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Number 23 of 2005
INTERPRETATION ACT 2005
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Preliminary and General
Section | |
1. | |
2. | |
3. | |
4. |
Miscellaneous Rules
5. | |
6. | |
7. | |
8. | Reading provisions together as one and summary proceedings for offences. |
9. | |
10. | |
11. | |
12. |
Citation and Operation of Enactments
13. | |
14. | |
15. | |
16. | |
17. |
Meaning and Construction of Words and Expressions
18. | |
19. | |
20. | |
21. |
Powers and Duties
22. | |
23. | |
24. | |
25. |
Amendment of Enactments, Etc.
26. | |
27. |
Interpretation of Particular Words and Expressions
Acts Referred to
Adoption Act 1976 | |
Adoption Acts 1952 to 1998 | |
An Act for the Union of Great Britain and Ireland | 40 Geo. 3. c. 38 |
Companies Acts 1963 to 2001 | |
Constitution of the Irish Free State (Saorstát Eireann) Act 1922 | |
Interpretation Act 1889 | 52 & 53 Vict. c. 63 |
Interpretation Act 1923 | |
Interpretation Act 1937 | |
Interpretation (Amendment) Act 1993 | |
Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1977 | |
Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 | |
Social Welfare Acts | |
Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 1993 | |
Standard Time (Amendment) Act 1971 | |
Status of Children Act 1987 | |
Statutory Declarations Act 1938 | |
Survey (Ireland) Acts 1825 to 1870 | |
Valuation Act 2001 |
Number 23 of 2005
INTERPRETATION ACT 2005
[17th October, 2005]
PART 1
Preliminary and General
Short title and commencement.
1.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Interpretation Act 2005.
(2) This Act comes into operation on 1 January 2006.
Interpretation
2.—(1) In this Act—
“Act” means—
(a) an Act of the Oireachtas, and
(b) a statute which was in force in Saorstát Éireann immediately before the date of the coming into operation of the Constitution and which continued in force by virtue of Article 50 of the Constitution;
“enactment” means an Act or a statutory instrument or any portion of an Act or statutory instrument;
“repeal” includes revoke, rescind, abrogate or cancel;
“statutory instrument” means an order, regulation, rule, bye-law, warrant, licence, certificate, direction, notice, guideline or other like document made, issued, granted or otherwise created by or under an Act and references, in relation to a statutory instrument, to “made” or to “made under” include references to made, issued, granted or otherwise created by or under such instrument.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, an enactment which has been replaced or has expired, lapsed or otherwise ceased to have effect is deemed to have been repealed.
Repeals and savings.
3.—(1) The following Acts are repealed:
(a) the Interpretation Act 1889;
(2) (a) The repeal by this Act of an Act which assigns a meaning to a word or expression in another enactment does not affect the meaning so assigned if—
(i) in the absence of that meaning in this Act, or
(ii) by the application to the other enactment of the meaning assigned by this Act to the same or a similar word or expression,
the other enactment would be changed in intent or become unclear or absurd.
(b) The repeal by this Act of an Act which provides for any matter (other than a matter to which paragraph (a) relates) in another enactment does not affect the matter so provided for if—
(i) in the absence of that matter being provided for in this Act, or
(ii) by the application to the other enactment of a matter provided for by this Act which corresponds to a matter provided for in the repealed Act concerned,
the other enactment would be changed in intent or become unclear or absurd.
Application.
4.—(1) A provision of this Act applies to an enactment except in so far as the contrary intention appears in this Act, in the enactment itself or, where relevant, in the Act under which the enactment is made.
(2) The provisions of this Act which relate to other Acts also apply to this Act unless the contrary intention appears in this Act.
PART 2
Miscellaneous Rules
Construing ambiguous or obscure provisions, etc.
5.—(1) In construing a provision of any Act (other than a provision that relates to the imposition of a penal or other sanction)—
(a) that is obscure or ambiguous, or
(b) that on a literal interpretation would be absurd or would fail to reflect the plain intention of—
(i) in the case of an Act to which paragraph (a) of the definition of “Act” in section 2(1) relates, the Oireachtas, or
(ii) in the case of an Act to which paragraph (b) of that definition relates, the parliament concerned,
the provision shall be given a construction that reflects the plain intention of the Oireachtas or parliament concerned, as the case may be, where that intention can be ascertained from the Act as a whole.
(2) In construing a provision of a statutory instrument (other than a provision that relates to the imposition of a penal or other sanction)—
(a) that is obscure or ambiguous, or
(b) that on a literal interpretation would be absurd or would fail to reflect the plain intention of the instrument as a whole in the context of the enactment (including the Act) under which it was made,
the provision shall be given a construction that reflects the plain intention of the maker of the instrument where that intention can be ascertained from the instrument as a whole in the context of that enactment.
Construing provisions in changing circumstances.
6.—In construing a provision of any Act or statutory instrument, a court may make allowances for any changes in the law, social conditions, technology, the meaning of words used in that Act or statutory instrument and other relevant matters, which have occurred since the date of the passing of that Act or the making of that statutory instrument, but only in so far as its text, purpose and context permit.
Supplemental provision to sections 5 and 6.
7.—(1) In construing a provision of an Act for the purposes of section 5 or 6, a court may, notwithstanding section 18(g), make use of all matters that accompany and are set out in—
(a) in the case of an Act of the Oireachtas, the signed text of such law as enrolled for record in the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court pursuant to Article 25.4.5° of the Constitution.
(b) in the case of an Act of the Oireachtas of Saorstát Éireann, the signed text of such law as enrolled for record in the office of such officer of the Supreme Court of Saorstát Éireann as Dáil Éireann determined pursuant to Article 42 of the Constitution of the Irish Free State (Saorstát Éireann),
(c) in the case of any other Act, such text of that Act as corresponds to the text of the Act enrolled in the manner referred to in paragraph (a) or (b).
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), it shall be presumed, until the contrary is shown, that a copy of the text of an Act that is required to be judicially noticed is a copy of the text to which subsection (1) relates.
Reading provisions together as one and summary proceedings for offences.
8.—Where—
(a) an Act or portion of an Act (whenever passed)—
(i) provides that summary proceedings for offences under it may be prosecuted by a specified person, and
(ii) is subsequently read together as one with any provision of another Act,
and
(b) an offence is created under that provision which can be prosecuted in a summary manner but no express power is given to the specified person to so prosecute,
then, the specified person may bring summary proceedings for an offence under that other provision unless some other person is authorised by that other Act to bring such proceedings.
References in enactments to Parts, etc.
9.—(1) A reference in an enactment to a Part, Chapter, section, Schedule or other division, by whatever name called, shall be read as a reference to a Part, Chapter, section, Schedule or other division of the enactment in which the reference occurs.
(2) A reference in an enactment to a subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, clause, subclause, article, subarticle or other division, by whatever name called, shall be read as a reference to a subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, clause, subclause, article, subarticle or other division of the provision in which the reference occurs.
Enactment always speaking.
10.—An enactment continues to have effect and may be applied from time to time as occasion requires.
References in enactments to examples.
11.—If under the heading—
(a) in the Irish language “Sampla” or “Samplaí”, or
(b) in the English language “Example” or “Examples”,
an enactment includes at the end of a provision or in a schedule relating to such provision an example of the operation of the provision, then the example—
(i) is not to be read as exhaustive of the provision, and
(ii) may extend, but does not limit, the meaning of the provision.
Deviation from form.
12.—Where a form is prescribed in or under an enactment, a deviation from the form which does not materially affect the substance of the form or is not misleading in content or effect does not invalidate the form used.
PART 3
Citation and Operation of Enactments
Judicial notice.
13.—An Act is a public document and shall be judicially noticed.
Citation and references to amended enactments.
14.—(1) An Act may be cited in any enactment or other document—
(a) by the long title or short title of the Act,
(b) where appropriate, by the consecutive number of the Act in the calendar year and by the calendar year in which it was passed, or
(c) where the Act was passed prior to the enactment of the Constitution of the Irish Free State (Saorstát Eireann) Act 1922, by its regnal year and chapter number and, where there was more than one parliamentary session in the same regnal year, by reference to the session concerned.
(2) A citation of or a reference to an enactment shall be read as a citation of or reference to the enactment as amended (including as amended by way of extension, application, adaptation or other modification of the enactment), whether the amendment is made before, on or after the date on which the provision containing the citation or reference came into operation.
(3) In citing—
(a) an Act by its short title, or
(b) any other enactment by its citation (if any),
a comma immediately before a reference to a year and a comma immediately after such a reference that is not required for the purpose of punctuation may be omitted.
Date of passing of Acts of Oireachtas.
15.—(1) The date of the passing of an Act of the Oireachtas is the date of the day on which the Bill for the Act is signed by the President.
(2) Immediately after the Bill for an Act of the Oireachtas is signed by the President, the Clerk of Dáil Éireann shall endorse on the Act immediately after the long title the date of the passing of the Act, and that date shall be taken to be part of the Act.
Commencement.
16.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), every provision of an Act comes into operation on the date of its passing.
(2) Where an Act or a provision of an Act is expressed to come into operation on a particular day (whether the day is before or after the date of the passing of the Act and whether the day is named in the Act or is to be fixed or ascertained in a particular manner), the Act or provision comes into operation at the end of the day before the particular day.
(3) Subject to subsection (4), every provision of a statutory instrument comes into operation at the end of the day before the day on which the statutory instrument is made.
(4) Where a statutory instrument or a provision of a statutory instrument is expressed to come into operation on a particular day (whether the day is before or after the date of the making of the statutory instrument and whether the day is named in the instrument or is to be fixed or ascertained in a particular manner), the statutory instrument or provision comes into operation at the end of the day before the particular day.
Exercise of statutory powers before commencement of Act.
17.—Where an Act or a provision of an Act is expressed to come into operation on a day subsequent to the date of the passing of the Act, the following provisions apply:
(a) if the day on which the Act or the provision comes into operation is to be fixed or ascertained in a particular manner, the statutory instrument, act or thing whereby the day is fixed or ascertained may, subject to any restriction imposed by the Act, be made or done at any time after the passing of the Act;
(b) if, for the purposes of the Act or the provision, the Act confers a power to make a statutory instrument or do any act or thing, the making or doing of which is necessary or expedient to enable the Act or provision to have full force and effect immediately on its coming into operation, the power may, subject to any restriction imposed by the Act, be exercised at any time after the passing of the Act.
PART 4
Meaning and Construction of Words and Expressions
General rules of construction.
18.—The following provisions apply to the construction of an enactment:
(a) Singular and plural. A word importing the singular shall be read as also importing the plural, and a word importing the plural shall be read as also importing the singular;
(b) Gender.
(i) A word importing the masculine gender shall be read as also importing the feminine gender;
(ii) In an Act passed on or after 22 December 1993, and in a statutory instrument made after that date, a word importing the feminine gender shall be read as also importing the masculine gender;
(c) Person. “Person” shall be read as importing a body corporate (whether a corporation aggregate or a corporation sole) and an unincorporated body of persons, as well as an individual, and the subsequent use of any pronoun in place of a further use of “person” shall be read accordingly;
(d) Adopted child. A reference, however expressed, to a child of a person shall be read as including—
(i) in an Act passed after the passing of the Adoption Act 1976 a reference to a child adopted by the person under the Adoption Acts 1952 to 1998 and every other enactment which is to be construed together with any of those Acts, or
(ii) in an Act passed on or after 14 January 1988 (the commencement of section 3 of the Status of Children Act 1987), a child to whom subparagraph (i) relates or a child adopted outside the State whose adoption is recognised by virtue of the law for the time being in force in the State;
(e) Distance. A word or expression relating to the distance between two points and every reference to the distance from or to a point shall be read as relating or referring to such distance measured in a straight line on a horizontal plane;
(f) Series description. Where a consecutive series is described by reference to the first and last in the series, the description shall be read as including the first and the last in the series;
(g) Marginal and shoulder notes, etc. Subject to section 7, none of the following shall be taken to be part of the enactment or be construed or judicially noticed in relation to the construction or interpretation of the enactment:
(i) a marginal note placed at the side, or a shoulder note placed at the beginning, of a section or other provision to indicate the subject, contents or effect of the section or provision,
(ii) a heading or cross-line placed in or at the head of or at the beginning of a Part, Chapter, section, or other provision or group of sections or provisions to indicate the subject, contents or effect of the Part, Chapter, section, provision or group;
(h) Periods of time. Where a period of time is expressed to begin on or be reckoned from a particular day, that day shall be deemed to be included in the period and, where a period of time is expressed to end on or be reckoned to a particular day, that day shall be deemed to be included in the period;
(i) Time. Where time is expressed by reference to a specified hour or to a time before or after a specified hour, that time shall be determined by reference to the Standard Time (Amendment) Act 1971;
(j) Offences by corporations. A reference to a person in relation to an offence (whether punishable on indictment or on summary conviction) shall be read as including a reference to a body corporate.
Construction of statutory instruments.
19.—A word or expression used in a statutory instrument has the same meaning in the statutory instrument as it has in the enactment under which the instrument is made.
Interpretation provisions.
20.—(1) Where an enactment contains a definition or other interpretation provision, the provision shall be read as being applicable except in so far as the contrary intention appears in—
(a) the enactment itself, or
(b) the Act under which the enactment is made.
(2) Where an enactment defines or otherwise interprets a word or expression, other parts of speech and grammatical forms of the word or expression have a corresponding meaning.
Interpretation of words and expressions in Schedule.
21.—(1) In an enactment, a word or expression to which a particular meaning, construction or effect is assigned in Part 1 of the Schedule has the meaning, construction or effect so assigned to it.
(2) In an enactment which comes into operation after the commencement of this Act, a word or expression to which a particular meaning, construction or effect is assigned in Part 2 of the Schedule has the meaning, construction or effect so assigned to it.
PART 5
Powers and Duties
Powers under enactments.
22.—(1) A power conferred by an enactment may be exercised from time to time as occasion requires.
(2) A power conferred by an enactment on the holder of an office as that holder shall be deemed to be conferred on, and may accordingly be exercised by, the holder for the time being of that office.
(3) A power conferred by an enactment to make a statutory instrument shall be read as including a power, exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like consent and conditions (if any), to repeal or amend a statutory instrument made under that power and (where required) to make another statutory instrument in place of the one so repealed.
Duties under enactments.
23.—(1) A duty imposed by an enactment shall be performed from time to time as occasion requires.
(2) A duty imposed by an enactment on the holder of an office as that holder shall be deemed to be imposed on, and shall accordingly be performed by, the holder for the time being of that office.
Rules of court.
24.—Where an enactment confers a new jurisdiction on a court or extends or varies an existing jurisdiction of a court, the authority having for the time being power to make rules or orders regulating the practice and procedure of the court has, and may at any time exercise, power to make rules or orders for regulating the practice and procedure of that court in the exercise of the jurisdiction so conferred, extended or varied.
Service by post.
25.—Where an enactment authorises or requires a document to be served by post, by using the word “serve”, “give”, “deliver”, “send” or any other word or expression, the service of the document may be effected by properly addressing, prepaying (where required) and posting a letter containing the document, and in that case the service of the document is deemed, unless the contrary is proved, to have been effected at the time at which the letter would be delivered in the ordinary course of post.
PART 6
Amendment of Enactments, Etc.
Repeals and substitutions.
26.—(1) Where an enactment repeals another enactment and substitutes other provisions for the enactment so repealed, the enactment so repealed continues in force until the substituted provisions come into operation.
(2) Where an enactment (“former enactment”) is repealed and re-enacted, with or without modification, by another enactment (“new enactment”), the following provisions apply:
(a) a person appointed under the former enactment shall continue to act for the remainder of the period for which the person was appointed as if appointed under the new enactment;
(b) a bond, guarantee or other security of a continuing nature given by a person under the former enactment remains in force, and data, books, papers, forms and things prepared or used under the former enactment may continue to be used as before the repeal;
(c) proceedings taken under the former enactment may, subject to section 27(1), be continued under and in conformity with the new enactment in so far as that may be done consistently with the new enactment;
(d) if after the commencement of this Act—
(i) any provision of a former enactment, that provided for the making of a statutory instrument, is repealed and re-enacted, with or without modification, as a new provision, and
(ii) such statutory instrument is in force immediately before such repeal and re-enactment,
then the statutory instrument shall be deemed to have been made under the new provision to the extent that it is not inconsistent with the new enactment, and remains in force until it is repealed or otherwise ceases to have effect;
(e) to the extent that the provisions of the new enactment express the same idea in a different form of words but are in substance the same as those of the former enactment, the idea in the new enactment shall not be taken to be different merely because a different form of words is used;
(f) a reference in any other enactment to the former enactment shall, with respect to a subsequent transaction, matter or thing, be read as a reference to the provisions of the new enactment relating to the same subject-matter as that of the former enactment, but where there are no provisions in the new enactment relating to the same subject-matter, the former enactment shall be disregarded in so far as is necessary to maintain or give effect to that other enactment.
Effect of repeal of enactment.
27.—(1) Where an enactment is repealed, the repeal does not—
(a) revive anything not in force or not existing immediately before the repeal,
(b) affect the previous operation of the enactment or anything duly done or suffered under the enactment,
(c) affect any right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired, accrued or incurred under the enactment,
(d) affect any penalty, forfeiture or punishment incurred in respect of any offence against or contravention of the enactment which was committed before the repeal, or
(e) prejudice or affect any legal proceedings (civil or criminal) pending at the time of the repeal in respect of any such right, privilege, obligation, liability, offence or contravention.
(2) Where an enactment is repealed, any legal proceedings (civil or criminal) in respect of a right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired, accrued or incurred under, or an offence against or contravention of, the enactment may be instituted, continued or enforced, and any penalty, forfeiture or punishment in respect of such offence or contravention may be imposed and carried out, as if the enactment had not been repealed.
SCHEDULE
Interpretation of Particular Words and Expressions
PART 1
“affidavit”, in the case of a person for the time being allowed by law to declare instead of swearing, includes declaration;
“British statute” means an Act of the Parliament of the former United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland;
“Circuit Court” means the Circuit Court as established and for the time being maintained by law;
“commencement”, when used in relation to an enactment, means the time at which the enactment comes into operation;
“Constitution” means the Constitution of Ireland enacted by the people on 1 July 1937, as amended;
“Dáil Éireann” means the House of the Oireachtas to which that name is given by section 1 of Article 15 of the Constitution;
“District Court” means the District Court as established and for the time being maintained by law;
“financial year”, in relation to an exchequer financial year, means the period which is coextensive with a calendar year;
“Government” means the Government mentioned in Article 28 of the Constitution;
“Great Britain” does not include the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man;
“High Court” means the High Court as established and for the time being maintained by law pursuant to Article 34 of the Constitution;
“land” includes tenements, hereditaments, houses and buildings, land covered by water and any estate, right or interest in or over land;
“local financial year” means a period which is coextensive with a calendar year;
“midnight” means, in relation to a particular day, the point of time at which the day ends;
“Minister of the Government” means a member of the Government having charge of a Department of State;
“month” means a calendar month;
“oath”, in the case of a person for the time being allowed by law to affirm or declare instead of swearing, includes affirmation or declaration;
“Oireachtas” means the National Parliament provided for by Article 15 of the Constitution;
“ordnance map” means a map made under the powers conferred by the Survey (Ireland) Acts 1825 to 1870;
“President” means the President of Ireland or any Commission, or other body or authority, for the time being lawfully exercising the powers and performing the duties of the President;
“pre-union Irish statute” means an Act passed by a Parliament sitting in Ireland at any time before the coming into force on 1 January 1801 of the Act entitled “An Act for the Union of Great Britain and Ireland”;
“rateable valuation” means the valuation under the Valuation Act 2001 of the property concerned;
“rules of court” means rules made by the authority for the time being having power to make rules regulating the practice and procedure of the court concerned;
“Saorstát Éireann statute” means an Act of the Oireachtas of Saorstát Éireann;
“Seanad Éireann” means the House of the Oireachtas to which that name is given by section 1 of Article 15 of the Constitution;
“statutory declaration” means a declaration made under the Statutory Declarations Act 1938;
“Supreme Court” means the Supreme Court as established and for the time being maintained by law pursuant to Article 34 of the Constitution;
“swear”, in the case of a person for the time being allowed by law to affirm or declare instead of swearing, includes affirm and declare;
“week” means the period between midnight on any Saturday and midnight on the following Saturday;
“week-day” means a day which is not a Sunday;
“writing” includes printing, typewriting, lithography, photography, and other modes of representing or reproducing words in visible form and any information kept in a non-legible form, whether stored electronically or otherwise, which is capable by any means of being reproduced in a legible form;
“year”, when used without qualification, means a period of 12 months beginning on the 1st day of January in any year.
PART 2
“Companies Acts” means the Companies Acts 1963 to 2001 and every other enactment which is to be read together with any of those Acts;
“full age”, in relation to a person, means the time when the person attains the age of 18 years or sooner marries, or any time after either event;
“functions” includes powers and duties, and references to the performance of functions include, with respect to powers and duties, references to the exercise of the powers and the carrying out of the duties;
“Member State” means, where the context so admits, a Member State of the European Communities or of the European Union;
“Minister of State” means a person appointed under section 1 of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1977 to be a Minister of State;
“public holiday” means a public holiday determined in accordance with the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997;
“Social Welfare Acts” means the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 1993 and every other enactment which is to be read together with that Act;
“working day” means a day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday.
Uimhir 23 de 2005
AN tACHT LÉIRIÚCHÁIN 2005
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
RIAR NA nALT
CUID 1
Réamhráiteach agus Ginearálta
Alt
1. Gearrtheideal agus tosach feidhme.
2. Léiriú.
3. Aisghairm agus cosaintí.
4. Feidhm.
CUID 2
Rialacha Ilghnéitheacha
5. Forálacha débhríocha nó doiléire, etc. a fhorléiriú.
6. Forálacha a fhorléiriú in imthosca atá ag athrú.
7. Foráil fhorlíontach le hailt 5 agus 6.
8. Forálacha a léamh le chéile mar aon ní amháin agus imeachtaí achoimre i leith cionta.
9. Tagairtí in achtacháin do Chodanna, etc.
10. Achtachán d’éifeacht a bheith leis i gcónaí.
11. Tagairtí in achtacháin do shamplaí.
12. Claonadh ón bhfoirm.
CUID 3
Lua agus Oibriú Achtachán
13. Aird bhreithiúnach.
14. Lua agus tagairtí d’achtacháin leasaithe.
15. Dáta rite Achtanna den Oireachtas.
16. Tosach feidhme.
17. Cumhachtaí reachtúla a fheidhmiú roimh thosach feidhme an Achta.
CUID 4
Brí agus Forléiriú Focal agus Abairtí
18. Rialacha ginearálta forléirithe.
19. Ionstraimí reachtúla a fhorléiriú.
20. Forálacha léiriúcháin.
21. Focail agus abairtí sa Sceideal a fhorléiriú.
CUID 5
Cumhachtaí agus Dualgais
22. Cumhachtaí faoi achtacháin.
23. Dualgais faoi achtacháin.
24. Rialacha cúirte.
25. Seirbheáil leis an bpost.
CUID 6
Achtacháin, Etc. a Leasú
26. Aisghairm agus forálacha ionaid.
27. Éifeacht aisghairme achtacháin.
Focail agus Abairtí Áirithe a Léiriú
CUID 1
CUID 2
Na hAchtanna dá dTagraítear
An tAcht Uchtála 1976 | 1976, Uimh. 29 |
Na hAchtanna Uchtála 1952 go 1998 | |
An Act for the Union of Great Britain and Ireland | 40 Geo. 3. c. 38 |
Achtanna na gCuideachtaí 1963 go 2001 | |
An tAcht um Bun-Reacht Shaorstáit Éireann 1922 | 1922, Uimh. 1 |
Interpretation Act 1889 | 53 & 53 Vict. c. 63 |
An tAcht Léiriúcháin 1923 | 1923, Uimh. 63 |
An tAcht Léiriúcháin 1937 | 1937, Uimh. 38 |
An tAcht Léiriúcháin (Leasú) 1993 | 1993, Uimh. 35 |
An tAcht Airí agus Rúnaithe (Leasú) (Uimh. 2) 1977 | 1977, Uimh. 28 |
An tAcht um Eagrú Ama Oibre 1997 | 1997, Uimh. 20 |
Na hAchtanna Leasa Shóisialaigh | |
An tAcht Leasa Shóisialaigh (Comhdhlúthú) 1993 | 1993, Uimh. 27 |
An tAcht um Am Caighdeánach (Leasú) 1971 | 1971, Uimh. 17 |
An tAcht um Stádas Leanaí 1987 | 1987, Uimh. 26 |
An tAcht i dTaobh Dearbhuithe Reachtúla 1938 | 1938, Uimh. 37 |
Survey (Ireland) Acts 1825 to 1840 | |
An tAcht Luachála 2001 | 2001, Uimh. 13 |
Uimhir 23 de 2005
AN tACHT LÉIRIÚCHÁIN 2005
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
[17 Deireadh Fómhair, 2005]
CUID 1
Réamhráiteach agus Ginearálta
Gearrtheideal agus tosach feidhme.
1.— (1) Féadfar an tAcht Léiriúcháin 2005 a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i ngníomh an 1 Eanáir 2006.
Léiriú.
2.— (1) San Acht seo—
ciallaíonn “ Acht ” —
(a) Acht den Oireachtas, agus
(b) reacht a bhí i bhfeidhm i Saorstát Éireann díreach roimh dháta theacht i bhfeidhm an Bhunreachta agus a lean i bhfeidhm de bhua Airteagal 50 den Bhunreacht;
ciallaíonn “achtachán” Acht nó ionstraim reachtúil nó aon chuid d’Acht nó d’ionstraim reachtúil;
folaíonn “ aisghair ” cúlghair, cealaigh, díchuir nó cuir ar ceal;
ciallaíonn “ ionstraim reachtúil ” ordú, rialachán, riail, fodhlí, barántas, ceadúnas, deimhniú, ordachán, fógra, treoirlíne nó doiciméad eile dá samhail a dhéanfar, a eiseofar, a dheonófar nó a chruthófar ar shlí eile le hAcht nó faoi agus folaíonn tagairtí, i ndáil le hionstraim reachtúil, do “déan” nó “déan faoi” tagairtí do dhéanamh, eisiúint, deonú nó cruthú ar shlí eile leis an ionstraim sin nó fúithi.
(2) Chun críocha an Achta seo, maidir le hachtachán a mbeidh achtachán eile curtha ina áit nó a bheidh imithe in éag nó as feidhm nó a scoir d’éifeacht a bheith leis ar shlí eile, meastar é a bheith aisghairthe.
Aisghairm agus cosaintí.
3.— (1) Aisghairtear na hAchtanna seo a leanas:
(a) an Interpretation Act 1889;
(b) an tAcht Léiriúcháin 1923;
(c) an tAcht Léiriúcháin 1937;
(d) an tAcht Léiriúcháin (Leasú) 1993.
(2) (a) Ní dhéanfaidh aisghairm Achta lena sanntar brí d’fhocal nó d’abairt in achtachán eile, leis an Acht seo, difear don bhrí a shanntar amhlaidh más rud é—
(i) d’éagmais na brí sin san Acht seo, nó
(ii) ach an bhrí a shanntar leis an Acht seo don fhocal céanna nó don abairt chéanna nó d’fhocal dá shamhail nó d’abairt dá samhail a chur chun feidhme i leith an achtacháin eile,
go n-athrófaí intinn an achtacháin eile nó go dtiocfadh sé chun bheith doiléir nó áiféiseach.
(b) Ní dhéanfaidh aisghairm Achta lena ndéantar foráil maidir le haon ní (seachas ní lena mbaineann mír (a)) in achtachán eile, leis an Acht seo, difear don ní dá ndéantar foráil amhlaidh más rud é—
(i) d’éagmais an ní sin dá ndéantar foráil san Acht seo, nó
(ii) ach ní dá ndéantar foráil leis an Acht seo a chur chun feidhme i leith an achtacháin eile, is ní a fhreagraíonn do ní dá ndéantar foráil san Acht aisghairthe lena mbaineann,
go n-athrófaí intinn an achtacháin eile nó go dtiocfadh sé chun bheith doiléir nó áiféiseach.
Feidhm.
4.— (1) Beidh feidhm ag foráil den Acht seo maidir le hachtachán ach amháin a mhéid gur léir a mhalairt d’intinn san Acht seo, san achtachán féin nó, más iomchuí, san Acht faoina ndéantar an t-achtachán.
(2) Maidir le forálacha an Achta seo a bhaineann le hAchtanna eile, tá feidhm acu freisin maidir leis an Acht seo mura léir a mhalairt d’intinn san Acht seo.
CUID 2
Rialacha Ilghnéitheacha
Forálacha débhríocha nó doiléire, etc. a fhorléiriú.
5.— (1) Le linn foráil d’aon Acht a fhorléiriú (seachas foráil a bhaineann le smachtbhanna pionóis nó le smachtbhanna eile a fhorchur)—
(a) is foráil atá doiléir nó débhríoch, nó
(b) is foráil a bheadh áiféiseach dá léireofaí go litriúil í nó nár léir uaithi intinn shoiléir—
(i) an Oireachtais, i gcás Achta lena mbaineann mír (a) den mhíniú ar “Acht” in alt 2(1), nó
(ii) na parlaiminte lena mbaineann, i gcás Achta lena mbaineann mír (b) den mhíniú ar “Acht” in alt 2(1),
tabharfar don fhoráil forléiriú ar léir uaidh intinn shoiléir an Oireachtais nó na parlaiminte lena mbaineann, de réir mar a bheidh, i gcás gur féidir an intinn sin a fhionnadh as an Acht ina iomláine.
(2) Le linn foráil d’ionstraim reachtúil a fhorléiriú (seachas foráil a bhaineann le smachtbhanna pionóis nó le smachtbhanna eile a fhorchur)—
(a) is foráil atá doiléir nó débhríoch, nó
(b) is foráil a bheadh áiféiseach dá léireofaí go litriúil í nó nár léir uaithi intinn shoiléir na hionstraime ina hiomláine i gcomhthéacs an achtacháin (lena n-áirítear an tAcht) faoina ndearnadh í,
tabharfar don fhoráil forléiriú ar léir uaidh intinn shoiléir an té a rinne an ionstraim i gcás gur féidir an intinn sin a fhionnadh as an ionstraim ina hiomláine i gcomhthéacs an achtacháin sin.
Forálacha a fhorléiriú in imthosca atá ag athrú.
6.— Le linn foráil d’aon Acht nó d’aon ionstraim reachtúil a fhorléiriú, féadfaidh cúirt aird a thabhairt ar aon athruithe ar an dlí, ar dhálaí sóisialacha, ar theicneolaíocht, ar bhrí na bhfocal a úsáidtear san Acht sin nó san ionstraim reachtúil sin agus ar nithe eile is iomchuí, a tharla ó dháta rite an Achta sin nó ó dháta déanta na hionstraime reachtúla sin, ach sin a mhéid amháin a cheadaíonn a théacs, a chuspóir agus a chomhthéacs nó a téacs, a cuspóir agus a comhthéacs sin.
Foráil fhorlíontach le hailt 5 agus 6.
7.— (1) Le linn foráil d’Acht a fhorléiriú chun críocha alt 5 nó 6, féadfaidh cúirt, d’ainneoin alt 18(g), na nithe go léir a úsáid, is nithe a ghabhann leo seo a leanas agus a leagtar amach iontu—
(a) i gcás Achta den Oireachtas, téacs sínithe an dlí sin mar a cuireadh isteach ina iris in Oifig Iriseoir na Cúirte Uachtaraí de bhun Airteagal 25.4.5° den Bhunreacht,
(b) i gcás Achta d’Oireachtas Shaorstát Éireann, téacs sínithe an dlí sin mar a cuireadh isteach ina iris in oifig cibé oifigeach de Chúirt Uachtarach Shaorstát Éireann a chinn Dáil Éireann de bhun Airteagal 42 de Bhunreacht Shaorstát Éireann,
(c) i gcás aon Achta eile, cibé téacs den Acht sin a fhreagraíonn do théacs an Achta a cuireadh isteach ina iris ar an modh dá dtagraítear i mír (a) nó (b).
(2) Chun críocha fho-alt (1), toimhdeofar, go dtí go suífear a mhalairt, gur cóip den téacs lena mbaineann fo-alt (1) cóip de théacs Achta a gceanglaítear aird bhreithiúnach a thabhairt air.
Forálacha a léamh le chéile mar aon ní amháin agus imeachtaí achoimre i leith cionta.
8.— Más rud é—
(a) maidir le hAcht nó le páirt d’Acht (a rithfear tráth ar bith)—
(i) go bhforáiltear leis nó léi go bhféadfaidh duine sonraithe imeachtaí achoimre i leith cionta faoin Acht nó faoin bpáirt a thabhairt ar aghaidh, agus
(ii) go léifear é nó í agus aon fhoráil d’Acht eile le chéile mar aon ní amháin ina dhiaidh sin,
agus
(b) go gcruthaítear cion faoin bhforáil sin a fhéadfar a thabhairt ar aghaidh ar mhodh achomair ach nach dtugtar cumhacht shainráite don duine sonraithe cion a thabhairt ar aghaidh amhlaidh,
ansin, féadfaidh an duine sonraithe imeachtaí achoimre a thionscnamh i leith ciona faoin bhforáil eile sin mura n-údaraítear d’aon duine eile leis an Acht eile sin na himeachtaí sin a thionscnamh.
Tagairtí in achtacháin do Chodanna, etc.
9.— (1) Aon tagairt in achtachán do Chuid, do Chaibidil, d’alt, do Sceideal nó do roinn eile, cibé ainm a thugtar uirthi, léifear í mar thagairt do Chuid, do Chaibidil, d’alt, do Sceideal nó do roinn eile den achtachán ina bhfuil an tagairt.
(2) Aon tagairt in achtachán d’fho-alt, do mhír, d’fhomhír, do chlásal, d’fho-chlásal, d’airteagal, d’fho-airteagal nó do roinn eile, cibé ainm a thugtar uirthi, léifear í mar thagairt d’fho-alt, do mhír, d’fhomhír, do chlásal, d’fho-chlásal, d’airteagal, d’fho-airteagal, nó do roinn eile den fhoráil ina bhfuil an tagairt.
Achtachán d’éifeacht a bheith leis i gcónaí.
10.— Leanann achtachán d’éifeacht a bheith leis agus féadfar é a fheidhmiú ó am go ham de réir riachtanas na hócáide.
Tagairtí in achtacháin do shamplaí.
11.— Más rud é faoin gceannteideal—
(a) “Sampla” nó “Samplaí” i nGaeilge, nó
(b) “Example” nó “Examples” i mBéarla,
go bhfuil ar áireamh in achtachán, i ndeireadh forála nó i sceideal a bhaineann le foráil den sórt sin, sampla d’oibriú na forála, ansin—
(i) ní dhéanfar an sampla a léamh mar iomlán na forála, agus
(ii) féadfaidh an sampla brí na forála a leathnú ach ní chuirfidh sé teorainn leis an mbrí sin.
Claonadh ón bhfoirm.
12.— I gcás go bhforordófar foirm in achtachán nó faoi achtachán, ní chuirtear an fhoirm a úsáidtear ó bhail de thoradh claonadh ón bhfoirm ar claonadh é nach ndéanann difear ábhartha do shubstaint na foirme nó nach míthreorach an t-ábhar atá ann nó an éifeacht atá leis.
CUID 3
Lua agus Oibriú Achtachán
Aird bhreithiúnach.
13.— Is doiciméad poiblí Acht agus tabharfar aird bhreithiúnach air.
Lua agus tagairtí d’achtacháin leasaithe.
14.— (1) Féadfar Acht a lua in aon achtachán nó in aon doiciméad eile—
(a) faoi theideal fada nó faoi ghearrtheideal an Achta,
(b) más iomchuí, faoi uimhir leanúnach an Achta sa bhliain féilire agus faoin mbliain féilire inar ritheadh é, nó
(c) i gcás gur ritheadh an tAcht roimh achtú an Achta um Bun-Reacht Shaorstáit Éireann 1922, faoina bhliain mhonarcach agus a uimhir chaibidle agus, i gcás go raibh níos mó ná seisiún parlaiminte amháin ann sa bhliain mhonarcach chéanna, trí thagairt don seisiún lena mbaineann.
(2) Déanfar lua achtacháin nó tagairt d’achtachán a léamh mar lua de chuid an achtacháin nó tagairt don achtachán arna leasú (lena n-áirítear arna leasú tríd an achtachán a leathnú, a chur i bhfeidhm, a oiriúnú nó a mhodhnú ar shlí eile), cibé acu a dhéantar an leasú roimh an dáta, ar an dáta nó tar éis an dáta a tháinig an fhoráil ina mbeidh an lua nó an tagairt i ngníomh.
(3) Nuair a bheifear—
(a) ag lua Achta faoina ghearrtheideal, nó
(b) ag lua aon achtacháin eile faoina lua (más ann),
féadfar camóg atá díreach roimh thagairt do bhliain agus camóg atá díreach tar éis tagartha den sórt sin nach gá iad chun críche poncaíochta a fhágáil as an lua.
Dáta rite Achtanna den Oireachtas.
15.— (1) Is é dáta rite Achta den Oireachtas dáta an lae a chuirfidh an tUachtarán a lámh leis an mBille don Acht.
(2) Díreach tar éis don Uachtarán a lámh a chur leis an mBille d’Acht den Oireachtas, formhuineoidh Cléireach Dháil Éireann dáta rite an Achta ar an Acht, díreach i ndiaidh an teidil fhada, agus tuigfear gur cuid den Acht an dáta sin.
Tosach feidhme.
16.— (1) Faoi réir fho-alt (2) , tiocfaidh gach foráil d’Acht i ngníomh ar dháta a rite.
(2) I gcás go ndeirtear go dtagann Acht nó foráil d’Acht i ngníomh lá áirithe (cibé acu is lá roimh dháta rite an Achta nó ina dhiaidh agus cibé acu a ainmnítear an lá san Acht nó atá sé le ceapadh nó le déanamh amach ar shlí áirithe), tagann an tAcht nó an fhoráil i ngníomh i ndeireadh an lae roimh an lá áirithe.
(3) Faoi réir fho-alt (4), tagann gach foráil d’ionstraim reachtúil i ngníomh i ndeireadh an lae roimh an lá a dhéantar an ionstraim reachtúil.
(4) I gcás go ndeirtear go dtagann ionstraim reachtúil nó foráil d’ionstraim reachtúil i ngníomh lá áirithe (cibé acu is lá roimh dháta déanta na hionstraime reachtúla nó ina dhiaidh, agus cibé acu a ainmnítear an lá san ionstraim nó atá sé le ceapadh nó le déanamh amach ar shlí áirithe), tagann an ionstraim reachtúil nó an fhoráil i ngníomh i ndeireadh an lae roimh an lá áirithe.
Cumhachtaí reachtúla a fheidhmiú roimh thosach feidhme an Achta.
17.— I gcás go ndeirtear in Acht nó i bhforáil d’Acht go dtagann sé nó sí i ngníomh lá áirithe tar éis dháta rite an Achta, tá feidhm ag na forálacha seo leanas:
(a) má tá an lá a thagann an tAcht nó an fhoráil i ngníomh le ceapadh nó le déanamh amach ar shlí áirithe, féadfar an ionstraim reachtúil, an gníomh nó an ní lena gceaptar nó lena ndéantar amach an lá a dhéanamh, faoi réir aon sriain a fhorchuirtear leis an Acht, tráth ar bith tar éis an tAcht a rith;
(b) más rud é, chun críocha an Achta nó na forála, go mbronnann an tAcht cumhacht chun ionstraim reachtúil nó aon ghníomh nó ní a dhéanamh is gá nó is fóirsteanach a dhéanamh chun go mbeidh lánfheidhm ag an Acht agus lánéifeacht leis nó lánfheidhm ag an bhforáil agus lánéifeacht léi díreach ar theacht i ngníomh dó nó di, féadfar an chumhacht a fheidhmiú, faoi réir aon sriain a fhorchuirtear leis an Acht, tráth ar bith tar éis an tAcht a rith.
CUID 4
Brí agus Forléiriú Focal agus Abairtí
Rialacha ginearálta forléirithe.
18.— Beidh feidhm ag na forálacha seo a leanas maidir le hachtachán a fhorléiriú:
(a) Uatha agus iolra. Léifear aon fhocal lena ngabhann brí na huimhreach uatha mar fhocal lena ngabhann brí na huimhreach iolra freisin, agus léifear aon fhocal lena ngabhann brí na huimhreach iolra mar fhocal lena ngabhann brí na huimhreach uatha freisin;
(b) Inscne.
(i) Léifear aon fhocal lena ngabhann brí na hinscne firinne mar fhocal lena ngabhann brí na hinscne baininne freisin;
(ii) In Acht arna rith an 22 Nollaig 1993 nó dá éis, agus in ionstraim reachtúil arna déanamh tar éis an dáta sin, léifear aon fhocal lena ngabhann brí na hinscne baininne mar fhocal lena ngabhann brí na hinscne firinne freisin;
(c) Pearsa. Léifear “pearsa” mar fhocal lena ngabhann comhlacht corpraithe (cibé acu is ilchorparáid nó corparáid aonair é) agus comhlacht neamhchorpraithe daoine, chomh maith le pearsa aonair, agus léifear úsáid aon fhorainm in ionad “pearsa” a úsáid arís ina dhiaidh sin dá réir sin;
(d) Leanbh uchtaithe. Aon tagairt, cibé slí a bheidh sí sainráite, do leanbh duine, léifear í mar thagairt a fholaíonn—
(i) in Acht arna rith tar éis an tAcht Uchtála 1976 a rith, tagairt do leanbh a d’uchtaigh an duine faoi na hAchtanna Uchtála 1952 go 1998 agus gach achtachán eile atá le forléiriú i dteannta aon cheann de na hAchtanna sin, nó
(ii) in Acht arna rith an 14 Eanáir 1988 nó dá éis (tosach feidhme alt 3 den Acht um Stádas Leanaí 1987), leanbh lena mbaineann fomhír (i) nó leanbh a uchtaíodh lasmuigh den Stát agus a bhfuil a uchtáil nó a huchtáil aitheanta de bhua an dlí atá i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire sa Stát;
(e) Fad. Aon fhocal nó abairt a bhaineann leis an bhfad idir dhá phointe agus gach tagairt don fhad ó phointe nó go pointe, léifear é nó í mar fhocal nó abairt a bhaineann leis an bhfad sin nó mar thagairt dó arna thomhas i líne dhíreach ar phlána cothrománach;
(f) Tuairisc sraithe. I gcás go dtuairiscítear sraith leantach faoi threoir na chéad tuairisce agus na tuairisce deiridh sa tsraith, léifear an tuairisc mar thuairisc a fholaíonn an chéad tuairisc agus an tuairisc dheiridh sa tsraith;
(g) Ciumhaisnótaí agus nótaí formna etc. Faoi réir alt 7, ní mheasfar gur cuid den achtachán aon cheann díobh seo a leanas ná ní fhorléireofar iad ná ní thabharfar aird bhreithiúnach orthu i ndáil le forléiriú nó le léiriú an achtacháin:
(i) ciumhaisnóta a cuireadh ar imeall ailt nó forála eile nó nóta formna a cuireadh i dtús ailt nó forála eile chun ábhar, lánas nó éifeacht an ailt nó na forála a chur in iúl,
(ii) ceannteideal nó croslíne a cuireadh i gcuid, i gcaibidil, in alt nó i bhforáil eile nó i ngrúpa eile alt nó forálacha, nó ina bharr nó ina barr nó ina thús nó ina tús, chun ábhar, lánas nó éifeacht na coda, na caibidle, an ailt, na forála nó an ghrúpa a chur in iúl;
(h) Tréimhsí ama. I gcás go léireofar go dtosóidh tréimhse ama lá áirithe nó go n-áireofar í ó lá áirithe, measfar an lá sin a bheith ar áireamh sa tréimhse agus, i gcás go léireofar go gcríochnóidh tréimhse ama lá áirithe nó go n-áireofar í go dtí lá áirithe, measfar an lá sin a bheith ar áireamh sa tréimhse;
(i) Am. I gcás go léireofar am faoi threoir uaire sonraithe nó faoi threoir ama roimh uair shonraithe nó dá héis, cinnfear an t-am sin faoi threoir an Achta um Am Caighdeánach (Leasú) 1971;
(j) Cionta ag corparáidí. Léifear tagairt do dhuine i ndáil le cion (cibé acu is inphionósaithe ar díotáil nó ar chiontú go hachomair) mar thagairt a fholaíonn tagairt do chomhlacht corpraithe.
Ionstraimí reachtúla a fhorléiriú.
19.— Aon fhocal nó abairt a úsáidtear in ionstraim reachtúil, beidh an bhrí chéanna leis nó léi san ionstraim reachtúil is atá leis nó léi san achtachán faoina ndéantar an ionstraim.
Forálacha léiriúcháin.
20.— (1) I gcás go bhfuil míniú nó foráil léiriúcháin eile in achtachán, léifear an fhoráil mar fhoráil is infheidhme ach amháin a mhéid atá a mhalairt d’intinn ar fáil—
(a) san achtachán féin, nó
(b) san Acht faoina ndéantar an t-achtachán.
(2) I gcás go ndéanann achtachán focal nó abairt a mhíniú nó a léiriú ar shlí eile, beidh brí chomhréire ag ranna cainte eile agus foirmeacha eile gramadaí an fhocail nó na habairte.
Focail agus abairtí sa Sceideal a fhorléiriú.
21.— (1) In aon achtachán, maidir le focal nó le habairt a sanntar brí, forléiriú nó éifeacht áirithe chuige nó chuici i gCuid 1 den Sceideal, beidh an bhrí nó an éifeacht leis nó léi nó an forléiriú aige nó aici a shanntar amhlaidh chuige nó chuici.
(2) In aon achtachán a thiocfaidh i ngníomh tar éis thosach feidhme an Achta seo, maidir le focal nó le habairt a sanntar brí, forléiriú nó éifeacht áirithe chuige nó chuici i gCuid 2 den Sceideal, beidh an bhrí nó an éifeacht leis nó léi nó an forléiriú aige nó aici a shanntar amhlaidh chuige nó chuici.
CUID 5
Cumhachtaí agus Dualgais
Cumhachtaí faoi achtacháin.
22.— (1) Féadfar aon chumhacht a thabharfar le hachtachán a fheidhmiú ó am go ham de réir riachtanas na hócáide.
(2) Maidir le haon chumhacht a thabharfar le hachtachán do shealbhóir oifige mar shealbhóir amhlaidh, measfar í a bheith tugtha do shealbhóir na hoifige sin de thuras na huaire agus, dá réir sin, féadfaidh sé nó sí an chumhacht a fheidhmiú.
(3) Aon chumhacht a thabharfar le hachtachán chun ionstraim reachtúil a dhéanamh, léifear í mar chumhacht a fholaíonn cumhacht is infheidhme sa tslí chéanna agus faoi réir an toilithe chéanna agus na gcoinníollacha céanna (más ann) chun ionstraim reachtúil arna déanamh faoin gcumhacht sin a aisghairm nó a leasú agus (i gcás go gceanglaítear sin) chun ionstraim reachtúil eile a dhéanamh in ionad na hionstraime a aisghairtear amhlaidh.
Dualgais faoi achtacháin.
23.— (1) Comhlíonfar aon dualgas a fhorchuirfear le hachtachán ó am go ham de réir riachtanas na hócáide.
(2) Measfar aon dualgas a fhorchuirfear le hachtachán ar shealbhóir oifige mar shealbhóir amhlaidh a bheith forchurtha ar shealbhóir na hoifige sin de thuras na huaire agus, dá réir sin, comhlíonfaidh sé nó sí an dualgas.
Rialacha cúirte.
24.— I gcás go dtugann achtachán dlínse nua do chúirt nó go leathnaíonn sé nó go n-athraíonn sé dlínse a bhí ag cúirt cheana, tá ag an údarás, a bhfuil cumhacht de thuras na huaire aige chun rialacha nó orduithe a dhéanamh lena rialaítear cleachtas agus nós imeachta na cúirte, cumhacht chun rialacha nó orduithe a dhéanamh d’fhonn cleachtas agus nós imeachta na cúirte sin a rialáil i bhfeidhmiú na dlínse a thugtar, a leathnaítear nó a athraítear amhlaidh, agus féadfaidh sé í a fheidhmiú tráth ar bith.
Seirbheáil leis an bpost.
25.— I gcás go n-údaraíonn nó go gceanglaíonn achtachán doiciméad a sheirbheáil leis an bpost, tríd an bhfocal “seirbheáil”, “tabhair”, “seachaid”, “cuir” nó aon fhocal nó abairt eile a úsáid, féadfar an doiciméad a sheirbheáil trí litir ina bhfuil an doiciméad a sheoladh, a réamhíoc (más gá) agus a chur sa phost go cuí, agus sa chás sin meastar, mura suitear a mhalairt, an doiciméad a bheith seirbheáilte ag an am a sheachadfaí an litir i ngnáthchúrsa an phoist.
CUID 6
Achtacháin, Etc. a Leasú
Aisghairm agus forálacha ionaid.
26.— (1) I gcás go n-aisghairtear achtachán le hachtachán eile agus go gcuirtear, leis an achtachán eile, forálacha eile in ionad an achtacháin arna aisghairm amhlaidh, leanann an t-achtachán arna aisghairm amhlaidh de bheith i bhfeidhm go dtí go dtagann na forálacha ionaid i ngníomh.
(2) I gcás go n-aisghairtear agus go n-athachtaítear achtachán (“achtachán roimhe sin”), modhnaithe nó gan mhodhnú, le hachtachán eile (“achtachán nua”), tá feidhm ag na forálacha seo a leanas:
(a) leanfaidh duine a ceapadh faoin achtachán roimhe sin de bheith ag gníomhú ar feadh a mbeidh fágtha den tréimhse dár ceapadh an duine, amhail is dá mba faoin achtachán nua a ceapadh é nó í;
(b) leanann banna, ráthaíocht nó urrús eile de chineál leanúnach, arna thabhairt nó arna tabhairt ag duine faoin achtachán roimhe sin, de bheith i bhfeidhm agus, maidir le sonraí, leabhair, páipéir, foirmeacha agus nithe arna n-ullmhú nó arna n-úsáid faoin achtachán roimhe sin, féadfar leanúint dá n-úsáid amhail roimh an aisghairm;
(c) maidir le himeachtaí arna dtionscnamh faoin achtachán roimhe sin, féadfar, faoi réir alt 27(1), leanúint díobh faoin achtachán nua agus i gcomhréir leis, a mhéid gur féidir sin a dhéanamh go comhsheasmhach leis an achtachán nua;
(d) más rud é, tar éis thosach feidhme an Achta seo—
(i) maidir le haon fhoráil d’achtachán roimhe sin lenar foráladh i dtaobh ionstraim reachtúil a dhéanamh, go ndéantar í a aisghairm agus a athachtú, modhnaithe nó gan mhodhnú, mar fhoráil nua, agus
(ii) go bhfuil an ionstraim reachtúil sin i bhfeidhm díreach roimh an aisghairm agus an athachtú sin,
ansin measfar an ionstraim reachtúil a bheith déanta faoin bhforáil nua a mhéid nach bhfuil sé ar neamhréir leis an achtachán nua, agus leanann sí de bheith i bhfeidhm go dtí go n-aisghairfear í nó go scoirfidh sí ar shlí eile d’éifeacht a bheith léi;
(e) a mhéid atá an smaoineamh céanna á shainrá le forálacha an achtacháin nua i bhfoirm éagsúil focal ach gurb ionann iad, ina substaint, agus focail an achtacháin roimhe sin, ní mheasfar gur smaoineamh éagsúil an smaoineamh san achtachán nua díreach toisc gur úsáideadh foirm éagsúil focal;
(f) déanfar tagairt in aon achtachán eile don achtachán roimhe sin, i leith idirbhirt, ábhair nó ní dá éis sin, a léamh mar thagairt d’fhorálacha an achtacháin nua a bhaineann leis an ábhar céanna lenar bhain an t-achtachán roimhe sin, ach i gcás nach bhfuil aon fhorálacha san achtachán nua a bhaineann leis an ábhar céanna, tabharfar neamhaird ar an achtachán roimhe sin a mhéid is gá chun an t-achtachán eile sin a chothabháil nó chun éifeacht a thabhairt dó.
Éifeacht aisghairme achtacháin.
27.— (1) I gcás go n-aisghairtear achtachán, ní dhéanann an aisghairm—
(a) aon ní nach raibh i bhfeidhm nó nach raibh ann díreach roimh an aisghairm a athbheochan,
(b) difear d’oibriú an achtacháin roimhe sin ná d’aon ní a rinneadh nó a fulaingíodh go cuí faoin achtachán,
(c) difear d’aon cheart, pribhléid, oibleagáid nó dliteanas a fuarthas, a fabhraíodh nó a tabhaíodh faoin achtachán,
(d) difear d’aon phionós, forghéilleadh nó pionósú a tabhaíodh i leith aon chiona in aghaidh an achtacháin nó mar shárú air agus a rinneadh roimh an aisghairm, ná
(e) dochar nó difear d’aon imeachtaí dlíthiúla (sibhialta nó coiriúil) atá ar feitheamh tráth na haisghairme i leith aon chirt, pribhléide, oibleagáide, dliteanais, ciona nó sáraithe den sórt sin.
(2) I gcás go ndéantar achtachán a aisghairm, féadfar aon imeachtaí dlíthiúla (sibhialta nó coiriúil) i leith cirt, pribhléide, oibleagáide nó dliteanais a fuarthas, a fabhraíodh nó a tabhaíodh faoin achtachán, nó i leith ciona in aghaidh an achtacháin nó sárú air, a thionscnamh, leanúint díobh nó iad a fhorfheidhmiú, agus aon phionós, forghéilleadh nó pionósú i leith an chiona nó an tsáraithe sin féadfar é a fhorchur agus a chur i bhfeidhm ionann is dá mba nár aisghaireadh an t-achtachán.
Alt 21.
AN SCEIDEAL
Focail agus Abairtí Áirithe a Léiriú
CUID 1
folaíonn “ mionnscríbhinn ” dearbhú, i gcás duine a gceadaítear dó nó di de thuras na huaire le dlí dearbhú a dhéanamh in ionad mionn a thabhairt;
ciallaíonn “ reacht Briotanach ” Acht de chuid Pharlaimint shean-Ríocht Aontaithe na Breataine Móire agus na hÉireann;
ciallaíonn “ Cúirt Chuarda ” an Chúirt Chuarda arna bunú agus arna cothabháil de thuras na huaire le dlí;
ciallaíonn “ tosach feidhme ”, nuair a úsáidtear é i ndáil le hachtachán, an tráth a thagann an t-achtachán i ngníomh;
ciallaíonn “ Bunreacht ” Bunreacht na hÉireann a d’achtaigh an pobal an 1 Iúil 1937, arna leasú;
ciallaíonn “ Dáil Éireann ” an Teach den Oireachtas dá dtugtar an t-ainm sin le halt 1 d’Airteagal 15 den Bhunreacht;
ciallaíonn “ Cúirt Dúiche ” an Chúirt Dúiche arna bunú agus arna cothabháil de thuras na huaire le dlí;
ciallaíonn “ bliain airgeadais ”, i ndáil le bliain airgeadais státchiste, an tréimhse atá ar comhfhad le bliain féilire;
ciallaíonn “ Rialtas ” an Rialtas a luaitear in Airteagal 28 den Bhunreacht;
ní fholaíonn “ an Bhreatain Mhór ” Oileáin Mhuir nIocht ná Oileán Mhanann;
ciallaíonn “ Ard-Chúirt ” an Ard-Chúirt arna bunú agus arna cothabháil de thuras na huaire le dlí de bhun Airteagal 34 den Bhunreacht;
folaíonn “ talamh ” tionóntáin, oidhreachtáin, tithe agus foirgnimh, talamh faoi uisce agus aon eastát, ceart nó leas i dtalamh nó ar thalamh;
ciallaíonn “ bliain airgeadais áitiúil ” tréimhse atá ar comhfhad le bliain féilire;
ciallaíonn “ meán oíche ”, i ndáil le lá áirithe, an tráth is críoch don lá;
ciallaíonn “ Aire den Rialtas ” comhalta den Rialtas atá i gceannas ar Roinn Stáit;
ciallaíonn “ mí ” mí féilire;
folaíonn “ mionn ” dearbhasc nó dearbhú, i gcás duine a gceadaítear dó nó di de thuras na huaire le dlí dearbhasc nó dearbhú a dhéanamh in ionad mionn a thabhairt;
ciallaíonn “ Oireachtas ” an Pharlaimint Náisiúnta dá bhforáiltear le hAirteagal 15 den Bhunreacht;
ciallaíonn “ léarscáil ordanáis ” léarscáil arna déanamh faoi na cumhachtaí a thugtar leis na Survey (Ireland) Acts, 1825 go 1870;
ciallaíonn “ Uachtarán ” Uachtarán na hÉireann nó aon Choimisiún nó comhlacht nó údarás eile atá, de thuras na huaire, ag feidhmiú chumhachtaí an Uachtaráin agus ag comhlíonadh dhualgais an Uachtaráin go dleathach;
ciallaíonn “ reacht Éireannach réamh-aontachta ” Acht a rith Parlaimint a shuigh in Éirinn aon tráth sular tháinig an tAcht dar teideal “An Act for the Union of Great Britain and Ireland” i bhfeidhm an 1 Eanáir 1801;
ciallaíonn “ luacháil inrátaithe ” an luacháil faoin Acht Luachála 2001 ar an maoin lena mbaineann;
ciallaíonn “ rialacha cúirte ” rialacha arna ndéanamh ag an údarás ag a mbeidh, de thuras na huaire, cumhacht chun rialacha a dhéanamh lena rialófar cleachtas agus nós imeachta na cúirte lena mbaineann;
ciallaíonn “ reacht de chuid Shaorstát Éireann ” Acht de chuid Oireachtas Shaorstát Éireann;
ciallaíonn “ Seanad Éireann ” an Teach den Oireachtas dá dtugtar an t-ainm sin le halt 1 d’Airteagal 15 den Bhunreacht;
ciallaíonn “ dearbhú reachtúil ” dearbhú arna dhéanamh faoin Acht i dtaobh Dearbhuithe Reachtúla 1938;
ciallaíonn “ Cúirt Uachtarach ” an Chúirt Uachtarach arna bunú agus arna cothabháil de thuras na huaire le dlí de bhun Airteagal 34 den Bhunreacht;
folaíonn “ mionn a thabhairt ” dearbhasc nó dearbhú a dhéanamh, i gcás duine a gceadaítear dó nó di de thuras na huaire le dlí dearbhasc nó dearbhú a dhéanamh in ionad mionn a thabhairt;
ciallaíonn “ seachtain ” an tréimhse idir meán oíche aon Satharn agus meán oíche an Satharn dár gcionn;
ciallaíonn “ dálach ” lá nach Domhnach;
folaíonn “ scríbhneoireacht ” clódóireacht, clóscríbhneoireacht, liteagrafaíocht, fótagrafaíocht agus modhanna eile chun focail a léiriú nó a atáirgeadh i bhfoirm infheicthe agus aon fhaisnéis a choimeádtar i bhfoirm neamh-inléite, cibé acu a stóráiltear í go leictreonach nó ar shlí eile, agus is féidir a atáirgeadh, ar aon slí, i bhfoirm inléite;
ciallaíonn “ bliain ”, nuair a úsáidtear é gan cháiliú, tréimhse 12 mhí dar tosach an 1ú lá d’Eanáir in aon bhliain.
CUID 2
ciallaíonn “ Achtanna na gCuideachtaí ” Achtanna na gCuideachtaí 1963 go 2001 agus gach achtachán eile atá le léamh i dteannta aon cheann de na hAchtanna sin;
ciallaíonn “ lánaois ”, i ndáil le duine, an tráth a shlánaíonn an duine 18 mbliana nó an tráth is luaithe ná sin a phósann an duine, nó aon tráth i ndiaidh ceachtar teagmhas acu sin;
folaíonn “ feidhmeanna ” cumhachtaí agus dualgais, agus folaíonn aon tagairtí do chomhlíonadh feidhmeanna, maidir le cumhachtaí agus dualgais, tagairtí d’fheidhmiú na gcumhachtaí agus do chomhall na ndualgas;
ciallaíonn “ Ballstát ”, i gcás go gceadaíonn an comhthéacs é, Ballstát de na Comhphobail Eorpacha nó den Aontas Eorpach;
ciallaíonn “ Aire Stáit ” duine arna cheapadh nó arna ceapadh faoi alt 1 den Acht Airí agus Rúnaithe (Leasú) (Uimh. 2) 1977 chun bheith ina Aire Stáit nó ina hAire Stáit;
ciallaíonn “ lá saoire poiblí ” lá saoire poiblí arna chinneadh de réir an Achta um Eagrú Ama Oibre 1997;
ciallaíonn “ Achtanna Leasa Shóisialaigh ” an tAcht Leasa Shóisialaigh (Comhdhlúthú) 1993 agus gach achtachán eile atá le léamh i dteannta an Achta sin;
ciallaíonn “ lá oibre ” lá nach Satharn, Domhnach ná lá saoire poiblí.