Off On Dualscroll
Turn Dualscroll on to scroll both language versions together.
Uimhir 1 de 1963.
AN tACHT UM RÚIN OIFIGIÚLA, 1963
[An tiontú oifigiúil.]
CUID I
Réamhráiteach
Gearrtheideal.
1.—Féadfar an tAcht um Rúin Oifigiúla, 1963, a ghairm den Acht seo.
Léiriú.
2.—(1) San Acht seo—
folaíonn “doiciméad” cuid de dhoiciméad;
ciallaíonn “Aire” comhalta den Rialtas;
folaíonn “múnla” dearadh, patrún nó sampla;
folaíonn “doiciméad oifigiúil” pas taistil nó pas oifigiúil, nó cead, doiciméad aitheantais, deimhniú nó ceadúnas oifigiúil nó doiciméad eile dá samhail sin, cibé acu atá nó nach bhfuil sé comhlánaithe nó arna eisiúint lena úsáid, agus folaíonn sé freisin formhuiniú nó breisiú ar an gcéanna;
ciallaíonn “eolas oifigiúil” aon chódfhocal nó focal faire oifigiúil rúnda, agus aon sceitse, plean, múnla, earra, nóta, doiciméad nó eolas atá faoi rún nó faoi iontaoibh nó a bhfuil sé sainráite é a bheith faoi rún nó faoi iontaoibh agus atá, nó a bhí, i seilbh nó i gcoimeád nó faoi urláimh sealbhóra oifige poiblí, nó a bhfuil nó a raibh teacht aige air, de bhua a oifige, agus folaíonn sé eolas arna thaifeadadh ar scannán nó ar théip mhaighnéadach nó ar aon mheán taifeadta eile; ciallaíonn “oifig phoiblí” oifig nó fostaíocht a íoctar go hiomlán as an bPríomh-Chiste nó as airgead a sholáthraíonn an tOireachtas, nó ceapachán chun, nó fostaíocht faoi réim, aon choimisiúin, coiste nó binse arna bhunú ag an Rialtas nó ag Aire chun críocha aon fhiosrúcháin, ach ní fholaíonn sé comhaltas de cheachtar Teach den Oireachtas;
folaíonn “sceitse” grianghraf nó modh eile chun aon áit nó rud a léiriú;
ciallaíonn “údarás Stáit” an tArd-Aighne, an tArd-Reachtaire Cuntas agus Ciste, na Coimisinéirí Ioncaim, Coimisinéirí na nOibreacha Poiblí in Éirinn nó Coimisiún Talún na hÉireann.
(2) San Acht seo—
folaíonn abairtí a thagraíonn do pháirtiú nó glacadh aon pháirtiú nó glacadh, cibé acu go hiomlán nó go páirteach é agus cibé acu a dhéantar an sceitse, an plean, an múnla, an t-earra, an nóta, an doiciméad nó an t-eolas féin, nó nach ndéantar ach amháin a shubstaint nó a bhrí nó a thuairisc, a pháirtiú nó a ghlacadh;
folaíonn abairtí a thagraíonn d'aon sceitse, plean, múnla, earra, nóta nó doiciméad a fháil nó a choinneáil, cóip a dhéanamh nó a chur á déanamh d'iomlán nó d'aon chuid d'aon sceitse, plean, múnla, earra, nóta nó doiciméad; agus
folaíonn abairtí a thagraíonn d'aon sceitse, plean, múnla, earra, nóta nó doiciméad a pháirtiú é a aistriú nó a tharchur.
(3) Beidh deimhniú arna thabhairt ag Aire faoina shéala á dheimhniú aon chódfhocal nó focal faire oifigiúil nó aon sceitse, plean, múnla, earra, nóta, doiciméad nó eolas a shonrófar nó a léireofar sa deimhniú a bheith faoi rún nó faoi iontaoibh, ina fhianaise dhochloíte ar an ní a dheimhneofar amhlaidh.
Aisghairm,
1911, c. 28;
1920, c. 75.
3.—Aisghairtear leis seo na Official Secrets Acts, 1911 and 1920.
CUID II
Eolas Oifigiúil
Eolas oifigiúil a nochtadh.
4.—(1) Ní dhéanfaidh duine ar bith aon eolas oifigiúil a pháirtiú le haon duine eile mura mbeidh sé údaraithe go cuí chun é sin a dhéanamh nó mura ndéanfaidh sé amhlaidh i gcúrsa agus de réir a dhualgas mar shealbhóir oifige poiblí nó i gcás inarb é a dhualgas é a dhéanamh chun leasa an Stáit.
(2) Glacfaidh duine lena mbaineann fo-alt (1) cúram réasúnach chun gan aon eolas den sórt sin a pháirtiú go neamhdhleathach.
(3) Ní bhfaighidh duine ar bith eolas oifigiúil i gcás inarb eol dó, nó ina bhfuil cúis réasúnach aige chun a chreidiúint, gur shárú ar fho-alt (1) é an t-eolas sin a pháirtiú leis.
(4) San alt seo ciallaíonn “údaraithe go cuí” údaraithe ag Aire nó ag údarás Stáit nó ag duine éigin a bheidh údaraithe chuige sin ag Aire nó ag údarás Stáit.
Eolas faoi iontaoibh i gconarthaí oifigiúla a nochtadh.
5.—(1) Ní dhéanfaidh duine atá nó a bhí—
(a) ina pháirtí i gconradh le hAire nó le húdarás Stáit nó le haon duine thar ceann Aire nó údaráis Stáit, nó
(b) ar fostú ag páirtí den sórt sin,
aon eolas a bhameann leis an gconradh, agus a mbeidh sé sainráite ann gurb eolas faoi iontaoibh é, a pháirtiú le haon tríú páirtí.
(2) Glacfaidh duine lena mbaineann fo-alt (1) cúram réasúnach chun gan aon eolas den sórt sin a pháirtiú go neamhdhleathach.
(3) Is cosaint mhaith é ar ionchúiseamh mar gheall ar an alt seo a shárú a chruthú go raibh an páirtiú údaraithe i scríbhinn ag an Aire nó ag údarás Stáit nó ag an bpáirtí a bhí ag conrú thar ceann an Aire nó an údaráis Stáit.
Doiciméid agus earraí a choinneáil.
6.—(1) Ní choinneoidh duine ar bith aon doiciméad oifigiúil ná aon ní arb eolas oifigiúil é, nó a bhfuil eolas oifigiúil ann, nuair nach mbeidh aon cheart aige é a choinneáil, nó nuair nach dá dhualgas mar shealbhóir oifige poiblí é a choinneáil.
(2) Déanfaidh duine de réir na dtreoracha uile a eiseoidh Aire, nó Rúnaí Roinne nó aon duine a bheidh údaraithe faoi shéala ag Aire, maidir le haistabhairt nó diúscairt aon doiciméid oifigiúil, nó aon rud arb eolas oifigiúil é nó a bhfuil eolas oifigiúil ann, agus atá ina sheilbh nó faoina urláimh agus a bheidh sonraithe nó curtha in iúl sna treoracha sin.
(3) Féadfaidh an Taoiseach treoracha a thabhairt maidir le haistabhairt nó diúscairt aon doiciméad bunaidh a shonrófar nó a chuirfear in iúl sna treoracha sin agus arb eolas oifigiúil iad nó a bhfuil eolas oifigiúil iontu agus a bheidh i seilbh nó faoi urláimh aon duine a shealbhaigh oifig tráth mar Aire nó mar Rúnaí Parlaiminte, agus déanfaidh aon duine den sórt sin de réir na dtreoracha sin uile.
(4) Ní bheidh feidhm ag fo-ailt (1) agus (2) i gcás duine a shealbhaigh tráth oifig lena mbaineann fo-alt (3).
Cionta maidir le díslí, séalaí agus stampaí oifigiúla.
7.—(1) Ní dhéanfaidh aon duine aon ní acu seo a leanas—
(a) ní úsáidfidh sé ná ní bheidh ina sheilbh ná faoina urláimh aige, gan údarás nó leithscéal dleathach, aon dísle, séala ná stampa oifigiúil ná aon dísle, séala ná stampa a bheidh chomh mór sin i gcosúlacht lena leithéid gur dóigh dó duine a mhealladh, ná
(b) ní ghóchumfaidh sé aon dísle, séala ná stampa oifigiúil, ná
(c) ní úsáidfidh sé ná ní bheidh ina sheilbh ná faoina urláimh aige, gan údarás nó leithscéal dleathach, aon dísle séala ná stampa góchumhtha den sórt sin, ná
(d) ní dhéanfaidh sé ná ní dhíolfaidh sé ná ní bheidh in sheilbh aige lena dhíol, gan údarás nó leithscéal dleathach, aon dísle, séala ná stampa oifigiúil.
(2) San alt seo ciallaíonn “dísle, séala ná stampa oifigiúi dísle, séala nó stampa Aire nó údaráis Stáit nó aon ghníomhaire taidhleoireachta nó consalachta nó aon údaráis eile a ceapadh húdarás an Rialtais nó atá ag gníomhú faoi údarás an Rialtais, dísle, séala nó stampa a bhaineann le haon cheann acu sin nó a úsáideann sé nó a rinne nó a sholáthraigh sé.
Doiciméid oifigiúla a bhrionnú, etc.
8.—Ní dhéanfaidh duine ar bith aon ní acu seo a leanas :—
(a) ní bhrionnóidh sé aon doiciméad oifigiúil ná, gan údarás nó leithscéal dleathach, ní athróidh sé é ná ní dhéanfaidh crioscaíl leis, ná
(b) ní úsáidfidh sé ná ní bheidh ina sheilbh ná faoina urláimh aige, gan údarás nó leithscéal dleathach, aon doiciméad oifigiúil brionnaithe, athraithe nó neamhrialta.
CUID III
Eolas a pháirtiú chun dochair do shlánd áil nó caomhnú an Stáit
Gníomhartha a bheadh dochrach do shlándáil nó caomhnú an Stáit.
9.—(1) Ní dhéanfaidh duine ar bith, ar dhóigh ar bith ba dhochar do shlándáil nó caomhnú an Stáit, aon ní acu seo a leanas—
(a) ní bhfaighidh sé, ní thaifeadfaidh sé, ní pháirteoidh sé le haon duine eile ná ní fhoilseoidh sé, ná
(b) ní bheidh ina sheilbh ná faoina urláimh aige aon doiciméad ina mbeidh, ná taifead ar bith eile ar a mbeidh,
eolas mar gheall ar—
(i) uimhir, tuairisc, armáil, trealamh, cóiriú, gluaiseacht nó staid aon choda de na Fórsaí Cosanta nó aon cheann de na hárthaí nó de na haerárthaí a bhaineann leis an Stát,
(ii) aon oibríochtaí nó oibríochtaí beartaithe ag aon chuid de na Fórsaí Cosanta nó ag an nGarda Síochána nó ag aon cheann de na hárthaí nó de na haerárthaí a bhaineann leis an Stát,
(iii) aon bhearta chun aon áit a chosaint nó a dhaingniú thar ceann an Stáit,
(iv) lón cogaidh, nó
(v) ní ar bith eile a mbeadh, nó a bhféadfadh sé go mbeadh, eolas ina thaobh dochrach do shlándáil nó caomhnú an Stáit.
(2) I gcás duine a chúiseamh i sárú ar an alt seo, is cosaint mhaith é a chruthú go raibh an gníomh ar ina leith a chúisítear é údaraithe ag Aire nó ag duine éigin a bhí údaraithe chuige sin ag Aire, nó gur i gcúrsa agus de réir a dhualgas mar shealbhóir oifige poiblí a rinneadh é.
Páirtiúchán le gníomhairí coigríche nó le comhaltaí d'eagraíochtaí neamhdhleathacha.
10.—(1) I gcás duine a chúiseamh i sárú ar alt 9, más rud é go ndearna sé páirtiúchán nó gur fhéach sé le páirtiúchán a dhéanamh (cibé acu laistigh nó lasmuigh den Stát é) le gníomhaire coigríche nó le comhalta d'eagraíocht neamhdhleathach, is fianaise é sin go ndearnadh an gníomh a gcúisíteal é ina leith ar dhóigh ba dhochar do shlándáil nó caomhnú an Stáit.
(2) Mura gcruthaí sé a mhalairt, measfar páirtiúchán a bheith déanta ag duine le gníomhaire coigríche nó le comhalta d'eagraíocht neamhdhleathach más rud é (cibé acu laistigh nó lasmuigh den Stát é) gur thug sé cuairt ar sheoladh gníomhaire choigríche nó comhalta d'eagraíocht neamhdhleathach nó go ndearna sé cuideachtanas nó comhluadar leis an ngníomhaire sin nó leis an gcomhalta sin, nó más rud é (cibé acu laistigh nó lasmuigh den Stát é) go bhfuarthas ina sheilbh, nó gur thug sé d'aon duine eile nó go bhfuair sé ó aon duine eile, ainm nó seoladh, nó aon eolas eile i dtaobh, gníomhaire choigríche nó comhalta d'eagraíocht neamhdhleathach.
(3) Aon seoladh (cibé acu laistigh nó lasmuigh den Stát é) a bhfuil amhras réasúnach ann gur seoladh é a úsáidtear chun páirtiúcháin a ghlacadh a bheidh ceaptha do ghníomhaire coigríche nó do chomhalta d'eagraíocht neamhdhleathach, nó aon seoladh ag a bhfuil cónaí ar dhuine den sórt sin, nó a thaithíonn sé chun páirtiúcháin a thabhairt nó a ghlacadh, nó a bhfuil gnó ar siúl aige ann, measfar gurb é seoladh gníomhaire choigríche nó comhalta d'eagraíocht neamhdhleathach é agus gur páirtiúcháin le gníomhaire coigríche nó le comhalta d'eagraíocht neamhdhleathach páirtiúcháin a sheoltar chuig an seoladh sin.
(4) San alt seo—
folaíonn “gníomhaire coigríche” aon duine atá nó a bhí, nó a bhfuil amhras réasúnach ann go bhfuil nó go raibh sé, ar fostú ag cumhacht choigríche go díreach nó go neamhdhíreach chun gníomh a dhéanamh (cibé acu laistigh nó lasmuigh den Stát é) ba dhochar do shlándáil nó caomhnú an Stáit, nó a rinne nó a bhfuil amhras réasúnach ann go ndearna sé (cibé acu laistigh nó lasmuigh den Stát é) aon ghníomh den sórt sin nó iarracht ar é a dhéanamh ;
ciallaíonn “comhalta d'eagraíocht neamhdhleathach” aon duine atá nó a bhí, nó a bhfuil amhras réasúnach ann go bhfuil nó go raibh sé, ina chomhalta de chógléasadh neamhdhleathach de réir bhrí agus chun críocha an Achta um Chiontaí in Aghaidh an Stáit, 1939.
Ciontóirí a thearmannú agus gan cionta a chur in iúl.
11.—(1) Ní dhéanfaidh duine ar bith go feasach aon duine a thearmannú arb eol dó, nó a bhfuil cúis réasúnach aige lena cheapadh, go bhfuil sárú ar alt 7 déanta nó ar tí a dhéanta aige.
(2) Aon duine a dtiocfaidh sé i bhfios dó go bhfuiltear tar éis, nó ar tí, alt 9 a shárú, tabharfaidh sé láithreach do chomhalta den Gharda Síochána nó de na Fórsaí Cosanta aon eolas ina thaobh atá ar a chumas a thabhairt.
Imeachtaí in camera.
12.—Más rud é, i gcúrsa imeachtaí, lena n-áirítear imeachtaí ar achomharc, i leith ciona faoi alt 9 nó i leith ciona faoi Chuid II a rinneadh ar dhóigh ba dhochar do shlándáil nó caomhnú an Stáit, go ndéanfaidh an t-ionchúisitheoir iarratas, ar an bhforas gur dhochar é do shlándáil nó caomhnú an Stáit aon fhianaise nó ráiteas a bheadh le tabhairt nó le déanamh i rith aon choda den éisteacht a fhoilsiú, á iarraidh gur in camera a dhéanfaí an chuid sin den éisteacht, déanfaidh an chúirt ordú chuige sin, ach fógrófar go poiblí an fíorasc agus an phianbhreith (má ghearrtar sin).
CUID IV
Imeachtaí dlíthiúla agus forálacha forlíontacha
Cionta.
13.—(1) Aon duine a sháróidh aon fhoráil den Acht seo nó a dhéanfaidh iarracht í a shárú, beidh sé, gan dochar d'aon achtachán eile, ciontach i gcion faoin Acht seo.
(2) Féadfar duine a thriail go hachomair in aon chion faoin Acht seo agus ar a chiontú dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná céad punt a chur air nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná sé mhí nó an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile.
(3) Féadfar duine a thriail arna dhíotáil in aon chion faoi alt 9 nó in aon chion faoi Chuid II a rinneadh ar dhóigh ba dhochar do shlándáil nó do chaomhnú an Stáit, agus ar a chiontú dlífear príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná dhá bhliain a chur air nó pianseirbhís ar feadh téarma nach faide ná seacht mbliana.
Srian le hionchúiseamh.
14.—(1) Ní thionscnófar imeachtaí i leith aon chiona faoin Acht seo ach amháin ag an Ard-Aighne nó lena thoiliú.
(2) Sula bhfaighfear an toiliú sin, féadfar duine a chúiseofar i gcion faoi alt 9 a ghabháil, nó féadfar barántas chun é a ghabháil a eisiúint agus a fhorghníomhú, agus féadfar é a athchur faoi choimeád nó faoi bhannaí, ach ní fhéadfar in aon chás é a athchur amhlaidh go dtí dáta is déanaí ná ocht lá tar éis a athchurtha den chéad uair, agus ní dhéanfar aon imeachtaí eile go mbeidh an toiliú sin faighte.
Gabháil gan bharántas.
15.—Aon duine a gheofar ag sárú alt 9, nó a mbeidh amhras réasúnach ann é a bheith tar éis, nó iarracht a bheith déanta aige, nó é a bheith ar tí, an t-alt sin a shárú, féadfar é a ghabháil agus a choinneáil ar an dóigh chéanna le duine a fhaightear ag déanamh feileonachta.
Barántais chuardaigh.
1897, c. 30.
16.—(1) Ar bheith sásta dó go bhfuil cúis réasúnach ann chun bheith in amhras go bhfuiltear tar éis, nó ar tí, sárú a dhéanamh ar alt 9 féadfaidh breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche barántas a eisiúint chun aon chomhalta den Gharda Síochána chun aon áitreabh, áit, árthach nó aerárthach a chuardach.
(2) Má bhíonn cúis réasúnach ag comhalta den Gharda Síochána nach ísle céim ná príomhcheannfort chun a chreidiúint gur gá ar mhaithe le leas an Stáit beart a dhéanamh láithreach, féadfaidh sé barántas cuardaigh a eisiúint a beidh ar comhéifeacht le bárantas cuardaigh ó bhreitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche.
(3) Beidh sé sainráite i mbarántas cuardaigh a eiseofar faoin alt seo go n-údaraíonn sé, agus oibreoidh sé chun a údarú, do chomhalta den Gharda Síochána (nach ísle céim ná cigire) a bheidh ainmnithe sa bharántas, maraon le haon daoine eile a bheidh ainmnithe sa bharántas agus aon chomhaltaí eile den Gharda Síochána, dul isteach, laistigh de sheachtain ó dháta an bharántais agus le forneart más gá sin, in aon áitreabh, áit, árthach nó aerárthach a bheidh ainmnithe sa bharántas agus an céanna agus gach duine a gheofar ann a chuardach agus aon doiciméad nó ní a urghabháil a gheofar ansin nó a gheofar ar aon duine den sórt sin agus a gcreidfidh an comhalta sin go réasúnach gur fianaise é, go díreach nó go neamhdhíreach, ar shárú a bheith déanta nó beartaithe ar alt 9, nó go bhfuil baint aige go díreach nó go neamhdhíreach lena leithéid.
(4) Féadfaidh comhalta den Gharda Síochána ag gníomhú dó faoi údarás barántais cuardaigh a éisíodh faoin alt seo—
(a) ainm agus seoladh aon duine a gheofar san áitreabh, san áit, san árthach nó san aerárthach a bheidh ainmnithe sa bharántas a éileamh, agus
(b) aon duine den sórt sin a dhiúltóidh a ainm agus a sheoladh a thabhairt, nó a thabharfaidh ainm bréige nó seoladh bréige, a ghabháil gan bharántas.
(5) Féadfar aon doiciméad a urghabhfar faoin alt seo a thógáil agus é a choinneáil fad is cuí leis an Aire Dlí agus Cirt é, agus féadfar aon ní eile a urghabhfar amhlaidh a thógáil agus é a choinneáil, go ceann tréimhse míosa ón dáta a urgabhadh é, nó, má thionscnaítear imeachtaí laistigh den tréimhse sin i leith ciona faoin Acht seo, go dtí go mbeidh deireadh leis an himeachtaí, agus ina dhiaidh sin bainfidh forálacha an Police (Property) Act, 1897, leis an ní a urghabhadh amhlaidh díreach mar a bhaineann an tAcht sin le maoin a tháinig i seilbh an Gharda Síochána sna himthosca a luaitear san Acht sin.
(6) Gach duine a bhacfaidh comhalta den Gharda Síochána nó duine eile a bheidh ag gníomhú faoi údarás barántais cuardaigh a eisíodh faoin alt seo, beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
Eolas a fháil ar chionta amhrais.
17.—(1) Má bhíonn cúis réasúnach ag oifigeach den Gharda Síochána nach ísle céim ná príomhcheannfort chun bheith in amhras go ndearnadh cion faoi alt 9 agus chun a chreidiúint gur féidir le haon duine áirithe eolas a thabhairt i dtaobh an chiona nó an chiona amhrais, féadfaidh sé cead a iarraidh ar an Aire Dlí agus Cirt chun na cumhachtaí a thugtar leis an bhfo-alt seo a fheidhmiú, agus, má thugtar an cead sin, féadfaidh sé a údarú do chomhalta den Gharda Síochána nach ísle céim ná cigire a cheangal ar an duine a gcreidtear é a bheith ar a chumas eolas a thabhairt aon eolas a thabhairt atá ar a chumas maidir leis an gcion nó leis an gcion amhrais, agus aon duine a gceanglófar air de bhun údaráis den sórt sin eolas a thabhairt agus nach ndéanfaidh de réir mar a cheanglófar air amhlaidh nó a thabharfaidh eolas is feasach dó a bheith bréagach beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
(2) Má bhíonn cúis réasúnach ag aon oifigeach den sórt sin chun a chreidiúint gur gá ar mhaithe le leas an Stáit beart a dhéanamh láithreach, féadfaidh sé na cumhachtaí a thugtar le fo-alt (1) a fheidhmiú gan cead a iarraidh ar an Aire Dlí agus Cirt ná a fháil uaidh, ach má dhéanann sé amhlaidh tuairisceoidh sé na himthosca don Aire láithreach.
Cumhacht chun a cheangal go dtabharfar teileagraim ar aird.
1869, c. 73.
18.—(1) Más é tuairim an Aire Dlí agus Cirt go bhfóireann sé do leas an Stáit é sin a dhéanamh, féadfaidh sé, le barántas faoina láimh, a cheangal ar aon duine a bhfuil ar úinéireacht nó faoina urláimh aige aon chábla nó sreang teileagrafaíochta, nó aon ghaireas le haghaidh raidió-theileagrafaíochta, a úsáidtear chun teilegraim a chur go haon áit, nó a ghlacadh ó aon áit, atá lasmuigh den Stát, go dtabharfaidh sé ar aird dó féin, nó d'aon duine a bheidh ainmnithe sa bharántas, scríbhinní bunaidh agus athscríbhinní na dteileagram go léir, nó na dteileagram d'aon chineál nó saghas a shonrófar, nó na dteileagram a cuireadh ó aon duine nó áit a shonrófar nó a seoladh chun aon duine nó áit a shonrófar, nó a cuireadh go haon áit, nó a glacadh ó aon áit, lasmuigh den Stát, le haon chábla, sreang nó gaireas den sórt sin, agus fós gach páipéar eile a bhainfidh le haon teileagram den sórt sin a dúradh agus déanfaidh an duine sin de réir an cheangail sin.
(2) San alt seo tá an bhrí chéanna le “teileagram” atá le “telegram” sa Telegraph Act, 1869, agus tá an bhrí chéanna le “raidió-theileagrafaíocht” atá le “radio-thelegrafaíocht” san Acht Radio-Thelegrafaíochta, 1926.
Number 1 of 1963.
OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT, 1963.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Preliminary
Section | |
Official Information
Disclosure of confidential information in official contracts. | |
Communication of information to the prejudice of the safety or preservation of the State
Communication with foreign agents or members of unlawful organisations. | |
Legal proceedings and supplementary provisions
Acts Referred to | |
Official Secrets Acts, 1911 | 1911, c. 28 |
Official Secrets Acts, 1920 | 1920, c. 75 |
1939, No. 13 | |
Police (Property) Act, 1897 | 1897, c. 30 |
Telegraph Act, 1869 | 1869, c. 73 |
1926, No. 45 | |
Number 1 of 1963.
OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT, 1963.
PART I
Preliminary
Short title.
1.—This Act may be cited as the Official Secrets Act, 1963.
Interpretation.
2.—(1) In this Act—
“document” includes part of a document;
“Minister” means a member of the Government;
“model” includes design, pattern or specimen;
“official document” includes a passport, official pass, permit, document of identity, certificate, licence or other similar document, whether or not completed or issued for use, and also includes an endorsement thereon or addition thereto;
“official information” means any secret official code word or password, and any sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information which is secret or confidential or is expressed to be either and which is or has been in the possession, custody or control of a holder of a public office, or to which he has or had access, by virtue of his office, and includes information recorded by film or magnetic tape or by any other recording medium;
“public office” means an office or employment which is wholly remunerated out of the Central Fund or out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas, or an appointment to, or employment under, any commission, committee or tribunal set up by the Government or a Minister for the purposes of any inquiry, but does not include membership of either House of the Oireachtas.
“sketch” includes a photograph or other mode of representing any place or thing;
“State authority” means the Attorney General, the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Revenue Commissioners, the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland or the Irish Land Commission.
(2) In this Act—
expressions referring to communicating or receiving include any communicating or receiving, whether in whole or in part and whether the sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information itself or the substance, effect or description thereof only be communicated or received;
expressions referring to obtaining or retaining any sketch, plan, model, article, note or document include the copying or causing to be copied of the whole or any part of any sketch, plan, model, article, note or document; and
expressions referring to the communication of any sketch, plan, model, article, note or document include the transfer or transmission thereof.
(3) A certificate given by a Minister under his seal that any official code word or password or any sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information specified or indicated in the certificate is secret or confidential shall be conclusive evidence of the fact so certified.
Repeals.
3.—The Official Secrets Acts, 1911 and 1920, are hereby repealed.
PART II
Official Information
Disclosure of official information.
4.—(1) A person shall not communicate any official information to any other person unless he is duly authorised to do so or does so in the course of and in accordance with his duties as the holder of a public office or when it is his duty in the interest of the State to communicate it.
(2) A person to whom subsection (1) applies shall take reasonable care to avoid any unlawful communication of such information.
(3) A person shall not obtain official information where he is aware or has reasonable grounds for believing that the communication of such information to him would be a contravention of subsection (1).
(4) In this section “duly authorised” means authorised by a Minister or State authority or by some person authorised in that behalf by a Minister or State authority.
Disclosure of confidential information in official contracts.
5.—(1) A person who is or has been—
(a) a party to a contract with a Minister or State authority or with any person on behalf of a Minister or State authority, or
(b) employed by such party,
shall not communicate to any third party any information relating to the contract and expressed therein to be confidential.
(2) A person to whom subsection (1) applies shall take reasonable care to avoid any unlawful communication of such information.
(3) It shall be a good defence to a prosecution for a contravention of this section to prove that the communication was authorised in writing by the Minister or State authority or by the party contracting on behalf of the Minister or State authority.
Retention of documents and articles.
6.—(1) A person shall not retain any official document or anything which constitutes or contains official information when he has no right to retain it or when not required by his duty as the holder of a public office to retain it.
(2) A person shall comply with all directions issued by a Minister or the Secretary of a Department or any person authorised by a Minister under seal as to the return or disposal of any official document or anything which constitutes or contains official information and which is in his possession or under his control and is specified or indicated in such directions.
(3) The Taoiseach may give directions as to the return or disposal of any original documents specified or indicated in such directions which constitute or contain official information and which are in the possession or under the control of any person who formerly held office as a Minister or Parliamentary Secretary and any such person shall comply with all such directions.
(4) Subsections (1) and (2) shall not apply to a person who formerly held an office to which subsection (3) applies.
Offences relating to official dies, seals and stamps.
7.—(1) A person shall not—
(a) use or have in his possession or under his control, without lawful authority or excuse, any official die, seal or stamp or any die, seal or stamp so nearly resembling it as to be calculated to deceive, or
(b) counterfeit any official die, seal or stamp, or
(c) use or have in his possession or under his control, without lawful authority or excuse, any such counterfeit die, seal or stamp, or
(d) manufacture or sell or have in his possession for sale, without lawful authority or excuse, any official die, seal or stamp.
(2) In this section “official die, seal or stamp” means a die, seal or stamp of or belonging to, or used, made or provided by a Minister or State authority or any diplomatic or consular agent or other authority appointed by or acting under the authority of the Government.
Forgery, etc., of official documents.
8.—A person shall not—
(a) forge or, without lawful authority or excuse, alter or tamper with any official document, or
(b) use or have in his possession or under his control, without lawful authority or excuse, any forged, altered or irregular official document.
PART III
Communication of information to the prejudice of the safety or preservation of the State
Acts contrary to safety or preservation of State.
9.—(1) A person shall not, in any manner prejudicial to the safety or preservation of the State—
(a) obtain, record, communicate to any other person or publish, or
(b) have in his possession or under his control any document containing, or other record whatsoever of,
information relating to—
(i) the number, description, armament, equipment, disposition, movement or condition of any of the Defence Forces or of any of the vessels or aircraft belonging to the State,
(ii) any operations or projected operations of any of the Defence Forces or of the Garda Síochána or of any of the vessels or aircraft belonging to the State,
(iii) any measures for the defence or fortification of any place on behalf of the State,
(iv) munitions of war, or
(v) any other matter whatsoever information as to which would or might be prejudicial to the safety or preservation of the State.
(2) Where a person is charged with a contravention of this section it shall be a good defence to prove that the act in respect of which he is charged was authorised by a Minister or by some person authorised in that behalf by a Minister or was done in the course of and in accordance with his duties as the holder of a public office.
Communication with foreign agents or members of unlawful organisations.
10.—(1) Where a person is charged with a contravention of section 9, the fact that he has (whether within or outside the State) been in communication with or attempted to communicate with a foreign agent or with a member of an unlawful organisation shall be evidence that the act in respect of which he is charged has been done in a manner prejudicial to the safety or preservation of the State.
(2) A person shall, unless he proves the contrary, be deemed to have been in communication with a foreign agent or a member of an unlawful organisation if he has (whether within or outside the State) visited the address of a foreign agent or a member of an unlawful organisation or consorted or associated with such agent or member, or if (whether within or outside the State) the name or address of or any other information regarding a foreign agent or a member of an unlawful organisation has been found in his possession or has been supplied by him to any other person or has been obtained by him from any other person.
(3) Any address (whether within or outside the State) reasonably suspected of being an address used for the receipt of communications intended for a foreign agent or a member of an unlawful organisation, or any address at which such a person resides, or to which he resorts for the purpose of giving or receiving communications, or at which he carries on any business, shall be deemed to be the address of a foreign agent or a member of an unlawful organisation and communications addressed to that address to be communications with a foreign agent or a member of an unlawful organisation.
(4) In this section—
“foreign agent” includes any person who is or has been or is reasonably suspected of being or having been employed by a foreign power either directly or indirectly for the purpose of committing an act (whether within or outside the State) prejudicial to the safety or preservation of the State, or who has or is reasonably suspected of having (whether within or outside the State) committed or attempted to commit any such act;
“member of an unlawful organisation” means any person who is or has been or is reasonably suspected of being or having been a member of an unlawful organisation within the meaning and for the purpose of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939.
Harbouring offenders and failure to report offences.
11.—(1) A person shall not knowingly harbour any person whom he knows or has reasonable grounds for supposing to have contravened or to be about to contravene section 9.
(2) A person who becomes aware that there has been or is about to be a contravention of section 9 shall forthwith disclose to a member of the Garda Síochána or of the Defence Forces any information in relation thereto which it is in his power to give.
Proceedings in camera.
12.—If in the course of proceedings, including proceedings on appeal, for an offence under section 9 or for an offence under Part II committed in a manner prejudicial to the safety or preservation of the State, application is made by the prosecution, on the ground that the publication of any evidence or statement to be given or made during any part of the hearing would be prejudicial to the safety or preservation of the State, that that part of the hearing should be in camera, the court shall make an order to that effect, but the verdict and sentence (if any) shall be announced in public.
PART IV
Legal proceedings and supplementary provisions
Offences.
13.—(1) A person who contravenes or attempts to contravene any provision of this Act shall, without prejudice to any other enactment, be guilty of an offence under this Act.
(2) A person shall be triable summarily for any offence under this Act and on conviction shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.
(3) A person shall be triable on indictment for any offence under section 9 or for any offence under Part II committed in a manner prejudicial to the safety or preservation of the State, and on conviction shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to penal servitude for a term not exceeding seven years.
Restriction on prosecution.
14.—(1) Proceedings for any offence under this Act shall not be instituted except by or with the consent of the Attorney General.
(2) Before such consent is obtained a person charged with an offence under section 9 may be arrested, or a warrant for his arrest may be issued and executed, and he may be remanded in custody or on bail, but not in any case to a date later than eight days after he has been first remanded, and no further proceedings shall be taken until such consent is obtained.
Arrest without warrant.
15.—A person who is found contravening section 9 or who is reasonably suspected of having, or having attempted to, or being about to, contravene that section may be apprehended and detained in the same manner as a person who is found committing a felony.
Search warrants.
16.—(1) On his being satisfied that reasonable grounds exist for suspecting that there has been or is about to be a contravention of section 9 a justice of the District Court may issue a warrant to any member of the Garda Síochána to search any premises, place, vessel or aircraft.
(2) Where an officer of the Garda Síochána not below the rank of chief superintendent has reasonable grounds for believing that in the interest of the State immediate action is necessary, he may issue a search warrant having the same effect as a search warrant issued by a justice of the District Court.
(3) A search warrant issued under this section shall be expressed and shall operate to authorise a member of the Garda Síochána (not below the rank of inspector) named in the warrant together with any other persons named in the warrant and any other members of the Garda Síochána to enter, within one week from the date of the warrant and if necessary by force, any premises, place, vessel or aircraft named in the warrant and search the same and every person found therein and seize any document or thing found therein or on such person which such member reasonably believes to be evidence of or to relate, directly or indirectly, to a contravention or intended contravention of section 9.
(4) A member of the Garda Síochána acting under the authority of a search warrant issued under this section may—
(a) demand the name and address of any person found in the premises, place, vessel or aircraft named in the warrant, and
(b) arrest without warrant any such person who refuses to give his name and address, or gives a false name or a false address.
(5) Any document seized under this section may be removed and retained for so long as the Minister for Justice thinks proper, and any other thing so seized may be removed and retained for a period of one month from the date of its seizure or, if proceedings are commenced within such period for an offence under this Act, until the conclusion of the proceedings, and thereafter the provisions of the Police (Property) Act, 1897, shall apply to the thing so seized in the same manner as that Act applies to property which has come into the possession of the Garda Síochána in the circumstances mentioned in that Act.
(6) Every person who obstructs a member of the Garda Síochána or other person acting under the authority of a search warrant issued under this section shall be guilty of an offence.
Obtaining information as to suspected offences.
17.—(1) Where an officer of the Garda Síochána not below the rank of chief superintendent has reasonable grounds for suspecting that an offence under section 9 has been committed and for believing that any person is able to furnish information as to the offence or suspected offence, he may apply to the Minister for Justice for permission to exercise the powers conferred by this subsection and, if such permission is granted, he may authorise a member of the Garda Síochána not below the rank of inspector to require the person believed to be able to furnish information to give any information in his power relating to the offence or suspected offence and if a person required in pursuance of such an authorisation to give information fails to comply with the requirement or knowingly gives false information he shall be guilty of an offence.
(2) Where any such officer has reasonable grounds for believing that in the interest of the State immediate action is necessary, he may exercise the powers conferred by subsection (1) without applying for or being granted the permission of the Minister for Justice, but if he does so shall forthwith report the circumstances to the Minister.
Power to require the production of telegrams.
18.—(1) Where the Minister for Justice is of opinion that such a course is expedient in the interest of the State, he may, by warrant under his hand, require any person who owns or controls any telegraphic cable or wire, or any apparatus for wireless telegraphy, used for the sending or receipt of telegrams to or from any place out of the State, to produce to him, or to any person named in the warrant, the originals and transcripts, either of all telegrams, or of telegrams of any specified class or description, or of telegrams sent from or addressed to any specified person or place, sent or received to or from any place out of the State by means of any such cable, wire or apparatus, and all other papers relating to any such telegram as aforesaid, and that person shall comply with the requirement.
(2) In this section “telegram” has the same meaning as in the Telegraph Act, 1869, and “wireless telegraphy” has the same meaning as in the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1926.