Defence Forces (Temporary Provisions) (No. 2) Act, 1940

Precedence of military traffic on transport undertakings during a period of emergency.

10.—(1) During a period of emergency the Minister may, from time to time by order addressed to the owners of a transport undertaking, require that such traffic for the Defence Forces as may be specified in such order shall be received and forwarded by such transport undertaking in priority to any other traffic, and the owners of such transport undertaking shall comply with such order and for that purpose shall, so far as may be necessary, suspend the receiving and forwarding of all other traffic by such transport undertaking.

(2) If the owner of, or any person employed by, a transport undertaking refuses, neglects or fails to comply with the requirement of any order under this section, he 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.

(3) The Minister may take such means as he considers necessary (including the use of force) for securing that any order under this section is carried into effect.

(4) An order under this section shall not be in force for more than one month after the date thereof, but may be renewed.

(5) There shall be paid by the Minister, out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas, to the owner of any transport undertaking, required to receive and forward traffic under this section, by way of compensation such remuneration as may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, be agreed upon or as, in default of agreement, may be determined in accordance with provisions to be made by statute.