Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Act 2013
Guidelines relating to procedures of Part 2 inquiry. |
19.— (1) Subject to subsection (2), the section 19 committee may issue guidelines under this section, not inconsistent with this Act, relating to the procedures of Part 2 inquiries. | |
(2) For the purposes of the considerations to be taken into account in promoting the objectives of fair procedures and the efficient and cost-effective running of Part 2 inquiries, guidelines under this section may include guidelines relating to— | ||
(a) procedures applicable to witnesses, | ||
(b) any distinctions which may be drawn between procedures applicable to all witnesses and those against whom allegations are made, | ||
(c) the circumstances in which evidence in writing rather than oral evidence may be appropriate, | ||
(d) protocols for committees (including committee members) or a class of committees (including a class of committee members) in their dealings with the media both immediately before the commencement of, during the course of, and after the termination of, Part 2 inquiries, | ||
(e) protocols for the chairmen of committees or a class of such chairmen in their dealings with witnesses and other committee members, | ||
(f) the information to be provided to witnesses, including matters relating to non-cooperation with the inquiry and offences under this Act, or | ||
(g) to the extent practicable, achieving a balance between committee members as regards their respective political affiliations. | ||
(3) Guidelines issued under this section shall not prejudice the generality of any rules and standing orders. | ||
(4) In this section— | ||
“ procedures ” includes conduct; | ||
“ section 19 committee” means the committee designated by the rules and standing orders of the House as the committee which may issue guidelines under this section. |