Number 34 of 1960.

VETERINARY SURGEONS ACT, 1960.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

FIRST SCHEDULE

Sections substituted for sections 34 and 36 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, 1931.

SECOND SCHEDULE

Enactments Repealed.

Number 34 of 1960.

VETERINARY SURGEONS ACT, 1960.

Amendment of section 34 of Veterinary Surgeons Act, 1931.

1.—The section set out in Part I of the First Schedule to this Act is hereby substituted for section 34 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, 1931.

Amendment of section 36 of Veterinary Surgeons Act, 1931.

2.—The section set out in Part II of the First Schedule to this Act is hereby substituted for section 36 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, 1931.

Repeals.

3.—Each enactment mentioned in the Second Schedule to this Act is hereby repealed to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule.

Short title and collective citation.

4.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Veterinary Surgeons Act, 1960.

(2) The Veterinary Surgeons Acts, 1931 and 1952, and this Act may be cited together as the Veterinary Surgeons Acts, 1931 to 1960.

FIRST SCHEDULE

Sections substituted for Sections 34 and 36 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, 1931.

Sections 1 and 2.

PART I.

Erasure from register—persons convicted of crimes.

34. (1) Where a person registered in the register is convicted in the State of treason or of a felony or a misdemeanour or is convicted outside the State of a crime or offence which would be a felony or a misdemeanour if committed in the State, the Council may decide that the name of such person should be erased from the register.

(2) On making a decision under this section, the Council shall forthwith send by post to the person to whom the decision relates, at his address as stated in the register, a notice in writing stating the decision, the date thereof and the reason therefor.

(3) A person to whom a decision under this section of the Council relates may, within the period of fourteen days beginning on the date of the decision, apply to the High Court for cancellation of the decision, and if he so applies—

(a) the High Court, on the hearing of the application, may either—

(i) cancel the decision, or

(ii) confirm the decision and direct the Council to erase the name of such person from the register,

(b) if at any time the Council satisfies the High Court that such person has delayed unduly in proceeding with the application, the High Court shall, unless it sees good reason to the contrary, confirm the decision and direct the Council to erase the name of such person from the register,

(c) the High Court may direct how the costs of the application are to be borne.

(4) Where a person to whom a decision under this section of the Council relates does not, within the period of fourteen days beginning on the date of the decision, apply to the High Court for cancellation of the decision, the Council may apply ex-parte to the High Court for confirmation of the decision and, if the Council so applies, the High Court, on the hearing of the application, shall, unless it sees good reason to the contrary, confirm the decision and direct the Council to erase the name of such person from the register.

(5) The decision of the High Court on an application under this section shall be final, save that, by leave of that Court, an appeal, by the Council or the person concerned, from the decision shall lie to the Supreme Court on a specified question of law.

(6) On erasing the name of a person from the register under this section, the Council shall forthwith send by post to such person, at his address as stated in the register, notice in writing of the erasure.

(7) A person whose name has been erased from the register under this section may at any time be restored to the register by special direction of the Council but not otherwise, and when a person is so restored to the register, the Council may attach to the restoration such conditions (including the payment of a fee not exceeding the fee which would be payable by such person if he was then being registered for the first time) as the Council thinks fit.

PART II.

Erasure from register or suspension of registration—persons guilty of professional misconduct.

36. (1) Where the Council as the result of an inquiry held by it under this Act into the conduct of a person alleged to have been guilty of conduct disgraceful to him in a professional respect or, as the result of the report of a committee (other than a committee appointed under the Agreement) appointed by the Council under this Act to hold an inquiry into the conduct of any such person, finds that such person was guilty of conduct disgraceful to him in a professional respect, the Council may, by a resolution in favour of which not less than six members of the Council vote, decide either that the name of such person should be erased from the register or that during a period of specified duration registration of his name in the register should not have effect.

(2) Where, as the result of the report of a committee appointed under the Agreement to investigate an allegation in relation to a person who is registered in the register and is also registered in the general veterinary register, the Council finds that such person has been guilty of conduct disgraceful to him in a professional respect, the Council may, by a resolution in favour of which not less than six members of the Council vote, decide either that the name of such person should be erased from the register or that during a period of specified duration registration of his name in the register should not have effect.

(3) Where the Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has, in pursuance of the Agreement set forth in the First Schedule to this Act, reported to the Council a case in which the Council of that College has determined to remove from the general veterinary register the name of a person who is registered in that register and is also registered in the register and in relation to whom the Council of that College has in accordance with that Agreement investigated an allegation of conduct disgraceful in a professional respect, the Council shall consider the facts stated in the report, and, if the Council on consideration of the report finds that the person to whom the report relates has been guilty of conduct disgraceful to him in a professional respect, the Council may, by a resolution in favour of which not less than six members of the Council vote, decide either that the name of such person should be erased from the register or that during a period of specified duration registration of his name in the register should not have effect.

(4) On making a decision under this section, the Council shall forthwith send by post to the person to whom the decision relates, at his address as stated in the register, a notice in writing stating the decision, the date thereof and the reason therefor.

(5) A person to whom a decision under this section of the Council relates may, within the period of fourteen days beginning on the date of the decision, apply to the High Court for cancellation of the decision, and if he so applies—

(a) the High Court, on the hearing of the application, may either—

(i) cancel the decision, or

(ii) declare that it was proper for the Council to make a decision under this section in relation to such person and either (as the Court may consider proper) direct the Council to erase his name from the register or direct that during a specified period (beginning not earlier than seven days after the decision of the Court) registration of his name in the register shall not have effect,

(b) if at any time the Council satisfies the High Court that such person has delayed unduly in proceeding with the application, the High Court shall, unless it sees good reason to the contrary, declare that it was proper for the Council to make a decision under this section in relation to such person and either (as the Court may consider proper) direct the Council to erase his name from the register or direct that during a specified period (beginning not earlier than seven days after the decision of the Court) registration of his name in the register shall not have effect,

(c) the High Court may direct how the costs of the application are to be borne.

(6) Where a person to whom a decision under this section of the Council relates does not, within the period of fourteen days beginning on the date of the decision, apply to the High Court for cancellation of the decision, the Council may apply ex-parte to the High Court for a declaration that it was proper for the Council to make a decision under this section in relation to such person and, if the Council so applies, the High Court, on the hearing of the application, shall, unless it sees good reason to the contrary, declare accordingly and either (as the Court may consider proper) direct the Council to erase the name of such person from the register or direct that during a specified period (beginning not earlier than seven days after the decision of the Court) registration of his name in the register shall not have effect.

(7) On the hearing of an application under this section, the High Court may, if it thinks proper so to do, admit and have regard to evidence of persons of standing in the veterinary profession as to what is conduct disgraceful to a veterinary surgeon in a professional respect.

(8) The decision of the High Court on an application under this section shall be final, save that, by leave of that Court, an appeal, by the Council or the person concerned, from the decision shall lie to the Supreme Court on a specified question of law.

(9) (a) On erasing the name of a person from the register under this section, the Council shall forthwith send by post to such person, at his address as stated in the register, notice in writing of the erasure.

(b) Where a direction is given under this section that during a specified period registration of the name of a person in the register shall not have effect, the Council shall, before the commencement of that period,—

(i) send by post to such person, at his address as stated in the register, notice in writing of such direction, and

(ii) notify the Minister of such direction.

(10) A person whose name has been erased from the register under this section may at any time be restored to the register by special direction of the Council but not otherwise, and when a person is so restored to the register, the Council may attach to the restoration such conditions (including the payment of a fee not exceeding the fee which would be payable by such person for registration if he was then being registered for the first time) as the Council thinks fit.

(11) Where the registration of a person in the register stands suspended under this section, the Council may, if it so thinks fit on application made to it by such person, by special direction terminate the suspension either unconditionally or subject to such conditions as it thinks fit.

(12) Where a suspension of a person's registration in the register becomes terminated under this section by special direction of the Council, the Council shall immediately notify the Minister of the termination.

(13) References in this Act to the erasure by the Council of the name of a person from the register on account of professional misconduct shall be construed as referring only to an erasure of the name of a person from the register made by the Council under this section.

SECOND SCHEDULE.

Enactments Repealed.

Section 3.

Uimhir 34 de 1960.

ACHT NA dTRÉIDLEÁ, 1960.

[An tiontú oifigiúil.]

Alt 34 d'Acht na Máinliaigh Beithíoch, 1931, a leasú.

1.—Déantar leis seo an t-alt atá leagtha amach i gCuid I den Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo a chur in ionad alt 34 d'Acht na Máinliaigh Beithíoch, 1931.

Alt 36 d'Acht na Máinliaigh Beithíoch, 1931, a leasú.

2.—Déantar leis seo an t-alt atá leagtha amach i gCuid II den Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo a chur in ionad alt 36 d'Acht na Máinliaigh Beithíoch, 1931.

Aisghairm.

3.—Déantar leis seo gach achtachán a luaitear sa Dara Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo a aisghairm a mhéid a shonraítear sa tríú colún den Sceideal sin.

Gearrtheideal agus comhlua.

4.—(1) Féadfar Acht na dTréidleá, 1960, a ghairm den Acht seo.

(2) Féadfar Achtanna na dTréidleá, 1931 go 1960, a ghairm d'Achtanna na dTréidlia, 1931 agus 1952, agus den Acht seo le chéile.

AN CHÉAD SCEIDEAL.

Ailt atá á gcur in ionad Ailt 34 agus 36 d'Acht na Máinliaigh Beithíoch, 1931.

Ailt 1 agus 2.

CUID I.

34. (1) I gcás duine a bheidh cláraithe sa chlár a chiontú sa Stát i dtréas nó i bhfeileonacht nó in oilghníomh nó a chiontú lasmuigh den Stát i gcoir nó i gcion arbh fheileonacht nó oilghníomh é dá mba sa Stát a rinneadh é, féadfaidh an Chomhairle a chinneadh gur cheart ainm an duine sin a scriosadh den chlár.

(2) Nuair a dhéanfaidh an Chomhairle cinneadh faoin alt seo, déanfaidh sí láithreach fógra scríofa ag insint an chinnte agus dáta agus cúis an chinnte a chur leis an bpost chuig an duine lena mbainfidh an cinneadh go dtí a sheoladh mar a bheidh curtha síos sa chlár.

(3) Aon duine lena mbainfidh cinneadh a dhéanfaidh an Chomhairle faoin alt seo féadfaidh sé, laistigh de thréimhse cheithre lá déag dar tosach dáta an chinnte, a iarraidh ar an Ard-Chúirt go gcealófar an cinneadh, agus má dhéanann sé iarratas den sórt sin—

(a) féadfaidh an Ard-Chúirt, ar an iarratas a éisteacht—

(i) an cinneadh a chealú, nó

(ii) an cinneadh a dhaingniú agus a ordú don Chomhairle ainm an duine sin a scriosadh den chlár,

(b) má chruthaíonn an Chomhairle aon tráth don Ard-Chúirt gur mhoilligh an duine sin go míchuí dul ar aghaidh leis an iarratas, déanfaidh an Ard-Chúirt, muran léir di dea-chúis lena mhalairt, an cinneadh a dhaingniú agus a ordú don Chomhairle ainm an duine sin a scriosadh den chlár,

(c) féadfaidh an Ard-Chúirt a ordú conas mar a íocfar costais an iarratais.

(4) I gcás nach ndéanfaidh duine lena mbainfidh cinneadh faoin alt seo ag an gComhairle a iarraidh, laistigh de thréimhse cheithre lá déag dar tosach dáta an chinnte, ar an Ard-Chúirt go gcealófar an cinneadh, féadfaidh an Chomhairle a iarraidh ex-parte ar an Ard-Chúirt an cinneadh a dhaingniú agus, má dhéanann an Chomhairle iarratas den sórt sin, ansin, ar an iarratas a éisteacht, déanfaidh an Ard-Chúirt, muran léir di dea-chúis lena mhalairt, an cinneadh a dhaingniú agus a ordú don Chomhairle ainm an duine sin a scriosadh den chlár.

(5) Is breith chríochnaitheach breith na hArd-Chúirte ar iarratas faoin alt seo, ach amháin go bhféadfaidh an Chomhairle nó an duine lena mbainfidh achomharc a dhéanamh, le cead na Cúirte sin, i gcoinne na breithe, chun na Cúirte Uachtaraí ar cheist shonraithe dlí.

(6) Nuair a scriosfaidh an Chomhairle ainm duine den chlár faoin alt seo, déanfaidh sí láithreach fógra scríofa i dtaobh an scriosta a chur leis an bpost chuig an duine sin go dtí a sheoladh mar a bheidh curtha síos sa chlár.

(7) Féadfar aon duine a mbeifear tar éis a ainm a scriosadh den chlár faoin alt seo a chur ar ais aon tráth sa chlár le hordú speisialta ón gComhairle agus sna cúinsí sin amháin, agus nuair a chuirfear duine ar ais amhlaidh sa chlár, féadfaidh an Chomhairle cibé coinníollacha (lena n-áirítear táille a íoc nach mó ná an táille ab iníoctha ag an duine sin dá mba é sin an chéad uair aige é á chlárú) is oiriúnach leis an gComhairle.

CUID II.

36.—(1) Aon uair a chinnfidh an Chomhairle, de bharr fiosrúchán a bheidh déanta aici faoin Acht seo i dtaobh iompar duine a líomhnaíodh a bheith ciontach in iompar ab ábhar aithise dó ó thaobh a ghairme nó, de bharr tuarascáil ó choiste (seachas coiste a ceapadh faoin gComhaontú) a cheap an Chomhairle faoin Acht seo chun fiosrúchán a dhéanamh i dtaobh iompar aon duine den sórt sin, go raibh an duine sin ciontach in iompar ab ábhar aithise dó ó thaobh a ghairme, féadfaidh an Chomhairle, le rún lena vótálfaidh seisear comhaltaí ar a laghad den Chomhairle, a chinneadh gur cheart ainm an duine sin a scriosadh den chlár nó nach mbeadh éifeacht, ar feadh tréimhse a mbeidh fad sonraithe inti, ag clárú a ainme sa chlár.

(2) Aon uair a chinnfidh an Chomhairle, de bharr tuarascáil ó choiste a ceapadh faoin gComhaontú chun líomhain maidir le duine atá cláraithe sa chlár agus atá cláraithe freisin i gclár ginearálta na dtréidleá, go raibh an duine sin ciontach in iompar ba chúis aithise dó ó thaobh a ghairme, féadfaidh an Chomhairle, le rún lena vótálfaidh seisear comhaltaí ar a laghad den Chomhairle, a chinneadh gur cheart ainm an duine sin a scriosadh den chlár nó nach mbeadh éifeacht, ar feadh tréimhse a mbeidh fad sonraithe inti, ag clárú a ainme sa chlár.

(3) Aon uair a bheidh Comhairle Choláiste Ríoga na dTréidleá tar éis tuarascáil a thabhairt, de bhun an Chomhaontú atá leagtha amach sa Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo, don Chomhairle ar chás inar chinn Comhairle an Choláiste sin ainm duine a bhaint de chlár ginearálta na dtréidleá is duine atá cláraithe sa chlár sin agus atá cláraithe freisin sa chlár agus a ndearna Comhairle an Choláiste sin, de réir an Chomhaontú sin, líomhain iompair dob aithis ó thaobh gairme a fhiosrú maidir leis, breithneoidh an Chomhairle na fíorais a bheidh sa tuarascáil, agus, má chinneann an Chomhairle, tar éis di an tuarascáil a bhreithniú, go raibh an duine lena mbainfidh an tuarascáil ciontach in iompar ab aithis dó ó thaobh a ghairme, féadfaidh an Chomhairle, le rún lena vótálfaidh seisear comhaltaí ar a laghad den Chomhairle, a chinneadh gur cheart ainm an duine sin a scriosadh den chlár nó nach mbeadh éifeacht, ar feadh tréimhse a mbeidh fad sonraithe inti, ag clárú a ainme sa chlár.

(4) Nuair a dhéanfaidh an Chomhairle cinneadh faoin alt seo, déanfaidh sí láithreach fógra scríofa ag insint an chinnte agus dáta agus cúis an chinnte a chur leis an bpost chuig an duine lena mbainfidh an cinneadh go dtí a sheoladh mar a bheidh curtha síos sa chlár.

(5) Aon duine lena mbainfidh cinneadh a dhéanfaidh an Chomhairle faoin alt seo féadfaidh sé, laistigh de thréimhse cheithre lá déag dar tosach dáta an chinnte, a iarraidh ar an Ard-Chúirt go gcealófar an cinneadh, agus má dhéanann sé iarratas den sórt sin—

(a) féadfaidh an Ard-Chúirt ar an iarratas a éisteacht—

(i) an cinneadh a chealú, nó

(ii) a dhearbhú gur chuí ón gComhairle cinneadh a dhéanamh faoin alt seo maidir leis an duine sin agus (de réir mar is cuí leis an gCúirt) a ordú don Chomhairle a ainm a scriosadh den chlár nó a ordú nach mbeidh éifeacht, ar feadh tréimhse sonraithe (dar tosach lá nach luaithe ná seacht lá tar éis cinneadh na Cúirte), ag clárú a ainme sa chlár,

(b) má chruthaíonn an Chomhairle aon tráth don Ard-Chúirt gur mhoilligh an duine sin go míchuí dul ar aghaidh leis an iarratas, dearbhóidh an Ard-Chúirt, muran léir di dea-chúis lena mhalairt, gur chuí ón gComhairle cinneadh a dhéanamh faoin alt seo maidir leis an duine sin agus (de réir mar is cuí leis an gCúirt) a ordú don Chomhairle a ainm a scriosadh den chlár nó a ordú nach mbeidh éifeacht, ar feadh tréimhse sonraithe (dar tosach lá nach luaithe ná seacht lá tar éis breith na Cúirte), ag clárú a ainme sa chlár,

(c) féadfaidh an Ard-Chúirt a ordú conas mar a íocfar costais an iarratais.

(6) I gcás nach ndéanfaidh duine lena mbainfidh cinneadh faoin alt seo ag an gComhairle a iarraidh, laistigh de thréimhse cheithre lá déag dar tosach dáta an chinnte, ar an Ard-Chúirt go gcealófar an cinneadh, féadfaidh an Chomhairle dearbhú a iarraidh exparte ar an Ard-Chúirt á dhearbhú gur chuí ón gComhairle cinneadh a dhéanamh faoin alt seo maidir leis an duine sin, agus, má dhéanann an Chomhairle iarratas den sórt sin, déanfaidh an Ard-Chúirt, ar an iarratas a éisteacht agus muran léir di dea-chúis lena mhalairt, dearbhú dá réir sin agus (de réir mar is cuí leis an gCúirt) a ordú don Chomhairle ainm an duine sin a scriosadh den chlár nó a ordú nach mbeidh éifeacht, ar feadh tréimhse sonraithe (dar tosach lá nach luaithe ná seacht lá tar éis breith na Cúirte), ag clárú a ainme sa chlár.

(7) Ar iarratas a éisteacht faoin alt seo, féadfaidh an Ard-Chúirt, más cuí léi sin a dhéanamh, fianaise a ghlacadh, agus aird a thabhairt ar fhianaise, ó dhaoine creidiúnacha i measc tréidleá i dtaobh cad is iompar is ábhar aithise do thréidlia ó thaobh a ghairme.

(8) Is breith chríochnaitheach breith na hArd-Chúirte ar iarratas faoin alt seo, ach amháin go bhféadfaidh an Chomhairle nó an duine lena mbainfidh achomharc a dhéanamh, le cead na Cúirte sin, i gcoinne na breithe, chun na Cúirte Uachtaraí ar cheist shonraithe dlí.

(9) (a) Nuair a scriosfaidh an Chomhairle ainm duine den chlár faoin alt seo déanfaidh sí láithreach fógra scríofa i dtaobh an scriosta a chur leis an bpost chuig an duine sin go dtí a sheoladh mar a bheidh curtha síos sa chlár.

(b) I gcás ina n-ordófar faoin alt seo nach mbeidh éifeacht, ar feadh tréimhse sonraithe, ag clárú ainm dhuine sa chlár, déanfaidh an Chomhairle, roimh thosach na tréimhse sin,—

(i) fógra scríofa i dtaobh an ordaithe sin a chur leis an bpost chuig an duine sin go dtí a sheoladh mar a bheidh curtha síos sa chlár, agus

(ii) an t-ordú sin a chur in iúl don Aire,

(10) Féadfar aon duine a mbeifear tar éis a ainm a scriosadh den chlár faoin alt seo a chur ar ais aon tráth sa chlár le treorú speisialta ón gComhairle agus sna cúinsí sin amháin, agus, nuair a chuirfear duine ar ais amhlaidh sa chlár, féadfaidh an Chomhairle cibé coinníollacha (lena n-áirítear táille a íoc nach mó ná an táille ab íníoctha ag an duine sin i leith clárú dá mba é sin an chéad uair aige é á chlárú) is oiriúnach leis an gComhairle.

(11) I gcás ina mbeidh clárú duine sa chlár ar fionraí faoin alt seo, féadfaidh an Chomhairle, más oiriúnach léi ar iarratas a fháil ón duine sin, an fhionraí a fhoirceannadh le hordú speisialta gan choinníoll nó faoi réir cibé coinníollacha is oiriúnach léi.

(12) I gcás ina mbeidh fionraí clárú dhuine sa chlár arna fhoirceannadh faoin alt seo le hordú speisialta ón gComhairle, cuirfidh an Chomhairle an foirceannadh in iúl láithreach don Aire.

(13) Déanfar tagairtí san Acht seo don Chomhairle do scriosadh ainm dhuine den chlár mar gheall ar mhí-iompar gairme a fhorléiriú mar thagairtí nach mbaineann ach le scriosadh ainm dhuine den chlár ag an gComhairle faoin alt seo.

AN DARA SCEIDEAL.

Achtacháin a Aisghairtear.

Alt 3.