S.I. No. 195/2012 - Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2012 (Sections 14, 15 and 17) (Commencement) Order 2012.

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 12th June, 2012.

I, JOAN BURTON, Minister for Social Protection, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 1 (4) of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2012 (No. 12 of 2012), hereby order as follows:

1. This Order may be cited as the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2012 (Sections 14, 15 and 17) (Commencement) Order 2012.

2. The 7th day of June 2012 is appointed as the day on which sections 14 , 15 and 17 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2012 (No. 12 of 2012) come into operation.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

6 June 2012.

JOAN BURTON,

Minister for Social Protection.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

This Order provides for the commencement of sections 14 , 15 and 17 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2012 , with effect from the 7th June 2012.

Section 14 enhances the investigative functions of designated persons (Community Welfare Officers) and social welfare inspectors to enable them to request landlords to provide information in relation to their tenants who are claiming the Rent Supplement under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for the purposes of controlling that scheme.

Section 15 provides for the introduction of additional identity authentication measures, for the purposes of making a claim for a social welfare payment or an application for a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) or a Public Services Card, to allow for photographs and signatures to be captured and retained in electronic form.

Section 17 empowers social welfare inspectors to question and make enquiries of passengers at ports and airports for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the Social Welfare Acts.