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

Evidence given or sent to committee not admissible in certain proceedings.

29.— (1) None of the following is admissible as evidence against a person in any other proceedings (including disciplinary proceedings) except proceedings in relation to an offence under this Act or the offence of perjury:

(a) a statement or admission made by the person to the committee during the course of the Part 2 inquiry;

(b) a document given or sent to the committee pursuant to a direction, under this Act, of the committee to the person;

(c) a document specified in an affidavit of documents made by the person and given to the committee pursuant to a direction, under this Act, of the committee;

(d) a document created by or for the committee (including any document which is incomplete or in a draft form only) for the purposes of the inquiry;

(e) a relevant report.

(2) A document that is otherwise available and was not created for the purposes of the Part 2 inquiry will not be inadmissible as evidence in any proceedings (including disciplinary proceedings) by virtue of this section.

(3) Subject to provisions in this Act regarding confidentiality, the House may resolve to make documents of the Part 2 inquiry available to another statutory authority (not being a court or disciplinary body) in accordance with rules and standing orders.