IE-1998-act-40 — International War Crimes Tribunals Act, 1998

Short title. 1. —This Act may be cited as the International War Crimes Tribunals Act, 1998. Interpretation. 2. —(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires— “certified”, in relation to a copy of a warrant of arrest issued by an international tribunal, means certified to be a true copy by an officer of that tribunal authorised by it to certify on its behalf; “an international tribunal” means— ( a ) the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 established by Resolution 827 (1993) of the Security Council of the United Nations, the text of which is set out, for convenience of reference, in the First Schedule , ( b ) the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan citizens responsible for genocide and other such violations committed in the territory of neighbouring states between 1 January, 1994 and 31 December, 1994, established by Resolution 955 (1994) of the Security Council of the United Nations, the text of which is set out, for convenience of reference, in the Second Schedule , or ( c ) any other tribunal or court that the Minister, by regulation under section 37 , declares to be an international tribunal for the purposes of this Act, and includes any organ of a tribunal referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) or of a tribunal or court referred to in paragraph (c) if the organ is mentioned in the statute of that tribunal or court; “international tribunal crime” means a crime in respect of which an international tribunal has jurisdiction under its statute; “military tribunal” means a court martial or other military tribunal established under the law of the State, whether held within the State or elsewhere; “Minister” means the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform; “property” has the same meaning in this Act as in the Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996 , and includes the proceeds of property; “provisional arrest warrant” means a warrant issued under section 11 (1) ; “remand institution” means an institution (other than a prison) within the meaning of the Criminal Justice Act, 1960 ; “surrender order” means an order made under section 18 (1) for the surrender of a person. (2) In this Act— ( a ) a reference to a section or Part is to a section or Part of this Act unless it is indicated that a reference to some other enactment is intended, ( b ) a reference to a subsection, paragraph or subparagraph is to a subsection, paragraph or subparagraph of the provision in which the reference occurs unless it is indicated that a reference to some other provision is intended, ( c ) a reference to a Schedule is to a Schedule to this Act unless it is indicated that a reference to some other enactment is intended, ( d ) a reference to an enactment is to that enactment as amended or adapted by or under any other enactment including this Act, ( e ) a reference to the statute of an international tribunal is to the statute of the United Nations establishing that tribunal, and ( f ) a reference to the rules of an international tribunal is to its rules of procedure and evidence. (3) For convenience of reference, the texts of the statutes of the international tribunals referred to in paragraphs (a) and ( b ) of the definition of “international tribunal” are set out in the Third and Fourth Schedules respectively. Application. 3. —This Act applies in relation to international tribunal crimes committed, or alleged to have been committed, before or after the commencement of this Act. PART II Arrest and Surrender of Persons Construction of this Part. 4. —(1) Nothing in this Part shall be construed as requiring the High Court to be satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to warrant the trial of a person by an international tribunal. (2) For the purposes of this Part, no international tribunal crime may be regarded as a political offence or an offence connected with a political offence. (3) No application for asylum in the State shall have the effect of preventing or postponing the surrender of a person under this Act. Request for surrender. 5. —(1) An international tribunal may make a request to the Minister for the surrender of a person— ( a ) who has been accused or convicted by that tribunal of an international tribunal crime, and ( b ) in relation to whom that tribunal has issued a warrant of arrest for the purpose of bringing him or her before the tribunal or to a place where he or she is to undergo imprisonment under a sentence of the tribunal. (2) The request shall be in writing and shall— ( a ) include as accurate a description as possible of the person whose surrender is requested, together with any other information which will help to establish his or her identity, ( b ) include a statement of each international tribunal crime in relation to which the request is made specifying, as accurately as possible— (i) the time and place of commission, (ii) the legal description of the crime, and (iii) a reference to the relevant provisions of the statute of that tribunal, and ( c ) be supported by the original or a certified copy of a warrant of arrest that has been issued by that tribunal and that indicates the purpose of the arrest. (3) If the information furnished by the international tribunal is in the Minister's opinion insufficient, the Minister may— ( a ) request that tribunal to furnish further information or documents as he or she thinks proper, and ( b ) fix a time limit for the receipt of the information or documents. (4) A request or supporting document which otherwise complies with this section is sufficient for the purposes of this Part even though the Minister received the request or supporting document before the commencement of this Act. Conflicting surrender requests. 6. —If two or more requests for the surrender of the same person are received concurrently from international tribunals, the Minister shall decide which of the requests is to be proceeded with under this Part, having regard to all the circumstances and especially— ( a ) the relative seriousness of the international tribunal crimes, and ( b ) the respective dates of the requests. Request for extradition or rendition of same person. 7. —A request by an international tribunal for the surrender of a person shall have primacy over— ( a ) a request under Part II of the Extradition Acts, 1965 to 1994 for his or her extradition for an offence, and ( b ) the bringing of any proceedings under Part III of the Extradition Acts, 1965 to 1994, for his or her arrest or delivery up for an offence, whether or not the conduct constituting the offence constitutes and international tribunal crime. Certification of surrender request. 8. —On receiving a request made in accordance with section 5 for the surrender of a person, the Minister shall, subject to the provisions of this Part, certify that the request has been made. Issue of arrest warrant. 9. —On production to the High Court of a certificate under section 8 stating that a request for the surrender of a person has been made, the Court shall issue a warrant for the person's arrest, unless the certificate is produced in respect of a person arrested under a provisional arrest warrant. Request for provisional arrest. 10. —(1) An international tribunal may make a request for the provisional arrest, on grounds of urgency, of a person who— ( a ) is accused by it of having committed an international tribunal crime, ( b ) has been convicted by it of such a crime, or ( c ) is suspected by it of having committed such a crime. (2) The request shall be in writing and shall include— ( a ) as accurate a description as possible of the person who is the subject of the request, together with any other information which will help to establish his or her identity, and ( b ) a statement of each international tribunal crime in relation to which the request is made, specifying, as accurately as possible, the time and place of the commission of the crime. (3) Where the Minister subsequently receives from an international tribunal that has made a request under this section the original or a certified copy of a warrant of arrest indicating— ( a ) that the person who is the subject of the request under this section has been accused or convicted by that tribunal of an international tribunal crime, and ( b ) the purpose of the arrest, the request under this section shall be treated for the purposes of this Part as though it were a request for that person's surrender. (4) Subsection (3) shall apply even though the person was accused or convicted of the international tribunal crime after the making of the request under this section. (5) A request treated by virtue of subsection (3) as a request for the surrender of a person shall not be certified under section 8 until the Minister receives from the international tribunal— ( a ) the information referred to in section 5 (2)(b)(ii) and (iii) , and ( b ) any information or documents requested under section 5 (3) in relation to that person. Provisional arrest warrant. 11. —(1) The High Court may, without a certificate of the Minister under section 8 , issue a warrant for the provisional arrest of any person on the sworn information of a member of the Garda Síochána, not below the rank of inspector, that he or she has reason to believe that— ( a ) an international tribunal has made a request for the person's provisional arrest on the grounds of urgency, ( b ) the person— (i) is accused by that tribunal of having committed an international tribunal crime, (ii) has been convicted by that tribunal of such a crime, or (iii) is suspected by that tribunal of having committed such a crime, and ( c ) the arrest is for the purpose of detaining the person pending the Minister receiving from that tribunal a warrant for the person's arrest. (2) On issuing a provisional arrest warrant, the High Court shall forthwith inform the Minister of its issue. (3) Where it appears to the Minister that a warrant of arrest will not be received from the international tribunal in respect of the person named in the provisional arrest warrant or that proceedings will not be commenced against that person by that tribunal, the Minister may, by order— ( a ) cancel the provisional arrest warrant, and ( b ) if the warrant has been executed and the person arrested under it is in custody, require that he or she be released. (4) A provisional arrest warrant may be issued under subsection (1) in respect of a person despite the previous issue or refusal of a warrant for his or her arrest. Execution of warrants. 12. —(1) Any member of the Garda Síochána may execute in any part of the State a warrant issued under section 9 or 11 (1) even though the warrant is not in the member's possession at the time. (2) A member of the Garda Síochána who executes a warrant issued under section 9 or 11 (1) shall— ( a ) at the time of the arrest, or ( b ) if the warrant is not then in the member's possession, within 24 hours after the arrest, show the warrant to the person arrested and give him or her a copy. (3) A person arrested under a warrant issued under section 9 or 11 (1) shall be brought as soon as may be before the High Court, unless, in the case of a warrant issued under section 11 (1) , the warrant is cancelled under section 11 (3) Court proceedings following provisional arrest. 13. —(1) Where a person arrested under a provisional arrest warrant is brought before the High Court, it shall— ( a ) if a certificate under section 8 in respect of the person is produced to the Court, proceed under section 14 as if that person had been arrested under a warrant issued under section 9 , and ( b ) if that certificate is not produced to the Court, remand that person pending the production of the certificate or the release of that person in accordance with subsection (2) of this section or with an order under section 11 (3)(b) . (2) Where a certificate under section 8 is not produced to the High Court within the period of 18 days after the date of the arrest, the person arrested under the provisional arrest warrant shall, if in custody, be released. Committal or release of arrested person. 14. —(1) Where a person who has been arrested under a warrant issued under section 9 or who has been remanded under section 13 (1)(b) is before the High Court and it is satisfied that— ( a ) that person has been accused or convicted of an international tribunal crime, ( b ) a request for the surrender of that person has been duly made, and ( c ) a warrant that complies with section 5 (2)(c) or 10 (3) and relates to that person has been produced, the High Court shall, subject to subsection (2) , make an order committing that person to a prison (or, if he or she is not more than 21 years of age, to a remand institution) there to await the order of the Minister for his or her surrender. (2) If satisfied that the surrender of a person is prohibited under section 26 , the High Court shall not make a committal order in respect of that person. (3) On making a committal order under subsection (1) , the High Court shall— ( a ) inform the person to whom the order relates that he or she will not be surrendered, except with his or her consent, until the expiry of 15 days after the committal date, ( b ) inform that person also of the provisions of Article 40.4.2° of the Constitution (which relates to the making of a complaint to the High Court by or on behalf of a person alleging that he or she is unlawfully detained), and ( c ) cause a certificate of the committal to be sent forthwith to the Minister. (4) Where the person referred to in subsection (1) is not committed under that subsection, the Court shall order that he or she be released. (5) No appeal shall lie against an order of the High Court under this section other than an appeal on a point of law to the Supreme Court. (6) Sections 10 and 11 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1960 , shall apply to a person committed to a remand institution under this section. Powers of adjournment and remand. 15. —The High Court may, in relation to a person brought before it under this Act, exercise all of its powers of adjournment and remand, including, but not limited to, the powers the Court has in relation to a person sent forward to it for trial. Evidence and presumptions. 16. —(1) In any proceedings under this Act, a document purporting— ( a ) to be a request by an international tribunal for the surrender of a person or for the provisional arrest of a person, or ( b ) to have been furnished by an international tribunal in support of either request, shall, without further proof, be received in evidence if it purports to be signed by an officer of that tribunal authorised by its statute or rules to sign that document. (2) In any proceedings under this Act, a document purporting— ( a ) to be a copy of a warrant of arrest issued by an international tribunal, and ( b ) to have been certified to be a true copy by an officer of that tribunal authorised by it to certify on its behalf, shall, without further proof, be received in evidence and shall, until the contrary is proved, be deemed to be a true copy of that warrant. (3) In any proceedings under this Act, it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that a request for the surrender of a person has been duly made and duly received where— ( a ) the person has been arrested under a warrant issued under section 9 , or ( b ) the person has been arrested under a provisional arrest warrant and a certificate under section 8 has been produced to the High Court stating that a request for the surrender of the person has been duly made. (4) In any proceedings under this Act, it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that where a member of the Garda Síochána not below the rank of inspector has sworn an information described in section 11 (1) in respect of a person, a request for the person's provisional arrest has been duly made and duly received. (5) In any proceedings under this Act, it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that where a certificate of the Minister has been produced to the High Court stating that an international tribunal has satisfied the Minister as to the matters specified in subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of section 26 (2)(b) in relation to a person who is named in the certificate and on whom final judgment was passed in another state, that the Minister has been so satisfied. Removal to hospital or other place. 17. —(1) The Minister may, by order, cause a person committed under section 14 to be removed to a hospital or other place if the Minister thinks it necessary so to do in the interests of that person's health. (2) A person removed under this section to a hospital or other place shall be in lawful custody while detained there. Surrender order. 18. —(1) Subject to subsection (4) and section 19 , the Minister may, by order, direct that a person who has been committed under section 14 and who has not been released— ( a ) by a decision of the High Court under Article 40.4.2° of the Constitution or following an appeal from such a decision, ( b ) as a consequence of an appeal on a point of law to the Supreme Court, or ( c ) as a consequence of an order under section 21 or 22 , be surrendered to the custody of an authorised person. (2) A person in respect of whom a surrender order is made shall be surrendered in accordance with the terms of the order and any authorised person may receive, hold in custody, and convey out of the State the person so surrendered. (3) A person who escapes from any custody in which he or she has been placed under a surrender order shall be liable to be retaken in the same manner as any person who escapes from lawful custody. (4) The Minister shall not make a surrender order in respect of a person who is subject to a sentence of a court in the State where— ( a ) the international tribunal that requested the surrender has been required by the Minister to give undertakings relating to that person's return to the State for the purpose of serving that sentence, and ( b ) the Minister is not satisfied that adequate undertakings have been given. (5) In this section “authorised person” means a person who, in the Minister's opinion, has been duly authorised by one of the following to receive the person referred to in subsection (1) : ( a ) the international tribunal that requested the surrender of the person referred to in subsection (1) ; ( b ) a state in which the person referred to in subsection (1) is to undergo imprisonment for an international tribunal crime. Time lapse before surrender. 19. —(1) A person committed under section 14 shall not, except with his or her consent given before the High Court, be surrendered to an international tribunal or to the state where the person is to undergo imprisonment until— ( a ) the expiry of 15 days from the committal date, or ( b ) the conclusion of any appeal proceedings brought by or on behalf of that person, whichever is later. (2) Where the Minister, under section 20 , postpones making a surrender order in respect of a person committed under section 14 , that person shall not be surrendered until the expiry of— ( a ) the period provided for in subsection (1) , or ( b ) the period of postponement under section 20 , whichever is later. (3) In this section “appeal proceedings” means proceedings relating to— ( a ) a complaint under Article 40.4.2° of the Constitution (including proceedings on appeal from a decision about that complaint), or ( b ) an appeal on a point of law to the Supreme Court. Postponement of surrender order. 20. —(1) The Minister may postpone for a period the making of a surrender order in respect of a person so that other criminal proceedings against him or her may proceed in the State in so far as they relate to conduct that would not constitute an international tribunal crime. (2) In deciding whether to postpone for a period the making of a surrender order, the Minister shall have regard to the seriousness of the offence to which the other criminal proceedings relate. (3) In this section, “other criminal proceedings” does not include proceedings under Part II or III of the Extradition Acts, 1965 to 1994. Release if not conveyed out of State. 21. —(1) An application may be made to the High Court for the release of a person who is awaiting surrender under this Act and who is not surrendered and conveyed out of the State within one month after— ( a ) the date of that person's committal under section 14 , or ( b ) the conclusion of any appeal proceedings (as defined in section 19 (3) ) brought by or on behalf of that person, whichever is later. (2) If satisfied that the application has been made by or on behalf of a person referred to in subsection (1) and that the Minister has been given reasonable notice of the application, the High Court shall, subject to subsection (3) and section 20 , order that he or she be released from custody under this Act. (3) If satisfied as to the matters specified in subsection (2) and satisfied that— ( a ) the person's state of health or other circumstances beyond the control of the State or the international tribunal have prevented him or her from being conveyed out of the State, and ( b ) it is likely that within a reasonable time those circumstances will no longer prevent that person's conveyance out of the State, the High Court may fix a period within which that person may be surrendered and he or she shall be released from custody under this Act if not conveyed out of the State within that period. Release by order of the Minister. 22. —(1) On being satisfied by information received after the committal of a person under section 14 that his or her surrender is prohibited by this Act, the Minister shall order that the person be released from custody. (2) The Minister may order that a person committed under section 14 be released from custody if the Minister is of the opinion that a request for the person's surrender is not being proceeded with. Release does not affect subsequent request. 23. —The release of a person under section 11 (3)(b), 13 (2), 21 or 22 shall not prejudice the person's re-arrest and surrender if a request for his or her surrender is afterwards made. If custodial sentence imposed under Irish law is not completed before release. 24. —Where under this Act the High Court or the Minister orders the release of a person who is subject to a sentence of a court in the State for an offence against the law of the State— ( a ) that person shall continue to be liable to complete the term of imprisonment to which he or she has been sentenced by the court in the State, and ( b ) if that sentence has not expired, that person shall be transferred in custody to the place where he or she is liable to be imprisoned under that sentence. If custodial sentence imposed under Irish law is not completed before surrender. 25. —(1) Where a person who is subject to both a surrender order and a sentence of a court in the State is delivered up into the custody of— ( a ) an international tribunal, or ( b ) a state where he or she is to undergo imprisonment under a sentence of an international tribunal, that person shall continue to be liable to complete any term of imprisonment to which he or she has been sentenced by the court in the State. (2) Where a surrender order is made in respect of a person who is subject to a sentence of a court in the State, the surrender order may include— ( a ) a provision authorising the return of that person to the State— (i) in accordance with arrangements made by the Minister with the international tribunal that requested the person's surrender, or (ii) if the person is being surrendered to undergo imprisonment in a state under a sentence of an international tribunal, in accordance with arrangements made by the Minister with that state, and ( b ) a provision for the person's transfer in custody to the place where he or she is liable to be imprisoned or detained under the sentence of the court in the State. If judgment has already been passed for the same conduct. 26. —(1) Subject to subsection (2) , a person shall not be surrendered under this Act where— ( a ) final judgment has been passed in the State or in another state on that person in respect of an offence, and ( b ) the conduct constituting the offence also constitutes the international tribunal crime for which his or her surrender is requested. (2) The surrender of a person is not prohibited by this section where— ( a ) the final judgment was passed in another state by a court or a tribunal other than a military tribunal established under the law of the State, and ( b ) the international tribunal requesting the surrender satisfies the Minister— (i) that the proceedings in the other state were not impartial or independent or were designed to shield the person from international criminal responsibility, or (ii) that the case was not diligently prosecuted. PART III Proceedings in Irish Courts or Tribunals International tribunal's jurisdiction to be considered. 27. —The Director of Public Prosecutions shall take into account the jurisdiction of any international tribunal before deciding to commence proceedings under the State's extra-territorial jurisdiction in respect of conduct constituting an international tribunal crime. Discontinuance of proceedings at international tribunal's request. 28. —(1) The Minister shall transmit to the High Court any request made to him or her by an international tribunal, in accordance with its statute and rules, that any court in the State or any military tribunal defer to the international tribunal's competence by discontinuing proceedings commenced in that court or military tribunal. (2) After receiving the request, the High Court may order the discontinuance of the proceedings if it is satisfied— ( a ) that the request relates to proceedings under the Extradition Acts, 1965 to 1994, ( b ) that the request relates to proceedings commenced in a court in the State under the State's extra-territorial jurisdiction in connection with an indictable offence of which the accused has not yet been convicted and that the conduct constituting the indictable offence also constitutes an international tribunal crime, or ( c ) that the request relates to proceedings commenced in a military tribunal under the State's extra-territorial jurisdiction in connection with an offence of which the accused has not yet been convicted and that the conduct constituting the offence also constitutes an international tribunal crime. (3) Where it orders that proceedings be discontinued, the High Court may make such other orders as are appropriate to give effect to the request, including the revocation of any warrant of arrest issued in connection with the proceedings. (4) For the purpose of considering a request received under this section, the High Court may order the adjournment of the proceedings for such period or periods, and on such conditions, as it thinks fit. (5) The discontinuance of any proceedings under this section shall not of itself prevent— ( a ) the commencement of fresh proceedings in a court in the State, or a military tribunal, for the same offence, or ( b ) the re-commencement of proceedings under the Extradition Acts, 1965 to 1994, for the same offence. PART IV Other Forms of Assistance Orders to make material available. 29. —For the purpose of assisting an international tribunal in an investigation into whether a person has committed an international tribunal crime or has benefited from such a crime, section 63 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1994 , shall have effect as if references in that section to drug trafficking included references to conduct constituting an international tribunal crime. Search warrants. 30. —(1) In response to a request from an international tribunal, the Minister may direct that an application to the District Court for a search warrant be made by a member of the Garda Síochána not below the rank of superintendent in connection with an international tribunal crime under investigation by that tribunal. (2) A judge of the District Court who, on application in accordance with a direction under subsection (1) , is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is in any place evidence relating to the commission of the international tribunal crime shall have the same power to issue a search warrant authorising entry, search and seizure in relation to that place as the judge would have in the case of an offence committed in the State and in respect of which similar powers are exercisable by the judge. (3) The restriction in section 9 (2) of the Criminal Law Act, 1976 , on the seizure or retention of any document that was, or may have been, made for the purposes of obtaining, giving, or communicating legal advice shall apply to a member of the Garda Síochána who conducts a search under this section. (4) A member of the Garda Síochána who seizes any evidence by virtue of this section shall provide to the Minister, for transmission to the international tribunal concerned— ( a ) the seized evidence, and ( b ) any certificate, affidavit or other verifying document that is necessary for the purposes of complying with the request and that may be specified in the direction given under subsection (1) . (5) If the seized evidence consists of a document, the original or a copy of the document shall be transmitted to the international tribunal that made the request. (6) If the seized evidence consists of any article other than a document, the article itself or a description, photograph or other representation of it shall be transmitted to the international tribunal as may be necessary to comply with its request. (7) In this section “evidence” includes documents and other articles. Orders respecting property. 31. —(1) The Minister shall transmit to the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána any order received by the Minister from an international tribunal— ( a ) for provisional measures for the preservation and protection of property, or ( b ) for the restitution of property unlawfully taken by a person convicted of an international tribunal crime. (2) Where, on application by a member of the Garda Síochána not below the rank of Chief Superintendent, the High Court is satisfied that— ( a ) an international tribunal order referred to in subsection (1)(a) has been received by the Minister, and ( b ) at the time of making the interim order under this subsection the international tribunal order is in force and is not subject to appeal, the Court, for the purposes of the preservation and protection of the property to which the international tribunal order relates, may, regardless of the value of the property but subject to subsection (5) , make an interim order containing any terms that, under section 2 (1) and (2) of the Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996 , could be included in an interim order made under that Act if the value of the property were not less than £10,000. (3) For the purposes mentioned in subsection (2) of this section, sections 2 (3) to (6), 3 (1) to (6), 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 and 10 to 16 of the Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996 , shall apply with the following modifications and any other necessary modifications, as if an application made under this section had been made under that Act: ( a ) a reference in any of those sections to the applicant shall be construed as referring to the member of the Garda Síochána who has applied to the court for an interim order under this section or for an interlocutory order under section 3 of that Act as applied by this section; ( b ) a reference in any of those sections to proceeds of crime shall be construed as referring to property that is the subject of the international tribunal order; ( c ) a reference in any of those sections to a disposal order shall be construed as referring to a restitution order under this section; ( d ) a reference in any of those sections to the Minister shall be construed as referring to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform; ( e ) a reference in section 2 (5) or 3 (5) of that Act to subsections (3) and (4) of the section in which the reference occurs shall be construed as including a reference to subsection (6) of this section; ( f ) sections 2 (3)( b ), 3 (1)( b ) and 3 (1)(II) of that Act shall not apply; ( g ) section 8 (1) of that Act shall be construed as if it did not contain the words after subparagraph (ii) and before “then”. (4) Where, on application by a member of the Garda Síochána not below the rank of Chief Superintendent, the High Court is satisfied that— ( a ) an international tribunal order referred to in subsection (1)(b) has been received by the Minister, ( b ) at the time of making of the order under this subsection the international tribunal order is in force and is not subject to appeal, ( c ) the international tribunal order has not been complied with in whole or in part, and ( d ) notice of the application for an order under this subsection has been given to the person in respect of whom that application has been made and to any other person the Court may direct, the Court may, subject to subsection (5) , make an order (“a restitution order”) that the property be transferred to the person specified in the international tribunal order. (5) Where it is shown that on the date on which an international tribunal order referred to in subsection (1) ( a ) or ( b ) was received by the Minister it had been partly complied with, the High Court shall make an order under this section only in so far as the international tribunal order had not been complied with by that date. (6) Where, after the date on which a court order is made under this section or under the Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996 , as applied by this Act, it is shown that the international tribunal order to which the court order relates had been partly or wholly complied with by that date, the High Court may vary or discharge the court order accordingly with effect from that date. (7) On receiving from the Minister an order of an international tribunal suspending the enforcement of an international tribunal order for the restitution of property, the High Court shall, by order, suspend, for the same period and under the same conditions that are stated in the suspending order of that tribunal, the execution of any court order made under subsection (4) in relation to the international tribunal order. (8) While a suspending order made under subsection (7) remains in force, no steps shall be taken to enforce the order suspended by the High Court. (9) On receiving a request from an international tribunal to determine the ownership of property, the Minister may make an application to the High Court for a decision as to the ownership of the property. Status, privileges and immunities of international tribunal. 32. —(1) The Government may, by order, make provision for the privileges, immunities, exemptions and facilities to be accorded by the State to— ( a ) the judges, prosecutors and registrars of an international tribunal and their staff, and ( b ) any persons, including witnesses, and counsel, who make statements or submit documents or other evidence to or before an international tribunal. (2) Section 37 (3) shall apply to orders made under this section as it applies to regulations made under section 37 (1)(c) to (g) . (3) The Government may, by order, revoke or amend an order made under this section, including an order under this subsection. Transit through the State. 33. —(1) For the purposes of assisting an international tribunal in the performance of its functions, the Minister may— ( a ) grant approval for the transit through the State of a person who is being transported in custody from one state to another for the purposes of that tribunal, ( b ) attach to the approval any conditions he or she considers necessary, and ( c ) arrange for the Garda Síochána to supervise the person's transit through the State. (2) A person whose transit through the State is approved under subsection (1) shall be deemed to be in the custody of any member of the Garda Síochána accompanying him or her pursuant to an arrangement made under subsection (1)(c) . Act not to limit provision of other assistance. 34. —Nothing in this Act shall be construed as preventing the provision of assistance to an international tribunal otherwise than under this Act. PART V Miscellaneous Offence. 35. —(1) A person who interferes with or intimidates or attempts to interfere with or intimidate an international tribunal witness shall be guilty of an offence. (2) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable— ( a ) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £1,500 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both, or ( b ) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding £10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or both. (3) In this section “international tribunal witness” includes a person— ( a ) who is summoned to appear before an international tribunal and who, at the time of the act constituting the offence under this section, is within the State, or ( b ) from whom evidence is to be taken in the State or by whom documents or other articles are to be produced in the State for transmission to an international tribunal. Expenses. 36. —The expenses incurred in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas. Power to make regulations. 37. —(1) The Minister may make regulations for any or all of the following purposes: ( a ) declaring any tribunal or court established by the United Nations for the prosecution of persons responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law committed outside the State to be an international tribunal for the purposes of this Act; ( b ) adapting or modifying any provision of this Act to resolve any difficulty that arises in applying that provision to a tribunal or court declared under this section to be an international tribunal; ( c ) providing for assistance to an international tribunal in response to a request for the taking of evidence or the production of documents or other articles; ( d ) providing, for the purposes of their admission in evidence in any proceedings under Part IV , for proof of orders, certificates and other documents of an international tribunal and for proof of translations of those documents; ( e ) providing for the retention, preservation and protection of documents or other articles seized under section 30 and for their return to the person from whom they were seized or for their disposal; ( f ) declaring that specified provisions of the Criminal Justice Act, 1994 , shall apply for the purposes of enabling the State to co-operate with an international tribunal and providing for any modifications to those provisions that the Minister considers necessary for that purpose; ( g ) providing for any other matter considered necessary or expedient for giving full effect to this Act. (2) Where it is proposed to make regulations under paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1) , a draft of the regulations shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and the regulations shall not be made until a resolution approving of the draft has been passed by both Houses. (3) Where regulations are made under any of paragraphs (c) to (g) of subsection (1) — ( a ) they shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after they are made, and ( b ) if a resolution annulling them is passed by either House within the next 21 days on which that House has sat after the regulations are laid before it, they shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder. Repeal. 38. — Section 56 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1994 , is hereby repealed.