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Emergency Powers Act, 1976

In short

This law, the Emergency Powers Act, 1976, allows for special powers of arrest, custody, and questioning during a national emergency related to armed conflict, as declared by the Oireachtas on September 1, 1976.

What it regulates

Who it concerns

Key points

📄 Legal text
Emergency Powers Act, 1976 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 1976 Emergency Powers Act, 1976 Emergency Powers Act, 1976 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 33 of 1976 EMERGENCY POWERS ACT, 1976 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section 1. Duration of section 2. 2. Arrest, custody and questioning of persons suspected of certain offences. 3. Expiry of Act. 4. Short title. Act Referred to Offences against the State Act, 1939 1939, No. 13 Number 33 of 1976 EMERGENCY POWERS ACT, 1976 AN ACT FOR THE PURPOSE OF SECURING THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE PRESERVATION OF THE STATE IN TIME OF AN ARMED CONFLICT IN RESPECT OF WHICH EACH OF THE HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS HAS ADOPTED A RESOLUTION ON THE FIRST DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1976, PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION 3° OF SECTION 3 OF ARTICLE 28 OF THE CONSTITUTION. [16th October, 1976] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: Duration of section 2. 1.—(1) Section 2 of this Act shall remain in force only until the expiry of the period of twelve months beginning with the passing of this Act, unless it is continued in force or is again brought into force by an order under this section. (2) The Government may by order provide :— (a) at any time when section 2 of this Act is in force, that that section shall continue in force for a period not exceeding twelve months from the commencement of the order, (b) at any time when section 2 of this Act is in force, that that section shall cease to be in force on and from a date specified in the order, or (c) at any time when section 2 of this Act is not in force, that that section shall come into force again and remain in force for a period not exceeding twelve months from the commencement of the order. (3) Every order made 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 has been laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder. Arrest, custody and questioning of persons suspected of certain offences. 2.—(1) A member of the Garda Síochána (on production of his identification card, if demanded, where he is not in uniform) may without warrant stop, search, question and arrest any person, or do any one or more of those things in respect of any person, if he suspects with reasonable cause that that person has committed, is committing or is about to commit an offence under the Offences against the State Act, 1939 , or an offence which is for the time being a scheduled offence for the purposes of Part V of that Act, or if he suspects with reasonable cause that that person is carrying any document or other article or thing, or is in possession of information, relating to the commission or intended commission of the offence. (2) A member of the Garda Síochána (on production of his identification card, if demanded, where he is not in uniform) may, for the purpose of the exercise of any of the powers conferred by subsection (1) of this section, stop and search any vehicle or vessel which he suspects with reasonable cause to contain a person whom he is empowered by that subsection to arrest without warrant. (3) Whenever a person is arrested under this section, he may be removed to and kept in custody in a Garda station, prison, or other convenient place for a period of 48 hours from the time of his arrest and may, if a member of the Garda Síochána not below the rank of chief superintendent so directs, be kept in such custody for a further period not exceeding five days. (4) A person in custody under subsection (3) of this section may, at any time during such custody, be charged before the District Court or a special court established under Article 38.3.1° of the Constitution with an offence or be released by direction of a member of the Garda Síochána not below the rank of superintendent, and shall, if not so charged or released, be released at the expiration of the custody. (5) The powers conferred by section 30 of the Offences against the State Act, 1939 , shall not be exercisable during a period when this section is in force. Expiry of Act. 3.—Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, whenever each of the Houses of the Oireachtas resolves that the national emergency resolved to exist by each such House on the first day of September, 1976, has ceased to exist, this Act shall, on and from the date of such first-mentioned resolution, expire. Short title. 4.—This Act may be cited as the Emergency Powers Act, 1976. 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