Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022

PART 1 Preliminary and General

1. Short title and commencement

1. (1) This Act may be cited as the Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), this Act other than Parts 11 and 12, shall come into operation on such day or days as the Minister may appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision and different days may be so appointed for different purposes or different provisions.

(3) Part 9 shall come into operation on such day or days as the Minister for Health may appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision and different days may be so appointed for different purposes or different provisions.

2. Interpretation

2. In this Act—

“Act of 1981” means the Fire Services Act 1981;

“Act of 1990” means the Building Control Act 1990;

“Act of 1999” means the Electricity Regulation Act 1999;

“Act of 2005” means the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005;

“Act of 2007” means the Building Control Act 2007;

“Act of 2012” means the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012;

“Act of 2014” means the Companies Act 2014;

“appeals committee” means the appeals committee established under section 24;

“applicant” means an applicant for registration under section 34 or, as appropriate, for renewal of registration under section 36;

“Board” means the admissions and registration board established under section 22;

“building control regulations” means the building control regulations for the time being in force under section 6 of the Act of 1990;

“building regulations” means the building regulations for the time being in force under section 3 of the Act of 1990;

“code of practice” means a code of practice for the time being in operation under section 20;

“committee of the Board” means a committee of the Board established under section 23;

“company” means a company formed and registered under the Act of 2014 or an existing company within the meaning of that Act;

“competence criteria” has the meaning given to it by section 28;

“competent person” has the meaning given to it by section 30;

“complainant” has the meaning given to it by section 44;

“construction” means construction within the meaning of the Act of 1990;

“division” means a division or, as the case may be in accordance with section 27(2), subdivision of the register;

“employee”, in relation to a provider of building works, has the same meaning as it has in the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019;

“improper conduct” has the meaning given to it by section 44;

“induction course” has the meaning given to it by section 40;

“inspector” means a person appointed under section 21 to be an inspector;

“investigation” means an investigation under section 45;

“investigation report” has the meaning given to it by section 45;

“major sanction” has the meaning given to it by section 49;

“material matter” has the meaning given to it by section 38;

“Minister” means the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage;

“minor sanction” has the meaning given to it by section 49;

“practising barrister” has the same meaning as it has in the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015;

“practising solicitor” has the same meaning as it has in the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015;

“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Minister;

“Professional Qualifications Regulations” means the European Union (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 8 of 2017);

“provider of an education and training programme” means a provider within the meaning of the Act of 2012;

“provider of building works” shall be construed in accordance with section 3;

“public body” means—

(a) a Department of State,

(b) the Office of the President,

(c) the Office of the Attorney General,

(d) the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General,

(e) the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission,

(f) a local authority within the meaning of the Local Government Act 2001,

(g) the Health Service Executive, or

(h) a person, body or organisation established—

(i) by or under any enactment (other than the Act of 2014 or a former enactment relating to companies within the meaning of section 5 of that Act), or

(ii) under the Act of 2014 or a former enactment relating to companies within the meaning of section 5 of that Act, in pursuance of powers conferred by or under another enactment,

and financed wholly or partly, whether directly or indirectly, by means of moneys provided, or loans made or guaranteed, by a Minister of the Government or the issue of shares held by or on behalf of a Minister of the Government;

“register” means the register established and maintained under section 26;

“registered construction professional” means a person whose name is entered in the register for architects, register for quantity surveyors or register for building surveyors established under Part 3, 4 or 5 respectively of the Building Control Act 2007 or whose name is entered in the register kept by the Institution of Engineers of Ireland under section 7 of The Institution of Civil Engineers of Ireland (Charter Amendment) Act 1969;

“registered person” means a person whose name is entered in the register;

“Registrar” means the person appointed to be the registrar under section 12;

“registration body” means a body appointed by order under section 8;

“relevant environmental legislation” means the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992, the Waste Management Act 1996, the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, the European Communities (Waste Directive) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 126 of 2011) and the European Union (Waste Directive) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 323 of 2020);

“relevant Minister” means—

(a) in relation to an order under section 8, or a nomination referred to in section 22(5)(a), in respect of a public body other than a public body in relation to which the Minister performs functions, the Minister of the Government who performs the functions in relation to the public body,

(b) in relation to a nomination referred to in section 22(5)(b), in respect of a public body other than a public body in relation to which the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science performs functions, the Minister of the Government who performs the functions in relation to the public body, and

(c) in relation to a nomination referred to in section 22(5)(c), in respect of a public body other than a public body in relation to which the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment performs functions, the Minister of the Government who performs the functions in relation to the public body;

“statutory auditor” has the same meaning as it has in the Act of 2014;

“statutory audit firm” has the same meaning as it has in the Act of 2014;

“subdivision” shall be construed in accordance with section 27(2);

“system of continuing professional development” has the meaning given to it by section 39;

“works” means works within the meaning of the Act of 1990 to which the building regulations or building control regulations apply.

3. Provider of building works

3. (1) For the purposes of this Act, any of the following persons is a provider of building works:

(a) a person who engages in or holds himself, herself or itself out as, for consideration, providing or being prepared to provide works;

(b) a person who engages in or holds himself, herself or itself out as, for consideration, providing or being prepared to provide works pursuant to a contract for services;

(c) a person who engages in or holds himself, herself or itself out as, for consideration, building and disposing of an interest in new buildings by sale, lease or rent;

(d) a person who is connected, within the meaning of section 10 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, with the person referred to in paragraph (c) as part of any arrangement in connection with the building and disposal.

(2) In this Act, a person who only provides works as an employee of a provider of building works is not a provider of building works.

4. Exemptions

4. A person who carries out the following works is not a provider of building works—

(a) designated electrical works, so designated under section 9E of the Act of 1999, to a building carried out by a registered electrical contractor, within the meaning of section 9D(6) of the Act of 1999, in accordance with that Act or regulations made under it, or

(b) gas works, within the meaning of section 9G of the Act of 1999, to a building carried out by a registered gas installer, within the meaning of section 9F(6) of the Act of 1999, in accordance with that Act or regulations made under it.

5. Orders and regulations

5. (1) The Minister may by regulations provide for any matter referred to in this Act as prescribed or to be prescribed.

(2) Where a provision of this Act requires or authorises the Minister to make regulations, such regulations—

(a) may make different provision for different circumstances or cases, classes or types, and

(b) may contain such incidental, supplementary and consequential provisions as appear to the Minister to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of the regulations.

(3) Where the Government proposes to make an order under section 8(2), a draft of the order shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and the order shall not be made until a resolution approving the draft has been passed by each such House.

(4) Every order (other than an order made under section 1(2)) and regulation made by the Minister under this Act 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 or regulation is passed by either such House within the next 21 days on which that House sits after the order or regulation is laid before it, the order or regulation shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.

6. Expenses of Minister

6. The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.

7. Giving of notices

7. (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), a notice that is required to be given to a person under this Act shall be in writing and addressed to the person concerned by name, and may be so given to the person in one or more than one of the following ways:

(a) by delivering it to the person;

(b) by leaving it at the address at which the person carries on business or ordinarily resides or, in a case in which an address for service has been furnished, at that address;

(c) by sending it by post in a prepaid registered letter to the address at which the person carries on business or ordinarily resides or, in a case in which an address for service has been furnished, to that address;

(d) where the address at which the person ordinarily resides cannot be ascertained by reasonable inquiry and the notice relates to land, by delivering it to a person over the age of 16 years resident or employed at the land, or by affixing it in a conspicuous position at or near the land;

(e) by electronic means, in a case in which the person has given notice in writing to the person giving the notice concerned of his or her consent to the notice (or notices of a class to which the notice belongs) being given to him or her in that manner.

(2) Where a notice under this Act is to be given to a person who is the owner or occupier of land and the name of the person cannot be ascertained by reasonable inquiry, it may be addressed to the person by using the words “the owner” or, as the case may require, “the occupier”.

(3) For the purpose of this section, a company shall be deemed to be ordinarily resident at its registered office, and every other body corporate and every unincorporated body of persons shall be deemed to be ordinarily resident at its principal office or place of business.

PART 2 Registration body

8. Appointment of registration body

8. (1) The Minister, where he or she has, in relation to a body referred to in subsection (4), taken into account the matters referred to in subsection (5), may make a request to the Government to make an order under this section.

(2) The Government, having considered the request of the Minister under subsection (1), may make an order appointing the body referred to in that request to perform the functions conferred on the registration body by or under this Act.

(3) The body appointed to be the registration body under subsection (2) (in this section referred to as the “registration body”), shall—

(a) stand conferred with and be obliged to perform all the functions conferred on the registration body by or under this Act,

(b) in so far as the body stands conferred with and obliged to perform functions under paragraph (a), be known in the Irish language as Comhlacht Clárúcháin an Tionscail Foirgníochta and in the English language as the Construction Industry Registration Body,

(c) have all such powers as are necessary or expedient for the performance of its functions, and

(d) be fair and independent in the performance of its functions.

(4) One or more than one of the following bodies may be appointed as the registration body under subsection (2):

(a) a public body that performs functions that relate to the support or promotion of expertise and standards in construction or protection and training of workers in construction;

(b) a company;

(c) a body corporate which is not a company, or an unincorporated body of persons, which has not fewer than 300 members,

which is not an excluded body, and in the case of a body referred to paragraph (b) or (c), that—

(i) has among its principal objects the support or promotion of expertise and standards in construction or protection and training of workers in construction, and

(ii) has, on the date of the making of the order under subsection (2), been in existence for a continuous period of not less than 10 years.

(5) Before requesting the Government to make an order under subsection (2), the Minister shall, in order to form an opinion whether a body is capable of performing functions conferred on the registration body under this Act, take into account, in relation to the body, the need for—

(a) efficiency, effectiveness and economy,

(b) sufficient expertise and knowledge relating to standards in construction, including development and monitoring of those standards,

(c) sufficient expertise and knowledge relating to training,

(d) availability of sufficient capacity and resources for the purpose of performing functions conferred on the registration body under this Act,

(e) capacity, as necessary, to comply with policy of the Government or the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform concerning remuneration, allowances or pension arrangements for the Registrar, staff of the body, Board or appeals committee, and

(f) satisfactory corporate governance, accounting and internal audit structures.

(6) Before requesting the Government to make an order appointing a public body referred to in subsection (4)(a), the Minister shall consult with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the relevant Minister.

(7) In this section—

“excluded body” means any of the following:

(a) a political party, or a body that promotes a political party or candidate;

(b) a body that promotes a political cause;

(c) a chamber of commerce;

(d) a body that promotes purposes that are—

(i) unlawful,

(ii) contrary to public morality,

(iii) contrary to public policy,

(iv) in support of terrorism or terrorist activities, whether in the State or outside the State, or

(v) for the benefit of an organisation membership of which is unlawful.

9. Review and transfer of functions of registration body

9. (1) The Minister shall appoint a person to carry out periodic inspections, reviews and audits in relation to the performance by the registration body of its functions under this Act and to furnish a report to the Minister and the person so appointed shall carry out such inspection and review and furnish such report accordingly. This report shall also be furnished to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

(2) Where the Minister, having considered a report furnished to him or her under subsection (1), is of the opinion that the registration body is not performing one or more than one of its functions under this Act, he or she may request the Government to make an order under section 8(2).

(3) The Minister may form the opinion referred to in subsection (2) where the registration body has failed to perform statutory functions conferred on the registration body by or under this or any other Act.

(4) An order under section 8(2) requested by the Minister under subsection (2), may include an order appointing a body (in this section referred to as an “appointed registration body”) to perform the functions conferred on the registration body referred to in subsection (2) (in this section referred to as a “transferring registration body”) which functions shall stand transferred to the appointed registration body.

(5) Subject to this section, section 8 shall apply to an order referred to in subsection (2) as it applies to an order made under section 8.

(6) An order referred to in subsection (2) may provide for the coming into operation of the order on different days for different purposes or different functions.

(7) Where the functions of the transferring registration body stand transferred to an appointed registration body, the functions shall no longer be under the direction, control or supervision of the transferring registration body.

(8) Notwithstanding subsection (7) an order referred to in subsection (2) may provide that the transferring registration body shall continue to perform any function for a specified period and comply with any direction referred to or contained in the order as may appear to the Government, following a request by the Minister in that behalf, to be necessary or expedient.

(9) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (8), an order referred to in subsection (2) may, in relation to a function being transferred, provide for matters including—

(a) transfer of records, data and information,

(b) transfer of interests in land or other property,

(c) enforcement and continuation in force of leases, licences or permissions,

(d) enforcement and continuation in force of contracts, agreements or legal proceedings,

(e) transfer of employees or employment contracts,

(f) preparation of final accounts,

(g) transfer of the register,

(h) transfer of moneys advanced by the Minister or collected through fees,

(i) construction of references to the transferring registration body as references to the appointed registration body, including references in respect of a designation under section 64 or 65,

(j) arrangements concerning the continued performance by the transferring registration body, the Board or committees of the Board of that registration body and the Registrar and an inspector appointed by that body, of particular functions in so far as they relate to matters commenced but not completed before the coming into operation of the order referred to in subsection (2), and

(k) such incidental, supplementary and consequential provisions, including concerning remuneration, allowances or pension arrangements for the Registrar, staff of the body, Board or appeals committee, as appear to the Government to be necessary or expedient.

10. Certain obligations and functions of registration body

10. (1) The registration body shall—

(a) assess resources required by the registration body, the Board and the appeals committee for the purposes of performing their respective functions under this Act,

(b) on receipt of a request in that behalf from the Minister, furnish to the Minister and to any other persons specified in the request any information specified in the request with respect to the performance of functions by the registration body,

(c) on receipt of a request in that behalf from the Minister, for the purposes of determining the supports required of the registration body by the Board and the appeals committee, furnish to the Minister and to any other persons specified in the request any information specified in the request with respect to the performance by the Board and the appeals committee of their respective functions under this Act,

(d) keep all proper and usual accounts of moneys received by the body under section 15 or 17 and expenditure of such moneys incurred by it, the Board and the appeals committee in the performance of their respective functions under this Act, and

(e) furnish an auditor’s report to the Minister of an audit of accounts of the registration body, the Board and the appeals committee when requested to do so by the Minister.

(2) Where the Minister is of the opinion that it is required for the improvement of standards in the provision of works, dissemination of information relating to works to providers of building works and the public or regulation of providers of building works, he or she may by order—

(a) confer on the registration body such additional functions connected with the functions conferred on it by this Act or any order under this section as he or she determines, subject to such conditions (if any) as may be specified in the order, and

(b) make such provision as the Minister considers necessary or expedient in respect of matters ancillary to or arising out of any of the functions referred to in paragraph (a).

11. General directive as to policy

11. (1) The Minister, having regard to the matters specified in subsection (2), may issue a general directive as to policy (in this section referred to as a “directive”) to the registration body or the Board as the Minister considers appropriate in relation to—

(a) a review of the register and provision of a report by the Board under section 27, or

(b) assessment by the Board under section 29, including assessment in relation to a division of the register in priority to an assessment in relation to another division of the register.

(2) The Minister shall have regard—

(a) when issuing a directive under subsection (1)(a), to the matters referred to in section 27(4), and

(b) when issuing a directive under subsection (1)(b), to the matters referred to in section 27(4) and to the need for the orderly and timely establishment of competence criteria and the level of qualification, practical experience or both required to fulfil the competence criteria for the purposes of the correct operation of the register.

(3) The Minister may amend or revoke a directive issued under subsection (1).

(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed as enabling the Minister to exercise any power or control in relation to a particular application for registration or particular complaint or review before the Registrar or Board or appeal before the appeals committee.

(5) The Minister shall, as soon as practicable after issuing a directive under subsection (1), or making an amendment or revocation under subsection (3), cause a copy of the directive, amendment or revocation to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and sent to the chairperson of the Board.

(6) A directive issued under subsection (1) or an amendment or revocation made under subsection (3) shall, as soon as practicable after it is issued, be published in Iris Oifigiúil.

12. Registrar

12. (1) The registration body shall appoint a person to be the Registrar to be responsible for keeping the register and for performing the functions conferred on the Registrar by or under this Act.

(2) The registration body shall, subject to section 14, determine the terms and conditions of employment (including terms and conditions relating to remuneration, pensions and allowances for expenses) of the Registrar.

(3) The Registrar shall ensure that information entered in the register is up to date and shall publish the register on a website maintained by or on behalf of the Registrar.

13. Staff of registration body

13. (1) The registration body may appoint persons to be the staff of the body and may determine their duties.

(2) The registration body, shall determine, subject to section 14—

(a) the terms and conditions of employment (including terms and conditions relating to remuneration, pensions and allowances for expenses) of staff appointed under this section, and

(b) the number of staff who may be appointed.

14. Remuneration and expenses

14. There shall be paid to the Registrar, staff of the body, chairpersons and other members of the Board, committees of the Board and the appeals committee by the registration body such remuneration, allowances for expenses and, in the case of the Registrar and staff of the body, payment of contributions to pension arrangements, as the registration body, or where the registration body is a body referred to in paragraph (a) of section 8(4) the registration body with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, may determine and payment of such remuneration and allowances shall be made from funds at their disposal in accordance with section 15(1) of the registration body.

15. Funding for registration body

15. (1) The registration body shall not be required to provide funds from its resources other than those provided to it under subsection (2) and section 17 to defray expenses in respect of the performance of the functions, conferred on the body, the Board, a committee of the Board or the appeals committee by or under this Act and the carrying out of activities or provision of services by them under this Act.

(2) There may, subject to such conditions if any as the Minister thinks proper, be paid to the registration body in each financial year out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas, a grant or grants of such amount or amounts as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, and after consultation with the registration body in relation to its programme of expenditure for that year, may fix.

16. Accounts and audits

16. (1) The registration body shall keep in such form as may be approved by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, all proper and usual accounts and records of moneys received and expended by the Body.

(2) The registration body shall, as appropriate—

(a) submit, not later than 4 months after the end of the accounting period to which the accounts relate, its accounts to the Comptroller and Auditor General,

(b) have appointed to it by the Minister a statutory auditor or statutory audit firm to be the statutory auditor of the registration body for the purposes of and in accordance with the Act of 2014, or

(c) have appointed to it by the Minister an auditor or audit firm to perform, in relation to the registration body, functions of like effect to the functions of a statutory auditor or statutory audit firm and the Act of 2014 shall apply, subject to any necessary modifications, to that appointment.

(3) Where subsection (2)(a) applies to the accounts of the registration body, within one month of the Comptroller and Auditor General issuing an audit certificate for the accounts of the registration body, a copy of—

(a) the accounts, and

(b) the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the accounts,

shall be presented to the Minister who shall, as soon as may be, cause copies thereof to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

(4) Where subsection (2)(b) or (c) applies to the accounts of the registration body, the report of the statutory auditor or auditor, as the case may be, shall be presented to the Minister by the body not more than one month after the report of the statutory auditor or auditor is certified.

(5) The registration body shall publish a copy of its accounts on a website maintained by or on behalf of the body as soon as practicable after subsection (3) or, as the case may be subsection (4), has been complied with in respect of the accounts.

17. Registration body may charge and recover fees

17. (1) The registration body shall specify fees to be charged and paid to the body in respect of the performance of functions conferred on the body, the Board, a committee of the Board and the appeals committee by or under this Act and the carrying out of activities and provision of services by any of them under this Act.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the registration body shall specify fees to be fixed at a level calculated to produce an annual amount which is sufficient to discharge the capital outlay, salaries and remuneration, and any other expenses of the body, the Board, a committee of the Board and the appeals committee in the performance of functions, carrying out of activities and provision of services by any of them under this Act.

(3) The Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, prescribe matters to be taken into account by the registration body in calculating—

(a) when, in relation to a division, fees may be specified and charged, and

(b) different fees to be specified and charged in respect of different divisions.

(4) The registration body shall not specify fees under this section unless the body has consulted with and obtained the consent of the Minister.

(5) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the registration body’s power to specify fees includes the power to provide for exemptions from the payment of fees or waiving, remitting or refunding fees (in whole or in part), in different circumstances or classes of circumstances or in different cases or classes of cases.

(6) The registration body may recover as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction, from the person by whom the fee is payable, any amount due and owing to the registration body in respect of a fee charged under this section.

(7) Fees specified under this section shall be published by the registration body on a website maintained by or on behalf of the body.

(8) This section shall apply to any fees required under this Act to be specified by the registration body.

18. Registration body may seek assistance and make rules

18. (1) The registration body may arrange with any person to assist it, the Board or a committee of the Board, in the proper discharge of its functions.

(2) The registration body shall not make an arrangement referred to in subsection (1) in respect of the discharge of the functions conferred on the appeals committee under section 50.

(3) The registration body may make rules for facilitating and discharging its functions and the functions of the Board or a committee of the Board.

19. Reports

19. (1) The registration body shall, not later than 30 June in each year, prepare and furnish a report (in this section referred to as the “annual report”) to the Minister on the performance of its functions and the functions of the Board and the appeals committee in the previous year.

(2) The Minister shall, as soon as practicable, cause copies of the annual report to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

(3) The annual report shall be in such form and shall include such information in respect of such matters as the registration body shall think fit or as the Minister may direct.

(4) The registration body may prepare and furnish such other reports to the Minister on the performance of its functions as it thinks fit.

(5) The registration body shall give to the Minister such other information as the Minister may require in respect of—

(a) the performance by the registration body, Board and the appeals committee of their functions and their policies in respect of such performance,

(b) any document or account prepared by them, or

(c) the annual report or any report referred to in subsection (4).

(6) For the purposes of subsection (1), the period beginning on the date of an order under section 8(2) and ending on the following 31 December shall be deemed to be a previous year referred to in subsection (1).

(7) If, under subsection (1) and, if appropriate, subsection (6), the first annual report would relate to a period of less than 6 months, that report shall notwithstanding those subsections, relate to the activities of the registration body during that period and the financial year of the registration body immediately following that period and the registration body shall prepare and furnish to the Minister the first annual report as soon as may be, but not later than 6 months after, the end of that financial year.

(8) The registration body shall publish, including on a website maintained by or on behalf of the body, its annual report in such form as it thinks fit as soon as practicable after subsection (2) has been complied with in respect of the report.

(9) The registration body may publish such other reports on matters related to its activities and functions as it may from time to time consider relevant and appropriate.

20. Code of practice

20. (1) For the purpose of the continued improvement in the professional conduct of providers of building works, the registration body may, and if so requested by the Minister shall prepare and submit to the Minister for approval, a code of practice.

(2) A code of practice referred to in subsection (1) may include, as respects a provider of building works, provision in relation to any of the following:

(a) advertising of services;

(b) proper conduct of tenders;

(c) provision of quality customer service;

(d) keeping of records;

(e) continuing professional development;

(f) such other matters as appear to the registration body or the Minister to be necessary for the purposes of Part 4 or 5.

(3) A code of practice prepared under this section shall be approved by the Minister before it comes into operation.

(4) Before approving a code of practice under this section, the Minister shall—

(a) publish a notice on a website maintained by or on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and in at least one daily newspaper circulating generally in the State—

(i) indicating that the registration body proposes to publish a code under this section,

(ii) indicating that a draft of the code is available for inspection on that website for a period specified in the notice (being not less than 30 days beginning on the date of the publication of the notice in the newspaper), and

(iii) stating that submissions in relation to the draft code may be made in writing to the registration body before a date specified in the notice (which shall be not less than 60 days beginning on the date of the publication of the notice in the newspaper),

and

(b) have regard to any submissions received pursuant to paragraph (a)(iii).

(5) Where the registration body prepares and the Minister approves a code of practice under this section, the Minister shall cause a notice of the preparation and approval to be published in Iris Oifigiúil and the notice shall specify the date on which the code shall come into operation.

(6) Subject to subsection (7), the registration body or the Minister may—

(a) amend or revoke a code of practice prepared or approved under this section, or

(b) withdraw approval in respect of any code of practice previously approved under this section.

(7) The requirements of subsections (1) and (5) shall, with all necessary modifications, apply to a code of practice that the Minister intends to amend or revoke or in relation to which the Minister intends to withdraw his or her approval.

(8) Where the registration body or the Minister amends or revokes, or the Minister withdraws his or her approval in respect of, a code of practice under this section, the Minister shall cause a notice to that effect to be published in Iris Oifigiúil specifying—

(a) the code to which the amendment, revocation or withdrawal of approval, as the case may be, relates,

(b) whether the code is to be amended or revoked or whether approval in relation to the code is to be withdrawn,

(c) if the code is to be amended, particulars of the amendment, and

(d) the date from which the amendment, revocation or withdrawal of approval, as the case may be, shall come into operation.

(9) The code of practice or any amendment, revocation or notice of withdrawal of the code shall on and from the date of its coming into operation be published on the website of the registration body.

(10) In this section “code of practice” includes part of a code of practice.

21. Inspectors

21. (1) For the purposes of Part 6 the registration body may appoint—

(a) such members of its staff as it thinks fit to be inspectors for such period and subject to such terms as the Board may determine, and

(b) such other persons as it thinks fit to be inspectors for such period and subject to such terms (including terms as to remuneration and allowances for expenses) as the registration body may determine.

(2) An inspector shall be independent in the performance of his or her functions.

(3) The registration body shall not rely on any contract of service or contract for services with a person appointed under this section in any way that may affect the person’s independence in the performance of any function or power conferred on an inspector under Part 6.

(4) Subject to subsection (3), the registration body may revoke the appointment of an inspector appointed under subsection (1) whether or not the appointment was for a fixed period.

(5) An appointment under subsection (1) ceases—

(a) if it is revoked under subsection (4),

(b) if it is for a fixed period, on the expiry of that period, or

(c) if the person appointed is a member of staff of the registration body, on the person ceasing to be a member of staff.

(6) Nothing in subsection (5) shall be construed so as to prevent the registration body from reappointing as an inspector a person to whom subsection (5) relates.

(7) An inspector shall be furnished with a certificate of his or her appointment by the registration body.

(8) When exercising a power conferred on an inspector under Part 6 the inspector shall, on request by any person thereby affected, produce the certificate or a copy of it and a form of personal identification to that person for inspection.

PART 3 Admissions and registration board and appeals committee

22. Admissions and registration board

22. (1) The registration body shall establish an admissions and registration board (in this Act referred to as the “Board”).

(2) The Board shall consist of a chairperson and 10 ordinary members appointed by the Minister.

(3) The chairperson of the Board shall be—

(a) a former judge of the Circuit Court, High Court, Court of Appeal or Supreme Court,

(b) a practising solicitor,

(c) a practising barrister, or

(d) a registered construction professional.

(4) When appointing a person to be a member of the Board, the Minister shall be satisfied that the person has knowledge of, and expertise in relation to, one or more of the following:

(a) the provision of works;

(b) building control regulations;

(c) building regulations;

(d) construction skills, education and training;

(e) the needs of consumers of construction services;

(f) construction specifications and standards;

(g) the maintenance of standards in professions regulated by a statutory body;

(h) dealing with complaints against members of professions regulated by a statutory body.

(5) Of the persons appointed to be members of the Board—

(a) 2 shall be nominated by the Minister from among officers of the Minister or from members of staff of a public body referred to in paragraph (f) or, following consultation with the relevant Minister, paragraph (g) or (h) of the definition of public body,

(b) 1 shall be nominated by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science from among officers of that Minister or from members of staff of a public body referred to in paragraph (f), (g) or (h) of the definition of public body following consultation with the relevant Minister,

(c) 1 shall be nominated by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment from among officers of that Minister or from members of staff of a public body referred to in paragraph (f), (g) or (h) of the definition of public body following consultation with the relevant Minister,

(d) 1 shall be nominated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions,

(e) 3 shall be nominated by the registration body, any of whom may be registered persons, but no more than one of whom shall be registered in any one division, and

(f) 2 shall be appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of the Chief Executive of the Public Appointments Service after a competition for that purpose under section 47 of the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 has been held and the Chief Executive is satisfied that the nominees meet the criteria specified in subsection (4).

(6) When nominating persons for appointment under this section, a Minister or nominating body referred to in subsection (5) shall be satisfied that his or her or its nominees meet one or more of the criteria specified in subsection (4).

(7) The Minister shall, in so far as practicable, ensure an appropriate balance between men and women in the composition of the Board.

(8) The Board shall be independent in the performance of its functions.

(9) The Minister shall direct the registration body to provide such support of an administrative nature as the Minister considers necessary to enable the Board to perform its functions and the registration body shall comply with a direction under this subsection.

(10) The Board shall furnish to the registration body information concerning the performance of the functions of the Board requested by the registration body to enable that body to determine the administrative supports required by the Board.

23. Committees of Board

23. (1) The Board may establish one or more than one committee to assist and advise it in relation to any of its functions (in this section referred to as a “committee of the Board”).

(2) The Board may delegate to a committee of the Board any of the Board’s functions which, in its opinion, can be better or more conveniently performed by the committee.

(3) The Board may determine the terms of reference for a committee of the Board and may regulate the procedure and business of that committee.

(4) The members of a committee of the Board shall be appointed by the Board.

(5) A committee established under this section—

(a) shall consist of such number of members as the Board thinks proper,

(b) may include a person who is not a member of the registration body, the Board or another committee established under this section, and

(c) shall not include a person who is for the time being a member of the appeals committee.

(6) A member of a committee of the Board who fails to perform his or her functions may be removed at any time for stated reasons by the Board.

(7) The Board may in relation to a committee of the Board—

(a) appoint a person to be chairperson of the committee, and

(b) at any time dissolve the committee.

(8) The acts of a committee of the Board shall be subject to confirmation by the Board.

24. Appeals committee

24. (1) There shall stand established, on the coming into operation of this section, an appeals committee to determine appeals provided for in this Act.

(2) The appeals committee shall consist of a chairperson and at least 4 ordinary members appointed by the Minister, none of whom shall be a member of the Board or a committee of the Board.

(3) The chairperson of the appeals committee shall be—

(a) a former judge of the Circuit Court, High Court, Court of Appeal or Supreme Court,

(b) a practising solicitor,

(c) a practising barrister, or

(d) a registered construction professional.

(4) When appointing a person to be a member of the appeals committee, the Minister shall be satisfied that the person has knowledge of, and expertise in relation to, one or more of the following:

(a) the provision of works;

(b) building control regulations;

(c) building regulations;

(d) construction skills, education and training;

(e) the needs of consumers of construction services;

(f) construction specifications and standards;

(g) the maintenance of standards in professions regulated by a statutory body;

(h) dealing with complaints against members of professions regulated by a statutory body.

(5) The ordinary members of the appeals committee shall be appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of the Chief Executive of the Public Appointments Service after a competition for that purpose under section 47 of the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 has been held and the Chief Executive is satisfied that the nominees meet the criteria specified in subsection (4).

(6) The Minister shall, in so far as practicable, ensure an appropriate balance between men and women in the composition of the appeals committee.

(7) The chairperson of the appeals committee may as he or she considers appropriate direct the hearing of appeals by divisions of the committee, the assignment of appeals to those divisions, and the appointment of ordinary members of the committee to be chairpersons of the divisions concerned.

(8) A division of the appeals committee shall comprise at least 2 persons being the chairperson of the appeals committee or a chairperson of a division appointed under subsection (7) and an ordinary member.

(9) Where a division of the appeals committee is composed of 2 persons and the appeals committee cannot reach a unanimous determination of an appeal, the appeal shall be considered by a division composed of 3 other persons.

(10) The appeals committee shall be independent in the performance of its functions.

(11) The appeals committee shall, subject to section 50, make rules in relation to the conduct of appeals falling to be determined by it as it considers appropriate and shall publish those rules on a website maintained by or on behalf of the appeals committee including rules relating to—

(a) requirements to give notice of an appeal,

(b) parties to an appeal,

(c) requirements for notification of an appeal and sittings of the appeals committee,

(d) documentation to be supplied to the appeals committee by the registration body,

(e) ability of the appeals committee to require submission by a person of information or documentation that is necessary for the determination of an appeal,

(f) dismissal of an appeal which in the opinion of the appeals committee is vexatious, frivolous, an abuse of process or without substance or foundation,

(g) advising the appellant of the appellant’s right—

(i) to be present at the appeals committee’s sitting, and

(ii) to present his or her case in person or, at his or her own expense, through a legal representative,

(h) procedures for the hearing of an appeal,

(i) the examination of witnesses,

(j) determination by the appeals committee as to whether or not evidence should be given under oath,

(k) time limits to apply to the making and conduct of appeals,

(l) submissions to the appeals committee by parties to an appeal or other persons,

(m) procedures for the consolidation and hearing of two or more than two appeals together,

(n) procedures for delayed or abandoned appeals,

(o) procedures for the separation of appeals,

(p) procedures for sittings of the appeals committee otherwise than in public,

(q) procedures for imposing restrictions in relation to disclosure, during the hearing of an appeal, publication or reporting of a matter the appeals committee considers to be commercially sensitive, and

(r) recording of proceedings.

(12) An appeal shall be considered in public unless the chairperson of the appeals committee, or division of the committee hearing the appeal, as the case may be, of his or her own motion or on an application by or on behalf of a party to the appeal, determines that, due to the existence of special circumstances, the appeal (or part of it) should be conducted otherwise than in public.

(13) The Minister shall direct the registration body to provide such support of an administrative nature as the Minister considers necessary to enable the appeals committee to perform its functions and the registration body shall comply with a direction under this subsection.

(14) The appeals committee shall furnish to the registration body information concerning the performance of the functions of the appeals committee requested by the registration body to enable that body to determine the administrative supports required by the appeals committee.

25. Miscellaneous provisions concerning Board and appeals committee

25. The provisions of Schedule 2 shall have effect in relation to the Board and the appeals committee.

PART 4 Register and competence criteria

26. Register

26. (1) The registration body shall, as soon as practicable after the commencement of this section, establish and maintain for the purposes of this Act a register of providers of building works (in this Act referred to as the “register”) to be known in the Irish language as Clár Tionscail Foirgníochta na hÉireann and in the English language as the Construction Industry Register Ireland.

(2) The register shall be maintained in such form as the registration body thinks fit, including electronic form, and shall contain, in relation to each registered person—

(a) the names and contact details and such other identifying particulars (including a registration number) as the registration body considers appropriate,

(b) the names, in relation to a registered person that is a body corporate of the body corporate and of all persons who are the directors, managers, secretary or other officers of the body corporate or who are identified in the application concerned as acting in such capacity and, where the affairs of the body corporate are managed by its members, each person who is identified by the applicant in the application as performing functions of management in relation to the body as if he or she were a director or manager of the body corporate,

(c) the name referred to in section 42(b) under which the registered person, with the consent of the registration body, acts as a provider of building works,

(d) the division in which the name of the registered person is entered,

(e) in relation to each division in which the registered person’s name is entered, the name or names of the competent person, or as the case may be, competent persons, identified by the registered person as fulfilling, on behalf of the registered person, the competence criteria,

(f) details of any convictions or sanctions (other than a spent conviction within the meaning of section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act 2016) imposed either within the State, or outside the State for an offence consisting of acts or omissions that, if done or made within the State, would constitute an offence, under the Act of 1981, section 17 of the Act of 1990, the Act of 2005, or the relevant environmental legislation, within the previous 10 years,

(g) details of any order under section 8 or 12 of the Act of 1990, within the previous 10 years, and

(h) such other information (including in relation to suspension of registration) as the registration body considers appropriate.

(3) The registration body shall make the register available for inspection free of charge by members of the public—

(a) in electronic form at its principal office during normal working hours, and

(b) on a website maintained by or on behalf of the registration body in such a manner that the section of the website which contains the register is readily accessible by members of the public.

(4) The registration body shall provide a copy of an entry in the register to any person on request and on payment of a fee in respect of the provision of the copy as may be specified by the body.

(5) In any legal proceedings, a certificate signed by the chairperson or a member of the Board, the Registrar or a member of the staff of the registration body authorised by the chairperson of the Board to give a certificate under this subsection, stating that the name of a person—

(a) is entered in the register or in a specified division,

(b) is not entered in the register or in a specified division,

(c) was at a specified date or during a specified period entered in the register or in a specified division,

(d) was not, at a specified date or during a specified period, entered in the register or in a specified division or was suspended from the register at that time, or

(e) has never been entered in the register,

is evidence of the matter referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) (as the case may be) and is taken to have been signed by the person purporting to have signed it, unless the contrary is shown.

(6) A registered person shall, in relation to the entry in the register relating to the registered person, give notice to the registration body of—

(a) any error that the person knows of in the entry, and

(b) any change in circumstances that is likely to have a bearing on the accuracy of the entry,

as soon as may be after the person becomes aware of that error or change in circumstances and the registration body shall consider the notice and make any alteration to the register as it considers necessary.

(7) Where the registration body makes an alteration under subsection (6), the registration body shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, give notice of it to the registered person concerned.

27. Divisions of register

27. (1) The register shall be divided into different divisions for each of the different categories of works prescribed by the Minister following consideration by the Minister of a recommendation of the Board.

(2) A division of the register may be divided into subdivisions and a reference in this Act to a division shall be construed as including, as necessary, a reference to a subdivision.

(3) The Board shall, from time to time and at least every 5 years carry out a review of the register and prepare a report for the Minister and where the Board is of the view that any division ought to be added to, altered or removed from the register, it shall include in the report a recommendation to that effect and shall give reasons for the view.

(4) The Minister, in prescribing the divisions of the register under subsection (1), and the Board, in making a recommendation under subsection (1)orsubsection (3), shall take into account the following:

(a) the design and construction of buildings;

(b) material alterations or extensions of buildings;

(c) the provision of services, fitting and equipment in, or in connection with, buildings;

(d) works not referred to in paragraph (b) or (c);

(e) the variety of construction methods required to carry out works;

(f) the desirability of having a competent construction industry;

(g) a deficiency, inaccuracy or inadequacy of the existing divisions of the register;

(h) advancement in building techniques;

(i) technological advancements in works;

(j) an alteration of the statutory requirements, including requirements referred to in paragraphs (a) to (f) of section 28(2) relating to works;

(k) an alteration of any industry standards including standards referred to in paragraph (h) of section 28(2) relating to works.

(5) On receipt of a recommendation under subsection (3), the Minister may prescribe divisions of works to be added to, altered or removed from the register where, having taken into account the matters specified in subsection (4), he or she forms the view that such amendment ought to be made.

(6) Before prescribing a division under subsection (1) or an addition, alteration to a division or removal of a division under subsection (5), the Minister shall consult with—

(a) the Minister of the Government who performs functions in relation to construction or innovation, and

(b) the registration body.

(7) Before making a recommendation under subsection (3), the Board shall consult with such representatives of registered construction professionals and such other persons or bodies as the Board considers appropriate.

28. Competence criteria

28. (1) The Board shall determine the criteria of specific knowledge, skill and expertise required of a provider of building works to carry out works in order to become, or as the case may be, remain eligible for registration in each division (in this section referred to as the “competence criteria”).

(2) A determination under subsection (1) shall take into account the requirements of each of the following as they apply to each category of works for which a division has been prescribed under section 27(1):

(a) the building regulations, including any technical guidance documents for the time being published by the Minister in accordance with those regulations;

(b) the building control regulations, including the code known as the Code of Practice for Inspecting and Certifying Buildings and Works for the time being published by the Minister in accordance with those regulations;

(c) the Act of 2005;

(d) regulations relating to construction for the time being in force under section 58 of the Act of 2005;

(e) the Planning and Development Act 2000;

(f) the relevant environmental legislation;

(g) construction products regulations;

(h) specifications, standard specifications, Irish standard specifications or other document published for the time being by the National Standards Authority of Ireland and other standard specifications relevant to the provision of works.

(3) A determination of the Board under subsection (1) shall be submitted to the Minister for approval.

(4) The Minister may approve, or approve subject to modifications, the competence criteria and, when the competence criteria have been so approved, they shall apply and have effect.

(5) Subject to section 11, the Board shall determine the order in which a determination under subsection (1) is carried out in relation to each division.

(6) A determination under subsection (1) shall be carried in relation to each division at intervals not exceeding 5 years following the first determination and, subject to subsections (3) and (4), the competence criteria may be amended following any such determination.

(7) The competence criteria shall be made available to members of the public by the registration body on a website maintained by or on behalf of the body.

(8) For the purpose of performing their respective functions under this section, the Minister or the Board may consult with—

(a) Quality and Qualifications Ireland,

(b) An tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna (SOLAS),

(c) National Standards Authority of Ireland,

(d) the Higher Education Authority,

(e) Skillnet Ireland,

(f) Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland,

(g) a provider of an education and training programme,

(h) representatives of registered construction professionals, and

(i) such other persons or bodies as the Board or Minister sees fit.

29. Eligibility for registration

29. (1) The Board shall carry out an assessment to determine the level of qualification or practical experience or combination of both by which a person can fulfil the competence criteria for each division in order to be eligible for registration.

(2) An assessment under subsection (1) shall, in relation to each category of works for which a division has been prescribed under section 27(1), include—

(a) a determination of the education and training programmes available, which, if completed by a person, would enable the person to fulfil the competence criteria required for entry of the person’s name in the division, based on—

(i) identifying each education and training programme offered by a designated awarding body or a body subject to validation or which is an award included within the National Framework of Qualifications, which is relevant to the works (in this section referred to as a “relevant programme”),

(ii) evaluating the curriculum of each relevant programme, and

(iii) evaluating the adequacy of the learning outcomes of each relevant programme against the competence criteria,

and

(b) a determination of the level of practical experience, which, if completed by a person, would enable the person to fulfil the competence criteria required for entry of the person’s name in the division, based on—

(i) an evaluation of the level of complexity of the works,

(ii) an evaluation of the degree of specialisation of the works,

(iii) consideration of any relevant programme identified as fulfilling the competence criteria under paragraph (a), and how knowledge could be acquired in practice over a period of time by completion of a sufficient quantity of works,

(iv) analysis of the level of risk to the health and safety of the individuals providing the works,

(v) analysis of the level of risk to the health and safety of individuals if works are not carried out correctly, and

(vi) an evaluation of the level of financial risk to consumers if works are not carried out correctly.

(3) Following completion of an assessment under subsection (1), the Board shall make a recommendation, which recommendation shall be accompanied by a report giving reasons for the recommendation, to the Minister in relation to the following for each division:

(a) the education and training programmes offered that enable a person to fulfil the competence criteria;

(b) the level of practical experience that enables a person to fulfil the competence criteria;

(c) where appropriate, how the competence criteria could be met through a combination of education and training programmes and practical experience.

(4) Following receipt of a recommendation under subsection (3)and subject to section 59, the Minister shall prescribe required qualifications or a level of practical experience or combination of both for registration in each division where he or she is satisfied that the relevant programme associated with such qualification, or the skills acquired in the course of such practical experience, or both, enable a person to fulfil the competence criteria for each division.

(5) Where, in the course of an assessment under subsection (1), the Board does not identify a relevant programme under subsection (2)(a)(i) in respect of a division, the Board shall proceed to make a determination under subsection (2)(b) in respect of the division.

(6) Where, in the course of an assessment under subsection (1), the Board, having identified a relevant programme under subsection (2)(a)(i) forms the view that the relevant programme would not, if completed by a provider of building works, fully satisfy the competence criteria required for entry of a person’s name in a division, shall determine how the criteria could be met through a combination of education and training programmes and practical experience and such determination shall be based upon consideration of the matters referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2).

(7) An assessment under subsection (1) shall be carried out at the request of the Minister and at intervals not exceeding 5 years following the first assessment.

(8) Nothing in this section shall operate to prevent the Board from considering at any time in addition to qualifications to be determined or prescribed under this section, an education or training programme not referred to in subsection (2)(a)(i) that, in the opinion of the Board, as the case may be, would enable a person who has completed such programme, to fulfil the competence criteria for entry of the person’s name in a particular division.

(9) Without prejudice to any matter prescribed under subsection (4), a person may be eligible for registration in a division where the person has—

(a) obtained a qualification in another Member State or a third country, which is recognised under—

(i) the Professional Qualifications Regulations, or

(ii) an agreement entered into between the European Union and the World Trade Organisation, and provides for the recognition by the states to which the agreement relates of qualifications of a class specified in the agreement,

(b) completed practical experience as a provider of building works outside the State, or

(c) a combination of paragraphs (a) and (b),

which would enable the person to fulfil the competence criteria for entry in a particular division.

(10) Subsections (2)(b), (3) and (4) shall apply to a determination of the level of practical experience required to be completed by a person outside the State as they apply where the level of practical experience is required to be completed within the State.

(11) Without prejudice to any matter prescribed under subsection (4), a person who has not previously worked independently as a provider of building works may fulfil the competence criteria for each division and be eligible for registration based on work undertaken by the person at an appropriate level as an employee.

(12) This section shall operate without prejudice to the requirements of section 34.

(13) For the purpose of performing their respective functions under this section, the Minister or the Board may consult with—

(a) Quality and Qualifications Ireland,

(b) An tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna (SOLAS),

(c) Skillnet Ireland,

(d) the Higher Education Authority,

(e) a provider of an education and training programme, and

(f) such other persons or bodies as the Minister or the Board sees fit.

(14) In this section—

“designated awarding body” has the same meaning as it has in the Act of 2012;

“education and training programme” shall be construed as a “programme of education and training” within the meaning of the Act of 2012;

“European Union” has the same meaning as it has in the European Communities Act 1972;

“National Framework of Qualifications” means the National Framework of Qualifications kept and maintained by Quality and Qualifications Ireland in accordance with section 43 of the Act of 2012;

“third country” means a state that is not a Member State;

“validation” has the same meaning as it has in the Act of 2012;

“World Trade Organisation” means the organisation established under the Agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994 as amended or supplemented by any protocol to that Agreement which is for the time being in force in the State.

30. Competent persons

30. (1) Subject to this section, a provider of building works who is a person referred to in paragraph (b) of section 26(2) may, for the purposes of section 34 or, as the case may be, section 36, rely upon any of the persons referred to in paragraph (b) of section 26(2) or, as the case may be, an employee who holds a qualification or level of practical experience or combination of both as prescribed under section 29 (in this section referred to as a “competent person”) to fulfil the competence criteria relating to the division in which the provider applies to be or is registered in order to become or, as the case may be, remain eligible for registration in that division.

(2) The Board shall consider and determine a minimum number, being not less than one, of competent persons to be recommended to the Minister as being required in order to be relied upon for registration in each division.

(3) For the purpose of its recommendation under subsection (2), the Board shall have regard to the nature of the works and may determine a different minimum number of competent persons required in each division for different circumstances, cases or types of works and, for that purpose, in this section, section 31 and section 32 a reference to a division includes a reference to different circumstances, cases or types of works within a division in respect of which the Minister has prescribed under subsection (5).

(4) The Board shall prepare a report for the Minister which shall contain its recommendation under subsection (2) and shall give reasons for the recommendation.

(5) The Minister, having considered the report of the Board under subsection (4) may approve, or approve subject to modifications, the report and prescribe the proposed minimum number to be the minimum number of competent persons required to be relied upon by a person referred to in subsection (1) to become or, as the case may be, remain eligible for registration in each division.

(6) For the purposes of subsection (1), a provider of building works who is a person referred to in paragraph (b) of section 26(2), subject to section 31, shall not, in relation to a division, rely on less than the minimum number of competent persons as may be prescribed under subsection (5) to fulfil the competence criteria relating to the division in which the provider applies to be or is registered.

(7) A person who fails to comply with subsection (6) shall be guilty of an offence.

(8) The Board shall, in relation to a division, make a recommendation under subsection (2) and prepare a report under subsection (4), at the request of the Minister, or at periodic intervals not exceeding every 5 years following the first prescribing of the minimum number of competent persons under subsection (5).

(9) The registration body shall publish or cause to be published on a website maintained by or on behalf of the registration body, the number of competent persons prescribed under subsection (5) to be the minimum number of competent persons required to be relied on by a person referred to in subsection (1) to become or, as the case may be, remain eligible for registration in each division.

(10) A competent person may be relied upon by a provider of building works under this section to fulfil the competence criteria and become eligible for registration in more than one division where the qualification or level of practical experience or combination of both prescribed under section 29 held by the competent person fulfils the competence criteria for each division.

31. Departure of competent person

31. (1) Where a competent person relied upon for registration in a division ceases to be a person referred to in paragraph (b) of section 26(2) or an employee of a registered person referred to in section 30(1) the registered person shall, without prejudice to the generality of section 38, and not later than 10 days beginning on the date of the departure give notice of the ceasing to the registration body who shall, where in respect of the minimum number of competent persons prescribed under section 30(5), such ceasing amounts to—

(a) less than or equal to half of the minimum number, note the departure of the competent person on the division of the register and give notice from soon after receipt of the registered person’s notice to the registered person that the registered person has 6 months beginning on the date of the departure to furnish information and evidence to satisfy the registration body that a competent person is in place and of fulfilment of the prescribed competence criteria which notice shall advise the registered person that failure to do so shall result in removal from the division of the register,

(b) more than half of the minimum number, note the departure of the competent person on the division of the register and give notice from soon after receipt of the registered person’s notice to the registered person that the registered person has 3 months beginning on the date of the departure to furnish information and evidence to satisfy the registration body that a competent person is in place and of fulfilment of the prescribed competence criteria which notice shall advise the registered person that failure to do so shall result in removal from the division of the register, or

(c) all of the competent persons, immediately suspend the registered person’s entry in the division of the register and give notice from soon after receipt of the registered person’s notice to the suspended registered person of the suspension and the period which shall not exceed 4 weeks beginning on the date of the departure within which the registration body requires the suspended registered person to comply with subsection (3), which notice shall advise the registered person that failure to do so shall result in removal from the division of the register.

(2) A registered person who fails to comply with this section shall be guilty of an offence.

(3) A suspension under subsection (1)(c) shall continue until the suspended registered person furnishes, within the period specified by the registration body under subsection (1)(c), information and evidence to satisfy the registration body that the suspended registered person has a competent person in place and fulfilment of the prescribed competence criteria.

(4) If the suspended registered person does not furnish information and evidence to the registration body under subsection (3) within the period specified by the registration body under subsection (1)(c), the registration body shall advise the Board and the Board shall at the end of that period remove the suspended registered person from the division of the register.

(5) If, having considered the information and evidence provided to the registration body by—

(a) the registered person in accordance with a notice under paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1) the Board decides that the competent person is in place and the prescribed competence criteria are fulfilled, the note of departure of a competent person shall be removed from the division of the register, or

(b) the suspended registered person under subsection (3) the Board decides that the competent person is in place and the prescribed competence criteria are fulfilled, the name of the registered person shall be reinstated in the division of the register.

(6) If, having considered the information and evidence provided to the registration body by—

(a) the registered person in accordance with a notice under paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1), the Board decides that the competent person is not in place or that the registered person does not fulfil the prescribed competence criteria, the Board shall give notice to the registered person that the registered person is removed from the division of the register, or

(b) the suspended registered person under subsection (3) the Board decides that the competent person is not in place or that the registered person does not fulfil the prescribed competence criteria, the Board shall give notice to the suspended registered person that the suspended registered person is removed from the division of the register.

(7) The Board shall give notice to a registered person of a decision under subsection (6)(a) or to a suspended registered person of an intention to remove the suspended registered person from the division under subsection (4) or a decision under subsection (6)(b) as soon as practicable after the decision which shall—

(a) include reasons for the decision,

(b) inform the registered person or suspended registered person that—

(i) the registered person or suspended registered person may, under section 50, appeal the decision, within 30 days beginning on the date of the notice, and

(ii) the appeal shall specify the grounds for the appeal,

and

(c) inform the registered person or suspended registered person that the decision shall be suspended until, as the case may be—

(i) the decision becomes final under subsection (8), or

(ii) the disposal of the appeal under section 50.

(8) If, on the expiration of the period of 30 days beginning on the date of the notice under subsection (7), no appeal under section 50 has been made, the decision of the Board under subsection (6) shall be final.

(9) If, following an appeal of a decision under subsection (6), the appeals committee remits the matter to the Board under section 50(7)(b) for reconsideration, that decision shall be suspended until it has been reconsidered by the Board.

(10) Subsection (1) shall apply to an applicant for registration under section 34 and where a competent person relied upon for registration in any division ceases to be a person referred to in paragraph (b) of section 26(2) or an employee of a registered person referred to in section 30(1) the applicant shall on that ceasing give notice to the Board of it and withdraw the application for registration.

32. Subsidiaries

32. (1) A provider of building works that is a subsidiary may fulfil the competence criteria in order to become, or as the case may be, remain eligible for registration in any division by relying on a competent person of a superior company, where the superior company is a registered person.

(2) A competent person may be relied upon by more than one subsidiary of a superior company to fulfil, on behalf of any such subsidiary, the competence criteria and become eligible for registration.

(3) Where a provider of building works becomes eligible for registration under subsection (1), any written statement required to be submitted under section 34(3)(a) or 36(3)(a) shall be made, in respect of the provider, by the provider and the superior company.

(4) Where a provider of building works becomes or, as the case may be, remains eligible for registration under subsection (1), the Board may, following a complaint concerning the provider or the superior company or both of them made under section 44, cause an investigation to be carried out in respect of the provider or the superior company or both of them under section 45 and any sanction imposed following such investigation may be imposed on the provider or superior company or both of them.

(5) Sections 30 and 31 shall apply to a provider of building works that is a subsidiary as they apply to a provider of building works referred to in those sections.

(6) In this section—

“subsidiary” has the same meaning as it has in the Act of 2014;

“superior company” has the same meaning as it has in section 7 of the Act of 2014.

PART 5 Registration and practice

33. Prohibition against providing works unless registered

33. (1) A person shall not, unless the person is at that time a registered person—

(a) engage as a provider of building works,

(b) hold himself or herself or itself out as, or available as, a provider of building works, or

(c) represent himself or herself or itself as, or available as a provider of building works by—

(i) advertisement,

(ii) displaying any card or other object purporting to indicate that he, she or it is entered in the register, or

(iii) utilising the name, logo or other identifying particulars of the registration body in any manner.

(2) A registered person shall not in relation to a category of works for which a division of the register has been prescribed under section 27(1)—

(a) engage as a provider of building works in respect of the category unless the name of the registered person is entered in that division,

(b) hold himself or herself or itself as, or available as a provider of building works in respect of the category unless the name of the registered person is entered in that division, or

(c) represent himself or herself or itself as, or available as a provider of building works in respect of the category unless the name of the registered person is entered in that division by—

(i) advertisement, or

(ii) displaying any card or other object purporting to indicate that he or she or it is entered in that division.

(3) A person who fails to comply with this section shall be guilty of an offence.

34. Application for registration

34. (1) A person may make an application to the Board to be registered in one or more than one division (in this section referred to as an “applicant”).

(2) An applicant shall—

(a) apply in writing and in such form and manner as may be specified by the Board,

(b) furnish to the Board the name, address and principal place of business of the applicant, or where the applicant is a body corporate that is a company, the name and address of the registered office of the company or in the case of an applicant that is a body corporate (other than a company) or an unincorporated body of persons, of the registered office or principal place of business of the body,

(c) where the applicant is a body corporate, furnish to the Board the names and addresses of all persons who are the directors, managers, secretary and other officers of the body corporate or who are identified by the applicant in the application as acting in such capacity and, where the affairs of the body corporate are managed by its members, all of the persons who are identified by the applicant in the application as performing functions of management in relation to the body as if those persons were a director or manager of the body corporate,

(d) if applicable, furnish to the Board the name referred to in section 42(b),

(e) specify the division to which the application relates,

(f) furnish the items and information referred to in subsection (3) and any other information that may be requested by the Board, and

(g) pay the fee, specified by the registration body, to the Board.

(3) An applicant shall furnish in such form and manner as may be specified by the Board—

(a) evidence of fulfilment of the competence criteria in respect of the division to which the application relates,

(b) evidence of compliance with section 40(3),

(c) evidence that the applicant holds minimum levels of indemnity specified under section 43, and

(d) a written statement of the applicant and, in the case of an applicant referred to in subsection (2)(c) of each of the persons whose names and addresses are provided under subsection (2)(c)—

(i) confirming whether the applicant is in compliance with the provisions of the Act of 2005,

(ii) confirming whether the applicant is in compliance with the provisions of the building regulations and building control regulations,

(iii) confirming whether the applicant has within the last 10 years a conviction in the State for an offence specified in subsection (8) (other than a spent conviction within the meaning of section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act 2016) or a conviction outside the State for an offence consisting of acts or omissions that, if done or made in the State, would constitute an offence referred to in subsection (8),

(iv) providing details of any conviction referred to in subparagraph (iii),

(v) where the applicant is a body corporate, confirming whether each of the persons referred to in subsection (2)(c) has, in an individual capacity or in a capacity as a person referred to in subsection (2)(c), within the last 10 years a conviction in the State for an offence specified in subsection (8) (other than a spent conviction within the meaning of section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act 2016) or a conviction outside the State for an offence consisting of acts or omissions that, if done or made in the State, would constitute an offence referred to in subsection (8),

(vi) providing details of any conviction referred to in subparagraph (v),

(vii) confirming whether the applicant has within the last 10 years been the subject of an order under section 8 or 12 of the Act of 1990, and

(viii) providing details of any order referred to in subparagraph (vii).

(4) An applicant that is referred to in subsection (2)(c) who relies upon a competent person shall furnish the following to the Board:

(a) the name or names of the competent person or persons;

(b) written confirmation from the competent person that he or she consents to being relied upon as a competent person; and

(c) evidence of the qualifications or practical experience or both of the competent person to fulfil the competence criteria in the division to which the application relates.

(5) The Board may request the applicant to furnish additional documents or information and may seek independent verification of any document or information furnished by an applicant under this section.

(6) Where the Board makes a request under subsection (5) the application to which the request relates shall not be considered further until the applicant complies with the request.

(7) The Board shall acknowledge receipt of a fully completed application within a period of 30 days beginning on the date of receipt.

(8) The following are the offences referred to in subparagraphs (iii) and (v) of subsection (3)(d):

(a) an offence under the Act of 1981;

(b) the offences referred to in section 17 of the Act of 1990;

(c) an offence under the Act of 2005;

(d) an offence under the relevant environmental legislation;

(e) an offence under this Act.

35. Determination of application for registration

35. (1) The Board shall determine an application under section 34 in accordance with rules made by the registration body under paragraph 9 of Schedule 2 and within a period of 90 days beginning on the date of receipt of the fully completed application.

(2) The Board, having considered the matters referred to in paragraph (c) of section 34(3) may refuse to register an applicant if it considers that, by reason of any conviction received by the applicant under the Act of 1981, the Act of 1990, the Act of 2005, the relevant environmental legislation or this Act, such refusal is necessary to uphold standards of competence of providers of building work.

(3) The Board may—

(a) grant registration where it is satisfied that the applicant is eligible for registration in a division to which the application relates,

(b) grant registration subject to conditions, including conditions limiting registration to a specified class of works in a particular division, and such conditions shall apply during the period for which registration is granted or such other period as may be specified by the Board,

(c) refuse registration where it is not satisfied that an applicant is eligible for registration in a division to which the application relates, or

(d) where an application relates to more than one division and the Board is not satisfied that an applicant is eligible for registration in all of the divisions concerned, grant registration in any division for which the applicant is eligible for registration and refuse registration in any division for which the applicant is not eligible for registration.

(4) The Board shall give notice to an applicant of the making of a decision under subsection (3) as soon as practicable after it is made, which shall, in relation to a decision under paragraph (b), (c) or (d) of subsection (3)—

(a) include reasons for the decision,

(b) inform the applicant that—

(i) the applicant may, under section 50, appeal the decision within 30 days beginning on the date of the notice, and

(ii) the appeal shall specify the grounds for the appeal,

and

(c) inform the applicant that the decision shall be suspended until, as the case may be—

(i) the decision becomes final under subsection (5), or

(ii) subject to subsection (6), the disposal of the appeal under section 50.

(5) If, on the expiration of the period of 30 days beginning on the date of the notice under subsection (4), no appeal under section 50 has been made, the decision of the Board under paragraph (b), (c) or (d) of subsection (3) shall be final.

(6) If, following an appeal of a decision under paragraph (b), (c) or (d) of subsection (3), the appeals committee remits the matter to the Board under section 50(7)(b) for consideration, that decision shall be suspended until it has been reconsidered by the Board.

(7) A grant of registration shall be valid for 12 months beginning on the date of a notice under subsection (4) or, as the case may be, a notice under section 50(9) which shall include a notice that registration shall be valid for a period of 12 months from that date.

(8) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (7), where a registered person submits an application seeking registration in an additional division, such registration, if granted, shall be valid for the remainder of the 12 month period for which the registered person already holds registration in another division.

(9) The Board may from time to time prepare and publish on a website maintained by or on behalf of the Board, such information and guidance as are, in the opinion of the Board, necessary to facilitate the registration process.

36. Renewal of registration

36. (1) Subject to this section, a registered person’s entry in any division may be renewed by the Board.

(2) A registered person who applies for renewal of registration under this section (in this section referred to as an “applicant”) shall—

(a) apply in writing and in such form and manner as may be specified by the Board,

(b) apply on a date no later than 6 weeks prior to and ending on the date of expiration of the period of validity, under section 35(7), of the registration to which the application for renewal relates,

(c) furnish all additional documents or information as may be requested by the Board, and

(d) pay the fee, specified by the registration body, to the Board.

(3) An applicant shall furnish in such form and manner as may be specified by the Board—

(a) confirmation of the name, address and principal place of business of the applicant, or where the applicant is a body corporate that is a company, the name and address of the registered office of the company or in the case of an applicant that is a body corporate (other than a company) or an unincorporated body of persons, of the registered office or principal place of business of the body,

(b) where the applicant is a body corporate, confirmation of the names and addresses of all the persons referred to in section 34(2)(c),

(c) if applicable, confirmation of the name referred to in section 42(b),

(d) evidence of compliance with the requirements of the system of continuing professional development for the previous year and a written proposal for compliance with those requirements for the next year,

(e) evidence that the applicant continues to hold minimum levels of indemnity specified under section 43, and

(f) a written statement of the applicant and, in the case of an applicant referred to in paragraph (b) of each of the persons whose names and addresses are provided under paragraph (b)—

(i) confirming whether the applicant is in compliance with the provisions of the Act of 2005,

(ii) confirming whether the applicant is in compliance with the provisions of the building regulations and building control regulations,