European Assembly (Irish Representatives) Act, 1979

What is this act about?

This law sets out rules for paying allowances and expenses to Irish representatives in the European Assembly, and deals with their superannuation and potential disqualification from certain other roles.

Who it applies to: Irish representatives in the Assembly of the European Communities, whether elected or appointed; Candidates for election to the European Assembly.

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Social security
Articles: 8
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

Payment of allowances to Irish representatives in the European Assembly.
Payment of allowances for expenses to these representatives.
Superannuation (pensions) for these representatives.
Disqualification of these representatives from holding positions in or being employed by certain specified bodies.

Who does this act apply to?

Irish representatives in the Assembly of the European Communities, whether elected or appointed.
Candidates for election to the European Assembly.
Persons who are members, directors, officers, or servants of certain specified bodies.

What are the key points?

Irish representatives in the Assembly are paid an allowance at the same annual rate as members of Dáil Éireann.
The Minister may provide for payment of expenses to these representatives.
The Minister may create a contributory pension scheme for these representatives, which can be backdated to the Assembly's first meeting after the 1979 election.
Irish representatives in the Assembly are disqualified from being members, directors, officers, or servants of bodies listed in the Schedule (e.g., Aer Lingus Teoranta, The Electricity Supply Board).
If a person who is an officer or servant of a specified body is nominated or appointed as a representative, they are seconded from their employment and will not receive remuneration or allowances from that body during their term.

Social security

Old Age Pension Act, 1924

Superannuation and Pensions Act, 1923

Social Welfare Act, 1974

Sea Fisheries Act, 1931

British-Irish Agreement (Amendment) Act, 2002

Vocational Education (Amendment) Act, 1947

Connaught Rangers (Pensions) Act, 1936

Courts of Justice and Court Officers (Superannuation) Act, 1961

Social security

Legal text

Contents (8)

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
Section 8

European Assembly (Irish Representatives) Act, 1979 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.ie) Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.ie) Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(s) or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 1979 European Assembly (Irish Representatives) Act, 1979 European Assembly (Irish Representatives) Act, 1979 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 19 of 1979 EUROPEAN ASSEMBLY (IRISH REPRESENTATIVES) ACT, 1979 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section

Section 1

Definitions.

Section 2

Allowances to Irish representatives in Assembly.

Section 3

Allowances to Irish representatives in Assembly for expenses.

Section 4

Superannuation of Irish representatives in Assembly.

Section 5

Disqualification of Irish representatives for membership of, or employment by, certain bodies.

Section 6

Orders.

Section 7

Expenses.

Section 8

Short title and commencement.

SCHEDULE Number 19 of 1979 EUROPEAN ASSEMBLY (IRISH REPRESENTATIVES) ACT, 1979 AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE PAYMENT OF ALLOWANCES TO THE IRISH REPRESENTATIVES IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES IN RESPECT OF THEIR DUTIES, TO ENABLE ALLOWANCES FOR EXPENSES TO BE PAID TO SUCH REPRESENTATIVES AND TO MAKE OTHER PROVISIONS IN RELATION TO SUCH REPRESENTATIVES, CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION TO, AND PERSONS APPOINTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 15

OF THE EUROPEAN ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS ACT, 1977 , TO BE REPRESENTATIVES IN, THE SAID ASSEMBLY. [17th July, 1979] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:

Definitions.

1.—In this Act— “the Act of 1977” means the European Assembly Elections Act, 1977 ; “the Assembly” means the Assembly of the European Communities; “Assembly election” has the meaning assigned to it by section 2 (1) of the Act of 1977; “the European Communities” means the European Economic Community, the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community; “the Minister” means the Minister for the Public Service.

Allowances to Irish representatives in Assembly.

2.—(1) Each of the representatives in the Assembly who for the time being— (a) stands elected thereto pursuant to the Act of 1977, (b) stands appointed thereto pursuant to section 15 of that Act, shall, out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas, be paid the allowance specified in subsection (2) of this section.

(2)The allowance referred to in subsection (1) of this section is an allowance at the same rate per annum as that of the allowance to members of Dáil Éireann payable for the time being by virtue of sections 2 and 3 of the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) Act, 1938 , as amended by section 4 of the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Amendment) Act, 1960 , and sections 4 and 5 of the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Amendment) Act, 1973 .

(3)Payment of an allowance under this section shall commence with effect from the commencement of the term of office of the person concerned as a representative in the Assembly and such allowance shall be payable monthly.

(4)For the purposes of subsection (3) of this section, the term of office of a representative in the Assembly shall be regarded as commencing on— (a) in case he is elected thereto pursuant to the Act of 1977, the day on which the Assembly first meets after the relevant Assembly election, (b) in case he is appointed thereto pursuant to section 15 of that Act, the day next following the date of his appointment.

Allowances to Irish representatives in Assembly for expenses.

3.—The Minister may, if he thinks fit, by order provide for the payment of allowances for expenses to representatives in the Assembly who have been elected or appointed thereto in the manner described in section 2

(1)of this Act.

Superannuation of Irish representatives in Assembly.

4.—(1) The Minister may make a contributory scheme for the granting of pensions to or in respect of persons who have been elected or appointed to the Assembly in the manner described in section 2

(1)of this Act.

(2)The Minister may, in accordance with a scheme under this section, make deductions from an allowance paid under section 2 of this Act.

(3)A scheme under this section may have effect from a date which is earlier than the date of the scheme but which is not earlier than the date on which the Assembly first meets after the Assembly election held in 1979.

(4)The Minister may make a scheme amending or revoking a scheme under this section (including a scheme under this subsection).

Disqualification of Irish representatives for membership of, or employment by, certain bodies.

5.—(1) A person who is elected to be a representative in the Assembly at the Assembly election held in 1979 and who is either a member of, or a director on the board of, a specified body shall, on the signing by the chief returning officer at the election of the return required by Rule 70 of the First Schedule to the Act of 1977, cease to be such member or director, as may be appropriate.

(2)Where a person who is either a member of, or a director on the board of, a body which is a specified body is validly nominated as a candidate for election to, or appointed to be a representative in, the Assembly, whether such election or appointment is to be held pursuant to, or is made under, the Act of 1977 or otherwise, he shall on such nomination or on his appointment, as may be appropriate, cease to be such a member or director, as may be appropriate.

(3)A person who is for the time being a representative in the Assembly shall be disqualified for being a member of, a director on the board of, any body which is a specified body or an officer or servant of any such body.

(4)Where a person who is either an officer or servant of any body which is a specified body is validly nominated for election as a candidate for election to, or appointed to be a representative in, the Assembly, whether such election or appointment is to be held pursuant to or is made under the Act of 1977 or otherwise, he shallstand seconded from employment by the body and shall not be paid by or be entitled to receive from the body any remuneration or allowances in respect of the period commencing on— (a) in case he is so nominated at the Assembly election held in 1979, the signing by the chief returning officer at the election of the return referred to in subsection (1) of this section, (b) in case he is so nominated at any other Assembly election or is so appointed, on such nomination or on his appointment, and ending when he withdraws his candidature, fails to be elected or ceases to be a representative in the Assembly.

(5)The Minister may by order amend the Schedule to this Act by the addition thereto of the name of a body corporate or an unincorporated body of persons specified in the order, and in case the Minister makes an order under this subsection the Schedule to this Act shall be construed in accordance with the amendment contained in the order.

(6)In this section “specified body” means a body specified in the Schedule to this Act.

Orders.

6.—(1) Every order made under section 3 of this Act and every order amending or revoking such an order and every scheme made under section 4 of this Act shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the order or scheme is passed by either such House within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the order or scheme is laid before it the order or scheme shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.

(2)When an order under section 5

(5)of this Act or an order amending or revoking such an order, is proposed to be made, a draft of the order shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and the order shall not be made until a resolution approving the draft has been passed by each such House.

(3)The Minister may by order amend or revoke an order under this Act (including an order under this subsection).

Expenses.

7.—The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.

Short title and commencement.

8.—(1) This Act may be cited as the European Assembly (Irish Representatives) Act, 1979.

(2)Subsections (1) and (4) of section 5 of this Act and this section shall be deemed to have come into operation on the 29th day of May, 1979.

SCHEDULE

Section 5

Aer Lingus Teoranta Aerlinte Éireann Teoranta Aer Rianta Teoranta The Agricultural Credit Corporation Limited Bord Fáilte Éireann An Bord Fuinnimh Núicléigh Bord Gáis Éireann An Bord Iascaigh Mhara Bord na Gaeilge Bord na gCapall Bord na gCon Bord na Móna An Bord Pleanála The British & Irish Steam Packet Company Limited The Central Bank of Ireland An Chomhairle Ealaíon Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann Teoranta Córas Beostoic agus Feola Teoranta Córas Iompair Éireann Córas Tráchtála The Electricity Supply Board The Employment Equality Agency Fóir Teoranta The Industrial Credit Company Limited The Industrial Development Authority The Institute for Industrial Research and Standards The Irish National Stud Company Limited Irish Steel Holdings Limited The Law Reform Commission Min Fhéir (1959) Teoranta The National Board for Science and Technology National Building Agency Limited The National Council for Educational Awards National Film Studios of Ireland Limited Nítrigin Éireann Teoranta The Pigs and Bacon Commission Radio Telefís Éireann The Restrictive Practices Commission The Shannon Free Airport Development Company Limited An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas The Voluntary Health Insurance Board Acts Referred to European Assembly Elections Act, 1977 1977, No. 30 Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) Act, 1938 1938, No. 34 Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Amendment) Act, 1960 1960, No. 12 Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Amendment) Act, 1973 1973, No. 22 Privacy Statement Accessibility European Legislation Identifier (PDF) Open Data License Ráiteas Príobháideachais Inrochtaineacht Aitheantóir Eorpach Reachtaíochta (ELI) Ceadúnas Sonraí Oscailte Liosta Fianán © Government of Ireland. Oireachtas Copyright Material is reproduced with the permission of the Houses of the Oireachtas © Rialtas na hÉireann. Atáirgtear ábhar faoi Chóipcheart le cead ó Thithe an Oireachtais

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