Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959

Power to dissolve boards of conservators.

51.—(1) If and whenever—

(a) the Minister is satisfied after holding under this Act an inquiry into the performance of its duties by a board of conservators that the duties of such board are not being duly and effectually discharged by such board, or

(b) a board of conservators wilfully neglects to comply with any lawful order, direction, or regulation of the Minister, or fails to comply with any judgment, order or decree of any court,

the Minister may by order dissolve such board of conservators and either order (under the power hereinafter conferred on him) a new election of members of such board or transfer the funds, books and other property and the several powers, duties and liabilities of such board to any body or person he shall think fit.

(2) Whenever the Minister makes an order under this section dissolving a board of conservators he may appoint such and so many persons as he shall think fit to perform the duties of such board of conservators and may from time to time remove all or any such persons and appoint others in their place, and may fix the tenure of office, duties and remuneration of and the security (if any) to be given by all such persons.

(3) The remuneration of all persons appointed under subsection (2) of this section to perform the duties of a board of conservators shall be paid out of the revenue of such board of conservators as part of the expenses of performing its duties.

(4) Where a person serving in the Civil Service is appointed under subsection (2) of this section to perform the duties of a board of conservators, there shall be recouped from the revenue of such board of conservators to the Exchequer in such manner as the Minister for Finance may direct, the salary of such person and also such charges in respect of superannuation and other allowances and gratuities payable under the Superannuation Acts for the time being in force to or in respect of such person as the said Minister shall determine to be proper.

(5) At any time after a board of conservators has been dissolved under this section the Minister may, if and when he so thinks fit, by order cause a new election of members of such board to be held, and upon the completion of such new election all the property, powers, and duties of the dissolved board of conservators shall vest in the body so elected, notwithstanding that the same may have been transferred by the Minister under this section to any other body or person.

(6) Whether or not a new election of members of a board of conservators has been held in pursuance of an order made under subsection (5) of this section, the next subsequent election of members of such board of conservators shall be held on the next occasion on which an election of such members would have been required by law to be held if such board had not been dissolved, and thereupon all the property, powers and duties of the dissolved board of conservators shall vest in the body so elected.

(7) The Minister may from time to time by order do all such things and make all such regulations as in his opinion shall be necessary for giving full effect to any order made by him under this section.