le hordú faoin alt seo mura mbeidh sé daingnithe le hAcht den Oireachtas ach, ar é a bheith daingnithe amhlaidh, beidh feidhm dlí aige de réir a théarmaí.
(4) An duine a sháróidh (cibé acu trí ghníomh nó trí neamhghníomh) aon fhoráil d'ordú faoin alt seo a bheidh i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire beidh sé ciontach i gcion faoin bPríomh-Acht agus measfar chun críocha alt 23 den Acht sin gur cion faoin Acht sin an cion.
(5) Beidh feidhm ag ailt 5, 10, 19, 22 agus 24 den Phríomh-Acht maidir le hordú faoin alt seo.
Seirbhís arna soláthar faoi chonradh fostaíochta.
9.—D'ainneoin aon ní san Acht seo nó sa Phríomh-Acht, ní bheidh soláthar seirbhíse, is seirbhís a chuirtear ar fáil faoi chonradh fostaíochta, ina ábhar do rialacha cóir-chleachtais faoi alt 4 den Phríomh-Acht, ná ina ábhar d'fhiosrúchán faoi alt 5 den Acht sin, ná ina ábhar d'imscrúdú faoi alt 14 den Acht sin ach amháin le ceadú roimh ré i scríbhinn ón Aire arna thabhairt le toiliú an Aire Saothair.
Leasú ar alt 1 den Phríomh-Acht.
10.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 1 den Phríomh-Acht tríd an míniú nua seo a leanas a chur in ionad an mhínithe ar “seirbhís”:
“folaíonn ‘seirbhís’ aon seirbhís ghairmiúil ach ní fholaíonn sé aon seirbhís arna soláthar ag údarás áitiúil de réir bhrí alt 2 den Acht Rialtais Áitiúil, 1941.”.
Leasú ar alt 4 den Phríomh-Acht.
11.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 4 den Phríomh-Acht trí “as a stuaim féin nó” a chur isteach i bhfo-alt (1) i ndiaidh “Féadfaidh an Coimisiún,” agus tá an fo-alt sin (1), arna leasú amhlaidh, leagtha amach sa Tábla a ghabhann leis an alt seo.
AN TÁBLA |
(1) Féadfaidh an Coimisiún, as a stuaim féin nó ar mholadh an Scrúdaitheora nó ar iarratas ó chomhlachas a bheidh ionadaitheach do dhaoine a bhíonn ag gabháil do sholáthar agus d'imdháil earraí nó do sholáthar seirbhísí, rialacha a ullmhú agus a fhoilsiú a dhéanann, dar leis an gCoimisiún, léiriú ar dhálaí cóirchleachtais maidir le soláthar agus imdháil na n-earraí sin nó le soláthar na seirbhísí sin. |
Leasú ar alt 5 den Phríomh-Acht.
12.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 5 den Phríomh-Acht tríd an mír seo a leanas a chur in ionad mhír (a) d'fho-alt (1):
“(a) Ar mholadh ón Scrúdaitheoir nó ar iarratas ón Aire déanfaidh an Coimisiún agus, ar iarratas ó aon duine ar dhiúltaigh an Scrúdaitheoir d'iarratas uaidh ar fhiosrúchán, nó as a stuaim féin, féadfaidh an Coimisiún, a chur faoi deara go gcuirfear fiosrúchán ar bun—
(i) i dtaobh na ndálaí atá ann maidir le soláthar agus imdháileadh aon chineál earraí nó maidir le gné amháin nó níos mó de sholáthar agus d'imdháileadh cineál nó cineálacha earraí,
(ii) i dtaobh na ndálaí atá ann maidir le soláthar aon seirbhíse nó maidir le gné amháin nó níos mó de sholáthar cineál nó cineálacha seirbhíse, nó
(iii) i dtaobh gné amháin nó níos mó d'oibriú ordaithe faoi alt 8.”.
Leasú ar alt 6 den Phríomh-Acht.
13.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 6 den Phríomh-Acht tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (2):
“(2) Má bhíonn tuarascáil tugtha ag an Stiúrthóir don Choimisiún faoi alt 14 den Acht seo maidir le hábhair is dóigh leis an gCoimisiún is iomchuí d'fhiosrúchán beartaithe, beidh i bhfógra arna thabhairt faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo ráiteas go bhféadfaidh páirtí leasmhar cóip den tuarascáil a fháil ón gCoimisiún ar é a iarraidh.”.
Leasú ar alt 8 den Phríomh-Acht.
14.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 8 den Phríomh-Acht tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (4):
“(4) Má mholann an Coimisiún, i dtuarascáil don Aire, go ndéanfaí ordú agus más rud é, i ndeireadh tréimhse dhá mhí dhéag tar éis dó an tuarascáil a fháil, nach mbeidh an t-ordú déanta ag an Aire déanfaidh sé, laistigh de lá is fiche tar éis na tréimhse sin a dúradh, ráiteas i scríbhinn a leagan faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas ina dtabharfar na fáthanna nach ndearna sé an t-ordú.”.
Leasú ar alt 10 den Phríomh-Acht.
15.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 10 den Phríomh-Acht trí “Déanfaidh an Coimisiún, ar mholadh ón Scrúdaitheoir nó ar iarratas ón Aire, agus féadfaidh siad, as a stuaim féin, léirbhreithniú speisialta a sheoladh” a chur in ionad “Ar mholadh ón Scrúdaitheoir nó ar iarratas ón Aire arna tharchur ag an Scrúdaitheoir, déanfaidh an Coimisiún léirbhreithniú speisialta” i bhfo-alt (1), agus tá an fo-alt sin, arna leasú amhlaidh, leagtha amach sa Tábla a ghabhann leis an alt seo.
AN TÁBLA |
(1) Déanfaidh an Coimisiún, ar mholadh ón Scrúdaitheoir nó ar iarratas ón Aire, agus féadfaidh siad, as a stuaim féin, léirbhreithniú speisialta a sheoladh ar oibriú ordaithe faoi alt 8. |
Leasú ar alt 12 den Phríomh-Acht.
16.—Leasaítear leis seo an Príomh-Acht trí na fo-ailt seo a leanas a chur isteach in alt 12:
“(2) Féadfaidh an Coimisiún, chun críocha a bhfeidhmeanna le linn staidéar nó taifeach a bheith á dhéanamh acu faoin alt seo, a éileamh ar aon duine aon doiciméad atá faoina chumhacht nó faoina urláimh a thabhairt ar aird don Choimisiún nó aon fhaisnéis a thabhairt don Choimisiún a éileoidh an Coimisiún le réasún.
(3) Aon duine a dhiúltóidh aon doiciméad atá faoina chumhacht nó faoina urláimh a thabhairt ar aird don Choimisiún nó aon fhaisnéis a thabhairt don Choimisiún a éileoidh siad, le réasún, beidh sé, faoi réir fho-alt (4), ciontach i gcion.
(4) (a) Aon duine a mbeidh éileamh déanta air faoi fho-alt (2), féadfaidh sé iarratas a dhéanamh chun na hArd-Chúirte ar dhearbhú faoin alt seo.
(b) Aon duine a mbeidh éileamh déanta air faoi fho-alt (2), agus a dhiúltóidh déanamh de réir an éilimh sin, féadfaidh sé, laistigh de 7 lá ón diúltú sin, iarratas a dhéanamh chun na hArd-Chúirte ar dhearbhú faoin alt seo.
(c) Tar éis don Ard-Chúirt éisteacht a thabhairt do cibé fianaise a bheidh tugtha ar aird agus d'aon uiríll a bheidh déanta ag an gCoimisiún agus ag duine dá dtagraítear i mír (a) den fho-alt seo, féadfaidh sí, dá rogha féin, a dhearbhú nach gá ar mhaithe le leas an phobail go bhfeidhmeodh an Coimisiún na cumhachtaí a thugtar dóibh leis an alt seo, agus ar an dearbhú sin a bheith déanta tarraingeoidh an Coimisiún siar an t-éileamh iomchuí faoin alt seo.”.
Leasú ar alt 14 den Phríomh-Acht.
17.—Leasaítear leis seo an Príomh-Acht tríd an alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad alt 14:
“Cumhachtaí etc. an Stiúrthóra. | 14.—(1) Féadfaidh an Stiúrthóir agus, ar iarraidh ón Aire nó ón gCoimisiún, ní mór dó— (a) imscrúdú a dhéanamh faoi aon ghné de sholáthar nó d'imdháileadh earraí nó de sholáthar seirbhíse, (b) imscrúdú a dhéanamh faoi aon ghné d'oibriú ordaithe faoin Acht seo, (c) imscrúdú a dhéanamh sa Stát faoi aon ghné de sholáthar nó d'imdháileadh earraí nó de sholáthar seirbhíse ag duine lasmuigh den Stát. (2) Féadfaidh an Stiúrthóir imscrúdú a dhéanamh faoi aon ghné d'oibriú rialacha cóir-chleachtais. (3) I gcás go ndéanfaidh an Stiúrthóir imscrúdú faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo, ar iarraidh ón Aire nó ón gCoimisiún, tabharfaidh sé tuarascáil faoina imscrúdú don Aire nó don Choimisiún de réir mar is cuí. (4) Ní chuirfidh aon ní san alt seo cosc ar an Stiúrthóir tuarascáil faoi imscrúdú ar bith a dhéanfaidh sé faoin alt seo a thabhairt don Aire nó don Choimisiún.”. |
Leasú ar alt 15 den Phríomh-Acht.
18.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 15 den Phríomh-Acht—
(a) trí “, nó feidhmiú aon fheidhme dá gcuid ag an gCoimisiún,” a chur isteach i ndiaidh “Scrúdaitheoir” i bhfo-alt (1) d'alt 15, agus tá an fo-alt sin, arna leasú amhlaidh, leagtha amach sa Tábla a ghabhann leis an alt seo,
AN TÁBLA |
(1) D'fhonn aon eolas a fháil is gá le haghaidh feidhmiú aon fheidhme dá chuid ag an Scrúdaitheoir, nó feidhmiú aon fheidhme dá gcuid ag an gCoimisiún, faoin Acht seo féadfaidh oifigeach údaraithe, ar a údaraíocht a thabhairt ar aird má iarrtar sin air— (a) dul isteach, gach tráth réasúnach in áitreabh agus é a iniúchadh is áitreabh ina mbíonn aon ghníomhaíocht á seoladh i ndáil le gnó soláthair nó imdhála earraí nó soláthair seirbhíse, nó i ndáil le heagrú daoine nó le cabhrú le daoine atá ag gabháil d'aon ghnó den sórt sin, (b) a cheangal ar an duine ag a mbíonn aon ghníomhaíocht den sórt sin á seoladh agus ar aon duine a bheidh fostaithe i ndáil léi aon leabhair, doiciméid nó taifid a bhaineann leis an ngníomhaíocht sin agus a mbeidh cumhacht nó urláimh ag an duine sin orthu a thabhairt ar aird don oifigeach údaraithe, agus cibé eolas a thabhairt don oifigeach údaraithe a bheidh ag teastáil uaidh go réasúnach i dtaobh aon iontrálacha i leabhair, doiciméid agus taifid den sórt sin, (c) aon leabhair, doiciméid agus taifid den sórt sin a iniúchadh agus cóipeanna díobh a dhéanamh nó sleachta a bhaint astu, (d) a cheangal ar dhuine a luaitear i mír (b) aon eolas a thabhairt don oifigeach údaraithe a bheidh ag teastáil uaidh maidir leis na daoine ag a mbeidh gníomhaíocht den sórt sin á seoladh (lena n-áirítear, go háirithe, i gcás comhlacht neamhchorpraithe daoine, eolas maidir lena chomhaltas agus a choiste bainistíochta nó údarás rialúcháin eile) nó a bheidh fostaithe i ndáil léi, (e) a cheangal ar dhuine a bheidh luaite i mír (b) aon eolas a thabhairt don oifigeach údaraithe a bheidh ag teastáil go réasúnach ón oifigeach maidir leis an ngníomhaíocht sin. |
agus
(b) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (6):
“(6) San alt seo ciallaíonn ‘oifigeach údaraithe’ duine a bheidh údaraithe i scríbhinn ag an Stiúrthóir nó ag comhalta den Choimisiún chun críocha an Achta seo.”.
Leasú ar alt 18 den Phríomh-Acht.
19.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 18 den Phríomh-Acht tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (1):
“(1) Déanfaidh an tAire cóip den tuarascáil a bheidh déanta ag an gCoimisiún ar gach fiosrúchán faoi alt 5 nó alt 9 agus ar gach léirbhreithniú speisialta faoi alt 10 a leagan faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas laistigh de cheithre mhí tar éis dó an tuarascáil sin a fháil.”.
Leasú ar alt 19 den Phríomh-Acht.
20.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 19 den Phríomh-Acht trí “an Stiúrthóra nó” a chur isteach i ndiaidh “fhoriarratas” agus tá an t-alt, arna leasú amhlaidh, leagtha amach sa Tábla a ghabhann leis an alt seo.
AN TÁBLA |
19. Is dleathach do chúirt dlínse inniúla urghaire a dheonú ar fhoriarratas an Stiúrthóra nó an Aire nó aon duine eile d'fhonn tabhairt go ndéanfaí de réir téarmaí ordaithe faoi alt 8 a bheidh i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire d'ainneoin go mbeidh chuige sin ábhar ann d'imeachtaí éigin eile, sibhialta nó coiriúil. |
Leasú ar alt 23 den Phríomh-Acht.
21.—Leasaítear leis seo an Príomh-Acht tríd an alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad alt 23:
“23.—(1) Gach duine a dhéanfaidh cion faoin Acht seo nach bhforáiltear pionós speisialta ina leith—
(a) dlífear, ar é a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £500 (agus ina theannta sin, i gcás ciona leanúnaigh, fíneáil nach mó ná £50 in aghaidh gach lae a leanfar den chion) nó, de rogha na Cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná sé mhí, nó an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile, a chur air, nó
(b) dlífear, ar é a chiontú ar díotáil, fíneáil nach mó ná £10,000 (agus ina theannta sin, i gcás ciona leanúnaigh, fíneáil nach mó ná £1,000 in aghaidh gach lae a leanfar den chion) nó, de rogha na Cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná dhá bhliain, nó an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile, a chur air.
(2) (a) I gcás duine a chiontú i gcion faoin Acht seo mar gheall ar é do mhainniú, d'fhaillí nó do dhiúltú déanamh de réir forála in ordú á cheangal air gníomh sonraithe a dhéanamh laistigh de thréimhse shonraithe nó roimh dháta sonraithe agus go bhfanfaidh an gníomh sin gan déanamh aige tar éis dáta an chiontaithe sin beidh an duine sin ciontach i gcion agus ar é a chiontú ann go hachomair dlífear fíneáil a chur air nach mó ná £50 in aghaidh gach lae, tar éis dáta an chiontaithe chéadluaite sin, a fhanfaidh an gníomh gan déanamh aige nó, de rogha na Cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná sé mhí.
(b) Is cion leanúnach cion faoin bhfo-alt seo agus dá réir sin féadfar imeachtaí nua a thionscnamh ina leith ó am go ham.”.
Leasú ar alt 24 den Phríomh-Acht.
22.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 24 den Phríomh-Acht—
(a) trí “an Stiúrthóir” a chur in ionad “an tAire” i bhfo-alt (1), agus tá an fo-alt, arna leasú amhlaidh, leagtha amach sa Tábla a ghabhann leis an alt seo, agus
(b) trí “d'ocht mí dhéag” a chur in ionad “de dhá mhí dhéag” i bhfo-alt (2), agus tá an fo-alt, arna leasú amhlaidh, leagtha amach sa Tábla a ghabhann leis an alt seo.
AN TÁBLA |
(1) Féadfaidh an Stiúrthóir imeachtaí achomaire a thabhairt ar aghaidh i leith ciona faoin Acht seo. (2) D'ainneoin alt 10 (4) den Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, féadfar imeachtaí achomaire i leith ciona faoin Acht seo a thionscnamh laistigh d'ocht mí dhéag ón lá is déanaí a rinneadh an cion. |
Leasú ar an gCéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an bPríomh-Acht.
23.—Leasaítear leis seo an Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an bPríomh-Acht—
(a) i mír 5—
(i) trí “a dtéarmaí” a chur in ionad “a téarmaí” i bhfomhír (1),
(ii) trí “neamhranníocach” a scriosadh i bhfomhír (1),
(iii) trí “nó scéimeanna” a chur isteach i ndiaidh “scéim” i bhfomhír (1),
(iv) trí “nó scéimeanna” a chur isteach i ndiaidh “scéim” i bhfomhír (2), agus
(b) i mír 9 trí “nó le haon Acht eile a thugann cumhachtaí, dualgais agus feidhmeanna don Choimisiún” a chur isteach i ndiaidh “leis an Acht seo” i bhfomhír (1),
agus tá ná fomhíreanna sin arna leasú amhlaidh leagtha amach sa Tábla a ghabhann leis an alt seo.
AN TÁBLA |
5. (1) Déanfaidh an tAire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, scéim nó scéimeanna a cheapadh agus a chur i gcrích de réir a dtéarmaí a luaithe is féidir chun pinsin, aiscí nó liúntais eile a dheonú do chomhaltaí nó i leith comhaltaí an Choimisiúin a scoirfidh de bheith i seilbh oifige seachas comhaltaí a bhféadfar dámhachtain a dhéanamh ina leith faoi na hAchtanna Aoisliúntas, 1834 go 1963. (2) I gcás comhalta den Choimisiún a ceapadh ina chomhalta den Choimisiún Cóir-Thrádála an 26ú lá de Shamhain, 1969, agus a bhí roimh an gceapadh sin ina chomhalta den Údarás Forbartha Tionscail, beidh foráil i scéim nó scéimeanna faoin mír seo chun go ndéanfar seirbhís ag an duine sin i gcáil inphinsin mar chomhalta den Údarás Forbartha Tionscail a áireamh mar sheirbhís mar chomhalta den Choimisiún. 9. (1) Ní nochtfaidh duine ar bith eolas a bhí ar fáil aige de bhua na gcumhachtaí chun eolas a fháil a thugtar leis an Acht seo nó le haon Acht eile a thugann cumhachtaí, dualgais agus feidhmeanna don Choimisiún nó trína bheith i láthair ag cruinniú den Choimisiún a comóradh go príobháideach. |
Leasú ar alt 1 d'Acht 1978.
24.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 1 d'Acht 1978 tríd an míniú nua seo a leanas a chur in ionad an mhínithe ar “seirbhís”:
“folaíonn ‘seirbhís’ aon seirbhís ghairmiúil, ach ní fholaíonn sé—
(i) aon seirbhís a sholáthraíonn sealbhóir ceadúnais faoi alt 9 d'Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1971,
(ii) aon seirbhís a sholáthraíonn banc taisce iontaobhais atá deimhnithe faoi na hAchtanna um Bainc Thaisce Iontaobhais, 1863 go 1965,
(iii) aon seirbhís a sholáthraítear faoi chonradh fostaíochta,
(iv) aon seirbhís a sholáthraíonn údarás áitiúil de réir bhrí alt 2 den Acht Rialtais Áitiúil, 1941.”.
Leasú ar alt 8 d'Acht 1978.
25.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 8 d'Acht 1978 tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur isteach ann:
“(4) Féadfaidh an Coimisiún, chun críche an ailt seo, comhalta amháin nó níos mó dá gcuid comhaltaí a cheapadh chun imscrúdú a dhéanamh agus tuarascáil air a thabhairt de réir an ailt seo agus féadfaidh siad ceapacháin éagsúla a dhéanamh le haghaidh imscrúduithe éagsúla agus féadfaidh siad ceapachán a chúlghairm.”.
Leasú ar alt 13 d'Acht 1978.
26.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 13 d'Acht 1978—
(a) trí “ón Stiúrthóir nó” a chur isteach i ndiaidh “fhoriarratas” i mír (a) d'fho-alt (1), agus tá an mhír sin, arna leasú amhlaidh, leagtha amach sa Tábla a ghabhann leis an alt seo, agus
(b) trí “an Stiúrthóir” a chur in ionad “an tAire” i mír (a) d'fho-alt (5), agus tá an mhír sin, arna leasú amhlaidh, leagtha amach sa Tábla a ghabhann leis an alt seo.
AN TÁBLA |
(1) (a) Is dleathach do chúirt dlínse inniúla urghaire a dheonú ar fhoriarratas ón Stiúrthóir nó ón Aire nó ó aon duine eile chun a cheangal go ndéanfar de réir téarmaí de chuid ordú faoi alt 9 nó 11 a bheidh i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire. (5) (a) Féadfaidh an Stiúrthóir imeachtaí achomaire i ndáil le cion faoin alt seo a thabhairt ar aghaidh. |
CUID III
Leasú ar Achtacháin áirithe eile
Leasú ar alt 2 den Acht Praghsanna, 1958.
27.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 2 den Acht Praghsanna, 1958, tríd an míniú seo a leanas a chur isteach i ndiaidh an mhínithe ar “oifigeach údaraithe”, eadhon, “ciallaíonn ‘an Stiúrthóir’ sealbhóir oifig an Stiúrthóra Gnóthaí Tomhaltóirí a bunaíodh le halt 9 den Acht um Fhaisnéis do Thomhaltóirí, 1978; agus ar a dtugtar an Stiúrthóir Gnóthaí Tomhaltóirí agus Cóir-Thrádála de bhua alt 5 (2) den Acht um Chleachtais Srianta (Leasú), 1987;”.
Leasú ar alt 24 den Acht Praghsanna, 1958.
28.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 24 (arna leasú leis an Acht Praghsanna (Leasú), 1965) den Acht Praghsanna, 1958, trí “nó ón Stiúrthóir” a chur isteach i ndiaidh “ón Aire” i bhfo-alt (1), agus tá an fo-alt, arna leasú amhlaidh, leagtha amach sa Tábla a ghabhann leis an alt seo.
AN TÁBLA |
(1) Féadfaidh oifigeach údaraithe, d'fhonn aon eolas a fháil a theastóidh ón Aire nó ón Stiúrthóir chun go bhféadfaidh sé a fheidhmeanna faoin Acht seo a fheidhmiú aon ní nó nithe acu seo a leanas a dhéanamh— (a) dul isteach gach tráth réasúnach in áitreabh ina mbíonn aon ghníomhacht á seoladh i ndáil le gnó ag monarú, ag próisiú, ag pacáistiú, ag soláthar nó ag imdháil earraí nó le gnó ag déanamh seirbhíse nó ag déanamh oibre nó próisis nó i ndáil le heagrú daoine, nó le cabhrú le daoine, a bhíonn ag gabháil d'aon ghnó den tsórt sin, agus an t-áitreabh d'iniúchadh, (b) a cheangal ar an duine a sheolann an ghníomhacht sin agus ar aon duine atá fostaithe i ndáil leis sin aon leabhair, doiciméid nó taifid a bhaineann leis an ngníomhacht sin agus atá ar chumas an duine sin nó faoina urláimh a thabhairt ar aird dó agus pé eolas a thabhairt dó a theastóidh uaidh le réasún maidir le haon iontrála sna leabhair, sna doiciméid nó sna taifid sin, (c) na leabhair, na doiciméid nó na taifid sin a iniúchadh agus cóipeanna díobh a dhéanamh nó sleachta a thógáil astu, (d) a cheangal ar an duine sin aon eolas a thabhairt dó a theastóidh uaidh le réasún maidir leis na daoine a bheidh ag seoladh na gníomhachta sin (lena n-áirítear, go háirithe, i gcás comhlucht neamhchorpraithe daoine, eolas i dtaobh a chomhaltais agus a choiste bhainistí nó údaráis rialaithe eile) nó a bheidh fostaithe i ndáil léi, (e) a cheangal ar an duine sin aon eolas eile a thabhairt dó a theastóidh uaidh le réasún maidir leis an ngníomhacht sin. |
Leasú ar alt 28 den Acht Praghsanna, 1958.
29.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 28 den Acht Praghsanna, 1958, trí “nó an Stiúrthóir” a chur isteach i ndiaidh “an tAire” i bhfo-alt (1), agus tá an fo-alt sin arna leasú amhlaidh leagtha amach sa Tábla a ghabhann leis an alt seo.
AN TÁBLA |
(1) Féadfaidh an tAire nó an Stiúrthóir imeachta i leith ciona faoi aon alt den Acht seo a thionscnamh agus a thabhairt ar aghaidh. |
Leasú ar an Acht um Fhaisnéis do Thomhaltóirí, 1978.
30.—Leasaítear leis seo an tAcht um Fhaisnéis do Thomhaltóirí, 1978
(a) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (1) d'alt 13:
“(1) I gcás fógrán a fhoilsiú i ndáil le haon earraí, seirbhísí, cóiríocht nó saoráidí a sholáthar nó a chur ar fáil agus gan ainm agus seoladh an duine a thug an foilsiú sin i gcrích nó ainm agus seoladh a ghníomhaire ann, déanfaidh foilsitheoir an fhógráin, i gcás an Stiúrthóir nó oifigeach don Aire á iarraidh sin laistigh de 12 mhí ó dháta an fhógráin a fhoilsiú, ainm agus seoladh an duine sin nó a ghníomhaire a thabhairt don Stiúrthóir nó don oifigeach.”,
(b) tríd an alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad alt 16:
“16. (1) San alt seo ciallaíonn ‘oifigeach údaraithe’ oifigeach lánaimseartha don Aire a bheidh údaraithe i scríbhinn ag an Aire nó ag an Stiúrthóir chun na cumh achtaí a thugtar leis an alt seo a fheidhmiú chun críche na nAchtanna, an Achta um Dhíol Earraí agus Soláthar Seirbhísí, 1980, na n-achtachán agus na Rialachán a shonraítear sa Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht um Chleachtais Srianta (Leasú), 1987, agus an Achta seo.
(2) Tabharfar do gach oifigeach údaraithe barantás a cheaptha mar oifigeach údaraithe ina dtaispeánfar an t-achtachán nó an ionstraim reachtúil faoina bhfuil sé ag gníomhú agus, le linn dó bheith ag feidhmiú aon chumhachta a thugtar dó le fo-alt (3) den alt seo, cuirfidh sé teideal an achtacháin lena mbaineann an t-imscrúdú in iúl d'aon duine lena mbaineann agus, má iarrtar air déanamh amhlaidh, tabharfaidh sé an barántas ar aird don duine sin.
(3) D'fhonn aon fhaisnéis a fháil a bheidh ag teastáil lena chumasú don Aire nó don Stiúrthóir, de réir mar a bheidh, a fheidhmeanna a fheidhmiú faoi na hAchtanna, faoin Acht um Dhíol Earraí agus Soláthar Seirbhísí, 1980, faoi na hachtacháin nó na Rialacháin a shonraítear sa Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht um Chleachtais Srianta (Leasú), 1987, agus faoin Acht seo, féadfaidh oifigeach údaraithe, ar údarú an oifigigh a thabhairt ar aird, má iarrtar sin air—
(a) dul isteach gach tráth réasúnach in áitreabh ina seoltar aon trádáil nó gnó nó aon ghníomhaíocht i ndáil le trádáil nó gnó agus an t-áitreabh agus aon earraí san áitreabh a iniúchadh, agus aon chuid de na hearraí a thabhairt leis ar íoc astu nó ar thairiscint íoc astu,
(b) a cheangal ar aon duine a sheolann an trádáil, an gnó nó an ghníomhaíocht sin agus ar aon duine ar fostú i ndáil leis sin aon leabhair, doiciméid nó taifid a bhaineann leis an trádáil, leis an ngnó nó leis an ngníomhaíocht sin atá faoi chumhacht nó faoi rialú an duine sin a thabhairt ar aird don oifigeach agus cibé faisnéis a theastóidh uaidh le réasún a thabhairt dó maidir le haon iontrálacha sna leabhair, sna doiciméid agus sna taifid sin,
(c) na leabhair, na doiciméid agus na taifid sin a iniúchadh agus cóipeanna a dhéanamh díobh nó sleachta a thógáil astu,
(d) a cheangal ar aon duine den sórt sin aon fhaisnéis a theastóidh ón oifigeach a thabhairt don oifigeach i dtaobh na ndaoine a sheolann an trádáil, an gnó nó an ghníomhaíocht sin (lena n-áirítear, go háirithe, i gcás comhlachta neamhchorpraithe daoine, faisnéis i dtaobh chomhaltas an chomhlachta agus i dtaobh a choiste bainistí nó a údaráis rialaithe eile) nó atá ar fostú i ndáil leis sin,
(e) a cheangal ar aon duine den sórt sin aon fhaisnéis eile a theastóidh le réasún ón oifigeach maidir leis an ngníomhaíocht sin a thabhairt don oifigeach.
(4) Aon duine a bhacfaidh nó a choiscfidh oifigeach údaraithe agus é ag feidhmiú cumhachta, nó a fhágfaidh gan comhlíonadh ceanglas faoin alt seo, beidh sé ciontach i gcion faoin Acht seo.”,
(c) tríd an alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad alt 18:
“18. (1) Féadfaidh an tAire imeachtaí achoimre i ndáil le cion faoin alt seo a thionscnamh agus a thabhairt ar aghaidh.
(2) D'ainneoin alt 10 (4) den Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, féadfar imeachtaí achoimre i leith ciona faoi na hAchtanna nó faoin Acht seo a thionscnamh laistigh de 18 mí ó dháta an chiona.”,
(d) trí alt 19 a leasú trí “faoi na hAchtanna, faoin Acht um Dhíol Earraí agus Soláthar Seirbhísí, 1980, nó” a chur isteach i ndiaidh “I gcás cion”, agus tá an t-alt sin arna leasú amhlaidh leagtha amach sa Tábla a ghabhann leis an mír seo.
AN TÁBLA |
19. I gcás cion faoi na hAchtanna, faoin Acht um Dhíol Earraí agus Soláthar Seirbhísí, 1980, nó faoin Acht seo a rinne comhlacht corpraithe nó comhlacht neamhchorpraithe daoine, agus a gcruthófar go ndearnadh é le toiliú nó le cúlcheadú, nó gur inchurtha é i leith aon fhaillí ar thaobh, aon duine (nó ar thaobh aon duine ag gníomhú thar a cheann) is stiúrthóir, bainisteoir, rúnaí, comhalta de choiste bainistí nó údarás rialaithe eile d'aon chomhlacht den sórt sin, beidh an duine sin nó an duine ag gníomhú amhlaidh, de réir mar a bheidh, ciontach freisin sa chion sin agus dlífear imeachtaí a thionscnamh ina choinne agus é a phionósú dá réir sin. |
Leasú ar alt 40 d'Acht 1980.
31.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 40 d'Acht 1980 trí mhír (a) i bhfo-alt (5) a scriosadh.
Leasú ar alt 55 d'Acht 1980.
32.—Leasaítear leis seo Acht 1980 tríd an alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad alt 55:
“55. (1) Beidh na feidhmeanna breise seo a leanas ag an Stiúrthóir Gnóthaí Tomhaltóirí agus Cóir-Thrádála—
(a) cleachtais nó cleachtais bheartaithe i ndáil le haon cheann de na hoibleagáidí a fhorchuirtear ar dhaoine le haon fhoráil den Acht seo nó d'Acht 1893 a choimeád faoi bhreithniú ginearálta,
(b) scrúduithe a dhéanamh ar aon chleachtais nó cleachtais bheartaithe den sórt sin i gcás go measfaidh an Stiúrthóir, ar mhaithe leis an bpobal, gur cuí scrúduithe den sórt sin a dhéanamh nó i gcas go n-iarrfaidh an tAire amhlaidh,
(c) a iarraidh ar dhaoine atá ag gabháil, nó a bheartaíonn dul ag gabháil, do chleachtais de shórt atá, nó ar dóigh dóibh a bheith, contrártha do na hoibleagáidí a fhorchuirtear orthu le haon fhoráil den Acht seo nó d'Acht 1893, scor de na cleachtais sin nó staonadh uathu,
(d) imeachtaí a thionscnamh san Ard-Chúirt le haghaidh orduithe ag ceangal ar dhaoine atá ag gabháil, nó a bheartaíonn dul ag gabháil, do chleachtais de shórt atá, nó ar dóigh dóibh a bheith, contrártha do na hoibleagáidí a fhorchuirtear orthu le haon fhoráil den Acht seo nó d'Acht 1893, scor de na cleachtais sin nó staonadh uathu.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire le hordú cibé feidhmeanna breise is cuí leis chun críocha an Achta seo a thabhairt don Stiúrthóir Gnóthaí Tomhaltóirí agus Cóir-Thrádála.”.
Orduithe faoin Acht um Fhaisnéis do Thomhaltóirí, 1978, nó faoi Acht 1980.
33.—(1) Leasaítear leis seo an tAcht um Fhaisnéis do Thomhaltóirí, 1978, tríd an mír seo a leanas a chur in ionad mhír (a) d'fho-alt (4) d'alt 26:
“(4) (a) Gach ordú a dhéanfar faoi alt 9, 10, 11 nó 12 den Acht seo, nó faoi mhír (b) den fho-alt seo, leagfar é faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta, agus má dhéanann ceachtar Teach, laistigh den lá is fiche a shuífidh an Teach sin tar éis an t-ordú a leagan faoina bhráid, rún a rith ag neamhniú an ordaithe, beidh an t-ordú ar neamhní dá réir sin, ach sin gan dochar do bhailíocht aon ní a rinneadh romhe sin faoin ordú.”.
(2) Leasaítear leis seo alt 5 d'Acht 1980 tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (2):
“(2) Gach ordú a dhéanfar faoin Acht seo leagfar é faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta agus má dhéanann ceachtar Teach, laistigh den lá is fiche a shuífidh an Teach sin tar éis an t-ordú a leagan faoina bhráid, rún a rith ag neamhniú an ordaithe, beidh an t-ordú ar neamhní dá réir sin, ach sin gan dochar do bhailíocht aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin ordú.”.
Leasú ar alt 31 den Acht Marcanna Earraí Ceannaíochta, 1931.
34.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 31 den Acht Marcanna Earraí Ceannaíochta, 1931, tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (4):
“(4) Ní oibreoidh aon ní san alt seo chun difear a dhéanamh do chumhacht aon duine (seachas an tAire Talmhaíochta) chun duine a ionchúiseamh i leith aon chiona faoin bPríomh-Acht nó i leith ciona faoin Acht seo.”.
CUID IV
Ilghnéitheach
An Stiúrthóir d'ionchúiseamh cionta.
35.—(1) Féadfaidh an Stiúrthóir ionchúiseamh mar gheall ar chion achomair faoi na hAchtanna nó faoi na Rialacháin a shonraítear sa Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo a thionscnamh agus a thabhairt ar aghaidh.
(2) Measfar gur feidhmeanna de chuid an Stiúrthóra chun críocha ailt 9 agus 16 den Acht um Fhaisnéis do Thomhaltóirí, 1978, na cumhachtaí ionchúisimh a thugtar don Stiúrthóir le fo-alt (1).
Toirmeasc ar fhaisnéis a nochtadh.
36.—(1) Faoi réir fho-alt (2), ní nochtfaidh aon duine faisnéis atá ar fáil dó de bhua na bhfeidhmeanna a thugtar dó leis an Acht um Fhaisnéis do Thomhaltóirí, 1978, le hAcht 1980, nó le haon cheann de na hachtacháin nó de na Rialacháin a shonraítear sa Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo.
(2) Ní bhaineann fo-alt (1)—
(a) le cumarsáid ón Stiúrthóir nó ó oifigeach údaraithe i bhfeidhmiú a fheidhmeanna faoin Acht um Fhaisnéis do Thomhaltóirí, 1978, faoi Acht 1980, nó faoi aon cheann de na hachtacháin nó de na Rialacháin a shonraítear sa Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo, nó
(b) le nochtadh faisnéise chun críocha imeachtaí dlíthiúla.
(3) Má sháraíonn aon duine fo-alt (1) beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus dlífear, ar é a chiontú go hachomair ann, fíneáil nach mó ná £800 a chur air.
Oifigeach údaraithe a phearsanú.
37.—Má dhéanann aon duine ráiteas bréagach, agus a fhios aige go bhfuil sé bréagach, á rá—
(a) gur oifigeach údaraithe é de réir bhrí alt 16 den Acht um Fhaisnéis do Thomhaltóirí, 1978, nó alt 23 den Acht Praghsanna, 1958, nó alt 15 den Phríomh-Acht (arna chur isteach le halt 18 den Acht seo), nó
(b) go bhfuil údarás aige gníomhú don Aire nó don Stiúrthóir nó don Choimisiún, nó thar a gceann,
beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus dlífear, ar é a chiontú ann go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £800 a chur air.
Aoisliúntas an Stiúrthóra.
38.—Leasaítear leis seo an tAcht um Fhaisnéis do Thomhaltóirí, 1978, tríd an alt seo a leanas a chur isteach i ndiaidh alt 9:
“9A. (1) Féadfaidh an tAire, le comhthoiliú an Aire Airgeadais, scéim nó scéimeanna a dhéanamh chun pinsin, aiscí agus liúntais eile a dheonú, tráth scoir nó báis, do Stiúrthóir, nó i leith Stiúrthóra, a scoirfidh d'oifig a shealbhú, seachas Stiúrthóir a bhféadfar dámhachtain faoi na hAchtanna Aoisliúntas, 1934 go 1963, a dhéanamh ina leith.
(2) Socróidh scéim nó scéimeanna faoin alt seo an tráth scoir agus na coinníollacha scoir do na daoine go léir a mbeidh pinsin, aiscí nó liúntais iníoctha leo nó ina leith faoin scéim nó faoi na scéimeanna tráth scoir nó báis.
(3) Féadfaidh an tAire, le comhthoiliú an Aire Airgeadais, scéim arna déanamh aige faoin alt seo a leasú.
(4) Má bhíonn aon díospóid ann i dtaobh éileamh aon duine ar phinsean, ar aisce nó ar liúntas is iníoctha de bhun scéime faoin alt seo, nó i dtaobh méid an chéanna, cuirfear an díospóid sin faoi bhráid an Aire Airgeadais.
(5) Gach scéim a chuirfear faoi bhráid an Aire agus a cheadófar faoin alt seo leagfar í faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a ceadaithe agus má dhéanann ceachtar Teach, laistigh den lá is 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 do bhailíocht aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin scéim.”.
Gearrmheáchan agus gearrthomhas.
39.—(1) Faoi réir fho-alt (2), aon duine a dhíolfaidh aon earraí, nó a thaispeánfaidh aon earraí lena ndíol nó a thairgfidh iad lena ndíol, ar bhonn meáchain, tomhais nó uimhreach, beidh sé ciontach i gcion más lú cainníocht na n-earraí a dhíolfar, a thaispeánfar lena ndíol nó a thairgfear lena ndíol ná an chainníocht a airbheartófar a bheith á díol, á taispeáint lena díol nó á tairgeadh lena díol nó más lú í ná an chainníocht a fhreagraíonn don phraghas a mhuirearófar—
(i) ar bhonn an phraghais iomláin a bheidh le híoc as na hearraí;
(ii) ar bhonn an phraghais shonraithe do gach uimhir nó aonad tomhais, de réir mar a bheidh, as a mbaintear feidhm chun an praghas iomlán a chinneadh.
(2) Ní bheidh feidhm ag an alt seo maidir le hearraí arna bpacáil de réir fhorálacha an Achta um Earraí Pacáistithe (Cainníochtaí a Rialú), 1980.
(3) Aon duine a bheidh ciontach i gcion faoi fho-alt (1) dlífear, ar é a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £800 nó, de rogha na cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná 6 mhí, nó an fhíneáil agus an phríosúnacht le chéile, a chur air.
(4) Féadfaidh cigire gach uile thráth réasúnach dul isteach in aon áit nó áitreabh a bhfuil cúis réasúnach aige chun a chreidiúint go bhfuil aon earraí á ndíol, á dtaispeáint le díol nó á dtairiscint le díol ann ar bhonn meáchain, tomhais nó uimhreach agus féadfaidh sé na hearraí sin a mheá, a thomhas, a chomhaireamh nó a scrúdú ar shlí eile chun a áirithiú go bhfuil an t-alt seo á chomhlíonadh.
(5) Féadfaidh cigire aon imeachtaí mar gheall ar chion achomair faoin alt seo a thionscnamh agus a thabhairt ar aghaidh.
(6) San alt seo ciallaíonn “cigire” cigire arna cheapadh—
(a) faoi alt 43 den Weights and Measures Act, 1878; nó
(b) faoi alt 81 (arna leasú le halt 19 den Weights and Measures Act, 1889) den Weights and Measures Act, 1878.
Aird bhreithiúnach ar shíniú an Stiúrthóra agus ar shíniú comhalta den Choimisiún.
40.—Tabharfaidh gach cúirt aird bhreithiúnach ar shíniú an Stiúrthóra agus ar shíniú comhalta den Choimisiún, agus gach doiciméad a airbheartóidh gur barántas nó údarás é arna shíniú ag an Stiúrthóir nó ag comhalta den Choimisiún glacfar i bhfianaise é agus measfar, gan a thuilleadh cruthúnais, gur barántas nó údarás den sórt sin é go dtí go gcruthófar a mhalairt.
Cumhacht na hArd-Chúirte iniúchadh a údarú ar chuntais arna gcoinneáil ag forais airgeadais.
41.—(1) Ní bheidh feidhm, maidir le cuntais arna gcoinneáil ag foras airgeadais, ag alt 15 (arna leasú le halt 18 den Acht seo agus arna chur chun feidhme le halt 8 (3) d'Acht 1978) den Phríomh-Acht ná ag alt 16 (arna leasú le halt 30 den Acht seo) den Acht um Fhaisnéis do Thomhaltóirí, 1978.
(2) Aon uair—
(a) is dóigh leis an Stiúrthóir gur gá, le go bhfeidhmeodh sé aon fheidhm dá chuid, nó
(b) is dóigh leis an gCoimisiún gur gá, le go bhfeidhmeodh siad aon fheidhm dá gcuid,
cuntais atá á gcoinneáil ag foras airgeadais a scrúdú, féadfaidh an Stiúrthóir nó an Coimisiún, de réir mar a bheidh, iarratas a dhéanamh chun na hArd-Chúirte ar ordú faoin alt seo.
(3) Aon uair is deimhin leis an Ard-Chúirt go bhfuil sé réasúnach déanamh amhlaidh agus gur deimhin léi gur gá déanamh amhlaidh ar mhaithe le leas an phobail, féadfaidh sí ordú a dhéanamh á údarú d'oifigeach údaraithe—
(a) gach uile thráth réasúnach dul isteach in aon áitreabh de chuid forais airgeadais a gcreideann sé le réasún go bhfuil cuntais á gcoinneáil aige ann, agus an t-áitreabh sin a iniúchadh,
(b) a cheangal ar aon stiúrthóir de chuid an fhorais nó ar aon duine a bheidh fostaithe ag an bhforas aon chuntais shonraithe atá á gcoinneáil ag an bhforas agus atá faoi chumh acht nó faoi urláimh an duine nó an stiúrthóra sin a thabhairt ar aird don oifigeach agus aon fhaisnéis a bheidh ag teastáil le réasún ón oifigeach, i ndáil leis na cuntais, a thabhairt dó, agus
(c) na cuntais sin a iniúchadh agus cóipeanna a dhéanamh díobh nó sleachta a thógáil astu,
faoi réir cibé coinníollacha (más ann) is dóigh léi is cuí agus a shonróidh sí san ordú.
(4) (a) San alt seo déanfar tagairtí do chuntais atá á gcoinneáil ag foras airgeadais a fhorléiriú mar thagairtí d'aon chuntais atá á gcoinneáil ag aon duine, nó d'aon duine, nó thar ceann aon duine, san fhoras, cibé acu go haonarach nó i gcomhpháirt le duine nó daoine eile, nó aon leabhair, doiciméid nó taifid eile atá á gcoinneáil ag an bhforas i ndáil leis na cuntais sin;
(b) san alt seo—
ciallaíonn “oifigeach údaraithe”, de réir mar is cuí, oifigeach údaraithe de réir bhrí alt 15 (6) (arna leasú le halt 18 den Acht seo agus arna chur chun feidhme le halt 8 (3) d'Acht 1978) den Phríomh-Acht nó oifigeach údaraithe de réir bhrí alt 16 (arna leasú le halt 30 den Acht seo) den Acht um Fhaisnéis do Thomhaltóirí, 1978;
ciallaíonn “leabhair”—
(i) leabhair bhaincéireachta de réir bhrí na nAchtanna um Fhianaise Leabhar Baincéirí, 1879 agus 1959, agus
(ii) taifid agus doiciméid de chuid daoine dá dtagraítear in alt 7 (4) d'Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1971;
folaíonn “stiúrthóir” aon duine ag a bhfuil post stiúrthóra, is cuma céard é a theideal;
ciallaíonn “foras airgeadais”—
(i) duine ar sealbhóir nó ar shealbhóir é ar cheadúnas faoi alt 9 d'Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1971, agus
(ii) duine dá dtagraítear in alt 7 (4) den Acht sin;
folaíonn “taifid”, d'fhonn amhras a sheachaint, taifid arna dtaifeadadh agus arna stóráil go leictreonach.
AN CHÉAD SCEIDEAL
Achtacháin agus Ionstraimí Reachtúla faoina bhféadfaidh an Stiúrthóir ionchúisimh achoimre a thionscnamh
Rialacháin na gComhphobal Eorpach (Praghsanna Earraí Bia a Thaispeáint), 1983 (I.R. Uimh. 359 de 1983).
Rialacháin na gComhphobal Eorpach (Lipéadú, Tíolacadh agus Fógairt Earraí Bia), 1982 (I.R. Uimh. 205 de 1982).
Rialacháin na gComhphobal Eorpach (Ainmneacha agus Lipéadú Táirgí Teicstíleacha), 1973 (I.R. Uimh. 43 de 1973).
AN DARA SCEIDEAL
Cuid I
Aisghairm Achtachán
Seisiún agus Caibidil nó Uimhir agus Bliain | Gearrtheideal | Méid na hAisghairme |
50 and 51 Vict., c. 28 | Merchandise Marks Act, 1887 | Alt 15 sa mhéid go mbaineann sé le himeachtaí achoimre. |
Ailt 19 agus 30. | ||
Alt 14 (1). | ||
Alt 46 (1). | ||
Alt 13 (1). | ||
Alt 16. | ||
Alt 25. | ||
An Dara Sceideal míreanna 1, 2, 4 agus 5. | ||
Alt 2 (2). | ||
Alt 23. | ||
Alt 14 (1). | ||
Ailt 48, 49 agus 52 (1). |
Cuid II
Cúlghairm Ionstraimí Reachtúla
Uimhir agus Bliain | Teideal | Méid na Cúlghairme |
I.R. Uimh. 359 de 1983 | Rialacháin na gComhphobal Eorpach (Praghsanna Earraí Bia a Thaispeáint), 1983 | Rialachán 13 (1). |
I.R. Uimh. 205 de 1982 | Rialacháin na gComhphobal Eorpach (Lipéadú, Tíolacadh agus Fógairt Earraí Bia), 1982 | Rialachán 18 (sa mhéid go mbaineann sé leis an Aire). |
I.R. Uimh. 43 de 1973 | Rialacháin na gComhphobal Eorpach (Ainmneacha agus Lipéadú Táirgí Teicstíleacha), 1973 | Rialachán 3 (2). |
Number 31 of 1987
RESTRICTIVE PRACTICES (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1987
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Preliminary and General
Section | |
Amendment to Principal Act and to the Act of 1978
Fair Trade Commission and Director of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trade. | |
Amendment to certain other enactments
Orders under the Consumer Information Act, 1978, or the Act of 1980. | |
Miscellaneous
Judicial notice of signature of Director and signature of a member of the Commission. | |
Power of High Court to authorise inspection of accounts maintained by financial institutions. |
Enactments and Statutory Instruments under which summary prosecutions may be brought by Director
Part I
Repeal of enactments
Part II
Revocation of Statutory Instruments
Acts Referred to | |
Bankers' Books Evidence Acts, 1879 and 1959 | |
1971, No. 24 | |
1978, No. 1 | |
1960, No. 15 | |
1961, No. 20 | |
1941, No. 23 | |
Merchandise Marks Acts, 1887 to 1978 | |
1931, No. 48 | |
1978, No. 17 | |
1980, No. 11 | |
Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851 | 1851, c. 93 |
1983, No. 24 | |
1958, No. 4 | |
1965, No. 23 | |
1972, No. 20 | |
1972, No. 11 | |
Sale of Goods Act, 1893 | 1893, c. 71 |
1980, No. 16 | |
1947, No. 44 | |
Superannuation Acts, 1934 to 1963 | |
1980, No. 23 | |
Trustee Savings Banks Acts, 1863 to 1965 | |
Weights and Measures Act, 1878 | 1878, c. 49 |
Weights and Measures Act, 1889 | 1889, c. 21 |
Number 31 of 1987
RESTRICTIVE PRACTICES (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1987
PART I
Preliminary and General
Short title, collective citation and construction.
1.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Restrictive Practices (Amendment) Act, 1987.
(2) The Principal Act and sections 10 to 23 of this Act may be cited together as the Restrictive Practices Acts, 1972 and 1987, and shall be construed together as one.
(3) The Act of 1978 and sections 24, 25 and 26 of this Act may be cited together as the Mergers, Take-overs and Monopolies (Control) Acts, 1978 and 1987, and shall be construed together as one.
Interpretation.
2.—(1) In this Act—
“the Act of 1978” means the Mergers, Take-overs and Monopolies (Control) Act, 1978:
“the Act of 1980” means the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act, 1980;
“the Commission” means the Fair Trade Commission;
“the Director” means the holder of the office of Director of Consumer Affairs established by section 9 of the Consumer Information Act,1978, and known as the Director of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trade by virtue of section 5 (2) of this Act;
“the Examiner” means the Examiner of Restrictive Practices;
“functions” includes powers and duties;
“the Minister” means the Minister for Industry and Commerce;
“the Principal Act” means the Restrictive Practices Act, 1972.
(2) A reference in this Act to a section is to a section of this Act unless it is indicated that a reference to some other provision is intended.
(3) A reference in this Act to a subsection is a reference to the subsection of the section in which the reference occurs unless it is indicated that a reference to some other provision is intended.
Repeals and revocations.
3.—The enactments and statutory instruments (within the meaning of the Statutory Instruments Act, 1947) specified in the Second Schedule to this Act are hereby repealed or revoked from the commencement of this Act to the extent specified in the third column thereto.
Commencement.
4.—This Act shall come into operation on such day as the Minister may by order appoint.
PART II
Amendment to Principal Act and to the Act of 1978
Fair Trade Commission and Director of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trade.
5.—(1) The Restrictive Practices Commission shall be known as the Fair Trade Commission.
(2) The office of Director of Consumer Affairs shall be known as the office of the Director of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trade and the holder of the office shall be known as the Director of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trade.
Transfer of functions of Examiner to Director.
6.—(1) The functions vested in the Examiner by the Principal Act and by section 10 of the Act of 1978 are hereby transferred to the Director.
(2) References to the Examiner in the Principal Act or in any order made thereunder and in section 10 of the Act of 1978 and in this Act, except where the context otherwise requires, shall be construed as references to the Director.
(3) Where, immediately before the commencement of this Act, any legal proceedings are pending to which the Examiner is a party and the proceedings have references to functions transferred by this section to the Director, the name of the Director, shall, in so far as the proceedings relate to any functions transferred by this section, be substituted in the proceedings for that of the Examiner or added in the proceedings, as may be appropriate, and the proceedings shall not abate by reason of such substitution.
(4) Anything commenced before the commencement of this Act by or under the authority of the Examiner may, so far as it relates tofunctions transferred by this section to the Director, be carried out and completed on or after such commencement by the Director.
(5) Every document granted or made in the exercise of a function transferred by this section shall, if and in so far as it was operative immediately before the commencement of this Act, have effect on and after such commencement as if it had been made by the Director.
Transfer of functions of Examiner to Commission.
7.—(1) The functions vested in the Examiner by the Act of 1978, other than by section 10 of that Act, are hereby transferred to the Commission.
(2) References to the Examiner in the Act of 1978 or in any order made thereunder, other than in section 10 of that Act, shall be construed as references to the Commission.
(3) Where, immediately before the commencement of this Act, any legal proceedings are pending to which the Examiner is a party and the proceedings have references to functions transferred by this section to the Commission, the name of the Commission, shall, in so far as the proceedings relate to any functions transferred by this section be substituted in the proceedings for that of the Examiner or added in the proceedings, as may be appropriate, and the proceedings shall not abate by reason of such substitution.
(4) Anything commenced before the commencement of this Act by or under the authority of the Examiner may, so far as it relates to functions transferred by this section to the Commission, be carried out and completed on and after such commencement by the Commission.
(5) Every document granted or made in the exercise of a function transferred by this section shall, if and so far as it was operative immediately before the commencement of this Act, have effect on and after such commencement as if it had been made by the Commission.
Orders relating to restrictive practices.
8.—(1) Notwithstanding anything in the Principal Act, whenever the Minister considers it expedient, in the interests of the orderly and proper regulation of competition, he may, after consultation with the Commission, the Director and any other Minister of the Government concerned, by order do, in relation to goods and services, all or any of the following:
(a) prohibit restrictive practices including arrangements, agreements or understandings which prevent or restrict competition or restrain trade or the provision of any service or which involve resale price maintenance;
(b) prohibit unfair practices or unfair methods of competition (whether or not relating to price);
(c) make such provision as the Minister thinks necessary to ensure the equitable treatment of all persons in regard to the supply or distribution of goods or the provision of services;
(d) make such other provision in regard to restrictive practices or unfair practices or unfair methods of competition (whether or not relating to price) affecting the supply and distribution of goods or the provision of services as he thinks fit.
(2) The Minister may by order revoke or amend an order under this section.
(3) An order under this section shall not have effect unless it is confirmed by an Act of the Oireachtas but, upon being so confirmed, it shall have the force of law in accordance with its terms.
(4) A person who contravenes (whether by act or omission) any provision of an order under this section for the time being in force shall be guilty of an offence under the Principal Act and the offence shall be deemed for the purposes of section 23 of that Act to be an offence under that Act.
(5) Sections 5,10, 19, 22 and 24 of the Principal Act shall apply to an order made under this section.
Service provided under a contract of employment.
9.—Notwithstanding anything in this Act or in the Principal Act, the provision of a service, being a service provided under a contract of employment, may not be the subject of fair practice rules under section 4 of the Principal Act, an enquiry under section 5 of that Act, or an investigation under section 14 of that Act except with the prior approval in writing of the Minister given with the consent of the Minister for Labour.
Amendment of section 1 of Principal Act.
10.—Section 1 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution for the definition of “service” of the following new definition:
“‘service’ includes any professional service but does not include any service provided by a local authority within the meaning of section 2 of the Local Government Act, 1941.”.
Amendment of section 4 of Principal Act.
11.—Section 4 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the insertion in subsection (1) after “may” of “on their own initiative or”, and the said subsection (1), as so amended, is set out in the Table to this section.
TABLE
(1) The Commission may, on their own initiative or on the recommendation of the Examiner or at the request of an association representing persons engaged either in the supply and distribution of goods or in the provision of services, prepare and publish rules representing, in the opinion of the Commission, fair practice conditions with regard to the supply and distribution of such goods or the provision of such services.
Amendment of section 5 of Principal Act.
12.—Section 5 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (a) of subsection (1):
“(a) The Commission shall, on the recommendation of the Examiner or at the request of the Minister, and may, on the application by any person whose request for an enquiry has been refused by the Examiner or on their own initiative, cause an enquiry to be held—
(i) into the conditions which obtain in regard to the supply and distribution of any kind of goods or to one or more aspects of the supply and distribution of one or more kinds of goods,
(ii) into the conditions which obtain in regard to the provision of any service or to one or more aspectsof the provision of one or more kinds of service, or
(iii) into one or more aspects of the operation of an order under section 8.”.
Amendment of section 6 of Principal Act.
13.—Section 6 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (2):
“(2) Where a report has been made by the Director to the Commission under section 14 of this Act on matters which, in the opinion of the Commission, are relevant to a proposed enquiry, a notice given under subsection (1) of this section shall include a statement that a copy of the report may be obtained from the Commission on application by an interested party.”.
Amendment of section 8 of Principal Act.
14.—Section 8 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (4):
“(4) If the Commission, in a report to the Minister, recommend the making of an order and if at the expiration of a period of twelve months after he has received the report the Minister has not made the order, he shall, within twenty-one days after the said period, lay before each House of the Oireachtas a statement in writing giving the reasons why he has not made the order.”.
Amendment of section 10 of Principal Act.
15.—Section 10 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution in subsection (1) of “, and may, on their own initiative” for “transmitted by the Examiner”, and the said subsection, as so amended, is set out in the Table to this section.
TABLE
(1) The Commission shall, on the recommendation of the Examiner or at the request of the Minister, and may, on their own initiative, hold a special review of the operation of an order under section 8.
Amendment of section 12 of Principal Act.
16.—The Principal Act is hereby amended by the insertion in section 12 of the following subsections:
“(2) The Commission may, for the purpose of their functions when conducting a study or analysis under this section, require any person to produce to the Commission any document in his power or control or to give to the Commission any information which the Commission may reasonably require.
(3) Any person who refuses to produce any document in his power or control or to give to the Commission any information which the Commission may reasonably require shall, subject to subsection (4), be guilty of an offence.
(4) (a) Any person of whom a requirement has been made under subsection (2), may apply to the High Court for a declaration under this section.
(b) Any person of whom a requirement has been made under subsection (2) and who refuses to comply with that requirement, may, within 7 days of such refusal, apply to the High Court for a declaration under this section.
(c) The High Court, having heard such evidence as may be adduced and any representations that may be made by the Commission and a person referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection, may, at its discretion, declare that the exigencies of the common good do not warrant the exercise by the Commission of the powers conferred on them by this section, and upon the making of such a declaration the Commission shall withdraw the relevant requirement under this section.”.
Amendment of section 14 of Principal Act.
17.—The Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution of the following section for section 14:
“Powers etc. of Director.
14.—(1) The Director may and, at the request of the Minister or the Commission, shall—
(a) investigate any aspect of the supply or distribution of goods or of the provision of a service,
(b) investigate any aspect of the operation of an order under this Act,
(c) investigate in the State any aspect of the supply or distribution of goods or the provision of a service by a person outside the State.
(2) The Director may investigate any aspect of the operation of fair practice rules.
(3) Where the Director carries out an investigation under subsection (1) of this section, at the request of the Minister or the Commission, he shall furnish a report of his investigation to the Minister or the Commission as appropriate.
(4) Nothing in this section shall prevent the Director from furnishing the Minister or the Commission with a report of any investigation carried out by him under this section.”.
Amendment of section 15 of Principal Act.
18.—Section 15 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by—
(a) the insertion in subsection (1) of section 15 after “functions” of “or the Commission of any of their functions” and the said subsection as so amended is set out in the Table to this section,
TABLE
(1) For the purpose of obtaining any information necessary for the exercise by the Examiner of any of his functions or the Commission of any of their functions under this Act, an authorised officer may, on production of his authorisation if so required—
(a) at all reasonable times enter and inspect premises at which any activity in connection with the business of supplying or distributing goods or providing a service, or in connection with the organisation or assistance of persons engaged in any such business, is carried on,
(b) require the person who carries on such activity and any person employedin connection therewith to produce to the authorised officer any books, documents or records relating to such activity which are in that person's power or control, and to give to the authorised officer such information as he may reasonably require in regard to any entries in such books, documents and records,
(c) inspect and copy or take extracts from any such books, documents and records,
(d) require a person mentioned in paragraph (b) to give to the authorised officer any information he may require in regard to the persons carrying on such activity (including in particular, in the case of an unincorporated body of persons, information in regard to the membership thereof and its committee of management or other controlling authority) or employed in connection therewith,
(e) require a person mentioned in paragraph (b) to give to the authorized officer any information which the officer may reasonably require in regard to such activity.
and
(b) the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (6):
“(6) In this section ‘authorised officer’ means a person authorised in writing by the Director or by a member of the Commission for the purposes of this Act.”.
Amendment oi section 18 of Principal Act.
19.—Section 18 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (1):
“(1) The Minister shall lay before each House of the Oireachtas a copy of the report made by the Commission of every enquiry under section 5 or section 9 and of every special review under section 10 within four months of the receipt by him of such report.”.
Amendment of section 19 of Principal Act.
20.—Section 19 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the insertion after “motion” of “of the Director or” and the section, as so amended, is hereby set out in the Table to this section.
TABLE
19. It shall be lawful for a court of competent jurisdiction to grant an injunction on the motion of the Director or of the Minister or of any other person to enforce compliance with the terms of an order under section 8 for the time being in force notwithstanding that any other proceedings, civil or criminal, may lie for that purpose.
Amendment of section 23 of Principal Act.
21.—The Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution of the following section for section 23:
“23.—(1) Every person who commits an offence under this Act for which no special penalty is provided shall—
(a) on summary conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding £500 (together with, in the case of a continuing offence, a fine not exceeding £50 for every day on which the offence is continued) or, at the discretion of the Court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment, or
(b) on conviction on indictment, be liable to a fine notexceeding £10,000 (together with, in the case of a continuing offence, a fine not exceeding £1,000 for every day on which the offence is continued) or, at the discretion of the Court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(2) (a) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this Act by reason of his failure, neglect or refusal to comply with a provision in an order requiring him to perform a specified act within a specified period or before a specified date, and the said act remains, after the date of such conviction, unperformed by him, such person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £50 for each day, after the date of such first-mentioned conviction, on which the act remains unperformed by him or, at the discretion of the Court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.
(b) An offence under this subsection shall be a continuing offence and accordingly fresh proceedings in respect thereof may be taken from time to time.”.
Amendment of section 24 of Principal Act.
22.—Section 24 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by—
(a) the substitution in subsection (1) of “the Director” for “the Minister” and the subsection, as so amended, is set out in the Table to this section, and
(b) the substitution in subsection (2) of “eighteen months” for “twelve months”, and the subsection, as so amended, is set out in the Table to this section.
TABLE
(1) Summary proceedings in relation to an offence under this Act may be prosecuted by the Director.
(2) Notwithstanding section 10 (4) of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, summary proceedings for an offence under this Act may be instituted within eighteen months from the latest day on which the offence was committed.
Amendment of First Schedule to Principal Act.
23.—The First Schedule to the Principal Act is hereby amended—
(a) in paragraph 5 by—
(i) the substitution in subparagraph (1) of “their terms” for “its terms”,
(ii) the deletion in subparagraph (1) of “non-contributory”,
(iii) the insertion in subparagraph (1) of “or schemes” after “scheme”,
(iv) the insertion in subparagraph (2) of “or schemes” after “scheme”, and
(b) in paragraph 9 by the insertion in subparagraph (1) of the words “or by any other Act conferring powers, duties and functions on the Commission” after “Act”,
and the said subparagraphs as so amended are set out in the Table to this section.
TABLE
5.(1) The Minister shall, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, as soon as may be make and carry out according to their terms a scheme or schemes for the granting of pensions, gratuities or other allowances to or in respect of members of the Commission ceasing to hold office other than members in respect of whom an award under the Superannuation Acts, 1834 to 1963, may be made.
(2) In the case of a member of the Commission who was appointed a member of the Fair Trade Commission on the 26th day of November, 1969, and who had before such appointment been a member of the Industrial Development Authority, a scheme or schemes under this paragraph shall provide for reckoning, as service as a member of the Commission, service by such person in a pensionable capacity as a member of the Industrial Development Authority.
9. (1) No person shall disclose information available to him by virtue of the powers of obtaining information conferred by this Act or by any other Act conferring powers, duties and functions on the Commission or through being present at a meeting of the Commission held in private.
Amendment of section 1 of Act of 1978.
24.—Section 1 of the Act of 1978 is hereby amended by the substitution for the definition of “service” of the following new definition:
“‘service’ includes any professional service, but does not include—
(i) any service provided by the holder of a licence under section 9 of the Central Bank Act, 1971,
(ii) any service provided by a trustee savings bank certified under the Trustee Savings Banks Acts, 1863 to 1965,
(iii) any service provided under a contract of employment,
(iv) any service provided by a local authority within the meaning of section 2 of the Local Government Act, 1941.”.
Amendment of section 8 of Act of 1978.
25.—Section 8 of the Act of 1978 is hereby amended by the insertion of the following subsection:
“(4) The Commission may, for the purpose of this section, delegate one or more of their members to carry out an investigation and to report thereon in accordance with this section and may make different delegations for different investigations and may revoke a delegation.”.
Amendment of section 13 of Act of 1978.
26.—Section 13 of the Act of 1978 is hereby amended by—
(a) the insertion in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) after “motion” of “of the Director or”, and the said paragraph, as so amended, is set out in the Table to this section, and
(b) the substitution in paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of “the Director” for “the Minister”, and the said paragraph as so amended is set out in the Table to this section.
TABLE
(1) (a) It shall be lawful for a court of competent jurisdiction to grant an injunction on the motion of the Director or of the Minister or of any other person to enforce compliance with the terms of an order under section 9 or 11 for the time being in force.
(5) (a) Summary proceedings in relation to an offence under this section may be prosecuted by the Director.
PART III
Amendment to certain other enactments
Amendment of section 2 of Prices Act, 1958.
27.—Section 2 of the Prices Act, 1958, is hereby amended by the insertion after the definition of “authorised officer” of the following definition “‘the Director’ means the holder of the office of Director of Consumer Affairs established by section 9 of the Consumer Information Act, 1978; and known as the Director of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trade by virtue of section 5 (2) of the Restrictive Practices (Amendment) Act, 1987;”.
Amendment of section 24 of Prices Act, 1958.
28.—Section 24 (as amended by the Prices (Amendment) Act, 1965) of the Prices Act, 1958, is hereby amended by the insertion in subsection (1) after “the Minister” of “or the Director”, and the subsection, as so amended, is set out in the Table to this section.
TABLE
(1) An authorised officer may, for the purpose of obtaining any information which the Minister or the Director may require for enabling him to exercise his functions under this Act, do any one or more of the following things—
(a) at all reasonable times enter premises at which any activity in connection with the business of manufacturing or processing or packaging or supplying or distributing commodities or the business of rendering a service or carrying out work or a process or in connection with the organisation or assistance of persons engaged in any such business is carried on, and inspect the premises,
(b) require the person who carries on such activity and any person employed in connection therewith to produce to him any books, documents or records relating to such activity which are in that person's power or control and to give him such information as he may reasonably require in regard to any entries in such books, documents or records,
(c) inspect and copy or take extracts from such books, documents or records,
(d) require such person to give to him any information he may reasonably require in regard to the persons carrying on such activity (including, in particular, in the case of an unincorporated body of persons, information in regard to the membership thereof and of its committee of management or other controlling authority) or employed in connection therewith,
(e) require such person to give to him any other information which he may reasonably require in regard to such activity.
Amendment of section 28 of Prices Act, 1958.
29.—Section 28 of the Prices Act, 1958, is hereby amended by the insertion in subsection (1) after “the Minister” of “or the Director” and the said subsection as so amended is set out in the Table to this section.
TABLE
(1) Proceedings in relation to an offence under any section of this Act may be brought and prosecuted by the Minister or the Director.
Amendment of Consumer Information Act, 1978.
30.—The Consumer Information Act, 1978 is hereby amended by—
(a) the substitution for subsection (1) of section 13 of the following subsection:
“(1) Where an advertisement in relation to the supply or provision of any goods, services, accommodation or facilities is published and does not include the name and address of the person who procured such publication or his agent, the publisher of the advertisement, shall, if the Director or an officer of the Minister so requests within 12 months of the publication of the advertisement, give to the Director or officer the name and address of such person or his agent.”,
(b) the substitution for section 16 of the following section:
“16. (1) In this section ‘authorised officer’ means a whole-time officer of the Minister authorised in writing by the Minister or the Director to exercise, for the purpose of the Acts, the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act, 1980, the enactments and the Regulations specified in the First Schedule to the Restrictive Practices (Amendment) Act, 1987, and this Act, the powers conferred by this section.
(2) Every authorised officer shall be furnished with a warrant of his appointment as an authorised officer which shall indicate the enactment or statutory instrument under which he is acting and, when exercising any power conferred on him by subsection (3) of this section shall inform any person affected of the title of the enactment to which the investigation relates and, if requested to do so, produce the warrant to him.
(3) An authorised officer may, for the purpose of obtaining any information which may be required in order to enable the Minister or the Director, as the case may be, to exercise his functions under the Acts, the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act, 1980, the enactments or the Regulations specified in the First Schedule to the Restrictive Practices (Amendment) Act, 1987, and this Act, on production of the authorisation of the officer, if so required—
(a) at all reasonable times enter premises at which any trade or business or any activity in connection with a trade or business is carried on and inspect the premises and any goods on the premises and, on paying or making tender of payment therefor, take any of the goods,
(b) require any person who carries on such trade, business or activity and any person employed in connection therewith to produce to the officer any books, documents or records relating to such trade, business or activity which are in that person's power or control and to give him such information as he may reasonably require in regard to any entries in such books, documents and records,
(c) inspect and copy or take extracts from such books, documents and records,
(d) require any such person to give to the officer any information the officer may require in regard to the persons carrying on such trade, business or activity (including, in particular, in the case of anunincorporated body of persons, information in regard to the membership thereof and of its committee of management or other controlling authority) or employed in connection therewith,
(e) require any such person to give to the officer any other information which the officer may reasonably require in regard to such activity.
(4) A person who obstructs or impedes an authorised officer in the exercise of a power, or does not comply with a requirement, under this section shall be guilty of an offence under this Act.”,
(c) the substitution for section 18 of the following section:
“18. (1) Summary proceedings in relation to an offence under this Act may be brought and prosecuted by the Minister.
(2) Notwithstanding section 10 (4) of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, summary proceedings for an offence under the Acts or this Act may be instituted within 18 months from the date of the offence.”,
(d) the amendment of section 19 by the insertion after “offence under” of “the Acts, the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act, 1980, or” and the said section as so amended is set out in the Table to this paragraph.
TABLE
19. Where an offence under the Acts, the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act, 1980, or this Act which is committed by a body corporate or an unincorporated body of persons is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, any person (or any person acting on his behalf) being a director, manager, secretary, member of the committee of management or other controlling authority of any such body or being any other similar officer of any such body, that person or the person so acting as the case may be shall also be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
Amendment of section 40 of the Act of 1980.
31.—Section 40 of the Act of 1980 is hereby amended by the deletion of paragraph (a) in subsection (5).
Amendment of section 55 of the Act of 1980.
32.—(1) The Act of 1980 is hereby amended by the substitution of the following section for section 55:
“55. (1) The Director of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trade shall have the following additional functions—
(a) to keep under general review practices or proposed practices in relation to any of the obligations imposed on persons by any provision of this Act or the Act of 1893,
(b) to carry out examinations of any such practices or proposed practices where the Director considers that, in the public interest, such examinations are proper or the Minister so requests,
(c) to request persons engaging in or proposing to engage in such practices as are, or are likely to be, contraryto the obligations imposed on them by any provision of this Act or the Act of 1893 to discontinue or refrain from such practices,
(d) to institute proceedings in the High Court for orders requiring persons engaging or proposing to engage in any practices as are, or are likely to be, contrary to the obligations imposed on them by any provision of this Act or the Act of 1893, to discontinue or refrain from such practices.
(2) The Minister may by order confer on the Director of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trade such further functions as he considers appropriate for the purposes of this Act.”.
Orders under the Consumer Information Act, 1978, or the Act of 1980.
33.—(1) The Consumer Information Act, 1978, is hereby amended by the substitution for paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section 26 of the following paragraph:
“(4) (a) Every order made under section 9, 10, 11 or 12 of this Act, or under paragraph (b) of this subsection, shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made, and if a resolution annulling the order is passed by either House, within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the order has been laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.”.
(2) Section 5 of the Act of 1980 is hereby amended by the substitution for subsection (2) of the following subsection:
“(2) Every order made 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 is passed by either House, within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the order has been laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.”.
Amendment of section 31 of Merchandise Marks Act, 1931.
34.—Section 31 of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1931, is hereby amended by the substitution for subsection (4) of the following subsection:
“(4) Nothing in this section shall operate to affect the power of any person (other than the Minister for Agriculture) to prosecute in respect of any offence under the Principal Act or an offence under this Act.”.
PART IV
Miscellaneous
Prosecution of offences by Director.
35.—(1) A prosecution for a summary offence under the Acts or the Regulations specified in the First Schedule to this Act may be brought and prosecuted by the Director.
(2) The powers of prosecution conferred on the Director by subsection (1) shall be deemed to be functions of the Director for the purposes of sections 9 and 16 of the Consumer Information Act, 1978.
Prohibition of disclosure information.
36.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall disclose information available to him by virtue of the functions conferred on him by the Consumer Information Act, 1978, the Act of 1980, or any of the enactments or Regulations specified in the First Schedule to this Act.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to—
(a) a communication made by the Director or an authorized officer in the execution of his functions under the Consumer Information Act, 1978, the Act of 1980, or any of the enactments or Regulations specified in the First Schedule to this Act, or
(b) the disclosure of information for the purposes of legal proceedings.
(3) If any person contravenes subsection (1) he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding £800.
Impersonating an authorised officer.
37.—If any person makes a false statement, knowing it to be false, to the effect that—
(a) he is an authorised officer within the meaning of section 16 of the Consumer Information Act, 1978, or section 23 of the Prices Act, 1958, or section 15 of the Principal Act (as inserted by section 18 of this Act), or
(b) he has authority to act for or on behalf of the Minister or the Director or the Commission,
he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding £800.
Superannuation of Director.
38.—The Consumer Information Act, 1978, is hereby amended by the insertion after section 9 of the following section:
“9A. (1) The Minister may, with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance, make a scheme or schemes for the granting of pensions, gratuities and other allowances on retirement or death to or in respect of a Director ceasing to hold office, other than a Director in respect of whom an award under the Superannuation Acts, 1934 to 1963, may be made.
(2) A scheme or schemes made under this section shall fix the time and conditions of retirement for all persons to or in respect of whom pensions, gratuities or allowances on retirement or death are payable under the scheme or schemes.
(3) The Minister, with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance, may amend a scheme made by him under this section.
(4) If any dispute arises as to the claim of any person to or the amount of any pension, gratuity or allowance payable in pursuance of a scheme under this section, such dispute shall be submitted to the Minister for Finance.
(5) Every scheme submitted and approved of under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is approved of and if either House, within the nexttwenty-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.”.
Short weight and short measure.
39.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), any person who sells or exposes for sale or offers for sale any goods by weight, measure or number shall be guilty of an offence if the quantity of goods sold, exposed for sale or offered for sale is less than that purported to be sold, exposed for sale or offered for sale or than corresponds with the price charged on the basis of—
(i) the total price to be paid for the goods;
(ii) the stated price per number or unit of measurement, as the case may be, used to determine the total price.
(2) This section shall not apply to goods which are packed in accordance with the provisions of the Packaged Goods (Quantity Control) Act, 1980.
(3) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £800 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both the fine and the imprisonment.
(4) An inspector may at all reasonable times enter any place or premises where he has reasonable cause to believe that any goods are sold or exposed for sale or offered for sale by weight, measure or by number and may weigh, measure, count or otherwise examine such goods for the purpose of ensuring compliance with this section.
(5) Any proceedings for a summary offence under this section may be brought and prosecuted by an inspector.
(6) In this section “an inspector” means an inspector appointed under—
(a) section 43 of the Weights and Measures Act, 1878; or
(b) section 81 (as amended by section 19 of the Weights and Measures Act, 1889) of the Weights and Measures Act, 1878.
Judicial notice of signature of Director and signature of a member of the Commission.
40.—All courts shall take judicial notice of the signature of the Director and the signature of a member of the Commission and every document purporting to be a warrant or authority signed by the Director or signed by a member of the Commission shall be received in evidence and shall be deemed to be such warrant or authority without further proof until the contrary is shown.
Power of High Court to authorise inspection of accounts maintained by financial institutions.
41.—(1) Section 15 (as amended by section 18 of this Act and as applied by section 8 (3) of the Act of 1978) of the Principal Act and section 16 (as amended by section 30 of this Act) of the Consumer Information Act, 1978, shall not apply to accounts maintained by a financial institution.
(2) Whenever—
(a) the Director considers it necessary for the exercise by him of any of his functions, or
(b) the Commission consider it necessary for the exercise by them of any of their functions,
to examine accounts maintained by a financial institution, the Director or the Commission, as the case may be, may apply to the High Court for an order under this section.
(3) Whenever the High Court is satisfied that it is reasonable to do so and is satisfied that the exigencies of the common good so warrant, it may make an order authorising an authorised officer—
(a) at all reasonable times to enter and inspect any premises of a financial institution where he reasonably believes that there are accounts maintained by it,
(b) to require any director of or person employed by the institution to produce to him any specified accounts maintained by it that are in the power or control of that person or director and to give to the officer any information that he may reasonably require in regard to the accounts, and
(c) to inspect and make copies of or take extracts from such accounts,
subject to such conditions (if any) as it thinks proper and specifies in the order.
(4) (a) In this section references to accounts maintained by a financial institution shall be construed as references to any accounts maintained by or for or on behalf of any person in the institution, either solely or jointly with another person or persons, or any books, documents or other records maintained by it relating to such accounts;
(b) in this section—
“authorised officer” means, as may be appropriate, an authorised officer within the meaning of section 15 (6) (as amended by section 18 of this Act and applied by section 8 (3) of the Act of 1978) of the Principal Act or an authorised officer within the meaning of section 16 (as amended by section 30 of this Act) of the Consumer Information Act, 1978;
“books” means—
(i) bankers' books within the meaning of the Bankers' Books Evidence Acts, 1879 and 1959, and
(ii) records and documents of persons referred to in section 7 (4) of the Central Bank Act, 1971;
“director” includes any person occupying the position of director by whatever name called;
“financial institution” means—
(i) a person who holds or has held a licence under section 9 of the Central Bank Act, 1971, and
(ii) a person referred to in section 7 (4) of that Act;“records”, for the avoidance of doubt, includes records recorded and stored electronically.
FIRST SCHEDULE
Enactments and Statutory Instruments under which summary prosecutions may be brought by Director.
Sections 30, 35, 36.
European Communities (Indication of Prices of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 1983 (S.I. No. 359 of 1983).
European Communities (Labelling, Presentation and Advertising of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 1982 (S.I. No. 205 of 1982).
European Communities (Names and Labelling of Textile Products) Regulations, 1973 (S.I. No. 43 of 1973).
SECOND SCHEDULE
Part I
Repeal of enactments
Session and Chapter or Number and Year | Short title | Extent of Repeal |
50 and 51 Vict., c. 28 | Merchandise Marks Act, 1887 | Section 15 insofar as it relates to summary proceedings. |
No. 48 of 1931 | Sections 19 and 30. | |
No. 15 of 1960 | Section 14 (1). | |
No. 20 of 1961 | Section 46 (1). | |
No. 11 of 1972 | Section 13 (1). | |
No. 11 of 1972 | ||
No. 11 of 1972 | ||
No. 11 of 1972 | Second Schedule paragraphs 1, 2, 4 and 5. | |
No. 20 of 1972 | Section 2 (2). | |
No. 1 of 1978 | ||
No. 23 of 1980 | Section 14 (1). | |
No. 24 of 1983 | Sections 48, 49 and 52 (1). |
Part II
Revocation of Statutory Instruments
Number and Year | Title | Extent of Revocations |
S.I. No. 359 of 1983 | European Communities (Indication of Prices of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 1983 | Regulation 13 (1). |
S.I. No. 205 of 1982 | European Communities (Labelling, Presentation and Advertising of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 1982 | Regulation 18 (insofar as it relates to the Minister). |
S.I. No. 43 of 1973 | European Communities (Names and Labelling of Textile Products) Regulations, 1973 | Regulation 3 (2). |