Constitution of inquiry

Power to suspend inquiry
13
1
The Minister may at any time, by notice to the chairman, suspend an inquiry for such period as appears to him to be necessary to allow for—
a
the completion of any other investigation relating to any of the matters to which the inquiry relates, or
b
the determination of any civil or criminal proceedings (including proceedings before a disciplinary tribunal) arising out of any of those matters.
2
The power conferred by subsection (1) may be exercised whether or not the investigation or proceedings have begun.
3
Before exercising that power the Minister must consult the chairman.
4
A notice under subsection (1) may suspend the inquiry until a specified day, until the happening of a specified event or until the giving by the Minister of a further notice to the chairman.
5
Where the Minister gives a notice under subsection (1) he must—
a
set out in the notice his reasons for suspending the inquiry;
b
lay a copy of the notice, as soon as is reasonably practicable, before the relevant Parliament or Assembly.
6
A member of an inquiry panel may not exercise the powers conferred by this Act during any period of suspension; but the duties imposed on a member of an inquiry panel by section 9(3) and (4) continue during any such period.
7
In this section “period of suspension” means the period beginning with the receipt by the chairman of the notice under subsection (1) and ending with whichever of the following is applicable—
a
the day referred to in subsection (4);
b
the happening of the event referred to in that subsection;
c
the receipt by the chairman of the further notice under that subsection.