Commissions of Investigation Act 2004
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Guidelines concerning recovery of legal costs necessarily incurred by witnesses. |
23.—(1) With the consent of the Minister for Finance and after consulting with the commission concerned, the specified Minister shall prepare general guidelines concerning the payment by the specified Minister to witnesses of legal costs necessarily incurred by them in connection with an investigation. | |
(2) For the purposes of this section and section 24 , legal costs are necessarily incurred by a witness in connection with an investigation by a commission if— | ||
(a) the good name or conduct of the witness is called into question by any evidence received by the commission, or | ||
(b) other personal or property rights of the witness are at risk of being jeopardized as a result of any evidence received by the commission. | ||
(3) The guidelines may— | ||
(a) restrict the types of legal services or fees for which payment may be made, and | ||
(b) otherwise limit (including by specifying maximum amounts) the extent to which legal costs may be paid. | ||
(4) Before evidence is given to a commission, the commission shall give the witness a copy of the guidelines prepared by the specified Minister. |