AI Summary of 10. Offences
An employer who fails, without reasonable cause, to provide a reasoned written reply to an employee as required by subsection (5) of section 5 is guilty of an offence, punishable by a class A fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both. If the offence is committed by a body corporate with the consent or connivance of any officer, that individual, alongside the body corporate, shall be guilty and subject to the same penalties.
Summary proceedings for this offence may be initiated and prosecuted by the Commission. Upon conviction, the court is mandated to order the convicted person to pay the Commission's costs related to the investigation and prosecution, unless substantial reasons exist not to impose such an order. A defence is available if the accused demonstrates due diligence in ensuring compliance with the Act. Summary proceedings may be instituted within 12 months from the date of the offence, notwithstanding section 10(4) of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851.
10. Offences
(1) An employer who, without reasonable cause, fails to provide an employee with a reasoned written reply in accordance with subsection (5) of section 5 shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a class A fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
(2) Where an offence under this section is committed by a body corporate and is proved to have been so committed with the consent or connivance of any person, being a director, manager, secretary or other officer of the body corporate, or a person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, that person shall, as well as the body corporate, be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished as if he or she were guilty of the first-mentioned offence.
(3) Summary proceedings for an offence under this section may be brought and prosecuted by the Commission.
(4) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this section the court shall order the person to pay to the Commission the costs and expenses, measured by the court, incurred by the Commission in relation to the investigation, detection and prosecution of the offence unless the court is satisfied that there are special and substantial reasons for not so doing.