24.— (1) Except in the circumstances specified in subsection (2), a person shall not disclose confidential information obtained while performing functions as—

(a) a director of the Agency,

(b) a member of a committee of the Agency,

(c) the chief executive or any other member of staff of the Agency,

(d) an authorised officer,

(e) a person engaged by the Agency as a consultant or adviser, or

(f) an employee of a person referred to in paragraph (e).

(2) A person does not contravene subsection (1) by disclosing confidential information if—

(a) the Agency authorises its disclosure,

(b) the disclosure is made to the Agency,

(c) the disclosure is made to the Minister by or on behalf of the Agency or in compliance with a requirement of this Act, or

(d) the disclosure is otherwise required by law.

(3) In this section “confidential information” means—

(a) information that is expressed by the Agency to be confidential either as regards particular information or as regards information of a particular class or description, and

(b) proposals of a commercial nature or tenders submitted to the Agency by a contractor, a consultant or any other person.