6.— (1) In this section “proceedings”, subject to subsection (4), includes counterclaims or cross-claims against IBRC, in legal actions brought by IBRC, other than those counterclaims or cross-claims which, if successful, would give rise to a right of set-off.

(2) Subject to subsection (6), with effect from the making of the Special Liquidation Order—

(a) there shall be an immediate stay on all proceedings against IBRC,

(b) no further actions or proceedings can be issued against IBRC without the consent of the Court,

(c) no actions or proceedings for the winding up of IBRC, or for the appointment of an examiner (whether interim or otherwise) or a liquidator (whether provisional or otherwise) to IBRC can be taken, issued, continued or commenced,

(d) the Minister may discharge or remove any liquidator or examiner that had been appointed to IBRC prior to the making of the Special Liquidation Order, and

(e) the Special Liquidation Order shall constitute effective and proper notice to each employee of IBRC that his or her employment with IBRC is terminated with immediate effect.

(3) Subsection (2)(e) shall not prevent the special liquidator from engaging any person, including any person whose employment with IBRC was terminated upon the making of the Special Liquidation Order, on such terms as the special liquidator sees fit where the special liquidator considers such engagement to be necessary or beneficial for the orderly conduct of the winding up of IBRC.

(4) The appointment of a receiver pursuant to a debenture or charge created by IBRC shall not constitute proceedings for the purposes of this section.

(5) The making of the Special Liquidation Order in relation to IBRC shall, for the purposes of any enactment or rule of law or of any contract, deed or other agreement to which IBRC is a party, have the same effect as if the Special Liquidation Order were the making of a winding up order by the Court or the appointment of an official liquidator.

(6) (a) The Special Liquidation Order, and any other thing done under the Special Liquidation Order or pursuant to instructions issued or any directions given to a special liquidator pursuant to this Act—

(i) does not affect any proceedings taken, investigation undertaken, or disciplinary or enforcement action undertaken by the Bank, the Director of Public Prosecutions, An Garda Síochána, the Director of Corporate Enforcement or any regulatory authority, in respect of any matter in existence at the time the Special Liquidation Order was made or other thing was done, and

(ii) does not preclude the taking of any proceedings, or the undertaking of any investigation, or disciplinary or enforcement action, by the Bank, the Director of Public Prosecutions, An Garda Síochána, the Director of Corporate Enforcement or any regulatory authority, in respect of any contravention of an enactment or any misconduct which may have been committed before the Special Liquidation Order was made or the other thing was done.

(b) In this subsection “regulatory authority” includes—

(i) the Irish Stock Exchange,

(ii) the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority,

(iii) a prescribed accountancy body (within the meaning of Part 2 of the Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003), and

(iv) any other authority which regulates, or which may investigate or prosecute, any person under or by virtue of any enactment, rule of law or contract.

F1[(7) (a) In this subsection ‘Act of 1879’ means the Bankers’ Books Evidence Act 1879.

(b) Where—

(i) a copy of an entry in a bankers’ book (within the meaning of section 9(2) of the Act of 1879) falls to be produced in evidence,

(ii) the book is in the custody or under the control of a special liquidator or IBRC, and

(iii) the special liquidator or an officer or employee of, or other person duly authorised in that behalf by, the special liquidator or an officer or employee of IBRC gives evidence (orally or by affidavit) that—

(I) he or she truly believes that the book or record was kept in the ordinary course of the bank’s business, and

(II) the book is in the custody or under the control of the special liquidator or IBRC,

then the requirement for proof in section 4 of the Act of 1879 shall be taken to have been satisfied.

(c) The Act of 1879 has effect in relation to the books and records of IBRC as if—

(i) references in that Act to bank or banker were to—

(I) a special liquidator, or

(II) IBRC,

(ii) references in that Act to bankers’ books were to the ordinary books and records of a special liquidator or IBRC, as the case may be, or the ordinary books and records of IBRC in the custody or under the control of a special liquidator, and

(iii) references in that Act to an officer of a bank were to a special liquidator or an officer or employee of, or other person duly authorised in that behalf by, a special liquidator or to an officer or employee of IBRC.]