19. (1) For the purposes of this Act, an authorised officer may—

(a) subject to subsection (3), enter at all reasonable times any premises—

(i) that he or she has reasonable grounds for believing has been or is being used in connection with the provision of childcare services by an approved childcare services provider, or

(ii) at which he or she has reasonable grounds for believing that books, records or documents relating to the provision of such childcare services are kept,

(b) at such premises, inspect and take copies of, any books, records or other documents (including books, records or documents stored in non-legible form), or extracts therefrom, that he or she finds in the course of his or her inspection,

(c) remove any such books, documents or records from such premises and retain them for such period as he or she reasonably considers to be necessary for the purposes of his or her functions under this Act,

(d) require any person at the premises concerned, including the owner or person in charge of that premises, to give the authorised officer such information and assistance as the authorised officer may reasonably require for the purposes of his or her functions under this Act,

(e) require any person at the premises concerned, including the owner or person in charge of that place or premises, to produce to the authorised officer such books, documents or other records (and in the case of books, documents or records stored in non-legible form, a legible reproduction thereof) that are in that person’s possession or procurement, or under that person’s control, as he or she may reasonably require for the purposes of his or her functions under this Act, and

(f) require any person, whom the authorised officer has reasonable grounds for believing to be, or to have been, an employer or employee, to answer such questions as the authorised officer may ask relative to any matter under this Act and to make a declaration of the truth of the answers to those questions.

(2) When performing a function under this Act, an authorised officer may, subject to any warrant under subsection (4), be accompanied by such number of other authorised officers or members of the Garda Síochána as he or she considers appropriate.

(3) An authorised officer shall not enter a dwelling, other than—

(a) with the consent of the occupier, or

(b) pursuant to a warrant under subsection (4).

(4) Upon the sworn information of an authorised officer, a judge of the District Court may, if satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that information, books, documents or other records (including information, books, documents or records stored in non-legible form) required by an authorised officer under this section is or are held at any dwelling, issue a warrant authorising a named authorised officer, accompanied by such other authorised officers or members of the Garda Síochána as may be necessary, at any time or times, before the expiration of one month from the date of issue of the warrant, to enter (if necessary by the use of reasonable force) the dwelling and perform the functions of an authorised officer under paragraphs (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of subsection (1).

(5) A person shall be guilty of an offence if he or she—

(a) obstructs or interferes with an authorised officer or a member of the Garda Síochána in the course of exercising a power conferred on him or her by this Act or a warrant under subsection (4) or impedes the exercise by the authorised officer or member, as the case may be, of such power, or

(b) fails or refuses to comply with a requirement of an authorised officer or member of the Garda Síochána pursuant to paragraph (d) or (f) of subsection (1), or in purported compliance with such requirement gives information or makes a declaration to the authorised officer or member that he or she knows to be false or misleading in any material respect.

(6) Where an authorised officer believes, upon reasonable grounds, that a person has committed an offence under this Act, he or she may require that person to provide him or her with his or her name and the address at which he or she ordinarily resides.

(7) A statement or admission made by a person pursuant to a requirement under subsection (1)(d) or (f) shall not be admissible as evidence in proceedings brought against the person for an offence (other than an offence under subsection (5)).