PART II

Dublin Docklands Development Authority

14. —(1) There shall be established, on such day as the Minister by order appoints, a body to be known as Údarás Forbartha Dugthailte Bhaile Átha Cliath or, in the English language, the Dublin Docklands Development Authority to perform the functions assigned to it by or under this Act.

(2) (a) The Authority shall consist of a Chairperson appointed in accordance with section 15 , a Council appointed in accordance with section 16 and an Executive Board appointed in accordance with section 17 .

(b) Subject to section 16 (3)(b)(ii), no person, apart from the Chairperson, shall be entitled to be a member of both the Council and the Executive Board at the same time.

(3) The Authority shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a seal and power to sue and be sued in its corporate name and to acquire, hold and dispose of land.

(4) (a) The Authority shall, as soon as may be after its establishment, provide itself with a seal, which shall be authenticated by the signature of the Chairperson of the Authority or of another person authorised by the Authority to act in that behalf.

(b) All courts shall take judicial notice of the seal of the Authority and every instrument purporting to be an instrument made by the Authority and to be sealed with its seal (purporting to be authenticated in accordance with paragraph (a)) shall be received in evidence and be deemed to be such instrument without further proof, until the contrary is shown.

(5) The Registration of Business Names Act, 1963, shall apply to the Authority and the Council of the Authority may, with the consent of the Minister, carry on business under a name other than the name conferred on it by this Act and shall register that other name under that Act accordingly.

15. —(1) The Minister shall appoint a person to be the Chairperson of the Authority.

(2) The term of office of the Chairperson shall be five years, provided that an outgoing Chairperson may be re-appointed by the Minister for a second or subsequent term of office of five years, or any lesser period.

(3) (a) The Chairperson shall be paid, out of moneys at the disposal of the Authority, such remuneration (if any) and allowances for expenses as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may determine.

(b) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Chairperson shall hold office on such terms and conditions (including terms and conditions relating to remuneration, superannuation and allowances for expenses) as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may determine.

(4) (a) The Chairperson may resign from office by letter addressed to the Minister and the resignation shall take effect from the date of the receipt of the letter by the Minister.

(b) The Minister may remove from office the Chairperson if, in the opinion of the Minister, the Chairperson has become incapable through ill-health of effectively performing the duties of the office, or for stated misbehaviour, or if the removal appears to the Minister to be necessary or desirable for the effective performance by the Authority of its functions and, in case the Chairperson is removed from office under this paragraph, the Minister shall cause to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas a statement in writing of the reasons for the removal.

16. —(1) There shall be a Council to perform the functions assigned to it by or under this Act.

(2) The Council shall consist of the Chairperson and twenty-five ordinary members.

(3) (a) The Chairperson shall chair the meetings of the Council.

(b) (i) In the event of the Chairperson being unable to attend a meeting of the Council, the ordinary members who are present shall choose one of their number to chair the meeting.

(ii) In the event of the office of Chairperson being vacant, the Minister shall designate one of the ordinary directors of the Executive Board to be a member of the Council and to chair its meetings until a Chairperson is appointed.

(4) Subject to subsection (3)(b)(ii), the ordinary directors of the Executive Board shall be entitled to attend and be heard at meetings of the Council but shall not be eligible to vote.

(5) The Minister may prescribe for the purposes of subsection (6)—

(a) organisations which, in the opinion of the Minister, are concerned with, or are representative of persons engaged in, the promotion or carrying out of social, economic or other development (including employment, education, training and the development of land) in the Dublin Docklands Area,

(b) organisations which, in the opinion of the Minister, are concerned with community development in the Dublin Docklands Area or with the promotion of the social, economic or general interests of communities in that Area,

(c) organisations which, in the opinion of the Minister, are representative of persons whose professions or occupations relate to town planning, urban design, architecture, conservation of the architectural heritage or civil engineering.

(6) The ordinary members of the Council shall be appointed by the Minister as follows—

(a) (i) one member shall be so appointed from among the officers of the Minister who are established civil servants for the purposes of the Civil Service Regulation Act, 1956 ,

(ii) one member shall be so appointed from among the officers of the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht who are established civil servants for the purposes of the Civil Service Regulation Act, 1956 ,

(b) one nominee of each of the following, namely—

(i) Coras Iompair Éireann,

(ii) Bord Gáis Éireann, and

(iii) the Electricity Supply Board,

shall be so appointed,

(c) the Dublin City Manager or an officer of Dublin Corporation nominated by the Manager shall be so appointed,

(d) five members of Dublin City Council, nominated by that Council, being members elected to that Council from electoral areas which are included in, or any part of which is included in, the Dublin Docklands Area, shall be so appointed,

(e) the Chief Executive of Dublin Port Company or an officer of that company nominated by the Chief Executive shall be so appointed,

(f) the Director of the Dublin Transportation Office or an officer of that Office nominated by the Director shall be so appointed,

(g) not less than two members shall be so appointed from among persons selected by the organisations which for the time being stand prescribed under each paragraph of subsection (5), subject to eight persons being appointed in all,

(h) four other persons, who, in the opinion of the Minister, have wide experience in relation to industrial, commercial, financial, employment, environmental or transport matters, local government, community development, training, education, administration or urban economics shall be appointed by the Minister.

(7) Each organisation prescribed under a particular paragraph of subsection (5) shall, whenever so requested by the Minister, select such number (not being less than two) of candidates as the Minister may specify for appointment and shall inform the Minister, within such period as the Minister shall specify when making the request, of the names of the candidates selected and of the reasons why, in the opinion of the organisation, they are suitable for such appointment.

(8) (a) In making nominations to the Minister for the purposes of subsection (6)(d) or in selecting candidates for appointment by the Minister pursuant to subsection (7), the Dublin City Council or the organisations prescribed under a particular paragraph of subsection (5), as the case may be, shall make such nominations or selections subject to such directives as may be issued by the Minister from time to time, including directives relating to an appropriate gender balance.

(b) In considering persons for appointment under subsection (6)(h), the Minister shall have regard to any directives referred to in paragraph (a).

(9) Subject to subsection (11), in the case of an appointment pursuant to subsection (6)(g) the Minister shall not appoint a person to be an ordinary member of the Council unless the person was among those selected pursuant to a request under subsection (7) in relation to that appointment.

(10) Notwithstanding subsection (7) or (9)—

(a) if the appropriate organisations prescribed under a particular paragraph of subsection (5) refuse or fail to select any candidate pursuant to a particular request under subsection (7), or

(b) if the Minister decides not to appoint as an ordinary member of the Council any of the candidates selected by such organisations pursuant to the request,

then either—

(i) the Minister shall appoint as an ordinary member of the Council a person who was among those selected by such organisations pursuant to a previous request (if any) under that subsection in relation to that appointment, or

(ii) the Minister shall make a further such request and shall appoint as an ordinary member of the Council a person who was among those selected pursuant to that request or pursuant to another such request made in relation to that appointment.

(11) Where a request is made pursuant to subsection (7), failure or refusal by any or all of the organisations of whom the request is made to select the number of candidates specified in the request shall not preclude the appointment as an ordinary member of the Council of a person who was selected in relation to that appointment either by any of the aforesaid organisations or any other organisation.

(12) (a) Subject to paragraph (b), an ordinary member of the Council shall be appointed for such term (not exceeding five years) as shall be specified by the Minister when appointing that ordinary member and an ordinary member of the Council whose term of office expires by the effluxion of time shall be eligible for re-appointment.

(b) Where an ordinary member of the Council appointed under subsection (6)(d) ceases to be a member of Dublin City Council during the term of office specified by the Minister under paragraph (a) in relation to that ordinary member, the person's appointment under subsection (6)(d) shall be terminated with effect from the date on which the person so ceases to be a member of Dublin City Council.

(13) An ordinary member of the Council shall be paid, out of moneys at the disposal of the Authority, such allowances for expenses as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, determines.

(14) The Minister shall fix the date, time and place of the first meeting of the Council.

(15) The Minister may make regulations as regards any matter which the Minister considers expedient for the purposes of this section.

(16) (a) An ordinary member of the Council may resign from office by letter addressed to the Minister and the resignation shall take effect from the date of the receipt of the letter by the Minister.

(b) The Minister may remove from office an ordinary member of the Council if, in the opinion of the Minister, the ordinary member has become incapable through ill-health of effectively performing the duties of an ordinary member, or for stated misbehaviour, or if the removal appears to the Minister to be necessary or desirable for the effective performance by the Council of its functions and, in case an ordinary member of the Council is removed from office under this paragraph, the Minister shall cause to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas a statement in writing of the reasons for the removal.

17. —(1) There shall be an Executive Board to perform the functions assigned to it by or under this Act.

(2) The Executive Board shall consist of the Chairperson and seven ordinary directors.

(3) The ordinary directors shall be appointed by the Minister.

(4) Subject to the provisions of this section—

(a) an ordinary director shall hold office for such term (not exceeding five years) as shall be specified by the Minister when making the appointment,

(b) an outgoing ordinary director may be re-appointed by the Minister for a second or subsequent term of office of five years, or any lesser period.

(5) An ordinary director shall be paid, out of moneys at the disposal of the Authority, such remuneration (if any) and allowances for expenses as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may determine.

(6) The Minister shall fix the date, time and place of the first meeting of the Executive Board.

(7) (a) An ordinary director may resign from office by letter addressed to the Minister and the resignation shall take effect from the date of the receipt of the letter by the Minister.

(b) An ordinary director may be removed from office by the Minister if, in the opinion of the Minister, the ordinary director has become incapable through ill-health of effectively performing the duties of an ordinary director, or for stated misbehaviour, or if the removal appears to the Minister to be necessary or desirable for the effective performance by the Executive Board of its functions, and in case an ordinary director is removed from office under this paragraph, the Minister shall cause to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas a statement in writing of the reasons for the removal.

18. —(1) (a) It shall be the general duty of the Authority to secure—

(i) the social and economic regeneration of the Dublin Docklands Area, on a sustainable basis,

(ii) improvements in the physical environment of the Dublin Docklands Area, and

(iii) the continued development in the Custom House Docks Area of services of, for, in support of, or ancillary to, the financial sector of the economy.

(b) For the purposes of paragraph (a) and without prejudice to the generality of that paragraph, the Authority shall have the following functions in relation to the Dublin Docklands Area—

(i) to prepare a master plan for the regeneration of that Area in accordance with section 24 , and to promote the implementation of the master plan;

(ii) to prepare, where appropriate, planning schemes in accordance with section 25 ;

(iii) to prepare detailed proposals and plans for the development, redevelopment, renewal or conservation of land in that Area;

(iv) to acquire, hold and manage land in that Area for its development, redevelopment, renewal or conservation either by the Authority or by any other person;

(v) to develop, redevelop, renew or conserve, or secure the development, redevelopment, renewal or conservation of, any land in that Area or otherwise to secure the best use of any such land;

(vi) to dispose of land—

(I) on completion of its development, redevelopment, renewal or conservation under this Act,

(II) to secure its development, redevelopment, renewal or conservation, or

(III) to secure its best use;

(vii) to provide such infrastructure and to carry out such works of amenity development or environmental improvement as, in the opinion of the Authority, may be required to encourage people to work, shop or reside in that Area or otherwise to use the facilities provided in that Area;

(viii) to promote the co-ordination of investment by statutory bodies and of investment by statutory bodies with private investment in that Area;

(ix) to promote the co-ordination of the programmes and other activities of statutory bodies and other persons concerned with the regeneration of that Area and to promote co-operation between such bodies and persons;

(x) to promote, in particular as regards persons residing in that Area, the provision of education and training opportunities, and the development of a wide range of employment in that Area;

(xi) to promote the development of existing and new residential communities in that Area, including the development of a mix of housing for people of different social backgrounds.

(c) Paragraph (b) shall not be construed as prejudicing the generality of section 14 (3) insofar as it applies to the acquisition, holding and disposal of land.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) or to any provision of this Act, apart from this section, the Authority may carry on any activity which appears to it to be requisite, advantageous or incidental to, or which appears to it to facilitate, the performance by it of any of its functions under this Act.

(3) (a) The Authority may make such charges as it considers appropriate in consideration of the performance by it of its functions, the provision by it of services and the carrying on by it of activities.

(b) The Authority may recover, as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction, from the person by whom it is payable any amount due and owing to it under paragraph (a).

(4) (a) In making a draft master plan available under section 24 (4) it shall be a function of the Authority to make the plan available electronically in a form that is compatible with the World Wide Web or like form, and in such other form as the Authority considers appropriate.

(b) Following the laying of accounts under section 43 or reports under section 44 , it shall be a function of the Authority to make such reports and accounts available electronically in a form that is compatible with the World Wide Web or like form, and in such other form as the Authority considers appropriate.

(5) In addition to the functions assigned to it by subsection (1), the Authority shall have such other functions related to securing the regeneration of the Dublin Docklands Area as for the time being stand assigned to it by the Minister by order made after consultation with the appropriate Minister.

(6) The Authority may do all such things as arise out of or are consequential on or are necessary or expedient for the purposes of the functions assigned to it by or under this Act, or for purposes incidental to those purposes.

19. —It shall be the duty of the Chairperson to ensure the efficient discharge of the business of the Authority.

20. —(1) For the purposes of section 18 , the Council shall—

(a) (i) in accordance with section 24 , arrange for the preparation of, and adopt, a master plan for the Dublin Docklands Area, and review and update the plan at least once in every five years,

(ii) monitor the implementation of the plan;

(b) where appropriate, submit to the Minister, in accordance with section 25 , a planning scheme or schemes for the Custom House Docks Area, or any part thereof, and any other area specified for that purpose by order under section 25 (1)(a);

(c) make, from time to time, such recommendations to the Executive Board as it considers appropriate in relation to—

(i) the implementation of the master plan, including recommendations as to priorities for expenditure and priorities for different elements of the work programme of the Authority,

(ii) the general staff requirements of the Authority, but excluding making recommendations concerning decisions in relation to particular posts, individual employees, pay, grading and conditions,

(iii) the promotion generally by the Authority of the Dublin Docklands Area, and the organisation of events or other activities for that purpose,

(iv) arrangements for liaison and co-ordination between the Authority, statutory bodies with an interest in the Dublin Docklands Area and organisations representing the interests of persons living, working or carrying on business in the Area, or any part thereof;

(d) review existing or proposed activities of the statutory bodies and organisations referred to in paragraph (c)(iv) by reference to the master plan and make such recommendations as it considers appropriate to any of those bodies and organisations with a view to ensuring consistency between the activities themselves, and between them and the master plan adopted under section 24 ;

(e) make, from time to time, such recommendations as it considers appropriate to the Minister, or to any other Minister of the Government, in relation to the functions of the Authority and its financing, the assignment to the Authority of additional functions, or any other matter which, in the opinion of the Council, is relevant to the effective performance by the Authority of its functions.

(2) The Council shall be entitled to be informed at each of its meetings about the work of the Executive Board, provided that disclosure of such information shall not be in breach of section 40 .

21. —(1) (a) Subject to section 20 , the Executive Board shall conduct the business of the Authority and perform all of the functions assigned to the Authority by or under this Act.

(b) In addition to the functions referred to in paragraph (a), the Executive Board shall arrange for the provision of such services to the Council as may be required for the effective performance by the Council of the functions assigned to it by or under this Act.

(2) In performing its functions, the Executive Board shall have regard to any recommendations made to it by the Council under section 20 .

22. —(1) The Council shall hold such and so many meetings as may be necessary for the performance of its functions subject to meeting at least four times each year.

(2) The quorum for a meeting of the Council shall be seven or such other number as may from time to time be fixed by the Minister.

(3) The Chairperson and each ordinary member shall have one vote at a meeting of the Council.

(4) Every question at a meeting of the Council shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and, in the event that voting is equally divided, the person chairing the meeting shall have a casting vote.

(5) Subject to subsection (2), the Council may act—

(a) notwithstanding a vacancy among its members, and

(b) notwithstanding that, during the period of two months beginning on the establishment day, all of the ordinary members of the Council may not have been appointed pursuant to section 16 .

(6) Except as otherwise provided by this Act and any regulations made thereunder, the Council shall regulate its own procedure and business.

(7) The Council may perform or exercise any of its functions through or by the Chairperson or any of its ordinary members or any other person or body who, in either case, has been duly authorised by the Council in that behalf.

23. —(1) The Executive Board shall hold such and so many meetings as may be necessary for the performance of its functions.

(2) The quorum for a meeting of the Executive Board shall be three or such other number as may from time to time be fixed by the Minister.

(3) The Chairperson and each ordinary director shall have one vote at a meeting of the Executive Board.

(4) At a meeting of the Executive Board—

(a) the Chairperson shall, if present, chair the meeting,

(b) if and for so long as the Chairperson is not present, or if the office of Chairperson is vacant, the ordinary directors who are present shall choose one of their number to chair the meeting.

(5) Every question at a meeting of the Executive Board shall be determined by a majority of votes of those of the members present and, in the event that voting is equally divided, the person chairing the meeting shall have a casting vote.

(6) Subject to subsection (2), the Executive Board may act notwithstanding a vacancy among its members.

(7) Except as otherwise provided by this Act and any regulations made thereunder, the Executive Board shall regulate its own procedure and business.

(8) The Executive Board may perform or exercise any of its functions through or by the Chairperson or any of its ordinary directors or any other person or body who, in either case, has been duly authorised by the Executive Board in that behalf.

24. —(1) The Authority shall as soon as may be after its establishment prepare a plan (to be known in this Act and referred to as a “master plan”) for the Dublin Docklands Area.

(2) (a) A master plan under this section shall consist of a written statement and a plan indicating the objectives for—

(i) the social and economic regeneration of the Dublin Docklands Area, on a sustainable basis,

(ii) improvements in the physical environment of the Dublin Docklands Area, and

(iii) the continued development in the Custom House Docks Area of services of, for, in support of, or ancillary to, the financial sector of the economy.

(b) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (a), the master plan shall—

(i) set out the economic, social and other issues relevant to the regeneration of the Dublin Docklands Area and proposals to address those issues,

(ii) identify those parts of the Dublin Docklands Area where detailed proposals and plans for the development, redevelopment, renewal or conservation of land in that Area would be appropriate,

(iii) identify those parts of the Dublin Docklands Area where planning schemes under section 25 would be appropriate,

(iv) set out urban design guidelines for the Dublin Docklands Area, or any part thereof, including guidelines relating to urban and building conservation, street furniture and landscaping,

(v) include proposals for appropriate renewal, preservation, conservation, restoration, development or redevelopment of the streetscape, layout and building pattern of the Dublin Docklands Area or any part thereof,

(vi) include proposals for the development of existing and new residential communities in the Dublin Docklands Area, including the development of housing for people of different social backgrounds,

(vii) include proposals for a programme of development or redevelopment of derelict sites or vacant sites in the Dublin Docklands Area,

(viii) include proposals relating to the conservation of the architectural heritage of the Dublin Docklands Area,

(ix) include proposals, consistent with the Dublin Transportation Initiative Strategy (being the integrated transportation strategy recommended in the Final Report of the Dublin Transportation Initiative), or any other strategy approved of by the Government amending or replacing that Strategy, relating to transportation within the Dublin Docklands Area and to that Area and its environs, including proposals in relation to pedestrian ways,

(x) include an estimate of the costs of implementation of the master plan and an indication of the possible funding options, and

(xi) estimate the implications for employment, training and education in the Dublin Docklands Area, and for the employment, training and education of those resident in that Area, of the measures proposed in the master plan.

(3) In preparing the draft of a master plan, the Authority shall—

(a) comply with any general directive that may be given to it under section 45 ,

(b) consult with Dublin Corporation,

(c) make arrangements for consultation with interested persons in relation to the master plan.

(4) Before a master plan is adopted, the Authority shall—

(a) publish in one or more newspapers circulating in the Dublin Docklands Area a notice—

(i) stating that a draft master plan has been prepared and that it will be considered for adoption by the Authority,

(ii) indicating the times at which, the period (which shall be not less than one month) during which and the place where a copy of the draft master plan may be inspected,

(iii) indicating where a copy of the draft master plan may be obtained and specifying the fee (if any) for such copy (which shall be not more than the reasonable cost of making such copy),

(iv) stating that submissions or observations may be made in writing to the Authority in relation to the draft master plan before a specified date (which shall be not less than two weeks after the end of the period for inspection),

(b) consider any submissions or observations made to it under this subsection and not withdrawn and make such amendments or modifications (if any) to the draft master plan as it considers appropriate.

(5) (a) As soon as may be after the adoption by the Authority of a master plan under this section, Dublin Corporation shall consider the making of—

(i) a development plan under section 19(5)(b) of the Act of 1963 for that part of their area included in the Dublin Docklands Area which would be consistent with the master plan, or

(ii) such variations of the development plan for the County Borough of Dublin made under section 19 of the Act of 1963 as may be desirable to secure consistency between that plan and the master plan.

(b) Dublin Corporation and An Bord Pleanála shall, in deciding any application, or in determining any application on appeal, as the case may be, for permission under Part IV of the Act of 1963 in respect of development in the Dublin Docklands Area, consider the relevant provisions of the master plan.

(6) Every act done by or on behalf of the Custom House Docks Development Authority before and in anticipation of the commencement of this section shall have and be deemed always to have had all such (if any) validity and effect as it would have had if this section had been in force when such act was done, and as if the act had been done by, or on behalf of, the Dublin Docklands Development Authority.

25. —(1) (a) The Authority may prepare a scheme (to be known and in this Act referred to as a “planning scheme”) for the Custom House Docks Area, or any part thereof, and any other area specified for that purpose by order of the Minister.

(b) The Authority may at any time prepare a planning scheme amending a planning scheme under this section, including a planning scheme continued in force by virtue of section 9 (1), in respect of—

(i) the entire area to which the planning scheme applies, or any part thereof, or

(ii) the full requirements as to content specified in subsection (2), or any part thereof.

(c) A planning scheme under this section shall not include any development which is of a class for the time being specified under Article 24 of the European Communities (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations, 1989 (S.I. No. 349 of 1989), or under any provision amending or replacing the said Article 24, other than industrial-estate development projects, urban development projects and sea water marinas as specified in classes 10(a), 10(b) and 10(j) of Part II of the First Schedule to those regulations or such development as specified in any provision amending or replacing those classes.

(2) A planning scheme under this section shall consist of a written statement and a plan indicating the manner in which the Authority considers that the area to which the planning scheme applies should be redeveloped and in particular—

(a) the nature and extent of the proposed development,

(b) the proposed distribution and location of uses,

(c) proposals in relation to the overall design of the proposed development, including the maximum heights and the external finishes of structures,

(d) proposals relating to transportation, including the roads layout, the provision of parking places and traffic management, and

(e) proposals relating to the development of amenities and the conservation of the architectural heritage or other features.

(3) In preparing a planning scheme under this section the Authority shall—

(a) comply with any general directive that may be given to it under section 45 ,

(b) have regard to the master plan under section 24 ,

(c) consult with Dublin Corporation and with such statutory bodies as appear to the Authority to have an interest in the area to which the planning scheme relates,

(d) have regard to the development plan made by Dublin Corporation,

(e) make arrangements for the making of submissions by interested persons in relation to the planning scheme and the consideration by the Authority of any such submissions.

(4) A planning scheme under this section shall be submitted by the Authority to the Minister for approval and a copy thereof shall be sent to Dublin Corporation at the same time.

(5) Where a planning scheme under this section is submitted to the Minister by the Authority, the Minister shall consult with the Minister for Finance and shall consider any objections that may within one month of the sending of the copy to Dublin Corporation be made to the planning scheme by the said Corporation and may modify the planning scheme in such manner and to such extent as the Minister thinks proper and may approve the planning scheme or the planning scheme as so modified.

(6) Notice of approval by the Minister of a planning scheme under this section shall be published in the Iris Oifigiúil and in at least one daily newspaper published in the State.

(7) (a) Subject to paragraph (b), each of the following shall be exempted development for the purposes of the Act of 1963—

(i) in an area in respect of which a planning scheme has been prepared and approved under this section, the carrying out by the Authority of any development in the area which is consistent with that planning scheme;

(ii) in an area in respect of which a planning scheme has been prepared and approved under this section, the carrying out of any development in the area by a person other than the Authority which is certified by the Authority to be consistent with that planning scheme; provided that a certificate under this paragraph may contain such conditions in relation to the carrying out of the development as the Authority considers appropriate.

(b) Where a planning scheme prepared and approved under this section is amended under subsection (1)(b), any certificate previously issued under paragraph (a)(ii) in respect of the area which is the subject of the amending planning scheme during the period between the date on which the initial planning scheme was approved and the date on which the amending planning scheme was approved shall, as and from the date on which the amending planning scheme is approved, cease to be valid unless the development to which the certificate relates has been substantially commenced.

26. —(1) (a) Subject to section 25 (1)(c), where development proposed in a planning scheme being prepared pursuant to section 25 is of a class for the time being specified under Article 24 of the European Communities (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations, 1989, or under any provision amending or replacing the said Article 24, or where such a development would be of such a class but for not exceeding a quantity, area or other limit for the time being specified in relation to that class and the Authority consider it likely to have significant effects on the environment, the Authority shall prepare a statement of the likely effects on the environment (hereinafter referred to as an “environmental impact statement”) of that development.

(b) An environmental impact statement prepared pursuant to paragraph (a) shall contain the information for the time being specified under Article 25 of the European Communities (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations, 1989, or under any provision amending or replacing the said Article 25.

(2) The Authority shall, when consulting with Dublin Corporation pursuant to section 25 (3)(c), furnish to the Corporation a copy of any environmental impact statement prepared pursuant to subsection (1)(a).

(3) The Authority shall, in arranging for making of submissions by interested persons pursuant to section 25 (3)(e), make available to such persons, for inspection or for purchase on payment of such fee as may be fixed by the Authority not exceeding the reasonable cost of making the copy, any environmental impact statement, or extracts therefrom, prepared pursuant to subsection (1)(a).

(4) The Authority before submitting a planning scheme to the Minister pursuant to section 25 (4) shall have regard to any environmental impact statement prepared pursuant to subsection (1)(a) and to the views of Dublin Corporation and interested persons in relation to the effects on the environment of the proposed development in respect of which the environmental impact statement was prepared.

(5) The Authority shall, when submitting a planning scheme for approval of the Minister pursuant to section 25 (4), furnish to the Minister a copy of any environmental impact statement prepared pursuant to subsection (1)(a) in respect of development proposed in the scheme and the views, if any, of Dublin Corporation and interested persons in relation to the effects on the environment of the development concerned.

(6) Before modifying or approving a planning scheme under section 25 (5) the Minister shall have regard to any environmental impact statement prepared by the Authority pursuant to subsection 1(a) and to the views, if any, of Dublin Corporation and interested persons in relation to the effects on the environment of the development concerned.

27. —(1) The Authority may be authorised to acquire compulsorily land situated in the Dublin Docklands Area (other than land to which section 28 applies) for the purpose of performing any of the functions assigned to it by or under this Act by means of a compulsory purchase order made by the Authority and submitted to and confirmed by the Minister in accordance with section 76 of the Housing Act, 1966 , and the Third Schedule thereto.

(2) The provisions of the Housing Act, 1966 , shall apply in relation to the compulsory acquisition of land under subsection (1) as if it were an acquisition under Part V of that Act and for that purpose a reference to a housing authority shall be construed as a reference to the Authority.

(3) The Minister may by order make such provision as appears to the Minister to be necessary to enable this section, or an order made under this section, to have full effect.

28. —(1) (a) Subject to paragraph (b), the Minister may, after consultation with the statutory body concerned and with the consent of the appropriate Minister and the Minister for Finance, by order transfer from a statutory body to the Authority land situated in the Dublin Docklands Area together with all rights, powers and privileges relating to or connected with such land.

(b) The Minister shall not make an order under this section unless the Minister is satisfied that use of the land to which the order, if made, will relate is not necessary for the performance of the functions of the statutory body concerned.

(2) Where an order is made under this section there shall be payable to the statutory body by the Authority consideration in respect of the transfer and such consideration shall be such as may be agreed between the statutory body and the Authority or, in default of such agreement, such amount as shall be determined by arbitration in the like manner in all respects as a claim for compensation in relation to the compulsory acquisition of land under section 27 .

(3) An order under this section shall come into operation on such day or days as may be specified in the order and different days may be so specified in relation to different parts of the land to which the order relates.

(4) An order under this section may contain such incidental, consequential, transitional or supplementary provisions as may appear to the Minister to be necessary or proper for the purpose of, or in consequence of, or to give full effect to, a transfer of land effected by the order, including provisions for the application, modification, adaptation or other amendment of any enactment.

(5) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (4), an order under this section may provide that the land to which the order relates shall, on the coming into operation of the order, cease to be within both the limits of the Harbour of Dublin and the limits of the Port of Dublin within the meaning of section 2 of the Dublin Port and Docks Act, 1869, or of the Harbours Act, 1996, as the case may be.

(6) Where an order under this section is made, land to which the order relates shall, on the date specified in the order in relation to that land and without any further conveyance or assignment, become and be vested in the Authority for all the estate and interest of the statutory body.

(7) No action, proceedings, claim or demand of any kind or description shall lie against a statutory body by reason only of the agreement by it to accept, or acceptance by it of, a consideration payable under this section.

(8) A provision in any enactment apart from this Act shall neither be construed as affecting or preventing, nor shall it operate to affect or prevent, a transfer of land effected by an order made under this section.

(9) Section 12 of the Finance Act, 1895, shall not apply to any transfer of land by virtue of an order under this section.

29. —The Minister may, subject to such conditions as the Minister sees fit, in each financial year, after consultation with the Authority in relation to its programme of capital and current expenditure for the year, make grants of such amounts as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas towards the capital and current expenditure of the Authority.

30. —(1) Subject to the approval of the Minister, given with the consent of the Minister for Finance, the Authority may borrow money (including money in a currency other than the currency of the State) for the purpose of providing for current or capital purposes.

(2) Any moneys borrowed by the Authority pursuant to this section and any interest accruing thereon may be secured on the revenue, funds or property of the Authority or may be guaranteed by the Minister for Finance under section 31 .

(3) The Authority shall exercise the powers conferred on it by this section so that the amount or amounts of principal which the Authority may at any particular time be liable to repay on foot of any liability or liabilities incurred under this section does not, or do not in their aggregate, exceed £50,000,000.

(4) For the purposes of this section moneys borrowed or raised in a currency other than the currency of the State shall be deemed to be the equivalent in the currency of the State of the actual moneys borrowed or raised, such equivalent being calculated according to the rate of exchange for that currency and the currency of the State at the time such moneys were borrowed or raised, as the case may be.

31. —(1) Without prejudice to section 6 of the Borrowing Powers of Certain Bodies Act, 1996, the Minister for Finance, after consultation with the Minister, may guarantee, in such form and manner and in such money (including money in a currency other than the currency of the State) and on such terms and conditions as the Minister for Finance thinks fit, the due repayment by the Authority of the principal of any moneys borrowed by the Authority or the payment of the interest on such moneys, or both the repayment of such principal and the payment of such interest, and any such guarantee may include a guarantee of the payment by the Authority of commission and incidental expenses arising in connection with such borrowing.

(2) The Minister for Finance shall, as soon as may be after the expiration of every financial year, lay before each House of the Oireachtas a statement setting out with respect to each guarantee under this section given during that year or given at anytime before, and in force at, the commencement of that year—

(a) particulars of the guarantee,

(b) in case any payment has been made by the Minister for Finance under the guarantee before the end of that year, the amount of the payment and the amount (if any) repaid to that Minister on foot of the payment, and

(c) the amount of moneys covered by the guarantee which was outstanding at the end of that year.

(3) Moneys paid by the Minister for Finance under a guarantee under this section shall be repaid to the Minister for Finance (with interest thereon at such rate or rates as that Minister appoints) by the Authority within such period from the date of the advance of the moneys out of the Central Fund as may be specified by that Minister after consultation with the Authority.

(4) Where the whole or any part of moneys required by subsection (3) to be repaid to the Minister for Finance has not been paid in accordance with that subsection, the amount so remaining outstanding shall be repaid, at such times as the Minister for Finance shall determine, to the Central Fund out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.

(5) Notwithstanding the provision of moneys under subsection (4) to repay the amount to the Central Fund, the Authority shall remain liable to the Minister for Finance in respect of that amount, and that amount (with interest thereon at such rate or rates as the Minister for Finance appoints) shall be repaid to that Minister by the Authority at such times and in such instalments as that Minister appoints.

(6) Moneys paid by the Authority under subsection (3) or (5) shall be paid into or disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer in such manner as the Minister for Finance thinks fit.

(7) In relation to guarantees given by the Minister for Finance under this section in money in a currency other than the currency of the State—

(a) each of the references to principal or interest and the reference to commission and incidental expenses in subsection (1) shall be taken as referring to the equivalent in the currency of the State of the actual amount of such principal, interest, or commission and incidental expenses, as the case may be, such equivalent being calculated according to the cost in the currency of the State of such amount at the time the calculation is made,

(b) the reference to moneys in subsection (2) shall be taken as referring to the equivalent in the currency of the State of the actual moneys, such equivalent being calculated according to the rate of exchange for that currency and the currency of the State at the time the calculation is made, and

(c) each of the references to moneys in subsections (3) to (5) shall be taken as referring to the cost in the currency of the State of the actual moneys.

32. —All moneys from time to time required by the Minister for Finance to meet sums which may become payable by that Minister under section 31 shall be advanced out of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof.

33. —(1) For the purpose of enabling the Authority to perform its functions, the Minister for Finance may, on the recommendation of the Minister, advance from time to time to the Authority out of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof such sums as the Authority may from time to time request.

(2) Advances under this section shall be made on such terms as to repayment, interest and other matters as may be determined by the Minister for Finance.

(3) The aggregate at any one time of sums advanced under this section and which have not been repaid shall not exceed £25,000,000.

(4) All sums paid by the Authority in repayment of an advance under this section or in pursuance of any term or condition subject to which such an advance was made, shall be paid into or disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer.

(5) The Minister for Finance may, for the purpose of providing for advances out of the Central Fund under this section, borrow on the security of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof any sums required for the purpose and, for the purpose of such borrowing, the Minister for Finance may create and issue securities bearing interest at such rate and subject to such conditions as to repayment, redemption or any other matter as that Minister thinks fit, and shall pay all moneys so borrowed into the Exchequer.

(6) The principal of and interest on all securities issued under this section and the expenses incurred in connection with the issue of the securities shall be charged on and payable out of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof.

34. —(1) Subject to section 55 , the Authority shall appoint such and so many persons to be employees of the Authority as it, subject to the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Finance as to number and classes of such employees, from time to time thinks proper.

(2) (a) An employee of the Authority shall be paid by the Authority, out of moneys at the disposal of the Authority, such remuneration and allowances for expenses as the Authority, with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Finance, may determine.

(b) An employee of the Authority referred to in paragraph (a) shall be employed on such other terms and conditions as the Authority, with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Finance, may determine.

35. —(1) Subject to the approval of the Minister, given with the consent of the Minister for Finance, the Authority may make such provision as it considers appropriate in relation to the superannuation of persons appointed under section 34 to, or accepted under section 55 into, the employment of the Authority.

(2) (a) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Authority may, with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Finance, make a scheme or schemes for the granting of superannuation benefits to or in respect of persons referred to in subsection (1).

(b) A scheme under this subsection shall fix the conditions of membership for all persons to or in respect of whom superannuation benefits are payable under the scheme and different conditions may be fixed in respect of different classes of persons.

(c) The Authority may, with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Finance, make a scheme amending or revoking a scheme under this subsection, including a scheme under this paragraph.

(d) If any dispute arises as to the claim of any person to, or the amount of any superannuation benefit payable in pursuance of a scheme or schemes under this subsection such dispute shall be submitted to the Minister who shall refer it to the Minister for Finance, whose decision shall be final.

(e) A scheme under this subsection shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the scheme is passed by either such House within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the scheme is laid before it, the scheme shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.

(3) No superannuation benefits shall be granted by the Authority on the resignation, retirement or death of a person referred to in subsection (1) otherwise than in accordance with provisions in relation to superannuation made under this section.

(4) Provisions in relation to superannuation made under this section shall, as respects a person accepted into employment of the Authority under section 55 , provide for the granting to or in respect of the person of superannuation benefits upon and subject to terms and conditions that are not less favourable to the person than the terms and conditions which applied to the person immediately before the day on which the person was so accepted into the employment of the Authority in relation to the grant of such benefits.

(5) Where, during the period between the establishment of the Authority and the coming into operation of provisions in relation to superannuation made under this section, superannuation benefits would have been granted to or in respect of a person accepted into employment of the Authority under section 55 in respect of employment with the Custom House Docks Development Authority, the superannuation benefits shall be granted and paid to or in respect of the person by the Authority and, for that purpose, the person's pensionable service with the Authority shall be aggregated with that person's previous pensionable service.

36. —(1) Subject to such conditions (if any) as may for the time being stand specified for the purposes of this section by the Minister, the Authority may from time to time engage such consultants or advisers as it may consider necessary for the discharge of its functions and any fees due to a consultant or adviser engaged pursuant to this section shall be paid by the Authority out of moneys at its disposal.

(2) Any person who wishes to be engaged by the Authority as a consultant or adviser pursuant to this section may notify the Authority in writing of this fact and any notification for that purpose shall include particulars of the person's qualifications and experience.

(3) The Authority shall maintain a list of the persons who notify the Authority pursuant to subsection (2).

(4) The Authority shall, in engaging a consultant or adviser under this section, have regard to the list maintained under subsection (3), but nothing in this subsection shall be construed as precluding the Authority from engaging as a consultant or adviser a person whose name is not on the said list.

(5) The Authority shall include in its annual report a statement of the names of the persons (if any) engaged pursuant to this section during the year to which the report relates.

37. —(1) For the purpose of enabling the Authority to perform its functions, a statutory body may provide any service to the Authority on such terms and conditions (including payment for such service) as may be agreed and the Authority may avail of such service.

(2) In this section “service” includes the use of premises or equipment and the use of services of employees.

38. —(1) Where the Chairperson or an ordinary director of the Executive Board—

(a) accepts nomination as a member of Seanad Éireann, or

(b) is elected to either House of the Oireachtas or to the European Parliament, or

(c) is regarded pursuant to section 19 of the European Parliament Elections Act, 1997, as having been elected to such Parliament to fill a vacancy,

that person shall thereupon cease to be the Chairperson or ordinary director of the Executive Board, as the case may be.

(2) Where a person employed by the Authority—

(a) accepts nomination as a member of Seanad Éireann, or

(b) is elected to either House of the Oireachtas or to the European Parliament, or

(c) is regarded pursuant to section 19 of the European Parliament Elections Act, 1997, as having been elected to such Parliament to fill a vacancy,

the person shall thereupon stand seconded from employment by the Authority and shall not be paid by, or be entitled to receive from, the Authority any remuneration or allowances in respect of the period commencing on such acceptance, or election, as the case may be, and ending when the person ceases to be a member of either such House or such Parliament.

(3) A person who is for the time being entitled under the Standing Orders of either House of the Oireachtas to sit therein or is a member of the European Parliament shall, while the person is so entitled or is such a member, be disqualified from becoming the Chairperson or an ordinary director of the Executive Board or becoming employed by the Authority.

(4) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2), that subsection shall be construed as prohibiting, inter alia, the reckoning of a period mentioned in that subsection as service with the Authority for the purposes of any superannuation benefits.

39. —(1) A person to whom this section applies who has a pecuniary or other beneficial interest in, or material to, any matter which falls to be considered by the Council or Executive Board or by a person to whom this section applies shall—

(a) in advance of any consideration of the matter, disclose to the Authority and as the case may be to any meeting of the Council or Executive Board considering the matter the nature of the interest;

(b) neither influence nor seek to influence a decision to be made in relation to the matter;

(c) take no part in any consideration of the matter;

(d) withdraw from the meeting of the Council or the Executive Board for so long as the matter is being discussed or considered by the Council or Executive Board.

(2) This section applies to—

(a) an employee of the Authority other than an employee holding a designated position within the meaning of the Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995,

(b) a person whose services are provided to the Authority under section 37 , and

(c) a consultant or adviser engaged by the Authority under section 36 .

(3) A person to whom this section applies shall be regarded as having a beneficial interest in (but not confined to) each of the following cases—

(a) the person, any member of the person's household or any nominee of the person or the person's household is a member of a company or any other body which has a beneficial interest in, or material to, a matter referred to in subsection (1);

(b) the person or any member of the person's household is in partnership with or is in the employment of a person who has a beneficial interest in, or material to, the matter;

(c) the person or any member of the person's household is a party to any arrangement or agreement (whether or not enforceable) concerning land to which that matter relates;

(d) any member of the person's household has a beneficial interest in, or material to, that matter.

(4) A person to whom this section applies shall not be regarded as having a beneficial interest in, or material to, any matter by reason only of an interest of that person or of any company or of any other body or person mentioned in subsection (3) which is so remote or insignificant that it cannot reasonably be regarded as likely to influence a person in considering or discussing, or in voting on, any question with respect to the matter, or in performing any function in relation to that matter.

(5) Where a question arises as to whether or not a course of conduct, if pursued by a person to whom this section applies, would be a failure by that person to comply with the requirements of subsection (1), the question shall be determined by the Council or Executive Board, as the case may be, and particulars of the determination shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting concerned.

(6) Where at a meeting of the Council or Executive Board disclosure is made under this section, particulars of the disclosure shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting concerned.

(7) A person who contravenes or fails to comply with a requirement of this section shall be guilty of an offence.

(8) In any proceedings for an offence under this section it shall be a defence for the defendant to prove that at the time of the alleged offence the defendant did not know and had no reason to believe that a matter in which, or in relation to which, the defendant had a beneficial interest had fallen to be considered by the defendant, by the Council or Executive Board, as the case may be, or that the beneficial interest to which the alleged offence relates was one in relation to which a requirement of this section applied.

40. —(1) A person shall not disclose confidential information obtained while performing duties as the Chairperson, as an ordinary member of the Council, as an ordinary director of the Executive Board, as an employee of the Authority, as a person whose services are provided to the Authority under section 37 or as a consultant or adviser engaged by the Authority under section 36 unless the Chairperson, ordinary member, ordinary director, employee or other person, as the case may be, is duly authorised to do so.

(2) In this section—

(a) “confidential information” includes—

(i) information that is expressed by the Authority to be confidential either as regards particular information or as regards information of a particular class or description,

(ii) commercial information in relation to contractors, consultants, providers of finance or any other person,

(iii) proposals of a commercial nature or tenders submitted to the Authority by contractors, consultants or any other person,

(b) “duly authorised” means—

(i) as respects an ordinary member of the Council, authorised in writing by the Council or by some person authorised in that behalf by the Council,

(ii) as respects any other person referred to in subsection (1), authorised in writing by the Executive Board or by some person authorised in that behalf by the Executive Board.

(3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence.

41. —(1) A person who communicates with the Chairperson, an ordinary member of the Council or an ordinary director of the Executive Board or with a person employed by the Authority or a person whose services are provided to the Authority under section 37 , or with a consultant or adviser engaged by the Authority under section 36 , for the purpose of influencing improperly that person's consideration of any matter which falls to be considered or decided by the Council or Executive Board shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) (a) If the Chairperson becomes of opinion that a communication is in contravention of subsection (1), it shall be the Chairperson's duty not to entertain the communication further and to disclose to the next subsequent meeting of the Executive Board in writing the substance of such communication and particulars of the disclosure shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting concerned.

(b) If any other person referred to in subsection (1) to whom a communication is made becomes of opinion that a communication is in contravention of subsection (1), it shall be that person's duty not to entertain the communication further and to inform forthwith the Chairperson in writing of the substance of such communication and the Chairperson shall acknowledge in writing the receipt of such information.

42. —(1) The Authority may accept gifts of money, land or other property on the trusts or conditions (if any) as may be specified by the donor.

(2) The Authority shall not accept a gift if the trusts or conditions attached to it would be inconsistent with, or prejudice, the effective performance of its functions.

(3) The Authority shall publish in its annual report details of all gifts accepted by it during the period of the report.

43. —(1) The Authority shall keep in such form as may be approved of by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, all proper and usual accounts of all moneys received or expended by it.

(2) Accounts kept in pursuance of this section shall, at such times as the Minister may direct, be submitted annually for audit by the Authority to an auditor appointed by the Authority with the approval of the Minister, given with the consent of the Minister for Finance, to audit the accounts, and when duly audited shall be presented by the Authority to the Minister who shall cause copies of the accounts to be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas.

44. —(1) The Authority shall, not later than the 30th day of June in each year, make a report to the Minister of its proceedings during the preceding year, and the Minister shall cause copies of the report to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

(2) The Authority shall supply the Minister with such information relating to the performance of its functions as the Minister shall from time to time request.

45. —(1) The Minister may, from time to time, give to the Authority a general directive in writing as to policy regarding the performance of any of the functions assigned to it by or under this Act, and the Authority shall, in performing its functions, have regard to any such directive.

(2) (a) The Minister may, from time to time, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, give to the Authority a general directive in writing specifying the financial objectives of the Authority, specifying the manner in which the Authority shall conduct its financial affairs and requiring the application of profits or other income or funds of the Authority in such manner (including application for the benefit of the Exchequer) as may be specified in the directive.

(b) The Authority shall, in performing its functions, comply with any directive given to it under this subsection.

(c) This subsection shall not be construed as imposing on the Authority, either directly or indirectly, a duty or liability which may be the subject of any legal proceedings.

(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed as enabling the Minister to exercise any power or control in relation to the performance, in a particular case, by the Authority of a function assigned to it by or under this Act.

46. —(1) The Minister may by order (in this section referred to as a “dissolution order”) provide for the dissolution of the Authority.

(2) A dissolution order shall contain such provisions as the Minister considers necessary or expedient consequent on the dissolution effected by the order and, in particular, may make provision for—

(a) the transfer or distribution of the property, rights and liabilities of the Authority to one or more than one statutory body: provided no transfer or distribution of the property, rights or liabilities shall take place without the consent of the person to whom property, rights or liabilities are transferred or distributed,

(b) the substitution for the name of the Authority of the name of any appropriate person in any legal proceedings which are pending at the date of the said dissolution order and to which the Authority is a party and the proceedings shall not abate by reason of the substitution: provided that no substitution of name shall take place without the consent of the person whose name is substituted, and

(c) the transfer, notwithstanding any restriction contained in any other Act but subject to subsection (3), of any employee of the Authority to an employment under a statutory body, being an employment similar to that in which the employee was engaged under the Authority: provided that no such transfer shall take place without the consent of the said employee or the consent of the said statutory body.

(3) A dissolution order shall not contain a provision transferring an employee to an employment under a Department of State except with the consent of the Minister for Finance.

(4) A dissolution order shall not be construed as affecting any obligation imposed on a local authority by section 7(4) of the Act of 1986.