Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This amendment provides that a person commits an offence in the course of an inquiry when he or she fails to attend having been summoned, refuses to take an oath, refuses to produce any document in his or her power or control lawfully required by the panel or refuses to answer a question. In addition, it is an offence if a person does anything which, if the panel were a court of law, would be contempt of court. The amendment provides that a person who commits an offence will be liable on summary conviction to a class C fine. These matters were already included as offences in the 2001 Act, but references need to be updated to reflect that it is the panel which is conducting the inquiry and making decisions. The inclusion of the words "a class C fine" in place of a fine of "£1,905" updates the provision in accordance with the more current legislative approach.

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