Merchant Shipping (Commissioners of Irish Lights) Act, 1997

In short

This law expands the powers and duties of the Commissioners of Irish Lights, primarily concerning the management and provision of maritime radio navigation systems and related services. It clarifies their authority in these areas, including cooperation with other entities and financial contributions to international organizations.

What it regulates

The superintendence and management of all maritime radio navigation systems.
The power to provide, operate, erect, maintain, and alter radio navigation systems.
Cooperation with other agencies or international bodies for maritime navigation, safety, distress, wreck location, pollution, or related matters.
Monetary contributions to international maritime organizations.

Who it concerns

The Commissioners of Irish Lights.
The Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources.
The Minister for Finance.
Harbour authorities or any other person entering into agreements with the Commissioners.

Key points

The Commissioners are responsible for the superintendence and management of all maritime radio navigation systems.
They have the power to operate, erect, maintain, repair, improve, alter, remove, or vary any radio navigation system, and to purchase or dispose of necessary land.
The Commissioners can cooperate with other jurisdictions, international organizations, or persons, with the Minister's consent, for services related to maritime navigation, safety, distress, wreck location, or pollution.
They can make monetary contributions to international maritime organizations with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Finance.

Legal text

Merchant Shipping (Commissioners of Irish Lights) Act, 1997 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.

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s)or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 1997 Merchant Shipping (Commissioners of Irish Lights) Act, 1997 Merchant Shipping (Commissioners of Irish Lights) Act, 1997 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 Open PDFOscail PDF Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 37 of 1997 MERCHANT SHIPPING (COMMISSIONERS OF IRISH LIGHTS) ACT, 1997 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section 1. Definitions. 2. Management of maritime radio navigation systems by Commissioners. 3. Commissioners may provide radio navigation systems. 4. Commissioners may co-operate with other agencies in relation to the provision or operation of radio navigation systems, etc. 5. Commissioners may contribute to international maritime organisations. 6. Commissioners may make contracts in respect of maritime navigation, etc. 7. Conferral of additional functions on Commissioners. 8. Expenses. 9. Short title and collective citation. Acts Referred to Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Wreck) Act, 1993 1993, No. 34 Merchant Shipping Act, 1894 1894, c. 60 Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894 to 1996 Number 37 of 1997 MERCHANT SHIPPING (COMMISSIONERS OF IRISH LIGHTS) ACT, 1997 AN ACT TO MAKE FURTHER PROVISION IN RELATION TO THE FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF IRISH LIGHTS. [18th November, 1997] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: Definitions. 1.—In this Act— “the Commissioners” means the Commissioners of Irish Lights; “functions” includes powers and duties; “harbour authority” has the meaning assigned to it by section 2 of the Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Wreck) Act, 1993 ; “lighthouse”, “buoy” and “beacon” have the meanings assigned to each of them, respectively, by the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894 ; “the Minister” means the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources; “radio navigation system” means any structure or device or any other thing capable of transmitting, radiating or receiving, without limit as to range, or facilitating such, any electronic or electromagnetic wave, signal, pulse or motion or other particle or source of energy, and the processing thereof, to or from any vessel, aircraft or vehicle anywhere for any navigational purpose including warnings of any danger or potential danger; “vessel” includes any ship or boat and any other vessel used in navigation. Management of maritime radio navigation systems by Commissioners. 2.—The superintendence and management of all maritime radio navigation systems shall be vested in the Commissioners. Commissioners may provide radio navigation systems. 3.—

(1)Subject to subsection

(3), the Commissioners shall have, and be deemed always to have had, in relation to maritime navigation, power to— (

a)operate without limit as to range a radio navigation system, (
b)erect or place any radio navigation system, with all requisite works, roads and appurtenances, (
c)maintain, repair, improve, alter, remove or vary the character of any radio navigation system, and (
d)purchase or dispose of any land which may be necessary for the exercise of their powers under this subsection.

(2)The Commissioners shall have, and be deemed always to have had, all such incidental, supplemental, ancillary and consequential powers as, in the opinion of the Commissioners, are necessary or expedient for the purpose of the exercise by them of the powers aforesaid.

(3)Paragraphs (

a)and (
b)of subsection

(1)of this section shall not apply to the radio navigation system known as LORAN C (within the meaning of the international agreement concerning the establishment and operation of the civil LORAN C navigation system in North West Europe and the North Atlantic done at Oslo on the 6th day of August, 1992), until such date as the Minister may appoint by order, subject to any restrictions or conditions as the Minister may specify in the order.

(4)Where an order is proposed to be made under subsection

(3)of this section, a draft of the order shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and the order shall not be made unless a resolution approving of the draft is passed by each such House.

(5)If, because of any or all of its provisions, subsections

(1)and

(2)of this section would, but for the provisions of this subsection, conflict with the constitutional rights of any person, the provisions of this section shall be subject to such limitations as are necessary to secure that they do not so conflict, but shall otherwise be of full force and effect. Commissioners may co-operate with other agencies in relation to the provision or operation of radio navigation systems, etc. 4.—The Commissioners shall have, and be deemed always to have had, in relation to the provision or operation of a radio navigation system or any service anywhere relating to maritime navigation, safety, distress, wreck location, pollution or related matters, power to co-operate, with the consent of the Minister, with a competent authority of another jurisdiction, an international organisation or body or another person. Commissioners may contribute to international maritime organisations. 5.—The Commissioners shall have, and be deemed always to have had, power to make monetary contributions, with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Finance, towards the funding of international organisations or bodies concerned with maritime navigational assistance. Commissioners may make contracts in respect of maritime navigation, etc. 6.—

(1)The Commissioners shall have, and be deemed always to have had, power, for gain or otherwise, to enter into an agreement, with the consent of the Minister— (

a)for the provision, erection, placing, alteration, maintenance or removal of any lighthouse, buoy or beacon or any radio navigation system or other maritime navigation system, or (
b)for the performance of any service anywhere relating to maritime navigation, safety, distress, wreck location, pollution or related matters, by the Commissioners on behalf of a harbour authority or any other person.

(2)The Commissioners shall send to the Minister a copy of every agreement entered into by them, after the passing of this Act, by virtue of this section. Conferral of additional functions on Commissioners. 7.—

(1)The Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, by order— (

a)confer on the Commissioners such additional functions in relation to maritime navigational matters as the Minister considers appropriate, and (
b)make such provision as the Minister considers necessary or expedient in relation to matters ancillary to or arising out of the conferral on the Commissioners of functions under this section or the performance by the Commissioners of functions so conferred.

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

(3)Every order under this section 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 21 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. 8.—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 collective citation. 9.—

(1)This Act may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Commissioners of Irish Lights) Act, 1997.

(2)The Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894 to 1996, and this Act may be cited together as the Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894 to 1997. 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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