The only thing that occurred to me with regard to Sub-section (d), the payment of fines into the Fund, is the wisdom of including fines in respect of weights and measures. I do not know that Act, but I see extraordinary enthusiasm about testing of weights in some places. I presume there is no danger of abuse ?
SECTION 18.
There shall be established in accordance with regulations to be made by the Minister for Finance a fund to be called the " Gárda Síochána Reward Fund," which shall be administered in such manner as the Minister, with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance, may from time to time prescribe, for the reward or benefit of members of the Gárda Síochána, and there shall be paid into that Fund the following sums, viz. :—
(a) all disciplinary fines imposed on any member of the Gárda Síochána except fines imposed to meet damage caused by such member ; and
(b) all fines, penalties, proportions of fines or penalties, and damages awarded by any Court, Judge, or Justice, or otherwise payable to any member of the Gárda Síochána on any summary conviction ; and
(c) all fines and penalties and proportions of fines or penalties directed by or under any Act for the time being in force to be paid into the said Fund ; and
(d) all fees allowed by law to be taken by members of the Gárda Síochána as ex-officio inspectors of weights and measures in so far as such fees are not applicable to the payment of expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of the Weights and Measures Acts ; and
(e) all fines directed by this Act to be paid into the said Fund.
The fines for fraudulent weights generally went towards the rates.
A proportion of them went.
It is just a question of the Gárda Síochána as ex-officio inspectors of weights and measures. Does that mean that every member of the Gárda is an ex-officio inspector of weights and measures ?
No, they are picked men, and have to go through a course of training.
They are the same as they were under the R.I.C.
That means men specially set apart for that ?
Yes.
Section put and agreed to.
Sections 19, 20, 21 and 22 put and agreed to.