I move:
That the Alliance and Dublin Consumers' Gas Company (General Meetings) Order, 1973, proposed by the Minister for Transport and Power and laid in draft before Dáil Éireann on the 23rd day of October, 1973, under subsection 4 of section 10 of the Gas Regulations Act, 1920 be approved.
Gas undertakings generally operate under special Acts which authorise them to manufacture and distribute gas in certain specified areas. Modifications to the Special Acts required by the undertakings from time to time are made under section 10 of the Gas Regulation Act, 1920, which enables me to make by order the required modifications. Before an order of this kind is made it has to be laid in draft before both Houses of the Oireachtas. The Houses of the Oireachtas may, by resolution, approve the draft order in the form submitted or may approve it with modifications and additions. When such approval is given I may make the order in the form in which it has been approved.
In 1950 an order entitled Alliance and Dublin Consumers' Gas Company (General Meetings) Order, 1950, was made on the application of the company, which provided that the ordinary general meeting would be held annually instead of half yearly, and as soon after the 31st December of the preceding year but not later than the month of March as the directors by resolution from time to time determine.
The company feel that this regulation does not allow adequate time for the preparation, audit and distribution of the annual accounts prior to the annual meeting. They, therefore, proposed to me that I should make a Special Order under section 10 of the Gas Regulation Act, 1920, which would allow them to hold the ordinary general meeting at a time to be determined by the directors but not later than 15 months after the previous ordinary general meeting. As the proposed order would not be in conflict with the provisions of the Companies Act, 1963, and, following consultation with the Minister for Industry and Commerce, I agreed to the proposal. The order now laid in draft before the House for approval will give the company the necessary authority to fix the date of the ordinary general meeting with the degree of latitude which they require.
The statutory requirements in regard to publicity have been complied with. Copies of the draft order were sent to the public and local authorities concerned.
No objection to the proposed order was received.
I am satisfied as to the need for the order and that there is nothing in it repugnant to the public interest. I, therefore, recommend the order for the approval of the House.
