Minerals Development Act, 1940

Expenses of the Board in relation to inquiries.

54.—(1) Where the Minister refers to the Board an application for an unworked minerals licence, an ancillary rights licence, or a preservation of support order, the Minister, if he so thinks proper, may and if the Minister for Finance so directs, shall, by order made at the time of such reference or at any time thereafter, require the applicant to pay to the Minister the expenses incurred or to be incurred by the Board in or about the consideration of such application.

(2) Where the Minister makes or has made an order under the foregoing sub-section of this section, he shall, after consultation with the Minister for Finance, by the same or a subsequent order certify the amount of the expenses payable under the said order made under the foregoing sub-section, and, where the Minister so certifies the amount of such expenses, such certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the amount of such expenses.

(3) All expenses payable by any person under an order made by the Minister under this section shall be recoverable by the Minister from such person as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction and when paid to or recovered by the Minister shall be paid into or disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer by the Minister in such manner as the Minister for Finance shall direct.