Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Act 2017
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Confidential information | ||
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17. (1) In this section, “confidential information” includes information that is expressed by the Ombudsman to be confidential either as regards particular information or information of a particular class or description. | ||
(2) A person shall not, unless authorised by the Ombudsman or required by law, disclose any confidential information obtained by him or her while performing, or as a result of having performed, duties as any of the following: | ||
(a) the Deputy Ombudsman; | ||
(b) a member of the Council; | ||
(c) a member of the staff of the Ombudsman; | ||
(d) a consultant or adviser to the Ombudsman appointed under section 16 . | ||
(3) Subsection (2) shall not operate to prevent the disclosure of information— | ||
(a) in a report to the Ombudsman, or | ||
(b) by or on behalf of the Ombudsman to a Minister of the Government. | ||
(4) A person who contravenes subsection (2) commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a class A fine. | ||
(5) Notwithstanding subsection (2)— | ||
(a) the Ombudsman, | ||
(b) the Deputy Ombudsman, | ||
(c) a member of the Council, | ||
(d) a member of the staff of the Office, or | ||
(e) a consultant or advisor to the Ombudsman appointed under section 16 , may disclose to a member of the Garda Síochána information which, in the opinion of the person concerned, may relate to the commission of an offence (whether an offence under this Act or not). |