Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is a drafting provision, the purpose of which is to provide clarity that the confidentiality framework applies to the commission in plenary session and any of its committees. Having regard to the fact that there may be circumstances in which a member of the commission might not be a member of a particular committee but may have been and would be privy to certain information, although not a member of the committee for the time being, he or she would be privy to that information. The provision has been drafted to ensure matters before the commission or any particular committee will at all times be confidential.