Control of Prices Act, 1937

PART III.

Price Investigations and Orders.

Investigations into prices of commodities.

23.—(1) The Minister may, whenever and so often as he thinks fit, request the Commission to enquire into the prices charged for a commodity.

(2) The Commission may, whenever and so often as they think fit, but subject to their giving previous notice of their intention to the Minister, resolve to inquire into the prices charged for a commodity.

(3) Where the Minister requests the Commission to inquire into the prices charged for a commodity or the Commission resolve to inquire into the prices charged for a commodity, the Commission shall hold an investigation (in this Act referred to as a price investigation) into the prices charged for such kind or kinds (defined in such manner and by reference to such things as the Commission think proper) of the said commodity as the Commission determine when sold, under such set or sets of conditions (defined in such manner and by reference to such things as the Commission think proper) as the Commission determine in such area or areas as the Commission determine

(4) In defining or determining under the immediately preceding sub-section any matter or thing for the purposes of a price investigation, the Commission shall comply with any directions as regards the nature and scope of such investigation given by the Minister, whether before or during such investigation.

(5) The Commission may, in the course of a price investigation into the prices charged for any kind of a commodity, extend such price investigation to any other commodity, the whole or any part of which is, in the opinion of the Commission, the principal or only constituent of such first-mentioned commodity.

(6) Where, in the course of an investigation into the prices charged for any kind of a commodity, it appears to the Commission that the prices, received by producers in Saorstát Eireann for any other commodity (being an agricultural product or raw material) the whole or any part of which is, in the opinion of the Commission, the principal or only constituent of such first-mentioned commodity are, having regard to the cost of production of such other commodity, unduly low, the Commission may make a special report to the Minister in relation to the matter and make therein such recommendations as they think fit.

(7) The Minister may, during a price investigation, request the Commission not to proceed further with such investigation, and the Commission shall comply with any such request.