Irish Takeover Panel Act, 1997

Obligations of professional secrecy.

17.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), information obtained by virtue of the performance by the Panel of any of its functions under this Act which has not otherwise come to the notice of members of the public shall not be disclosed, save in accordance with law, by any person, including any of the following, namely—

(a) a member or director of the Panel,

(b) a professional or other adviser to the Panel,

(c) any person employed or formerly employed by the Panel.

(2) Subsection (1) shall not apply to the disclosure of information by the Panel—

(a) where such disclosure is necessary to enable the Panel to state the grounds on which it has made any ruling or given any direction under section 9 or on which it has advised, admonished or censured a person under section 10 ,

(b) where such disclosure is made to—

(i) the Minister,

(ii) the Garda Síochána,

(iii) the Director of Public Prosecutions,

(iv) an inspector appointed under any enactment,

(v) a stock exchange for the purpose of assisting it in the orderly and proper supervision of any financial market,

(vi) the Central Bank,

(vii) any person performing functions in another state which are similar to the functions of the Panel, or

(viii) such other person as may be prescribed.

(3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence.