Agriculture Act, 1931
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Transfer of powers and duties to the Minister for Agriculture. |
4.—(1) The several powers and duties (in this Act collectively referred to as the powers and duties transferred to the Minister) hereinafter mentioned are hereby transferred to and conferred and imposed on the Minister, that is to say:— | |
(a) the several powers and duties under the respective enactments mentioned in the First Schedule to this Act which, immediately before the commencement of this Act, were exercised or performed or capable of being exercised or performed by the Department, and | ||
(b) the powers and duties in connection with the Albert Agricultural College (otherwise known as the Albert Agricultural and Dairy Training Department and formerly known as the Albert Institution) at Glasnevin, Dublin, and the Munster Institute (otherwise known as the Munster Dairy School and Agricultural Institute and formerly known as the Munster Institution) which were transferred to the Department under paragraph (h) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Act of 1899 and all other (if any) powers and duties exercised or performed or capable of being exercised or performed by the Department in connection with the said College or the said Institute immediately before the commencement of this Act, and | ||
(c) all other (if any) statutory powers and duties (except powers and duties transferred by this Act to the Minister for Industry and Commerce) which immediately before the commencement of this Act were exercised or performed or were capable of being exercised or performed by the Department. | ||
(2) In addition to the powers and duties hereinbefore transferred to the Minister, the Minister shall have and may exercise and perform the following powers and duties heretofore vested in the Department under the Act of 1899, that is to say:— | ||
(a) the Minister may make, or cause to be made, or aid in making, such inquiries, experiments, and research, and collect, or aid in collecting, such information as he may think important for the purposes of agriculture and other rural industries; and | ||
(b) the Minister may take such steps as he thinks proper for appearing as complainant on behalf of any person aggrieved in reference to any matter (other than a matter affecting the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs) which the Railway Tribunal has jurisdiction to hear and determine by virtue of any function, jurisdiction, power, or duty transferred to it from the Railway and Canal Commissioners; and | ||
(c) the Minister may take such steps as he thinks proper for instituting prosecutions under sections 6, 7 and 8 of the Fertilizers and Feeding Stuffs Act, 1906. | ||
(3) In addition to the powers conferred on the Minister by paragraph (b) of the foregoing sub-section and without prejudice to the exercise of such powers, the Minister shall have the right of audience either by an officer of the Minister or by counsel or solicitor, before the Railway Tribunal in relation to any matter which the Railway Tribunal has jurisdiction to hear and determine by virtue of the Railways Act, 1924 (No. 29 of 1924). | ||
(4) The Minister shall before exercising the powers conferred on him by paragraph (b) of sub-section (2) of this section or the right conferred on him by sub-section (3) of this section consult with the Minister for Industry and Commerce in regard to the exercise of such powers or right. | ||
(5) The Minister may publish in such manner as shall appear to him desirable such particulars as he shall think fit in regard to any inquiries, experiments, research, and information made or collected by or for him or with his aid under or by virtue of the powers in that behalf hereinbefore conferred on him. |