17.—A person who by act or omission obstructs or hinders a Committee, the Commission, an inquiry officer or a person who is a member of the staff of a Committee or the Commission or is carrying out an examination pursuant to section 32(4A) of the Principal Act in the performance of the functions of the Committee, the Commission or the officer or person shall be guilty of an offence and section 37 of the Principal Act applies to such an offence as it applies to an offence under that Act.