12Privilege of matters and things relating to performance of duties in accordance with this Act

12 Privilege of matters and things relating to performance of duties in accordance with this Act (1) This section applies to any person who is or has been— (a) the Registrar; or (b) a person employed or appointed under section 40 of the **Registration of Births Deaths and Marriages Act 1959**; or S. 12(1)(ba) inserted by No. 43/1996 s. 65(Sch. item 14.5). (ba) a person appointed or employed under section 7 of the **Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1996**; or S. 12(1)(c) amended by No. 43/2014 s. 20. (c) the Chief Commissioner; or S. 12(1)(d) amended by Nos 58/1996 s. 10(2), 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 185.4). (d) a police officer; or S. 12(1)(e) inserted by No. 58/1996 s. 10(2), repealed by No. 34/2016 s. 15(2). S. 12(1)(ea) inserted by No. 82/2012 s. 168(4)(a). (ea) the Commissioner within the meaning of the **Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Act 2011**; or S. 12(1)(eb) inserted by No. 50/2021 s. 147, amended by No. 31/2023 s. 71. (eb) the Special Investigator within the meaning of the **Special Investigator Act 2021** as in force immediately before its repeal; or S. 12(1)(f) inserted by No. 58/1996 s. 10(2), amended by Nos 31/2000 s. 13, 63/2004 s. 33(b), 82/2012 s. 168(4)(b), repealed by No. 34/2016 s. 15(2). S. 12(1)(g) inserted by No. 31/2000 s. 13. (g) an officer of an approved authority. (2) Unless the Supreme Court makes a court order which provides to the contrary, or the proceedings relate to an offence under this Act, a person to whom this section applies cannot be required in any proceedings in any court or tribunal to produce any document or to divulge or communicate any matter or thing relating to the performance of his or her duties in accordance with this Act. S. 12(3) repealed by No. 34/2016 s. 15(2). S. 12(4) inserted by No. 58/1996 s. 10(3), amended by Nos 63/2004 s. 33(b), 82/2012 s. 168(5), 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 185.4), 43/2014 s. 20, repealed by No. 34/2016 s. 15(2). S. 12A inserted by No. 34/2016 s. 16.