Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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138. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to amend section 33AK of the Central Bank Act 1942 in line with the banking inquiry’s recommendation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16940/16]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Report of the Joint Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis (Banking Inquiry) recommended that: "A full review should take place of section 33AK of the Central Bank Act 1942, to ensure that only documents deemed 'secret' which are independently reviewed by a High Court judge are withheld from any future Oireachtas inquiry."

Section 33AK of the Central Bank Act 1942, as amended, deals with the circumstances under which the Central Bank can disclose confidential information to third parties.

Section 33AK was most recently amended under the Central Bank (Amendment) Act 2015 (No. 1), to ensure that information could be disclosed to the Banking Inquiry.

My Department and the Central Bank are currently examining all of the recommendations emanating from the Banking Inquiry Report, including the proposal for a further amendment to Section 33AK.

On completion of that examination, I will consider the need to bring forward amending legislation to provide for any recommendations arising from the Banking Inquiry Report.