Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 70:

In page 21, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following:

“Strict confidentiality of certain communications and matters28.(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and in addition to the provisions of section 27—

(a) the proceedings of the Commission or of its committees,

(b) confidential information within the meaning of section 27,

(c) confidential communications to and from the Commission or its committees,

(d) confidential communications to or from the Commission or its committees to the Minister,

(e) the proceedings of a Committee established under section 44,

(f) confidential communications to and from the Committee established under section 44, including any report to the Government,

(g) any matter concerning the removal of a member of the Commission (before such removal takes place) under section 20, shall be secret and shall not be made public.

(2) Any person who knowingly discloses or makes public in any manner any information that is secret within the meaning of subsection (1)shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction thereof—

(a) in summary proceedings before the District Court to a fine or to six months imprisonment,

(b) on indictment to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years or to a fine or to both.”

This amendment has already been discussed with amendment No. 66 and in view of the ruling against repetition or irrelevance, it should be put.