Minerals Development Act 2017

Disclosure of confidential information

168. (1) A person who discloses confidential information obtained while performing his or her functions, or in his or her capacity, as a member of the Mining Board, the secretary or other member of the staff of the Board or a consultant or adviser engaged by the Board, unless the person is authorised by the Board to do so, commits an offence.

(2) Subsection (1) shall not operate to prohibit the disclosure of confidential information by a person referred to in that subsection to the Mining Board.

(3) A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable—

(a) on summary conviction to a class A fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both, or

(b) on conviction on indictment to a fine of €50,000 or imprisonment for a term of 2 years or to both.

(4) In subsection (1) “confidential information” includes information, or information of a particular class or description of information, expressed by the Mining Board to be confidential.