19.—(1) In this section the word “land” includes land covered with water and also includes easements, way-leaves, water-rights, fishing rights, sporting rights, and other rights over or in respect of any land or water.

(2) If and whenever the Board thinks proper to acquire compulsorily any land for the purpose of the exercise of any of the powers or the performance of any of the duties or functions conferred or imposed on it by this Act, the Board may, with the consent of the Minister, by order declare its intention so to acquire such land and every such order shall operate to confer on the Board full power to acquire compulsorily the land mentioned therein under and in accordance with this section.

(3) Whenever the Board proposes to make an order under this section for the purpose of acquiring any land, it shall so inform the Irish Land Commission and if, within three months of their being so informed, the said Commission inform the Board that the said Commission are about to acquire such land for their purposes under the Land Purchase Acts, the Board shall not make such order.

(4) Before making an order under this section, the Board—

(a) shall deposit and keep open for inspection in its principal office or some other suitable place such plans, specifications, and other documents as will show fully and clearly the land intended to be acquired by virtue of the order, and

(b) shall give notice, in such manner as it may consider best adapted for informing persons likely to be affected by the order, of the intention of the Board to consider the making thereof and of the manner in which representations and objections in respect of the order may be made, and

(c) shall, if it considers it expedient so to do, cause a public inquiry to be held in regard to the making of the order.

(5) Whenever the Board acquires under this section any land which is subject, either alone or in conjunction with other land, to a purchase annuity, or an annual sum equivalent to a purchase annuity payable to the Irish Land Commission, the following provisions shall have effect, that is to say:—

(a) if such purchase annuity or annual sum is payable in respect only of the land so acquired, the Irish Land Commission may require the Board to redeem such purchase annuity or annual sum;

(b) if such purchase annuity or annual sum is payable in respect of the land so acquired and other land, the said Commission may apportion such purchase annuity or annual sum between the land so acquired and such other land and may require the Board to redeem the part of such purchase annuity or annual sum so apportioned on the land so acquired;

(c) whenever the said Commission so requires the Board to redeem any such purchase annuity or annual sum, or such apportioned part thereof, the Board shall forthwith redeem such purchase annuity or annual sum, or such apportioned part thereof (as the case may be) under and in accordance with the Land Purchase Acts.

(6) Compensation shall be paid by the Board for land compulsorily acquired by virtue of an order under this section to the several persons entitled thereto or having estates or interests therein, and such compensation shall, in default of agreement, be fixed under and in accordance with the Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Act, 1919.

(7) Sections 69 to 83 of the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845, shall apply to any compensation payable by the Board under this section and to the conveyance to the Board of any land compulsorily acquired by virtue of an order under this section, and for the purpose of such application the Board shall be deemed to be the promoter of the undertaking.

(8) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to any public inquiry held under this section—

(a) the Minister shall appoint a fit and proper person to hold such inquiry;

(b) such person is hereby authorised to administer oaths to persons appearing as witnesses at such inquiry;

(c) any person interested in the subject matter of such inquiry shall be entitled to appear personally or by counsel or solicitor and to adduce evidence.