Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 5 February 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

General Scheme of the Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Bill 2018: Discussion

Ms Sabha Greene:

Deputy Kelleher spoke about the confidentiality around the director's report making it difficult for legislators to match it with what is provided for in the Bill.

I refer to one aspect that will change in the Bill. The Deputy may recall that Mr. Drennan's report was given under section 955 of the current legislation. That has been slightly changed in the heads of this Bill. The other confidentiality provisions in section 956 will be carried over now because the investigation has to be protected and all of that. However, section 955 is slightly changed now in that the chairperson of the new authority will be accountable to a committee such as this one and if the committee asks for information where it is not clear whether it can be disclosed, there is a new provision to go to the High Court and a judge will decide if it can be given to the committee.