Diseases of Animals (Amendment) Act, 2001

Forfeiture.

7.—(1) On a conviction on indictment under the Principal Act or section 4 of this Act the court may order the forfeiture to the Minister of any land, premises, vehicle, vessel, aircraft or container involved in the commission of the offence.

(2) A court shall not order anything to be forfeited under this section if a person claiming to be the owner of it or otherwise interested in it applies to be heard by the court, unless the opportunity has been given to him or her to show cause why the order should not be made.

(3) An order under this section shall not take effect until the ordinary time for instituting an appeal against the conviction or order concerned has expired or, where such an appeal is instituted, until it or any further appeal is finally decided or abandoned or the ordinary time for instituting any further appeal has expired.

(4) Anything ordered to be forfeited to the Minister under this section shall be disposed of as the Minister sees fit and any moneys arising from such disposal shall be paid into or disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer in such manner as the Minister for Finance may direct.