Prosecutions can be obtained against individuals who undertake gas works illegally while not registered or falsely portray themselves as registered when they were not.
A criminal conviction, no matter how minor, can make it harder to get accepted for some types of insurance, or you may be charged higher rates when you declare your conviction; this also applies to other people sharing your household.
The impact can be enormous. For example, having a criminal conviction can make it difficult or even impossible to access home insurance, without which you cannot take out a mortgage. This can occur even when the offence was committed long ago, and where there is no direct relevance of the conviction to the insurance cover sought.
The consequences of a criminal convictions may also affect your ability to travel outside of Irish jurisdiction with many countries refusing to provide a visa if you have a criminal conviction.
Source: Irish Penal Reform Trust
Please note that it is an offence under The Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Acto 2006 for a person to:
- Describe oneself as an RGI or in a manner likely to suggest that he/she is an RGI unless that person is an RGI and
- Carry out “Gas Work” if you are not an RGI.
Any person who contravenes A or B is guilty of an offence and liable:
- On summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or both, or
- On conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding €50,000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or both.