Fuels (Control of Supplies) Act, 1982

Declaration by Government regarding control of acquisition, supply, distribution or marketing of fuels.

6.—(1) The following section is hereby substituted for section 2 of the Principal Act:

“2.—(1) Whenever and so often as the Government are of the opinion that the exigencies of the common good necessitate the regulation or control by the Minister on behalf of the State of the acquisition, supply, distribution or marketing of fuels, the Government may by order so declare.

(2) An order under subsection (1) of this section may relate to one or more than one type of fuel.

(3) An order under subsection (1) of this section shall remain in force for such period (not exceeding twelve months from the making thereof) as the Government think proper and specify in the order, and shall then expire unless continued in force by an order made under subsection (4) of this section.

(4) Where—

(a) there is for the time being in force an order (in this subsection referred to as the principal order) under subsection (1) of this section declaring that the Government are of the opinion that the exigencies of the common good necessitate the regulation or control by the Minister on behalf of the State of the acquisition, supply, distribution or marketing of fuels, and

(b) the Government are of the opinion that the exigencies of the common good still necessitate the regulation or control by the Minister on behalf of the State of the acquisition, supply, distribution or marketing of the type or types of fuel to which the principal order relates—

the following provisions shall have effect—

(i) the Government may by order (in this subsection referred to as a continuance order), made before the expiration of the principal order, continue the principal order in force for such period (not exceeding twelve months from the date on which the principal order would but for the continuance order expire) as the Government think proper and specify in the continuance order, and may thereafter from time to time by order (in this subsection also referred to as a continuance order), made before the expiration of the principal order under the last previous continuance order, continue the principal order in force for such period (not exceeding twelve months from the date on which the principal order would have expired under the last previous continuance order) as the Government think proper and specify in the continuance order,

(ii) if only one continuance order is made, the principal order shall continue in force until the expiration of the period for which it is continued in force by that continuance order, and shall then expire,

(iii) if two or more continuance orders are made, the principal order shall continue in force until the expiration of the period for which it is continued in force by the last of those continuance orders, and shall then expire.

(5) Every order made under this section shall, as soon as may be after it is made, be published in Iris Oifigiúil.”.

(2) Notwithstanding anything in this section, an order made under section 2 of the Principal Act and in force at the passing of this Act shall remain in force as if it had been made under the said section 2 (as amended by this Act); provided that any such order shall expire on the date on which it would have expired but for this Act.