Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Act 2013

Offences — Part 10.

111.— (1) Where a private paper of a member is knowingly or recklessly disclosed by a person other than the member and such disclosure is not authorised by a provision of this Part, the person is guilty of an offence.

(2) Where a confidential communication is knowingly or recklessly disclosed by a person other than the member who made or received the communication, or the person who made the communication to the member, the first-mentioned person is guilty of an offence.

(3) Where—

(a) a person discloses a private paper of a member in contravention of subsection (1), or

(b) a person discloses a confidential communication in contravention of subsection (2),

any other person who publishes the private paper or confidential communication, as the case may be, is guilty of an offence, regardless of how he or she acquired the private paper or confidential communication, or the content of the private paper or confidential communication, as the case may be.

(4) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1), (2) or (3) is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a class A fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or both, or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding €500,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, or both.