Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995
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Award of costs by Committees. |
11.—(1) (a) Where, following an investigation by a Committee under section 9 of a complaint referred or made to it under section 8 , the Committee determines that the complaint was frivolous or vexatious or that there has not been a contravention of section 5 or 7 and that there were no reasonable grounds for the complaint, it may order that such amount (not exceeding £1,500) as it considers appropriate, having regard to all the circumstances, in respect of the reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any person before it (including costs and expenses in respect of legal representation) in relation to the investigation shall be paid to that person by the person who made the complaint. | |
(b) Where, in relation to an investigation under section 9 , amounts are ordered to be paid under paragraph (a) to more than one person, the aggregate of those amounts shall not exceed £1,500. | ||
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a Committee may measure the costs and expenses aforesaid. | ||
(3) Any costs or expenses ordered by a Committee under subsection (1) to be paid by a person may be recovered from that person by the person to whom they are ordered to be paid as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction. |