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Ireland

Committee of Public Accounts of Dail Eireann (Privilege and Procedure) Act, 1970

In short

This law defines the privileges, immunities, and procedures for the Committee of Public Accounts of Dáil Éireann when it performs specific duties. It ensures the committee and its members can operate without undue external interference and have the necessary powers to gather information.

What it regulates

  • The protection of committee members from legal action for statements made within the committee.
  • The privileged status of committee documents, reports, publications, and statements made by those involved.
  • The committee's authority to summon witnesses and demand documents.
  • The consequences for individuals who fail to cooperate with the committee's requests.

Who it concerns

  • The Committee of Public Accounts of Dáil Éireann and its members, advisers, officials, and agents.
  • Any person summoned as a witness or required to provide documents to the committee.

Key points

  • Committee members cannot be sued for what they say in the committee, except by Dáil Éireann itself.
  • All official committee documents, reports, and statements are protected by privilege, meaning they cannot be used against someone in court.
  • The committee can summon witnesses and demand documents by letter, delivered personally or by registered post.
  • Witnesses and people providing documents have the same legal protections as if they were before the High Court.
  • Failure to attend, refuse to answer questions, or not provide documents when legally required can lead to punishment by the High Court for contempt.
Legal text
Legal text

Committee of Public Accounts of Dail Eireann (Privilege and Procedure) Act, 1970 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.

  1. ie)Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.
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  3. s)or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 1970 Committee of Public Accounts of Dail Eireann (Privilege and Procedure) Act, 1970 Committee of Public Accounts of Dail Eireann (Privilege and Procedure) Act, 1970 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 22 of 1970 COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS OF DAIL EIREANN (PRIVILEGE AND PROCEDURE) ACT, 1970 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section 1. Definition. 2. Privilege and immunity of the committee. 3. Power of the committee to summon witnesses. 4. Short title. Number 22 of 1970 COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS OF DAIL EIREANN (PRIVILEGE AND PROCEDURE) ACT, 1970 AN ACT TO MAKE PROVISION REGARDING PRIVILEGE, IMMUNITY AND PROCEDURE IN RELATION TO THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS OF DAIL EIREANN IN THE PERFORMANCE OF CERTAIN OF ITS FUNCTIONS. [23rd December, 1970.] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: Definition. 1.—In this Act “the committee” means the Committee of Public Accounts of Dáil Éireann while engaged in the performance of the functions assigned to it by order of Dáil Éireann made on the 1st day of December, 1970. Privilege and immunity of the committee. 2.—

(1)The members of the committee shall not, in respect of any utterance in the committee, be amenable to any court or any authority other than Dáil Éireann.
(2)(
  1. a)The documents of the committee and the documents of its members connected with the committee or its functions, (
  2. b)all official reports and publications of the committee, and (
  3. c)the utterances in the committee of the members, advisers, officials and agents of the committee, wherever published shall be privileged. Power of the committee to summon witnesses. 3.—
(1)The committee may for the purposes of its functions do all or any of the following things— (
  1. a)Summon witnesses, by letters delivered to them personally or by registered post, to attend before it, (
  2. b)examine the witnesses attending before it, (
  3. c)require any such witness to produce to the committee, or require any person, by letter delivered to him personally or by registered post, to send to the committee, any document in his power or control.
(2)A witness before the committee and a person sending a document to the committee shall be entitled to the same immunities and privileges as if he were a witness before the High Court.
(3)A summons shall be signed by at least one member of the committee.
(4)If any person— (
  1. a)on being duly summoned as a witness before the committee makes default in attending, or (
  2. b)being in attendance as a witness before the committee refuses to take an oath or to make an affirmation when legally required by the committee to do so, or to produce any document in his power or control legally required by the committee to be produced by him or to answer any question to which the committee may legally require an answer, or (
  3. c)fails or refuses to send to the committee any document in his power or control legally required by the committee to be sent to it by the person, or (
  4. d)does anything which would, if the committee were a court of justice having power to commit for contempt of court, be contempt of such court, the committee may certify the offence of that person under the hand of the chairman of the committee to the High Court and the High Court may, after such inquiry as it thinks proper to make, punish or take steps for the punishment of that person in like manner as if he had been guilty of contempt of the High Court. Short title. 4.—This Act may be cited as the Committee of Public Accounts of Dáil Éireann (Privilege and Procedure) Act, 1970. Privacy Statement Accessibility European Legislation Identifier (PDF) Open Data License Ráiteas Príobháideachais Inrochtaineacht Aitheantóir Eorpach Reachtaíochta (ELI) Ceadúnas Sonraí Oscailte Liosta Fianán © Government of Ireland. Oireachtas Copyright Material is reproduced with the permission of the Houses of the Oireachtas © Rialtas na hÉireann. Atáirgtear ábhar faoi Chóipcheart le cead ó Thithe an Oireachtais

AI explanation based on the official legal text. Indicative, not a substitute for legal advice.