COMHALTAS CEOLTÓIRÍ ÉIREANN
- BUNREACHT
SECTION 1: GENERAL
NOTE 1 All references to County Boards
and Officers, also refer to Regional Boards and Officers in the
cases of Britain and North America.
NOTE 2 In the case of North
America, separate arrangements re date deadlines may apply, with
the consent of the Ardchomhairle.
TITLE
1 The official title of the Movement shall
be Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann,
hereinafter referred to as 'An Comhaltas'.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
2 (a) To promote Irish Traditional Music
in all its forms;
(b) To restore the playing of the Harp and Uilleann Pipes in the National
life of Ireland;
(c) To promote Irish Traditional Dancing;
(d) To foster and promote the Irish language at all times;
(e) To create a closer bond among all lovers of Irish music;
(f) To co-operate with all bodies working for the restoration or
Irish Culture;
(g) To establish Branches throughout the country and abroad to achieve
the foregoing aims and objects.
MEMBERSHIP
3 An Comhaltas shall be non-political and
non- denominational. Membership shall be open to all who are in sympathy
with the Aims and Objects of An Comhaltas, and who undertake to abide
by its Constitution and Rules. Junior members, who are under 15 years
on January 1st of the current year, shall not be eligible for election
to any office in An Comhaltas, nor have the right to vote. Junior
members aged fifteen years and over on January 1st shall have full
voting rights, and shall be eligible for election to office in any
unit of An Comhaltas.
PATRONS
4 The Organisation shall have authority
to invite a person or persons, clerical or lay, who need not necessarily
be members to become patrons during his/her lifetime. The CEC shall
select a Patron on the grounds that he/she has shown sympathy with
the work of the Organisation, or interest in its activities or regard
for its Aims and outlook. He/she may take part in all the activities
of An Comhaltas; but he/she shall not have the right to vote at any
meeting of the Organisation.
EACH BRANCH SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT
5 (a) To grant or refuse membership to any person seeking it;
(b) To expel any of its members for conduct
which is deemed to be contrary to the Aims and Objects of An Comhaltas
and likely to bring An Comhaltas into disrepute, provided always
that an opportunity be afforded to the member(s) in question to
answer the allegations and that member(s) be duly notified in writing
of the findings of such investigation. The aggrieved member(s) shall
have a right to appeal in the first instance to the County Board
and subsequently to the Provincial Council. The decision of the
Provincial Council shall be final unless it decides to submit the
matter to the Central Executive Council. Where no County Board is
in operation the appeal in the first instance shall be direct to
the Provincial Council.
ORGANISATION
6 An Comhaltas shall be constituted as
follows:
(a) Branches;
(b) County Boards (Regional Boards in Britain and North America);
(c) Provincial Councils;
(d) Central Executive Council;
hereinafter referred to as Units of An
Comhaltas.
Annual Congress shall be the Supreme Governing
Body.
7 One copy of the Constitution and Rules
in Irish and English shall be issued to each unit on formation of
such unit. Members and units may purchase further copies if so desired.
8 All disputes involving the interpretation
of any of the provisions of this Constitution shall be resolved by
reference to the Irish version only.
9 New and amended provisions adopted at
the Annual Congress shall come into force on the first day of November
immediately following such Annual Congress.
FINANCE
10 Treasurers of Units of An Comhaltas
shall be responsible for the collection and disbursement of their
Unit's funds. They shall lodge to the account of An Comhaltas, in
a bank approved by their Unit, Membership Fees; the proceeds of functions
held by their Unit; money and other gifts received by the Unit on
behalf of An Comhaltas. Details of all accounts held by the Branch,
together with Account No. or Nos. must be shown on the
Affiliation Forms in the space provided. All cheques and drafts on
the bankers shall be signed by the Treasurer and either the Chairman
or Secretary of the depositing Unit.
11 Chattels, such as perpetual trophies,
musical instruments, tape recorders, securities, banners etc., acquired
by the various Units shall be valued and shown as assets in their
Annual Financial Statements. The insurance and safe custody of these
chattels shall be the responsibility of the Chairman, Secretary and
Treasurer of the Unit owning such property.
12 A Financial Statement shall show:
(a) Total income and its source for the
period covered;
(b) Total expenditure for the same period,
and manner in which spent;
(c) Balance showing nett
profit or loss in cash for the period covered.
The Financial Statement shall also show
a Balance Sheet showing:
(a) Total assets at commencement of period
covered;
(b) Having deducted the loss or added the
profit at (c) above, the total assets at the end of the period covered.
13 Treasurers of Units of An Comhaltas
shall draw up and submit to their Annual General Meeting an audited
Statement of Accounts accurately vouched, showing all assets, receipts
and expenditure and certified by Auditors appointed at the Annual
General Meeting.
14 The Financial Year shall end for Branches
on 31st October; for County Boards on 30th November; for Provincial
Councils on 31st December; for the Central Executive Council on 31st
December. In the Province of North America the Financial
Year for Branches shall end on September 30th; for Regional Boards
on October 31st and for Provincial Council on December 31st.
15 All monies, fees, etc., shall come from
Branch to County to Province to Head Office.
16 The funds of all units of An Comhaltas
shall be devoted solely to the promotion of Irish traditional music
and culture in accordance with the Aims and Objects of An Comhaltas
as enshrined in this Constitution. A unit may supplement its funds
from the proceeds of social functions, gifts, subscriptions, or other
means approved by its superior unit.
17 Officers, Delegates or Adjudicators
shall not be paid a fee for their services to An Comhaltas. Necessary
travelling expenses, at the rate of standard class rail fare, bus
fare or petrol allowance as amended from time to time by the Central
Executive Council, shall be paid in all cases together with a reasonable
subsistence allowance.
GENERAL
18 All functions held under the auspices
of An Comhaltas shall be in keeping with the ideals of An Comhaltas
and the Clár for such functions shall be submitted for
prior approval to the immediate superior governing body.
19 None but a member of An Comhaltas shall
be co-opted into any position in the Organisation. Committees or sub-Committees
for special purposes may include non-members by special permission
of the immediate superior governing body. Only registered members
of Comhaltas are eligible for office in any unit of Comhaltas, including
the position of Trustee.
20 Membership cards shall be provided annually
by the CEC and issued by the National Registrar, through County Boards.
Each Branch Secretary should have a supply of membership cards to
issue on payment of membership fees. No membership fees may be accepted
at Branch level within two months of the end of the financial year.
VOTING AND ELECTIONS
21 Only fully paid up members will be entitled
to vote throughout the Organisation and admission to election meetings
shall be by membership card only.
22 (a) All officers shall hold office from
the conclusion of the Annual Meeting at which they are elected to
the conclusion of the succeeding Annual Meeting, and all shall be
eligible for re-election, except as otherwise provided for in this
Bunreacht.
(b) The position of any officer in any
unit of An Comhaltas shall become vacant
(i) on the death of the officer;
(ii) if by notice in writing to the
unit concerned, he/she resigns from office;
(iii) if he/she is deemed to have
failed to carry out his/her duties of office through neglect;
(iv) if he/she fails to attend three
consecutive meetings of the unit without just cause for his/her
absence.
(c) In the event of the office of Chairman,
Vice-Chairman, Secretary, PRO, Auditor or Treasurer
of a Branch, a County Board, or a Provincial Council becoming vacant
for any reason, other than sickness more than three months before
the expiry of the term for which that officer was elected, a special
meeting shall be called inside 28 days for the purpose of electing
a member of the particular unit to the vacant position.
23 A person may not be elected in his/her
absence to any office in An Comhaltas unless he/she has forwarded
to the appropriate Secretary a signed statement as to his/her willingness
to accept if elected or unless that willingness may be legitimately
presumed. The Secretary of the unit to which a person is nominated
as officer shall notify such person of such nomination.
24 Candidates for office shall not be eligible
for re- election unless they have attended at least 50% of the meetings
which they are required to attend, and not less than three such meetings
in the case of new members.
25 Voting at an election for any office
in An Comhaltas shall take place by secret ballot only. Should a nominee
for office fail to receive an absolute majority on the first count,
the lowest placed candidate shall be eliminated, and a further count
taken, and the process continued until one candidate receives an absolute
majority.
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SECTION 2 - BRANCHES
1 A Branch of An Comhaltas may be established
anywhere, provided that:
(a) Not less than five persons inform
the County Board, or Provincial Council where no County Board exists,
of their intention to establish a Branch, to support the Aims and
Objects of An Comhaltas and abide by its Rules and
Constitution;
(b) The necessary sanction for the establishment
of a Branch has been obtained from the County Board or the Provincial
Council as the case may be;
(c) The prescribed fees have been paid
to the Treasurer of the County Board or the Provincial Council as
the case may be.
2 Where no appropriate structure exists
abroad, applicants for the establishment of a Branch shall be made
direct to the Central Executive Council, with the exception of Britain
and North America, where applications shall be made to the Regional
Boards.
3 As soon as possible after receipt of
approval, the members shall elect from among their own number the
following officers:
(a) Chairman;
(b) Vice-Chairman;
(c) Secretary/Registrar;
(d) Treasurer;
(e) Auditor - who shall hold no other office in that particular unit;
(f) PRO;
(g) Treoraí na Gaeilge;
(h) two delegates to the County Board or one delegate to the
Provincial Council where no County Board exists.
4 The Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary/Registrar,
Treasurer and PRO shall, under the direction of the Branch, constitute
the Branch Committee to deal with all routine matters arising between
full Branch Meetings. The Branch may augment this Committee if desirable.
POWERS AND DUTIES
5 The principal task of a Branch shall
be:
(a) The enrolment of traditional musicians
(both vocal and instrumental), traditional dancers and supporters
of the aims and objects of An Comhaltas;
(b) Setting up facilities for teaching
Irish traditional music, singing, dancing, and language to our members.
(c) Spreading information about An Comhaltas
and its activities;
(d) Performing any other tasks reasonably
assigned to it by the County Board, Provincial Council, or Central
Executive Council.
6 The Branch shall keep a list of all affiliated
members - a copy of which shall be presented to the Annual General
Meeting. Copies of this list, together with the names of the Officers
of the Branch, shall be forwarded to the County Board in triplicate
for transmission to Province and Head Office, on the formation and
after each Annual General Meeting of the Branch.
7 The Branch Secretary shall keep the Secretary
of the County Board or Provincial Council, if appropriate, fully informed
of all functions to be held by the Branch, and submit the Clár
for prior approval.
8 (a) Each Branch shall, on initial registration,
be entitled to one free copy of An Bunreacht and shall be bound by
the rules contained therein.
(b)
Each Branch shall have the right to submit motions to the Annual Congress.
9 The Branch shall meet quarterly - all
members to be notified. The Branch Committee shall meet as often as
necessary.
10 An Annual General Meeting must be held
before 30 November each year, all members of the Branch to be duly
notified. The principal functions of the Annual General Meeting
shall be the election of Officers for the coming year and consideration
of Branch Financial Statement.
11 A Branch shall be empowered to make
its own rules regulating the conduct of meetings, etc., provided that
they do not conflict with anything contained in, or implied by, this
Constitution and Rules.
FINANCE
12 The Branch shall be responsible for
the collection of the annual membership fee. The amount of this fee
shall be as determined by Congress annually. This fee is due on the
formation of a branch and on the 1st of November annually thereafter.
The Branch shall remit such portion of this fee as is established
by Annual Congress to the County Board or to the Province where
no County Board exists. The Branch shall collect a sum as determined
by Congress annually from each member under eighteen years of age,
such members to be known as 'Junior Members'. These fees shall be
apportioned as Annual Congress decides. Junior members shall be considered
for branch strength.
13 The financial affairs of each Branch
shall be conducted in the manner described in rules 10, 11, 12, 13,
14, 15, 16 and 17 of Section 1 of this Constitution and Rules. The
Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer shall be responsible to the Trustees
of An Comhaltas in these matters.
14 Copies of the adopted Financial Statement
shall be forwarded to
(a) the Secretary of the County Board
(b) the Secretary of the Provincial Council (where applicable) not
later than 15th December.
15 A Branch shall pay out of its funds
the authorised expenses of its officers and delegates.
16 By virtue of Rule 2 Section 6 of this
Constitution all property in the possession or control of a Branch
is vested in the Trustees of An Comhaltas and the authority of the
Branch to deal with such property is subject to the approval of the
Trustees and such approval may be withdrawn by the Trustees at any
time. The Branch and each member of the Branch having possession or
control of such property shall be responsible for the safe delivery
of such property to the Trustees if such delivery is required by the
Trustees.
17 A registered member of a branch may
not transfer to another branch within the membership year, without
the prior approval of the County Board of the County (or Provincial
Council if no County Board exists) in which he/she is a member.
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SECTION 3 - COUNTY BOARDS
I A County Board shall be formed in every
county where three or more Branches exist. Such County Board shall
be under the control and direction of the Provincial Council, which
may terminate such County Board and take over its assets if the number
of Branches fall below three.
2 A County Board shall consist of the following
Officers elected annually:
(a) Chairman;
(b) Vice-Chairman;
(c) Secretary/Registrar;
(d) Treasurer;
(e) PRO;
(f) Treoraí na Gaeilge;
(g) Two Auditors, who shall hold no other office in that particular
unit;
(h) Two Delegates to Provincial Council;
(i) Two Delegates from each Branch in the County
County Boards shall have the right to create
other offices, without voting rights.
3 The Officers of the County Board, Chairman,
Vice- Chairman, Secretary/Registrar, Treasurer and PRO
as described above, shall under the direction of the County Board
constitute the County Committee for the purpose of dealing with all
matters of urgency arising between meetings of the full County Board.
POWERS AND DUTIES
4 (a) The County Board shall, subject to
the supervision of the Provincial Council, control the workings of
its constituent Branches and its chief tasks shall be the formation
of new Branches and the propagation of the aims and objects of An
Comhaltas. It shall have power to raise funds and to disburse funds
only in furtherance of the Aims and Objects of An Comhaltas.
(b) It shall have the right to submit
motions to Annual Congress.
(c) The County Board shall have the right
to suspend any branch, and/or remove from office, a branch officer
or officers, where it has been clearly established that the branch
or officers of the branch are guilty of conduct which is deemed
to be contrary to the ideals and objects of An Comhaltas, as enshrined
in this Constitution, and is calculated to bring An Comhaltas into
disrepute. Where a branch is suspended, the County Board shall for
the time being be empowered to exercise all the functions of the
said branch. A branch or officer so suspended shall have the right
of appeal to the Provincial Council.
5 The County Board shall retain one copy
of the Branch Membership Report Forms and shall forward in duplicate
to the province:
(a) County Board Report Forms;
(b) Branch Membership Report Forms;
(c) All proposed functions under the
auspices of An Comhaltas within the County. The Secretary shall
give seven days notice of meetings, attend such meetings and compile
the minutes.
(d) He/she shall also forward to the
Provincial Secretary before January 27th, the names of officers
nominated for the Provincial Council.
6 Each County Board shall meet at least
once quarterly on a date and at a venue to be decided at the previous
meeting. In a County with less than ten branches, five members - two
at least of whom must be officers, shall constitute a quorum. In a
County with ten or more branches the quorum shall be one fifth of
the representatives entitled to attend, two at least of those must
be officers.
7 The Annual Meeting, all members being
duly notified, shall be held not later than January 20. The principal
functions of this meeting shall be the election of officers and the
consideration of Financial Statements of the County Board, Branches
and the County Fleadh Committee. Nomination of officers
of the County Board shall be made in writing by the Branches to the
County Secretary not later than the 15th December.
8 The financial affairs of the County Board
shall be conducted in accordance with rules 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,
16 and 17 of Section 1 of this Constitution and the Chairman, Secretary
and Treasurer of the County Board shall be responsible to the Trustees
of An Comhaltas in all matters arising from such financial affairs.
9 The County Board shall collect from each
Branch an amount, as determined by Congress annually, in respect of
each member, and shall forward to the province such portion of membership
fees as has also been determined by Congress.
10 Copies of the annual financial statement
audited by the honorary auditors shall, on adoption by the annual
meeting, the forwarded by the Secretary to the Provincial Treasurer
before 31st January.
11 Such perpetual trophies as are acquired
by a County Board shall be the property of the County Board and shall
be shown as assets and manner described in Rules 11 and 12 Section
1. These trophy shall be insured by the County Board Treasurer and
made available to each succeeding Fleadh Committee. The Treasurer
the County Board shall keep a list of the names and addresses of the
prizewinners who were awarded these perpetual trophies.
12 There shall be only one Annual County
Fleadh held in any county, the nett profit
of which shall be divided as follows:
(a) 50 percent to branch running the Fleadh
(b) 50 percent to the County Board.
Losses shall be borne in the same proportions.
The County Board may, at its discretion, organise Regional Fleadhanna,
from which the qualifiers for the County Fleadh Cheoil
shall be selected.
13 In the event of a County Board failing
to furnish a proper Annual Financial Statement, the Provincial Council
shall appoint from its members an Auditor to examine the accounts
of such county board and having heard his/her report may impose a
suitable penalty.
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SECTION 4 - PROVINCIAL COUNCILS
1 Provincial Councils shall consist of
(a) Chairman;
(b) Vice-Chairman;
(c) Treasurer;
(d) Secretary/Registrar;
(e) Two Honorary Auditors, who shall hold no other office in that
particular unit;
(f) PRO;
(g) Treoraí na Gaeilge;
(h) Two delegates from each County Board (one may attend from
each Branch in a county where no County Board exists). Provincial
Councils shall have the right to create further non-voting offices.
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS
2 Provincial Councils shall control and
direct all activities of An Comhaltas within the province with the
exception of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, which shall
continue under the direction of the Central Executive Council, with
the co-operation of the Provincial Council. The Chairman, Vice-Chairman,
Secretary/Registrar, Treasurer and PRO of the Provincial
Council shall be automatically members of all Fleadh Committees within
the Province, be they County, Provincial or Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.
3 It shall have, in conjunction with the
County Board or Branch where no County Board exists, the right to
advise how the County Board or Branch fund should be applied to furthering
the Aims and Objects of An Comhaltas within the county concerned.
4 (a) It shall have the right to decide
all disputes arising within its province involving members, Branches
or County Boards.
(b) Provincial Councils shall have the
power to submit motions to Annual Congress.
5 The Provincial Council shall have the
right to suspend any County Board or Branch where no County Board
exists, within the Province. Such right shall be exercised only when
it has been clearly established that the County Board or Branch concerned
has been guilty of conduct which is deemed to be contrary to the ideals
and objects of An Comhaltas, as enshrined in this Constitution, and
is calculated to bring An Comhaltas into disrepute. Where a County
Board or Branch is suspended, the Provincial Council shall for the
time being be empowered to exercise all the functions of the said
County Board or Branch. An appeal from any decision of the Provincial
Council shall be to the Central Executive Council, whose decision
shall be final.
6 Provincial Councils shall meet at least
once quarterly on a fixed date, and at a venue to be selected at the
previous meeting. The Secretary shall give seven days notice of the
meeting, and a copy of the Agenda to all delegates. Dates for all
fleadhanna and other competitions shall be allocated
on or before the 31st October.
The Provincial Council of North America
shall meet at least twice per annum. The date and venue for all such
meetings shall be selected at the previous meeting.
7 A special meeting of the Provincial Council
may be convened by the Secretary in consultation with the Chairman
or at the request of three County Boards.
8 The financial affairs of the Provincial
Council shall be conducted in accordance with Rules 10, 11, 12, 13,
14, 15, 16 and 17 of Section 1 of this Constitution. The Chairman,
Secretary and Treasurer of the Provincial Council shall be responsible
to the Trustees of An Comhaltas in all matters arising from such financial
affairs.
9 The Provincial Council may pay out of
its funds the authorised official travelling and subsistence expenses
of its officers and of other persons acting under its control.
10 The nett profits of the
Annual Provincial Fleadh shall be divided in the following
manner:
(a) To the Branch running the fleadh 25 pc
(b) To the County Board 25 pc
(c) To the Provincial Council 25 pc
(d) To the Central Council 25 pc
Losses shall be borne in the same proportions.
11 The Province shall collect from the
County Board or Branch where applicable, the appropriate membership
fees, and forward such portion of same as has been determined by Congress
annually to Head Office.
12 Provincial Councils shall present to
Provincial Convention
(a) The Secretary's report;
(b) Financial Statement audited by the
honorary auditors, together with a list of all duly affiliated County
Boards, and all duly affiliated Branches in the Province. This list
should show also the total membership in the Province for each financial
year.
13 A Provincial Council failing to furnish
an audited statement of accounts, accurately vouched, shall, after
an investigation by the Central Council, be liable to whatever disciplinary
action the Central Executive Council may take. This may involve the
suspension of any or all of the officers concerned.
The Central Executive Council may take
control of the work of An Comhaltas within the province until the
financial statement is prepared and accepted.
14 Perpetual Trophies acquired by the Provincial
Fleadh Committee shall be the property of the Provincial
Council for use in succeeding Fleadhanna and shall be
shown as assets in the manner described in Rule 11 Section 1. The
Treasurer of the Provincial Council shall keep a register which will
show the location of such Trophies and chattels and arrange that they
are available in time for each succeeding Fleadh. He/she
shall forward to the Competitions Secretary a list of Trophies. The
Treasurer of the Provincial Council shall insure these perpetual Trophies
against theft, loss or damage.
PROVINCIAL CONVENTIONS
15 Apart from the Province of Nth. America,
Provincial Conventions shall be held annually on or before the last
day of February. Four weeks previous to the date of the meeting, County
Secretaries and Branch Secretaries where no County Board exists, shall
receive copies of the Financial Statement, Agenda and list of nominees.
Candidates for positions shall be nominated by County Boards, and
notified to the Provincial Secretary not later than five weeks prior
to Convention.
The Provincial Convention of North America
shall be held annually not later than the last Sunday in April, at
a Branch venue selected at least twelve months previously.
16 The Convention shall consist of:
(a) Officers of the outgoing Provincial Council;
(b) The Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer of each County Board (who
shall not be represented by substitutes), and two representatives
from each County Board;
(c) Two representatives from each Branch affiliated for the current
financial year.
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FUNCTIONS OF THE PROVINCIAL CONVENTION
17 The functions of the Provincial Convention
shall be:
(a) To consider Financial Statements of
County Boards;
(b) To consider Financial Statements of Branches where no County Board
exists;
(c) To consider Financial Statements of Provincial Fleadh. These Financial
Statements properly audited must be submitted to the Provincial Secretary
annually not later than December 17th.
(d) To consider Financial Statement of the Provincial Council;
(e) To consider report of the Provincial Secretary
(f) To elect the following officers: Chairman; Vice- Chairman; Secretary/Registrar;
Treasurer; PRO; Treoraí na Gaeilge; two Honorary Auditors who shall
hold no other office and two delegates to CEC. The Chairman of the
Provincial Council shall be a Vice-Chairman of the Central Executive
Council. All votes must be cast personally.
18 The Chairman, Vice-Chairman,
Secretary/Registrar, Treasurer and PRO described at
17(f) above shall, under the direction of the Provincial Council,
constitute a Provincial Standing Committee to deal with matters of
urgency arising between meetings the Provincial Council.
19 Provincial Chairmen shall be 'ex-officio'
members their respective Councils during the year which follows the
termination of their office.
20 Provincial Convention shall nominate
candidates to be elected at Congress for position of
(a) President-General;
(b) Treasurer-General;
(c) Secretary-General;
(d) Registrar-General.
Ulster Provincial Convention
shall appoint a Liaison Officer between An Comhaltas and the "Antrim
and Derry Fiddlers' Association", such appointment to ratified
by Congress.
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SECTION 5 - CENTRAL EXECUTIVE
COUNCIL (CEC)
The Central Executive Council shall consist
of:
(a) President-General: Candidates for
this position shall signify in writing their intention to all Provincial
Secretaries not later than 17th January of the year in which the
election is to take place. On the nomination of at least one Provincial
Convention a candidate shall be elected by a majority of those present
and entitled to vote at Congress, at the first business on Sunday
afternoon. The President-General shall hold office for a period
of three years, and shall not be eligible for re-election until
a further three years have elapsed. Should the position of President-General
become vacant during the three years period of tenancy, it shall
be filled from among the six Vice-Chairmen, by a majority vote of
the CEC. The President-General so elected shall have the right to
be a candidate for the following tenancy of three years. Duties:
The President-General shall preside at meetings of the CEC, Standing
Committee and Annual Congress. He/she shall act as President at
the opening ceremony of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, and other functions
of a National character under the auspices of the CEC. In consultation
with the Secretary-General and Director-General, he/she shall arrange
meeting and Agenda of the CEC and Standing Committee.
(b) Secretary-General: A candidate for
this position, having signified his/her intention as in the case
of the President-General, and been nominated by one Provincial Convention
shall be elected by a majority of those present and entitled to
vote at Congress during the first business on Sunday afternoon.
He/she shall act as Secretary to the CEC, Standing Committee and
Annual Congress. In consultation with the President-General and
Director-General, he/she shall arrange Agenda for meetings of the
CEC. and Standing Committee, and shall perform the additional duties
assigned to him/her by the CEC.
(c) Six Vice-Chairmen: appointed as laid
down in Section 4 Rule 17(f).
(d) Treasurer-General: The Treasurer-General
shall be elected annually in accordance with the procedure applicable
to the position of the Secretary-General. He/she shall act in accordance
with Rules 12 to 14 of Section 5 of An Bunreacht. Three weeks prior
to Congress he/she shall supply audited accounts to Head Office.
(e) Registrar-General: The Registrar-General
shall be elected annually in accordance with the procedure applicable
to the position of the Secretary-General. He/she shall be responsible
for the issue of membership cards; insurance of Fleadh Cheoil na
Éireann trophies; he/she shall be responsible for the recording
of Comhaltas assets at all levels; he/she shall ensure the eligibility
of Congress delegates.
(f) Competitions Officer: A Competitions
Officer shall be appointed by CEC from among its own members. Duties:
He/she shall co-operate with Head Office in all matters connected
with Fleadhanna, Scoraíocht and other competitions.
(g) Music Officer: A Music Officer shall
be appointed by the CEC from amongst its own members. Duties: He/she
shall act as Secretary to the Coiste Ceoil and shall
direct its work in co-operation with CEC and under its direction.
(h) Public Relations Officer: A Public
Relations Officer shall be appointed by the CEC from amongst its
own members. Duties: He/she shall co-operate with Head Office in
matters relating to publicity and Public Relations.
(i) Two delegates from each Provincial
Council.
(j) Two non-voting observers from the
following: National Sub-Committees: Coiste Ceoil and
Coiste Rince.
The CEC shall have power to co-opt, if
necessary, members to fill the positions (f), (g) and (h).
2 The President-General, Director-General,
Treasurer- General, Secretary-General and Registrar-General shall,
under the direction of the CEC, constitute the Standing Committee
for the purpose of dealing with the day to day work of the Central
Executive Council, or for the purpose of carrying out duties assigned
to it by the Central Council.
3 The CEC shall have power to fill, from
amongst its members, any casual vacancy amongst its officers, and
where a vacancy occurs in the Council, a new representative shall
be appointed forthwith by the Provincial Council of the vacating members.
The proceedings of the CEC shall not be invalid by reason of any vacancy
in its membership or any default in the election of any member thereof.
PROCEDURE
4 The CEC shall meet at least three times
per annum at such time and place as is proposed and agreed at the
previous meeting. It may be summoned for extraordinary meetings where
the Standing Committee deems it necessary or expedient. The Director-General
shall give seven days notice of the meeting to all members together
with a copy of the Agenda.
5 The quorum for a CEC meeting shall be
one-fifth of its members including at least two Executive Officers.
The Chairman must be an Executive Officer.
6 (a) The CEC shall be the supreme governing
body of An Comhaltas from Annual Congress to Annual Congress and the
sole and final authority to interpret the Rules and Constitution.
Its jurisdiction shall extend over the whole Organisation in all matters
of discipline as well as those that pertain to funds, investments
and property of An Comhaltas. It shall carry out the proper exercise
of this jurisdiction through its Trustees.
(b) CEC shall have the right to submit
motions to Annual Congress.
7 It shall have power to decide appeals
as provided for in this Constitution.
8 If in the judgement of the CEC any Unit
of the Organisation fails to observe the Rules of An Comhaltas as
expressed in this Constitution or is guilty of action injurious to
the good name of An Comhaltas, the CEC may, after consultation with
the said Units immediate Superior Body, dissolve such a Unit and take
over its assets.
9 (a) The CEC shall have power to raise
funds, to place such levies on County Boards or Branches as shall
be consistent with the well being of the Organisation as a whole.
It shall have power to make grants or loans available to Units of
the Organisation for the promotion of the aims and objects of An Comhaltas.
(b) The CEC shall have power to borrow
money to advance the aims, objects and properly authorised projects
of Comhaltas. The CEC may at its discretion, authorise Branches,
Co. Boards or Provincial Councils to borrow money
for approved projects, and no unit of Comhaltas shall borrow money
by way of loan or overdraft without prior written authority of the
CEC.
10 The CEC may from time to time appoint
Committees either of a General or Special character for any purpose
which, in its opinion, would be better managed by such committees,
but the acts of any such committees shall be submitted to the CEC
for approval.
11 It shall have power to allocate the
venue of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in accordance with
this Constitution.
12 Paid Officials: The duties, responsibilities
and conditions of employment of full-time paid officials shall be
determined by the CEC and shall be governed by Legal Agreements.
FINANCE
13 The financial affairs of the CEC shall
be conducted in the manner described in rules 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,
15 and 17 Section 1 of this Constitution and Rules. The President-General,
Secretary-General and Treasurer- General shall be responsible in all
these matters to the Trustees of An Comhaltas.
14 The Treasurer-General shall present
to the Annual Congress the Auditor's Report and detailed Balance Sheet
audited by An Comhaltas Auditor as appointed at the previous National
Congress, It shall show all receipts, expenditures, investments and
assets, together with the financial position of An Comhaltas at the
end of the year under review.
15 The disbursement of Government and other
grants at national level shall be the sole responsibility of CEC.
16 The CEC may pay out of its funds the
authorised expenses necessary to carry out its duties
17 (a) (i) All property of
Comhaltas is occupied by it for the transaction of its business and
for the carrying into effect of its purpose;
(ii) The income and property of Comhaltas
may be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects of the
Organisation as set forth in this constitution;
(iii) No portion of the income or property
of Comhaltas may be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by
way of dividend, bonus or otherwise by way of profit to its members.
(b) In the event of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí
Éireann ceasing to operate and subject to existing agreements with
public bodies/agencies, all assets of the movement will be transferred
- in consultation with appropriate public bodies and agencies - to
a non-political and non-sectarian cultural Organisation holding
similar aims and objects to that of CCE, and which also prohibits
the distribution of income and property to its members.
(c) Comhaltas shall be supported by annual
voluntary contributions.
GENERAL
18 The President-General in all cases has
a casting vote in the event of a tie.
19 The President-General shall be an ex-officio
member of the CEC for one year after completion of his/her term of
office.
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SECTION 6 - TRUSTEES
1 (a) There shall be at least one and
not more than three trustees of An Comhaltas and such Trustees shall
be appointed at the first Meeting of the Central Executive Council
following the adoption of these rules, by a resolution of the majority
of the members present and entitled to vote at that meeting. Such
Trustees-General when appointed shall hold office permanently subject
to the rules hereinafter set forth governing retirement, removal
from office and appointment of new Trustees-General.
(b) Any Trustee-General may retire from
office by giving, to the other Trustees-General and the Secretary-General
Of the CEC, seven days notice in writing.
(c) Any General Meeting of the CEC may
remove a Trustee-General from office, provided that there Must be
a majority of two-thirds of the delegates present at such meeting
in favour of such removal upon a secret ballot being taken, and
provided that twenty-one days prior to such meeting the Secretary-General
of the CEC shall have given to the Trustees concerned notice of
the motion for his/her removal from office.
(d) When a vacancy arises due to the
death of a Trustee-General or his/her retirement or removal from
office in accordance with the foregoing paragraph the Standing Committee
shall have the power to appoint a person to act as Trustee-General
until the next General Meeting of the CEC and such General Meeting
shall appoint a Trustee-General.
2 All property of An Comhaltas both real
and personal of whatever nature and wheresoever situated shall be
vested in the Trustees-General by virtue of their appointment in accordance
with the foregoing rule and they shall in all respects deal with and
administer all such property in accordance with the direction or requirements
of the Central Executive Council.
3 The Trustees-General shall institute
any proceedings either criminal or civic on behalf of the CEC and
shall likewise defend any such proceedings. All persons holding any
property of An Comhaltas shall be responsible to the Trustees-General
for the safe care and custody of such property, and the Trustees-General
shall have power to sue any such person for any damage, loss or injury
caused to such property
4 The CEC shall indemnify the Trustees-General
against personal loss or damage arising from such legal actions.
5 The Trustees-General shall be entitled
to attend any meeting of An Comhaltas or any meeting of the Executive
of An Comhaltas and the Secretary- General if requested by a majority
of the Trustees-General, shall call a General Meeting. The Trustees-
General, if required by the Secretary-General by notice in writing
delivered to each of the Trustees- General not less than twenty-one
days before an Annual General Meeting, shall furnish to such Annual
General Meeting a report of all or any matters relating to their Trusteeship.
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SECTION 7 - ANNUAL CONGRESS
1 The Annual Congress shall be the supreme
authority of An Comhaltas and shall consist of:
(a) Members of the CEC, the President-General
and Secretary-General all of whom shall act in their respective
capacities at the Congress;
(b) Two Delegates from each affiliated
Branch and County Boards. Only Branches and County
Boards which were affiliated at least 28 days before Congress shall
be entitled to vote.
(c) The Secretary and Treasurer of each
Provincial Council.
Admission to Annual Congress shall be by
special ticket bearing the signature of the Secretary-General and
two such tickets shall be supplied to each Branch and County Board.
PROCEDURE
2 Congress shall be held, at a venue chosen
at the Previous Congress, on the first Sunday of May and the previous
day if necessary. No Comhaltas function shall be held during that
weekend.
3 Two weeks before Congress each Unit shall
be furnished with
(a) Copies of the Agenda;
(b) List of Nominees;
(c) CEC Report;
(d) Minutes.
4 A special Congress may be summoned as
follows:
(a) By the CEC should the necessity arise;
(b) At such time and place as the CEC
may decide, but not later than 28 days after receipt by the Secretary
of a written request signed by the Chairman of at least 40 branches
and accompanied by a deposit of £40 to be disposed of as the special
Congress may decide.
5 The Quorum of a Congress shall be one-tenth
of those Representatives entitled to attend and five members of CEC.
6 The following shall be the functions
and powers of Annual Congress:
(a) To elect the following Officers of
the CEC:
1 President-General
2 Treasurer-General
3 Secretary-General
4 Registrar-General
(b) To appoint a qualified Auditor to audit
the accounts of the CEC;
(c) To amend, alter or revise the Constitution
of An Comhaltas in accordance with Rules 9 and 10 Section 7;
(d) To consider reports and Financial Statements
of the CEC and Provincial Councils for the preceding financial year.
It may delegate all or any of its powers to the Central Executive
Council.
(e) To determine the amount of membership
fee, and the appropriate portion of same which is to be remitted to
the various units.
7 Prior to Congress, the Director-General
shall notify all units of the latest date for receipt of motions for
the Agenda. Before the last day of February, he/she shall forward
to Provincial Secretaries nomination papers for the nomination of
the CEC. Officers described in Rule 20, Section 4. Motions and nominations
must be in Head Office two months prior to Congress. All units of
An Comhaltas are entitled to submit motions for Annual Congress.
8 Proposals for the amendment of this Constitution
shall be submitted to Head-Office at least two months prior to the
Congress at which they are to be discussed.
9 The Constitution can be altered only
by a two-third majority of those actually attending and voting at
an Annual Congress.
10 Proposals for the amendment of this
Constitution shall be put before Congress in 1996 and at six yearly
intervals thereafter.
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