Harbours Act, 1946
Acts of the Oireachtas
Source: Acts of the Oireachtas

num: 1
paragraphs: —This Act may be cited as the Harbours Act, 1946.
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paragraphs: —(1) In this Act, save where the context otherwise requires—
the words “aircraft” and “aerodrome” have the same meanings respectively as they have in the Air Navigation and Transport Act, 1936 (No. 40 of 1936);
the expression “annual meeting” has the meaning assigned to it by subsection (1) of section 20 of this Act;
the expression “chamber of commerce member” has the meaning assigned to it by section 7 of this Act;
the expression “the collector of rates” means the collector of rates or the harbour master and collector of rates (as the case may be) under section 38 of this Act of a harbour;
the expression “elected member” has the meaning assigned to it by section 7 of this Act;
the expression “election year” means a year which, in accordance with section 9 of this Act, is an election year for the purposes of this Act in respect of the relevant harbour authority;
the expression “the General Manager” means the General Manager under section 39 of this Act of a harbour;
the word “goods” includes livestock, minerals, wares, chattels and merchandise of all descriptions;
the expression “goods rates” has the meaning assigned to it by paragraph (b) of section 94 of this Act;
the expression “graving dock” includes any patent slip, gridiron, saucer or other like work;
the word “harbour” means the harbour of a harbour authority;
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paragraphs: —The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
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paragraphs: —(1) The Minister may make regulations in relation to any matter or thing referred to in this Act as prescribed or to be prescribed.
(2) A power conferred by this Act on the Minister to make regulations shall be construed as a power to make such regulations in relation to harbour authorities generally or to one or more than one specified harbour authority and to make different regulations in relation to different harbour authorities.
(3) Regulations made by the Minister under this Act shall have the force of law in accordance with their terms.
num: 5
paragraphs: —The following provisions shall, notwithstanding anything contained in any other section of this Act or in any other enactment, have effect in relation to a harbour authority (not being a local authority) during the period beginning on the day of the passing of this Act and ending on the day before the second Thursday in the month of October in the year appointed under section 6 of this Act in respect of the harbour authority:
(a) subject to paragraph (b) of this section, the harbour authority shall consist of the persons acting as members thereof immediately before the passing of this Act;
(b) whenever any of the said persons dies or resigns, the vacancy occasioned thereby shall be filled by the remainder of the said persons co-opting a person to fill the vacancy;
(c) if any provisions contained in sections 37 to 52 and section 55 of the Commissioners Clauses Act, 1847, applied in relation to the harbour authority immediately before the passing of this Act, those provisions, subject to any variations which may have been made in them by the enactment by virtue of which they so applied, shall continue to apply in relation to the harbour authority.
num: 6
paragraphs: —(1) This Part of this Act shall come into operation in relation to a harbour authority in such year as the Minister may by order appoint in respect of such harbour authority and as follows:
(a) so much of this Part of this Act as relates to the appointment, election and nomination of members of a harbour authority shall come into operation on the 7th day of July in the year so appointed,
(b) the remainder of this Part of this Act shall come into operation on the second Thursday in the month of October in the year so appointed.
(2) Where the Minister makes an order under this section in respect of a harbour authority which is a local authority, he shall include in the order, and it shall have effect accordingly, provisions creating on the second Thursday in the month of October in the year appointed by the order a new authority named in the order, transferring on that day to the new authority the harbour of the local authority, the management and control of such harbour and the assets, liabilities, officers and servants connected therewith and providing for any other matters supplemental or ancillary to the creation of the new authority, and the following provisions shall, in addition to those contained in the order, also have effect:
num: 7
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority mentioned in the first column of Part I of the First Schedule to this Act shall consist of the following members:
(a) five members (in this Act referred to as local authority members) appointed by the local authority mentioned in the second column of the said Part I opposite the mention in the said first column of the harbour authority or, in the case of the Cork Harbour Commissioners, appointed as to four of such members by the local authority mentioned firstly in the second column of the said Part I opposite the mention in the said first column of the Cork Harbour Commissioners and as to the other one of such members by the local authority secondly mentioned as aforesaid;
(b) four members (in this Act referred to as chamber of commerce members) appointed by the chamber of commerce mentioned in the third column of the said Part I opposite the mention in the said first column of the harbour authority or, in the case of the Cork Harbour Commissioners, appointed as to two of such members by the chamber of commerce mentioned firstly in the third column of the said Part I opposite the mention in the said first column of the Cork Harbour Commissioners and as to the other two of such members by the chamber of commerce secondly mentioned as aforesaid;
(c) two members (in this Act referred to as livestock members) appointed—
(i) in case one organisation is specified, in the order for the time being in force under subsection (3) of this section, by the organisation so specified,
(ii) in case two organisations are specified in the order for the time being in force under subsection (3) of this section, as to one of such members by the first organisation so specified and as to the other of such members by the second organisation so specified;
(d) two members (in this Act referred to as manufacturer members) appointed by the Federation of Irish Manufacturers, Limited;
(e) two members (in this Act referred to as labour members) appointed by the organisation specified in the order for the time being in force under subsection (4) of this section in respect of the harbour authority;
(f) four members (in this Act referred to as elected members) elected by the qualified electors;
(g) four members (in this Act referred to as nominated members) nominated by the Minister.
num: 8
paragraphs: —(1) Where—
(a) a local authority (in this subsection referred to as the assisting authority) have afforded or agreed to afford financial assistance to a harbour authority, and
(b) the assisting authority are not a local authority which in accordance with this Act would ordinarily appoint local authority members of the harbour authority, and
(c) the Minister is of opinion that the assisting authority should have representation in the membership of the harbour authority,
the Minister, after consultation with the Minister for Local Government and Public Health, may by order declare either—
(i) that the assisting authority shall appoint one or more of the local authority members of the harbour authority and that the number of such members to be appointed by any local authority which under this Act would ordinarily appoint such members shall be reduced correspondingly, or
(ii) that the assisting authority shall appoint one or more additional local authority members of the harbour authority.
(2) Where the local authority members of a harbour authority are for the time being appointed by two or more local authorities, the Minister may by order vary the number of such members to be appointed by each of such authorities.
(3) An order made under this section shall have effect in accordance with its terms on and after the first occurrence after the making of the order of a day which is the 7th day of July in an election year.
(4) The Minister may by order amend or revoke any order previously made by him under this section (including an order made under this subsection).
num: 9
paragraphs: —(1) The year in which this Part of this Act comes into operation in relation to a harbour authority shall be an election year for the purposes of this Act in respect of that harbour authority and is referred to in subsection (2) of this section as the first election year.
(2) The following years shall, in addition to the first election year, be election years for the purposes of this Act in respect of a harbour authority:
(a) in case the first election year is a year in which elections of members of councils of counties are held—every third successive year after the first election year,
(b) in any other case—the year, and every third successive year thereafter, in which elections of members of councils of counties are held next after the first election year.
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paragraphs: —(1) During the period beginning on the 7th day of July and ending on the 31st day of August in an election year there shall take place, so far as may be necessary in accordance with this Act, in respect of a harbour authority—
(a) the appointment by the appropriate local authority or local authorities of persons to be the local authority members of the harbour authority,
(b) the appointment by the appropriate chamber of commerce or chambers of commerce of persons to be the chamber of commerce members of the harbour authority,
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paragraphs: —Where, as respects the election to be held in any particular election year of the elected member of a harbour authority, the Minister is of opinion that the electors will be so few in number as to render inappropriate the holding of the election, the Minister may by order direct that the election shall not be held and thereupon—
(a) the election shall not be held, and
(b) the Minister shall, during the period beginning on the 1st day of September and ending on the second Thursday in the month of October in the election year, appoint four persons or two persons (as may be appropriate) who in his opinion are representative of payers of tonnage rates to the harbour authority to be the elected members of the harbour authority and such persons shall be deemed for the purposes of this Act to have been duly elected as the elected members of the harbour authority.
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paragraphs: —Chamber of commerce members of a harbour authority appointed by a chamber of commerce shall be appointed at a meeting of the chamber of commerce held specially for that purpose.
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paragraphs: —(1) The Minister shall make regulations in relation to the manner in which an election of the elected members of a harbour authority is to be conducted and such other matters relating to such election as he thinks proper.
(2) An election of elected members of a harbour authority shall be carried out under and in accordance with the regulations for the time being in force under this section in respect of the harbour authority.
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paragraphs: —(1) Save as otherwise provided by this Act, the term of office of a member of a harbour authority shall commence on the second Thursday in the month of October in the election year in which he is appointed, elected or nominated (as the case may be).
(2) The term of office of a member of a harbour authority shall, unless he sooner dies, resigns or becomes disqualified, terminate on the day preceding the first occurrence after the day on which his term of office commences of a day which is the second Thursday in the month of October in an election year.
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paragraphs: —(1) Whenever a vacancy occurs in the membership of a harbour authority by reason of the death, resignation, or disqualification of a member—
(a) if the member was a local authority member, the local authority by whom he was appointed shall, within two months after notice of the vacancy has been given to them under this section, appoint a person to be a local authority member to fill the vacancy,
(b) if the member was a chamber of commerce member, the chamber of commerce by whom he was appointed shall, within two months after notice of the vacancy has been given to them under this section, appoint a person to be a chamber of commerce member to fill the vacancy,
(c) if the member was a livestock member, the organisation of livestock traders by whom he was appointed shall, within two months after notice of the vacancy has been given to them under this section, appoint a person to be a livestock member to fill the vacancy,
(d) if the member was a manufacturer member, the Federation of Irish Manufacturers, Limited, shall, within two months after notice of the vacancy has been given to them under this section, appoint a person to be a manufacturer member to fill the vacancy,
(e) if the member was a labour member, the organisation representative of labour interests by whom he was appointed shall, within two months after notice of the vacancy has been given to them under this section, appoint a person to be a labour member to fill the vacancy,
(f) if the member was an elected member, the remaining members of the harbour authority shall, within two months after the occurrence of the vacancy, fill the vacancy by co-option of a person to be an elected member, and
(g) if the member was a nominated member, the Minister shall nominate a person to be a nominated member to fill the vacancy.
(2) The term of office of a person who becomes a member of a harbour authority under this section shall commence on the day next following the day of his appointment, co-option or nomination (as the case may be).
(3) Where a vacancy occurs in the membership of a harbour authority by reason of the death, resignation, or disqualification of a local authority member, the harbour authority shall forthwith give notice by post of the vacancy to the local authority by whom the member was appointed.
(4) Where a vacancy occurs in the membership of a harbour authority by reason of the death, resignation, or disqualification of a chamber of commerce member, the harbour authority shall forthwith give notice by post of the vacancy to the chamber of commerce by whom the member was appointed.
(5) Where a vacancy occurs in the membership of a harbour authority by reason of the death, resignation, or disqualification of a livestock member, the harbour authority shall forthwith give notice by post of the vacancy to the organisation of livestock traders by whom the member was appointed.
(6) Where a vacancy occurs in the membership of a harbour authority by reason of the death, resignation, or disqualification of a manufacturer member, the harbour authority shall forthwith give notice by post of the vacancy to the Federation of Irish Manufacturers, Limited.
(7) Where a vacancy occurs in the membership of a harbour authority by reason of the death, resignation, or disqualification of a labour member, the harbour authority shall forthwith give notice by post of the vacancy to the organisation representative of labour interests by whom the member was appointed.
(8) Where a vacancy occurs in the membership of a harbour authority by reason of the death, resignation, or disqualification of a nominated member, the harbour authority shall forthwith give notice by post of the vacancy to the Minister.
(9) Where a vacancy occurs in the membership of a harbour authority by reason of the death, resignation, or disqualification of a member appointed by a body specified in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) of subsection (1) of this section and such body do not, within two months after the notice of the vacancy has been given to them under this section, fill the vacancy, the following provisions shall have effect:
(a) the harbour authority shall forthwith give notice by post to the Minister that the vacancy has not been filled, and
(b) the Minister may thereupon appoint a person to be a member of the harbour authority to fill the vacancy, and
(c) the person so appointed by the Minister shall be deemed for the purposes of this Act to have been duly appointed by such body to be a local authority member, a chamber of commerce member, a livestock member, a manufacturer member or a labour member (as the case may be) of the harbour authority to fill the vacancy.
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paragraphs: —A member of a harbour authority may at any time resign his office by letter addressed to the harbour authority and the resignation shall take effect at the commencement of the meeting of the harbour authority next after the receipt by them of the resignation.
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paragraphs: —A person who becomes a member of a harbour authority in two or more capacities shall forthwith resign in all but one of those capacities and, if he fails so to do, the harbour authority may declare that he has resigned in all but a named one of those capacities, and thereupon he shall be deemed for all purposes to be a member of the harbour authority in such named capacity only and to have resigned his membership in the other capacity or capacities.
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paragraphs: —Where the members of a local authority authorised by this Part of this Act to appoint members of a harbour authority stand removed from office by order made under Part IV of the Local Government Act, 1941 (No. 23 of 1941), the following provisions shall have effect:
(a) a member of the harbour authority shall not be appointed by the commissioner or commissioners for the time being appointed under the said Part IV for the local authority save with the consent of the Minister,
(b) an order shall not be made under section 52 of the Local Government Act, 1941 (No. 23 of 1941), by the Minister for Local Government and Public Health in relation to the harbour authority save after consultation with the Minister.
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paragraphs: —(1) A person shall be disqualified for being appointed, elected or nominated or being a member of a harbour authority if—
(a) he is not an Irish citizen, or
(b) he has not attained the age of twenty-one years, or
(c) except in the case of being appointed or being a local authority member, the place where he ordinarily resides is more than thirty miles from the principal office of the harbour authority, or
(d) he holds any paid office under the harbour authority, or
(e) he has, within five years before his appointment, election or nomination, or since his appointment, election or nomination, been convicted on indictment or summarily of any crime, and sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour without the option of a fine or to any greater punishment, and has not received a free pardon, or
(f) has, within five years before his appointment, election or nomination, or since his appointment, election or nomination, been adjudged bankrupt, or made a composition or arrangement with his creditors, or
(g) has, within five years before his appointment, election or nomination, or since his appointment, election or nomination, been convicted of an offence under section 26 of this Act.
(2) If a member of a harbour authority is absent from more than half of the meetings of the harbour authority during any period of six consecutive months, he shall vacate his office unless the harbour authority decides that there is good reason for such absence.
(3) Where any portion of a sum charged or surcharged by an auditor of the accounts of a harbour authority upon or against any person remains unpaid, such person shall be disqualified for being appointed, elected or nominated or being a member of any harbour authority until the sum so charged or surcharged is paid unless such person appeals from the charge or surcharge and, in the final determination of the appeal, it is decided that the charge or surcharge was not lawfully made or (in the case of an appeal to the Minister) is not to be enforced.
(4) A disqualification under subsection (3) of this section shall commence—
(a) where an appeal from the relevant charge or surcharge is not taken, on the expiration of the time limited for such appeal, and
(b) where such appeal is taken, on the expiration of one month after the final determination thereof.
(5) Where a person is disqualified under this section by being adjudged bankrupt or making a composition or arrangement with his creditors, the disqualification shall cease, in case of bankruptcy, when the adjudication is annulled or when he obtains his discharge with a certificate that his bankruptcy was caused by misfortune without any misconduct on his part, and, in the case of composition or arrangement, on payment of his debts in full.
(6) Where under this section a member of a harbour authority becomes disqualified for holding his office, or vacates his office through being absent from meetings, the harbour authority shall forthwith declare his office to be vacant and it shall thereupon become vacant.
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paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority shall hold a meeting (in this Act referred to as an annual meeting) on the second Thursday in the month of October in every year.
(2) Where an annual meeting cannot conveniently be held by a harbour authority on the second Thursday in the month of October in any particular year, the Minister may authorise the holding of the meeting on such day as he thinks proper not being later than twenty-one days after the said second Thursday, and the meeting may accordingly be held on the day so authorised.
(3) In addition to annual meetings, a harbour authority shall hold such and so many meetings as may be necessary for the exercise and performance of their powers and duties.
(4) The chairman of a harbour authority may at any time call a meeting of the harbour authority.
(5) If the chairman of a harbour authority refuses to call a meeting of the harbour authority after a requisition for that purpose, signed by three members of the harbour authority, has been presented to him, any three members of the harbour authority may forthwith, on that refusal, call a meeting of the harbour authority, and, if the chairman (without so refusing) does not, within seven days after the presentation of the requisition, call a meeting of the harbour authority, any three members of the harbour authority may, on the expiration of those seven days, call a meeting of the harbour authority.
(6) Three clear days at least before a meeting of a harbour authority, notice of the time and place of the intended meeting, signed by the chairman or an officer of the harbour authority authorised by them in that behalf, or, if the meeting is called by members of the harbour authority, by those members, shall be fixed on the principal office of the harbour authority and, if the meeting is called by members of the harbour authority, the notice shall specify the business proposed to be transacted thereat.
(7) Three clear days at least before a meeting of a harbour authority, a summons to attend the meeting, specifying the business proposed to be transacted thereat, and signed by an officer of the harbour authority authorised by them in that behalf, shall be left at or sent by post to the usual place of abode of every member of the harbour authority, but failure so to leave or send such notice for or to a member or some of the members of the harbour authority shall not affect the validity of the meeting.
(8) No business shall be transacted at a meeting of a harbour authority other than that specified in the summons relating thereto and such business (if any) as may be required by this Act to be transacted thereat.
num: 21
paragraphs: —(1) At an annual meeting of a harbour authority, the harbour authority shall elect one of their members to be chairman of the harbour authority and another of their members to be vice-chairman thereof.
(2) A person elected to be chairman or vice-chairman of a harbour authority shall, unless he sooner dies, resigns, or becomes disqualified, hold office as chairman or vice-chairman (as the case may be) until immediately before the commencement of the next annual meeting of the harbour authority.
(3) Whenever the office of chairman or vice-chairman of a harbour authority becomes vacant through the death, resignation, or disqualification of the chairman or vice-chairman thereof, the harbour authority shall at their next meeting after the vacancy has taken place elect one of their members to be chairman or vice-chairman (as the case may be).
(4) The chairman or vice-chairman of a harbour authority, may at any time resign his office as chairman or vice-chairman by letter addressed to the harbour authority and the resignation shall take effect immediately before the commencement of the meeting of the harbour authority next after the receipt by them of the resignation.
(5) Whenever the chairman or vice-chairman of a harbour authority ceases during his term of office as chairman or vice-chairman to be a member of the harbour authority, he shall be disqualified for being, and shall forthwith cease to be, the chairman or vice-chairman (as the case may be).
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paragraphs: —At an election of a chairman or vice-chairman of a harbour authority, the following provisions shall have effect:
(a) the proceedings shall begin by a member or members being proposed and seconded and no person who is not then proposed and seconded shall be a candidate;
(b) where there is only one candidate, he shall be elected;
(c) where there are more than two candidates, a poll shall be taken;
(d) if at such poll a majority of members present vote for any particular candidate, he shall be elected;
(e) if at such poll no candidate receives the votes of a majority of the members present, the candidate receiving the least number of votes shall be eliminated and, subject to the provisions of paragraph (g) of this section, one or more further polls (according as may be necessary) shall be taken;
(f) paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section shall apply in relation to such further poll or polls;
(g) where there are only two candidates or where, as a result of one or more polls taken under this section, all the candidates except two have been eliminated, the question as to which of such candidates shall be elected shall be put to the members present and whichever of such candidates receives the greater number of votes on such question shall be elected;
(h) if from an equality of votes given to two or more candidates any question arises under this section as to which of such candidates is to be eliminated or as to which of such candidates is to be elected, such question shall be decided by lot.
num: 23
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority may from time to time appoint such and so many committees as they think fit for purposes connected with the exercise or performance of such of their powers, duties and functions as would, in the opinion of the harbour authority, be better or more conveniently regulated or managed by or through a committee.
(2) A committee appointed under this section shall consist of not less than three members of the harbour authority appointing the committee.
(3) The acts of a committee appointed under this section shall be subject to the confirmation of the harbour authority by whom the committee were appointed, save that such harbour authority may, with the sanction of the Minister, empower any particular committee to do any act (including the institution of legal proceedings) within the authority conferred on the committee by such harbour authority which such harbour authority could themselves lawfully do.
(4) The quorum, procedure and place of meeting of a committee appointed under this section shall be such as may be appointed by regulations to be made by the harbour authority by which the committee is appointed.
num: 24
paragraphs: —(1) The quorum for a meeting of a harbour authority shall be five in the case of a harbour authority mentioned in Part I of the First Schedule to this Act and four in the case of a harbour authority mentioned in Part II of the said Schedule.
(2) At a meeting of a harbour authority—
(a) the chairman of the harbour authority shall, if he is present, be chairman of the meeting;
(b) if the chairman of the harbour authority is not present or if the office of chairman is vacant, the vice-chairman of the harbour authority shall, if he is present, be chairman of the meeting;
(c) if the chairman of the harbour authority is not present or if the office of chairman is vacant and the vice-chairman is not present or the office of vice-chairman is vacant, the members of the harbour authority who are present shall choose one of their members to be chairman of the meeting.
(3) Save as otherwise provided by this Act, a question at a meeting of a harbour authority shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting on the question and, in case of an equal division of votes, the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
(4) A harbour authority may act notwithstanding one or more vacancies in their membership.
(5) Where—
(a) a local authority or a chamber of commerce purport to appoint or the Minister purports to nominate or persons required to elect elected members purport to elect a person to be a member of a harbour authority, and
(b) such person acts as such member, and
(c) there was any informality (including want of qualification on the part of such person) in the purported appointment, nomination, or election of such person,
the acts and proceedings of such person shall, for the purposes of the proceedings of the harbour authority but not further or otherwise, be as valid and effectual as if there had been no such informality.
(6) Where a person who has duly become a member of a harbour authority becomes disqualified for being a member of the harbour authority, the acts and proceedings of such person after his becoming disqualified shall, for the purpose of the proceedings of the harbour authority but not further or otherwise, be as valid and effectual as if he had not become so disqualified.
(7) The Minister may make regulations in respect of the procedure and business of a harbour authority.
(8) Subject to the provisions of this Act and any regulations made thereunder, a harbour authority shall regulate, by standing orders or otherwise, their procedure and business.
(9) Whenever a meeting of a harbour authority is abandoned owing to failure to obtain a quorum, the names of the members attending at the time and place appointed for the meeting shall be recorded, and, for the purpose of any provisions relating to disqualification of members of harbour authorities for non-attendance at meetings, a meeting of the harbour authority shall be deemed to have been held at such time and place and the members whose names are so recorded shall be deemed to have attended at such meeting.
num: 25
paragraphs: —(1) Minutes of the proceedings at a meeting of a harbour authority or committee of a harbour authority shall be entered in a book kept for that purpose and shall be signed at the next ensuing meeting of the harbour authority or committee (as the case may be) by the chairman of that meeting and any such minutes purporting to be so signed shall be received in evidence in all proceedings without further proof.
(2) Until the contrary is proved, a meeting of a harbour authority or a committee of a harbour authority in respect of which minutes have been entered and signed under this section shall be deemed to have been duly convened and held and the persons attending the meeting to have been members of the harbour authority or committee (as the case may be) and, in the case of a committee, the committee shall be deemed to have been duly constituted and to have had power to deal with the matters referred to in the minutes.
(3) The Minister may require a harbour authority to make and furnish to him within a specified time copies of the minutes of any meeting or meetings of the harbour authority or of a committee of the harbour authority and it shall be the duty of the harbour authority to comply with such requirement.
num: 26
paragraphs: —(1) If a person knowingly acts as a member of a harbour authority when disqualified for being such member, he shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds.
(2) Where a person is charged with an offence under this section and the fact that he acted as a member of a harbour authority when disqualified for being such member is proved, the onus of proving that he did not act knowingly shall be on such person.
num: 27
paragraphs: —Where a harbour authority is a pilotage authority, the membership of all the members of any committee appointed by them in their capacity as pilotage authority shall terminate on the commencement of the second Thursday in the month of October in the year in which this Part of this Act comes into operation in relation to them, and they may appoint new members of the committee for the remainder of the term for which the members whose membership has terminated would have held office.
num: 28
paragraphs: —Where by an order under the Pilotage Act, 1913 —
num: 29
paragraphs: —This part of this Act shall come into operation in relation to a harbour authority on the second Thursday in the month of October in the year appointed in respect of them under section 6 of this Act.
num: 30
paragraphs: —(1) If and whenever—
(a) the Minister, after holding a local inquiry into the performance by a harbour authority of their duties, is satisfied that such duties are not being duly and effectually performed, or
(b) a harbour authority refuses or neglects to comply with a judgment, order or decree of any court, or
(c) a harbour authority refuses after due notice to allow their accounts to be audited by the auditor appointed by the Minister, or
(d) the members of a harbour authority capable of acting are less in number than the quorum for meetings of such harbour authority, or
(e) a harbour authority refuses or wilfully neglects to comply with an express requirement which is imposed on them by or under any statutory or other enactment,
the Minister may by order remove from office the members of such harbour authority.
(2) On the removal from office of the members of a harbour authority—
(a) the membership of all the members of any committee, being a committee appointed by the harbour authority under section 23 of this Act, shall terminate, and
(b) the membership of all the members of any committee, being a committee appointed by the harbour authority acting as a pilotage authority, shall terminate.
(3) In this Part of this Act, every reference to a removal from office shall be construed as a reference to a removal from office under this section.
(4) Every order made under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as conveniently may be after it is made, and, if a resolution annulling such order is passed by either such House within the next twenty-one days on which such House has sat after such order is laid before it, such order shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.
num: 31
paragraphs: —(1) The Minister shall fix a year (in this Part of this Act referred to as the reconstitution year) for the reconstitution of the membership of a harbour authority whose members have been removed from office and such year, if it is not an election year, shall be deemed for the purposes of such reconstitution to be an election year.
(2) The reconstitution year shall be—
(a) in case the members of the relevant harbour authority were removed from office in a year immediately preceding an election year—such election year or any of the three next following years, and
(b) in any other case—any of the three years next following the year in which the members of the relevant harbour authority were removed from office.
(3) During the period between the removal from office of the members of a harbour authority and the second Thursday in the month of October in the reconstitution year, no appointment, election and nomination of the members of the harbour authority shall take place other than the appointment, election and nomination of the said members in the reconstitution year.
(4) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, the removal from office of the members of a harbour authority shall not alter the election years as respects the harbour authority.
num: 32
paragraphs: —(1) For the purposes of enabling a harbour authority whose members have been removed from office to function during the period between the removal from office and the second Thursday in the month of October in the reconstitution year, the Minister shall from time to time appoint one or more than one person to be the commissioner or commissioners for the harbour authority.
(2) The Minister may—
(a) remove any commissioner for a harbour authority appointed under this section and appoint another person to be commissioner for the harbour authority in his place,
(b) when there is or are one or more than one commissioner appointed under this section for a harbour authority, appoint one or more than one person to be an additional commissioner or additional commissioners for the harbour authority,
(c) where there are two or more commissioners appointed under this section for a harbour authority, reduce the number of the commissioners and for that purpose remove one or more than one of the commissioners.
(3) In the subsequent sections of this Part of this Act, the word “commissioner” means a commissioner appointed under this section.
num: 33
paragraphs: —(1) During the period between the removal from office of the members of a harbour authority and the second Thursday in the month of October in the reconstitution year, every power, function or duty (including every power, function or duty of the harbour authority acting as a pilotage authority) which is exercisable or to be performed by the members of the harbour authority acting together in a meeting of the harbour authority shall be exercised or performed by the commissioner or commissioners for the harbour authority.
(2) In subsection (1) of this section, the word “power” includes the power to appoint a committee under section 23 of this Act.
(3) So long as a power of a harbour authority to appoint a committee is exercisable under this section by a commissioner or commissioners, the membership of the committee shall not be restricted to members of the harbour authority.
num: 34
paragraphs: —(1) The Minister may fix the tenure of office of any commissioner.
(2) The Minister may direct the payment of remuneration to any commissioner and may fix its amount, and such remuneration as so fixed shall be paid out of the revenue of the relevant harbour authority as part of their working and establishment expenses.
num: 35
paragraphs: —(1) The Minister may by order do all such things and make all such regulations as are in his opinion necessary or expedient in order to enable a harbour authority whose members are removed from office to function duly and effectually and, generally, to enable this Part of this Act to have full force and effect.
(2) The Minister, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by subsection (1) of this section but without prejudice to the generality thereof, may by order—
(a) provide for the exercise and performance by deputy of the powers and duties of a commissioner who is sick or absent on leave, and
(b) where there are two or more commissioners for a harbour authority, provide generally or as regards particular matters for the acting of the commissioners individually, collectively or by a majority.
(3) The Minister may by order amend or revoke any order made under this section (including any order made under this subsection).
num: 36
paragraphs: —The Minister may by order make all such adaptations of any enactment (including this Act other than this Part of this Act) as appear to him to be necessary or expedient for enabling this Part of this Act to have full force and effect or for enabling such enactment to have effect in conformity with this Part of this Act.
num: 37
paragraphs: —The continuity of the existence of a harbour authority, by the title appropriate to them according to law, as a corporate body shall not be affected by the removal from office of the members of the harbour authority nor by the vacancy in the office of chairman or vice-chairman occasioned by the removal.
num: 38
paragraphs: —(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, there shall from time to time be appointed to or employed in the service of a harbour authority by such authority, such and so many officers (including, in the case of a harbour authority mentioned in Part II of the First Schedule to this Act, a secretary and, in every case, a harbour master and a collector of rates) and servants as may be necessary for the due administration, management, operation and maintenance of the harbour of the harbour authority.
(2) A harbour authority, in lieu of appointing in pursuance of this section both a harbour master and a collector of rates for their harbour, may appoint one person to be harbour master and collector of rates.
(3) A harbour authority may require any of their officers to give and maintain during his term of office security of such description and amount as the harbour authority consider proper.
(4) The Local Authorities (Officers and Employees) Acts, 1926 and 1940, other than subsections (1) and (2) of section 7 and section 11 of the Local Authorities (Officers and Employees) Act, 1926 (No. 39 of 1926), shall apply in relation to a harbour authority in like manner as they apply in relation to a local authority, but the expressions “the Minister” and “local authority” shall, in those Acts as so applied, mean respectively the Minister for Industry and Commerce and a harbour authority.
(5) If any question arises whether a person who is or was in the service of a harbour authority is or was an officer, the question shall be referred to the Minister whose decision shall be final.
(6) Whenever the Local Appointments Commissioners perform any function in respect of a harbour authority under the Local Authorities (Officers and Employees) Acts, 1926 and 1940, as applied by this Act, the harbour authority shall pay to the Local Appointments Commissioners such amount in respect of the expenses incurred by the Local Appointments Commissioners in performing such function as the Local Appointments Commissioners think proper, and every such amount paid to the Local Appointments Commissioners shall, for the purpose of paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 12 of the Local Authorities (Officers and Employees) Act, 1926 (No. 39 of 1926), be deemed to be a fee paid to the said Commissioners under that Act.
(7) (a) Where, before the passing of this Act, a person was appointed to an office or employment, under a harbour authority, which became vacant or was created on or after the 1st day of January, 1946, and which would, if this Part had come into operation on the 1st day of January, 1946, have been an office or employment to which the Local Authorities (Officers and Employees) Acts, 1926 and 1940, would have applied, then, that person shall, immediately upon the passing of this Act, cease to hold the said office or employment.
(b) Every question or dispute as to whether any particular office or employment is or is not an office or employment to which paragraph (a) of this subsection relates shall be decided by the Minister after consultation with the Local Appointments Commissioners and such decision shall be final and conclusive.
num: 39
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority mentioned in Part I of the First Schedule to this Act shall from time to time appoint a person to be General Manager of their harbour.
(2) The office of General Manager of a harbour shall be an office to which the Local Authorities (Officers and Employees) Acts, 1926 and 1940, as applied by this Act, apply.
(3) The General Manager of a harbour shall be the chief executive officer of the harbour authority for the harbour.
(4) The General Manager of a harbour shall, subject to the overriding control of the harbour authority for the harbour, have control of all other officers and servants of the harbour authority and such officers and servants shall report to him or to the harbour authority through him.
num: 40
paragraphs: —(1) Where the General Manager of a harbour is on vacation or is through illness, absence from the area in which the harbour is situated, or suspension, temporarily incapable of executing the functions of his office, the harbour authority of the harbour may appoint a deputy General Manager for the duration of the vacation or incapacity.
(2) The power to appoint a deputy General Manager conferred by subsection (1) of this section may also be exercised before and in contemplation of any vacation of the General Manager of a harbour or of any temporary incapacity on his part to execute the functions of his office through absence from the area in which the harbour is situated.
(3) A deputy General Manager appointed under this section shall, during the continuance of the vacation or incapacity on account of which he is appointed or until he is sooner removed or dies or resigns, have all the powers and shall execute and perform all the functions and duties of the General Manager for whom he is deputising and for that purpose the references in subsections (3) to (7) of section 39 and sections 174 , 175 and 176 of this Act to the General Manager of a harbour shall include a reference to such deputy General Manager.
num: 41
paragraphs: —(1) The secretary of a harbour the harbour authority for which is mentioned in Part II of the First Schedule to this Act shall be the chief executive officer of the harbour authority.
num: 42
paragraphs: —(1) The Minister may declare a qualification of any of the following classes or descriptions to be a qualification for a specified office under a harbour authority or for such of the offices under harbour authorities as belong to a specified class, description or grade, that is to say:—
(a) qualifications relating to character,
(b) qualifications relating to age, health, or physical characteristics,
(c) qualifications relating to education, training or experience,
(d) qualifications relating to residence,
(e) qualifications relating to sex,
(f) the qualification that any woman holding the office in question be either unmarried or a widow.
(2) The Minister shall not declare under this section that any qualification relating to sex is a qualification for any office unless he is of opinion that the duties of the office so require.
(3) Before declaring under this section that any qualification is a qualification for any office to which the Local Authorities (Officers and Employees) Acts, 1926 and 1940, as applied by this Act, apply, the Minister shall consult with the Local Appointments Commissioners.
(4) Every reference in the Local Authorities (Officers and Employees) Act, 1926 (No. 39 of 1926), as applied by this Act, to the qualifications prescribed under that Act shall be construed in relation to every office under a harbour authority as a reference to the qualifications (if any) for the time being declared under this section to be the qualifications for such office.
(5) Subject to the provisions of subsection (6) of this section, no person shall be appointed to any office for which any qualifications are for the time being declared under this section to be the qualifications unless he possesses those qualifications.
(6) Whenever it is necessary to fill immediately any office for which any qualifications are for the time being declared under this section to be the qualifications, and no suitable person possessing such qualifications is available for appointment, the Minister may, on the application of the harbour authority concerned, authorise an appointment, limited as to its duration to a specified period, to be made to the office without reference to such qualifications and thereupon such appointment may be so made.
(7) A person appointed to any office in pursuance of an authorisation under subsection (6) of this section shall (unless for any reason he has previously ceased to hold office) cease to hold office on the occurrence of whichever of the following events first occurs:
(a) the expiration of the period specified in that behalf in the authorisation,
(b) the appointment to the office of a person possessing the qualifications for the time being declared under this section to be the qualifications for the office.
(8) For the purposes of this section, the fact that a person has been recommended by the Local Appointments Commissioners for appointment to any office shall be conclusive evidence that he possessed at the time of the recommendation the qualifications (if any) for the time being declared under this section to be the qualifications for the office.
(9) The Local Appointments Commissioners shall, before recommending a person to a harbour authority for appointment to any office, satisfy themselves that such person possesses the requisite knowledge and ability for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.
num: 43
paragraphs: —(1) The Minister may prescribe any specified age to be the age limit for every office under a harbour authority to which the Local Authorities (Officers and Employees) Acts, 1926 and 1940, as applied by this Act, apply, or for every such office as belongs to a specified class, description or grade or for one or more specified such offices.
(2) Every regulation for the purposes of this section shall come into force six months after the day on which it is made.
(3) Where a regulation for the purposes of this section is for the time being in force in relation to any particular office, the following provisions shall have effect:
(a) if on the day when the regulation comes into force there is a holder of the office, the regulation shall not apply to such holder,
(b) if, on a day after the said day, a holder of the office (other than a holder to whom paragraph (a) of this subsection relates), reaches the age specified in the regulation as the age limit for the office, he shall cease to hold the office on the day on which he reaches that age.
num: 44
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority may suspend or, with the sanction of the Minister, remove any officer in their service.
(2) This section shall not apply in respect of the General Manager of a harbour.
num: 45
paragraphs: —(1) Where the Minister is of opinion that any particular offices under a harbour authority should be amalgamated, he may, subject to the provisions of this section and after consultation with the harbour authority, by order amalgamate the offices, and thereupon the offices shall be deemed for all purposes to be one office under such title (if any) as is specified in the order.
(2) Offices shall not be amalgamated under this section unless—
(a) each of the offices is vacant, or
(b) each of the offices is held by the same person, or
(c) one only of the offices being not vacant, the holder thereof consents to the making of the order, or
(d) in any other case, the same person holds each of such of the offices as are not vacant and such person consents to the making of the order.
(3) An order under this section amalgamating any offices may adapt any reference in this Act to any office under a harbour authority in such manner as the Minister considers necessary having regard to such amalgamation.
(4) The Minister may by order revoke or amend an order previously made by him under this section.
num: 46
paragraphs: —(1) Where—
num: 47
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority shall take all proper measures for the management, control and operation of their harbour and shall provide reasonable facilities and accommodation therein for vessels, goods and passengers.
(2) A harbour authority shall take all proper measures for the maintenance and operation of all works, structures, bridges, equipment and facilities under their control.
(3) A harbour authority may make such charges as they consider proper for the use of any facility or accommodation provided by them under this section for passengers.
num: 48
paragraphs: —A harbour authority shall take all proper measures for cleaning, scouring, deepening, improving and dredging their harbour and the approaches thereto and, subject to any directions which the Minister may give, shall dispose of dredged material either by depositing it at sea or in such other way as they think proper.
num: 49
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority may provide for or in connection with their harbour such tenders, dredgers, life-boats, lighters, tug-boats, vessels, cranes, weighing and measuring appliances, winches, tools, plant, machinery, apparatus, equipment, conveniences, appliances and other things as they think proper.
(2) A harbour authority may make such charges for the use of anything provided by them under this section as, with the consent of the Minister, they may fix from time to time.
(3) Where a harbour authority were, immediately before the passing of this Act, making charges authorised by law for the use of anything mentioned in subsection (1) of this section, such charges shall be regarded for the purposes of subsection (2) of this section as having been duly fixed under that subsection.
(4) A harbour authority may let out for hire anything provided by them under this section for any period not exceeding three years on such terms as they think proper.
num: 50
paragraphs: —A harbour authority may provide for or in connection with their harbour such sheds, transit sheds, transhipment sheds, silos, stores and other structures as they think proper.
num: 51
paragraphs: —A harbour authority may provide fire-fighting equipment for or in connection with their harbour.
num: 52
paragraphs: —A harbour authority may provide ballast and may make therefor such charges as they consider proper.
num: 53
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority may, at their discretion, issue to the owner of a lighter, ferry-boat or other small boat which such owner proposes to use or ply for hire habitually in the harbour of the harbour authority a licence authorising such use or plying for hire.
(2) A harbour authority may charge on a licence under this section such fee as they consider reasonable and may at any time revoke the licence.
(3) Where a lighter, ferry-boat or other small boat is habitually used or plied for hire in a harbour and a licence under this section is not for the time being in force in respect thereof, the owner thereof shall be guilty of an offence under this section and on summary conviction thereof shall be liable to a fine not exceeding five pounds.
(4) Subsection (3) of this section shall not apply to a ferry operated under statute, charter or prescriptive right.
num: 54
paragraphs: —A harbour authority may undertake the warehousing of goods and may act as warehouse keepers and for those purposes may provide warehouses, stores, sheds and other structures and any equipment, appliances, machinery and conveniences suitable therefor.
num: 55
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority may appropriate any part of their harbour (including, in particular, any of the following or any part thereof, that is to say, any dock, pier, quay, wharf, jetty, boatslip, works, plant or equipment) to the exclusive use of any person, trade or class of vessels and may make any such appropriation either gratuitously or in consideration of the payment to them of such charges as they consider reasonable.
(2) Where any part of a harbour stands appropriated, whether under this section or otherwise, by the harbour authority for the harbour to the exclusive use of any person, trade or class of vessels, any person aggrieved by the appropriation may request the Minister to direct that the appropriation shall terminate and the Minister may, if he so thinks proper after consideration by him of such request and the circumstances of the appropriation, direct that the appropriation shall terminate.
(3) Whenever the Minister directs that the appropriation by a harbour authority of a part of their harbour to the exclusive use of any person, trade or class of vessels shall terminate, the harbour authority shall forthwith terminate the appropriation.
num: 56
paragraphs: —(1) Subject to having given notice in accordance with this section of their intention so to do, a harbour authority may at any time run dry or lower the water level in any dock under their control.
(2) Three clear days at least before a harbour authority run dry or lower the water level in any dock, they shall affix a notice of their intention so to do in a conspicuous place at each of the following places, that is to say, the principal office of the harbour authority and the harbour of the harbour authority.
num: 57
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority may remove any obstruction which is within the limits of their harbour.
(2) The expenses incurred by a harbour authority in connection with the removal under this section of an obstruction shall, so far as not recovered under subsection (3) of this section, be paid to the harbour authority by the owner of the obstruction or, at the option of the harbour authority, by any former owner thereof.
(3) An article which is either an obstruction removed under this section by a harbour authority or a part of such obstruction may be sold by the harbour authority subject to the following provisions:
(a) the article shall not be sold for home use where any prohibition or restriction on importation applies in respect thereof or where the price which would be obtained is less than the amount of any duties of customs or excise payable in respect of the article;
(b) where the article is sold for home use, the harbour authority shall apply the proceeds of the sale—
(i) firstly, in payment of any such duties as aforesaid, and
(ii) secondly, in payment of the expenses incurred in connection with—
(I) the sale,
(II) the removal of the obstruction, and
(III) if the article is part of an obstruction, any sale or destruction of any other part of the obstruction,
and shall pay the balance (if any) on demand to the owner of the obstruction;
(c) where the article is sold otherwise than for home use, the harbour authority shall apply the proceeds of sale in payment of any such rates and expenses as aforesaid, and shall pay the balance (if any) on demand to the owner of the obstruction;
(d) the expenses incurred by the harbour authority in connection with the sale shall, so far as not recovered under this subsection, be paid to the harbour authority by the owner of the obstruction or, at the option of the harbour authority, by any former owner thereof.
(4) Where, in the opinion of the harbour authority, it is inadvisable to offer an article for sale under subsection (3) of this section or where the article cannot, having regard to paragraph (a) of that subsection, be sold, the harbour authority may destroy the article, subject, where any duties of customs or excise are payable in respect thereof or any prohibition or restriction on importation applies in respect thereof, to the consent of the Revenue Commissioners and to compliance with any conditions which they may impose.
(5) Where an article is destroyed under subsection (4) of this section, the expenses incurred in connection with the destruction thereof, so far as not recovered under subsection (3) of this section, shall be paid to the harbour authority by the owner of the obstruction or, at the option of the harbour authority, by any former owner thereof.
(6) A sum payable to a harbour authority under this section shall, in default of payment, be recoverable as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(7) In this section—
the word “obstruction” means any obstruction being—
(a) a vessel laid up as unfit for sea service,
(b) a wrecked or derelict vessel,
(c) a float of timber,
(d) any other article except an aircraft,
the expression “former owner” means, in relation to an obstruction, a former owner of the obstruction as respects whom it can be shown that he relinquished or transferred his interest therein after, in the case of a vessel, the vessel was laid up or became wrecked or derelict or, in the case of any other obstruction, it was found to be within the limits of the relevant harbour.
num: 58
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority shall place and maintain buoys and lights of such kinds and at such points as may from time to time be directed in respect of their harbour by the general lighthouse authority.
(2) A harbour authority shall place and maintain life-buoys and lines of such kinds and at such points as the Minister may from time to time direct in respect of their harbour.
(3) A harbour authority shall, if so required by the Minister, provide and maintain, in such places and in such manner as the Minister directs, instruments, constructed according to specifications approved of by the Minister, for making tidal measurements and observations.
(4) A harbour authority shall make such measurements and observations with instruments provided by them under subsection (3) of this section and such additional tidal observations as the Minister directs and shall furnish returns of the said measurements and observations in such form and manner and at such intervals as the Minister directs.
(5) A harbour authority shall, if so required by the Minister, provide and maintain, in such places and in such manner as the Minister directs, instruments, constructed according to specifications approved of by the Minister, for making meteorological measurements and observations.
(6) A harbour authority shall make such measurements and observations with instruments provided by them under subsection (5) of this section and such additional meteorological observations as the Minister directs and shall furnish returns of the said measurements and observations in such form and manner and at such intervals as the Minister directs.
(7) A harbour authority shall, if so required by the Minister, provide, maintain and operate, in such place or places and in such manner as the Minister directs, equipment, constructed according to specifications approved of by the Minister, for the exhibition of gale warnings and other weather signals and notices and shall furnish returns relating to the exhibition of such signals and notices in such form and manner and at such intervals as the Minister directs.
num: 59
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority shall provide and maintain such accommodation (including furniture and requisites therefor), and such weighing and measuring appliances as may from time to time be required in respect of their harbour by the Revenue Commissioners for the use of officers of customs and excise, and shall keep all such accommodation properly lighted, heated and cleaned.
(2) A harbour authority shall not make any charge in respect of anything provided or done in compliance with subsection (1) of this section.
num: 60
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority may make bye-laws for the good rule and government of their harbour.
num: 61
paragraphs: —A harbour authority may, with the consent of the Minister, make and carry out such agreements as they may from time to time think necessary or desirable with any transport undertaking in respect of traffic between their harbour and the transport system operated by such undertaking.
num: 62
paragraphs: —A harbour authority may either alone or in co-operation with any other body or bodies, take such steps as they think proper to improve conditions of employment of casual workers at their harbour and, in particular, may institute a system of registration of such workers and of confinement of employment to registered workers, but the harbour authority shall not exercise any of their powers under this section where such workers and their employers have themselves instituted any such system.
num: 63
paragraphs: —(1) The harbour master of a harbour may at any time require the master of a vessel which is within the limits of the harbour to give him a statement of the draught of the vessel.
(2) If the master of a vessel, on being required under this section to give a statement of the draught of the vessel, refuses or fails to give such statement or gives a statement which, to his knowledge, is false or misleading, he shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
num: 64
paragraphs: —(1) The master of a vessel (other than a pleasure boat) which enters within the limits of a harbour with a take or cargo of fish shall forthwith furnish the harbour master of the harbour with a statement of the take or cargo and the name of the person taking delivery thereof.
(2) If the master of a vessel (other than a pleasure boat) which enters within the limits of a harbour with a take or cargo of fish fails to furnish the harbour master of the harbour with the statement mentioned in subsection (1) of this section or furnishes a statement which, to his knowledge, is false or misleading, he shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
(3) The harbour master of a harbour may detain a vessel (other than a pleasure boat) which enters within the limits of the harbour with a take or cargo of fish until the master of the vessel complies with the requirements of this section.
num: 65
paragraphs: —(1) The master of a vessel which arrives at a harbour shall report the arrival to the harbour master of the harbour within twenty-four hours after the arrival.
(2) If the master of a vessel which arrives at a harbour fails to comply with the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, he shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
num: 66
paragraphs: —(1) The harbour master of a harbour may at any time require the master of a vessel, which is registered under the Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894 to 1939, or the corresponding enactments of any other State and which is within the limits of the harbour, to produce for his inspection the certificate of registry of the vessel.
(2) If the master of a vessel refuses or fails to comply with a requirement authorised by this section, he shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
num: 67
paragraphs: —(1) The harbour master of a harbour may, subject to any bye-laws in force in relation to the harbour, give to the master of a vessel using the harbour, such directions in connection with the user of the harbour as the harbour master thinks proper for the purpose of protecting persons and property or regulating traffic and, in particular, for the following purposes:
(a) regulating the time at which and the manner in which the vessel may enter into, go out of or lie in or at any part of the harbour and regulating the position, mooring, unmooring, placing or removing of the vessel,
(b) regulating the dismantling of the vessel, and
(c) regulating the quantity of ballast or dead weight in the hold of the vessel.
(2) A direction given under this section shall not—
(a) be repugnant to or inconsistent with any regulation of the Revenue Commissioners or the law relating to customs, or
(b) require the dismantling of any aircraft.
(3) If the master of a vessel refuses or fails to comply with a direction given to him by the harbour master of a harbour and authorised by this section or if the harbour master of a harbour cannot find the master of a vessel in relation to which the harbour master wishes to give a direction authorised by this section—
(a) the harbour master may carry out the direction and do all things necessary for or incidental to that purpose, and
(b) the expenses incurred in so carrying out the direction shall be paid by the master of the vessel to the harbour authority for the harbour and, in default of payment, may be recovered as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(4) If the master of a vessel refuses or fails to comply with a direction given to him by the harbour master of a harbour and authorised by this section, he shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
num: 68
paragraphs: —(1) For the purpose of carrying out any repairs or cleansing operations or for any other purpose arising in relation to a harbour, the harbour master of the harbour may require the master of a vessel which is at a place within the limits of the harbour to remove the vessel therefrom within three days and, when so removed, to place the vessel at such place within the limits of the harbour as the harbour master may direct.
(2) The harbour master of a harbour shall, three days at least before making a requirement under this section, give notice of his intention to make the requirement to the collector of customs and excise at the harbour.
(3) A requirement made under this section shall not be repugnant to or inconsistent with any regulation of the Revenue Commissioners or the law relating to customs.
(4) If the master of a vessel refuses or fails to comply with a requirement made on him by the harbour master of a harbour and authorised by this section or if the harbour master of a harbour cannot find the master of a vessel in relation to which the harbour master wishes to make a requirement authorised by this section—
(a) the harbour master may carry out the requirement and do all things necessary for or incidental to that purpose, and
(b) the expenses incurred in so carrying out the requirement shall be paid by the master of the vessel to the harbour authority for the harbour and, in default of payment, may be recovered as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(5) If the master of a vessel refuses or fails to comply with a requirement made on him by the harbour master of a harbour and authorised by this section, he shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
num: 69
paragraphs: —(1) Whenever any delay occurs in loading or discharging a cargo of a vessel within the limits of a harbour and the harbour master of the harbour considers the delay unreasonable, the harbour master may require the master of the vessel to load or discharge the cargo within a specified period.
(2) If the master of a vessel refuses or fails to comply with a requirement made on him by the harbour master of a harbour and authorised by this section or if the harbour master of a harbour cannot find the master of a vessel in relation to which the harbour master wishes to make a requirement authorised by this section—
(a) the harbour master may carry out the requirement and do all things necessary for or incidental to that purpose,
(b) the expenses incurred in so carrying out the requirement shall be paid by the master of the vessel to the harbour authority for the harbour and, in default of payment, may be recovered as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.
num: 70
paragraphs: —(1) A vessel shall not be broken up within the limits of a harbour unless the harbour master of the harbour has given a written consent thereto.
(2) Where the harbour master of a harbour gives a written consent to the breaking up of a vessel, he shall specify in the consent a period during which the breaking up shall be completed.
(3) If a person breaks up a vessel within the limits of a harbour without having obtained the written consent thereto of the harbour master of the harbour or, having obtained such consent, fails to complete the breaking up of the vessel within the period specified in that behalf in such consent, the harbour authority of the harbour may treat the vessel as a vessel laid up as unfit for sea service and apply accordingly the provisions of section 57 of this Act in respect of the vessel.
num: 71
paragraphs: —The harbour master of a harbour may at any time enter into a vessel which is within the limits of the harbour and in which he suspects that there is, contrary to the provisions of this Act or any bye-law made thereunder, any fire or light and may search for and extinguish such fire or light.
num: 72
paragraphs: —(1) The harbour master of a harbour may require the master of a vessel which is about to enter or leave a dock or graving dock within the limits of the harbour to employ such person or persons as the harbour master thinks proper for the purpose of working the vessel safely into or (as the case may be) out of such dock.
(2) If the master of a vessel refuses or fails to comply with a requirement made on him and authorised by this section, he shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds.
num: 73
paragraphs: —The harbour master of a harbour may detain a vessel which has entered within the limits of the harbour until he is satisfied that all rates under this Act in respect of the vessel and the cargo thereof have been paid or sufficient security has been given for their payment.
num: 74
paragraphs: —A person who obstructs or impedes the exercise of a power conferred on the harbour master of a harbour by this Act shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
num: 75
paragraphs: —A direction or requirement by or on the authority of the harbour master of a harbour to the master of a vessel shall not extend or diminish any responsibility of the master of the vessel in relation to the vessel or the cargo thereof.
num: 76
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority may, on the request (accompanied by payment of such fee as the harbour authority think proper) of the master of a vessel which is within the limits of the harbour of the harbour authority, and which is about to land goods, or on the request (so accompanied) of the owner or consignee of such goods, appoint a person to survey and examine such goods before they are unshipped, to inquire into the cause of any damage to such goods existing before they are unshipped, and to make a written report to the harbour authority of such survey, examination and inquiry.
(2) The owner and the consignee of goods in respect of which a report has been made to a harbour authority under this section and the master of the vessel concerned shall each be entitled to obtain on demand from the harbour authority a copy of the report.
num: 77
paragraphs: —Goods which are landed within the limits of a harbour may be surveyed and examined by a person appointed in that behalf by the harbour authority for the harbour and such person shall inquire into the cause and extent of any damage which may have happened to such goods either by sea damage, improper storage or otherwise and shall make a written report to the harbour authority of such survey, examination and inquiry.
num: 78
paragraphs: —(1) Where goods are being loaded into or unloaded from a vessel which is within the limits of a harbour, the master of the vessel, or some officer of the vessel appointed in that behalf by the master of the vessel, shall superintend the loading or unloading.
(2) If in respect of a vessel there is a refusal or failure to comply with subsection (1) of this section, the master of the vessel shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
num: 79
paragraphs: —(1) It shall not be lawful for a person to land or ship goods of any description at any place within the limits of a harbour unless such place is assigned by the harbour authority for the harbour as a landing place or shipping place (as the case may be) for such goods, and is a legal quay approved by the Minister for Finance, or a sufferance wharf approved by the Revenue Commissioners, or is a place in respect of which special permission has been given by the Revenue Commissioners for the landing or shipping (as the case may be) of such goods.
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
num: 80
paragraphs: —A harbour authority shall afford to persons entitled to or having control of goods deposited in or upon any of the premises, warehouses, quays or other places under the control of the harbour authority reasonable access to such goods.
num: 81
paragraphs: —(1) The following provisions shall have effect with respect to the issue and delivery by a harbour authority of certificates of deposit and warrants for the delivery of goods, that is to say:
(a) the harbour authority, at the request of a person warehousing or depositing any goods in any warehouse, or upon or in any premises of a harbour authority specially appropriated for the purpose, or entitled to any goods so warehoused or deposited, may from time to time issue and deliver to such person a certificate in a form approved by the harbour authority of the goods so warehoused or deposited, or a warrant in a form approved by the harbour authority for the delivery of the goods so warehoused or deposited, or any part thereof to be respectively specified in the warrant;
(b) no such warrant for delivery shall be given unless all liens and claims for freight, and all other liens and claims whatsoever to which the goods were liable while on board any vessel, and before being so warehoused or deposited, and of which the harbour authority have notice in writing, and all rates, charges and expenses payable to the harbour authority for the warehousing or depositing of the goods, or for services performed by the harbour authority in respect thereof, are paid or discharged;
(c) every such warrant for delivery shall be transferable by endorsement, and shall entitle the person named therein or the last endorsee thereof named in the endorsement to the goods specified therein, and the goods so specified shall for all purposes be deemed to be his property.
(2) The issue under this section of a warrant for the delivery of goods shall not prejudice or affect any rights in relation to the goods which the Revenue Commissioners may have in respect of any charge of duty of customs or excise.
num: 82
paragraphs: —A notice to detain for payment of freight goods landed within the limits of a harbour shall be in writing and shall be given to the harbour authority for the harbour before any warrant for the delivery of the goods is issued by them.
num: 83
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority may make customs entry for the warehousing of a cargo or portion of a cargo for which an entry has not been delivered under the Customs Acts within forty-eight hours (not reckoning any Sunday or public holiday) after the day on which the cargo or portion of a cargo is required to be reported under those Acts.
(2) A harbour authority shall not make under this section a customs entry for the warehousing of a cargo or portion of a cargo unless—
(a) the cargo or portion of a cargo is eligible by law to be entered for warehousing, and
(b) failure to make such entry would result in the despatch of business at the harbour of the harbour authority being obstructed.
(3) A cargo or portion of a cargo entered by a harbour authority under this section shall not be liable to seizure by reason of any inaccuracy in such entry unless the Revenue Commissioners are of opinion that the inaccuracy was intentional or due to culpable negligence.
(4) The cost of the making under this section, by a harbour authority, of an entry of a cargo or portion of a cargo, shall be paid by the person for the time being in charge of the cargo or portion of a cargo to the harbour authority, and such cost, in default of payment, shall be recoverable as if it were due in respect of goods rates charged under this Act on the cargo or portion of a cargo.
num: 84
paragraphs: —Every warrant, delivery certificate, transfer certificate or other document relating to goods under the control of a harbour authority shall, if signed by a person purporting to be a duly authorised officer of the harbour authority, be deemed until the contrary is proved, to be valid in all respects and binding on the persons to whom it relates.
num: 85
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority may make in respect of goods, being goods which they permit to remain on any quay or other place within the limits of their harbour after the expiration of the time for removal of the goods specified in the bye-laws of the harbour authority, charges on the owner of the goods in accordance with such scale of charges as from time to time they may fix with the consent of the Minister.
(2) Where a harbour authority were, immediately before the passing of this Act, making charges authorised by law in respect of goods permitted by them to remain on any quay or other place within the limits of their harbour after the expiration of the time for removal of the goods specified in the bye-laws of the harbour authority, such charges shall be regarded for the purposes of subsection (1) of this section as having been duly fixed under that subsection.
num: 86
paragraphs: —(1) Where aquafortis, oil of vitriol or any other goods of a hazardous quality are brought within the limits of a harbour, there shall be stated distinctly, on the outside of the container of the goods, the nature of the goods and that they are hazardous.
(2) Where goods of a hazardous quality are brought within the limits of a harbour and the requirements of subsection (1) of this section have not been complied with, the person who brought the goods within such limits and any person who caused or permitted them to be so brought shall each be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
num: 87
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority may at any time, by notice affixed in a prominent place at their harbour, prohibit the bringing within the limits of the harbour, or any specified part of such limits, of any article of a kind or class which is specified in the notice as being, in the opinion of the harbour authority, likely to endanger persons or property.
(2) When and so long as a notice is affixed under this section at a harbour, the notice shall have effect according to the terms thereof and—
(a) a person who contravenes the notice shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds, and
(b) the harbour authority for the harbour may remove the articles brought by such person, in contravention of the notice, and place or store them elsewhere, and
(c) the expenses of such removal and placing or storing shall be paid by such person to the harbour authority and, in default of payment, may be recovered as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.
num: 88
paragraphs: —(1) It shall not be lawful for a person to put, or cause or allow to be put, ballast, earth, ashes, stones or any other substance or thing into waters within the limits of a harbour unless the harbour authority for the harbour have authorised him so to do.
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
num: 89
paragraphs: —(1) It shall not be lawful for a person to extinguish without proper authority the light in a lamp placed for the purpose of lighting a harbour.
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
num: 90
paragraphs: —(1) It shall not be lawful for a person to boil pitch or any other inflammable substance within the limits of a harbour unless the harbour authority for the harbour have authorised him so to do.
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
num: 91
paragraphs: —(1) It shall not be lawful for a person to attach a vessel which is within the limits of a harbour to a buoy other than a mooring buoy.
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
num: 92
paragraphs: —(1) When a moving or movable bridge under the control of a harbour authority is being or is about to be opened or shut, any officer or servant of the harbour authority may require any person who is on or near the bridge to withdraw to or to remain at a distance of two yards at least from the bridge until the opening or closing is completed.
(2) If a person refuses or fails to comply with a requirement made on him under this section, he shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding two pounds.
num: 93
paragraphs: —(1) It shall not be lawful for a person to open or close the gates of a dock under the control of a harbour authority unless he is an officer or servant of the harbour authority.
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
num: 94
paragraphs: —Subject to the provisions of this Act, a harbour authority may charge the following rates in respect of the following subjects of charge:—
(a) rates (in this Act referred to as tonnage rates) calculated by reference to tonnage in respect of a vessel which—
(i) enters within the limits of the harbour of the harbour authority, or
(ii) uses any quay in such harbour, or
(iii) plies within the limits of such harbour;
(b) rates (in this Act referred to as goods rates) in respect of goods shipped, transhipped or unshipped within the limits of the harbour of the harbour authority;
(c) rates (in this Act referred to as service rates) in respect of shipping, unshipping, transhipping, warehousing, acting as warehouse keepers, wharfage, cranage, receiving, landing, re-landing, piling, housing, weighing, measuring, coopering, sampling, unpiling, unhousing, unloading, carrying, conveying, loading, repairing, protecting, watching, delivery or any other work done or service rendered in relation to goods.
num: 95
paragraphs: —(1) The rates which, immediately before the passing of this Act, were legally chargeable by a harbour authority shall, unless and until otherwise provided by a harbour rates order, continue to be chargeable by that harbour authority and for that purpose shall be regarded as chargeable under and subject to the appropriate provisions of this Act.
(2) The following provisions shall apply in respect of charges (other than rates) which immediately before the passing of this Act were legally chargeable by a harbour authority, not being charges for the continuation of the charging of which specific provision is made by this Act—
(a) such charges shall, unless and until otherwise provided by a harbour rates order, continue to be chargeable by the harbour authority,
(b) such charges shall, for the purposes of Chapter II of this Part of this Act be deemed to be rates,
(c) all powers in relation to such charges which, immediately before the passing of this Act, were exercisable by the harbour authority shall, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, continue after the passing of this Act to be so exercisable.
num: 96
paragraphs: —(1) All rates which may be charged under this Act by a harbour authority shall, in respect of the same classes of vessels and goods and in the same circumstances, be charged equally on all persons.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, a harbour authority may charge a rate the amount of which varies in respect of different classes of vessels or goods or in dissimilar circumstances.
num: 97
paragraphs: —The facilities provided by a harbour authority in respect of their harbour shall, subject to the provisions of this Act and anything done thereunder and to the bye-laws for the time being in force in respect of their harbour, be available equally to all persons on payment of the appropriate rates.
num: 98
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority shall, at their principal office, keep a list of the rates for the time being charged by them open for inspection during ordinary office hours free of charge by any interested person.
(2) Any person shall be entitled, on payment of a fee not exceeding six pence, to obtain from a harbour authority a list of the rates for the time being charged by them.
num: 99
paragraphs: —Goods not belonging to any of the classes of goods in respect of which a harbour authority are otherwise authorised to charge goods rates shall, for the purpose of charging goods rates thereon, be treated by the harbour authority as belonging to such of the said classes of goods as, in the opinion of the harbour authority, is most appropriate.
num: 100
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority may, with the consent of the Minister—
(a) remit rates in whole or in part,
(b) confer an exemption or partial exemption from rates,
(c) vary or terminate an exemption or partial exemption from rates already granted,
(d) compound with any person in respect of rates,
(e) vary or terminate any compounding of rates already effected.
(2) The Minister may require a harbour authority to vary or terminate within a specified period (not being less than six months) any exemption or partial exemption from rates or any compounding of rates in force in relation to the harbour authority at the date of the making of the requirement and it shall be the duty of the harbour authority to comply with such requirement.
(3) A remission or compounding of or exemption from rates granted or conferred under this section shall not give any undue or unreasonable preference or advantage to any person or subject any person to any undue or unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage.
(4) Within six months after the passing of this Act, a harbour authority shall furnish to the Minister particulars of every exemption from or compounding of rates in force in relation to the harbour authority immediately before the passing of this Act, and every such exemption or compounding shall be deemed to be under this section and to be capable accordingly of being varied or terminated, or of being required by the Minister to be varied or terminated, under this section.
(5) A payment to a harbour authority in respect of compounded rates shall be regarded for the purposes of this Act as a payment to them of tonnage rates, goods rates or service rates (as may be appropriate).
num: 101
paragraphs: —A harbour authority may, as respects any rates for the time being chargeable by them by reference to a fixed maximum, vary such rates either by increase or reduction within such maximum.
num: 102
paragraphs: —(1) Where a vessel, in respect of which all the appropriate tonnage rates have been paid, is obliged, from stress of weather or other sufficient cause, after leaving the limits of a harbour to return therein with the same cargo, the rates so pail shall not again be payable in respect of the vessel.
(2) Where an arrangement is for the time being in force with any other state, under which fishing vessels belonging to nationals of that state are, when forced by stress of weather to seek shelter in an Irish harbour, exempted from rates, any fishing vessel belonging to a national of that state shall, if forced by stress of weather to enter the limits of any harbour, be exempt from rates in respect of such entry, unless the vessel breaks bulk.
(3) Where goods upon which goods rates have been paid to a harbour authority are brought by sea within the limits of the harbour of the harbour authority, the following provisions shall have effect:—
(a) the goods shall not again be chargeable with goods rates on being shipped, transhipped or unshipped into or out of any vessel which bona fide—
(i) trades wholly within the limits of the harbour, or
(ii) trades between such limits and any inland canal or river communicating therewith;
(b) a declaration stating the facts which entitle the goods to such exemption shall, if so required, be made to the satisfaction of the harbour authority.
(4) Where goods are brought within the limits of a harbour otherwise than by sea or are manufactured within such limits, goods rates shall not be chargeable in respect of the goods unless they are shipped or transhipped within the limits of the harbour for conveyance by sea beyond such limits.
(5) Where a vessel, for the purpose of having repairs effected thereto, enters a harbour and the unshipping of the cargo of the vessel is necessary for the purpose of the repairs, goods rates shall not be chargeable by reason of the unshipping or by reason of the shipping of the same cargo after, the repairs are effected, but the harbour authority for the harbour may, if the cargo is stored at any place or in any premises under their control, charge for the storage.
(6) Where, by reason of the situation of any harbour, port or pier, it is necessary for a vessel proceeding to such harbour, port or pier to pass through the limits of another harbour, rates shall not be chargeable in respect of the vessel so passing through such limits, unless—
(a) the vessel makes any use of the facilities available in the other harbour, or
(b) the rates are chargeable by virtue of section 95 of this Act and were being charged immediately before the passing of this Act in respect of vessels so passing through such limits, or
(c) it is specifically provided by a harbour rates order that the rates are rates chargeable in respect of vessels so passing through such limits.
num: 103
paragraphs: —(1) Tonnage rates shall not be charged in respect of—
(a) vessels carrying stores for the armament and equipment of the Defence Forces and not carrying for reward any other goods or any passengers,
(b) vessels engaged exclusively in the service of the State,
(c) lifeboats, or
(d) vessels under seizure on behalf of the State.
(2) Goods rates shall not be charged in respect of—
(a) stores for the armament and equipment of the Defence Forces which are being carried on a vessel for the time being exempted from tonnage rates by virtue of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section,
(b) the outfit, stores or provisions of any vessel,
(c) any apparatus for saving life used in connection with a lifeboat, or
(d) any postal packet or mail bag within the meaning of the Post Office Act, 1908.
num: 104
paragraphs: —(1) The Minister, if and whenever he thinks fit, may, on the application of the relevant harbour authority or without any such application, by order (in this Act referred to as a harbour rates order) fix in respect of a harbour—
(a) all or any of the rates or, where he so thinks fit, the maximum rates to be charged by the harbour authority for the harbour,
(b) the basis on which and the method by which any such rates are to be computed, or
(c) the classes of vessels or goods on which and the circumstances in which any particular such rate is to be charged.
(2) The Minister may, if and whenever he thinks fit, on the application of the relevant harbour authority or without any such application, by order (in this Act also referred to as a harbour, rates order) revoke or amend a harbour rates order (including a harbour rates order made under this subsection).
(3) The Minister may revoke, modify, alter or extend by a harbour rates order any statutory or other provision fixing, restricting or otherwise regulating the rates or the maximum or minimum rates chargeable by a harbour authority, or the basis on which or method by which such rates are computed.
(4) A harbour rates order may, if the Minister so thinks fit, be expressed to apply, and if so expressed shall apply, either to all harbours generally or to a particular harbour or class of harbours named in the order.
(5) Whenever the Minister proposes to make a harbour rates order, he may, if he so thinks fit, direct a local inquiry to be held in regard to the making of the order.
(6) A harbour rates order shall take effect from such date (not being a date prior to the date on which the order is made) as may be specified in the order.
(7) Notice of the making of a harbour rates order shall be published in the Iris OifigiÃºil as soon as conveniently may be after it is made.
num: 105
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority may apply to the Minister for a harbour rates order in respect of their harbour.
(2) An application for a harbour rates order shall be in the prescribed form and shall contain the prescribed particulars.
(3) A harbour authority applying under this section for a harbour rates order shall, when required by the Minister so to do, furnish to the Minister such further particulars as he may require for the consideration of the application.
(4) The Minister may require any statement made in an application for a harbour rates order or made to the Minister in response to a request for particulars under subsection (3) of this section, to be verified in such manner as the Minister may require by some person having personal knowledge of the statement.
(5) If a harbour authority fail to furnish any particulars or any verification which they are required by the Minister under this section to furnish, the Minister may, on the ground of such failure and without prejudice to his discretion to make or refuse to make a harbour rates order, refuse the application in relation to which the particulars or verification were so required.
num: 106
paragraphs: —(1) Whenever the Minister proposes to make a harbour rates order, the Minister shall give notice to the harbour authority of the harbour to which the proposed order relates, and the harbour authority shall publish, at such time or times and in such manner as the Minister directs, such notice as the Minister directs of the nature of the proposed order and as to the time, manner and place in which objections and representations in relation to the proposed order may be made.
(2) The expenses incurred by a harbour authority in the publication in pursuance of this section of a notice shall be borne by the harbour authority.
(3) Whenever a harbour authority fail to publish a notice directed by the Minister to be published by them under this section, the Minister may, without prejudice to any other proceedings against the harbour authority, himself publish the notice and all expenses incurred by him in so doing shall be borne by the harbour authority and shall be recoverable by the Minister from the harbour authority as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.
num: 107
paragraphs: —(1) Whenever a harbour rates order is in force in respect of a harbour, the harbour authority for the harbour shall, subject to the provisions of this Act—
(a) in respect of all subjects of charge for which rates are fixed by the order, charge the rates so fixed and no other or greater or less rates, and
(b) in respect of all subjects of charge for which maximum rates are fixed by the order, charge rates not exceeding the maximum so fixed, and
(c) where the basis and method of computation of any rates are fixed by the order, compute such rates on the basis and by the method so fixed.
(2) A harbour authority who contravenes subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds.
(3) Whenever rates are chargeable by a harbour authority by virtue of section 95 of this Act, the rates shall be regarded for the purposes of this section as chargeable under a harbour rates order in force in respect of the harbour of the harbour authority.
num: 108
paragraphs: —No order shall, after the passing of this Act, be made in relation to a harbour authority under section 3 of the Harbours (Regulation of Rates) Act, 1934 (No. 2 of 1934).
num: 109
paragraphs: —Subject to the provisions of this Part of this Act—
(a) tonnage rates shall be payable by the master or owner of the vessel in respect of which such rates are charged,
(b) goods rates shall be payable by the owner of the goods in respect of which such rates are charged,
(c) service rates shall be payable by the person for whom the work or service in respect of which such rates are charged was done or rendered.
num: 110
paragraphs: —(1) Tonnage rates shall be paid to a harbour authority at the office of the collector of rates within the next three days after the day upon which the tonnage rates become payable.
(2) Service rates shall be paid to a harbour authority at the office of the collector of rates either, at the option of the harbour authority, before the work or service in respect of which the service rates are charged is done or rendered or before whichever of the following events first occurs:
(a) the removal of the goods in relation to which the service rates are charged from the limits of the harbour of the harbour authority,
(b) the expiration of two weeks from the date when the work or service is done or rendered.
(3) Goods rates shall be paid to a harbour authority at the office of the collector of rates—
(a) in respect of goods to be shipped, before they are shipped, and
(b) in respect of goods to be unshipped or transhipped, either, at the option of the harbour authority, before they are unshipped or transhipped or before which ever of the following events first occurs:
(i) the removal of the goods from the limits of the harbour of the harbour authority,
(ii) the expiration of two weeks from the date when the goods are unshipped or transhipped.
num: 111
paragraphs: —(1) Where goods are intended to be unshipped within the limits of the harbour of a harbour authority, the master of the vessel containing the goods shall—
(a) within twenty-four hours after the arrival of the vessel, deliver at the office of the collector of rates the name of the consignee of the goods or, if the goods are to be delivered to some other person, the name of that person, and
(b) within such twenty-four hours, deliver at the office of the collector of rates a true account of the goods and there produce, if so required by the harbour authority, such manifests, bills of lading or other documents relating to the goods as will show the true nature, quantity and weight thereof, and
(c) if so required by the harbour authority, give twelve hours' or such shorter notice as they may specify at the office of the collector of rates of the time at which it is intended to unship the goods or any part thereof.
(2) Where goods are intended to be shipped within the limits of the harbour of a harbour authority, the master of the vessel into which the goods are to be shipped shall—
(a) before loading the goods—
(i) deliver at the office of the collector of rates particulars in writing of the goods, and
(ii) if so required by the harbour authority procure a permit from the harbour authority to ship the goods, and
(b) after loading the goods and before sailing—
(i) produce, if required by the harbour authority, all manifests, bills of lading, ship's books or other documents relating to the goods, and
(ii) pay all rates (if any) payable and then unpaid in respect of the goods.
(3) A master of a vessel who fails to comply with any requirement of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
num: 112
paragraphs: —(1) Where a person ships, tranships or unships goods within the limits of the harbour of a harbour authority, he shall, before the goods are shipped, transhipped or removed from the limits of the harbour (as the case may be)—
(a) give at the office of the collector of rates a true account of the nature, quantity and weight of the goods, and
(b) verify such account, if so required by the harbour authority, by producing such books and documents as are necessary for that purpose, and
(c) pay all the appropriate rates payable in respect of the goods.
(2) If in respect of any goods—
(a) there is a failure to give such account as is required by this section, or
(b) there is a failure to verify any such account in the manner specified by this section when required so to do by a harbour authority, or
(c) an account is given or a book or document is produced in the course of a verification under this section in which there is an entry which is false or misleading in any material particular,
the person shipping, transhipping or unshipping (as the case may be) the goods shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
num: 113
paragraphs: —(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Part of this Act but subject to the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, a harbour authority may make and carry out an agreement with a person liable to pay rates to the harbour authority for the purpose of—
(a) the giving of credit to such person in respect of the rates,
(b) the giving of security by such person for the rates,
(c) authorising the harbour authority to take a deposit on account of the rates,
(d) the furnishing by such person of particulars (otherwise than under and in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Chapter of this Part of this Act) of the subjects of charge in respect of which the rates are payable by him.
(2) An agreement under this section shall not make or give any undue or unreasonable preference or advantage to or in favour of any particular person nor subject any particular person to any undue or unreasonable disadvantage.
num: 114
paragraphs: —(1) The collector of rates of a harbour authority may enter a vessel within the limits of the harbour of the harbour authority in order to ascertain the rates payable in respect of the vessel or in respect of any goods therein.
(2) If a dispute should arise between a collector of rates and the master of any vessel or the owner of any goods concerning the weight or quantity of any goods in respect of which rates are payable, the collector of rates may cause the goods to be weighed or measured and for that purpose may detain the vessel containing the goods.
(3) Where any goods are weighed or measured in pursuance of subsection (2) of this section, the following provisions shall have effect in relation to the expenses of the weighing or measuring:
(a) if the weight or quantity of the goods be greater than that shown by the documents or the account or statement thereof delivered in pursuance of the provisions of this Chapter of this Part of this Act, such expenses shall be paid to the harbour authority and shall be recoverable as if they were in respect of goods rates charged on the goods,
(b) if the weight or quantity of the goods be the same or less than that shown by such documents, account or statement, such expenses, and any other expenses occasioned by the weighing or measuring or by the detention of the vessel for that purpose, shall be paid by the harbour authority.
num: 115
paragraphs: —A person liable to pay rates to a harbour authority who evades or attempts to evade payment of the rates shall, without prejudice to any proceedings or steps taken or to be taken for the purpose of recovering the rates, be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds.
num: 116
paragraphs: —(1) Where default is made in the payment to a harbour authority of tonnage rates on a vessel, the collector of rates of the harbour authority may board the vessel, and unless the rates are there and then paid, may distrain the vessel and the tackle, apparel and furniture thereof.
(2) No article forfeitable under the Customs Acts shall be distrained under this section.
(3) Any vessel, tackle, apparel or furniture distrained under this section may—
(a) be detained until the tonnage rates in respect of which the distraint was made are paid or until security is given in respect thereof, or
(b) if such rates are not paid within seven days after the distraint, be sold in accordance with the provisions of this section by the harbour master.
(4) The following provisions shall have effect in respect of the sale of a vessel distrained under this section on behalf of a harbour authority:
(a) the sale shall be authorised by order of the harbour authority and shall not take place unless the harbour authority by order so direct;
(b) the order shall contain a declaration vesting in the harbour master of the harbour authority by virtue of the order the right to transfer the vessel, and the harbour master shall by virtue of such declaration be entitled to transfer the vessel in the same manner and to the same extent as if he were the registered owner thereof;
(c) the sale shall operate to vest the vessel in the purchaser freed of all mortgages, liens, charges or other interests therein whatsoever, and the purchaser shall not require any other evidence of title to the vessel than a copy, certified by the harbour master, of the order of the harbour authority directing the sale;
(d) a registrar of shipping shall, on production of the order or a copy thereof certified by the harbour master, register the bill of sale effecting the transfer in the same manner as if the harbour master were the registered owner.
(5) A harbour authority shall not sell under this section for home use any article if any prohibition or restriction on importation applies in respect thereof or if the price which would be obtained does not equal or exceed the amount of any duties of customs or excise payable in respect thereof.
(6) Where a sale has been carried out under this section, the proceeds thereof shall be applied firstly in payment of any duties of customs or excise payable in respect of any of the articles sold and secondly in payment of the tonnage rates in respect of which such sale was carried out, and any expenses of and incidental to such sale, and the surplus (if any) shall be paid on demand to the former owner or master of the relevant vessel.
(7) Where—
(a) a harbour authority are unable or deem it inexpedient to make a distraint in accordance with this section, or
(b) the proceeds of a sale under this section are not sufficient to pay all the tonnage rates payable to the harbour authority and the expenses of and incidental to such sale,
the rates due or the amount of the deficiency (as the case may be) may be sued for and recovered by the harbour authority as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(8) Nothing in this section shall be construed as prejudicing any forfeiture to which a vessel is subject under the Customs Acts or the Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894 to 1939.
num: 117
paragraphs: —(1) Where default is made in the payment to a harbour authority of any goods or service rates, the collector of rates of the harbour authority may enter any vessel or other place (being within the limits of the harbour of the harbour authority) in which the goods in respect of which the rates were charged are kept and distrain such goods, or, if they have been removed from within the limits of the harbour, the said collector may enter any vessel or other place within such limits and distrain any other goods found therein belonging to the person in default.
(2) No goods forfeitable under the Customs Acts shall be distrained under this section.
(3) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to goods distrained under this section on behalf of a harbour authority:
(a) without prejudice to any other remedy for the rates due on the goods, the harbour authority may sell all or so much as they think fit of the goods subject to the proviso that a sale for home use shall not be effected where any prohibition or restriction on importation applies in respect of the goods proposed to be sold or where the price which would be obtained does not equal or exceed the amount of any duties of customs or excise payable in respect of the goods proposed to be sold;
(b) if the goods are perishable, they may be sold forthwith or at any time, but in any other case the goods shall not be sold until after the expiration of one month from the time at which they were unshipped or delivered within the limits of the harbour of the harbour authority;
(c) the proceeds of any such sale shall be applied by the harbour authority in paying the following charges in the following order:
(i) any customs or excise duties in respect of the goods, and
(ii) the rates payable in respect of the goods and the expenses of and incidental to the sale, and
(iii) any freight due in respect of the goods, if the harbour authority receive notice that such freight is due and unpaid;
(d) where the proceeds of any such sale have been applied as aforesaid—
(i) if any surplus remains, it shall be paid, on demand, to the person appearing to the harbour authority to be entitled thereto, and
(ii) if the rates due on the goods and the expenses of and incidental to the sale remain unpaid in whole or in part, the rates and expenses or the balance thereof (as the case may be) may be recovered by the harbour authority as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction, and
(e) any of the goods which are not sold shall, with the consent of the Revenue Commissioners and provided that all customs or excise duties payable in respect thereof have been paid, be delivered, on demand, to the person appearing to the harbour authority to be entitled thereto.
(4) Where a harbour authority are unable or consider it inexpedient to recover goods or service rates by distraint and sale under this section, they may recover the rates as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.
num: 118
paragraphs: —The collector or other proper officer of customs and excise for the district within which a harbour is situated may, with the consent of the Revenue Commissioners, refuse to give a clearance outward of a vessel within the limits of the harbour until—
(a) the master of the vessel has produced to such collector or officer a certificate signed by the collector of rates for the harbour stating that all the rates payable to the harbour authority for the harbour in respect of the vessel and the cargo thereof have been paid, or
(b) where there is any dispute as to such rates, such collector or officer has received notification from the collector of rates for the harbour that such collector of rates has been given satisfactory security for the payment of such rates.
num: 119
paragraphs: —(1) The revenue of a harbour authority in any year shall be applied to the following purposes in the following order:
(a) the payment of working and establishment expenses (including expenses in respect of any pensions and gratuities payable by the harbour authority) and of expenses properly chargeable to revenue of management, maintenance, cleaning and repair,
(b) the payment, in respect of borrowed moneys and subject to the terms on which such moneys were borrowed, of interest, of repayments of principal and of contributions to sinking funds,
(c) such other purposes (including carrying forward to the next following year) in such order as the harbour authority, with the consent of the Minister, may decide.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, where the Minister, on the application of a harbour authority, is satisfied that the purchase of any particular equipment is essential to the maintenance or working of the harbour of the harbour authority, the Minister may authorise the harbour authority to pay the cost, or part of the cost, of the equipment as if such cost, or the part thereof specified in the authorisation, as the case may be, were proper to be included among the working and establishment expenses of the harbour authority.
num: 120
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority may from time to time, with the consent of the Minister, borrow money for expenditure on purposes in connection with their harbour (including expenditure on improvement or in discharge of existing obligations) either, as may be directed by the Minister, by the issue of stock or debenture stock, by way of mortgage or in any other manner.
(2) Save with the consent of the Minister for Finance, the Minister shall not consent to the borrowing by a harbour authority of any sum exceeding—
(a) in case the harbour authority is the Dublin Port and Docks Board, two hundred thousand pounds, and
(b) in any other case, fifty thousand pounds.
(3) An application made by a harbour authority to the Minister for his consent to their borrowing of money shall be in such form as the Minister directs and shall specify the amount of money to be borrowed, the purposes to which the money is to be applied, the manner in which the money is proposed to be borrowed and such other particulars as the Minister may require.
(4) For the purpose of deciding whether to grant or refuse to grant his consent to the borrowing of money by a harbour authority, the Minister may direct a local inquiry to be held into the purposes of or the need for or both the purposes of and the need for the borrowing.
(5) Where a harbour authority borrow money under this section, they shall carry out such directions as the Minister may give in respect of the following matters:
(a) the manner and the terms of the borrowing,
(b) the purposes to which the money borrowed is to be applied,
(c) the income, funds or property to be charged as security in respect of the borrowing,
(d) the form of the security to be created in respect of the borrowing,
(e) in case any mortgage is to be created in respect of the borrowing, the terms and conditions as to redemption of the mortgage,
(f) the period for repayment of the money borrowed and the provisions to be made for securing repayment within that period.
(6) The Minister shall not give a direction under subsection (5) of this section in relation to any borrowing from the local loans fund save with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance.
(7) A harbour authority shall not borrow save under and in accordance with this section or the next following section.
num: 121
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority, with the consent of the Minister, may, for the purpose of providing temporarily for current expenses, borrow by way of temporary loan or overdraft.
(2) Payments, in respect of moneys borrowed under this section by a harbour authority, of interest and of repayment of principal shall be included among the working and establishment expenses of the harbour authority and shall be made in such manner and during such periods as may be approved of by the Minister.
(3) Without prejudice to subsection (2) of this section, moneys borrowed under this section by a harbour authority shall stand charged on the revenue, funds and property of the harbour authority pari passu with all mortgages, stock and other securities affecting such revenue, funds and property.
(4) References in this section to borrowing include references to reborrowing.
num: 122
paragraphs: —Money borrowed under this Part of this Act for expenditure on anything authorised by a harbour works order may be lent by means of an issue from the local loans fund as if such loan constituted a local loan within the meaning of the Local Loans Fund Acts, 1935 to 1940, and was authorised by an Act of the Oireachtas.
num: 123
paragraphs: —Any stock issued or mortgage made by a harbour authority mentioned in Part I of the First Schedule to this Act (including any stock issued or mortgage made by such harbour authority before the passing of this Act) shall be deemed to be included amongst the securities in which trustees may invest trust funds under the powers of section 1 of the Trustee Act, 1893.
num: 124
paragraphs: —(1) Whenever a body of persons, who are not lawfully constituted as, but are acting as or purporting to be, a harbour authority, borrow money in purported exercise of the powers in that behalf of the harbour authority from a lender who lends the money in good faith and without notice that the body of persons are not lawfully constituted as the harbour authority, the following provisions shall have effect in favour of the lender or any person claiming through or under him as against the harbour authority:
(a) the body of persons shall be deemed, for the purposes of the transaction consisting of the borrowing and lending, to have been lawfully constituted as the harbour authority, and accordingly the harbour authority shall be liable for the repayment of the money so borrowed and lent and the payment of interest thereon in accordance with the terms on which the money was so borrowed and lent to the same extent (if any) as the harbour authority would have been so liable if the body of persons had in fact been lawfully constituted as the harbour authority;
(b) every mortgage or other security given by the body of persons and purporting to be given by the harbour authority to the lender for securing the repayment of the money and the payment of the interest thereon shall, in the hands of the lender or any person claiming through or under him, be valid and enforceable against the harbour authority to the same extent (if any) as it would have been so valid and enforceable if the body of persons had in fact been lawfully constituted as the harbour authority;
(c) no part of the transaction consisting of the borrowing and lending shall be invalid or capable of being questioned on the ground that the body of persons was not lawfully constituted as the harbour authority.
(2) Whenever a harbour authority borrow or are deemed by subsection (1) of this section to borrow money under or in purported exercise of their powers in that behalf from a lender who lends the money in good faith, the following provisions shall have effect in favour of the lender or any person claiming through or under him as against the harbour authority:
(a) neither the borrowing and lending nor any mortgage or other security given or purported to be given by the harbour authority to the lender for securing the repayments of the money and the payment of the interest thereon shall be invalidated or questioned on account of any illegality or irregularity in the constitution of the harbour authority or the appointment, election or nomination of any of the members thereof;
(b) the lender shall not be concerned to inquire whether the purpose for which the money is borrowed by the harbour authority is or is not a purpose for which the harbour authority are authorised by law to borrow money or whether the money does or does not exceed in amount any limit on borrowing by the harbour authority, and the lender shall not be prejudiced or affected by the fact (if it exists) that such purpose is, in whole or in part, not so authorised or that the money exceeds in amount any such limit;
(c) the lender shall not be concerned to inquire whether any meeting of the harbour authority was or was not properly convened or constituted, or whether any particular notice to the members of the harbour authority was or was not duly given, or whether the proceedings at any meeting of the harbour authority were or were not legal and regular;
(d) where the harbour authority could not lawfully borrow the money without the sanction or the consent of the Minister, and such sanction or consent (as the case may be) was given or purported to be given by the Minister, the lender shall not be concerned to inquire whether any statutory condition precedent to the giving of the sanction or consent was or was not duly complied with, and the lender shall not be prejudiced or affected by the fact (if it exists) that any such condition precedent was not complied with by the person (whether the Minister, the harbour authority or any other person) charged with the duty of complying therewith;
(e) the lender shall not be concerned to see to the application of the money by the harbour authority or be prejudiced or affected by any misapplication of the money or any part thereof by the harbour authority or any of their officers.
num: 125
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority may, with the consent of the Minister, and shall, if so required by the Minister, establish a fund for any specified purpose connected with their harbour.
(2) A harbour authority may, with the consent of the Minister, and shall, if so required by the Minister, abolish any fund (other than a sinking fund) established, whether before or after the passing of this Act, for any purpose connected with their harbour and shall thereupon apply any moneys standing to the credit of the fund in such manner as the Minister may direct.
(3) The sums to be paid into any fund established under this section, the times at which such sums shall be paid, the sources from which such sums shall be obtained, and the purposes for and manner in which moneys in the fund shall be appropriated and applied shall be such as may from time to time be directed or approved by the Minister.
(4) A harbour authority may, and if so required by the Minister, shall, invest the moneys in any fund established under this section and the income arising from such investment shall form part of the fund.
(5) Moneys invested pursuant to subsection (4) of this section by a harbour authority shall be invested in such securities (other than real or heritable securities) for the time being authorised by law for the investment of trust funds as the harbour authority think proper, but the harbour authority shall not, save with the consent of the Minister, invest any such moneys in stocks, funds, shares or securities created by the harbour authority themselves.
num: 126
paragraphs: —(1) The Minister may make regulations in relation to mortgages made under this Act by a harbour authority.
(2) Regulations made under this section in relation to mortgages made by a harbour authority may, in particular, make provision in respect of all or any of the following matters:—
(a) the form of mortgages,
(b) the registers to be kept in relation to mortgages,
(c) the transfer of mortgages and the form of such transfers,
(d) the repayment of moneys borrowed on the security of mortgages,
(e) the appointment and powers of receivers.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, if any provisions contained in sections 75 to 88 of the Commissioners Clauses Act, 1847, applied immediately before the passing of this Act in relation to any mortgages then in force of a harbour authority, those provisions, subject to any variations which may have been made in them by the enactment by virtue of which they so applied, shall continue to apply after the passing of this Act in relation to those mortgages of that harbour authority.
num: 127
paragraphs: —(1) The Minister may make regulations in relation to stock issued under this Act by a harbour authority.
(2) Regulations made under this section in relation to stock issued by a harbour authority may, in particular, make provision in respect of all or any of the following matters:—
(a) the manner in which stock is to be created, issued, charged, transferred, transmitted, dealt with and redeemed,
(b) the discharge of loans raised by the issue of stock,
(c) the accounts to be kept in relation to stock,
(d) in case of consolidation of debt, the extension or variation of the times within which loans are to be discharged,
(e) consent in the case of limited owners,
(f) the application of moneys raised by the issue of stock,
(g) dividends,
(h) appointment of registrars for the purposes of stock,
(i) returns to be made to the Minister,
(j) failure to claim dividends or stock,
(k) fees to be chargeable by a harbour authority in respect of stock,
(l) the application in respect of stock, with or without modification, of any enactments.
num: 128
paragraphs: —A harbour authority shall not issue irredeemable stock.
num: 129
paragraphs: —A harbour authority shall not be bound to see to the execution of any trust whatsoever to which any mortgage, stock or other security made or issued by them is or may be subject and accordingly—
(a) the receipt of the person in whose name such mortgage, stock or other security stands in the books of the harbour authority shall be sufficient discharge to the harbour authority for any moneys paid by them in respect thereof notwithstanding that any such trust exists and whether the harbour authority have or have not notice thereof, and
(b) the harbour authority shall not be bound to see to the application of any money paid by them in respect of such receipt.
num: 130
paragraphs: —All sinking, depreciation, reserve, insurance or other funds whatsoever existing in respect of a harbour authority immediately before the passing of this Act shall, after such passing and subject to the provisions of this Part of this Act, be continued and contributed to in like manner and be governed by the like provisions and obligations as before such passing, but all returns requiring to be made in relation to such funds shall be made to the Minister.
num: 131
paragraphs: —(1) The Minister may by order make regulations in relation to the accounts to be kept by a harbour authority.
(2) Regulations made under this section in relation to the accounts to be kept by a harbour authority may, in particular, make provision in respect of all or any of the following matters:—
(a) the form, number, description and contents of the accounts,
(b) the manner in which the accounts are to be kept,
(c) the period which the accounts are to cover,
(d) the date to which the accounts are to be made up,
(e) the division or allocation as between one account and another or otherwise of items appearing in the accounts,
(f) the publication of the accounts.
(3) A harbour authority shall, within two months after the date in each year to which, by the regulations under this section for the time being in force, their accounts are required to be made up, furnish to the Minister two copies of an abstract in the prescribed form of such accounts.
(4) A copy of the accounts of a harbour authority as audited under this Act shall be kept open by the harbour authority at their principal office at all reasonable times for inspection by interested persons on payment of a sum not exceeding one shilling for each inspection.
(5) Until regulations are made under this section, a harbour authority shall continue to keep the accounts and furnish the returns in relation to accounts which, immediately before the passing of this Act, they were obliged by law to keep or furnish, but subject to the modification that, as regards the furnishing of returns, such furnishing shall in every case be to the Minister.
num: 132
paragraphs: —(1) The accounts of a harbour authority shall be audited by an auditor appointed by the Minister.
(2) The following enactments, as amended or adapted by or under any subsequent enactment (including any enactment passed after the passing of this Act), shall apply in relation to the audit and auditor of the accounts of a harbour authority in the same manner as they apply in relation to the audit and auditor of the accounts of a local authority:—
(a) section 12 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1871 ,
(b) subsection (2) of section 63 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898 ,
(c) sections 19 , 20 and 21 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1902 ,
(d) sections 69 , 70 , 71 and 86 of the Local Government Act, 1941 (No. 23 of 1941),
subject to the following modifications:
(i) the references in the said enactments, as so amended or adapted, to the Minister for Local Government and Public Health shall be construed as references to the Minister,
(ii) the Minister, in fixing under section 69 of the Local Government Act, 1941 , an audit fee in respect of an audit, may fix the fee at any time, whether before or after the completion of the audit, and the audit fee so fixed shall also be the audit fee in respect of subsequent audits unless and until it is replaced by a different audit fee so fixed,
(iii) any reference in section 70 or 71 of the Local Government Act, 1941 , to the prescribed period shall be construed as a reference to the like period as the expression for the time being refers to in the case of an audit of the accounts of a local authority.
(3) If the Minister directs that the accounts of a harbour authority for a period ending before the passing of this Act shall be audited under this section, such accounts shall be so audited.
(4) An appointment of an auditor made by a harbour authority before the passing of this Act shall terminate on such date as may be specified in that behalf by the Minister.
num: 133
paragraphs: —(1) A local authority may, with the consent of the Minister for Local Government and Public Health, resolve to assist a harbour authority in any one or more of the following ways:—
(a) by charging any rate or fund under their control for the purpose of guaranteeing any loan raised by the harbour authority,
(b) by contributing all or part of the interest or principal of any such loan,
(c) in the case of a harbour authority unable themselves to raise a loan, by borrowing the sum required by the harbour authority and advancing such sum to the harbour authority.
(2) A local authority which has passed a resolution under this section shall, within fourteen days thereafter, publish the resolution in such manner as the Minister for Local Government and Public Health directs.
(3) Not earlier than sixty days and not later than one hundred and eighty days after the passing of a resolution under this section, the local authority by whom the resolution was passed may confirm the resolution by a further resolution.
(4) Where a resolution under this section has been duly passed, published and confirmed, the Minister for Local Government and Public Health may make an order embodying the resolution and such other provisions as he may think necessary for giving effect to the resolution and every such order shall have the force of law in accordance with its terms.
(5) Where the amount required to be raised by a local authority for a local financial year ending on or after the 31st day of March, 1947, in order to defray the cost of assisting harbour authorities in that local financial year exceeds—
(a) in the case of the corporation of a county borough, a sum equal to a rate of one shilling in the pound on the total of the rateable valuations of the hereditaments and tenements rateable to the municipal rate in the county borough at the commencement of that local financial year,
(b) in the case of the corporation of a borough not being a county borough, the council of an urban district or the commissioners of a town, a sum equal to a rate of eightpence in the pound on the total of the rateable valuations of the hereditaments and tenements rateable to the poor rate (or, in the case of the borough of DÃºn Laoghaire, the municipal rate) in the area of the local authority at the commencement of that local financial year,
(c) in the case of the council of a county, a sum equal to a rate of fourpence in the pound on the total of the rateable valuations of the hereditaments and tenements rateable to the poor rate in the county at large at the commencement of that local financial year,
then, the Minister may, out of moneys to be provided by the Oireachtas, pay to the local authority a sum equal to one-half of such excess as a contribution towards such cost.
num: 134
paragraphs: —(1) The Minister may, if and whenever he thinks fit, by order (in this Act referred to as a harbour works order)—
(a) authorise a harbour authority to construct, reconstruct, extend or remove within the period specified in the order such docks, graving docks, quays, wharves, jetties, piers, embankments, break-waters, roads, viaducts, tramways, railways, aerodromes or other works as may be specified in the order, or
(b) authorise a harbour authority to acquire compulsorily such land (including any right or easement in, over or in respect of land) as may be specified in the order,
or
(c) transfer to a local authority the harbour, or a specified part of the harbour, of a harbour authority, together with all the property, works, plant, equipment and chattels in connection therewith, and authorise the doing of all things necessary to give effect to such transfer, or
(d) transfer to a harbour authority a specified port or pier and the management and control thereof, or
(e) fix, or vary either by extension or diminution, the limits of the harbour of a harbour authority.
(2) The Minister may, if and whenever he thinks fit, by order (in this Act also referred to as a harbour works order) amend or revoke a harbour works order (including a harbour works order made under this subsection).
(3) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to a harbour works order under paragraph (c) or (d) of subsection (1) of this section and a harbour works order under subsection (2) of this section consequent on a harbour works order made under the said paragraph (c) or (d):
(a) the order may be made by the Minister either on the application of the harbour authority to whom the order relates or without any such application,
(b) where the Minister makes the order without an application therefor having been made by the harbour authority to whom the order relates, it shall be the duty of that harbour authority to take all such steps as may be necessary or may be directed by the Minister for the purpose of implementing the order, and
(c) where the order is under the said paragraph (c) or under subsection (2) of this section consequent on a harbour works order made under the said paragraph (c), the order shall not be made save with the consent of the Minister for Local Government and Public Health.
(4) Save as provided by subsection (3) of this section, a harbour works order shall not be made otherwise than on the application of the harbour authority to whom the order relates.
(5) A harbour works order may include such supplemental and ancillary provisions and such conditions and restrictions as the Minister thinks proper.
(6) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (5) of this section, a harbour works order may—
(a) contain provisions for authorising, subject to the terms of the order, the opening, stopping up, breaking up, crossing, altering, extending, diverting or otherwise interfering with any public or private roads, highways, streets, footpaths, tunnels, streams, watercourses, railway-sidings, sewers, drains, pipes, wires or apparatus, and
(b) contain a condition that the harbour authority to whom the order relates shall not, in carrying out the provisions of the order, displace persons of the working class or shall displace such persons only after compliance with specified requirements.
(7) Where a harbour works order authorises or requires a harbour authority to acquire any land compulsorily, the following provisions shall have effect:
(a) the order shall, in respect of any land so acquired, provide for the payment of compensation by the harbour authority to the several persons having estates or interests in the land and shall provide that any question of disputed compensation shall be determined under and in accordance with the Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Act, 1919, as amended by the Acquisition of Land (Reference Committee) Act, 1925 (No. 22 of 1925);
(b) the order may incorporate all or any of the provisions of the Land Clauses Acts, with such modifications and adaptations as the Minister thinks proper.
(8) Subject to the provisions of the next following section, a harbour works order shall have statutory force and effect.
num: 135
paragraphs: —(1) Where a harbour works order—
(a) authorises a harbour authority to acquire compulsorily land as respects which the Minister is of opinion, and so states in the order, that, by reason of its extent and situation or the purposes for which it is used or for any other reason, it ought not to be acquired compulsorily without the sanction of the Oireachtas, or
(b) transfers to a local authority the harbour of a harbour authority, or
(c) transfers to a local authority a part of the harbour of a harbour authority, being a part as respects which the Minister is of opinion, and so states in the order, that, by reason of its extent, it ought not to be transferred without the sanction of the Oireachtas, or
(d) transfers to a harbour authority a specified port or pier, or
(e) fixes, or varies either by extension or diminution, the limits of the harbour of a harbour authority, or
(f) revokes or amends a previous harbour works order which was confirmed by Act of the Oireachtas,
such order (in this Act referred to as a provisional harbour works order) shall be of no force or effect unless and until confirmed by Act of the Oireachtas.
(2) The following provisions shall have effect in respect of a provisional harbour works order:
(a) as soon as conveniently may be after the making of the order, the Minister shall deposit a copy of the order with the county registrar of the county in which is situate the principal office of the harbour authority to whom the order relates;
(b) the Minister shall thereupon publish in the Iris OifigiÃºil and in two newspapers circulating in such county a notice intimating that the copy of the order will, during a specified period not less than twenty-eight days, remain open at the office of the county registrar for public inspection during ordinary office hours and that objections and representations in relation to the order may be furnished in writing to the Minister during the said period;
(c) during the said period the county registrar shall keep the copy of the order open for inspection as aforesaid and objections and representations in relation to the order may be furnished in writing to the Minister;
num: 136
paragraphs: —(1) Whenever the Minister proposes to make a harbour works order other than a provisional harbour works order—
(a) the harbour authority to whom the proposed order relates shall publish, at such time or times and in such manner as the Minister directs, such notice as the Minister directs of the nature of the proposed order,
(b) such notice shall contain an intimation that objections and representations in relation to the order may be furnished in writing to the Minister during a specified period, and
(c) in making the order, the Minister shall have regard to the objections and representations (if any) furnished as aforesaid.
(2) The expenses incurred by a harbour authority in the publication in pursuance of this section of a notice shall be borne by the harbour authority.
(3) Whenever a harbour authority refuse or fail to publish a notice directed by the Minister to be published by them under this section, the Minister may, without prejudice to any other proceedings against the harbour authority, himself publish the notice and all expenses incurred by him in so doing shall be borne by the harbour authority and shall be recoverable by the Minister from the harbour authority as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.
num: 137
paragraphs: —Whenever the Minister proposes to make a harbour works order, he may, if he so thinks fit, direct that a local inquiry be held in regard to the proposed order.
num: 138
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority may apply to the Minister for a harbour works order.
(2) An application for a harbour works order shall be in such form and shall contain such particulars as the Minister may require and shall be accompanied by a draft of the proposed order.
(3) A harbour authority applying under this section for a harbour works order shall, when required by the Minister so to do, furnish to the Minister such further particulars and such plans and other documents as he may from time to time require for the consideration of the application.
(4) The Minister may require any statement made in an application for a harbour works order, or made to the Minister in response to a requirement of particulars under this section, to be verified in such manner as the Minister may require by some person having personal knowledge of such statement.
(5) If a harbour authority fail to furnish any particulars, plan, document or verification which they are required by the Minister under this section to furnish, the Minister may, on the ground of the failure and without prejudice to his discretion to make or refuse to make a harbour works order, refuse the application in relation to which the particulars, plan, document or verification were so required.
(6) There shall be paid to the Minister by a harbour authority applying under this section for a harbour works order such fee as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may fix.
(7) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to a fee payable under subsection (6) of this section:
(a) the fee shall be collected and taken in such manner as the Minister for Finance may direct, and shall be paid into or disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer in accordance with the directions of the Minister for Finance, and
(b) the Public Offices Fees Act, 1879, shall not apply in respect of the fee.
num: 139
paragraphs: —(1) The Minister may, if and whenever he so thinks fit, cause to be made—
(a) a survey of the intended site of any works which a harbour authority propose to construct, and
(b) an inspection of any works when completed or in course of construction by a harbour authority.
(2) The cost of a survey or inspection under this section shall be borne by the harbour authority who have constructed or propose to construct the works in respect of which the survey or inspection is made, and such cost shall be recoverable from the harbour authority by the Minister as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.
num: 140
paragraphs: —(1) Where any works completed by a harbour authority or in course of construction, extension or repair by a harbour authority below the level of high water mark are so placed as to be dangerous to navigation or any works completed by a harbour authority have suffered such damage or decay as to be dangerous to navigation, it shall be the duty of the harbour authority, at or near the extremities of the works, to lay down and maintain such buoys, to exhibit and keep burning such lights and to do such other things to lessen danger to navigation as the general lighthouse authority may from time to time approve or direct under the subsequent provisions of this section.
(2) The general lighthouse authority may, on the application of the harbour authority concerned or without any such application, approve of means taken under this section to lessen danger to navigation in respect of any works, or may disapprove of such means, and may direct such harbour authority to take such other means for that purpose, in lieu of or in addition to the means already taken, as the general lighthouse authority think necessary or proper.
num: 141
paragraphs: —A person who obstructs or interferes with the carrying out of the provisions of a harbour works order shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
num: 142
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority may enter into any contract which they think proper in connection with any of the following matters:
(a) the administration of their harbour,
(b) the carrying out of any harbour works order,
(c) the dredging of any harbour and the approaches thereto,
(d) the discharge of any of the functions given to the harbour authority by or under this Act.
(2) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to a contract made by a harbour authority in respect of the carrying out of any constructional or building work whether pursuant to a harbour works order or otherwise or in respect of dredging:
(a) where the consideration for the contract exceeds fifty pounds, the contract shall be in writing and sealed with the common seal of the harbour authority;
(b) the contract shall specify—
(i) the consideration therefor,
(ii) the time or times within which the contract is to be performed, and
(iii) a pecuniary penalty to be paid in case the terms of the contract are not duly performed.
(3) A harbour authority may compound for any sum they think proper, with any person who is a party to a contract made by them, in respect of any penalty incurred either by such harbour authority or such person by reason of the non-performance of the contract or any term thereof, whether the penalty is due under the contract or under any bond or other security.
num: 143
paragraphs: —(1) The Minister may make regulations in relation to a harbour authority with respect to tenders.
(2) Regulations under this section may, in particular, contain all or any of the following provisions:—
(a) provisions specifying the classes of contracts for which tenders shall be obtained,
(b) provisions specifying the manner in which tenders shall be sought,
(c) provisions specifying the conditions subject to which tenders may be accepted,
(d) provisions specifying that, in respect of contracts the consideration for which does not exceed a specified amount, tenders need not be sought,
(e) provisions requiring estimates of the cost of carrying out any works to be obtained.
num: 144
paragraphs: —A harbour authority shall be a body corporate by the name by which they are mentioned in the First Schedule to this Act and shall have perpetual succession and a common seal (which shall be judicially noticed) and power to sue and be sued in the said name and to hold and dispose of land.
num: 145
paragraphs: —The continuity of the existence of a harbour authority shall not be affected by the passing of this Act or by the change in their membership pursuant to this Act, and accordingly the following shall not be affected by such passing or change in membership save as otherwise provided by this Act:
(a) property and assets of the harbour authority,
(b) debts and liabilities of the harbour authority,
(c) mortgages, debentures, stock and other securities issued by the harbour authority,
(d) contracts and agreements entered into by the harbour authority,
(e) legal proceedings to which the harbour authority are parties,
(f) officers and servants of the harbour authority,
(g) the status of the harbour authority as a pilotage authority.
num: 146
paragraphs: —(1) The Minister may by order amend the First Schedule to this Act by—
num: 147
paragraphs: —A harbour authority shall maintain a principal office at or within three miles of their harbour.
num: 148
paragraphs: —A harbour authority may, with the consent of the Minister, oppose any private bill in the Oireachtas.
num: 149
paragraphs: —A harbour authority may insure against all risks which are ordinarily the subject of insurance (including risks in respect of goods of which they are not the owners but which are under their control).
num: 150
paragraphs: —The books, records and documents of a harbour authority shall be kept open by them at all reasonable times for inspection, free of charge, by any member of the harbour authority.
num: 151
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority mentioned in Part I of the First Schedule to this Act shall, within two years after the passing of this Act, prepare and submit to the Minister a scheme (in this section referred to as a superannuation scheme) for the payment of superannuation and other like allowances (including gratuities) to or in respect of the officers and established staff of the harbour authority.
(2) Under subsection (1) of this section, a harbour authority, in lieu of preparing and submitting a single superannuation scheme, may divide their officers and established staff into different categories (defined in such manner and by reference to such things as the harbour authority think proper) and prepare and submit a separate scheme in respect of each such category.
num: 152
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority may make charges for the use of a graving dock provided by them in accordance with such scale of charges as from time to time they may fix with the consent of the Minister.
(2) Where a harbour authority were, immediately before the passing of this Act, making charges for the use of a graving dock in accordance with a scale of charges fixed by them, such scale of charges shall be regarded for the purposes of subsection (1) of this section as having been duly fixed under that subsection.
num: 153
paragraphs: —The Minister may from time to time require a harbour authority—
(a) to submit to him proposals for the dredging (either, as the Minister may direct, by themselves or by a specified person) of their harbour or the approaches thereto,
(b) to have the dredging of their harbour or the approaches thereto carried out in a specified manner (either, as the Minister may direct, by themselves or by a specified person),
and it shall be the duty of a harbour authority to comply with every requirement under this section relating to them.
num: 154
paragraphs: —A harbour authority may provide facilities for aircraft using their harbour and may make for such facilities such charges as, with the consent of the Minister, they may fix from time to time.
num: 155
paragraphs: —A harbour authority may, with the consent of the Minister, make and carry out such agreements as they consider expedient with any person or persons for the use of their harbour or any part thereof as an aerodrome.
num: 156
paragraphs: —Where any power or duty is conferred or imposed by this Act on the harbour master or collector of rates of a harbour, such power or duty may be executed or performed by any officer or servant of the harbour authority authorised in that behalf by the harbour master or collector of rates (as the case may be), and whenever any such power or duty is executed or performed, the harbour master, collector of rates or other officer or servant executing or performing the power or duty, may either act alone or be accompanied by such assistants as he considers proper.
num: 157
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority may lease any of their lands or premises for any period not exceeding two hundred years, but no such lease shall be made for a period exceeding ten years without the consent of the Minister.
(2) A lease made under this section by a harbour authority shall, without prejudice to the inclusion therein of any other provisions, provide—
(a) that if at any time the harbour authority require the land or premises comprised in the lease for the improvement of their harbour, they shall, upon payment of such compensation as, in default of agreement, may be fixed by an arbitrator, be entitled to obtain possession thereof in like manner as if the term of the lease had expired,
(b) that if at any time the harbour authority are satisfied that the lands or premises comprised in the lease are not being put to some bona fide use, they shall be entitled to obtain possession thereof in like manner as if the term of the lease had expired.
num: 158
paragraphs: —A harbour authority may, with the consent of the Minister, acquire (either permanently or temporarily) any land or premises by agreement.
num: 159
paragraphs: —A harbour authority may, with the consent of the Minister, sell any of their lands or premises which are not required by them for the purposes of their harbour.
num: 160
paragraphs: —The Minister may at any time require a harbour authority to furnish to him information in such form as he directs in relation to all or any of the following matters and it shall be the duty of the harbour authority to comply with such requirement:
(a) the number and total tonnage of vessels, either generally or of any specific class, which have berthed in or otherwise used the harbour of the harbour authority during any specified period;
(b) the nature and the amount of cargo shipped, loaded or taken on or into such vessels;
(c) the nature and the amount of cargo discharged or transhipped from such vessels;
(d) the rates charged by the harbour authority in respect of such vessels and such cargo respectively;
(e) the revenue and expenditure of the harbour authority over any specified period;
(f) the assets and liabilities (if any) of the harbour authority at any specified time;
(g) any matter connected with or ancillary to any matter mentioned in any of the foregoing paragraphs of this section.
num: 161
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority may, with the consent of the Minister, make and carry out an agreement with one or more than one person to undertake jointly with such person or persons the doing of anything in relation to the harbour of the harbour authority which the harbour authority are for the time being authorised by law to do.
(2) A harbour authority may pay such proportion of the cost of anything undertaken jointly with a person or persons in pursuance of an agreement under this section as is specified in the agreement.
(3) The proportion payable by a harbour authority of the expenses chargeable to revenue account of any joint committee or like body set up in pursuance of an agreement under this section shall be paid by the harbour authority as part of their working and establishment expenses.
num: 162
paragraphs: —Where any part belonging to the State of the bed or shore of a harbour or of the sea is reclaimed by a harbour authority, the part so reclaimed shall enure to the State.
num: 163
paragraphs: —A cable, pipe or wire laid or placed by a harbour authority under or across any tidal water shall be so laid or placed at such depth under or at such height over the tidal water that it does not interrupt or interfere with navigation.
num: 164
paragraphs: —(1) The Minister may at any time direct that a local inquiry be held into any of the following matters:
(a) the performance by a harbour authority of their powers, functions and duties;
(b) the finances of a harbour authority;
(c) the condition of the harbour of a harbour authority;
(d) the rates charged by a harbour authority;
(e) the accommodation and facilities provided by a harbour authority;
(f) any complaint as to the operation of any bye-law of a harbour authority;
(g) any complaint as to the conduct of an officer or servant of a harbour authority;
(h) any matter in respect of which the Minister is authorised by any other section of this Act to direct a local inquiry;
(i) any other matter whatsoever relating to a harbour authority in respect of which the Minister is of opinion that a local inquiry should be held.
(2) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to a local inquiry held under this Act:
(a) the inquiry shall be held by such person and at such time as the Minister appoints;
(b) the harbour authority to whom the inquiry relates shall give notice in such manner as the Minister directs of the holding of the inquiry to the public and to such particular persons as the Minister specifies;
(c) the person holding the inquiry may, if he so thinks proper, exclude the public from the inquiry, but every person who, in the opinion of the person holding the inquiry, is interested in the subject matter of the inquiry shall be entitled to attend and be heard thereat;
(d) the person holding the inquiry shall have all such powers, rights and privileges for enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining them on oath (which such person is hereby authorised to administer) or otherwise, and for compelling the production of documents, as are vested in the High Court or a Judge thereof in respect of the trial of an action, and a summons (which may be served personally or by post) signed by such person shall be equivalent to and have the like effect as a formal process issued by the High Court for enforcing the attendance of witnesses and compelling the production of documents;
(e) if any person—
(i) on being duly summoned as a witness at the local inquiry makes default in attending, or
(ii) being in attendance as a witness at the inquiry refuses to take an oath legally required by the person holding the inquiry to be taken, or to produce any document legally required by the person holding the inquiry to be produced by him, or to answer any question to which the person holding the inquiry may legally require an answer, or
(iii) does any other thing which would, if the person holding the inquiry were a Court of Justice, having power to commit for contempt of court, be contempt of such court, the person holding the inquiry may certify the offence of that person under his hand to the High Court and that Court may, after such inquiry as it thinks proper to make, punish or take steps for the punishment of that person in like manner as if he had been guilty of contempt of the said Court;
(f) a witness before the inquiry shall be entitled to the same immunities and privileges as if he were a witness before the High Court;
(g) all expenses incurred by the Minister in holding the inquiry shall be paid to the Minister by such person or persons and, if by more than one such person, in such proportions as the Minister directs, and the amount of such expenses shall be fixed by the Minister and when so fixed shall be recoverable by the Minister accordingly as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction;
(h) the expenses incurred by a harbour authority in causing notice of the inquiry to be given in pursuance of this section shall be paid by such person as the Minister directs and (if such person is not such harbour authority) shall be recoverable by such harbour authority from such person as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction;
(i) the person holding the inquiry may, if he thinks proper so to do, order the costs and expenses incurred by any person (including a harbour authority) of appearing or being represented and adducing evidence at the inquiry to be paid by any other person who appears or was represented at the inquiry;
(j) where the person holding the inquiry orders the costs and expenses incurred by one person to be paid by another person, such costs and expenses shall be taxed and ascertained by a taxing-master of the High Court on the requisition of either the person to whom or the person by whom such costs and expenses were so ordered to be paid, and the amount of such costs and expenses when so taxed and ascertained shall be recoverable as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction by the person to whom, and from the person by whom, such costs and expenses were so ordered to be paid.
(3) Where a harbour authority fail to give a notice directed by the Minister to be given by them under this section, the Minister may, without prejudice to any other proceedings against the harbour authority, himself give the notice and all expenses incurred by him in so doing shall be borne by the harbour authority and shall be recoverable by the Minister from the harbour authority as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.
num: 165
paragraphs: —(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a harbour authority shall defray the expenses of locomotion incurred by each of their members in travelling to and from meetings of the harbour authority and of any committee appointed by the harbour authority.
(2) A person shall not be paid under this section travelling expenses in respect of a meeting held at a place less than five miles by any route from his official residence.
(3) The amount of travelling expenses paid under this section to a person in respect of a particular meeting shall not exceed the amount which would reasonably have been incurred by him in travelling from his official residence to the place of the meeting and from the place of the meeting to his official residence.
(4) A member of a harbour authority shall, immediately after becoming such member, communicate in writing to the harbour authority the address of the place at which he ordinarily resides and that place shall be regarded as his official residence for the purposes of this section.
(5) This section shall not apply to any meeting of a harbour authority held before the second Thursday in the month of October in the year appointed under section 6 of this Act in relation to that harbour authority.
num: 166
paragraphs: —A harbour authority may provide transport free of charge for their officers and servants while such officers and servants are travelling to and from places where they are carrying out their duties.
num: 167
paragraphs: —(1) A harbour authority may as part of their working and establishment expenses make reasonable payments for or in connection with—
(a) the reception of and extending of hospitality to members, directors or officers of other port or harbour authorities or of any public authority or body or any company having interests of a professional or business character similar to the interests of the harbour authority or with whom the harbour authority have or contemplate having professional or business relations, and
(b) visits by way of official courtesy by or on behalf of the harbour authority to any such authority, body or company as aforesaid,
including payments for travelling expenses and other expenses reasonably incurred by or on behalf of any member or officer of the harbour authority in connection with any of the matters aforesaid.
(2) The total amount which a harbour authority pay under this section in any period shall not exceed the amount sanctioned for the time being in respect of the harbour authority by the Minister for that period.
num: 168
paragraphs: —(1) Where by or under a contract of tenancy, whether made before or after the passing of this Act, of any lands or premises to which this section applies, the carrying on upon such lands or in such premises of any shipping business or any other business or trade incidental to the use of a port purports to be prohibited or restricted in any manner, such prohibition or restriction shall be void and of no effect.
(2) This section does not apply to any private residence or to any lands or premises belonging to the State or a harbour authority but, save as aforesaid, it applies to all lands and premises situated within a distance of one quarter of a mile from the limits of a harbour.
num: 169
paragraphs: —(1) A person (in this section referred to as the applicant) who desires to obtain a lease of any lands or premises to which this section applies for the purpose of carrying on any shipping business or any other business or trade incidental to the use of a port may apply to the Circuit Court (in this section referred to as the Court) for a lease under this section of such lands or premises.
(2) Where an application is made to the Court under this section, the Court shall, before proceeding with the hearing of the application, be satisfied that all proper parties have notice of the application, and for that purpose the Court may direct such inquiries to be made and notices to be served as it thinks proper and, in particular, may direct any such notice to be served by advertisement.
(3) Where, on the hearing of an application under this section, the Court is satisfied, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, that it is reasonable and proper that a lease should be made under this section to the applicant of all or any part of the lands or premises to which the application relates, the Court may direct such lease to be made accordingly.
(4) The following provisions shall have effect in respect of a lease made under this section:
(a) the lease shall be made for such term, not exceeding thirty years, as the Court directs, commencing on such date as the Court fixes;
(b) the lease shall reserve such rent or rents to such persons as the Court directs;
(c) where the Court so directs, the lease shall be expressed as a lease and a series of reversionary leases;
(d) the lease shall contain such covenants and conditions as the Court directs;
(e) the parties to the lease shall be such persons as the Court directs;
(f) the draft of the lease shall be settled and approved of by the Court.
(5) Where a person who is directed by the Court to be a party to a lease under this section is, by reason of his being a trustee, personal representative or other person having a fiduciary capacity or by reason of his being an infant or by reason of his having only an estate for his life, or in tail or other limited estate or by reason of restrictive covenants in the lease under which he holds, incapable in law of being a party to the lease under this section for the purposes directed by the Court, the Court may by order empower such person to be a party to such lease for those purposes and to execute such lease accordingly.
(6) Where a person who is directed by the Court to be a party to a lease under this section is an infant, or a person of unsound mind, or cannot be found, or refuses or fails to execute the lease, the Court may appoint an officer of the Court to execute the lease for and in the name of such person, and thereupon the execution of the lease by that officer for and in the name of such person shall for all purposes be as effectual as the execution thereof by such person.
(7) All costs and expenses of or incidental to an application to the Court under this section and of or incidental to the preparation, execution and completion of the lease (if any) made in pursuance of such application shall, unless the Court for special reasons otherwise directs, be borne and paid by the applicant.
(8) This section shall not apply to any private residence or to any lands or premises belonging to the State or a harbour authority but, save as aforesaid, it applies to all lands or premises which for the time being are not being put to some bona fide use and which are situated within a distance of one quarter of a mile from the limits of a harbour.
num: 170
paragraphs: —Any member of the Garda SÃ­ochÃ¡na, officer of customs and excise, or officer of a Minister of State shall, while acting in the execution of his duty as such member or officer, have the right to enter or leave any part of a harbour.
num: 171
paragraphs: —(1) Any officer of customs and excise may, for the purpose of obtaining information necessary for the performance of his duties in relation to a vessel which has arrived within or departed from within the limits of a harbour or in relation to the cargo on any such vessel, require the harbour authority for the harbour to produce for his inspection all such books and documents relating to the vessel or cargo as he may reasonably require and to permit him to take copies of or extracts from such books and documents.
(2) If a harbour authority on whom a requirement has been made under this section fail to comply with the requirement within a reasonable time, they shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
num: 172
paragraphs: —Persons using a lifeboat shall have a right of free passage into, through and out of a harbour.
num: 173
paragraphs: —A harbour authority shall not appoint to an office of profit, or employ, a person—
(a) while such person is a member of the harbour authority, or
(b) within twelve months after such person has ceased to be a member of the harbour authority, or
(c) within ten years after such person has been convicted of an offence under section 26 of this Act.
num: 174
paragraphs: —(1) Whenever a proposal made at a meeting of a harbour authority would cause an illegal payment to be made out of the funds of the harbour authority or would be likely to result in a deficiency or loss in or to such funds, it shall be the duty of (as the case may be) the General Manager or the secretary (or, where such manager or secretary is not present, of the officer of the harbour authority present on his behalf) to make objection to the proposal and to state the grounds of the objection.
(2) Whenever an objection is made under this section to a proposal made at a meeting of a harbour authority, there shall be entered on the minutes of the meeting—
(a) a record of the objection having been made,
(b) the grounds of the objection, and
(c) where a decision is taken on the proposal, a statement in respect of each member of the harbour authority present as to whether he voted for the proposal, against the proposal, or abstained from voting.
num: 175
paragraphs: —Any notice or other document required to be served on or given to a harbour authority may be sent by post in an envelope addressed to the harbour authority or to the General Manager or the secretary (as the case may be) at the principal office of the harbour authority or may be delivered to an officer of the harbour authority at such principal office.
num: 176
paragraphs: —Any notice or other document required to be authenticated by a harbour authority shall be sufficiently authenticated if signed by any two members of the harbour authority or by the General Manager or the secretary (as the case may be).
num: 177
paragraphs: —(1) An offence under this Act alleged to have been committed by a harbour authority may be prosecuted by or at the suit of the Minister.
(2) An offence under this Act alleged to have been committed by a person other than a harbour authority may be prosecuted by or at the suit of either the Minister or the harbour authority concerned.
num: 178
paragraphs: —(1) Where immediately before the passing of this Act a harbour authority maintained any roads—
(a) the Minister, if he so thinks fit, may, with the consent of the Minister for Local Government and Public Health, by order declare that the harbour authority shall cease to maintain the roads, and that the roads shall be maintained by a specified local authority, and
(b) unless and until such order comes into operation, the harbour authority shall continue to maintain the roads in like manner as before the passing of this Act.
(2) Where immediately before the passing of this Act a harbour authority contributed to the maintenance by a local authority of any roads—
(a) the Minister, if he so thinks fit, may, with the consent of the Minister for Local Government and Public Health, by order declare that the harbour authority shall cease to contribute to the maintenance by the local authority of the roads, and
(b) unless and until such order comes into operation, the harbour authority shall continue to contribute to the maintenance by the local authority of the roads in like manner as before the passing of this Act.
(3) An order made under this section in relation to a harbour authority may contain such supplemental and ancillary provisions as the Minister thinks proper, including, in particular, provisions providing for the payment by the harbour authority of compensation to the local authority specified in the order.
(4) An order under this section shall have the force of law in accordance with its terms.
num: 179
paragraphs: —(1) Where, immediately before the passing of this Act, a harbour authority had any powers in respect of the policing of their harbour, the following provisions shall have effect:
(a) if the said powers were then being exercised—
(i) the Minister for Justice, if he so thinks fit, may, after consultation with the Minister for Finance, by order declare that the said powers shall cease and that the policing of the harbour shall be carried out by the Garda SÃ­ochÃ¡na, and
(ii) unless and until such order comes into operation and notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the said powers, and the duties, powers and obligations of any constables or other officers duly appointed by the harbour authority in exercise of the said powers, shall continue in like manner as before the passing of this Act;
(b) if the said powers were not then being exercised they shall cease upon the passing of this Act.
(2) Where an order is made under subsection (1) of this section in relation to a harbour authority, the Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, by order provide for compensation (to be paid or borne by such harbour authority) for the constables or their officers whose services will be dispensed with in consequence of the first-mentioned order and who have not reached the normal age of retirement.
(3) An order under this section shall have the force of law in accordance with its terms.
num: 180
paragraphs: —The docks adjoining the harbour of the Dublin Port and Docks Board and known as the Grand Canal Docks and the Royal Canal Docks shall be deemed to be within the limits of that harbour for the purposes of sections 94 , 111 , 112 and 117 of this Act.
num: 181
paragraphs: —(1) In this section the expression “the Corporation” means the Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of Waterford.
(2) The Minister may, if he so thinks fit, by order declare that, on and from a specified day,—
(a) the charges commonly known as water bailiff's fees chargeable at Waterford Harbour shall cease to be charged, and
(b) any obligations of the Corporation (whether acquired under charter or by statute or otherwise) whereof the said fees or any part thereof were in consideration shall cease.
(3) The order under this section may contain such supplemental and ancillary provisions as the Minister thinks proper, including provision for the payment by the Waterford Harbour Commissioners to the Corporation of such sum as the Minister thinks proper towards compensating the Corporation for loss sustained by them owing to the operation of the order.
(4) An order under this section shall have the force of law in accordance with its terms.
num: 182
paragraphs: —(1) In this section the expression “the Corporation” means the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of Dublin.
(2) The Minister may, if he so thinks fit, by order declare that, on and from a specified day,—
(a) the charges commonly known as City dues chargeable at Dublin Harbour shall cease to be charged, and
(b) any obligations of the Corporation (whether acquired under charter or by statute or otherwise) whereof the said dues or any part thereof were in consideration shall cease.
(3) The order under this section may contain such supplemental and ancillary provisions as the Minister thinks proper, including provision for the payment by the Dublin Port and Docks Board to the Corporation of such sum as the Minister thinks proper towards compensating the Corporation for loss sustained by them owing to the operation of the order.
(4) An order under this section shall have the force of law in accordance with its terms.
num: 183
paragraphs: —(1) In this section the expression “the Company” means the body corporate known as the Commercial Buildings Company of Cork.
(2) The Minister may, if he so thinks fit, by order declare that, on and from a specified day,—
(a) the rates and duties, chargeable under the British statute passed in the year 1814 and entitled an Act to raise a fund for defraying the charge of commercial improvements, within the city and port of Cork, in Ireland, shall cease to be charged, and
(b) any obligations of the Company (whether acquired under charter, or by statute or otherwise) whereof the said rates and duties or any part thereof were in consideration shall cease.
(3) The order under this section may contain such supplemental and ancillary provisions as the Minister thinks proper, including provision for the payment by the Cork Harbour Commissioners to the Company of such sum as the Minister thinks proper towards compensating the Company for loss sustained by them owing to the operation of the order.
(4) An order under this section shall have the force of law in accordance with its terms.
num: 184
paragraphs: —Where the amount in a sinking fund maintained by the Cork Harbour Commissioners in relation to any mortgages and stock made or issued by them before the passing of this Act equals or exceeds the amount remaining due in respect of the mortgages together with the nominal value of so much of the stock as remains outstanding, any obligation of the Commissioners to make further contributions to the sinking fund shall cease.
num: 185
paragraphs: —Where immediately before the passing of this Act, a local authority had any interest in a part within the limits of a harbour of the bed of any river, such part shall, by virtue of this section,—
(a) in case the local authority had, before the 1st day of January, 1946, properly granted any lease or other interest in respect of such part for a term remaining unexpired at the passing of this Act—be transferred to and vested in the State upon the expiration of such term, and
(b) in any other case—be transferred to and vested in the State upon the passing of this Act.
num: 186
paragraphs: —(1) This Act shall apply in relation to Skerries Harbour, and Balbriggan Harbour subject to the following modifications:
(a) there shall not be a separate harbour authority of either Skerries Harbour or Balbriggan Harbour but the Dublin Port and Docks Board (in this section referred to as the Board) shall also be the harbour authority of Skerries Harbour and the harbour authority of Balbriggan Harbour,
(b) the harbour master of Dublin Harbour shall also be the harbour master of Skerries Harbour and of Balbriggan Harbour,
(c) the collector of rates of Dublin Harbour shall also be the collector of rates of Skerries Harbour and of Balbriggan Harbour,
(d) all moneys received by the Board shall be expendible indifferently in respect either of Dublin Harbour, Skerries Harbour or Balbriggan Harbour,
(e) the principal office of the Board at Dublin shall also be their principal office as respects Skerries Harbour and Balbriggan Harbour.
(2) Nothing in this section shall affect an indenture made on the 19th day of January, 1878, between Ian Trant Hamilton of Abbotstown in the County of Dublin, Esquire, M.P., of the first part, James Alexander Hamilton of Number 56 Fitzwilliam Square in the City of Dublin, Esquire, of the second part, and the Dublin Port and Docks Board of the other part, and the said indenture shall have the like force and effect after the passing of this Act as it had before such passing.
num: 187
paragraphs: —A harbour authority which is a pilotage authority may make such contributions towards the expenses incurred by them in their capacity as such pilotage authority as, with the consent of the Minister, they may determine.
num: 188
paragraphs: —(1) The accounts of a pilotage authority shall be audited by an auditor appointed by the Minister.
(2) The following enactments, as amended or adapted by or under any subsequent enactment (including any enactment passed after the passing of this Act), shall apply in relation to the audit and auditor of the accounts of a pilotage authority in the same manner as they apply in relation to the audit and auditor of the accounts of a local authority:
(a) section 12 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1871 ,
(b) subsection (2) of section 63 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898 ,
(c) sections 19 , 20 and 21 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1902 ,
(d) sections 69 , 70 , 71 and 86 of the Local Government Act, 1941 (No. 23 of 1941),
subject to the following modifications:—
(i) the references in the said enactments, as so amended or adapted, to the Minister for Local Government and Public Health shall be construed as references to the Minister,
(ii) the Minister, in fixing under section 69 of the Local Government Act, 1941 , an audit fee in respect of an audit, may fix the fee at any time, whether before or after the completion of the audit, and the audit fee so fixed shall also be the audit fee in respect of subsequent audits unless and until it is replaced by a different audit fee so fixed,
(iii) any reference in section 70 or 71 of the Local Government Act, 1941 , to the prescribed period shall be construed as a reference to the like period as the expression for the time being refers to in the case of an audit of the accounts of a local authority.
(3) An appointment of an auditor made by a pilotage authority before the passing of this Act shall terminate on such date as may be specified in that behalf by the Minister.
num: 189
paragraphs: —(1) Neither paragraph 4 of section 10 of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851 , nor subsection (1) of section 683 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894 , shall apply in respect of proceedings for recovery of pilotage dues.
(2) In this section the expression “pilotage dues” has the same meaning as it has in the Pilotage Act, 1913 .
num: 190
paragraphs: —(1) So much of any enactment mentioned in the Third Schedule to this Act or of any order, regulation or other instrument made thereunder as is inconsistent with any enactment contained in this Act or in any order, regulation or other instrument made under this Act, shall cease to have effect as on and from the coming into operation of such last mentioned enactment.
num: 191
paragraphs: —The Acts mentioned in the Fourth Schedule to this Act shall cease to apply in relation to any harbour authority.