Agriculture Act (Northern Ireland) 1949

20 Non-compliance with directions. N.I.

(1) If any person to whom a direction is given under the last preceding section or on whom a direction given under that section is served under sub-section (1) of section twenty-two of this Act, refuses or neglects to comply with or acts in contravention of the direction, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding[F1 level 3 on the standard scale].

(2) Without prejudice to the bringing of proceedings under the preceding sub-section, where a direction to carry out any work is given under the last preceding section or is served under sub-section (1) of section twenty-two of this Act and such direction is not complied with, any person authorised by the Ministry in that behalf may enter upon the land to which the direction relates and carry out the work required by the direction, and the reasonable and proper cost of carrying out the work in the exercise of powers conferred by this sub-section shall be recoverable by the Ministry as a civil debt from the person to whom the direction is so given or served, as the case may be.

(3) Any sum so recoverable by the Ministry may be deducted by it from any moneys payable by the Ministry to, or received by the Ministry for payment to, the person to whom the direction is given or on whom the direction is served, as the case may be.

(4) Any person who obstructs a person acting in the exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (2) of this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding[F1 level 3 on the standard scale] or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

(5) Where a direction provides for the doing of anything within a specified time and (whether before or after the expiration of the said time) the Ministry is satisfied that it is reasonable that the said time should be extended, it may be extended accordingly.

F1 1984 NI 3