Number 52 of 1998

JURISDICTION OF COURTS AND ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS ACT, 1998

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART I

Preliminary and General

PART II

The 1968 Convention and the Accession Conventions

PART III

The Lugano Convention

PART IV

Amendments and Repeals

FIRST SCHEDULE

Text (in the English and Irish languages) of the 1968 Convention as amended by the 1978 Accession Convention, the 1982 Accession Convention, the 1989 Accession Convention and the 1996 Accession Convention.

SECOND SCHEDULE

Text (in the English and Irish languages) of the 1971 Protocol as amended by the 1978 Accession Convention, the 1982 Accession Convention, the 1989 Accession Convention and the 1996 Accession Convention.

THIRD SCHEDULE

Text (in the English language) of Titles V and VI of the 1978 Accession Convention as amended by the 1989 Accession Convention.

FOURTH SCHEDULE

Text (in the English language) of Titles V and VI of the 1982 Accession Convention.

FIFTH SCHEDULE

Text (in the English language) of Titles VI and VII of the 1989 Accession Convention.

SIXTH SCHEDULE

Text (in the English language) of Titles V and VI of the 1996 Accession Convention.

SEVENTH SCHEDULE

Text (in the English language) of the Lugano Convention.

EIGHTH SCHEDULE

Text (in the English language) of Protocol I.

NINTH SCHEDULE

Domicile

Number 52 of 1998

JURISDICTION OF COURTS AND ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS ACT, 1998

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:

PART I

Preliminary and General

1. —(1) This Act may be cited as the Jurisdiction of Courts and Enforcement of Judgments Act, 1998.

(2) This Act shall come into operation on such day or days as, by order or orders made by the Minister, may be fixed either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision, and different days may be so fixed for different purposes and different provisions.

2. —(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

“the Accession Conventions” means the 1978 Accession Convention, the 1982 Accession Convention, the 1989 Accession Convention and the 1996 Accession Convention;

“the 1978 Accession Convention” means the Convention on the accession to the 1968 Convention and the 1971 Protocol of the State, Denmark and the United Kingdom, signed at Luxembourg on the 9th day of October, 1978;

“the 1982 Accession Convention” means the Convention on the accession to the 1968 Convention and the 1971 Protocol (as amended in each case by the 1978 Accession Convention) of the Hellenic Republic, signed at Luxembourg on the 25th day of October, 1982;

“the 1989 Accession Convention” means the Convention on the accession to the 1968 Convention and the 1971 Protocol (as amended in each case by the 1978 Accession Convention and the 1982 Accession Convention) of the Kingdom of Spain and the Portuguese Republic, signed at San Sebastian on the 26th day of May, 1989;

“the 1996 Accession Convention” means the Convention on the accession to the 1968 Convention and the 1971 Protocol (as amended in each case by the 1978 Accession Convention, the 1982 Accession Convention and the 1989 Accession Convention) of the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden, signed at Brussels on the 29th day of November, 1996;

“the 1968 Convention” means the Convention on jurisdiction and the enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (including the protocol annexed to that Convention), signed at Brussels on the 27th day of September, 1968;

“court” includes a tribunal;

“the European Communities” has the same meaning as in section 1 of the European Communities Act, 1972 ;

“the European Court” means the Court of Justice of the European Communities;

“the Lugano Convention” means the Convention on jurisdiction and the enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters, signed at Lugano on the 16th day of September, 1988, and includes Protocol 1;

“the Minister” means the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform;

“the 1971 Protocol” means the Protocol on the interpretation of the 1968 Convention by the European Court, signed at Luxembourg on the 3rd day of June, 1971;

“Protocol 1” means the protocol on certain questions of jurisdiction, procedure and enforcement, signed at Lugano on the 16th day of September, 1988.

(2) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, a reference to, or to any provision of, the 1968 Convention or the 1971 Protocol is to the 1968 Convention, the 1971 Protocol or the provision, as amended by—

(a) the 1978 Accession Convention,

(b) the 1982 Accession Convention,

(c) the 1989 Accession Convention, and

(d) the 1996 Accession Convention in so far as it is in force between the State and a state respecting which it has entered into force in accordance with Article 16 of that Convention.

(3) In this Act—

(a) a reference to a section, a Part or a Schedule is to a section or a Part of, or a Schedule to, this Act unless it is indicated that a reference to some other enactment is intended,

(b) a reference to a subsection or paragraph is to the subsection or paragraph of the provision in which the reference occurs unless it is indicated that a reference to some other provision is intended, and

(c) a reference to an enactment is to that enactment as amended or modified by any other enactment including this Act.

(4) The collective citation “the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Acts, 1961 to 1998” shall include sections 7 to 10 , 13 , 14 and 16 of this Act, and those Acts and those sections shall be construed together as one Act.

3. —(1) For convenience of reference, the following texts are set out in the Schedules:

(a) in the First Schedule , the 1968 Convention as amended by—

(i) Titles II and III of the 1978 Accession Convention,

(ii) Titles II and III of the 1982 Accession Convention,

(iii) Titles II and III of, and Annex 1 to, the 1989 Accession Convention, and

(iv) Titles II and III of the 1996 Accession Convention;

(b) in the Second Schedule , the 1971 Protocol as amended by—

(i) Title IV of the 1978 Accession Convention,

(ii) Title IV of the 1982 Accession Convention,

(iii) Title IV of the 1989 Accession Convention, and

(iv) Title IV of the 1996 Accession Convention;

(c) in the Third Schedule , Titles V and VI of the 1978 Accession Convention as amended by the 1989 Accession Convention;

(d) in the Fourth Schedule , Titles V and VI of the 1982 Accession Convention;

(e) in the Fifth Schedule , Titles VI and VII of the 1989 Accession Convention;

(f) in the Sixth Schedule , Titles V and VI of the 1996 Accession Convention;

(g) in the Seventh Schedule , the Lugano Convention;

(h) in the Eighth Schedule , Protocol 1.

(2) The texts set out in the Schedules are prepared from—

(a) in the case of the First Schedule and the Second Schedule , the authentic texts, in the English and Irish languages, referred to in Articles 37 and 41 of the 1978 Accession Convention, Article 17 of the 1982 Accession Convention, Article 34 of the 1989 Accession Convention and Article 18 of the 1996 Accession Convention, and

(b) in the case of the remaining Schedules, the authentic texts, in the English language, referred to in the Articles mentioned in paragraph (a) and in Article 68 of the Lugano Convention.

PART II

The 1968 Convention and the Accession Conventions

4. —(1) In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires—

“Contracting State” means a state—

(a) which is—

(i) one of the original parties to the 1968 Convention (Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands), or

(ii) one of the parties acceding to the 1968 Convention under any of the Accession Conventions (the State, Denmark, the United Kingdom, the Hellenic Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the Portuguese Republic, the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden), and

(b) respecting which—

(i) the 1978 Accession Convention has entered into force in accordance with Article 39 of that Convention,

(ii) the 1982 Accession Convention has entered into force in accordance with Article 15 of that Convention,

(iii) the 1989 Accession Convention has entered into force in accordance with Article 32 of that Convention, or

(iv) the 1996 Accession Convention has entered into force in accordance with Article 16 of that Convention,

as the case may be;

“the Conventions” means the 1968 Convention, the 1971 Protocol and the Accession Conventions;

“enforceable maintenance order” means—

(a) a maintenance order respecting all of which an enforcement order has been made, or

(b) if an enforcement order has been made respecting only part of a maintenance order, the maintenance order to the extent to which it is so ordered to be enforced;

“enforcement order” means an order for the recognition or enforcement of all or part of a judgment where the order—

(a) is made by the Master of the High Court under section 7 , or

(b) is made or varied on appeal from a decision of the Master of the High Court under section 7 or from a decision of the High Court relating to the Master’s decision;

“judgment” means a judgment or order (by whatever name called) that is a judgment for the purposes of the 1968 Convention, and, except in sections 10 , 12 and 14 , includes—

(a) an instrument or settlement referred to in Title IV of the 1968 Convention, and

(b) an arrangement relating to maintenance obligations concluded with or authenticated by an administrative authority, as referred to in Article 10 of the 1996 Accession Convention;

“maintenance” means maintenance within the meaning of the Conventions;

“maintenance creditor” means, in relation to a maintenance order, the person entitled to the payments for which the order provides;

“maintenance debtor” means, in relation to a maintenance order, the person liable to make payments under the order;

“maintenance order” means a judgment relating to maintenance.

(2) The Minister for Foreign Affairs may, by order, declare—

(a) that any state specified in the order is a Contracting State, or

(b) that a declaration has been made pursuant to Article IV of the 1968 Convention, or a communication has been made pursuant to Article VI of that Convention, to the Secretary General of the Council of the European Communities.

(3) The text of a declaration or communication referred to in subsection (2)(b) shall be set out in the order declaring that the declaration or communication has been made.

(4) An order that is in force under subsection (2) is—

(a) if made under subsection (2)(a), evidence that any state to which the declaration relates is a Contracting State, and

(b) if made under subsection (2)(b), evidence that the declaration pursuant to Article IV or the communication pursuant to Article VI was made and evidence of its contents.

(5) The Minister for Foreign Affairs may, by order, amend or revoke an order made under subsection (2) or this subsection.

5. —The Conventions shall have the force of law in the State and judicial notice shall be taken of them.

6. —(1) Judicial notice shall be taken of—

(a) a ruling or decision of, or expression of opinion by, the European Court on any question about the meaning or effect of a provision of the Conventions, and

(b) the reports listed in subsection (2).

(2) When interpreting a provision of the Conventions, a court may consider the following reports (which are reproduced in the Official Journal of the European Communities) and shall give them the weight that is appropriate in the circumstances:

(a) the reports by Mr. P. Jenard on the 1968 Convention and the 1971 Protocol1 ;

(b) the report by Professor Peter Schlosser on the 1978 Accession Convention² ;

(c) the report by Professor Demetrios Evrigenis and Professor K. D. Kerameus on the accession of the Hellenic Republic to the 1968 Convention and the 1971 Protocol3 ;

(d) the report by Mr. Almeida Cruz, Mr. Desantes Real and Mr. P. Jenard on the 1989 Accession Convention4 .

7. —(1) An application under the Conventions for the recognition or enforcement in the State of a judgment shall—

(a) be made to the Master of the High Court, and

(b) be determined by the Master by order in accordance with the Conventions.

(2) An order made by the Master of the High Court under subsection (1) may include an order for the recognition or enforcement of only part of a judgment.

8. —(1) Subject to section 10 (4) and to the restrictions on enforcement contained in Article 39 of the 1968 Convention, if an enforcement order has been made respecting a judgment—

(a) the judgment shall, to the extent to which its enforcement is authorised by the enforcement order, be of the same force and effect as a judgment of the High Court, and

(b) the High Court has the same powers respecting enforcement of the judgment, and proceedings may be taken on the judgment, as if it were a judgment of that Court.

(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (6), subsection (1) shall apply only to a judgment other than a maintenance order.

(3) On application by the maintenance creditor under an enforceable maintenance order, the Master of the High Court may, by order, declare that the following shall be regarded as being payable under a judgment referred to in subsection (1):

(a) sums which were payable under the maintenance order as periodic payments but were not paid before the relevant enforcement order was made;

(b) a lump sum (not being a sum referred to in paragraph (a)) which is payable under the enforceable maintenance order.

(4) A declaration shall not be made under subsection (3) unless the Master of the High Court considers that by doing so the enforceable maintenance order would be more effectively enforced respecting any sums or sum referred to in that subsection.

(5) If a declaration is made under subsection (3), the sums or sum to which the declaration relates shall be deemed, for the purposes of this Part, to be payable under a judgment referred to in subsection (1) and not otherwise.

(6) A maintenance order shall be regarded as a judgment referred to in subsection (1) if the District Court does not have jurisdiction to enforce the order under section 9 (7).

9. —(1) Subject to section 10 (4) and to the restrictions on enforcement contained in Article 39 of the 1968 Convention, the District Court shall have jurisdiction to enforce an enforceable maintenance order.

(2) An enforceable maintenance order shall, from the date on which the maintenance order was made, be deemed for the purposes of—

(a) subsection (1),

(b) section 98 (1) of the Defence Act, 1954 , and

(c) subject to the 1968 Convention, the variation or discharge of that order under section 6 of the Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act, 1976 , as amended by the Status of Children Act, 1987 ,

to be an order made by the District Court under section 5 or section 5A or 21A (inserted by the Status of Children Act, 1987 ) of the Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act, 1976 , as may be appropriate.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) shall apply even though an amount payable under the enforceable maintenance order exceeds the maximum amount the District Court has jurisdiction to award under the appropriate enactment mentioned in subsection (2).

(4) Where an enforceable maintenance order is varied by a court in a Contracting State other than the State and an enforcement order has been made respecting all or part of the enforceable maintenance order as so varied, or respecting all or part of the order effecting the variation, the enforceable maintenance order shall, from the date on which the variation takes effect, be enforceable in the State only as so varied.

(5) Where an enforceable maintenance order is revoked by a court in a Contracting State other than the State and an enforcement order has been made respecting the order effecting the revocation, the enforceable maintenance order shall, from the date on which the revocation takes effect, cease to be enforceable in the State except in relation to any sums under the order that were payable, but were not paid, on or before that date.

(6) Subject to section 8 (3) to (5) of this Act, the following shall be regarded as being payable pursuant to an order made under section 5 or section 5A or 21A (inserted by the Status of Children Act, 1987 ) of the Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act, 1976 :

(a) any sums that were payable under an enforceable maintenance order but were not paid before the date of the making of the relevant enforcement order;

(b) any costs of or incidental to the application for the enforcement order that are payable under section 10 (2) of this Act.

(7) The jurisdiction vested in the District Court by this section may be exercised by the judge of that Court for the time being assigned to—

(a) if the maintenance debtor under an enforceable maintenance order resides in the State, the district court district in which the debtor resides or carries on any profession, business or occupation, or

(b) if the maintenance debtor under an enforceable maintenance order does not reside in the State but is in the employment of an individual residing or having a place of business in the State or of a corporation or association having its seat in the State, the district court district in which that individual resides or that corporation or association has its seat.

(8) Despite anything to the contrary in an enforceable maintenance order, the maintenance debtor shall pay any sum payable under that order to—

(a) in the case referred to in subsection (7)(a), the district court clerk for the district court district in which the debtor for the time being resides, or

(b) in a case referred to in subsection (7)(b), a district court clerk specified by the District Court,

for transmission to the maintenance creditor under the order or, if a public authority has been authorised by the creditor to receive that sum, to that authority.

(9) If a sum payable under an enforceable maintenance order is not duly paid and if the maintenance creditor under the order so requests in writing, the district court clerk concerned shall make an application respecting that sum under—

(a) section 10 (which relates to the attachment of certain earnings) of the Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act, 1976 , or

(b) section 8 (which relates to the enforcement of certain maintenance orders) of the Enforcement of Court Orders Act, 1940 .

(10) For the purposes of subsection (9)(b), a reference in section 8 of the Enforcement of Court Orders Act, 1940 (other than in subsections (4) and (5) of that section) to an applicant shall be construed as a reference to the district court clerk.

(11) Nothing in this section shall affect the right of a maintenance creditor under an enforceable maintenance order to institute proceedings for the recovery of a sum payable to a district court clerk under subsection (8).

(12) Section 8 (7) of the Enforcement of Court Orders Act, 1940 , does not apply to proceedings for the enforcement of an enforceable maintenance order.

(13) The maintenance debtor under an enforceable maintenance order shall give notice to the district court clerk for the district court area in which the debtor has been residing of any change of address.

(14) A person who, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (13) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000.

(15) If there are two or more district court clerks for a district court area, a reference in this section to a district court clerk shall be construed as a reference to any of those clerks.

(16) For the purposes of this section, the Dublin Metropolitan Area shall be deemed to be a district court area.

10. —(1) Where, on application for an enforcement order respecting a judgment, it is shown—

(a) that the judgment provides for the payment of a sum of money, and

(b) that, in accordance with the law of the Contracting State in which the judgment was given, interest on that sum is recoverable under the judgment at a particular rate or rates and from a particular date or time,

the enforcement order, if made, shall provide that the person liable to pay that sum shall also be liable to pay that interest, apart from any interest on costs recoverable under subsection (2), in accordance with the particulars noted in the order, and the interest shall be recoverable by the applicant as though it were part of that sum.

(2) An enforcement order may, at the discretion of the court concerned or the Master of the High Court, as may be appropriate, provide for the payment to the applicant by the respondent of the reasonable costs of or incidental to the application for the enforcement order.

(3) A person required by an enforcement order to pay costs shall be liable to pay interest on the costs as if they were the subject of an order for the payment of costs made by the High Court on the date the enforcement order was made.

(4) Interest shall be payable on a sum referred to in subsection (1) only as provided for in this section.

11. —(1) An amount payable in the State under a maintenance order by virtue of an enforcement order shall be paid in the currency of the State.

(2) If the amount referred to in subsection (1) is stated in the maintenance order in a currency other than that of the State, the payment shall be made on the basis of the exchange rate prevailing, on the date the enforcement order is made, between the currency of the State and the other currency.

(3) For the purposes of this section, a certificate purporting to be signed by an officer of an authorised institution and to state the exchange rate prevailing on a specified date between a specified currency and the currency of the State shall be admissible as evidence of the facts stated in the certificate.

(4) In this section, “authorised institution” means any of the following:

(a) a body licensed under the Central Bank Acts, 1942 to 1998, or authorised under regulations made under the European Communities Act, 1972 , to carry on banking business;

(b) a building society incorporated or deemed to be incorporated under section 10 of the Building Societies Act, 1989 ;

(c) a society licensed under section 10 of the Trustee Savings Banks Act, 1989 , to carry on the business of a trustee savings bank;

(d) An Post;

(e) ACC Bank public limited company;

(f) ICC Bank public limited company.

12. —(1) For the purposes of the Conventions—

(a) a document that is duly authenticated and purports to be a copy of a judgment given by a court of a Contracting State other than the State shall, without further proof, be deemed to be a true copy of the judgment, unless the contrary is shown, and

(b) the original or any copy of a document mentioned in Article 46.2 or 47 of the 1968 Convention shall be admissible as evidence of any matter to which the document relates.

(2) A document purporting to be a copy of a judgment given by a court of a Contracting State, shall, for the purposes of this Act, be regarded as being duly authenticated if it purports—

(a) to bear the seal of that court, or

(b) to be certified by a judge or officer of that court to be a true copy of a judgment given by that court.

(3) A document shall be admissible as evidence of a translation if—

(a) it purports to be the translation of—

(i) a judgment given by a court of a Contracting State other than the State,

(ii) a document mentioned in Article 46.2, 47 or 50 of the 1968 Convention, or

(iii) a document containing a settlement referred to in Article 51 of the 1968 Convention or containing an arrangement referred to in Article 10 of the 1996 Accession Convention, and

(b) it is certified as correct by a person competent to do so.

13. —(1) On application pursuant to Article 24 of the 1968 Convention, the High Court may grant any provisional, including protective, measures of any kind that the Court has power to grant in proceedings that, apart from this Act, are within its jurisdiction, if—

(a) proceedings have been or are to be commenced in a Contracting State other than the State, and

(b) the subject matter of the proceedings is within the scope of the 1968 Convention as determined by Article 1 (whether or not that Convention has effect in relation to the proceedings).

(2) On an application under subsection (1), the High Court may refuse to grant the measures sought if, in its opinion, the fact that, apart from this section, that Court does not have jurisdiction in relation to the subject matter of the proceedings makes it inexpedient for it to grant those measures.

(3) Subject to Article 39 of the 1968 Convention, an application to the Master of the High Court for an enforcement order respecting a judgment may include an application for any protective measures the High Court has power to grant in proceedings that, apart from this Act, are within its jurisdiction.

(4) Where an enforcement order is made, the Master of the High Court shall grant any protective measures referred to in subsection (3) that are sought in the application for the enforcement order.

14. —If a judgment is given by a court in the State, the registrar or clerk of that court shall, at the request of an interested party and subject to any conditions that may be specified by rules of court, give to the interested party—

(a) a duly authenticated copy of the judgment,

(b) a certificate signed by the registrar or clerk of the court stating—

(i) the nature of the proceedings,

(ii) the grounds, pursuant to the 1968 Convention, on which the court assumed jurisdiction,

(iii) the date on which the time for lodging an appeal against the judgment will expire or, if it has expired, the date on which it expired,

(iv) whether notice of appeal against, or, if the judgment was given in default of appearance, notice to set aside, the judgment has been entered,

(v) if the judgment is for the payment of a sum of money, the rate of interest, if any, payable on the sum and the date from which interest is payable, and

(vi) any other particulars that may be specified by rules of court, and

(c) if the judgment was given in default of appearance, the original or a copy, certified by the registrar or clerk of the court to be a true copy, of a document establishing that notice of the institution of proceedings was served on the person in default.

15. —(1) In order to determine for the purposes of the 1968 Convention and this Part whether an individual is domiciled in the State, in a place in the State or in a state other than a Contracting State, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) Part I of the Ninth Schedule , in relation to the text in the English language of the 1968 Convention;

(b) Part II of the Ninth Schedule , in relation to the text in the Irish language of the 1968 Convention.

(2) The seat of a corporation or association shall be treated as its domicile and in order to determine for the purposes of Article 53 of the 1968 Convention and this Part whether a corporation or association has its seat in the State, in a place in the State or in a state other than a Contracting State, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) Part III of the Ninth Schedule , in relation to the text in the English language of the 1968 Convention;

(b) Part IV of the Ninth Schedule , in relation to the text in the Irish language of the 1968 Convention.

(3) In order to determine for the purposes of the 1968 Convention and this Part whether a trust is domiciled in the State the following provisions shall apply:

(a) Part V of the Ninth Schedule , in relation to the text in the English language of the 1968 Convention;

(b) Part VI of the Ninth Schedule , in relation to the text in the Irish language of the 1968 Convention.

(4) In this section—

“association” means an unincorporated body of persons;

“corporation” means a body corporate.

16. —(1) Subject to Title II of the 1968 Convention, the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court respecting proceedings that may be instituted in the State by virtue of Article 2, 8.1, 11, 14 or 16(1)(b) of that Convention shall be exercised by the judge of that Court for the time being assigned to the circuit where the defendant, or one of the defendants, ordinarily resides or carries on any profession, business or occupation.

(2) Subsection (1) shall apply where, apart from that subsection, the Circuit Court's jurisdiction would be determined by reference to the place where the defendant resides or carries on business.

(3) The jurisdiction of the Circuit Court or District Court respecting proceedings that may be instituted in the State by virtue of Article 14 of the 1968 Convention by a plaintiff domiciled in the State may be exercised as follows:

(a) in the case of the Circuit Court, by the judge of the Circuit Court for the time being assigned to the circuit where the plaintiff or one of the plaintiffs ordinarily resides or carries on any profession, business or occupation;

(b) in the case of the District Court, by the judge of the District Court for the time being assigned to the district court district in which the plaintiff or one of the plaintiffs ordinarily resides or carries on any profession, business or occupation.

PART III

The Lugano Convention

17. —(1) For the purposes of this Part, unless the context otherwise requires—

“Contracting State” means a state respecting which the Lugano Convention has entered into force in accordance with Article 61 or 62 of that Convention;

“enforceable maintenance order” means—

(a) a maintenance order respecting all of which an enforcement order has been made, or

(b) if an enforcement order has been made respecting only part of a maintenance order, the maintenance order to the extent to which it is so ordered to be enforced;

“enforcement order” means an order for the recognition or enforcement of all or part of a judgment where the order—

(a) is made by the Master of the High Court under section 7 as applied by this section, or

(b) is made or varied on appeal from a decision of the Master of the High Court under section 7 as applied by this Part or from a decision of the High Court relating to the Master’s decision;

“judgment” means a judgment or order (by whatever name called) that is a judgment for the purposes of the Lugano Convention, and, except in sections 10 , 12 and 14 as applied by this Part, includes an instrument or settlement referred to in Title IV of that Convention;

“maintenance” means maintenance within the meaning of the Lugano Convention;

“maintenance creditor” means, in relation to a maintenance order, the person entitled to the payments for which the order provides;

“maintenance debtor” means, in relation to a maintenance order, the person liable to make payments under the order;

“maintenance order” means a judgment relating to maintenance.

(2) The Minister for Foreign Affairs may, by order, declare—

(a) that any state specified in the order is a Contracting State, or

(b) that—

(i) a denunciation has been made pursuant to Article 64 of the Lugano Convention,

(ii) a declaration has been made pursuant to Article Ia, Ib, or IV of Protocol 1, or

(iii) a communication has been made pursuant to Article 63 of the Lugano Convention or Article VI of Protocol 1.

(3) The text of a denunciation, declaration or communication referred to in subsection (2)(b) shall be set out in the order declaring that the denunciation, declaration or communication has been made.

(4) An order that is in force under subsection (2) shall be—

(a) if made under subsection (2)(a), evidence that any state to which the declaration relates is a Contracting State, and

(b) if made under subsection (2)(b), evidence that the denunciation, declaration or communication, the text of which is set out in the order, was made and evidence of its contents.

(5) The Minister for Foreign Affairs may, by order, amend or revoke an order made under subsection (2) or this subsection.

(6) The definition of “judgment” in subsection (1) shall not be construed to limit the effect of Article 54b of the Lugano Convention.

18. —The Lugano Convention shall have the force of law in the State and judicial notice shall be taken of it.

19. —(1) Judicial notice shall be taken of relevant decisions delivered by courts of other Contracting States concerning the provisions of the Lugano Convention, and a court shall, when interpreting and applying those provisions, pay due account to the principles laid down in those decisions.

(2) Judicial notice shall be taken of the report prepared by Mr. P. Jenard and Mr. G. Möller on the Lugano Convention1 , and, when interpreting any provision of that Convention, a court may consider that report and shall give it the weight that is appropriate in the circumstances.

20. —(1) Sections 7 to 16 apply in relation to the application of the Lugano Convention in the State pursuant to section 18 as they apply in relation to the application, pursuant to section 5 , of the Conventions (as defined in section 4 ) with—

(a) the modifications set out in subsection (2), and

(b) any other necessary modifications.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1),

(a) a reference in sections 7 to 16 to a numbered Article or Title of the 1968 Convention shall be construed as a reference to the corresponding Article or Title of the Lugano Convention,

(b) a reference in sections 7 to 16 to an instrument or settlement shall be construed as a reference to an instrument or settlement referred to in Title IV of the Lugano Convention, and

(c) a reference in sections 7 to 16 to a term defined in section 17 shall be construed in accordance with that section.

PART IV

Amendments and Repeals

21. —In this Part, “the Act of 1994” means the Maintenance Act, 1994 .

22. —(1) Section 3 (1) of the Act of 1994 is hereby amended by the substitution of the following definition for the definitions of “the Act of 1988” and “the Act of 1993”:

“‘the Act of 1998’ means the Jurisdiction of Courts and Enforcement of Judgments Act, 1998;”.

(2) Section 4 (2) of the Act of 1994 (as amended by section 45 (b) of the Family Law Act, 1995 , and section 53 (b) of the Family Law (Divorce) Act, 1996 ) is hereby amended by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (a):

“(a) For the purposes of section 8 of the Enforcement of Court Orders Act, 1940 , the Act of 1976, the Act of 1995, the Act of 1996, the Act of 1998 and this Act, the Central Authority shall have authority to act on behalf of a maintenance creditor or of a claimant, as defined in section 13 (1), and references in those enactments to a maintenance creditor or to such a claimant shall be construed as including references to the Central Authority.”.

(3) Section 5 of the Act of 1994 is hereby amended by the substitution of “Jurisdiction of Courts and Enforcement of Judgments Act, 1998” for “Jurisdiction of Courts and Enforcement of Judgments Acts, 1988 and 1993”.

(4) Section 6 of the Act of 1994 is hereby amended—

(a) in subsection (1) by the substitution of the following definitions for the definitions of “the Brussels Convention”, and “the Lugano Convention” respectively:

“‘the Brussels Convention’ means—

(a) the 1968 Convention, and

(b) the Accession Conventions,

as defined in the Act of 1998, and a reference to an Article of the Brussels Convention shall be construed as including a reference to the corresponding Article of the Lugano Convention;”,

“‘the Lugano Convention’ has the meaning assigned to it by the Act of 1998;”,

(b) in subsection (1) in the definition of “reciprocating jurisdiction”, by the substitution of “the Act of 1998” for “the Acts of 1988 and 1993”, and

(c) in subsection (2)(a), by the substitution of “the Act of 1998” for “the Acts of 1988 and 1993”.

(5) Section 7 (1) of the Act of 1994 is hereby amended by the substitution of “in accordance with section 7 of the Act of 1998” for “in accordance with section 5 of the Act of 1988”.

(6) Section 14 of the Act of 1994 is hereby amended—

(a) in subsection (1), by the substitution of the following for paragraph (a):

“(a) if the request is accompanied by an order of a court in a Contracting State (as defined in the Act of 1998), transmit the request to the Master of the High Court for determination in accordance with section 7 of the Act of 1998 and Part II of this Act, and the other provisions of the Act of 1998 shall apply accordingly, with any necessary modifications,”,

(b) in subsection (2), by the substitution of the following for paragraphs (a) and (b):

“(a) the order of the District Court shall be deemed to be an enforceable maintenance order as defined in the Act of 1998, and

(b) sections 8, 9 and 10 of that Act shall apply in relation to that order, with any necessary modifications.”,

and

(c) by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (9):

“(9A) In subsections (1) (a) and (9) a reference to an order of, or made by, a court shall be construed as including a reference to—

(a) an instrument or settlement within the meaning of the Brussels Convention as defined in Part II, and

(b) an arrangement relating to maintenance obligations concluded with or authenticated by an administrative authority, as referred to in Article 10 of the 1996 Accession Convention as defined in section 2 of the Act of 1998.”.

(7) Section 20 (1) of the Act of 1994 is hereby amended by the substitution of “the Act of 1998” for “the Act of 1988”.

23. —The following are hereby repealed:

(a) the Jurisdiction of Courts and Enforcement of Judgments (European Communities) Act, 1988 ;

(b) the Jurisdiction of Courts and Enforcement of Judgments Act, 1993 ;

(c) sections 7 (7) and 9 to 12 of the Act of 1994.

FIRST SCHEDULE

Text of the 1968 Convention as amended by the 1978 Accession Convention, the 1982 Accession Convention, the 1989 Accession Convention and the 1996 Accession Convention1

CONVENTION

on jurisdiction and the enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters

PREAMBLE

THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES TO THE TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY,

DESIRING to implement the provisions of Article 220 of that Treaty by virtue of which they undertook to secure the simplification of formalities governing the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments of courts or tribunals;

ANXIOUS to strengthen in the Community the legal protection of persons therein established;

CONSIDERING that it is necessary for this purpose to determine the international jurisdiction of their courts, to facilitate recognition and to introduce an expeditious procedure for securing the enforcement of judgments, authentic instruments and court settlements;

HAVE DECIDED to conclude this Convention and to this end have designated as their Plenipotentiaries:

[Plenipotentiaries designated by the Member States]

WHO, meeting within the Council, having exchanged their full powers, found in good and due form,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Title I

SCOPE

Article 1

This Convention shall apply in civil and commercial matters whatever the nature of the court or tribunal. It shall not extend, in particular, to revenue, customs or administrative matters.

The Convention shall not apply to:

1. the status or legal capacity of natural persons, rights in property arising out of a matrimonial relationship, wills and succession;

2. bankruptcy, proceedings relating to the winding-up of insolvent companies or other legal persons, judicial arrangements, compositions and analogous proceedings;

3. social security;

4. arbitration.

Title II

JURISDICTION

SECTION 1

General Provisions

Article 2

Subject to the provisions of this Convention, persons domiciled in a Contracting State shall, whatever their nationality, be sued in the courts of that State.

Persons who are not nationals of the State in which they are domiciled shall be governed by the rules of jurisdiction applicable to nationals of that State.

Article 3

Persons domiciled in a Contracting State may be sued in the courts of another Contracting State only by virtue of the rules set out in Sections 2 to 6 of this Title.

In particular the following provisions shall not be applicable as against them:

—in Belgium: Article 15 of the civil code (Code civil — Burgerlijk Wetboek) and Article 638 of the judicial code (Code judiciaire — Gerechtelijk Wetboek),

—in Denmark: Article 246 (2) and (3) of the law on civil procedure (Lov om rettens pleje),

—in the Federal Republic of Germany: Article 23 of the code of civil procedure (Zivilprozeβordnung),

—in Greece: Article 40 of the code of civil procedure (Kώδικας Πoλιτικής Δικoνoμίας),

—in France: Articles 14 and 15 of the civil code (Code civil),

—in Ireland: the rules which enable jurisdiction to be founded on the document instituting the proceedings having been served on the defendant during his temporary presence in Ireland,

—in Italy: Articles 2 and 4, Nos 1 and 2 of the code of civil procedure (Codice di procedura civile),

—in Luxembourg: Articles 14 and 15 of the civil code (Code civil),

—in Austria: Article 99 of the Law on Court Jurisdiction (Jurisdiktionsnorm),

—in the Netherlands: Articles 126 (3) and 127 of the code of civil procedure (Wetbook van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering),

—in Portugal: Article 65 (1)(c), Article 65 (2) and Article 65A (c) of the code of civil procedure (Código de Processo Civil) and Article 11 of the code of labour procedure (Código de Processo de Trabalho),

—in Finland: the second, third and fourth sentences of the first paragraph of Section 1 of Chapter 10 of the Code of Judicial Procedure (oikeudenkäymiskaari/rättegångsbalken),

—in Sweden: the first sentence of the first paragraph of Section 3 of Chapter 10 of the Code of Judicial Procedure (rättegångsbalken),

— in the United Kingdom: the rules which enable jurisdiction to be founded on:

(a) the document instituting the proceedings having been served on the defendant during his temporary presence in the United Kingdom; or

(b) the presence within the United Kingdom of property belonging to the defendant; or

(c) the seizure by the plaintiff of property situated in the United Kingdom.

Article 4

If the defendant is not domiciled in a Contracting State, the jurisdiction of the courts of each Contracting State shall, subject to the provisions of Article 16, be determined by the law of that State.

As against such a defendant, any person domiciled in a Contracting State may, whatever his nationality, avail himself in that State of the rules of jurisdiction there in force, and in particular those specified in the second paragraph of Article 3, in the same way as the nationals of that State.

SECTION 2

Special Jurisdiction

Article 5

A person domiciled in a Contracting State may, in another Contracting State, be sued:

1. in matters relating to a contract, in the courts for the place of performance of the obligation in question; in matters relating to individual contracts of employment, this place is that where the employee habitually carries out his work, or if the employee does not habitually carry out his work in any one country, the employer may also be sued in the courts for the place where the business which engaged the employee was or is now situated;

2. in matters relating to maintenance, in the courts for the place where the maintenance creditor is domiciled or habitually resident or, if the matter is ancillary to proceedings concerning the status of a person, in the court which, according to its own law, has jurisdiction to entertain those proceedings, unless that jurisdiction is based solely on the nationality of one of the parties;

3. in matters relating to tort, delict or quasi-delict, in the courts for the place where the harmful event occurred;

4. as regards a civil claim for damages or restitution which is based on an act giving rise to criminal proceedings, in the court seised of those proceedings, to the extent that that court has jurisdiction under its own law to entertain civil proceedings;

5. as regards a dispute arising out of the operations of a branch, agency or other establishment, in the courts for the place in which the branch, agency or other establishment is situated;

6. as settlor, trustee or beneficiary of a trust created by the operation of a statute, or by a written instrument, or created orally and evidenced in writing, in the courts of the Contracting State in which the trust is domiciled;

7. as regards a dispute concerning the payment of remuneration claimed in respect of the salvage of a cargo or freight, in the court under the authority of which the cargo or freight in question:

(a) has been arrested to secure such payment,

or

(b) could have been so arrested, but bail or other security has been given;

provided that this provision shall apply only if it is claimed that the defendant has an interest in the cargo or freight or had such an interest at the time of salvage.

Article 6

A person domiciled in a Contracting State may also be sued:

1. where he is one of a number of defendants, in the courts for the place where any one of them is domiciled;

2. as a third party in an action on a warranty or guarantee or in any other third party proceedings, in the court seised of the original proceedings, unless these were instituted solely with the object of removing him from the jurisdiction of the court which would be competent in his case;

3. on a counterclaim arising from the same contract or facts on which the original claim was based, in the court in which the original claim is pending;

4. in matters relating to a contract, if the action may be combined with an action against the same defendant in matters relating to rights in rem in immovable property, in the court of the Contracting State in which the property is situated.

Article 6a

Where by virtue of this Convention a court of a Contracting State has jurisdiction in actions relating to liability from the use or operation of a ship, that court, or any other court substituted for this purpose by the internal law of that State, shall also have jurisdiction over claims for limitation of such liability.

SECTION 3

Jurisdiction in Matters Relating to Insurance

Article 7

In matters relating to insurance, jurisdiction shall be determined by this Section, without prejudice to the provisions of Article 4 and 5.5.

Article 8

An insurer domiciled in a Contracting State may be sued:

1. in the courts of the State where he is domiciled, or

2. in another Contracting State, in the courts for the place where the policy-holder is domiciled, or

3. if he is a co-insurer, in the courts of a Contracting State in which proceedings are brought against the leading insurer.

An insurer who is not domiciled in a Contracting State but has a branch, agency or other establishment in one of the Contracting States shall, in disputes arising out of the operations of the branch, agency or establishment, be deemed to be domiciled in that State.

Article 9

In respect of liability insurance or insurance of immovable property, the insurer may in addition be sued in the courts for the place where the harmful event occurred. The same applies if movable and immovable property are covered by the same insurance policy and both are adversely affected by the same contingency.

Article 10

In respect of liability insurance, the insurer may also, if the law of the court permits it, be joined in proceedings which the injured party had brought against the insured.

The provisions of Articles 7, 8 and 9 shall apply to actions brought by the injured party directly against the insurer, where such direct actions are permitted.

If the law governing such direct actions provides that the policy-holder or the insured may be joined as a party to the action, the same court shall have jurisdiction over them.

Article 11

Without prejudice to the provisions of the third paragraph of Article 10, an insurer may bring proceedings only in the courts of the Contracting State in which the defendant is domiciled, irrespective of whether he is the policy-holder, the insured or a beneficiary.

The provisions of this Section shall not affect the right to bring a counterclaim in the court in which, in accordance with this Section, the original claim is pending.

Article 12

The provisions of this Section may be departed from only by an agreement on jurisdiction:

1. which is entered into after the dispute has arisen, or

2. which allows the policy-holder, the insured or a beneficiary to bring proceedings in courts other than those indicated in this Section, or

3. which is concluded between a policy-holder and an insurer, both of whom are domiciled in the same Contracting State, and which has the effect of conferring jurisdiction on the courts of that State even if the harmful event were to occur abroad, provided that such an agreement is not contrary to the law of that State, or

4. which is concluded with a policy-holder who is not domiciled in a Contracting State, except in so far as the insurance is compulsory or relates to immovable property in a Contracting State, or

5. which relates to a contract of insurance in so far as it covers one or more of the risks set out in Article 12a.

Article 12a

The following are the risks referred to in Article 12.5:

1. Any loss of or damage to:

(a) sea-going ships, installations situated offshore or on the high seas, or aircraft, arising from perils which relate to their use for commercial purposes;

(b) goods in transit other than passengers’ baggage where the transit consists of or includes carriage by such ships or aircraft;

2. Any liability, other than for bodily injury to passengers or loss of or damage to their baggage:

(a) arising out of the use or operation of ships, installations or aircraft as referred to in 1. (a) above in so far as the law of the Contracting State in which such aircraft are registered does not prohibit agreements on jurisdiction regarding insurance of such risks;

(b) for loss or damage caused by goods in transit as described in 1.(b) above;

3. Any financial loss connected with the use or operation of ships, installations or aircraft as referred to in 1.(a) above, in particular loss of freight or charter-hire;

4. Any risk or interest connected with any of those referred to in 1. to 3. above.

SECTION 4

Jurisdiction over Consumer Contracts

Article 13

In proceedings concerning a contract concluded by a person for a purpose which can be regarded as being outside his trade or profession, hereinafter called ‘the consumer’, jurisdiction shall be determined by this Section, without prejudice to the provisions of Articles 4 and 5.5, if it is:

1. a contract for the sale of goods on instalment credit terms; or

2. a contract for a loan repayable by instalments, or for any other form of credit, made to finance the sale of goods; or

3. any other contract for the supply of goods or a contract for the supply of services, and

(a) in the State of the consumer’s domicile the conclusion of the contract was preceded by a specific invitation addressed to him or by advertising; and

(b) the consumer took in that State the steps necessary for the conclusion of the contract.

Where a consumer enters into a contract with a party who is not domiciled in a Contracting State but has a branch, agency or other establishment in one of the Contracting States, that party shall, in disputes arising out of the operations of the branch, agency or establishment, be deemed to be domiciled in that State.

This Section shall not apply to contracts of transport.

Article 14

A consumer may bring proceedings against the other party to a contract either in the courts of the Contracting State in which that party is domiciled or in the courts of the Contracting State in which he is himself domiciled.

Proceedings may be brought against a consumer by the other party to the contract only in the courts of the Contracting State in which the consumer is domiciled.

These provisions shall not affect the right to bring a counter-claim in the court in which, in accordance with this Section, the original claim is pending.

Article 15

The provisions of this Section may be departed from only by an agreement:

1. which is entered into after the dispute has arisen; or

2. which allows the consumer to bring proceedings in courts other than those indicated in this Section; or

3. which is entered into by the consumer and the other party to the contract, both of whom are at the time of conclusion of the contract domiciled or habitually resident in the same Contracting State, and which confers jurisdiction on the courts of that State, provided that such an agreement is not contrary to the law of that State.

SECTION 5

Exclusive Jurisdiction

Article 16

The following courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction, regardless of domicile:

1. (a) in proceedings which have as their object rights in rem in immovable property or tenancies of immovable property, the courts of the Contracting State in which the property is situated;

(b) however, in proceedings which have as their object tenancies of immovable property concluded for temporary private use for a maximum period of six consecutive months, the courts of the Contracting State in which the defendant is domiciled shall also have jurisdiction, provided that the landlord and the tenant are natural persons and are domiciled in the same Contracting State;

2. in proceedings which have as their object the validity of the constitution, the nullity or the dissolution of companies or other legal persons or associations of natural or legal persons, or the decisions of their organs, the courts of the Contracting State in which the company, legal person or association has its seat;

3. in proceedings which have as their object the validity of entries in public registers, the courts of the Contracting State in which the register is kept;

4. in proceedings concerned with the registration or validity of patents, trade marks, designs, or other similar rights required to be deposited or registered, the courts of the Contracting State in which the deposit or registration has been applied for, has taken place or is under the terms of an international convention deemed to have taken place;

5. in proceedings concerned with the enforcement of judgments, the courts of the Contracting State in which the judgment has been or is to be enforced.

SECTION 6

Prorogation of Jurisdiction

Article 17

If the parties, one or more of whom is domiciled in a Contracting State, have agreed that a court or the courts of a Contracting State are to have jurisdiction to settle any disputes which have arisen or which may arise in connection with a particular legal relationship, that court or those courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction. Such an agreement conferring jurisdiction shall be either:

(a) in writing or evidenced in writing; or

(b) in a form which accords with practices which the parties have established between themselves; or

(c) in international trade or commerce, in a form which accords with a usage of which the parties are or ought to have been aware and which in such trade or commerce is widely known to, and regularly observed by, parties to contracts of the type involved in the particular trade or commerce concerned.

Where such an agreement is concluded by parties, none of whom is domiciled in a Contracting State, the courts of other Contracting States shall have no jurisdiction over their disputes unless the court or courts chosen have declined jurisdiction.

The court or courts of a Contracting State on which a trust instrument has conferred jurisdiction shall have exclusive jurisdiction in any proceedings brought against a settlor, trustee or beneficiary, if relations between these persons or their rights or obligations under the trust are involved.

Agreements or provisions of a trust instrument conferring jurisdiction shall have no legal force if they are contrary to the provisions of Articles 12 or 15, or if the courts whose juridiction they purport to exclude have exclusive jurisdiction by virtue of Article 16.

If an agreement conferring jurisdiction was concluded for the benefit of only one of the parties, that party shall retain the right to bring proceedings in any other court which has jurisdiction by virtue of this Convention.

In matters relating to individual contracts of employment an agreement conferring jurisdiction shall have legal force only if it is entered into after the dispute has arisen or if the employee invokes it to seise courts other than those for the defendant’s domicile or those specified in Article 5.1.

Article 18

A part from jurisdiction derived from other provisions of this Convention, a court of a Contracting State before whom a defendant enters an appearance shall have jurisdiction. This rule shall not apply where appearance was entered solely to contest the jurisdiction, or where another court has exclusive jurisdiction by virtue of Article 16.

SECTION 7

Examination as to Jurisdiction and Admissibility

Article 19

Where a court of a Contracting State is seised of a claim which is principally concerned with a matter over which the courts of another Contracting State have exclusive jurisdiction by virtue of Article 16, it shall declare of its own motion that it has no jurisdiction.

Article 20

Where a defendant domiciled in one Contracting State is sued in a court of another Contracting State and does not enter an appearance, the court shall declare of its own motion that it has no jurisdiction unless its jurisdiction is derived from the provisions of the Convention.

The court shall stay the proceedings so long as it is not shown that the defendant has been able to receive the document instituting the proceedings or an equivalent document in sufficient time to enable him to arrange for his defence, or that all necessary steps have been taken to this end.

The provisions of the foregoing paragraph shall be replaced by those of Article 15 of the Hague Convention of 15 November 1965 on the service abroad of judicial and extrajudicial documents in civil or commercial matters, if the document instituting the proceedings or notice thereof had to be transmitted abroad in accordance with that Convention.

SECTION 8

Lis Pendens — Related Actions

Article 21

Where proceedings involving the same cause of action and between the same parties are brought in the courts of different Contracting States, any court other than the court first seised shall of its own motion stay its proceedings until such time as the jurisdiction of the court first seised is established.

Where the jurisdiction of the court first seised is established, any court other than the court first seised shall decline jurisdiction in favour of that court.

Article 22

Where related actions are brought in the courts of different Contracting States, any court other than the court first seised may, while the actions are pending at first instance, stay its proceedings.

A court other than the court first seised may also, on the application of one of the parties, decline jurisdiction if the law of that court permits the consolidation of related actions and the court first seised has jurisdiction over both actions.

For the purposes of this Article, actions are deemed to be related where they are so closely connected that it is expedient to hear and determine them together to avoid the risk of irreconcilable judgments resulting from separate proceedings.

Article 23

Where actions come within the exclusive jurisdiction of several courts, any court other than the court first seised shall decline jurisdiction in favour of that court.

SECTION 9

Provisional, including Protective Measures

Article 24

Application may be made to the courts of a Contracting State for such provisional, including protective, measures as may be available under the law of that State, even if, under this Convention, the courts of another Contracting State have jurisdiction as to the substance of the matter.

Title III

RECOGNITION AND ENFORCEMENT

Article 25

For the purposes of this Convention, ‘judgment’ means any judgment given by a court or tribunal of a Contracting State, whatever the judgment may be called, including a decree, order, decision or writ of execution, as well as the determination of costs or expenses by an officer of the court.

SECTION 1

Recognition

Article 26

A judgment given in a Contracting State shall be recognized in the other Contracting States without any special procedure being required.

Any interested party who raises the recognition of a judgment as the principal issue in a dispute may, in accordance with the procedures provided for in Sections 2 and 3 of this Title, apply for a decision that the judgment be recognized.

If the outcome of proceedings in a court of a Contracting State depends on the determination of an incidental question of recognition, that court shall have jurisdiction over that question.

Article 27

A judgment shall not be recognized:

1. if such recognition is contrary to public policy in the State in which recognition is sought;

2. where it was given in default of appearance, if the defendant was not duly served with the document which instituted the proceedings or with an equivalent document in sufficient time to enable him to arrange for his defence;

3. if the judgment is irreconcilable with a judgment given in a dispute between the same parties in the State in which recognition is sought;

4. if the court of the State of origin, in order to arrive at its judgment, has decided a preliminary question concerning the status or legal capacity of natural persons, rights in property arising out of a matrimonial relationship, wills or succession in a way that conflicts with a rule of the private international law of the State in which the recognition is sought, unless the same result would have been reached by the application of the rules of private international law of that State;

5. if the judgment is irreconcilable with an earlier judgment given in a non-contracting State involving the same cause of action and between the same parties, provided that this latter judgment fulfils the conditions necessary for its recognition in the State addressed.

Article 28

Moreover, a judgment shall not be recognized if it conflicts with the provisions of Sections 3, 4 or 5 of Title II, or in a case provided for in Article 59.

In its examination of the grounds of jurisdiction referred to in the foregoing paragraph, the court or authority applied to shall be bound by the findings of fact on which the court of the State of origin based its jurisdiction.

Subject to the provisions of the first paragraph, the jurisdiction of the court of the State of origin may not be reviewed; the test of public policy referred to in Article 27.1 may not be applied to the rules relating to jurisdiction.

Article 29

Under no circumstances may a foreign judgment be reviewed as to its substance.

Article 30

A court of a Contracting State in which recognition is sought of a judgment given in another Contracting State may stay the proceedings if an ordinary appeal against the judgment has been lodged.

A court of a Contracting State in which recognition is sought of a judgment given in Ireland or the United Kingdom may stay the proceedings if enforcement is suspended in the State of origin, by reason of an appeal.

SECTION 2

Enforcement

Article 31

A judgment given in a Contracting State and enforceable in that State shall be enforced in another Contracting State when, on the application of any interested party, it has been declared enforceable there.

However, in the United Kingdom, such a judgment shall be enforced in England and Wales, in Scotland, or in Northern Ireland when, on the application of any interested party, it has been registered for enforcement in that part of the United Kingdom.

Article 32

1. The application shall be submitted:

—in Belgium, to the tribunal de première instance or rechtbank van eerste aanleg,

—in Denmark, to the byret,

—in the Federal Republic of Germany, to the presiding judge of a chamber of the Landgericht,

—in Greece, to the Moνoμελές Πρωτoδικεío,

—in Spain, to the Juzgado de Primera Instancia,

—in France, to the presiding judge of the tribunal de grande instance,

—in Ireland, to the High Court,

—in Italy, to the corte d'appello,

—in Luxembourg, to the presiding judge of the tribunal d'arrondissement,

—in Austria, to the Bezirksgericht,

—in the Netherlands, to the presiding judge of the arrondissementsrechtbank,

—in Portugal, to the Tribunal Judicial de Círculo,

—in Finland, to the Käräjäoikeus/tingsrätt,

— in Sweden, to the Svea hovrätt,

—in the United Kingdom:

1. in England and Wales, to the High Court of Justice, or in the case of a maintenance judgment to the Magistrates’Court on transmission by the Secretary of State;

2. in Scotland, to the Court of Session, or in the case of a maintenance judgment to the Sheriff Court on transmission by the Secretary of State;

3. in Northern Ireland, to the High Court of Justice, or in the case of a maintenance judgment to the Magistrates’Court on transmission by the Secretary of State.

2. The jurisdiction of local courts shall be determined by reference to the place of domicile of the party against whom enforcement is sought. If he is not domiciled in the State in which enforcement is sought, it shall be determined by reference to the place of enforcement.

Article 33

The procedure for making the application shall be governed by the law of the State in which enforcement is sought.

The applicant must give an address for service of process within the area of jurisdiction of the court applied to. However, if the law of the State in which enforcement is sought does not provide for the furnishing of such an address, the applicant shall appoint a representative ad litem.

The documents referred to in Articles 46 and 47 shall be attached to the application.

Article 34

The court applied to shall give its decision without delay; the party against whom enforcement is sought shall not at this stage of the proceedings be entitled to make any submissions on the application.

The application may be refused only for one of the reasons specified in Articles 27 and 28.

Under no circumstances may the foreign judgment be reviewed as to its substance.

Article 35

The appropriate officer of the court shall without delay bring the decision given on the application to the notice of the applicant in accordance with the procedure laid down by the law of the State in which enforcement is sought.

Article 36

If enforcement is authorized, the party against whom enforcement is sought may appeal against the decision within one month of service thereof.

If that party is domiciled in a Contracting State other than that in which the decision authorizing enforcement was given, the time for appealing shall be two months and shall run from the date of service, either on him in person or at his residence. No extension of time may be granted on account of distance.

Article 37

1. An appeal against the decision authorizing enforcement shall be lodged in accordance with the rules governing procedure in contentious matters:

—in Belgium, with the tribunal de première instance or rechtbank van eerste aanleg,

—in Denmark, with the landsret,

—in the Federal Republic of Germany, with the Oberlandesgericht,

—in Greece, with the Eϕετεío,

—in Spain, with the Audiencia Provincial,

—in France, with the cour d'appello,

—in Ireland, with the High Court,

—in Italy, with the corte d'appello,

—in Luxembourg, with the Cour supérieure de justice sitting as a court of civil appeal,

—in Austria, with the Bezirksgericht,

—in the Netherlands, with the arrondissementsrechtbank,

—in Portugal, with the Tribunal da Relação,

—in Finland, with the hovioikeus / hovrätt,

—in Sweden, with the Svea hovrätt,

—in the United Kingdom:

(a) in England and Wales, with the High Court of Justice, or in the case of a maintenance judgment with the Magistrates' Court;

(b) in Scotland, with the Court of Session, or in the case of a maintenance judgment with the Sheriff Court;

(c) in Northern Ireland, with the High Court of Justice, or in the case of a maintenance judgment with the Magistrates' Court.

2. The judgment given on the appeal may be contested only:

—in Belgium, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg and in the Netherlands, by an appeal in cassation,

—in Denmark, by an appeal to the højesteret, with the leave of the Minister of Justice,

—in the Federal Republic of Germany, by a Rechtsbeschwerde,

—in Austria, in the case of an appeal, by a Revisionsrekurs and, in the case of opposition proceedings, by a Berufung with the possibility of a revision,

—in Ireland, by an appeal on a point of law to the Supreme Court,

—in Portugal, by an appeal on a point of law,

—in Finland, by an appeal to korkein oikeus/högsta domstolen,

—in Sweden, by an appeal to Högsta domstolen,

—in the United Kingdom, by a single further appeal on a point of law.

Article 38

The court with which the appeal under Article 37 (1) is lodged may, on the application of the appellant, stay the proceedings if an ordinary appeal has been lodged against the judgment in the State of origin or if the time for such an appeal has not yet expired; in the latter case, the court may specify the time within which such an appeal is to be lodged.

Where the judgment was given in Ireland or the United Kingdom, any form of appeal available in the State of origin shall be treated as an ordinary appeal for the purposes of the first paragraph.

The court may also make enforcement conditional on the provision of such security as it shall determine.

Article 39

During the time specified for an appeal pursuant to Article 36 and until any such appeal has been determined, no measures of enforcement may be taken other than protective measures taken against the property of the party against whom enforcement is sought.

The decision authorizing enforcement shall carry with it the power to proceed to any such protective measures.

Article 40

1. If the application for enforcement is refused, the applicant may appeal:

—in Belgium, to the cour d'appel or hofvan beroep,

—in Denmark, to the landsret,

—in the Federal Republic of Germany, to the Oberlandesgericht,

—in Greece, to the Eϕετεío,

—in Spain, to the Audiencia Provincial,

—in France, to the cour d'appel,

—in Ireland, to the High Court,

—in Italy, to the corte d'appello,

—in Luxembourg, to the Cour supérieure de justice sitting as a court of civil appeal,

—in Austria, to the Bezirksgericht,

—in the Netherlands, to the gerechtshof,

—in Portugal, to the Tribunal da Relação,

—in Finland, to hovioikeus/hovrätten,

—in Sweden, to the Svea hovrätt,

—in the United Kingdom:

(a) in England and Wales, to the High Court of Justice, or in the case of a maintenance judgment to the Magistrates’ Court;

(b) in Scotland, to the Court of Session, or in the case of a maintenance judgment to the Sheriff Court;

(c) in Northern Ireland, to the High Court of Justice, or in the case of a maintenance judgment to the Magistrates’Court.

2. The party against whom enforcement is sought shall be summoned to appear before the appellate court. If he fails to appear, the provisions of the second and third paragraphs of Article 20 shall apply even where he is not domiciled in any of the Contracting States.

Article 41

A judgment given on an appeal provided for in Article 40 may be contested only:

—in Belgium, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg and in the Netherlands, by an appeal in cassation,

—in Denmark, by an appeal to the højesteret, with the leave of the Minister of Justice,

—in the Federal Republic of Germany, by a Rechtsbeschwerde,

—in Ireland, by an appeal on a point of law to the Supreme Court,

—in Austria, by a Revisionsrekurs,

—in Portugal, by an appeal on a point of law,

—in Finland, by an appeal to korkein oikeus/högsta domstolen,

—in Sweden, by an appeal to Högsta domstolen,

—in the United Kingdom, by a single further appeal on a point of law.

Article 42

Where a foreign judgment has been given in respect of several matters and enforcement cannot be authorized for all of them, the court shall authorize enforcement for one or more of them.

An applicant may request partial enforcement of a judgment.

Article 43

A foreign judgment which orders a periodic payment by way of a penalty shall be enforceable in the State in which enforcement is sought only if the amount of the payment has been finally determined by the courts of the State of origin.

Article 44

An applicant who, in the State of origin, has benefited from complete or partial legal aid or exemption from costs or expenses, shall be entitled, in the procedures provided for in Articles 32 to 35, to benefit from the most favourable legal aid or the most extensive exemption from costs or expenses provided for by the law of the State addressed.

However, an applicant who requests the enforcement of a decision given by an administrative authority in Denmark in respect of a maintenance order may, in the State addressed, claim the benefits referred to in the first paragraph if he presents a statement from the Danish Ministry of Justice to the effect that he fulfils the economic requirements to qualify for the grant of complete or partial legal aid or exemption from costs or expenses.

Article 45

No security, bond or deposit, however described, shall be required of a party who in one Contracting State applies for enforcement of a judgment given in another Contracting State on the ground that he is a foreign national or that he is not domiciled or resident in the State in which enforcement is sought.

SECTION 3

Common Provisions

Article 46

A party seeking recognition or applying for enforcement of a judgment shall produce:

1. a copy of the judgment which satisfies the conditions necessary to establish its authenticity;

2. in the case of a judgment given in default, the original or a certified true copy of the document which establishes that the party in default was served with the document instituting the proceedings or with an equivalent document.

Article 47

A party applying for enforcement shall also produce:

1. documents which establish that, according to the law of the State of origin, the judgment is enforceable and has been served;

2. where appropriate, a document showing that the applicant is in receipt of legal aid in the State of origin.

Article 48

If the documents specified in Articles 46.2 and 47.2 are not produced, the court may specify a time for their production, accept equivalent documents or, if it considers that it has sufficient information before it, dispense with their production.

If the court so requires, a translation of the documents shall be produced; the translation shall be certified by a person qualified to do so in one of the Contracting States.

Article 49

No legalization or other similar formality shall be required in respect of the documents referred to in Articles 46 or 47 or the second paragraph of Article 48, or in respect of a document appointing a representative ad litem.

Title IV

AUTHENTIC INSTRUMENTS AND COURT SETTLEMENTS

Article 50

A document which has been formally drawn up or registered as an authentic instrument and is enforceable in one Contracting State shall, in another Contracting State, be declared enforceable there, on application made in accordance with the procedures provided for in Article 31 et seq. The application may be refused only if enforcement of the instrument is contrary to public policy in the State addressed.

The instrument produced must satisfy the conditions necessary to establish its authenticity in the State of origin.

The provision of Section 3 of Title III shall apply as appropriate.

Article 51

A settlement which has been approved by a court in the course of proceedings and is enforceable in the State in which it was concluded shall be enforceable in the State addressed under the same conditions as authentic instruments.

Title V

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 52

In order to determine whether a party is domiciled in the Contracting State whose courts are seised of a matter, the Court shall apply its internal law.

If a party is not domiciled in the State whose courts are seised of the matter then, in order to determine whether the party is domiciled in another Contracting State, the court shall apply the law of that State.

Article 53

For the purposes of this Convention, the seat of a company or other legal person or association of natural or legal persons shall be treated as its domicile. However, in order to determine that seat, the court shall apply its rules of private international law.

In order to determine whether a trust is domiciled in the Contracting State whose courts are seised of the matter, the court shall apply its rules of private international law.

Title VI

TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

Article 54

The provisions of this Convention shall apply only to legal proceedings instituted and to documents formally drawn up or registered as authentic instruments after its entry into force in the State of origin and, where recognition or enforcement of a judgment or authentic instrument is sought, in the State addressed.

However, judgments given after the date of entry into force of this Convention between the State of origin and the State addressed in proceedings instituted before that date shall be recognized and enforced in accordance with the provisions of Title III if jurisdiction was founded upon rules which accorded with those provided for either in Title II of this Convention or in a convention concluded between the State of origin and the State addressed which was in force when the proceedings were instituted.

If the parties to a dispute concerning a contract had agreed in writing before 1 June 1988 for Ireland or before 1 January 1987 for the United Kingdom that the contract was to be governed by the law of Ireland or of a part of the United Kingdom, the courts of Ireland or of that part of the United Kingdom shall retain the right to exercise jurisdiction in the dispute.

Article 54a

For a period of three years from 1 November 1986 for Denmark and from 1 June 1988 for Ireland, jurisdiction in maritime matters shall be determined in these States not only in accordance with the provisions of Title II, but also in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs 1 to 6 following. However, upon the entry into force of the International Convention relating to the arrest of sea-going ships, signed at Brussels on 10 May 1952, for one of these States, these provisions shall cease to have effect for that State.

1. A person who is domiciled in a Contracting State may be sued in the courts of one of the States mentioned above in respect of a maritime claim if the ship to which the claim relates or any other ship owned by him has been arrested by judicial process within the territory of the latter State to secure the claim, or could have been so arrested there but bail or other security has been given, and either:

(a) the claimant is domiciled in the latter State; or

(b) the claim arose in the latter State; or

(c) the claim concerns the voyage during which the arrest was made or could have been made; or

(d) the claim arises out of a collision or out of damage caused by a ship to another ship or to goods or persons on board either ship, either by the execution or non-execution of a manoeuvre or by the non-observance of regulations; or

(e) the claim is for salvage; or

(f) the claim is in respect of a mortgage or hypothecation of the ship arrested.

2. A claimant may arrest either the particular ship to which the maritime claim relates, or any other ship which is owned by the person who was, at the time when the maritime claim arose, the owner of the particular ship. However, only the particular ship to which the maritime claim relates may be arrested in respect of respect of the maritime claims set out in subparagraphs (o), (p) or (q) of paragraph 5 of this Article.

3. Ships shall be deemed to be in the same ownership when all the shares therein are owned by the same person or persons.

4. When in the case of a charter by demise of a ship the charterer alone is liable in respect of a maritime claim relating to that ship, the claimant may arrest that ship or any other ship owned by the charterer, but no other ship owned by the owner may be arrested in respect of such claim. The same shall apply to any case in which a person other than the owner of a ship is liable in respect of a maritime claim relating to that ship.

5. The expression ‘maritime claim’ means a claim arising out of one or more of the following:

(a) damage caused by any ship either in collision or otherwise;

(b) loss of life or personal injury caused by any ship or occurring in connection with the operation on any ship;

(c) salvage;

(d) agreement relating to the use or hire of any ship whether by charterparty or otherwise;

(e) agreement relating to the carriage of goods in any ship whether by charterparty or otherwise;

(f) loss of or damage to goods including baggage carried in any ship;

(g) general average;

(h) bottomry;

(i) towage;

(j) pilotage;

(k) goods or materials wherever supplied to a ship for her operation or maintenance;

(l) construction, repair or equipment of any ship or dock charges and dues;

(m) wages of masters, officers or crew;

(n) master’s disbursements, including disbursements made by shippers, charterers or agents on behalf of a ship or her owner;

(o) dispute as to the title to or ownership of any ship;

(p) disputes between co-owners of any ship as to the ownership, possession, employment or earnings of that ship;

(q) the mortgage or hypothecation of any ship.

6. In Denmark, the expression ‘arrest’ shall be deemed as regards the maritime claims referred to in subparagraphs (o) and (p) of paragraph 5 of this Article, to include a ‘forbud’, where that is the only procedure allowed in respect of such a claim under Articles 646 to 653 of the law on civil procedure (lov om rettens pleje).

Title VII

RELATIONSHIPS TO OTHER CONVENTIONS

Article 55

Subject to the provisions of the second subparagraph of Article 54, and of Article 56, this Convention shall, for the States which are parties to it, supersede the following conventions concluded between two or more of them:

— the Convention between Belgium and France on jurisdiction and the validity and enforcement of judgments, arbitration awards and authentic instruments, signed at Paris on 8 July 1899,

—the Convention between Belgium and the Netherlands on jurisdiction, bankruptcy, and the validity and enforcement of judgments, arbitration awards and authentic instruments, signed at Brussels on 28 March 1925,

—the Convention between France and Italy on the enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters, signed at Rome on 3 June 1930,

—the Convention between the United Kingdom and the French Republic providing for the reciprocal enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters, with Protocol, signed at Paris on 18 January 1934,

—the Convention between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Belgium providing for the reciprocal enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters, with Protocol, signed at Brussels on 2 May 1934,

—the Convention between Germany and Italy on the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters, signed at Rome on 9 March 1936,

—the Convention between the Kingdom of Belgium and Austria on the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments and authentic instruments relating to maintenance obligations, signed at Vienna on 25 October 1957,

—the Convention between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Kingdom of Belgium on the mutual recognition and enforcement of judgments, arbitration awards and authentic instruments in civil and commercial matters, signed at Bonn on 30 June 1958,

—the Convention between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Italian Republic on the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters, signed at Rome on 17 April 1959,

—the Convention between the Federal Republic of Germany and Austria on the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments, settlements and authentic instruments in civil and commercial matters, signed at Vienna on 6 June 1959,

—the Convention between the Kingdom of Belgium and Austria on the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments, arbitral awards and authentic instruments in civil and commercial matters, signed at Vienna on 16 June 1959,

—the Convention between the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters, signed at Bonn on 14 July 1960,

—the Convention between the United Kingdom and Austria providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters, signed at Vienna on 14 July 1961, with amending Protocol signed at London on 6 March 1970,

—the Convention between the Kingdom of Greece and the Federal Republic of Germany for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments, settlements and authentic instruments in civil and commercial matters, signed in Athens on 4 November 1961,

— the Convention between the Kingdom of Belgium and the Italian Republic on the recognition and enforcement of judgments and other enforceable instruments in civil and commercial matters, signed at Rome on 6 April 1962,

—the Convention between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Federal Republic of Germany on the mutual recognition and enforcement of judgments and other enforceable instruments in civil and commercial matters, signed at The Hague on 30 August 1962,

—the Convention between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Austria on the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments and authentic instruments in civil and commercial matters, signed at The Hague on 6 February 1963,

—the Convention between France and Austria on the recognition and enforcement of judgments and authentic instruments in civil and commercial matters, signed at Vienna on 15 July 1966,

—the Convention between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Italy for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters, signed at Rome on 7 February 1964, with amending Protocol signed at Rome on 14 July 1970,

—the Convention between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of the Netherlands providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil matters, signed at The Hague on 17 November 1967,

—the Convention between Spain and France on the recognition and enforcement of judgments and arbitration awards in civil and commercial matters, signed at Paris on 28 May 1969,

—the Convention between Luxembourg and Austria on the recognition and enforcement of judgments and authentic instruments in civil and commercial matters, signed at Luxembourg on 29 July 1971,

—the Convention between Italy and Austria on the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters, of judicial settlements and of authentic instruments, signed at Rome on 16 November 1971,

—the Convention between Spain and Italy regarding legal aid and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters, signed at Madrid on 22 May 1973,

—the Convention between Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark on the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil matters, signed at Copenhagen on 11 October 1977,

—the Convention between Austria and Sweden on the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil matters, signed at Stockholm on 16 September 1982,

—the Convention between Spain and the Federal Republic of Germany on the recognition and enforcement of judgments, settlements and enforceable authentic instruments in civil and commercial matters, signed at Bonn on 14 November 1983,

—the Convention between Austria and Spain on the recognition and enforcement of judgments, settlements and enforceable authentic instruments in civil and commercial matters, signed at Vienna on 17 February 1984,

—the Convention between Finland and Austria on the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil matters, signed at Vienna on 17 November 1986,

and, in so far as it is in force:

—the Treaty between Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg on jurisdiction, bankruptcy, and the validity and enforcement of judgments, arbitration awards and authentic instruments, signed at Brussels on 24 November 1961.

Article 56

The Treaty and the conventions referred to in Article 55 shall continue to have effect in relation to matters to which this Convention does not apply.

They shall continue to have effect in respect of judgments given and documents formally drawn up or registered as authentic instruments before the entry into force of this Convention.

Article 57

1. This Convention shall not affect any conventions to which the Contracting States are or will be parties and which in relation to particular matters, govern jurisdiction or the recognition or enforcement of judgments.

2. With a view to its uniform interpretation, pargraph 1 shall be applied in the following manner:

(a) this Convention shall not prevent a court of a Contracting State which is a party to a convention on a particular matter from assuming jurisdiction in accordance with that Convention, even where the defendant is domiciled in another Contracting State which is not a party to that Convention. The court hearing the action shall, in any event, apply Article 20 of this Convention;

(b) judgments given in a Contracting State by a court in the exercise of jurisdiction provided for in a convention on a particular matter shall be recognized and enforced in the other Contracting State in accordance with this Convention.

Where a convention on a particular matter to which both the State of origin and the State addressed are parties lays down conditions for the recognition or enforcement of judgments, those conditions shall apply. In any event, the provisions of this Convention which concern the procedure for recognition and enforcement of judgments may be applied.

3. This Convention shall not affect the application of provisions which, in relation to particular matters, govern jurisdiction or the recognition or enforcement of judgments and which are or will be contained in acts of the institutions of the European Communities or in national laws harmonized in implementation of such acts.

Article 58

Until such time as the Convention on jurisdiction and the enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters, signed at Lugano on 16 September 1988, takes effect with regard to France and the Swiss Confederation, this Convention shall not affect the rights granted to Swiss nationals by the Convention between France and the Swiss Confederation on jurisdiction and enforcement of judgments in civil matters, signed at Paris on 15 June 1869.

Article 59

This Convention shall not prevent a Contracting State from assuming, in a convention on the recognition and enforcement of judgments, an obligation towards a third State not to recognize judgments given in other Contracting States against defendants domiciled or habitually resident in the third State where, in cases provided for in Article 4, the judgment could only be founded on a ground of jurisdiction specified in the second paragraph of Article 3.

However, a Contracting State may not assume an obligation towards a third State not to recognize a judgment given in another Contracting State by a court basing its jurisdiction on the presence within that State of property belonging to the defendant, or the seizure by the plaintiff of property situated there:

1. if the action is brought to assert or declare proprietary or possessory rights in that property, seeks to obtain authority to dispose of it, or arises from another issue relating to such property, or

2. if the property constitutes the security for a debt which is the subject-matter of the action.

Title VIII

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 60

[deleted]

Article 61

This Convention shall be ratified by the signatory States. The instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Communities.

Article 62

This Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the third month following the deposit of the instrument of ratification by the last signatory State to take this step.

Article 63

The Contracting States recognize that any State which becomes a member of the European Economic Community shall be required to accept this Convention as a basis for the negotiations between the Contracting States and that State necessary to ensure the implementation of the last paragraph of Article 220 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community.

The necessary adjustments may be the subject of a special convention between the Contracting States of the one part and the new Member States of the other part.

Article 64

The Secretary-General of the Council of the European Communities shall notify the signatory States of:

(a) the deposit of each instrument of ratification;

(b) the date of entry into force of this Convention;

(c) [deleted]

(d) any declaration received pursuant to Article IV of the Protocol;

(e) any communication made pursuant to Article VI of the Protocol.

Article 65

The Protocol annexed to this Convention by common accord of the Contracting States shall form an integral part thereof.

Article 66

This Convention is concluded for an unlimited period.

Article 67

Any Contracting State may request the revision of this Convention. In this event, a revision conference shall be convened by the President of the Council of the European Communities.

Article 68

This Convention, drawn up in a single original in the Dutch, French, German and Italian languages, all four texts being equally authentic, shall be deposited in the archives of the Secretariat of the Council of the European Communities. The Secretary-General shall transmit a certified copy to the Government of each signatory State.

[Signatures of the designated plenipotentiaries]

PROTOCOL

The High Contracting Parties have agreed upon the following provisions, which shall be annexed to the Convention:

Article I

Any person domiciled in Luxembourg who is sued in a court of another Contracting State pursuant to Article 5 (1) may refuse to submit to the jurisdiction of that court. If the defendant does not enter an appearance the court shall declare of its own motion that it has no jurisdiction.

An agreement conferring jurisdiction, within the meaning of Article 17, shall be valid with respect to a person domiciled in Luxembourg only if that person has expressly and specifically so agreed.

Article II

Without prejudice to any more favourable provisions of national laws, persons domiciled in a Contracting State who are being prosecuted in the criminal courts of another Contracting State of which they are not nationals for an offence which was not intentionally committed may be defended by persons qualified to do so, even if they do not appear in person.

However, the court seised of the matter may order appearance in person; in the case of failure to appear, a judgment given in the civil action without the person concerned having had the opportunity to arrange for his defence need not be recognized or enforced in the other Contracting States.

Article III

In proceedings for the issue of an order for enforcement, no charge, duty or fee calculated by reference to the value of the matter in issue may be levied in the State in which enforcement is sought.

Article IV

Judicial and extrajudicial documents drawn up in one Contracting State which have to be served on persons in another Contracting State shall be transmitted in accordance with the procedures laid down in the conventions and agreements concluded between the Contracting States.

Unless the State in which service is to take place objects by declaration to the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Communities, such documents may also be sent by the appropriate public officers of the State in which the document has been drawn up directly to the appropriate public officers of the State in which the addressee is to be found. In this case the officer of the State of origin shall send a copy of the document to the officer of the State applied to who is competent to forward it to the addressee. The document shall be forwarded in the manner specified by the law of the State applied to. The forwarding shall be recorded by a certificate sent directly to the officer of the State of origin.

Article V

The jurisdiction specified in Articles 6 (2) and 10 in actions on a warranty or guarantee or in any other third-party proceedings may not be resorted to in the Federal Republic of Germany or in Austria. Any person domiciled in another Contracting State may be sued in the courts:

—of the Federal Republic of Germany, pursuant to Articles 68, 72, 73 and 74 of the code of civil procedure (Zivilprozessordnung) concerning third-party notices,

—of Austria, pursuant to Article 21 of the code of civil procedure (Zivilprozessordnung) concerning third-party notices.

Judgments given in the other Contracting States by virtue of Article 6 (2) or 10 shall be recognized and enforced in the Federal Republic of Germany and in Austria in accordance with Title III. Any effects which judgments given in those States may have on third parties by application of the provisions in the preceding paragraph shall also be recognized in the other Contracting States.

Article Va

In matters relating to maintenance, the expression ‘court’ includes the Danish administrative authorities.

In Sweden, in summary proceedings concerning orders to pay (betalningsföreläggande) and assistance (handräckning), the expression “court” includes the “Swedish enforcement service” (kronofogdemyndighet).

Article Vb

In proceedings involving a dispute between the master and a member of the crew of a sea-going ship registered in Denmark, in Greece, in Ireland or in Portugal, concerning remuneration or other conditions of service, a court in a Contracting State shall establish whether the diplomatic or consular officer responsible for the ship has been notified of the dispute. It shall stay the proceedings so long as he has not been notified. It shall of its own motion decline jurisdiction if the officer, having been duly notified, has exercised the powers accorded to him in the matter by a consular convention, or in the absence of such a convention has, within the time allowed, raised any objection to the exercise of such jurisdiction.

Article Vc

Articles 52 and 53 of this Convention shall, when applied by Article 69 (5) of the Convention for the European patent for the common market, signed at Luxembourg on 15 December 1975, to the provisions relating to ‘residence’ in the English text of that Convention, operate as if ‘residence’ in that text were the same as ‘domicile’ in Articles 52 and 53.

Article Vd

Without prejudice to the jurisdiction of the European Patent Office under the Convention on the grant of European patents, signed at Munich on 5 October 1973, the courts of each Contracting State shall have exclusive jurisdiction, regardless of domicile, in proceedings concerned with the registration or validity of any European patent granted for that State which is not a Community patent by virtue of the provisions of Article 86 of the Convention for the European patent for the common market, signed at Luxembourg on 15 December 1975.

Article Ve

Arrangements relating to maintenance obligations concluded with administrative authorities or authenticated by them shall also be regarded as authentic instruments within the meaning of the first paragraph of Article 50 of the Convention.

Article VI

The Contracting States shall communicate to the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Communities the text of any provisions of their laws which amend either those articles of their laws mentioned in the Convention or the lists of courts specified in Section 2 of Title III of the Convention.

[Signatures of the designated plenipotentiaries]

Text in the Irish language of the 1968 Convention as amended by the 1978 Accession Convention, the 1982 Accession Convention, the 1989 Accession Convention and the 1996 Accession Convention1

COINBHINSIÚN

ar dhlínse agus ar fhorghníomhú breithiúnas in ábhair shibhialta agus tráchtála

BROLLACH

TÁ NA hARDPHÁIRTITHE CONARTHACHA SA CHONRADH AG BUNÚ CHOMHPHOBAL EACNAMAÍOCHTA NA hEORPA,

ÓS MIAN LEO go gcuirfear i ngníomh na forálacha in Airteagal 220 den Chonradh sin ar ghabh siad orthu féin dá mbua a áirithiú go simpleofaí na foirmiúlachtaí a bhaineann le breithiúnais ó chúirteanna nó ó bhinsí a aithint agus a fhorghníomhú go cómhalartach;

ÓS É A MIANGAS go neartófar sa Chomhphobal an chosaint dhlíthiúil ar dhaoine atá bunaithe ann;

DE BHRÍ gur gá chun na críche sin dlínse idirnáisiúnta a gcúirteanna a chinneadh, aithint a éascú agus nós imeachta gasta a thabhairt isteach chun a áirithiú go bhforghníomhófar breithiúnais, ionstraimí barántúla agus socraíochtaí cúirte;

TAR ÉIS CINNEADH ar an gCoinbhinsiún seo a chur i gcrích agus cuige sin tar éis na daoine seo a leanas a cheapadh mar Lánchumhachtaigh:

(Lánchumhachtaigh arna gceapadh ag na Ballstáit)

NOCH A RINNE, i dtionól na Comhairle, tar éis dóibh a lánchumhachtaí, agus iad i bhfoirm cheart chuí, a thabhairt ar aird dáchéile,

COMHAONTÚ MAR A LEANAS:

TEIDEAL I

RAON FEIDHME

Airteagal 1

Beidh feidhm leis an gCoinbhinsiún seo in ábhair shibhialta agus tráchtála, cibé cineál cúirte nó binse a bheidh i gceist. Eisiatar ónaréim, go háirithe, cúrsaí ioncaim, custaim agus riaracháin.

Eisiatar ó fheidhm an Choinbhinsiúin:

1. stádas nó inniúlacht dhlíthiúil daoine nádúrtha, maoin-chearta de bhua cóngais phósta, uachtanna agus comharbais;

2. féimheacht, imeachtaí maidir le foirceannadh cuideachtaí dócmhainneacha nó daoine dlítheanacha eile atá dócmhainn-each, comhshocraíochtaí breithiúnacha, imshocraíochtaí agus imeachtaí cosúil leo sin;

3. slándáil shóisialta;

4. eadráin.

TEIDEAL II

DLÍNSE

ROINN 1

Forálacha Ginearálta

Airteagal 2

Faoi réir fhorálacha an Choinbhinsiúin seo, beidh daoine a bhfuil sainchónaí orthu i Stát Conarthach inagartha, cibé náisiúntacht atá acu, i gcúirteanna an Stáit sin.

Daoine nach náisiúnaigh den Stát ina bhfuil sainchónaí orthu, beidh siad faoi rialú ag na rialacha dlínse a bhaineann le náisiúnaigh an Stáit sin.

Airteagal 3

Daoine a bhfuil sainchónaí orthu i Stát Conarthach, ní féidir iad a agairt i gcúirteanna Stáit Chonarthaigh eile ach amháin de bhua na rialacha atá leagtha síos i Ranna 2 go 6 den Teideal seo.

Go háirithe ní bheidh na forálacha seo a leanas infheidhme ina gcoinne:

—sa Bheilg: Airteagal 15 den chód sibhialta (Code civil — Burgerlijk Wetboek) agus Airteagal 638 den chód breithiúnach (Code judiciaire — Gerechtelijk Wetboek),

—sa Danmhairg: Airteagal 246(2) agus (3) den dlí ar nós imeachta sibhialta (lov om rettens pleje),

—i bPoblacht Chónaidhme na Gearmáine: Airteagal 23 de chód an nós imeachta shibhialta (Zivilprozeβordnung),

—sa Ghréig: Airteagal 40 de chód an nós imeachta shibhialta (Kώδικαζ Πoλιτικήζ Δικoνoμíαζ)

—sa Fhrainc: Airteagail 14 agus 15 den chód sibhialta (Code civil),

—in Éirinn: na rialacha á chumasú dlínse a bhunú ar dhoiciméad tionscanta na n-imeachtaí a bheith arna sheirbheáil ar an gcosantóir le linn dó bheith in éirinn go sealadach,

—san Iodáil: Airteagal 2 agus Airteagal 4, Uimh. 1 agus 2, de chód an nós imeachta shibhialta (Codice di procedura civile),

—i Lucsamburg: Airteagail 14 agus 15 den chód sibhialta (Code civil),

—san Ostair: Airteagal 99 den Dlí ar Dhlínse Chúirte (Jurisdiktionsnorm),

—san ísiltír: Airteagal 126(3) agus Airteagal 127 de chód an nós imeachta shibhialta (Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering),

—sa Phortaingéil: Airteagail 65(1)(c), 65(2) agus 65A(c) de chód an nós imeachta shibhialta (Código de Processo Civil) agus Airteagal 11 de chód an nós imeachta saothair (Código de Processo de Trabalho),

—san Fhionlainn: an dara, an tríú agus an ceathrú habairt den chéad mhír de Roinn 1 de Chaibidil 10 de Chód an Nós Imeachta Bhreithiúnaigh (oikeudenkäymiskaari/rättegångsbalken),

—sa tSualainn: an chéad abairt den chéad mír de Roinn 3 de Chaibidil 10 de Chód an Nós Imeachta Bhreithiúnaigh (rättegångsbalken),

—sa Ríocht Aontaithe: na rialacha á chumasú dlínse a bhunú:

(a) ar dhoiciméad tionscanta na n-imeachtaí a bheith arna sheirbheáil ar an gcosantóir le linn dó bheith sa Ríocht Aontaithe go sealadach; nó

(b) ar mhaoin leis an gcosantóir a bheith sa Ríocht Aontaithe; nó

(c) ar urghabháil ag an ngearánaí ar mhaoin sa Ríocht Aontaithe.

Airteagal 4

Mura bhfuil sainchónaí i Stát Conarthach ar an gcosantóir, rialófar dlínse na gcúirteanna i ngach Stát Conarthach de réir dhlí an Stáit sin, faoi réir fhorálacha Airteagal 16.

Aon duine a bhfuil sainchónaí air i Stát Conarthach, cibé náisiúntacht atá aige, féadfaidh sé, ar nós náisiúnaigh an Stáit sin, leas a bhaint sa Stát sin, i gcoinne an chosantóra sin, as na rialacha dlínse atá i bhfeidhm ann agus go háirithe as na cinn a fhoráiltear sa dara mír d'Airteagal 3.

ROINN 2

Dlínse speisialta

Airteagal 5

Duine a bhfuil sainchónaí air i Stát Conarthach, féadfar é a agairt i Stát Conarthach eile:

1. in ábhair a bhaineann le conradh, sna cúirteanna don áit i gcomhair chomhlíonadh na hoibleagáide áirithe; in ábhair a bhaineann le conarthaí fostaíochta aonair, is é an áitina ndéanann an fostaí a chuid oibre de ghnáth; más rud é nach ndéanann an fostaí a chuid oibre in aon tír amháin de ghnáth, féadfar an fostóir a agairt freisin sna cúirteanna don áit ina bhfuil nó ina raibh an áit ghnó trínar earcaíodh an fostaí;

2. in ábhair a bhaineann le cothabháil, sna cúirteanna don áit ina bhfuil sainchónaí nó gnáthchónaí ar an gcreidiúnaí cothabhála nó, más ábhar é atá coimhdeach le himeachtaí i dtaobh stádais duine, sa chúirt ag a bhfuil, de réir a dlí féin, dlínse chun na himeachtaí sin a thriail, mura rud é nach bhfuil de bhonn faoin dlínse sin ach náisiúntacht cheann de na páirtithe;

3. in ábhair a bhaineann le tort, míghníomh nó samhail mhíghnímh, sna cúirteanna don áit inar tharla an teagmhas díobhálach;

4. i gcás éileamh sibhialta chun damáistí nó aisíocaíocht a ghnóthú mar gheall ar shárú ba shiocair le himeachtaí coiriúla, su chúirt ar tugadh na himeachtaí sin faoina bráid, sa mhéid go bhfuil dlínse ag an gcúirt sin faoina dlí féin glacadh le himeachtaí sibhialta;

5. i gcás díospóide a éiríonn as oibríochtaí brainse, gníomhaireachta nó bunaíochta eile, sna cúirteanna don áit ina bhfuil an brainse, an ghníomhaireacht nó an bhunaíocht eile;

6. ina cháil mar shocraitheoir, iontaobhaí nó tairbhí i leith iontaobhais a bunaíodh de bhun reachta nó le hionstraim i scríbhinn nó a bunaíodh de bhriathra béil agus a fianaíodh i scríbhinn, i gcúirteanna an Stáit Chonarthaigh a bhfuil sainchónaí an iontaobhais ann;

7. i gcás díospóide maidir le híoc luach saothair a éilíodh as last nó lucht a tharrtháil, sa chúirt ar faoina húdarás:

(a) a gabhadh an last nó an lucht áirithe chun an íocaíocht sin a urrú; nó

(b) a bhféadfaí é a ghabháil amhlaidh, ach gur tugadh bannaí nó urrús eile;

ar an gcoinníoll nach mbeidh feidhm leis an bhforáil seo ach amháin nuair a éilítear go bhfuil leas ag an gcosantóir sa last nó sa lucht nó go raibh leas den sórt sin aige tráth na tarrthála.

Airteagal 6

Féadfar duine a bhfuil sainchónaí air i Stát Conarthach a agairt freisin:

1. más duine de líon cosantóirí é, sna cúirteanna don áit a bhfuil sainchónaí ar dhuine ar bith díobh;

2. mar thríú páirtí i gcaingean ar bharántas nó ráthaíocht nó in aon imeachtaí eile tríú páirtí, sa chúirt inar tionscnaíodh na himeachtaí bunaidh, mura rud é gur tionscnaíodh iad sin d'aon toisc chun é a thabhairt amach as dlínse na cúirte ab iomchuíina chás;

3. i gcás frithéilimh a thig den chonradh céanna nó de na fíorais chéanna ab fhoras don éileamh bunaidh, sa chúirt ina bhfuil an t-éileamh bunaidh ar feitheamh.

4. i gcás ábhar a bhaineann le conradh, más féidir an chaingean a dhlúthú le caingean i gcoinne an chosantóra chéanna in ábhair a bhaineann le cearta in rem ar mhaoin dhochorraithe, i gcúirt an Stáit Chonarthaigh ina bhfuil an mhaoin.

Airteagal 6a

Más rud é de bhua an Choinbhinsiúin seo go bhfuil dlínse ag cúirt Stáit Chonarthaigh i gcaingne maidir le dliteanas a thig as úsáid nó oibriú loinge, beidh dlínse freisin ag an gcúirt sin, nó ag aon chúirt eile a bheidh curtha ina hionad chun na críche sin le dlí intíre an Stáit sin, i gcás éilimh chun an dliteanas sin a theorannú.

ROINN 3

Dlínse in ábhair a bhaineann le hárachas

Airteagal 7

In ábhair a bhaineann le hárachas, cinnfear dlínse de réir na Roinne seo, gan dochar d'fhorálacha Airteagail 4 agus 5(5).

Airteagal 8

Féadfar árachóir ar a bhfuil sainchónaí i Stát Conarthach a agairt:

1. i gcúirteanna an Stáit ina bhfuil sainchónaí air, nó

2. i Stát Conarthach eile, sna cúirteanna don áit ina bhfuil sainchónaí ar shealbhóir an pholasaí árachais, nó

3. más comhárachóir é, i gcúirteanna Stáit Chonarthaigh ina dtionscnaítear imeachtaí i gcoinne an phríomhárachóra.

Árachóir nach bhfuil sainchónaí air i Stát Conarthach ach a bhfuil brainse nó gníomhaireacht nó bunaíocht eile aige i gceann de na Stáit Chonarthacha, measfar, i gcás díospóidí a thiocfaidh ar barr de dhroim oibríochtaí an bhrainse nó na gníomhaireachta nó na bunaíochta, sainchónaí a bheith air sa Stát sin.

Airteagal 9

Féadfar fairis sin an t-árachóir a agairt sna cúirteanna don áit inar tharla an teagmhas díobhálach más é a bhíonn i gceist árachas i leith dliteanais nó árachas ar mhaoin dhochorraithe. Is é an dála céanna é má chumhdaítear maoin shochorraithe agus maoin dhochorraithe leis an bpolasaí céanna árachais agus go dtéann an teagmhas céanna chun dochair dóibh araon.

Airteagal 10

I gcás árachais i leith dliteanais, féadfar mar an gcéanna, má cheadaíonn dlí na cúirte é, an t-árachóir a uamadh in imeachtaí a thionscain an duine díobhálaithe i gcoinne an árachaí.

Beidh feidhm le forálacha Airteagail 7, 8 agus 9 i gcás caingne a thionscain an duine díobhálaithe go díreach i gcoinne an árachóra, má cheadaítear na caingne díreacha sin.

Má fhorálan an dlí maidir leis na caingne díreacha sin go bhféadfar sealbhóir an pholasaí nó an t-árachaí a uamadh mar pháirtí sa chaingean, beidh dlínse ag an gcúirt chéanna ina leith.

Airteagal 11

Gan dochar d'fhorálacha an tríú mír d'Airteagal 10, ní féidir leis an árachóir imeachtaí a thionscnamh ach amháin i gcúirteanna an Stáit Chonarthaigh ina bhfuil sainchónaí ar an gcosantóir, cibé acu sealbhóir an pholasaí nó an t-árachaí nó tairbhí é.

Ní dhéanfaidh forálacha na Roinne seo difear don cheart chun frithéileamh a thabhairt sa chúirt ina bhfuil an t-éileamh bunaidh ar feitheamh, de réir na Roinne seo.

Airteagal 12

Ní féidir imeacht ó fhorálacha na Roinne seo ach amháin trí chomhaontú i dtaobh dlínse:

1. a dhéanfar tar éis an díospóid a theacht ar barr, nó

2. a cheadóidh do shealbhóir an pholasaí, don árachaí nó do thairbhí imeachtaí a thionscnamh i gcúirteanna seachas na cinn a luaitear sa Roinn seo, nó

3. a chuirfear i gcrích idir sealbhóir polasaí agus árachóir, a bhfuil sainchónaí nó gnáthchónaí orthu araon sa Stát Conarthach céanna tráth an chonartha a chur i gcrích agus arb é is éifeacht dó dlínse a thabhairt do chúirteanna an Stáit sin fiú i gcás an teagmhas díobhálach a tharlú ar an gcoigríoch, ar an gcoinníoll nach bhfuil an comhaontú sin contrártha le dlí an Stáit sin, nó

4. a dhéanfar le sealbhóir polasaí nach bhfuil sainchónaí air i Stát Conarthach, ach amháin sa mhéid gurb árachas éigeantach atá ann nó árachas a bhaineann le maoin dhochorraithe i Stát Conarthach, nó

5. a bhainfidh le conradh árachais sa mhéid go gcumhdaíonn sé fiontar nó fiontair a luaitear in Airteagal 12a.

Airteagal 12a

Is iad seo a leanas na fiontair dá dtagraítear in Airteagal 12(5):

1. aon chailleadh nó damáiste a bhainfidh:

(a) do longa farraige, do chóracha amach ón gcladach nó ar muir, nó d'aerárthaí, de dhroim guaiseanna a bhaineann lena n-úsáid chun críoch tráchtála;

(b) d'earraí faoi bhealach, seachas bagáiste paisinéirí, agus iad á n-iompar go bun a mbealaigh nó ar chuid dá mbealach ag na longa nó na haerárthaí sin;

2. aon dliteanas, seachas dliteanas i leith díobhála coirp do phaisinéirí nó i leith cailleadh nó damáiste a bhaint dá mbagáiste:

(a) a thig as úsáid nó oibriú long, córacha nó aerárthaí mar a luaitear in 1(a) thuas sa mhéid nach gcuireann dlí an Stáit Chonarthaigh a bhfuil na haerárthaí sin cláraithe ann toirmeasc le comhaontuithe ar dhlínse maidir le hárachú na bhfiontar sin;

(b) i leith cailleadh nó damáiste a tharlóidh trí bhíthin earraí faoi bhealach mar a luaitear in 1(b) thuas;

3. aon chailleadh airgid i ndáil le húsáid nó oibriú long, córacha nó aerárthaí mar a luaitear in 1(a) thuas, go háirithe cailleadh last-táillí nó íocaíochta as cairthfhostú;

4. aon fhiontar nó leas a ghabhann leo sin a luaitear in 1 go 3 thuas.

ROINN 4

Dlínse ar chonarthaí tomhaltais

Airteagal 13

In imeachtaí maidir le conradh a chuir duine i gcrích chun críche a fhéadfar a mheas a bheith lasmuigh dá thrádáil nó dá ghairm, dá ngairtear an ‘tomhaltóir’ anseo feasta, cinnfear dlínse leis an Roinn seo, gan dochar d'fhorálacha Airteagail 4 agus 5(5), más éard é:

1. conradh chun earraí a dhíol ar théarmaí creidmheasa tráthchoda, nó

2. conradh le haghaidh iasacht is iníoctha i dtráthchodanna, nó le haghaidh aon fhoirm eile chreidmheasa, arna dhéanamh chun díolachán earraí a mhaoiniú, nó

3. aon chonradh eile chun earraí a sholáthar nó conradh chun seirbhísí a sholáthar, agus

(a) go ndearnadh, i Stát shainchónaí an tomhaltóra, cuireadh sonrach a dhíriú chuige nó fógraíocht sular cuireadh an conradh i gcrích, agus

(b) go ndearna an tomhaltóir sa Stát sin na bearta ba ghá chun an conradh a chur i gcrích.

I gcás tomhaltóir do dhul i gconradh le páirtí nach bhfuil sainchónaí air i Stát Conarthach ach go bhfuil brainse nó gníomhaireacht nó bunaíocht eile aige i gceann de na Stáit Chonarthacha, measfar sainchónaí a bheith ar an bpáirtí sin sa Stát sin i gcás díospóidí a thiocfaidh ar barr de dhroim oibriochtaí an bhrainse nó na gníomhaireachta nó na bunaíochta.

Ní bhainfidh an Roinn seo le conarthaí iompair.

Airteagal 14

Féadfaidh tomhaltóir imeachtaí a thabhairt in aghaidh an pháirtí eile i gconradh i gcúirteanna an Stáit Chonarthaigh ina bhfuil sainchónaí ar an bpáirtí sin nó i gcúirteanna an Stáit Chonarthaigh ina bhfuil sainchónaí air féin.

Ní féidir le páirtí eile sa chonradh imeachtaí a thabhairt i gcoinne tomhaltóra ach amháin i gcúirteanna an Stáit Chonarthaigh ina bhfuil sainchónaí ar an tomhaltóir.

Ní dhéanfaidh na forálacha sea difear don cheart chun frithéileamh a thabhairt sa chúirt ina bhfuil an t-éileamh bunaidh ar feitheamh, de réir na Roinne seo.

Airteagal 15

Ní féidir imeacht ó fhorálacha na Roinne seo ach amháin trí chomhaontú:

1. a dhéanfar tar éis díospóid a theacht ar barr, nó

2. a cheadóidh don tomhaltóir imeachtaí a thionscnamh i gcúirteanna seachas na cinn a luaitear sa Roinn seo, nó

3. a dhéanfaidh an tomhaltóir agus an páirtí eile sa chonradh, agus sainchónaí nó gnáthchónaí orthu araon sa Stát Conarthach céanna tráth an chonartha a chur i gcrích, agus a thabharfaidh dlínse do chúirteanna an Stáit sin, ar an gcoinníoll nach bhfuil an comhaontú sin contrártha le dlí an Stáit sin.

ROINN 5

Dlínse eisiach

Airteagal 16

Beidh dlínse eisiach ag na cúirteanna seo a leanas, ar neamhchead do shainchónaí:

1. (a) in imeachtaí arb é is cuspóir dóibh cearta in rem ar mhaoin dhochorraithe nó tionóntachtaí maoine dochorraithe, cúirteanna an Stáit Chonarthaigh ina bhfuil an mhaoin;

(b) ach, in imeachtaí arb é is cuspóir dóibh tionóntachtaí maoine dochorraithe arna gcur i gcrích le haghaidh úsáide príobháidí sealadaí go ceann tréimhse nach faide ná sé mhí as a chéile, beidh dlínse freisin ag cúirteanna an Stáit Chonarthaigh ina bhfuil sainchónaí ar an gcosantóir, ar an gcoinníoll gur daoine nádúrtha iad an tiarna talún agus an tionónta agus go bhfuil sainchónaí orthu sa Stát Conarthach céanna;

2. in imeachtaí arb é is cuspóir dóibh bailíocht chomhdhéanamh, neamhniú nó díscaoileadh cuideachtaí nó daoine dlítheanacha eile nó comhlachas de dhaoine nádúrtha nó dlítheanacha, nó cinntí a thug orgáin dá gcuid, cúirteanna an Stáit Chonarthaigh ina bhfuil suíomh na cuideachta, an duine dhlítheanaigh nó an chomhlachais;

3. in imeachtaí arb é is cuspóir dóibh bailíocht taifead i gcláir phoiblí, cúirteanna an Stáit Chonarthaigh ina bhfuil an clár á choimeád;

4. in imeachtaí a bhaineann le clárú nó le bailíocht paitinní, trádmharcanna, dearthaí, nó le cearta eile dá leithéid sin is gá a thaisceadh nó a chlárú, cúirteanna an Stáit Chonarthaigh inar iarradh an taisceadh nó an clárú, nó arb ann a rinneadh nó a mheastar faoi théarmaí coinbhinsiúin idirnáisiúnta go ndearnadh é;

5. in imeachtaí a bhaineann le breithiúnais a fhorghníomhú, cúirteanna an Stáit Chonarthaigh ina ndearnadh, nó ina ndéanfar, an breithiúnas a fhorghníomhú.

ROINN 6

Dlínse a iarchur

Airteagal 17

Más rud é go ndearna na páirtithe, a bhfuil sainchónaí ar pháirtí nó páirtithe díobh i Stát Conarthach, combaontú chun dlínse a bheith ag cúirt nó cúirteanna de chuid Stáit Chonarthaigh aon díospóidí a réiteach a tharla nó a tharlóidh i ndáil le comhbhaint dhlíthiúil áirithe, beidh dlínse eisiach ag an gcúirt nó ag na cúirteanna sin. Ní foláir comhaontú den sórt sin a thugann dlínse:

(a) a bheith i scríbhinn nó arna fhianú i scríbhinn; nó

(b) a bheith i bhfoirm atá de réir cleachtas a bhunaigh na páirtithe eatarthu féin; nó

(c) i dtrádáil nó tráchtáil idirnáisiúnta, a bheith i bhfoirm atá de réir gnáthaimh ar a bhfuil eolas nó ar ar cheart go mbeadh eolas ag na páirtithe agus a bhfuil aithne fhorleathan air sa trádáil nó sa tráchtáil sin agus a leantar go rialta é i measc páirtithe i gconarthaí den saghas a bhaineann leis an trádáil nó an tráchtáil áirithe atá i gceist.

I gcás comhaontú den sórt sin a bheith déanta ag páirtithe nach bhfuil sainchónaí ar aon pháirtí díobh i Stát Conarthach, ní bheidh aon dlínse ag cúirteanna Stát Conarthach eile ar a ndíospóidí mura rud é go mbeidh diúltaithe do dhlínse ag an gcúirt nó ag na cúirteanna a roghnaíodh.

An chúirt nó na cúirteanna de chuid Stáit Chonarthaigh dá dtugann ionstraim iontaobhais dlínse, beidh dlínse eisiach aici nó acu in aon imeachtaí a thabharfar i gcoinne socraitheora, iontaobhaí nó tairbhí, má bhíonn comhbhaint i gceist idir na daoine sin nó a gcearta nó a n-oibleagáidí faoin iontaobhas.

Ní bheidh aon fheidhm dhlíthiúil ag comhaontuithe nó forálacha ionstraime iontaobhais a thugann dlínse má bhíonn siad contrártha le forálacha Airteagal 12 nó 15, nó má bhíonn dlínse eisiach de bhua Airteagal 16 ag na cúirteanna a bhfuil airbheartaithe acu a ndlínse a eisiamh.

Más ar mhaithe le haon cheann amháin de na páirtithe a rinneadh an comhaontú chun dlínse a thabhairt, beidh ag an bpáirtí sin i gcónaí an ceart chun imeachtaí a thabhairt in aon chúirt eile a bhfuil dlínse aici de bhua an Choinbhinsiúin seo.

In ábhair a bhaineann le conarthaí fostaíochta aonair ní bheidh feidhm dhlíthiúil ag comhaontú chun dlínse a thabhairt ach amháin má rinneadh é tar éis don díospóid tarlú nó má bhaineann an fostaí leas as chun an cás a thabhairt os comhair cúirteanna seachas na cúirteanna don áit ina bhfuil sainchónaí ar an gcosantóir nó na cúirteanna dá dtagraítear in Airteagal 5(1).

Airteagal 18

Amach ó na cásanna ina bhfuil dlínse aici de bhua forálacha eile den Choinbhinsiún seo, beidh dlínse ag cúirt Stáit Chonarthaigh a dtaifeadfaidh cosantóir láithreas os a comhair. Ní bheidh feidhm leis an riail seo más conspóid na dlínse ba chuspóir don láithreas a thaifeadadh, nó má bhíonn dlínse eisiach ag cúirt eile ann de bhua Airteagal 16.

ROINN 7

Fíorú ar dhlínse agus ar inghlacthacht

Airteagal 19

Cúirt de chuid Stáit Chonarthaigh a dtabharfar os a comhair éileamh a bhaineann go príomha le hábhar a bhfuil dlínse eisiach ina leith ag cúirteanna Stáit Chonarthaigh eile de bhua Airteagal 16, dearbhóidh sí uaithi féin nach bhfuil aon dlínse aici.

Airteagal 20

Má dhéntar cosantóir a bhfuil sainchónaí air i Stát Conarthach amháin a agairt i gcúirt de chuid Stáit Chonarthaigh eile agus nach dtaifeadfaidh sé láthreas, dearbhóidh an chúirt uaithi féin nach bhfuil aon dlínse aici atá bunaithe ar fhorálacha an Choinbhinsiúin seo.

Cuirfidh an chúirt bac ar na himeachtaí fad a bheifear gan a shuíomh go raibh caoi ag an gcosantóir doiciméad tionscanta na n-imeachtaí nó doiciméad comhionann a fháil in am trátha chun socrú a dhéanamh é féin a chosaint, nó go nedearnadh gach dícheall chuige sin.

Cuirfear in ionad fhorálacha na míre roimhe seo forálacha Airteagal 15 de Choinbhinsiún na Háige dar dáta 15 Samhain 1965 ar sheirbheáil doiciméad dlíthiúil agus seachdhlíthiúil in ábhair shibhialta nó tráchtála ar an gcoigríoch, má ba ghá doiciméad tionscanta na n-imeachtaí, nó fógra ina dtaobh, a sheoladh amach ar an gcoigríoch de réir an Choinbhinsiúin sin.

ROINN 8

Lis pendens — Caingne gaolmhara

Airteagal 21

Má dhéantar imeachtaí leis an gcúis chéanna caingne agus idir na páirtithe céanna a thionscnamh i gcúirteanna Stát Conarthach éagsúil, dlífidh cúirt ar bith seachas an chéad chúirt ar tugadh os a comhair iad bac a chur ar a himeachtaí, uaithi féin, go dtí go suífear dlínse na chéad chúirte ar tugadh os a comhair iad.

Má shuitear dlínse na chéad chúirte ar tugadh na himeachtaí os a comhair, dlífidh cúirt ar bith seachas an chéad chúirt ar tugadh os a comhair iad dlínse a dhiúltú i bhfabhar na chéad chúirte sin.

Airteagal 22

Má thionscnaítear caingne gaolmhara i gcúirteanna Stát Conarthach éagsúil, féadfaidh cúirt ar bith seachas an chéad chúirt artugadh os a comhair iad, le linn na caingne a bheith ar feitheamh ag an gcéad chéim, bac a chur ar a himeachtaí.

Féadfaidh cúirt seachas an chéad chúirt ar tugadh na caingne os a comhair dlínse a dhiúltú freisin, ar iarratas ó cheann de na páirtithe, má cheadaíonn dlí na cúirte sin caingne gaolmhara a dhlúthú agus go bhfuil dlínse i leith an dá chaingean ag an gcéad chúirt ar tugadh os a comhair iad.

Chun críocha an Airteagail seo, meastar caingne a bheith gaolmhar má bhíonn baint chomh dlúth sin acu le chéile go bhfuil séfóirsteanach iad a éisteacht agus breith a thabhairt orthu i dteannta a chéile ionas go seachnófaí breithiúnais bunoscionn le chéile mar ab fhéidir a theacht d'imeachtaí ar leithligh.

Airteagal 23

Má thagann caingne faoi dhlínse eisiach chúirteanna éagsúla, dlífidh cúirt ar bith seachas an chéad chúirt ar tugadh os a comhair iad dlínse a dhiúltú i bhfabhar na chéad chúirta sin.

ROINN 9

Bearta sealadacha lena n-áirítear bearta consantacha

Airteagal 24

Féadfar cibé bearta sealadacha, lena n-áirítear bearta cosantacha, a bheidh ar fáil faoi dhlí Stáit Chonarthaigh a iarraidh ar chúirteanna an Stáit sin, fiú más rud é, faoin gCoinbhinsiún seo, go bhfuil dlínse ag cúirteanna Stáit Chonarthaigh eile maidir le substaint an ábhair.

TEIDEAL III

AITHINT AGUS FORGHNíOMHÚ

Airteagal 25

Chun críocha an Choinbhinsiúin seo, ciallaíonn ‘breithiúnas’ aon bhreithiúnas arna thabhairt ag cúirt nó binse de chuid Stáit Chonarthaigh, cibé ainm a thugtar ar an mbreithiúnas, lena n-áirítear foraithne, ordú, breith, nó eascaire fhorghníomhaithe, mar aon le cinn-eadh ar chostais nó caiteachais ag oifigeach en chúirt.

ROINN 1

Aithint

Airteagal 26

Gheobhaidh breithiúnas a tugadh i Stát Conarthach aithint sna Stáit Chonarthacha eile gan aon nós imeachta speisialta a bheith riachtanach chuige sin.

Aon pháirtí leasmhar a thabharfaidh aithint bhreithiúnais faoi thrácht mar phríomhshaincheist i gconspóid, féadfaidh sé, de réir an nós imeachta dá bhforáiltear i Ranna 2 agus 3 den Teideal seo, iarratas a dhéanamh ar bhreith go ndlitear an breithiúnas a aithint.

Má bhíonn toradh imeachtaí i gcúirt de chuid Stáit Chonarthaigh a brath ar cheist theagmhasach aithinte a chinneadh, beidh dlínse ag an gcúirt sin ar an gceist sin.

Airteagal 27

Ní aithneofar breithiúnas:

1. má bhíonn an aithint sin contrártha leis an ord poiblí sa Stát ina n-iarrtar an eithint;

2. más d'éagmais láithris a tugadh an breithiúnas, mura ndearnadh doiciméad tionscanta na n-imeachtaí nó doiciméad comhionann a sheirbheáil go cuí ar an gcosantóir in am trátha chun socrú a dhéanamh é féin a chosaint;

3. má bhíonn an breithiúnas bunoscionn le breithiúnas a tugadh i ndíospóid idir na páirtithe céanna sa Stát ina n-iarrtar an aithint;

4. má rinne cúirt an Stáit tionscnaimh, d'fhonn teacht ar a breithiúnas, réamhcheist maidir le stádas nó le hinniúlacht dhlíthiúil daoine nádúrtha, le maoin-chearta de thoradh cóngais phósta, le huachtanna nó le comharbas, a chinneadh ar dhóigh atá contrártha le riail de dhlí indirnáisiúnta príobháideach an Stáit ina n-iarrtar an aithint, mura rud é gurb é an toradh cénna a thioc-fadh de rialacha dlí idirnáisiúnta phríobháidigh an Stáit sin a chur chun feidhme;

5. má bhíonn an breithiúnas bunoscionn le breithiúnas a tugadh roimhe sin i Stát neamhchonarthach agus é ag baint leis an gcúis chéanna caingne agus idir na páirtithe céanna, nuair a chomhlíonnann an breithiúnas deireanach seo na coinníollacha is gá chun é a aithint sa Stát chun a ndéantar an t-iarratas.

Airteagal 28

Ina theannta sin, ní aithneofar breithiúnas má bhíonn sé contrártha le forálacha Roinn 3, 4 nó 5 de Theideal II, ná i gcas dá bhforáiltear in Airteagal 59.

Nuair a bheidh na forais dlínse a luaitear sa mhír roimhe seo faoi bhreithniú aige nó aici, beidh an t-údarás nó an chúirt chun a ndearn-adh an t-iarratas faoi cheangal ag na cinntí fíorais a ndearna cúirt an Stáit tionscnaimh a dlínse a bhunú orthu.

Faoi réir fhorálacha na chéad mhíre, ní féidir dlínse chúirt an Stáit tionscnaimh a athbhreithniú; ní bheidh a fhoráil i dtaobh ord poiblí dá dtagraítear in Airteagal 27(1) inchurtha chun feidhme ar na riala-cha maidir le dlínse.

Airteagal 29

Ní féidir i gcás ar bith breithiúnas coigríche a athbhreithiú ó thaobh a shubstainte.

Airteagal 30

Féadfaidh cúirt i Stát Conarthach ar a n-iarrfar aithint bhreith-iúnais a tugadh i Stát Conarthach eile bac a chur ar na himeachtaí má taisceadh gnáthachomharc i gcoinne an bhreithiúnais sin.

Féadfaidh cúirt i Stát Conarthach ina n-iarrfar aithint do bhreith-iúnas a tugadh in éirinn nó sa Ríocht Aontaithe bac a chur ar na himeachtaí má bhíonn forghníomhú curtha ar fionraí, mar gheall ar achomharc, sa Stát tionscnaimh.

ROINN 2

Forghníomhú

Airteagal 31

Déanfar breithiúnas a tugadh i Stát Conarthach agus is infhorghní-omhaithe sa Stát sin a fhorghníomhú i Stát Conarthach eile nuair a bheidh sé dearbhaithe, ar iarratas ó aon pháirtí leasmhar, go bhfuil sé infhorghníomhaithe sa Stát eile sin.

Sa Ríocht Aontaithe, áfach, déanfar breithiúnas den sórt sin a fhorghníomhú i Sasana agus sa Bhreatain Bheag, in Albain, nó i dTuaisceart éireann nuair a bheidh sé cláraithe, ar iarratas ó aon pháirtí leasmhar, lena fhorghníomhú sa chuid sin den Ríocht Aontaithe.

Airteagal 32

Is chucu seo a bheidh an t-iarratas le déanamh:

—sa Bheilg, an tribunal de première instance nó rechtbank van eerste aanleg,

—sa Danmhairg, an byret,

—i bPoblacht Chónaidhme na Gearmáine, uachtarán dlísheomra den Landgericht,

— sa Ghréig, an Movoμελέζ Πρωτoδικεío,

—sa Spáinn, an Juzgado de Primera Instancia,

—sa Fhrainc, uachtarán an tribunal de grande instance,

—in Éirinn, an Ard-Chúirt,

—san Iodáil, an corte d'appello,

—i Lucsamburg, uachtarán an tribunal d'arrondissement,

—san Ostair, an Bezirksgericht,

—san ísiltír, uachtarán an arrondissementsrechtbank,

—sa Phortaingéil, an Tribunal Judicial de Círculo,

—san Fhionlainn, käräjäoikeus/tingsrätt,

—sa tSualainn, an Svea hovrätt,

—sa Ríocht Aontaithe,

(a) i Sasana agus sa Bhreatain Bheag, an High Court of Justice nó, i gcás breithiúnais chothabhála, an Magistrates’ Court tríd an Secretary of State;

(b) in Albain, an Court of Session nó, i gcás breithiúnais chothabhála, an Sheriff Court tríd an Secretary of State;

(c) i dTuaisceart éireann, an High Court of Justice nó, i gcás breithiúnais chothabhála, an Magistrates’ Court tríd an Secretary of State.

Cinnfear dlínse cúirteanna áitiúla de réir na háite a bhfuil sain-chónaí ar an bpáirtí a n-iarrtar forghníomhú ina choinne. Mura bhfuil sainchónaí air sa Stát a n-iarrtar an forghníomhú ann, cinnfear í de réir áit fhorghníomhaithe.

Airteagal 33

Is de réir dhlí an Stáit a n-iarrtar forghníomhú ann a rialófar an nós imeachta maidir leis an iarratas a thaisceadh.

Ní foláir don iarratasóir seoladh a thabhairt le haghaidh seirbheála próise i limistéar dlínse na cúirte chun a ndéantar an t-iarratas. Ach más rud é nach bhforálann dlí an Stáit a n-iarrtar forghníomhú ann seoladh mar sin a bheith le tabhairt, ceapfaidh an t-iarratasóir ion-adaí ad litem.

Ní foláir na doiciméid a luaitear in Airteagail 46 agus 47 a bheith i gceangal leis an iarratas.

Airteagal 34

Tabharfaidh an chúirt chun a ndéantar an t-iarratas a breith ar an iarratas gan mhoill agus ní fhéadfaidh an páirtí a n-iarrtar forghníomhú ina choinne aon aighneachtaí a dhéanamh maidir leis an iarratas ag an gcéim seo de na himeachtaí.

Ní féidir diúltú don iarratas ach ar chúis dá bhforáiltear in Airteagail 27 agus 28.

Ní féidir i gcás ar bith an breithiúnas coigríche a athbhreithniú ó thaobh a shubstainte.

Airteagal 35

Déanfaidh oifigeach iomchuí na cuírte, gan mhoill, an bhreith a tugadh ar an iarratas a chur in iúl don iarratasóir, de réir an nós imeachta a leagadh síos le dlí an Stáit a n-iarrtar forghníomhú ann.

Airteagal 36

Má údaraítear forghníomhú, féadfaidh an páirtí ar iarradh forghníomhú ina choinne achomharc a dhéanamh i gcoinne na brei-the laistigh de mhí ó lá seirbheála.

Má tá sainchónaí ar an bpáirtí sin i Stát Conarthach seachas an ceann inar tugadh an bhreith a d'údaraigh forghníomhú, beidh tré-imhse dhá mhí ann le haghaidh achomhairc agus rithfidh sí ó lá na seirbheála air féin go pearsante nó ag a ionad cónaithe. Ní féidir cur leis an tréimhse sin mar gheall ar fhad slí ó bhaile.

Airteagal 37

1. Déanfar achomharc i gcoinne na breithe a d'údaraigh forghníomhú a thaisceadh de réir rialacha an nós imeachta in ábhair chointinneacha:

—sa Bheilg, sa tribunal de première instance nó rechtbank van eerste aanleg;

—sa Danmhairg, sa landsret;

—i bPoblacht Chónaidhme na Gearmáine, san Oberlan-desgericht;

—sa Ghréig, san Eϕετείo;

—sa Spáinn, san Audiencia Provincial;

—sa Fhrainc, sa cour d'appel;

—in éirinn, san Ard-Chúirt;

—san Iodáil, sa corte d'appello;

—i Lucsamburg, sa Cour supérieure de justice ina suí di mar chúirt achomhairc shibhialta;

—san Ostair, sa Bezirksgericht;

—san ísiltír, san arrondissementsrechtbank;

—sa Phortaingéil, sa Tribunal da Relação;

—san Fhionlainn, i hovioikeus/hovrätt;

—sa tSualainn, sa Svea hovrätt;

—sa Ríocht Aontaithe:

(a) i Sasana agus sa Bhreatain Bheag, sa High Court of Justice nó, i gcás breithiúnais chothabhála, sa Magistrates’ Court;

(b) in Albain, sa Court of Session nó, i gcás breithiúnais chothabhála, sa Sheriff Court;

(c) i dTuaisceart éireann, sa High Court of Justice nó, i gcás breithiúnais chothabhála, sa Magistrates’ Court.

2. Ní féidir an breithiúnas a tugadh ar an achomharc a chonspóid ach amháin:

—sa Bheilg, sa Ghréig, sa Spáinn, sa Fhrainc, san Iodáil, i Luc-samburg agus san Isiltír, trí achomharc en cassation;

—sa Danmhairg, trí achomharc chuig an højesteret, le cead ón Aire Dlí agus Cirt;

—i bPoblacht Chónaidhme na Gearmáine, trí Rechtsbeschwerde;

—san Ostair, i gcás achomhairc, trí Revisionsrekurs agus, i gcás imeachtaí freasúra, trí Berufung lena ngabhann deis athbhreithnithe;

—in éirinn, trí achomharc ar phointe dlí chuig an gCúirt Uachtarach;

—sa Phortaingéil, trí achomharc ar phointe dlí;

—san Fhionlainn, trí achomharc chuig korkein oikeus/högsta domstolen;

—sa tSualainn, trí achomharc chuig Högsta domstolen;

—sa Ríocht Aontaithe, trí aon achomharc amháin eile ar phointe dlí.

Airteagal 38

Féadfaidh an chúirt ar tugadh an t-achomharc faoin gcéad mhír d' Airteagal 37 os a comhair, má iarrann an t-achomharcóir é, bac a chur leis na himeachtaí i gcás gnáthachomharc i gcoinne an bhrei-thiúnais a bheith taiscthe sa Stát tionscnaimh nó mura bhfuil an tré-imhse le haghaidh achomhairc den sórt sin dulta in éag fós; sa chás deiridh sin, féadfaidh an chúirt a shonrú cad é an tréimhse le haghaidh achomharc den sórt sin a thaisceadh.

Más in éirinn nó sa Ríocht Aontaithe a tugadh an breithiunas, measfar aon chineál achomhairc is indéanta sa Stát tionscnaimh a bheith ina ghnáthachomharc chun críocha na chéad mhíre.

Féadfaidh an chúirt freisin é a chur de choinníoll leis an bhforghní-omhú go dtabharfar don chúirt cibé urrús a chinnfidh sí.

Airteagal 39

Le linn na tréimhse a shonraítear le haghaidh achomhairc de bhun Airteagal 36 agus go dtí go mbeidh breith tugtha ar aon achomharc den sórt sin, ní féidir a dhéanamh maidir leis an bhforghníomhú ach amháin bearta cosanta in aghaidh mhaoin an pháirtí a n-iarrtar forghníomhú ina choinne.

Gabhfaidh údarás chun aon bhearta cosanta den sórt sin a ghla-cadh leis an mbreith a údaróidh forghníomhú.

Airteagal 40

1. Má dhiúltaítear don iarratas ar fhorghníomhú, féadfaidh an t-iarratasóir achomharc a dhéanamh:

—sa Bheilg, chuig an cour d'appel nó hof van beroep;

—sa Danmhairg, chuig an landsret;

— i bPoblacht Chónaidhme na Gearmáine, chuig an Oberlan-desgericht;

—sa Ghréig, chuig an Eϕετείo;

—sa Spáinn, chuig an Audiencia Provincial;

—sa Fhrainc, chuig an cour d'appel;

—in éirinn, chuig an Ard-Chúirt;

—san Iodáil, chuig an corte d'appello;

—i Lucsamburg, chuig an Cour supérieure de justice, ina suí di mar chúirt achomhairc shibhialta;

—san Ostair, chuig an Bezirksgericht;

—san ísiltír, chuig an gerechtshof;

—sa Phortaingéil, chuig an Tribunal da Relação;

—san Fhionlainn, chuig hovioikeus/hovrätten;

—sa tSualainn, chuig an Svea hovrätt;

—sa Ríocht Aontaithe:

(a) i Sasana agus sa Bhreatain Bheag, chuig an High Court of Justice nó, i gcás breithiúnais chothabhála, chuig an Magistrates’ Court;

(b) in Albain, chuig an Court of Session nó, i gcás breithiúnais chothabhála, chuig an Sheriff Court;

(c) i dTuaisceart éireann, chuig an High Court of Justice nó, i gcás breithiúnais chothabhála, chuig an Magistrates’s Court.

2. Cuirfear toghairm ar an bpáirtí a n-iarrtar forghníomhú ina cho-inne á cheangal air láithriú os comhair na cúirte achomhairc. Mura láithreoidh sé, beidh forálacha an dara agus an tríú mír d'Airteagal 20 infheidhme, fiú mura bhfuil sainchónaí air in aon cheann de na Stáit Chonarthacha.

Airteagal 41

Ní féidir breithiúnas a tugadh ar achomharc dá bhforáiltear in Airteagal 40 a chonspíid ach amháin:

—sa Bheilg, sa Ghréig, sa Spáinn, sa Fhrainc, san Iodáil, i Lucsamburg agus san ísiltír, trí achomharc en cassation;

—sa Danmhairg, trí achomharc chuig an højesteret, le cead ón Aire Dlí agus Cirt;

—i bPoblacht Chónaidhme na Gearmáine, trí Rechtsbeschwerde;

—in éirinn, trí achomharc ar phointe dlí chuig an gCúirt Uachtarach;

—san Ostair, trí Revisionsrekurs;

—sa Phortaingéil, trí achomharc ar phointe dlí;

—san Fhionlainn, trí achomharc chuig korkein oikeus/högsta domstolen;

—sa tSualainn, trí achomharc chuig Högsta domstolen;

— sa Ríocht Aontaithe, trí aon achomharc amháin eile ar phointe dlí.

Airteagal 42

Má bhíonn breithiúnas coigríche tugtha i leith ábhar éagsúil agus nach féidir forghníomhú a údarú ina dtaobh go léir, déanfaidh an chúirt forghníomhú a údarú i gcás ábhair amháin nó níos mó díobh.

Féadfaidh iarratasóir forghníomhú páirteach ar bhreithiúnas a iarraidh.

Airteagal 43

Ní fhéadfar breithiúnas coigríche a d'ordaigh íocaióocht phionósach thréimhsiúil a fhorghníomhú sa Stát a n-iarrtar forghníomhú ann mura mbeidh méid na híocaíochta arna chinneadh go críochnai-theach ag cúirteanna an Stáit tionscnaimh.

Airteagal 44

Iarratasóir ar tugadh dó go hiomlán nó go páirteach, sa Stát tionscnaimh, cúnamh dlíthiúil nó díolúine ó chostais nó ó chaitea-chais, beidh teideal aige, sna nósanna imeachta dá bhforáiltear in Airteagail 32 go 35, chun tairbhiú den chúnamh dlíthiúil is fabhraí nó den dlíolúine is fairsinge ó chostais nó ó chaiteachais a fhoráiltear le dlí an Stáit chun a ndéantar an t-iarratas.

Ach féadfaidh iarratasóir a iarrfaidh forghniómhú ar bhreith a thug údarás riaracháin sa Danmhairg i leith ordú cothabhála éileamh a dhéanamh, sa Stát chun a ndéantar an t-iarratas, ar na tairbhí dá dtagraítear sa chéad mhír má thugann sé ar aird ráiteas ó Aireacht Dlí agus Cirt na Danmhairge á rá go gcomhlíonann sé na ceanglais eacnamaíocha is gá chun bheith cáilithe le haghaidh cúnaimh dhlíth-iúil nó díoluúine ó chostais nó ó chaiteachais go hiomlán nó go páirteach.

Airteagal 45

Ní féidir urrús, banna ná taisce, de chineál ar bith, a éileamh ar pháirtí a iarrfaidh forghníomhú i Stát Conarthach amháin ar bhreithiúnas a tugadh i Stát Conarthach eile ar an bhforas gur náisiúnach eachtrach é ná ar an bhforas nach bhfuil sainchónaí ná gnáthchónaí air sa Stát a n-iarrtar an forghniomhú ann.

ROINN 3

Forálacha comhchoiteanna

Airteagal 46

Dlifidh páirtí a iarrfaidh aithint nó forghníomhú ar bhreithiúnas na nithe seo a leanas a thabhairt ar aird:

1. cóip den bhreithiúnas a shásódidh na coinníollacha is gá chun a barántúlacht a shuíomh;

2. i gcás breithiúnais mhainneachtana, an chóip bhunaidh nó cóip dhílis dheimhnithe den doiciméad á shuíomh gur seirbheáladh doiciméd tionscanta na n-imeachtaí nó doiciméad comhionann ar an bpáirtí mainneachtnach.

Airteagal 47

Dlífidh páirtí a iarrfaidh forghníomhú na nithe seo a leanas a thabhairt ar aird freisin:

1. doiciméid á shuíomh go bhfuil an breithiúnas infhorghníomhaithe, agus gur sierbheáladh é, de réir dhlí an Stáit tionscnaimh;

2. más cuí, doiciméad á thaispeáint go bhfuil cúnamh dlíthiúil á fháil ag an iarratasóir sa Stát tionscnaimh.

Airteagal 48

Mura dtugtar ar aird na doiciméid a luaitear in Airteagal 46(2) agus in Airteagal 47(2), féadfaidh an chúirt tréimhse a shonrú chun iad a thabhairt ar aird, nó glacadh le doiciméid chomhionanna, nó déanamh d'éagmais na ndoiciméad má mheasann sí go bhfuil a sáith faisnéise os a comhair.

Déanfar aistriúchán ar na doiciméid a thabhairt ar aird má éilíonn an chúirt é; ní foláir an t-aistriúchán a bheith deimhnithe ag duine atá cáilithe chuige sin i gceann de na Stáit Chonarthacha.

Airteagal 49

Ní gá aon dlíthiúilíocht ná aon fhoirmiúlacht dá samhail i leith na ndoiciméad a luaitear in Airteagal 46 nó 47 nó sa dara mír d'Airtea-gal 48, ná i leith doiciméad ag ceapadh ionadaí ad litem.

TEIDEAL IV

IONSTRAIMÍ BARÁNTÚLA AGUS SOCRAÍOCHTAÍ CÚIRTE

Airteagal 50

Doiciméad a tarraingíodh suas go foirmiúil nó a cláraíodh mar ionstraim bharántúil agus is infhorghníomhaithe i Stát Conarthach amháin, déanfar, arna iarraidh sin de réir an nos imeachta dá bhforáiltear in Airteagal 31 et seq, a dhearbhú, i Stát Conarthach eile, go bhfuil sé infhorgníomhaithe ann. Ní féidir diúltú don iarratas ach amháin i gcás forghníomhú na hionstraime a bheith contrártha leis an ord poiblí sa Stát chun a ndéantar an t-iarratas.

Ní foláir an ionstraim a thabharfar ar aird a bheith de réir na gco-inníollacha is gá chun a barántúlacht sa Stáit tionscnaimh a shuíomh.

Beidh feidhm le forálacha Roinn 3 de Theideal III de réir mar is cuí.

Airteagal 51

Socraíocht ar tugadh formheas uirthi sa chúirt i gcúrsa imeachtaí agus is infhorghníomhaithe sa Stát inar tugadh i gcrích í féadfar í a fhorghníomhú sa Stát chun a ndéantar an t-iarratas, faoi na coinníoll-acha céanna le hionstraimí barántúla.

TEIDEAL V

FORÁLACHA GINEARÁLTA

Airteagal 52

Chun a chinneadh an bhfuil sainchónaí ar pháirtí i Stát Conarthach ar tugadh ábhar os comhair a chúirtecanna, cuirfidh an chúirt a dlí inmheánach chun feidhme.

Mura bhfuil sainchónaí ar pháirtí sa Stát ar tugadh an t-ábhar os comhair a chúirteanna, déanfaidh an chúirt, chun a chinneadh an bhfuil sainchónaí i Stát Conarthach eile ar an bpáirtí, dlí an Stáit sin a chur chun feidhme.

Airteagal 53

Chun críocha an Choinbhinsiúin seo, measfar sainchóaí a bheith ar chuideachta nó ar dhuine dlítheanach nó ar chomhlachas de dhao-ine nádúrtha nó dlítheanacha san áit a bhfuil a suíomh. Ach chun an suíomh sin a chinneadh cuirfidh an chúirt rialacha a dlí idirnáisiúnta phríobháidigh chun feidhme.

Chun a chinneadh an bhfuil sainchónaí ar iontaobhas sa Stát Conarthach a bhfuil an t-ábhar os comhair a chúirteanna, cuirfidh an chúirt rialacha a dlí idirnáisiúnta phríobháidigh chun feidhme.

TEIDEAL VI

FORÁLACHA IDIRTHRÉIMHSEACHA

Airteagal 54

Ní bhainfidh forálacha an Choinbhinsiúin seo ach le himeachtaí dlíthiúla a thionscnófar agus le doiciméid a tharraingeofar suas go foirmiúil nó a chlárófar mar ionstraimí barántúla éis a theachta i bhfeidhm sa Stát tionscnaimh agus, má iarrtar aithint nó forghníomhú breithiúnais nó ionstraime barántúla, sa Stát chun a ndéantar an t-iarratas.

Déanfar, áfach, breithiúnais a thabharfar tar éis dáta an Choinbhinsiúin seo a theacht i bhfeidhm idir an Stát tionscnaimh agus an Stát chun a ndéantar an t-iarratas, i gcás imeachtaí a tionscnaíodh roimh an dáta sin, a aithint agus a fhorghníomhú de réir fhorálacha Theideal III má bhí dlínse bunaithe ar rialacha i gcomhréir leis na rialacha dá bhforáiltear i dTeideal II den Choinbhinsiún seo nó i gcoinbhinsiún a cuireadh i gcrích idir an Stát tionscnaimh agus an Stát chun a ndéantar an t-iarratas agus a raibh feidhm aige nuair a tionscnaíodh na himeachtaí.

Má bhí na páirtithe i ndíospóid i dtaobh conartha tar éis comh-aontú a dhéannamh i scríbhinn, roimh an 1 Meitheamh 1988 i gcás na héireann agus an 1 Eanáir 1987 i gcás na Ríochta Aontaithe, go mbeadh an conradh faoí rialú ag dlí na héireann nó ag dlí cuid den Ríocht Aontaithe, coinneoidh cúirteanna na héireann nó na coda sin den Ríocht Aontaithe an ceart chun dlínse a fheidhmiú sa díospóid.

Airteagal 54a

Go ceann tréimhse trí bliana ón 1 Samhain 1986 i gcás na Danmhairge agus ón 1 Meitheamh 1988 i gcás na héireann, déanfar dlínse in ábhair mhuirí a chinneadh sna Stáit sin de réir fhorálacha Theideal II, i dteannta fhorálacha phointí 1 go 6 anseo thíos. Ach nuair a thiocfaidh an Coinbhinsiún Idirnáisiúnta maidir le longa farr-aige a ghabháil, a síníodh sa Bhruiséil ar an 10 Bealtaine 1952, i bhfeidhm i gcás ceann de na Stáit sin, scoirfidh na forálacha seo d'éifeacht a bheith acu i gcás an Stáit sin.

1. Féadfar duine ar a bhfuil sainchónaí i Stát Conarthach a agairt i gcúirteanna ceann de na Stáit thuasluaite maidir le héileamh muirí más rud é go ndearnadh an long lena mbaineann an t-éileamh, nó aon long eile leis an duine sin, a ghabháil trí phróis dlí i gcríoch an Stáit is déanaí atá luaite chun an t-éile amh a urrú, nó go bhféadfaí í a ghabháil ann amhlaidh ach gur tugadh banno nó urrús eile, sna cásanna seo a leanas:

(a) má tá sainchónaí sa Stát deireanach sin ar an éilitheoir; nó

(b) más sa Stát deireanach sin a d'éirigh an t-éileamh; nó

(c) má bhaineann an t-éileamh leis an aistear ar lena linn a rinneadh an ghabháil nó a d'fhéadfaí í a dhéanamh; nó

(d) má thig an t-éileamh as imbhualadh nó as damáiste a rinne long do long eile nó d'earraí nó do dhaoine ar bord ceach-tar long, trí chor inlíochta a dhéanamh nó gan é a dhéanamh nó trí neamhchomhlíonadh rialachán; nó

(e) más éileamh ar tharrthálas atá ann; nó

(f) más éileamh i leith mhorgáistiú na loinge a gabhadh nó i leith a curtha i ngeall atá ann.

2. Féadfaidh éilitheoir an long áirithe a mbaineann an t-éileamh muirí léi a ghabháil, nó aon long eile leis an duine arbh é úinéir na loinge áirithe é an tráth a d'éirigh an t-éileamh muirí. Ach i gcás na n-éileamh muirí atá leagtha amach in 5(o), (p) nó (q) den Airteagal seo, ní féidir a ghabháil ach an long áirithe a mbaineann an t-éileamh muirí léi.

3. Measfar longa a bheith san úinéireacht chéanna nuair is leis an duine nó na daoine céanna na scaireanna go léir iontu.

4. I gcás cairthostú loinge trína forléasadh, más é an cairtfhostóir amháin atá faoi dhliteanas i leith éilimh mhuirí a bhaineann leis an long sin, féadhaidh an t-éilitheoir an long sin nó aon long eile leis an gcairtfhostóir a ghabháil, ach ní fhéadfar aon long eile is lies an úinéir a ghabháil i leith an éilimh mhuirí sin. Is mar sin a bheidh freisin in aon chás ina mbeidh duine seachas úinéir loinge faoi dhliteanas i leith éilimh mhuirí a bhaineann leis an long sin.

5. Ciallaíonn an abairt “éileamh muirí” éileamh a thig as ní nó nithe díobh seo a leanas:

(a) damáiste ar bith a raibh long ina cúis leis, trí imbhualadh nó ar dhóigh eile;

(b) bás duine nó díobháil do dhuine a raibh long ar bith ina cúis leis nó a tharla i ndáil le hoibriú loinge ar bith;

(c) tarrthálas;

(d) comhaontú maidir le húsáid nó le fruiliú loinge ar bith, cibé acu trí chonradh fostaithe nó ar dhóigh eile é;

(e) comhaontú maidir le hiompar earraí in aon long cibé acu trí chonradh fostaithe nó ar dhóigh eile é;

(f) cailleadh nó damáistiú earraí, lena n-áirítear bagáiste, a bhí á n-iompar i long ar bith;

(g) caillroinnt ilpháirteach;

(h) longmhorgáiste;

(i) tuáil;

(j) píolótaíocht;

(k) earraí nó ábhair a soláthraíodh in áit ar bith do long chun í a oibriú nó a choimeáad i dtreo;

(l) déanam, deisiú nó trealmhú loinge ar bith nó táillí agus dleachtanna duga;

(m) pá máistrí, oifigeach nó foirne;

(n) eisíocaíochtaí máistir, lena n-áirítear eisíocaíochaí a rinne seoladóirí, caitfhostóirí nó gníomhairí thar ceann loinge nó thar ceann a húinéara;

(o) díospóid i dtaobh an teidil chun loinge ar bith nó i dtaobh a húinéireachta;

(p) díospóidí idir comhúinéirí loinge ar bith i dtaobh úinéireacht, sheibh, úsáid nó thuilleamh na loinge sin;

(q) morgáistiú loinge ar bith nó a cur i ngeall.

6. Sa Danmhairg, measfar, maidir leis na héilimh mhuirí dá dtagraítear in 5(o) agus (p) den Airteagal seo, go bhfolaíonn an focal “gabháil” (“forbud”) i gcás inarb é sin an t-aon nós imeachta amháin a cheadaítear i leith éilimh den sórt sin faoi Airteagail 646 go 653 den Acht i dtaobh an nós imeachta shibhialta (lov om rettens pleje).

TEIDEAL VII

GAOL LE COINBHINSIÚIN EILE

Airteagal 55

Faoi réir fhorálacha an dara mír d'Airteagal 54, agus Airteagal 56, gabhfaidh an Coinbhinsiún seo, i gcás na Stát is páirtithe ann, ionad na gCoinbhinsiún seo a leanas a tugadh i gcrích idir dhá cheann nó níos mó díobh:

—an Coinbhinsiún idir an Bheilg agus an Fhrainc ar dhlínse agus bailíocht agus forghníomhú breithiúnas, dámhachtaintí eadrána agus ionstraimí barántúla, a síníodh i bPáras ar an 8 Iúil 1899,

—an Coinbhinsiún idir an Bheilg agus an ísiltír ar dhlínse, ar shéimheacht, agus ar bhailíocht agus forghníomhú breithiúnas, dámhachtaintí eadrána agus ionstraimí barántúla, a síníodh sa Bhruiséil ar an 28 Márta 1925,

—an Coinbhinsiún idir an Fhrainc agus an Iodáil ar fhorghníomhú breithiúnas in ábhair shibhialta agus tráchtála, a síníodh sa Róimh ar an 3 Meitheamh 1930,

— an Coinbhinsiún idir an Ríocht Aontaithe agus Poblacht na Fraince ag déanamh socrú d'fhorghníomhú cómhalartach breithiúnas in ábhair shibhialta agus tráchtála, maille le Prótacal, a síníodh i bPáras ar an 18 Eanáir 1934,

—an Coinbhiniún idir an Ríocht Aontaithe agus Ríocht na Beilge ag déanamh socrú d'fhorghníomhú cómhalartach breithiúas in ábhair shibhialta agus tráchála, maille le Prótacal, a siniodh sa Bhruiseil ar an 2 Bealtaine 1934,

—an Coinbhinsiún idir an Ghearmáin agus an Iodáil ar aithint agus forghníomhú breithiúnas in ábhair shibhialta agus tráchtála, a síníodh sa Róimh ar an 9 Márta 1936,

—an Coinbhinsiún idir Ríocht na Beilge agus an Ostair ar aithint agus forghníomhú cómhalartach breithiúnas agus ionstraimí barántúla maidir le hoibleagáidí cothabhála, a síníodh i Vín an 25 Deireadh Fómhair 1957,

—an Coinbhinsiún idir Poblacht Chónaidhme na Gearmáine agus Ríocht na Beilge ar aithint agus forghníomhú breithiúnas, dámhachtaintí eadrána agus ionstraimí barántúla go frithpáirteach in ábhair shibhialta agus tráchtála, a síníodh in Bonn ar an 30 Meitheamh 1958,

—an Coinbhinsiún idir Ríocht na hísiltíre agus Poblacht na hlodáile ar aithint agus forghníomhú breithiúnas in ábhair shibhialta agus tráchtála, a síníodh sa Róimh ar an 17 Aibreán 1959,

—an Coinbhinsiún idir Poblacht Chónaidhme na Gearmáine agus an Ostair ar aithint agus forghníomhú cómhalartach breithiúnas, socraíochtaí agus ionstraimí barántúla in ábhair shibhialta agus tráchtála, a síníodh i Vín ar an 6 Meitheamh 1959,

—an Coinbhinsiún idir Ríocht na Beilge agus an Ostair ar aithint agus forghníomhú cómhalartach breithiúnas, dámhachtaintí eadrána agus ionstraimí barántúla in ábhair shibhialta agus tráchtála, a síníodh i Vín an 16 Meitheamh 1959,

—an Coinbhinsiún idir an Ríocht Aontaithe agus Poblacht Chónaidhme na Gearmáine le haghaidh aithint agus forghníomhú breithiúnas go cómhalartach in ábhair shibhialta agus tráchtála, a síníodh in Bonn ar an 14 Iúil 1960,

—an Coinbhinsiún idir an Ríocht Aontaithe agus an Ostair le haghaidh aithint agus forghníomhú cómhalartach breithiúnas in ábhair shibhialta agus tráchtála, a síníodh i Vín an 14 Iúil 1961, maille le Prótacal leasaitheach a síníodh i Londain an 6 Márta 1970,

—an Coinbhinsiún idir Ríocht na Gréige agus Poblacht Chónaidhme na Gearmáine le haghaidh aithint agus forghníomhú breithiúnas, socraíochtaí agus ionstraimí barántúla go cómhalartach in ábhair shibhialta agus tráchtála, a síníodh san Aithin ar an 4 Samhain 1961,

—an Coinbhinsiún idir Ríocht na Beilge agus Poblacht na hlodáile ar aithint agus forghníomhú breithiúnas agus ionstraimí infhorghníomhaithe eile in ábhair shibhialta agus tráchtála, a síníodh sa Róimh ar an 6 Aibreán 1962,

—an Coinbhinsiún idir Ríocht na hísiltíre agus Poblacht Chónaidhme na Gearmaine ar aithint agus forghníomhú breithiúnas agus ionstraimí infhorghníomhaithe eile go frithpháirteach in ábhair shibhialta agus tráchtála, a síníodh sa Háig ar an 30 Lúnasa 1962,

— an Coinbhinsiún idir Ríocht na hísiltíre agus an Ostair le haghaidh aithint agus forghníomhú cómhalartach breithiúnas agus ionstraimí barántúla in ábhair shibhialta agus tráchtala, a síníodh sa Háig ar an 6 Feabhra 1963,