Commission To Inquire Into Child Abuse Act, 2000

Admissibility of certain evidence.

21.—(1) Notwithstanding section 18

(a) a person who gives evidence before the Investigation Committee or to a person for the purposes of an examination by him or her pursuant to section 14 (5) shall not be entitled to refuse to answer any question put to him or her, and

(b) a person shall not be entitled to refuse to produce or send a document pursuant to a direction,

on the ground that his or her answer or the document might incriminate him or her.

(2) A statement or admission made by a person—

(a) before the Commission or a Committee,

(b) to a person conducting an examination of him or her pursuant to section 14 (5),

(c) to an inquiry officer, or

(d) in a document prepared for and sent by a person to a person specified in paragraph (a), (b) or (c), or to a member of the Commission or a Committee, or a member of the staff of the Commission, for the purposes of the functions of the Commission,

shall not be admissible as evidence against the person, or any person who may be liable for the acts or omissions of the person, in any criminal proceedings (other than proceedings in relation to an offence under subsection (4) or (7) of section 14 or section 29 ), or in any civil proceedings in a court or other tribunal.