S.I. No. 96/1973:

PRICES STABILISATION ORDER, 1973.

PRICES STABILISATION ORDER, 1973.

WHEREAS the Government are satisfied that the condition of the national economy is such that it is necessary to maintain stability of prices generally;

NOW, the Government, in exercise of the powers conferred on them by section 22A (inserted by the Prices (Amendment) Act, 1965 (No. 23 of 1965), as amended by the Prices (Amendment) Act, 1972 (No. 20 of 1972)) of the Prices Act, 1958 (No. 4 of 1958), hereby order as follows:

1. (1) This Order may be cited as the Prices Stabilisation Order, 1973.

(2) This Order shall come into operation on the 13th day of April, 1973.

2. The Minister is hereby authorised and empowered--

( a ) to inquire into--

(i) the prices charged for any commodities as respects the prices for which the Minister is satisfied that an enquiry should be held,

(ii) the charges made for rendering any services as respects the charges for which the Minister is satisfied that an enquiry should be held,

(iii) the charges made for carrying out (other than under a contract of service) any work as respects the charges for which the Minister is satisfied that an enquiry should be held, and

(iv) the charges made for carrying out (other than under a contract of service) any processes as respects the charges for which the Minister is satisfied that an enquiry should be held,

( b ) by order to require persons engaged in selling commodities, rendering services or carrying out (other than under a contract of service) work or a process to notify the Minister of any increase they propose to make in the prices at which they sell the commodities or the charges which they make for rendering the services or carrying out the work or process, as the case may be, and to require the notification to be given to the Minister not later than such time before the increase takes effect as may be specified in the order,

( c ) to require any person to furnish to the Minister any information in his possession that the Minister may reasonably require for enabling him to exercise his functions under Part IIIA of the Prices Act, 1958 (No. 4 of 1958),

( d ) to require any person to furnish to the Minister any books, documents or records in his power, possession or control that the Minister may reasonably require for enabling him to perform his functions under the said Part IIIA,

( e ) by order to fix--

(i) the maximum prices at which commodities or a specified commodity or specified commodities may be sold,

(ii) the maximum charges which may be made for rendering services or a specified service or specified services,

(iii) the maximum charges which may be made for carrying out (other than under a contract of service) specified work,

(iv) the maximum charges which may be made for carrying out (other than under a contract of service) a specified process or specified processes, and

( f ) by order to provide--

(i) in relation to all commodities or a specified commodity or specified commodities that the prices charged for the commodity or commodities shall be those obtaining at such time before the making of the order or during such period before such making, as may be specified in the order,

(ii) in relation to all services or a specified service or specified services that the charges made for rendering the service or services shall be those obtaining at such time before the making of the order or during such period before such making, as may be specified in the order,

(iii) in relation to the carrying out (otherwise than under contract of service) of specified work that the charges therefor shall be those obtaining at such time before the making of the order or during such period before such making, as may be specified in the order, and

(iv) in relation to the carrying out (otherwise than under a contract of service) of processes or a specified process or specified processes that the charges therefor shall be those obtaining at such time before the making of the order or during such period before such making, as may be specified in the order.

3. The Prices Stabilisation Order, 1965 ( S.I. No. 208 of 1965 ), and the Prices Stabilisation (Amendment) Order, 1972 ( S.I. No. 246 of 1972 ), are hereby revoked.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Government, this 10th day of April, 1973.

LIAM MAC COSGAIR,

Taoiseach.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

This Order authorises and empowers the Minister for Industry and Commerce to exercise all the powers provided by the Prices (Amendment) Act, 1965 and the Prices (Amendment) Act, 1972 for the investigation and control of prices.