National Economic and Social Development Office Act 2006

Prohibition on disclosure of information.

23.— (1) Save as otherwise provided by law, a person shall not, without the consent of the relevant body, disclose any confidential information obtained by him or her while performing, or as a result of having performed, duties as—

(a) a member of a body,

(b) a member of the staff of the Office (including the Chief Officer and Director),

(c) a member of a committee,

(d) an adviser or consultant to a body.

(2) In subsection (1) “confidential information” includes—

(a) information that is expressed by the Office or the Taoiseach to be confidential either as regards particular information or as regards information of a particular class or description,

(b) commercial information in relation to consultants or advisers or any other person.

(3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €5,000.

(4) Nothing in subsection (1) shall prevent disclosure of information in a report made to a body or on behalf of a body to the Taoiseach.

(5) The Third Schedule to the Freedom of Information Act 1997 is amended by inserting in Part 1 at the end thereof:

(a) in column (2) of “National Economic and Social Development Office Act 2006”, and

(b) in column (3) of “ Section 23 ”.