Companies Act 2014
F915[Privileges, etc.
1500. (1) A witness before a recognised accountancy body is entitled to the same immunities and privileges as a witness before the High Court.
(2) Nothing in the arrangements referred to in section 1499(1) compels the disclosure by any person of any information that the person would be entitled to refuse to produce on the grounds of legal professional privilege or authorises the inspection or copying of any document containing such information that is in the person’s possession or control.
(3) Any information produced or answer given by a person (howsoever described) in compliance with arrangements referred to in section 1499(1) may be used in evidence against the person in any proceedings whatsoever, save proceedings for an offence (other than perjury in respect of such an answer).
(4) A finding or decision of a recognised accountancy body under arrangements referred to in section 1499(1) is not a bar to any civil or criminal proceedings against the person (howsoever described) who is the subject of the finding or decision.]
Annotations
Amendments:
F915
Inserted (21.09.2018) by Companies (Statutory Audits) Act 2018 (22/2018), s. 51, S.I. No. 366 of 2018.
Modifications (not altering text):
C189
Reference construed (28.07.2021) by Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Act 2021 (13/2021), s. 4(2) and sch. 2 item 54, S.I. No. 378 of 2021.
References to perjury or subornation of perjury
4. ...
(2) A reference in an enactment specified in Schedule 2 to perjury or to subornation of perjury, howsoever described, in relation to an act committed on or after the coming into operation of this subsection, shall be construed as a reference to perjury or to subornation of perjury, as the case may be, within the meaning of this Act.
...
SCHEDULE 2
Section 4 (2)
...
54. Companies Act 2014, section 671(7), subsections (1) and (3) of section 881 and sections 931A(7), 938(7) and 1500(3)
...