International Health Bodies (Corporate Status) Act, 1971

What is this act about?

This law allows certain international health bodies to become official corporate entities in the State, granting them legal powers and responsibilities. It sets out the process for these bodies to gain corporate status and outlines the requirements they must meet.

Who it applies to: International bodies whose functions primarily involve health-related matters, such as health deliberation, health insurance, care of the sick, health service administration, or medical research; The Minister for Health, who is responsible for administering this Act.

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Commercial and corporate law
Articles: 11
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

The process for international health bodies to obtain corporate status.
The legal powers and obligations of these corporate bodies, including the ability to sue and be sued, and to hold land.
The requirement for these bodies to maintain an office in the State and provide information to the Minister for Health.
The conditions under which a corporate status order can be revoked.

Who does this act apply to?

International bodies whose functions primarily involve health-related matters, such as health deliberation, health insurance, care of the sick, health service administration, or medical research.
The Minister for Health, who is responsible for administering this Act.

What are the key points?

The Minister for Health can grant corporate status to eligible international health bodies through an order, after consulting with the Minister for Industry and Commerce.
A body with corporate status will have perpetual succession, can sue and be sued in its corporate name, and can hold land.
These bodies must have an office in the State for communications and service of documents.
The Minister maintains a public register of these bodies, including their addresses and constitutions (with translations if not in English or Irish).

Commercial and corporate law

Registry of Friendly Societies Act, 1936

Transport Act, 1966

Shannon Free Airport Development Company Limited (Amendment) Act, 1989

Industrial and Commercial Property (Protection) (Neuchatel Agreement) Act, 1947

Irish Shipping Limited (Amendment) Act, 1984

Industrial Development Act 2009

European Communities and Swiss Confederation Act, 2001

Industrial Grants (Amendment) Act, 1964

Commercial and corporate law

Legal text

Contents (11)

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
Section 8
Section 9
Section 10
Section 11

International Health Bodies (Corporate Status) Act, 1971 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 1971 International Health Bodies (Corporate Status) Act, 1971 International Health Bodies (Corporate Status) Act, 1971 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 1 of 1971 INTERNATIONAL HEALTH BODIES (CORPORATE STATUS) ACT, 1971 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section

Section 1

Minister.

Section 2

Bodies to which Act applies.

Section 3

Corporate status order.

Section 4

Certain bodies to have office in State.

Section 5

Section 6

Information.

Section 7

Revocation of corporate status order.

Section 8

Annual Report.

Section 9

Laying of orders.

Section 10

Expenses of Minister.

Section 11

Short title.

Act Referred to Land Act, 1965 1965, No. 2 Number 1 of 1971 INTERNATIONAL HEALTH BODIES (CORPORATE STATUS) ACT, 1971 AN ACT TO ENABLE CERTAIN INTERNATIONAL HEALTH BODIES TO BECOME, BY ORDER, BODIES CORPORATE. [3rd March, 1971.] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:

Minister.

1.—In this Act “the Minister” means the Minister for Health.

Bodies to which Act applies.

2.—This Act applies to any international body the functions of which under its constitution consist wholly or mainly of all or any of the following, namely, deliberation of the health of persons, of health insurance, of the care and treatment of the sick or infirm, of administration of health services, or of medical (including dental) research, or the conduct of such research.

Corporate status order.

3.—(1) The Minister may, on application by a body to which this Act applies, make, after consultation with the Minister for Industry and Commerce, an order (in this Act referred to as a corporate status order) in relation to the body.

(2)Whenever the Minister proposes to make an order under this section, the Minister shall publish a draft of the order in the Iris Oifigiúil.

(3)A body to which a corporate status order relates shall, as from the day on which the order comes into force, be called and known by the title specified in the order which shall be either the title used by the body immediately before the making of the order or such other title as may be agreed on by the Minister and the body.

(4)A body to which a corporate status order relates shall, by virtue of the order, be a body corporate with perpetual succession and with power to sue and be sued in its corporate name and to hold land.

(5)A body to which a corporate status order relates is hereby added to the list of qualified persons contained in section 45 of the Land Act, 1965 .

(6)The Minister may, with the consent of the body to which it relates, by order amend the title specified in a corporate status order.

(7)The Minister may, if he thinks fit, include in a corporate status order a requirement that the seal of the body to which the order relates shall be authenticated in a specified manner, and in case a corporate status order includes such a requirement, the requirement shall be complied with by the body to which the order relates.

(8)Judicial notice shall be taken of the seal of a body to which a corporate status order relates and every document purporting to be an instrument made by the body and to be sealed with its seal (purporting to be duly authenticated) shall be received in evidence and be deemed to be such instrument without proof unless the contrary is shown.

Certain bodies to have office in State.

4.—A body to which a corporate status order relates shall, as from the day on which the order comes into force or from such later day as may be specified in the order, have an office in the State to which all communications may be addressed and at which a document may be served on the body either by leaving it at the office or by sending it by post addressed to the body at the office.

5.—(1) The Minister shall maintain a register of bodies to which corporate status orders relate.

(2)The following provisions shall have effect in relation to the register under this section: (a) the register shall be kept open for public inspection during office hours, (b) with the register, there shall also be kept available for public inspection copies of the constitutions (including amendments) of the registered bodies together with, in case any such constitution or amendment is not written in the English or Irish language, a translation thereof, (c) there shall be entered in the register the address of the office kept by a registered body in accordance with section 4 of this Act, and (d) every registered body shall for the purposes of paragraph (b) of this subsection supply to the Minister a copy of its constitution (including amendments) together with, where necessary, a translation thereof.

Information.

6.—(1) A body to which a corporate status order relates shall supply the Minister with such information (including copies of annual or other duly audited accounts) as he may reasonably require.

(2)In case the Minister proposes to make a revoking order under section 7 of this Act because he thinks it is in the public interest to do so, he may, before making the order, require the body, to which the corporate status order which he proposes to revoke relates, to supply him with such information as he considers necessary to enable him to determine whether any provision mentioned in paragraph (b, (c) or (d) of section 7

(2)of this Act, or any other consequential provision, should be included in the revoking order.

(3)A requirement of the Minister under subsection (2) of this section shall be complied with.

Revocation of corporate status order.

7.— (1) If— (a) on the application of a body to which a corporate status order relates, the Minister so thinks fit, or (b) there is not such an application but the Minister considers that it is in the public interest to do so, the Minister may, subject to subsection (4) of this section, by order revoke a corporate status order.

(2)Subject to the proviso to this subsection, a revoking order shall contain such provisions as the Minister considers necessary or expedient consequential on the revocation and, in particular, may provide for— (a) the dissolution of the body to which the corporate status order to be thereby revoked relates, (b) the transfer or distribution of the property, rights or liabilities of such body, (c) the preservation of continuing contracts made by such body, (d) the continuance of pending legal proceedings, provided that in case the revoking order falls to be made because of an application by a body to which a corporate status order relates, the Minister shall, before making the revoking order, consult that body with regard to the provisions to be contained in the order.

(3)In case the Minister proposes to make a revoking order he shall cause to appear in at least two daily newspapers published in the State a notice of his intention to make the order.

(4)Any person may, within the period of fourteen days beginning on the date on which the requirements of subsection (3) of this section are complied with, make an application to the Minister in respect of any matter to which an order to be made under this section is intended to relate and the Minister shall, as soon as may be, decide the application and notify the person of his decision.

Annual Report.

8.—As soon as may be after the 1st day of January in each year, the Minister shall prepare and cause to be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas an annual report on the exercise of his functions under this Act.

Laying of orders.

9.—(1) Where an order under section 3 of this Act 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 of the draft has been passed by each such House.

(2)Every order under this Act, other than an order made under section 3, 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 is passed by either such House within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the order is laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.

Expenses of Minister.

10.—Any 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.

11.—This Act may be cited as the International Health Bodies. (Corporate Status) Act, 1971.

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

AI explanation based on the official legal text. Indicative, not a substitute for legal advice.