Control of Prices Act, 1937

Price (restriction on profits) orders.

30.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Minister may, whenever and so often as he thinks fit, make, in respect of a commodity, an order (in this Act referred to as a price (restriction on profits) order) prohibiting the sale, or offering for sale, of a particular kind (defined in such manner and by reference to such things as the Minister thinks proper) of such commodity when sold or offered for sale in a specified area under a particular set of conditions (defined, but not so as to include a sale or an offer of sale by a person who is a manufacturer thereof, in such manner and by reference to such things as the Minister thinks proper) at a price in excess of the sum of money which is equivalent to the price which the seller or intending seller has paid therefor with the addition of a specified percentage of such price, and such order may specify different such percentages in relation to different such sets of conditions.

(2) The following provisions shall apply in respect of every price (restriction on profits) order made in relation to a commodity, that is to say:—

(a) such order may relate to more than one kind of such commodity, and in that case may contain different provisions in relation to each such kind of such commodity;

(b) the area to which such order is to apply may be either the whole of Saorstát Eireann or any part thereof;

(c) such order shall be published in the Iris Oifigiúil as soon as may be after it is made;

(d) such order shall specify the date on which it is to come into force, and such date shall not be earlier than the date of publication thereof in the Iris Oifigiúil;

(e) the Minister may by order under this paragraph revoke or amend such price (restriction on profits) order, and the provisions of paragraphs (c) and (d) of this sub-section shall apply to every order made under this paragraph.

(3) If, whenever and so long as a price (restriction on profits) order is in force, any person acts in contravention of such order, such person shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds.