Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Act 2013
Directions relating to official documents.
113.— (1) The Part 11 committee may issue directions under this section specifying the categories of documents (other than documents relating to the financial entitlements of members, including expenses, or documents of the Oireachtas Commission) which are to be official documents.
(2) The Part 11 committee, in issuing directions under this section, shall have regard to—
(a) the need to protect the efficient carrying out of the business of the House,
(b) the need for the maximum transparency in relation to the activities of the House and papers of significant public interest held by the House,
(c) the need to limit the categories of official document requiring protection to those the unauthorised disclosure of which would cause damage to the work of the House or its members, or both, and
(d) any other matters that the committee considers relevant.