Committees of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Compellability, Privileges and Immunities of Witnesses) Act, 1997
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Declarations in relation to directions. |
7.—(a) If a person— | |
(i) is directed by a committee to give evidence or produce or send a document to it, and | ||
(ii) the person is of opinion that the evidence or document could, if given, sent or produced to the committee, reasonably be expected to have the effect specified in paragraph (d) or (e) of section 5 (1), | ||
the person may inform the committee of that opinion and, if the person does so and the committee does not withdraw the direction, it shall request the person to furnish to the committee a declaration under paragraph (d) in relation to the matter. | ||
(b) If a request is made to a person under paragraph (a), the committee concerned shall, on the application of the person, allow such period, not being less than 30 days, as it considers reasonable for responding to the request and, if appropriate, the giving of a declaration under paragraph (d) and, for that purpose, the committee shall, if necessary, adjourn the proceedings concerned for such period as it considers requisite. | ||
(c) If a declaration under paragraph (d) is furnished to the committee concerned, it shall withdraw the direction concerned. | ||
(d) Where a request is made to a person under paragraph (a), the Secretary to the Government may, on application to him or her in that behalf by the person, if he or she considers that the evidence or document concerned would relate or relates to a matter to which paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section 5 applies or to information specified in paragraph (e) of that subsection, give to the person a declaration in writing to that effect made by him or her. |