The Gazette 1996

NOVEMBER 1996

GAZETTE

Consumer Credit Act 1995 (Section 60) (No. 2) Regulations 1996 (SI No. 246 of 1996) These Regulations amend the notice to be included in hire- purchase - agreements set out in the Fifth Schedule to the Consumer Credit Act 1995. Consumer Credit Act 1995 (Section 120) Regulations 1996 (SI No. 247 of 1996) These Regulations exclude tied mortgage branch agents from being regarded, for the purposes of Part IX of the Consumer Credit Act 1995, as mortgage intermediaries. Consumer Information (Consumer Credit) Order 1987 (Revocation) Order 1996 (SI No. 248 of 1996) This Order revokes the Consumer Information (Consumer Credit) Order 1987 with effect from 8 August 1996. CRIMINAL Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 (No. 29 of 1996) This Act was signed by the President on 31 July 1996. (Cf. (1996) 14 ILT 78.) Proceeds of Crime Act 1996 (No. 30 of 1996) This Act, changed from the Organised Crime (Restraint and Disposal of Illicit Assets) Bill 1996, and amended in the Select Committee on Legislation and Security was signed by the President on 4 August 1996. (Cf. (1996) 14 ILT 200) Provisions) Bill 1996 This Bill, as presented by the Minister for Justice, aims to amend the law relating to certain matters of criminal procedure so as to expedite the processing of such matters in the courts and to reduce the amount of time spent by Garda' on court related duties. It aims, \nteralia, to extend the maximum period for which a person may be remanded in custody and to provide for the issue of search warrants where specified serious offences have been committed. It also aims to amend the powers of the DPP under the Criminal Justice Act 1951. Disclosure of Certain Information for Taxation and Other Purposes Act 1996 (No. 25 of 1996) This Act, as presented by the Minister for Finance and signed by the President on 30 July 1996, facilitates a freer flow Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous

of information from the Revenue Commissioners to the Garda' in certain cases. It allows the Revenue to release information relating to a person to a Garda Chief Super-intendent or to the head of any body established: to identify assets acquired as the result of criminal activity; to deprive criminals of or deny them the benefit of such assets; and to pursue subsequent investigations leading to proceedings. In order to release information the revenue must have reasonable grounds for suspecting that the information relates to a person who has derived profits from unlawful activity and that the information will assist in a relevant investigation. The Actto amends various legislative provisions accordingly. Criminal Assets Bureau Bill 1996 This Bill, as presented by the Minister for Finance, aims to establish a Criminal Assets Bureau the objectives of which shall be: to identify assets acquired as the result of criminal activity or suspected criminal activity; to deprive criminals of or deny them the benefit of such assets; and to pursue subsequent investigations leading to proceedings. The members of the Bureau would be Garda', officers of the Revenue Commissioners and officers of the Minister for Social Welfare and the Bureau would be headed by a Garda Chief Super-intendent. The Bill also intends to provide for related matters. Universities Bill 1996 This Bill, as presented by the Minister for Education, aims to establish the constituent colleges of the National University of Ireland (NUI) and St Patrick's College, Maynooth as constituent universities of the NUI. The Bill further aims to provide for a revised composition of governing authorities of all universities and to provide structures for accountability and trans- parency in the affairs of universities. Vocational Education Committees (Filling of Casual Vacancies) Regulations 1996 (SI No. 205 of 1996) These Regulations, which apply to the County Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Vocational Education Committees, provide that, if a casual vacancy occurs before the elections of councils of counties next after the commencement EDUCATION

of the Regulations, the VEC concerned shall, following consultations with the Minister for Education, select a person to fill the vacancy.

EMPLOYMENT

Transnational and Consultation of Employees Act 1996 (No. 20 of 1996) This Act was signed by the President on 10 July 1996. (Cf. (1996) 14 ILT 176.) Persons (Employment) Act 1996 (No. 16 of 1996) This Act has been signed by the President. (Cf. (1996) 14 ILT 78.) Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Act 1996 (Commencement) Order 1996 (SI No. 197 of 1996) This Order brings s. 1 of the Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Act 1996 into operation with effect from 25 June 1996. Information Protection of Young Environmental Protection Agency (Advisory Committee) Regulations 1996 (SI No. 229 of 1996) These regulations prescribe the various organisations for the purposes of selecting candidates for consideration for appointment by the Minister as members of the Advisory Committee of the Environmental Protection Agency and deal with related matters. Environmental Protection Agency (Licensing Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 1996 (SI No. 239 of 1996) These Regulations amend the Environmental Protection Agency (Licensing Fees) Regulations 1994, as amended by the Evironmental protection Agency (Licensing Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 1995, by amending the definition of 'large activity' and 'small activity' in the interpretation of the Regualtions and by substituting a new schedule of fees. The Regulations came into operation on 3 September 1996. Environmental Protection Agency (Licensing) (Amendment) No. 2) Regulations 1996 (SI No. 240 of 1996) These regulations prescribe the day on which further specified classes of activity in the First Schedule to the Environmental protection Agency Act ENVIRONMENT

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IRISH LAW IIMES, StPl EMBERl't'lh