S.I. No. 467/1998:

SOCIAL WELFARE ACT, 1998 (SECTION 22) (COMMENCEMENT) ORDER, 1998.

SOCIAL WELFARE ACT, 1998 (SECTION 22) (COMMENCEMENT) ORDER, 1998.

The Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 25 of the Social Welfare Act, 1998 (No. 6 of 1998), hereby orders as follows:

1. This Order may be cited as the Social Welfare Act, 1998 (Section 22) (Commencement) Order, 1998.

2. The 16th day of November, 1998, is hereby appointed as the day on which section 22 of the Social Welfare Act, 1998 (No. 6 of 1998), shall come into operation.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of

the Minister for Social, Community and

Family Affairs, this 16th day of November, 1998.

DERMOT AHERN

Minister for Social, Community

and Family Affairs.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Order provides that section 22 of the Social Welfare Act, 1998 will come into effect on the 16th day of November, 1998.

Section 221 of the 1993 Consolidation Act empowers the Minister to require information for the control of schemes and investigation of entitlement. Section 22 of the 1998 Act provides that anyone who fails to comply with such a request is guilty of an offence and is liable, on summary conviction, to a maximum fine of £1,500.