Source: http://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/2006/act/40/revised/en/html
Timestamp: 2020-05-29 19:14:10
Document Index: 233950235

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 9', 'art 9', 'art 17', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 5', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 6', 'art 9']

This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975 (3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation of statute law.
All Acts up to and including National Shared Services Office Act 2017 (26/2017), enacted 26 July 2017, and all statutory instruments up to and including Appointment of Special Adviser (Minister for Rural and Community Development) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 388 of 2017), made 26 July 2017, were considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.
A list of legislative changes to any Act, and to statutory instruments from 1993, may be found linked from the page of the Act or statutory instrument at
• Minerals Development Act 2017 (23/2017)
• ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Act 2014 (5/2014)
• Local Government Reform Act 201 4 (1/2014)
• Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010 (11/2010)
• Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Single Electricity Market) Act 2007 (5/2007)
• Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (section 28(4)) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 155 of 2013)
• Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (Commencement of Section 6) Order 2009 (S.I. No. 298 of 2009)
• Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (Section 13) (Commencement of Remaining Provisions) Order 2009 (S.I. No. 238 of 2009)
• Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) Order 2008 (S.I. No. 68 of 2008)
• Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (Commencement of Section 19) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 292 of 2007)
• Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (Commencement of Section 8) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 266 of 2007)
All statutory instruments up to and including Appointment of Special Adviser (Minister for Rural and Community Development) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 388 of 2017), made 26 July 2017, were considered in the preparation of this revision.
23. Interpretation ( Part 9 ).
30. Scope of Part 9 .
[24 th December, 2006]
References to “Bord Gáis Éireann” or “The Irish Gas Board” construed (19.06.2014) by ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Act 2014 (5/2014), s. 8(1),(2), S.I. No. 286 of 2014.
Change of name of Bord Gáis Éireann to Ervia
8. (1) The name of the body (established by section 7 of the Gas Act 1976 ) the present name of which is, in the Irish language, Bord Gáis Éireann and, in the English language, The Irish Gas Board, shall, on and from such day as the Minister appoints by order, be Ervia.
(2) References in any enactment, statutory instrument, legal proceedings or any other document to Bord Gáis Éireann or The Irish Gas Board shall, on and from the day appointed under subsection (1), be construed as references to Ervia.
Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2006
No. 40 of 2006
Sections 25 and 28
Power pursuant to section exercised (29.07.2009) by Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (Commencement of Section 6) Order 2009 (S.I. No. 298 of 2009).
2. The 29th day of July, 2009, is hereby appointed as the day on which Section 6 of the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (No. 40 of 2006) comes into operation.
Power pursuant to section exercised (29.06.2009) by Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (Section 13) (Commencement of Remaining Provisions) Order 2009 (S.I. No. 238 of 2009).
2. The 29th day of June 2009 is appointed as the day on which section 13 of the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (No. 40 of 2006) comes into operation in so far as it relates to subsections (3) and (4) of section 9G (inserted by the said section 13) of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (No. 23 of 1999).
Power pursuant to section exercised (12.03.2008) by Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) Order 2008 (S.I. No. 68 of 2008).
2. (1) The 12th day of March 2008 is appointed as the day on which sections 4, 11 and 12 and, subject to paragraph (2) of this Article, section 13 of the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (No. 40 of 2006) come into operation.
(2) Section 13 of the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 comes into operation by virtue of paragraph (1) except in so far as it relates to subsections (3) and (4) of section 9G (inserted by the said section 13) of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (No. 23 of 1999).
Power pursuant to section exercised (1.07.2007) by Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (Commencement of Section 19) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 292 of 2007).
2. The 1st day of July, 2007, is hereby appointed as the day on which Section 19 of the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (No. 40 of 2006), shall come into operation.
Power pursuant to section exercised (23.05.2007) by Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (Commencement of Section 8) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 266 of 2007).
2. The 23rd day May, 2007, is hereby appointed as the day on which Section 8 of the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (No. 40 of 2006), shall come into operation.
“Act of 1976” means the Gas Act 1976;
“Act of 2001” means the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act 2001;
“Minister” means the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
( a) a person holding a licence under section 14(1)( e) or ESB National Grid to negotiate with any person holding an analogous licence as respects any part of Northern Ireland and to enter into an agreement with any such person to establish an entity to be known as a single market operator,
( b) the holder of a licence under section 14(1)( e) or ESB National Grid to take such steps as are necessary to ensure the proper functioning and operation of the system of trading in electricity for which it is responsible on foot of a direction from the Commission under this Act or the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations 2000 and 2005, and
( c) the holder of a licence granted under section 14 or a person who stands licensed to generate electricity by virtue of subsection (1A) or (1B) of section 14 to comply with any directions, codes or rules made by the Commission under this Act or the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations 2000 and 2005.
(4) The power of the Commission under subsection (3) includes the power to direct that necessary expenditure be undertaken by the holder of a licence under section 14(1)( e) or ESB National Grid.
( a) liaise,
( b) co-operate, or
( c) enter into arrangements including arrangements involving—
‘all-island energy market’ means a market in energy for the island of Ireland resulting from the integration of the equivalent markets in Ireland with those of Northern Ireland;
‘island of Ireland’ includes its islands and seas;
‘ESB National Grid’ means the National Grid Business Unit of the Board performing the functions of the transmission system operator under this Act and the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations 2000 and 2005, pending the granting of a licence under section 14(1)( e);
‘market in energy’ includes a market in respect of—
( a) the generation, supply, transmission, distribution and trading, including the export or import, of electricity, including electricity generated from renewable sources,
( b) the storage, supply, transmission, distribution and trading, including the export and import, of natural gas,
( c) energy efficiency services,
( d) energy research and development, and
( e) other sustainable energy activities;
‘relevant person’ means—
( a) any person exercising a function in relation to an energy market which corresponds to any of the functions of the Commission or the Minister under—
( b) any person engaged in—
‘single market operator’ means an entity established pursuant to an agreement made under subsection (3) for the purpose of establishing and operating a system of contracts and arrangements (including such rights and obligations as appear to the Commission to be necessary) for trading in electricity on the island of Ireland.”.
9D.— (1) ( a) The Commission may appoint a person or persons to be a designated body for the purposes of this section and such body may be referred to as an Electrical Safety Supervisory Body.
( b) Where the Commission has not appointed a person or persons to be a designated body, or a designated body is, in the opinion of the Commission, no longer able to carry out its functions under this section, the Commission may, with the consent of the Minister, appoint an employee of the Commission to carry out those functions on a temporary basis.
(2) ( a) In determining the number of persons appointed under subsection (1) the Commission shall have regard to the costs likely to be incurred—
( b) Paragraph 16 of Schedule 1 shall apply to any costs incurred by the Commission in carrying out its functions under this section.
( c) In paragraph ( b) the words ‘any costs incurred by the Commission’ includes any moneys provided by the Commission to a designated body, following its appointment under subsection (1), to facilitate that body in establishing and carrying out its functions.
(5) ( a) The Commission shall publish criteria (in this section referred to as ‘the criteria’) relating to—
( b) The criteria to be published in connection with paragraph ( a) shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following information:
( c) The Commission may review or amend the criteria as often as it considers necessary.
(6) The Commission shall not appoint a person to be a designated body unless it is satisfied that the person is capable of complying with the criteria, and as respects each person who is a member (in this section referred to as a ‘registered electrical contractor’) of that designated body that the body has, or will have if appointed, the capability and entitlement to—
( a) inspect any work carried out by a registered electrical contractor,
( b) monitor the training and safety standards of a person who is a registered electrical contractor,
( c) review training undertaken by a person engaged either as an employee or as an independent contractor of a registered electrical contractor,
( d) issue directions to a registered electrical contractor regarding the training to be given to or undertaken by a class or classes of persons engaged either as employees or as independent contractors,
( e) suspend the membership of a registered electrical contractor in a designated body where that registered electrical contractor is the subject of an investigation by that body into whether—
( f) suspend or revoke the membership of a registered electrical contractor in the designated body where that body is satisfied that any of the matters specified in subparagraphs (i) to (iii) of paragraph ( e) apply as respects the contractor concerned.
(7) ( a) Where a designated body decides to suspend or revoke the membership of a registered electrical contractor in that body, such designated body shall inform, in writing, both—
( b) A registered electrical contractor, the subject of a decision under paragraph ( a), may submit an appeal, in writing, of the decision to the Commission within 28 days of being informed of the decision.
(8) ( a) The Commission shall appoint one or more persons (‘Appeals Officer’) to—
( b) The Commission shall have regard to the report of the Appeals Officer under paragraph ( a) and shall advise the designated body, the Appeals Officer and the registered electrical contractor concerned of its decision to confirm, vary or set aside the decision of the designated body concerned.
( c) An appeal shall not be considered under this subsection if—
( a) the Appeals Officer in considering the appeal;
( b) the Appeals Officer in drafting his or her report to the Commission;
( c) the designated body when suspending or revoking the membership of a registered electrical contractor; and
( d) a registered electrical contractor who is the subject of a decision by the designated body to suspend or revoke his or her membership in the designated body,
(10) ( a) The tariff of fees and charges imposed by a designated body relating to—
( b) All expenses and costs incurred by a designated body in carrying out any of its functions under this section shall be defrayed by the designated body out of funds at its disposal which are obtained in accordance with paragraph ( a).
( a) procedures to be followed, and
( b) records to be maintained,
(19) ( a) The Commission may conduct an inspection or audit of a designated body to verify compliance by the designated body with the requirements of this section, the terms and conditions of appointment and the criteria of the Commission.
( b) The Commission may appoint a person to assist it in performing inspections or audits referred to in paragraph ( a).
( a) in accordance with the terms and conditions of the appointment,
( b) where the Commission is of the opinion that an act or default by the designated body is a cause of serious danger to the public, with immediate effect, or
( c) where it is, in the opinion of the Commission, in the interests of consumers that the appointment be determined, and paragraph ( b) does not apply, on giving not less than 3 months notice or such shorter period as may be specified in the terms and conditions of appointment in that respect.
( a) of registered electrical contractors on any land where the authorised officer believes such work is being or has been carried out by such a contractor, or
( b) which has been the subject of a completion certificate,
( a) an authorised officer in the exercise of his or her powers under this section, and
( b) the Commission in exercising its powers under subsection (19) including a person assisting the Commission pursuant to subsection (19).
( a) an authorised officer performing any function he or she is authorised to exercise or perform under this section,
( b) the Commission in exercising its powers under this section, or
( c) a person assisting the Commission pursuant to subsection (19).
( b) on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding €15,000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or to both.
‘designated body’ means a person appointed under subsection (1) to be a designated body for the purposes of this section;
‘specified works’ means such class or classes of works as have been determined to be such by the Commission in accordance with subsection (27).
( b) on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding €15,000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or to both.”.
5.— The Act of 1999 is amended in section 14(1) by the substitution for paragraphs ( c) and ( d) of the following paragraphs:
“( c) to supply electricity to final customers which is generated by that supplier or purchased by that supplier and which electricity is generated, in whole or in part, using renewable, sustainable or alternative forms of energy, in accordance with any trading arrangements provided for in regulations made under section 9(1)( d),
( d) to supply electricity to final customers which is generated by that supplier or purchased by that supplier and which electricity is generated, in whole or in part, using combined heat and power, in accordance with any trading arrangements provided for in regulations made from time to time by the Commission under section 9(1)( d),”.
( a) in subsection (1) of section 2—
“‘combined heat and power’ means the simultaneous generation in one process of—
( a) thermal energy and electrical energy,
( b) thermal energy and mechanical energy, or
( c) thermal, electrical and mechanical energy;”,
“‘economically justifiable demand’ means the demand that does not exceed the needs for heat or cooling and which would otherwise be satisfied at market conditions by energy generation processes other than cogeneration;
‘electricity production from combined heat and power’ means electricity produced from combined heat and power calculated in accordance with section 7;
‘high efficiency combined heat and power’ means combined heat and power production which on an annual basis—
( a) in the case of small scale combined heat and power and micro-combined heat and power, achieves primary energy savings calculated in accordance with paragraphs 3 and 4 of Schedule 3, and
( b) in the case of all other combined heat and power, achieves primary energy savings calculated in accordance with paragraphs 3 and 4 of Schedule 3 of at least 10 per cent compared with the references for separate production of heat and electricity;
‘micro-combined heat and power unit’ means a combined heat and power unit with a maximum capacity of less than 50 kWe;
‘small scale combined heat and power’ means combined heat and power units with an installed capacity greater than 50 kWe and less than 1 MWe;
‘useful heat’ means heat produced in a cogeneration process to satisfy an economically justifiable demand for heat or cooling.”,
( b) by the substitution of the following section for section 7—
( a) in respect of the technologies referred to in paragraphs ( a), ( b), ( c), ( d) and ( e) of Annex I of the Directive, such default values shall be consistent with those specified in paragraph ( b) of Annex II of the Directive,
( b) in respect of technologies other than those referred to in paragraph ( a) of this subsection, such default values shall be notified to the European Commission.
( a) the Minister shall not make an order under subsection (6) in relation to matters which are the subject of such guidelines,
( b) the efficiency reference values determined by the Minister in an order made under this subsection shall cease to have effect, and
( c) those guidelines shall apply for the purpose of determining the power to heat ratio of electricity produced from combined heat and power.
(10) In this section ‘Directive’ means Directive 2004/8/EC of 11 February 2004. 1 ”,
( c) in section 14(1) by the substitution for paragraph ( d) (inserted by section 5 ) of the following paragraph:
“( d) to supply electricity to final customers which is generated by that supplier or purchased by that supplier, and which electricity is generated, in whole or in part, using high efficiency combined heat and power, in accordance with the trading arrangements provided for in regulations made by the Commission under F1 [ section 9(1)( d ) or section 9BA ],”,
( d) by the insertion after Schedule 2 (inserted by the Sustainable Energy Act 2002) of the matter in the Schedule to this Act as Schedule 3 to the Act of 1999.
Substituted (18.06.2007) by Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Single Electricity Market) Act 2007 (5/2007), s. 20, S.I. No. 287 of 2007.
1 O.J. L52, 21.2.2004, p.50
10A.— (1) ( a) In the interests of the proper and effective regulation of the electricity and natural gas markets and the formulation of policy applicable to such proper and effective regulation, the Minister may give such general policy directions to the Commission, as he or she considers appropriate, to be followed by the Commission in the exercise of its functions.
( b) Notwithstanding the generality of paragraph ( a), such general policy directions may have regard to the following issues—
(2) The Commission shall comply with any direction given under subsection (1), and shall report to the Minister on the implementation (including the costs of such implementation) of any directions given under subsection (1) in the report prepared in accordance with paragraph 25( b) of Schedule 1 to this Act.
( a) provide a draft of the proposed direction to—
( b) publish a draft of the proposed policy direction to the Commission, which shall—
( a) a person who has applied for, or holds a licence, authorisation or consent, or
( b) a person to whom a licence, authorisation or consent may be granted by the Commission, or
( c) the performance of the functions of the Commission in relation to individual energy undertakings or persons.
( a) in paragraph ( g) by the substitution of “distribution system operator,” for “distribution system operator, or”,
( b) in paragraph ( h) by the substitution of “public electricity supplier, or” for “public electricity supplier”, and
( c) by the insertion after paragraph ( h) of the following paragraph:
“( i) to transport electricity across and maintain an interconnector,”.
( a) construct or reconstruct a generating station for the purpose of supply to final customers, or
( b) construct an interconnector,
( b) by the substitution for subsection (3) of the following subsection:
( a) to construct or reconstruct a generating station, or,
( b) to construct an interconnector,
( a) a competitive tender;
( b) an authorisation granted to a person without a prior competitive tender where the person demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the Commission, that the granting of an authorisation, subject to such conditions as the Commission deems necessary and appropriate, is in the long term interests of final customers; or
( c) requesting the transmission system operator to provide for the construction of an interconnector in its development plan.”.
34A.— (1) Subject to subsection (3) the holder of a licence under section 14(1)( i) (in this section referred to as the ‘interconnector operator’) shall offer access to the interconnector concerned on the basis of published non-discriminatory terms which shall be subject to the approval of and directions given by the Commission.
( a) the matters to be specified in an agreement for use of the interconnector,
( b) the terms and conditions upon which an offer for access to the interconnector is made,
( c) the basis upon which charges may be made for access to the interconnector,
( d) the terms and conditions upon which applications for access are to be made and the period of time within which an offer or refusal pursuant to an application is to be made by the interconnector operator, and
( e) any other matters which the Commission considers necessary or expedient for the purpose of making an offer of access to the interconnector,
( a) it has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Commission that it is not in the public interest to do so,
( b) to enter into an agreement under this section would be likely to involve the interconnector operator—
( a) where the offer is made by the interconnector operator, or
( b) where an offer is refused by the interconnector operator,
( a) the Commission,
( b) the holder of a licence under section 14,
( c) a person referred to in section 10A(2)( b)(i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of the Gas Act 1976,
( a) should cause the least possible disturbance to the functioning of the internal market in gas or electricity, and
( b) are not wider in scope than is strictly necessary to remedy the sudden difficulties.
( a) by the renumbering of the Schedule to that Act as Schedule 1 to that Act, and
( b) in section 8(3) by substituting “Schedule 1” for “The Schedule”.
(2) Schedule 1 to the Act of 1999 (as renumbered by subsection (1) ) is amended—
( a) in paragraph 2, by the deletion of “, to hold office in a full-time capacity for a period of not less than three and not more than five years”,
( b) by the insertion, after paragraph 2 of the following paragraphs:
( c) in paragraph 3 by the substitution of “A member of the Commission whose term of office expires” for “A member of the Commission, including the chairperson, whose term of office expires”,
( d) in paragraph 4 by the substitution of “two terms of office as a member” for “two terms of office”,
( e) in paragraph 25—
(i) by the substitution of the following for subparagraph ( b):
“( b) submit accounts kept under subparagraph ( a) in respect of each year to the Comptroller and Auditor General for audit and those accounts when so audited shall, together with—
(ii) by the substitution for subparagraph ( c) of the following:
“( c) not later than 30 November in each year make a report to the Minister in relation to its proposed work programme for the following year and the Minister shall cause copies of the report to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as practicable.”.
“‘natural gas fitting’ means any appliance, apparatus or other thing including associated pipework and flueing which is used or designed to be used by—
( a) a domestic customer, or
( b) such class or classes of industrial or commercial customer as the Commission may specify from time to time,
( a) in subsection (1) by the insertion of the following paragraphs after paragraph ( e):
“( ea) to regulate the activities of natural gas undertakings and natural gas installers, with respect to safety,
( eb) to promote the safety of natural gas customers and the public generally as respects the supply, storage, transmission, distribution and use of natural gas (excluding such activities carried out at upstream pipelines or facilities except where such pipeline or facility is engaged in the storage of natural gas),
( ec) to consult with The National Standards Authority of Ireland regarding standards and specifications relating to gas safety.”,
( b) by the insertion, after subsection (1F) of the following subsections:
“(1G) ( a) In carrying out its functions under subsection (1)( ea) the Commission shall, having consulted with the Minister, establish and implement a natural gas safety regulatory framework, and report annually to the Minister on the functioning of such framework.
( b) The framework established under paragraph ( a) shall include—
( c) The Commission may review or amend the framework referred to in paragraph ( a) as often as it considers necessary.
(1H) ( a) In carrying out its functions under paragraphs ( ea) and ( eb) of subsection (1) the Commission may require natural gas undertakings to regularly advise and provide information to their final customers and the public as respects—
( b) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph ( a), the Commission may direct a natural gas undertaking to engage in, either on its own or in concert with any other natural gas undertaking (whether or not such other undertaking operates within the State), campaigns promoting natural gas safety, which campaigns shall take such form as the Commission may specify in its direction and each natural gas undertaking concerned shall comply with any such direction.”.
9F.— (1) ( a) The Commission may appoint a person to be the designated body for the purposes of this section and such body may be referred to as a Gas Safety Supervisory Body.
( b) Where the Commission has not appointed a person to be the designated body, or the designated body is, in the opinion of the Commission, no longer able to carry out its functions under this section, the Commission may, with the consent of the Minister, appoint an employee of the Commission to carry out those functions on a temporary basis.
(2) ( a) In appointing a person to be the designated body in accordance with subsection (1) the Commission shall have regard to the costs likely to be incurred—
( c) In paragraph ( b) the words ‘any costs incurred by the Commission’ includes any moneys provided by the Commission to the designated body, following its appointment under subsection (1), to facilitate that body in establishing and carrying out its functions.
( b) The criteria document to be published in connection with paragraph ( a) shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following information:
(6) The Commission shall not appoint a person to be the designated body unless it is satisfied that the person is capable of complying with the criteria, and as respects each person who is a member (in this section referred to as a ‘registered gas installer’) of the designated body that the body has, or will have if appointed, the capability and entitlement to—
( a) inspect any work carried out by a registered gas installer,
( b) monitor the training and standards of a person who is a registered gas installer,
( c) suspend the membership of a registered gas installer in the designated body where that registered gas installer is the subject of an investigation by that body into whether—
( d) suspend or revoke the membership of a registered gas installer in the designated body where the body has established that any of the matters specified in subparagraphs (i) or (ii) of paragraph ( c) apply as respects the installer concerned.
(7) ( a) Where the designated body decides to suspend or revoke the membership of a registered gas installer in the body, the designated body shall inform, in writing, both—
( b) A registered gas installer, the subject of a decision under paragraph ( a), may submit an appeal, in writing, of the decision to the Commission within 28 days of being informed of the decision.
( b) The Commission shall have regard to the report of the Appeals Officer under paragraph ( a) and shall advise the designated body, the Appeals Officer and the registered gas installer concerned of its decision to confirm, vary or set aside the decision of the body.
( a) the Appeals Officer in considering the appeal,
( b) the Appeals Officer in drafting his or her report to the Commission,
( c) the designated body when suspending or revoking the membership of a registered gas installer, and
( d) a registered gas installer who is the subject of a decision by the designated body to revoke his or her membership in the designated body,
(10) ( a) The tariff of fees and charges imposed by the designated body relating to—
( b) The designated body may impose fees and charges under paragraph ( a) of different amounts in respect of different categories of membership, registration or service as the Commission may specify in the criteria.
( c) All expenses incurred by the designated body in carrying out any of its functions under this section shall be defrayed by the designated body out of funds at its disposal which are obtained in accordance with paragraph ( a).
(18) ( a) The Commission may conduct an inspection or audit of the designated body to verify compliance by the designated body with the requirements of this section, the terms and conditions of appointment and the criteria of the Commission.
( a) of a registered gas installer on any land where the authorised officer believes such work is being or has been carried out by such an installer, or
( b) which has been the subject of a completion certificate.
( b) the Commission in exercising its powers under subsection (18) including a person assisting the Commission pursuant to subsection (18).
( c) a person assisting the Commission pursuant to subsection (18).
( a) describe himself or herself as a registered gas installer, or
( b) describe himself or herself in a manner likely to suggest that he or she is a registered gas installer,
‘completion certificate’ means a certificate the form of which has been specified by the Commission under subsection (17);
‘designated body’ means a person appointed under subsection (1) to be the designated body for the purposes of this section;
‘gas works’ means works designated to be such under section 9G.
(2) In this section ‘works’ means work which is related to the installation, removal, repair or replacement of a natural gas fitting as defined by section 2 (as inserted by section 11 of the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006).
( a) a registered gas installer,
( b) a gas transmission system operator carrying out its functions in accordance with the terms and conditions of the relevant licence,
( c) a gas distribution system operator carrying out its functions in accordance with the terms and conditions of the relevant licence,
( d) a gas emergency officer appointed under section 9I performing his or her duties, or
( e) a gas safety officer appointed under section 9J performing his or her functions under that section.
( b) on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding €15,000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or both.
9H.— (1) The Commission may, in the performance of its functions under paragraphs ( ea) and ( eb) of section 9(1) make regulations relating to gas safety.
( a) specifications or requirements regarding the installation or maintenance of natural gas fittings, and
( b) the conditions to be fulfilled before natural gas may be connected or re-connected to any premises or part of any premises following the installation, maintenance, modification or repair of a natural gas fitting.
(6) ( a) Notwithstanding anything specified in regulations made under subsection (2), nothing in this section shall be construed as placing an onus of responsibility on a gas installer to ensure that a natural gas fitting which he or she has correctly installed in a dwelling, place of business or any common area is safely maintained after the point of delivery of natural gas, unless a contractual obligation exists obliging the installer concerned to do so.
( b) Unless specified in any other enactment, the person responsible for ensuring that a natural gas fitting is safely maintained after the point of delivery of natural gas shall be—
( c) For the purposes of this subsection—
(i) the term ‘business’ is to be interpreted in accordance with the meaning given it by section 3 of the Landlord and Tenant (Amendment) Act 1980,
(ii) the term ‘dwelling’ is to be interpreted in accordance with the meaning given it by section 4 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004,
(iii) the terms ‘lease’, ‘landlord’, ‘tenant’, and ‘tenancy’ as they are used in paragraph ( b)(i), are to be interpreted in accordance with the meaning given to them by section 5 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, and
(iv) the terms ‘lease’, ‘lessee’, ‘landlord’ and ‘tenant’ as they are used in paragraph ( b)(ii) are to be interpreted in accordance with the meaning given to them by section 3 of the Landlord and Tenant (Amendment) Act 1980 .
( a) the use, misuse or leakage of natural gas, or
( b) a defect or possible defect in any pipeline or natural gas fitting.
( a) instruct any person to evacuate any place until such time as the premises are, in the opinion of the officer, safe,
( b) instruct any person to perform or refrain from performing any act, if in the opinion of the officer, the performance or non-performance of such act is necessary in order to reduce or prevent any danger arising from natural gas,
( c) search for any escaped natural gas, or any leak or defect in any pipeline or natural gas fitting,
( d) interrupt or disconnect the supply of natural gas without notice.
( a) that the land is left no less secure by reason of the entry,
( b) any damage caused by the gas emergency officer is made good or that compensation is paid to the occupier or owner of the land concerned.
( a) obstructs or impedes a gas emergency officer in the exercise of powers conferred by this section,
( b) fails or refuses to comply with an instruction given by a gas emergency officer under this section,
( c) knowingly gives to a gas emergency officer information which is false or misleading in a material respect, or
( d) turns on or reconnects the supply of natural gas which supply has been turned off or disconnected by a gas emergency officer, without the consent of a gas emergency officer,
( a) this section,
( b) paragraphs ( ea) and ( eb) of section 9(1), and
( c) subsection (1G) of section 9.
( a) enter and inspect any land (with force if he or she considers it necessary in the circumstances) without giving notice or obtaining the consent of any person, and there inspect any—
( b) enter on any land at any reasonable time and there—
( a) instruct any person to evacuate any premises until such time as the premises are, in the opinion of the officer, safe,
( b) any damage caused by the gas safety officer is made good or that compensation is paid to the occupier or owner of the land concerned.
( a) obstructs or impedes a gas safety officer in the exercise of powers conferred by this section,
( b) fails or refuses to comply with an instruction given by a gas safety officer under this section,
( c) knowingly gives to a gas safety officer information which is false or misleading in a material respect, or
( d) turns on or reconnects the supply of natural gas which supply has been turned off or disconnected by a gas safety officer, without the consent of a gas safety officer,
14.—The Act of 1999 is amended by the insertion after section 9J (inserted by section 13 ) of the following section:
"Extension of gas safety provisions to liquefied petroleum gas.
( a) sections 9F to 9J of this Act,
( b) paragraphs ( ea) to ( ec) of section 9(1), and
( c) subsections (1G) and (1H) of section 9,
to natural gas shall be construed and have effect as if it included a reference to liquefied petroleum gas.".
Repealed by Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010 (11/2010), s. 28, not commenced as of date of revision.
Prospective amending provision: section repealed by Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010 (11/2010), s. 28, not commenced as of date of revision.
14.— F2 [ … ]
“foreshore” means the bed and shore, below the line of high water of ordinary or medium tides, of the sea and of every tidal river and tidal estuary and of every channel, creek and bay of the sea or of any such river or estuary and the outer limit of the foreshore shall be determined in accordance with section 1A (inserted by section 60 of the Maritime Safety Act 2005) of the Foreshore Act 1933;
( a) in the case of a harbour to which the Harbours Act 1996 applies, the harbour company concerned,
( b) in the case of a harbour to which the Harbours Acts 1946 to 1976 apply, the harbour authority concerned,
( c) in the case of a fishery harbour centre to which the Fishery Harbour Centres Act 1968 applies or any other harbour under the control or management of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, that Minister,
( d) in the case of a harbour under the control or management of a local authority, the local authority concerned,
( e) in the case of a harbour under the control or management of Iarnród Éireann – Irish Rail, that company,
( f) in the case of any other harbour, the owner;
“local authority” has the meaning assigned to it by the Local Government Act 2001;.
‘approved scheme’ means a scheme or schemes relating to the Board which is or are approved by the Revenue Commissioners, from time to time, pursuant to Part 17 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997;
‘capital stock’ has the meaning assigned to it by section 7B;
‘company’ means a company within the meaning of the Companies Act 1963;
‘employees of the Board’ means the officers and servants of the Board;
‘net assets of the Board’ means all the reserves contained in the balance sheet of the Board.
(2) ( a) The Board may, in accordance with an approved scheme, make available to employees of the Board or trustees on their behalf up to 5 per cent of the capital stock in return for transformations in the company of at least equal value carried out by the employees of the Board.
( b) The Board shall issue 10 per cent of any capital stock to the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources without payment and the said capital stock shall be treated as fully paid up.
( c) The Board shall issue the remainder of any capital stock to the Minister for Finance without payment and the said capital stock shall be treated as fully paid up.
( a) the terms and conditions relating to the creation of capital stock, and
( b) the rights and obligations attaching to the capital stock,
“(2) ( a) Subject to subsection (7) and subject to such exemptions as may be granted in accordance with Article 22 of the Directive, where an application is received for third party access from or on behalf of an eligible customer in respect of a downstream facility operated by a person licensed under section 16 of the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002, the facility operator shall offer to enter into an agreement for such access, subject to terms and conditions specified in directions issued by the Commission under subsection (5).
( b) In paragraph ( a), ‘eligible customer’ means—
(i) the holder of a natural gas licence under section 16 of the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002, for the purpose of carrying out any activity for which the holder is licensed,
(ii) the holder of a petroleum lease under section 13 of the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960, for the purpose of carrying out any activity connected with the lease,
(iii) a person in respect of whom an order has been made under section 2(1) of the Gas (Amendment) Act 1987, for the purpose of carrying out the functions conferred on the person by the order,
(2) ( a) Subject to the provisions of this subsection, subparagraph (vi) of section 10A(2)( b) of the Gas Act 1976 (inserted by subsection (1) ) shall come into operation on—
( b) Before making an order under paragraph (a) (i) the Minister shall consult the Commission which shall indicate to the Minister whether, in its opinion, the making of such an order would be in the best interests of the natural gas market and natural gas consumers in the State generally or any part of the State.
“(1) ( a) Subject to subsection (6) and subject to such exemptions as may be granted in accordance with Article 22 of the Directive, where an application is received for third party access in respect of an upstream pipeline from or on behalf of an eligible customer, the upstream pipeline operator shall offer to enter into an agreement for such access, subject to terms and conditions specified in regulations made by the Minister under subsection (3).
(2) Subject to the provisions of this subsection, subparagraph (vi) of section 10B(1)( b) of the Gas Act 1976 (inserted by subsection (1) ) shall come into operation on—
( a) such day or days as the Minister may appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision and different days may be so appointed for different provisions or different purposes, or
( b) to the extent that subparagraph (vi) has not previously been commenced, the 1st day of July 2007,
21A.— (1) ( a) The Commission may invite expressions of interest from persons who are licensed suppliers to act as a supplier of last resort, that is, to supply gas in accordance with this section.
( b) Following public consultation and subject to paragraph ( c), the Commission shall designate a licensed supplier to act as a supplier of last resort.
( c) The Commission may reconfirm, amend or revoke a designation made under this subsection as it sees fit.
( a) a licensed supplier with whom final customers have a supply contract ceases or fails to supply gas to those final customers in accordance with its contractual obligations, or
( b) following representations to the Commission from a licensed supplier, the Commission is of the opinion that circumstances exist which warrant a direction to that supplier of last resort to supply gas to a final customer.
( a) the terms and conditions under which that supplier of last resort shall supply gas to a final customer, including those in relation to—
( b) the method for calculating the charges for the supply of gas to a final customer,
( c) any other matters which the Commission considers necessary for the purpose of the supply of gas to a final customer by that supplier of last resort,
21B.— (1) ( a) The Commission may invite expressions of interest from licensed shippers to act as a shipper of last resort, that is, to ship gas in accordance with this section.
( b) Following public consultation and subject to paragraph ( c), the Commission may designate a licensed shipper to act as a shipper of last resort.
( c) Notwithstanding the generality of paragraphs ( a) and ( b), where the Commission is of the opinion that Bord Gáis Éireann is an appropriate person to carry out the functions of a shipper of last resort under this section, it may, in accordance with paragraph ( b), designate Bord Gáis Éireann to act as a shipper of last resort.
( d) The Commission may reconfirm, amend or revoke a designation made under paragraph ( b) as it sees fit.
( a) a licensed shipper with whom customers have a shipping contract ceases or fails to ship gas to those customers in accordance with its contractual obligations, or
( b) following representations to the Commission from a licensed shipper, the Commission is of the opinion that circumstances exist which warrant a direction to that shipper of last resort to ship gas to a customer of a licensed shipper.
( a) the terms and conditions under which that shipper of last resort shall ship gas to a customer of a licensed shipper, including those in relation to—
( b) the method for calculating the charges for the shipping of gas arising from the designation,
( c) any other matters which the Commission considers necessary,
20.— Section 22 of the Turf Development Act 1998 is amended in subsection (1)( b) by the substitution of “€400 million” for “£100 million”.
“(3) Of the capital stock in the Board issued to the Minister for Finance pursuant to subsection (2)( a) there shall, on the coming into operation of this subsection, stand transferred to the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and rest in that Minister capital stock in the Board amounting to 10 per cent of the capital stock in the Board.
( a) 85 per cent of such capital stock shall issue to the Minister for Finance without payment and the said capital stock shall be treated as fully paid-up, and
( b) 10 per cent of such capital stock shall issue to the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources without payment and the said capital stock shall be treated as fully paid-up,
and such arrangements shall apply in place of the arrangements specified in subsection (2)( a).”.
“Act of 2006” means the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure ) Act 2006.
( a) section 181B,
( b) section 182B, or
( c) section 182D,
(i) in the case of development referred to in section 181A, a notification in respect of the development has been published, before the commencement of this section, in accordance with regulations under section 181(1)( b) of the Act of 2000 (whether or not the development has been commenced or completed before the commencement of this section),
( a) under section 34 or 37G of the Act of 2000, and
( b) granted after the commencement of the amendments of that Act made by the Act of 2006,
is required, either in circumstances generally or in the circumstances referred to in subsection (5) , in respect of the terminal referred to in subsection (6) .
(6) The terminal mentioned in subsections (4) and (5) is a terminal comprised in a strategic gas infrastructure development (within the meaning of the Act of 2000) the pipeline comprised in which development has been the subject of a consent referred to in subsection (3) (iii) (I) .
Prospective affecting provision: application of Part continued in certain circumstances by Minerals Development Act 2017 (23/2017), s. 236(2), not commenced as of date of revision.
236. (1) In this section “Part 9 mine” means a mine within the meaning of section 23 of the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 in respect of which a mine rehabilitation plan was being implemented under Part 9 of that Act before the coming into operation of this section.
(2) Notwithstanding the repeal of Part 9 of the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006, that Part continues to apply to a Part 9 mine.
(3) Part 5 of this Act does not apply to the rehabilitation of a Part 9 mine.
Interpretation( Part 9 ).
( a) any place to which subsection (3) of that section relates, and
( b) any place used for the deposit of spoil or other refuse taken from the mine or quarry,
“mine rehabilitation plan” has the meaning given in section 24 (1) ;
Substituted (1.06.2014) by Local Government Reform Act 2014 (1/2014), s. 5(8) and sch 2. part 6, S.I. No. 214 of 2014.
Repealed by Minerals Development Act 2017 (23/2017), s. 238(3)(c), not commenced as of date of revision, subject to transitional provision in s. 236.
Prospective affecting provision: section repealed by Minerals Development Act 2017 (23/2017), s. 238(3)(c), not commenced as of date of revision, subject to transitional provision in s. 236.
23.— F4 [ … ]
( a) is wholly or mainly necessary for the purpose of public or animal health or safety, for the protection of the environment or is otherwise in the public interest, and
( b) it is not feasible to expect that the site will otherwise be rehabilitated within a reasonable time having regard to paragraph (a) ,
(i) may prepare a plan for the long-term rehabilitation of the site (“mine rehabilitation plan”), and
( a) by a local authority acting as agent of the Minister under section 26 (1) ,
( b) by the local authority concerned with the consent of the Minister,
( c) in any other case, by the Minister.
( a) the person who operated the mine, or
( b) the owner or occupier of the site of the former mine in respect of the former mine, or
( c) any other person who otherwise has obligations in respect of the site of the former mine.
( a) the owner or occupier of the site of the former mine;
( b) the owner or occupier of any land which is affected by the site of the former mine or over which access to the site might be required;
( c) any other person who may have obligations in respect of the site of the former mine,
(5) In revising a mine rehabilitation plan, the Minister or a local authority (as the case may be) shall, where appropriate, consult with each of the persons referred to in subsection (4) .
24.— F5 [ … ]
( a) a mine rehabilitation plan, or
( b) a mine rehabilitation plan which forms part of a project under section 46 (which relates to advances by the Minister for the purpose of marine or natural resource based tourism or heritage projects) of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) Act 2000,
(2) Where before the passing of this Act a local authority undertook work as an agent for the Minister in respect of the site of a former mine, which work was undertaken in accordance with a project similar in nature to a mine rehabilitation plan, then such work shall, for the purposes of subsection (1) , be deemed to be work under a mine rehabilitation plan.
25.— F6 [ … ]
( a) prepare a mine rehabilitation plan;
( b) revise a mine rehabilitation plan; or
( c) carry out a mine rehabilitation plan,
26.— F7 [ … ]
( a) at all reasonable times a right of entry and a right of way to the site of the former mine, subject to—
( b) all such powers as may be necessary or expedient for or incidental to its functions in relation to a mine rehabilitation plan.
( a) before the passing of this Act a project, similar in nature to a mine rehabilitation plan, was commenced in respect of the site of a former mine by a local authority, whether acting as agent for the Minister or otherwise, and
( b) the project continues to be implemented or, having been implemented, the site or any part of it requires monitoring for the purposes set out in section 24 (1) (a) ,
(3) ( a) The functions of the Minister or a local authority under this section may be exercised by one or more persons on behalf of the Minister or the local authority.
( b) The owner or occupier of land to which subsection (1) relates may request evidence of identity in respect of a person exercising functions pursuant to paragraph (a) .
( c) For the purposes of paragraph (b) , evidence of identity may be proved in one of the following ways:
(I) where a notice to which subsection (1) (a) (i) relates is given in writing and identifies the person given the power of entry, sufficient evidence to identify that person or that the person to whom the evidence relates is an officer or employee (however expressed), or is acting as an agent, of the person given the power of entry, or
27.— F8 [ … ]
( a) purchase by agreement such lands, or rights in, under or over such lands or any substratum of such lands, as the Minister considers necessary or expedient for the purposes of that plan;
( b) by order acquire compulsorily lands, or rights in, under or over lands or any substratum of lands, that are specified in an order made under subsection (2) .
(2) ( a) If for the purposes of any mine rehabilitation plan the Minister thinks it necessary or expedient to acquire compulsorily any land, or rights in, under or over land or any substratum of land, then the Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, by order declare his or her intention to so acquire such land or rights. Every such order shall operate to confer on the Minister power to acquire compulsorily in accordance with this section the land or rights concerned.
( b) Before making an order under this subsection, the Minister shall—
(3) ( a) Where, immediately before an order is made by the Minister under this section, any person has any estate, right, easement, title or other interest in, over or in respect of the land acquired by the order, the person may apply to the Minister at any time after the making of the order for compensation in respect of that interest and the Minister shall, subject to subsection (4) , thereupon pay to the person by way of compensation an amount equal to the value (if any), on the date of the order, of that interest together with interest at such rate as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may determine from time to time, on the amount from that date to the date of payment thereof.
( b) The compensation to be paid under this paragraph in respect of any estate, right, easement, title or interest of any kind in, over or in respect of land shall, in default of agreement, be determined by arbitration under and in accordance with the Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Act 1919.
(4) ( a) The Minister may by regulations, in such cases (if any) and to such extent as he or she considers necessary for the purposes of compulsory acquisition under this section, apply all or any of the provisions of sections 69 to 83 of the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act 1845 as if─
( b) Where money is paid into court under section 69 of the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act 1845, as applied by the Minister under this subsection, no costs shall be payable by the Minister to any person in respect of any proceedings for the investment, payment of income or payment of capital of such money.
( a) the Minister shall appoint a fit and proper person to hold the inquiry;
( b) such person is hereby authorised to administer oaths to persons appearing as witnesses at the inquiry; and
( c) any person with an interest in or affected by the subject matter of the inquiry shall be entitled to appear personally or by counsel or solicitor and to adduce evidence.
28.— F9 [ … ]
Power pursuant to subs. (4) exercised (9.05.2013) by Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (section 28(4)) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 155 of 2013).
Prospective affecting provision: section repealed by Minerals Development Act 2017 (23/2017), s.238(3)(c), not commenced as of date of revision, subject to transitional provision in s. 236.
29.— F10 [ … ]
Scope of Part 9 .
30.— F11 [ … ]
( a) in the case of combined cycle gas turbine with heat recovery or in the case of steam condensing extraction turbine with an annual overall efficiency of 80 per cent or greater, the total annual electricity production of the unit measured at the outlet of the main generators shall be considered to be electricity produced from combined heat and power;
( b) in the case of any other technology or technologies which satisfy the definition of combined heat and power and which have an annual overall efficiency of 75 per cent or greater, the total annual electricity production of the unit measured at the outlet of the main generators shall be considered to be electricity produced from combined heat and power; and
( c) in the case of combined heat and power units with an annual overall efficiency below the values referred to in subparagraphs ( a) and ( b), the electricity produced from combined heat and power is calculated as follows:
( a) the expected or actual operation of the unit under normal conditions of use, or
( b) in the case of micro-combined heat and power units, certified values.
( a) the comparison with separate electricity production shall be based on the principle that the same fuel categories are compared and the comparison is with the best available and economically justifiable technology for separate production of heat and electricity on the market in the year of construction of the power unit concerned;
( b) the efficiency reference values for units older than 10 years of age shall be fixed on the reference values of units of 10 years of age;
( c) the efficiency reference values for separate electricity production and heat production shall, if necessary, be calibrated to reflect Irish climatic conditions.”.