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15.—(1) (a) Where, in the opinion of the appropriate authority, a civil servant has, in relation to his official duties, been guilty of misconduct, irregularity, neglect, unsatisfactory behaviour or underperformance, the appropriate authority may, subject to subsection (3) of this section, either for a specified period or otherwise, do one or more of the following—
(i) place the civil servant on a lower rate of remuneration, (including the withholding of an increment),
(ii) reduce the civil servant to a specified lower grade or rank, or
(iii) suspend the civil servant without pay.
(b) Where the rate of remuneration of a civil servant (in this paragraph referred to as his original rate) has been reduced by reason of his being placed pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection, on a lower rate (in this paragraph referred to as his reduced rate)—
(i) the appropriate authority may subsequently either, as he thinks fit, place the civil servant on his original rate or on a rate of remuneration between his original rate and his reduced rate,
(ii) if the appropriate authority, pursuant to subparagraph (i), places him, under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, on a rate of remuneration between his original rate and his reduced rate, he may subsequently place the civil servant on his original rate.
(c) Where a civil servant is reduced to a lower grade or rank in pursuance of paragraph (a) of this subsection, the appropriate authority may subsequently re-appoint that civil servant to his original grade or rank.
(2) If any question arises in relation to a matter referred to in subsection (1) as to whether a particular grade or rank is a lower grade or rank, the question shall be determined by the Minister.
(3) Before any action is taken pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section, the civil servant concerned shall be afforded an opportunity of making to the appropriate authority any representations that the civil servant may wish to offer.
(4) An appropriate authority shall not in relation to the matters referred to in this section commence the process leading to one of the actions specified at subparagraphs (i) to (iii) of subsection (1)(a) by reason of underperformance on the part of the civil servant unless the appropriate authority is satisfied that measures aimed at improving the performance of the civil servant through training or development—
(a) have in relation to that civil servant been introduced and applied, and have failed to result in specified improvement in performance on the part of the civil servant, or
(b) have in relation to that civil servant no reasonable prospect of resulting in an improvement in performance on the part of the civil servant.
(5) (a) Where an appropriate authority pursuant to subsection (1) causes the remuneration of a civil servant to be reduced, any benefits or entitlements under any superannuation scheme which had accrued to or in respect of the civil servant prior to the imposition of such disciplinary measures shall not be reduced by reason of the imposition of such measures.
(b) Where an appropriate authority pursuant to subsection (1) causes the grade or rank of a civil servant to be reduced, any benefits or entitlements under any superannuation scheme which had accrued to or in respect of the civil servant prior to the imposition of such disciplinary measures shall not be reduced by reason of the imposition of such measures.
(6) The preceding subsections of this section do not apply to a civil servant—
(a) holding a position to which he was appointed by the Government,
(b) holding a position as Commissioner of the Revenue Commissioners appointed pursuant to Article 7 of the Revenue Commissioners Order 1923,
(c) holding the position of Clerk of Dáil Éireann.
(7) The provisions of this section are without predjudice to any other provision of this Act or such other disciplinary measures as may be specified in the Civil Service Disciplinary Code.
(8) The provisions of this section are without prejudice to sections 13 and 14.”.
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