58.— (1) Save as otherwise provided by law, a person shall not disclose confidential information obtained by him or her while performing duties as a member of the Authority, member of the staff of the Authority or a consultant, adviser or other person engaged by the Authority, unless he or she is duly authorised to do so.

(2) In this section, “ duly authorised ” means authorised by the Authority or by some person authorised in that behalf by the Authority for the purposes of this section.

(3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or to both.

(4) (a) In this section, “confidential information” means that which is expressed by the Authority to be confidential either as regards particular information or as regards information of a particular class or description.

(b) In expressing information to be confidential, the Authority shall have regard to the requirement to protect information of a confidential commercial nature.

(5) Nothing in subsection (1) shall prevent the disclosure of information in a report made by or on behalf of the Authority to the Minister.

(6) The Third Schedule to the Freedom of Information Act 1997 is amended by the insertion in Part I at the end thereof—

(a) in column (2) of “Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006”, and

(b) in column (3) of “Section 58 ”.