Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Act 2013

Legal proceedings not to fall on discontinuation of inquiry, etc.

126.— (1) The discontinuation of a Part 2 inquiry or other committee business, or the dissolution of Dáil Éireann or of the committee, or a general election for Seanad Éireann after the dissolution of Dáil Éireann, shall not of itself—

(a) cause any criminal or other proceedings relating to the inquiry or other committee business, or the House or committee, that are pending or in progress to be discontinued or otherwise fall, or

(b) otherwise prevent the prosecution of an offence committed prior to such discontinuation, dissolution or election, as the case may be.

(2) When the committee or House cannot act because of a discontinuation, dissolution or general election referred to in subsection (1), the Oireachtas Commission shall act on behalf of the committee or House, as the case may be, in respect of proceedings referred to in paragraph (a) of that subsection or a prosecution referred to in paragraph (b) of that subsection.