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CHILD CAREAND PROTECTION
Evidence.
17.-(1) Subject to the provisions of sub-paragraph ( 9 , the Children's
Advocate may at any time require any officer or member of a relevant
authority, or any other person who, in the opinion of the Children's
Advocate, is able to give any assistance in relation to the investigation of any
matter, to furnish such information and produce any document or thing in
connection with such matter and which may be in the possession or under the
control of that officer or member or other person.
('7
\J
(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-paragraph
(5),
the Children's
Advocate may summon before him and examine on oath-
(a)
any complainant; or
(6)
any officer, member or employee of a relevant authority, or
any other person who, in the opinion of the Children's Advocate, is able to
furnish information relating to the investigation, and such examination shall
be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of section 4 of the
Perjury Act.
(3) For the purposes of an investigation under this Act, the Children's
Advocate shall have the same powers as a Judge of the Supreme Court in
respect of the attendance and examination of witnesses and the production of
documents.
(4) Any obligation to maintain secrecy or any restriction on the
disclosure of information or the production of any document or paper or
thing imposed on any person by any other law (including a rule of law) shall
not apply in relation to the disclosure of information or the production of any
document or thing by that person to the Children's Advocate for the purpose
of an investigation; and accordingly, no person shall be liable to prosecution
for an offence under any other law aforesaid, by reason only of that person's
compliance with a requirement of the Children's Advocate under this Act.
(5) No person shall, for the purpose of an investigation, be compelled
to give any evidence or produce any document or thing which he could not
be compelled to give or produce in proceedings in any court of law.
Privilege.
18.-41)
Except in the case of proceedings for an offence under paragraph
23(c), no proceedings whatsoever shall lie against the Children's Advocate or
any person concerned with the administration of the office and functions of
the Children's Advocate, for anything he may do or report or say in the
performance of his functions under this Act.
(2) Anything said or any information supplied or any document or
thing produced by any person for the purpose or in the course of, any enquiry
by or proceedings before the Children's Advocate under this Act, shall be
absolutely privileged in the same manner as if the enquiry or proceedings
were proceedings in a court of law.
[The inclusion of this
page
is
authorized
by
L.N.
111/2005]