103.—(1) In this section the expression “authorised gas undertaker” means a person who is for the time being authorised by any local or personal Act of the United Kingdom Parliament or any private Act of the Oireachtas or any provisional or other order made under statutory authority (whether before or after the establishment of Saorstát Eireann) to supply gas to the public in any specified area and by virtue of such Act or Order has for the time being the right of so supplying gas in such area, and the expression “area of gas supply” means an area within which an authorised gas undertaker is for the time being so authorised to supply gas to the public and has for the time being the right of so supplying gas.

(2) An authorised gas undertaker may with the consent of the Minister and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Act or order constituting him to be such undertaker, become an authorised undertaker under this Act and whenever the Board constitutes an authorised gas undertaker to be an authorised undertaker the Board may with the consent of the Minister and, if so required by the Minister, shall insert in the special order effecting such constitution such special provisions, limitations, and conditions (including the keeping of separate accounts) as it thinks proper or (as the case may be) as the Minister may require and in particular may with the like consent by such special order authorise such undertaker to employ his funds and to raise capital and borrow money for the purposes of the electricity undertaking authorised by such order and, may prescribe an area of supply either co-extensive with or greater or less than the area of gas supply of such undertaker.

(3) An authorised gas undertaker may with the consent of the Minister expend his funds in applying to the Board for a special order constituting him to be an authorised undertaker in doing all such things as may be reasonably necessary for or incidental to the obtaining or endeavouring to obtain such order.