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Number 49 of 1998
PROTECTIONS FOR PERSONS REPORTING CHILD ABUSE ACT, 1998
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section | |
Protection from civil liability of persons who have reported child abuse. | |
Protection of employees from penalisation for having reported child abuse. | |
Acts Referred to | |
1970, No. 1 | |
Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851 | 14 & 15 Vict., c. 93 |
1994, No. 5 | |
1977, No. 10 | |
Unfair Dismissals Acts, 1977 to 1993 | |
Number 49 of 1998
PROTECTIONS FOR PERSONS REPORTING CHILD ABUSE ACT, 1998
Interpretation.
1.—(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—
“the Act of 1994” means the Terms of Employment (Information) Act, 1994;
“appropriate person” means a designated officer or a member of the Garda Síochána;
“child” means a person who has not attained 18 years of age;
“designated officer” means an officer of a health board appointed under section 2 of this Act to be a designated officer for the purposes of this Act;
“employee” and “employer” have the same meaning as they have in the Act of 1994;
“health board” means a health board established under the Health Act, 1970;
“the Minister” means the Minister for Health and Children;
“welfare”, in relation to a child, comprises the moral, intellectual, physical, emotional and social welfare of the child.
(2) In this Act a reference to any enactment shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended, adapted or extended by or under any subsequent enactment including this Act.
Designated officers.
2.—(1) The chief executive officer of each health board shall—
(a) immediately upon the commencement of this Act, and
(b) thereafter from time to time as occasion may require (including a case in which a direction is given under this section),
appoint one or more officers of the board to be a designated officer or designated officers for the purposes of this Act; in making any such appointment the chief executive officer shall comply with any direction under this section for the time being in force.
(2) The Minister may give a direction in writing to the chief executive officer of a health board requiring him or her to appoint to be designated officers each person falling within a category or categories of officer of the board specified in the direction.
(3) The Minister may give a direction in writing to the chief executive officer concerned amending or revoking a direction given to him or her under this section (including a direction under this subsection).
(4) In this section “chief executive officer” includes a person acting as deputy chief executive officer in accordance with section 13 of the Health Act, 1970.
Protection from civil liability of persons who have reported child abuse.
3.—(1) A person who, apart from this section, would be so liable shall not be liable in damages in respect of the communication, whether in writing or otherwise, by him or her to an appropriate person of his or her opinion that—
(a) a child has been or is being assaulted, ill-treated, neglected or sexually abused, or
(b) a child's health, development or welfare has been or is being avoidably impaired or neglected,
unless it is proved that he or she has not acted reasonably and in good faith in forming that opinion and communicating it to the appropriate person.
(2) The reference in subsection (1) of this section to liability in damages shall be construed as including a reference to liability to be the subject of an order providing for any other form of relief.
Protection of employees from penalisation for having reported child abuse.
4.—(1) An employer shall not penalise an employee for having formed an opinion of the kind referred to in section 3 of this Act and communicated it, whether in writing or otherwise, to an appropriate person if the employee has acted reasonably and in good faith in forming that opinion and communicating it to the appropriate person.
(2) In proceedings under this section before a rights commissioner or the Employment Appeals Tribunal in relation to a complaint that subsection (1) of this section has been contravened, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that the employee concerned acted reasonably and in good faith in forming the opinion and making the communication concerned.
(3) If a penalisation of an employee, in contravention of subsection (1) of this section, constitutes a dismissal of the employee within the meaning of the Unfair Dismissals Acts, 1977 to 1993, relief may not be granted to the employee in respect of that penalisation both under this section and under those Acts.
(4) An employee may present a complaint to a rights commissioner that his or her employer has contravened subsection (1) of this section in relation to him or her and, if he or she does so, the commissioner shall give the parties an opportunity to be heard by the commissioner and to present to the commissioner any evidence relevant to the complaint, shall give a decision in writing in relation to it and shall communicate the decision to the parties.
(5) A decision of a rights commissioner under subsection (4) of this section shall do one or more of the following:
(a) declare that the complaint was or, as the case may be, was not well founded,
(b) require the employer to comply with subsection (1) of this section, and, for that purpose, require the employer to take specified steps,
(c) require the employer to pay to the employee compensation of such amount (if any) as is just and equitable having regard to all the circumstances, but not exceeding 104 weeks remuneration in respect of the employee's employment calculated in accordance with regulations under section 17 of the Unfair Dismissals Act, 1977,
and the references in the foregoing paragraphs to an employer shall be construed, in a case where ownership of the business of the employer changes after the contravention to which the complaint relates occurred, as references to the person who, by virtue of the change, becomes entitled to such ownership.
(6) For the purposes of this section—
(a) subsections (3) to (6) and subsection (7)(a) of section 7 of the Act of 1994 shall apply in relation to a complaint presented under this section as they apply in relation to a complaint presented under subsection (1) of that section 7, with the following modifications, namely—
(i) the deletion in that subsection (3) of all the words from “if it is presented” to the end of that subsection and the substitution of “unless it is presented to him within the period of 12 months beginning on the date of the contravention to which the complaint relates or (in a case where the rights commissioner is satisfied that exceptional circumstances prevented the presentation of the complaint within the period aforesaid) such further period, not exceeding 6 months from the expiration of the said period of 12 months, as the rights commissioner considers reasonable”,
(ii) the substitution in that subsection (6) of a reference to a decision for the reference to a recommendation,
and any other necessary modifications,
(b) sections 8 to 10 of the Act of 1994 shall apply as they apply for the purposes of that Act, with the following modifications, namely—
(i) the substitution in those provisions of references to a decision for references to a recommendation,
(ii) the addition to section 8 of the following subsection:
“(7) Proceedings under this section before the Tribunal shall be heard otherwise than in public.”,
(iii) the substitution in section 9 of the Act of 1994 of—
(I) references to the Circuit Court for references to the District Court, and
(II) the following subsection for subsection (3):
“(3) An application under this section to the Circuit Court shall be made to the judge of the Circuit Court for the circuit in which the employer concerned ordinarily resides or carries on any profession, trade or business.”,
and any other necessary modifications.
(7) For the avoidance of doubt nothing in subsection (6) of this section operates to confer on the Minister any of the functions of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment under the Act of 1994 and those functions shall be performable by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for the purposes of the provisions of the Act of 1994, as applied by that subsection (6), to the like extent as they are performable by him or her for the purposes of the Act of 1994 and the provisions of the Act of 1994 (including section 11) shall apply accordingly.
False reporting of child abuse.
5.—(1) A person who states to an appropriate person that—
(a) a child has been or is being assaulted, ill–treated, neglected or sexually abused, or
(b) a child's health, development or welfare has been or is being avoidably impaired or neglected,
knowing that statement to be false shall be guilty of an offence.
(2) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £1,500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both,
(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding £15,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
(3) Notwithstanding section 10(4) of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, summary proceedings for an offence under this Act may be instituted within 2 years from the date on which the offence was committed or, if later, 2 years from the date on which evidence that, in the opinion of the person by whom the proceedings are brought, is sufficient to justify the bringing of the proceedings comes to that person's knowledge.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (3) of this section, a certificate signed by or on behalf of the person bringing the proceedings as to the date on which the evidence referred to in that subsection relating to the offence concerned came to his or her knowledge shall be prima facie evidence thereof and in any legal proceedings a document purporting to be a certificate issued for the purpose of this subsection and to be so signed shall be deemed to be so signed and shall be admitted as evidence without proof of the signature of the person purporting to sign the certificate.
Saving.
6.—Section 3 of this Act is in addition to, and not in substitution for, any privilege or defence available in legal proceedings, by virtue of any enactment or rule of law in force immediately before the passing of this Act, in respect of the communication by a person to another (whether that other person is an appropriate person or not) of his or her opinion that—
(a) a child has been or is being assaulted, ill-treated, neglected or sexually abused, or
(b) a child's health, development or welfare has been or is being avoidably impaired or neglected.
Short title and commencement.
7.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Protections for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act, 1998.
(2) This Act shall come into operation one month after its passing.
Uimhir 49 de 1998
AN tACHT UM CHOSAINTÍ DO DHAOINE A THUAIRISCEOIDH DROCHÚSÁID LEANAÍ, 1998
RIAR NA nALT
Alt | |
1. | |
2. | |
3. | Cosaint ar dhliteanas sibhialta do dhaoine a thuairiscigh drochúsáid leanaí. |
4. | Fostaithe a chosaint ar phionósú mar gheall ar dhrochúsáid leanaí a thuairisciú. |
5. | |
6. | |
7. |
Na hAchtanna dá dTagraítear | |
Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851 | 14 & 15 Vict., c. 93 |
An tAcht um Théarmaí Fostaíochta (Faisnéis), 1994 | 1994, Uimh. 5 |
Na hAchtanna um Dhífhostú Éagórach, 1977 go 1993 | |
Uimhir 49 de 1998
AN tACHT UM CHOSAINTÍ DO DHAOINE A THUAIRISCEOIDH DROCHÚSÁID LEANAÍ, 1998
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
ACHT DO THABHAIRT COSANTA AR DHLITEANAS SIBHIALTA DO DHAOINE A THUAIRISCEOIDH DROCHÚSÁID LEANAÍ IN IMTHOSCA ÁIRITHE, DO THABHAIRT COSANTA DO DHAOINE DEN SÓRT SIN AR PHIONÓSÚ AG A bhFOSTÓIRÍ, DO DHÉANAMH SOCRÚ LE hAGHAIDH CIONA I dTACA LE TUAIRISCIÚ BRÉAGACH DROCHÚSÁIDE LEANAÍ AGUS DO DHÉANAMH SOCRÚ I dTAOBH NITHE GAOLMHARA. [23 Nollaig, 1998]
ACHTAÍTEAR AG AN OIREACHTAS MAR A LEANAS:
Léiriú.
1.—(1) San Acht seo, mura n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt—
ciallaíonn “Acht 1994” an tAcht um Théarmaí Fostaíochta (Faisnéis), 1994;
ciallaíonn “duine cuí” oifigeach ainmnithe nó comhalta den Gharda Síochána;
ciallaíonn “leanbh” duine nach bhfuil 18 mbliana d'aois slánaithe aige nó aici;
ciallaíonn “oifigeach ainmnithe” oifigeach do bhord sláinte arna cheapadh nó arna ceapadh faoi alt 2 den Acht seo chun bheith ina oifigeach nó ina hoifigeach ainmnithe chun críocha an Achta seo;
tá le “fostaí” agus “fostóir” an bhrí chéanna atá leo in Acht 1994;
ciallaíonn “bord sláinte” bord sláinte arna bhunú faoin Acht Sláinte, 1970;
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Sláinte agus Leanaí;
cuimsíonn “leas”, i ndáil le leanbh, leas morálta, intleachtúil, fisiciúil, mothúchánach agus sóisialach an linbh.
(2) San Acht seo, mura n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt, déanfar tagairt d'aon achtachán a fhorléiriú mar thagairt don achtachán sin arna leasú, arna oiriúnú nó arna leathnú le haon achtachán dá éis, nó faoi aon achtachán dá éis, lena n-áirítear an tAcht seo.
Oifigigh ainmnithe.
2.—(1) Déanfaidh príomh-oifigeach feidhmiúcháin gach boird sláinte—
(a) díreach ar thosach feidhme an Achta seo, agus
(b) dá éis sin ó am go ham de réir mar is gá sa chás (lena n-áirítear cás ina dtabharfar ordachán faoin alt seo),
oifigeach amháin nó níos mó don bhord a cheapadh chun bheith ina oifigeach nó ina hoifigeach ainmnithe nó ina n-oifigigh ainmnithe chun críocha an Achta seo; le linn aon cheapachán den sórt sin a dhéanamh comhlíonfaidh an príomh-oifigeach feidhmiúcháin aon ordachán faoin alt seo a bheidh i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire ordachán a thabhairt i scríbhinn do phríomh-oifigeach feidhmiúcháin boird sláinte á cheangal air nó uirthi gach duine a thig faoi earnáil nó earnálacha oifigigh don bhord a shonraítear san ordachán a cheapadh chun bheith ina n-oifigigh ainmnithe.
(3) Féadfaidh an tAire ordachán a thabhairt i scríbhinn don phríomh-oifigeach feidhmiúcháin lena mbaineann ag leasú nó ag cúlghairm ordacháin arna thabhairt dó nó di faoin alt seo (lena n-áirítear ordachán faoin bhfo-alt seo).
(4) San alt seo folaíonn “príomh-oifigeach feidhmiúcháin” duine a bheidh ag gníomhú mar leasphríomh-oifigeach feidhmiúcháin de réir alt 13 den Acht Sláinte, 1970.
Cosaint ar dhliteanas sibhialta do dhaoine a thuairiscigh drochúsáid leanaí.
3.—(1) Maidir le duine a bheadh, ar leith ón alt seo, faoi dhliteanas amhlaidh, ní bheidh sé nó sí faoi dhliteanas maidir le damáistí i leith é nó í do chur a thuairime nó a tuairime in iúl, i scríbhinn nó ar shlí eile, do dhuine cuí á rá—
(a) go raibh nó go bhfuil ionsaí á dhéanamh ar leanbh, ainíde á tabhairt do leanbh, faillí á déanamh i leanbh nó drochúsáid ghnéasach á tabhairt do leanbh, nó
(b) go bhfuil dochar inseachanta déanta nó á dhéanamh do shláinte, d'fhorbairt nó do leas linbh nó faillí inseachanta déanta nó á déanamh sna nithe sin,
mura rud é go gcruthófar nár ghníomhaigh sé nó sí go réasúnach agus de mheon macánta le linn teacht ar an tuairim sin agus í a chur in iúl don duine cuí.
(2) Déanfar an tagairt i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo do dhliteanas maidir le damáistí a fhorléiriú mar thagairt a fholaíonn tagairt do dhliteanas a bheith mar ábhar d'ordú lena ndéantar foráil maidir le haon chineál eile faoisimh.
Fostaithe a chosaint ar phionósú mar gheall ar dhrochúsáid leanaí a thuairisciú.
4.—(1) Ní dhéanfaidh fostóir fostaí a phionósú mar gheall ar theacht ar thuairim den chineál dá dtagraítear in alt 3 den Acht seo agus í a chur in iúl, i scríbhinn nó ar shlí eile, do dhuine cuí más rud é gur ghníomhaigh an fostaí go réasúnach agus de mheon macánta le linn teacht ar an tuairim sin agus í a chur in iúl don duine cuí.
(2) In imeachtaí faoin alt seo os comhair coimisinéara um chearta nó an Bhinse Achomhairc Fostaíochta i ndáil le gearán gur sáraíodh fo-alt (1) den alt seo, toimhdeofar, go dtí go gcruthófar a mhalairt, gur ghníomhaigh an fostaí lena mbaineann go réasúnach agus de mheon macánta le linn teacht ar an tuairim agus an tuairim lena mbaineann a chur in iúl.
(3) Más rud é gurb éard a bheidh i bpionósú fostaí, de shárú ar fho-alt (1) den alt seo, dífhostú an fhostaí de réir bhrí na nAchtanna um Dhífhostú Éagórach, 1977 go 1993, ní fhéadfar faoiseamh a dheonú don fhostaí i leith an phionósaithe sin faoin alt seo agus faoi na hAchtanna sin araon.
(4) Féadfaidh fostaí gearán a thíolacadh do choimisinéir um chearta á rá gur sháraigh a fhostóir nó a fostóir fo-alt (1) den alt seo i ndáil leis nó léi agus, má dhéanann sé nó sí amhlaidh, tabharfaidh an coimisinéir deis do na páirtithe éisteacht a fháil ón gcoimisinéir agus aon fhianaise a bhaineann le hábhar an ghearáin a thíolacadh don choimisinéir, tabharfaidh sé nó sí cinneadh i scríbhinn i ndáil leis agus cuirfidh sé nó sí an cinneadh in iúl do na páirtithe.
(5) Maidir le cinneadh ó choimisinéir um chearta faoi fho-alt (4) den alt seo, déanfar ceann amháin nó níos mó de na nithe seo a leanas leis:
(a) a dhearbhú go raibh, nó de réir mar a bheidh, nach raibh bonn leis an ngearán,
(b) a cheangal ar an bhfostóir fo-alt (1) den alt seo a chomhlíonadh agus, chun na críche sin, a cheangal ar an bhfostóir bearta sonraithe a ghlacadh,
(c) a cheangal ar an bhfostóir cúiteamh a íoc leis an bhfostaí, ar cúiteamh é de cibé méid (más ann) is cóir agus is cothromasach ag féachaint do na himthosca go léir, ach gan dul thar luach saothair 104 sheachtain i leith fhostaíocht an fhostaí arna ríomh de réir rialachán faoi alt 17 den Acht um Dhífhostú Éagórach, 1977,
agus déanfar na tagairtí sna míreanna sin roimhe seo d'fhostóir a fhorléiriú, i gcás ina n-athróidh úinéireacht ghnó an fhostóra i ndiaidh don sárú lena mbaineann an gearán tarlú, mar thagairtí don duine a thiocfaidh chun bheith i dteideal na húinéireachta sin de bhua an athraithe.
(6) Chun críocha an ailt seo—
(a) beidh feidhm ag fo-ailt (3) go (6) agus ag fo-alt (7) (a) d'alt 7 d'Acht 1994 i ndáil le gearán a thíolacfar faoin alt seo mar atá feidhm acu i ndáil le gearán a thíolacfar faoi fho-alt (1) den alt sin 7, fara na modhnuithe seo a leanas, eadhon—
(i) na focail go léir san fho-alt sin (3) ó “má thíolactar” go deireadh an fho-ailt sin a scriosadh agus “mura dtíolactar dó é laistigh den tréimhse 12 mhí dar tosach dáta an tsáraithe lena mbaineann an gearán nó (i gcás gur deimhin leis an gcoimisinéir um chearta nár tíolacadh an gearán laistigh den tréimhse réamhráite mar gheall ar imthosca eisceachtúla) laistigh de cibé tréimhse bhreise, nach faide ná 6 mhí ó dheireadh na tréimhse 12 mhí sin, a mheasfaidh an coimisinéir um chearta a bheith réasúnach” a chur ina n-ionad,
(ii) san fho-alt sin (6), tagairt do chinneadh a chur in ionad na tagartha do mholadh,
agus fara aon mhodhnuithe eile is gá,
(b) beidh feidhm ag ailt 8 go 10 d'Acht 1994 mar atá feidhm acu chun críocha an Achta sin, fara na modhnuithe seo a leanas, eadhon—
(i) sna forálacha sin, tagairtí do chinneadh a chur in ionad tagairtí do mholadh,
(ii) an fo-alt seo a leanas a chur le halt 8:
“(7) Déanfar imeachtaí faoin alt seo os comhair an Bhinse a éisteacht ar shlí eile seachas go poiblí.”,
(iii) in alt 9 d'Acht 1994—
(I) tagairtí don Chúirt Chuarda a chur in ionad tagairtí don Chúirt Dúiche, agus
(II) an fo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (3):
“(3) Maidir le hiarratas faoin alt seo chun na Cúirte Cuarda déanfar é chun an bhreithimh den Chúirt Chuarda don chuaird ina bhfuil gnáthchónaí ar an bhfostóir lena mbaineann nó ina seolann sé aon ghairm, trádáil nó gnó.”,
agus fara aon mhodhnuithe eile is gá.
(7) D'fhonn amhras a sheachaint ní oibríonn aon ní i bhfo-alt (6) den alt seo chun aon cheann d'fheidhmeanna an Aire Fiontar, Trádála agus Fostaíochta faoi Acht 1994 a thabhairt don Aire agus beidh na feidhmeanna sin inchomhlíonta ag an Aire Fiontar, Trádála agus Fostaíochta chun críocha fhorálacha Acht 1994, arna gcur chun feidhme leis an bhfo-alt (6) sin, go feadh an mhéid chéanna atá siad inchomhlíonta aige nó aici chun críocha Acht 1994 agus beidh feidhm dá réir sin ag forálacha Acht 1994 (lena n-áirítear alt 11).
Tuairisciú bréagach drochúsáide leanaí.
5.—(1) Aon duine a luafaidh le duine cuí—
(a) go raibh nó go bhfuil ionsaí á dhéanamh ar leanbh, ainíde á tabhairt do leanbh, faillí á déanamh i leanbh nó drochúsáid ghnéasach á tabhairt do leanbh, nó
(b) go bhfuil dochar inseachanta déanta nó á dhéanamh do shláinte, d'fhorbairt nó do leas linbh nó faillí inseachanta déanta nó á déanamh sna nithe sin,
agus a fhios aige nó aici an ráiteas sin a bheith bréagach, beidh sé nó sí ciontach i gcion.
(2) Duine a bheidh ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo dlífear—
(a) ar é nó í a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £1,500 nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná 12 mhí, nó iad araon, a chur air nó uirthi,
(b) ar é nó í a chiontú ar díotáil, fíneáil nach mó ná £15,000 n ó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná 3 bliana, nó iad araon, a chur air nó uirthi.
(3) D'ainneoin alt 10 (4) den Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, féadfar imeachtaí achoimre mar gheall ar chion faoin Acht seo a thionscnamh laistigh de 2 bhliain ón dáta a rinneadh an cion nó, más déanaí ná sin é, laistigh de 2 bhliain ón dáta a dtagann fianaise ar iúl an duine a thabharfaidh na himeachtaí, ar fianaise í is leor, i dtuairim an duine sin, chun gur cóir na himeachtaí a thabhairt.
(4) Chun críocha fho-alt (3) den alt seo, beidh deimhniú a bheidh sínithe ag an duine, nó thar ceann an duine, a thabharfaidh na himeachtaí i dtaobh an dáta a tháinig an fhianaise dá dtagraítear san fho-alt sin maidir leis an gcion lena mbaineann ar a iúl nó ar a hiúl ina fhianaise prima facie ar an méid sin agus maidir le doiciméad a airbheartóidh gur deimhniú é a eisíodh chun críche an fho-ailt seo agus a bheith sínithe amhlaidh, measfar, in aon imeachtaí dlíthiúla, gur síníodh amhlaidh é agus glacfar mar fhianaise é gan cruthúnas ar shíniú an duine a airbheartaíonn gurb é nó gurb í a shínigh an deimhniú.
Cosaint.
6.—Maidir le halt 3 den Acht seo, is alt é i dteannta, agus ní alt é in ionad, aon phribhléide nó cosanta atá ar fáil in imeachtaí dlíthiúla, de bhua aon achtacháin nó rialach dlí atá i bhfeidhm díreach roimh an Acht seo a rith, i leith duine do chur a thuairime nó a tuairime in iúl do dhuine eile (cibé acu is duine cuí an duine eile sin nó nach ea) á rá—
(a) go raibh nó go bhfuil ionsaí á dhéanamh ar leanbh, ainíde á tabhairt do leanbh, faillí á déanamh i leanbh nó drochúsáid ghnéasach á tabhairt do leanbh, nó
(b) go bhfuil dochar inseachanta déanta nó á dhéanamh do shláinte, d'fhorbairt nó do leas linbh nó faillí inseachanta déanta nó á déanamh sna nithe sin.
Gearrtheideal agus tosach feidhme.
7.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht um Chosaintí do Dhaoine a Thuairisceoidh Drochúsáid Leanaí, 1998, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i ngníomh mí amháin tar éis é a rith.