Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 5 June 2013
Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform
Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage
6:35 pm
Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source
The Bill is crafted on the advice of the Attorney General and I am advised that it is constitutional. It is important that we are able to get access to any document and that a person cannot simply refuse access on the grounds that the document might incriminate himself or herself. There is no criminal sanction in the Bill so the mere furnishing of a document would not lead to a criminal sanction and it cannot be used in a subsequent court action. I think we are on safe ground and that is the advice that I have from the Attorney General.
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