Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993

Return of documents on demand.

[1981, s. 293(1); 1986, s. 17; 1993, s. 39(3)]

229.—(1) Every person who, by virtue of an alienation or purported alienation declared by this Chapter to be void, has in his possession a document to which this Chapter applies shall, in the case of any such document issued in respect of any benefit, on demand by a social welfare inspector forthwith deliver such document to such inspector or, where no such demand is made by a social welfare inspector, on demand by the owner of such document or his duly authorised agent, forthwith deliver such document to such owner or agent.

[1981, s. 293(2); 1993, s. 28(5)]

(2) Every person who, on a demand being made on him under this section, fails to deliver in accordance with this section a document which he is required by this section so to deliver shall be guilty of an offence.

[1981, s. 293(3); 1993, s. 39(3)]

(3) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this section the court by which he is so convicted may, where the circumstances so require, make such order as the court shall think proper for securing the delivery of the document in respect of which the offence was committed to the owner thereof or, where appropriate, to a social welfare inspector.