'Protection of national security' in document 'Ireland - ICC Act 2006'

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RELEVANT SECTIONS OF THE IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION

Part 1
Requests by International Criminal Court

Section 4

(2) (a) Where a request by the Court involves the disclosure of information and such a disclosure would in the Minister’s opinion be prejudicial to the interests of the security of the State, he or she shall—

(i) in accordance with Article 93.5, consider whether the information can be provided subject to specified conditions or whether the assistance concerned can be provided at a later date or in an alternative manner, and
(ii) if of opinion that the information cannot be so provided, act in conjunction with the Prosecutor, the defendant’s legal advisers or the Pre-Trial Chamber or Trial Chamber of the Court to seek to resolve the issue in accordance with paragraph 5 of Article 72.

(b) Where the Minister becomes aware that such information is, or is likely to be, disclosed in an investigation or proceedings instituted by the Court, he or she shall, in accordance with paragraph 4 of that Article, intervene in order to obtain a resolution of the issue.

(c) If—

(i) the issue remains unresolved, and
(ii) the Minister is of opinion that there are no means by which, or conditions under which, the information could be disclosed without prejudicing the interests of the security of the State,
the Minister shall—

(I) notify the Prosecutor or the Court of that opinion and of the specific reasons for it unless to do so would itself necessarily result in prejudicing those interests, and
(II) participate in any consultations requested by the Court under Article 72.7(a)(i) in relation to the issue.

(d) For the purposes of this subsection Article 72 and paragraphs 4 and 5 of Article 93 shall have effect with any necessary modifications.

(e) In any proceedings a document purporting to be signed by the Minister and to certify that in his or her opinion—

(i) disclosure of information in compliance with a request from the Court, or
(ii) as the case may be, any further such disclosure,

would be prejudicial to the interests of the security of the State shall be admissible in evidence, without further proof, of that opinion.

(f) In this subsection references to the disclosure of information include references to the provision of documents, and cognate words shall be construed accordingly.

Part 2
Domestic Jurisdiction in ICC Offences

Section 14.—(1) In proceedings for an offence under this Part—

(a) the measures specified in paragraphs 1 and 5 of Article 68 (protection of victims and witnesses and their participation in proceedings) shall, where appropriate, be taken during the investigation and prosecution of the offence, and
(b) the court concerned shall, where appropriate, take the measures specified in paragraphs 1 to 3 and 5 of that Article.

(2) Any such measures or the manner in which they are taken shall not be prejudicial to or inconsistent with the rights of the accused and a fair and impartial trial.

(3) An application may be made in any such proceedings by or on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions for necessary measures to be taken for the protection of any servants or agents of the State involved in the proceedings and for the protection of confidential or sensitive information; and the court may grant the application if satisfied that it is in the interests of justice to do so.

Part 5
Other Requests

51.—

(10) Where the Court requests disclosure of any information or document which has been supplied in confidence to a Government department or other authority by or on behalf of the government of another state, the Minister shall in accordance with Article 73 (third- party information or documents)—

(a) if that state is a party to the Statute, either consent to disclosure or undertake to resolve the issue of disclosure with the Court, subject to Article 72 (protection of national security information), or
(b) in any other case, inform the Court that it is unable to provide the document or information because of the obligation of confidentiality to that government.

RELEVANT ROME STATUTE PROVISIONS

Article 72
Protection of national security information
1. This article applies in any case where the disclosure of the information or documents of a State would, in the opinion of that State, prejudice its national security interests. Such cases include those falling within the scope of article 56, paragraphs 2 and 3, article 61, paragraph 3, article 64, paragraph 3, article 67, paragraph 2, article 68, paragraph 6, article 87, paragraph 6 and article 93, as well as cases arising at any other stage of the proceedings where such disclosure may be at issue.
2. This article shall also apply when a person who has been requested to give information or evidence has refused to do so or has referred the matter to the State on the ground that disclosure would prejudice the national security interests of a State and the State concerned confirms that it is of the opinion that disclosure would prejudice its national security interests.
3. Nothing in this article shall prejudice the requirements of confidentiality applicable under article 54, paragraph 3 (e) and (f), or the application of article 73.
4. If a State learns that information or documents of the State are being, or are likely to be, disclosed at any stage of the proceedings, and it is of the opinion that disclosure would prejudice its national security interests, that State shall have the right to intervene in order to obtain resolution of the issue in accordance with this article.
5. If, in the opinion of a State, disclosure of information would prejudice its national security interests, all reasonable steps will be taken by the State, acting in conjunction with the Prosecutor, the defence or the Pre-Trial Chamber or Trial Chamber, as the case may be, to seek to resolve the matter by cooperative means. Such steps may include:
(a) Modification or clarification of the request;
(b) A determination by the Court regarding the relevance of the information or evidence sought, or a determination as to whether the evidence, though relevant, could be or has been obtained from a source other than the requested State;
(c) Obtaining the information or evidence from a different source or in a different form; or
(d) Agreement on conditions under which the assistance could be provided including, among other things, providing summaries or redactions, limitations on disclosure, use of in camera or ex parte proceedings, or other protective measures permissible under the Statute and the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.
6. Once all reasonable steps have been taken to resolve the matter through cooperative means, and if the State considers that there are no means or conditions under which the information or documents could be provided or disclosed without prejudice to its national security interests, it shall so notify the Prosecutor or the Court of the specific reasons for its decision, unless a specific description of the reasons would itself necessarily result in such prejudice to the State's national security interests.
7. Thereafter, if the Court determines that the evidence is relevant and necessary for the establishment of the guilt or innocence of the accused, the Court may undertake the following actions:
(a) Where disclosure of the information or document is sought pursuant to a request for cooperation under Part 9 or the circumstances described in paragraph 2, and the State has invoked the ground for refusal referred to in article 93, paragraph 4:
(i) The Court may, before making any conclusion referred to in subparagraph 7 (a) (ii), request further consultations for the purpose of considering the State's representations, which may include, as appropriate, hearings in camera and ex parte;
(ii) If the Court concludes that, by invoking the ground for refusal under article 93, paragraph 4, in the circumstances of the case, the requested State is not acting in accordance with its obligations under this Statute, the Court may refer the matter in accordance with article 87, paragraph 7, specifying the reasons for its conclusion; and
(iii) The Court may make such inference in the trial of the accused as to the existence or non-existence of a fact, as may be appropriate in the circumstances; or
(b) In all other circumstances:
(i) Order disclosure; or
(ii) To the extent it does not order disclosure, make such inference in the trial of the accused as to the existence or non-existence of a fact, as may be appropriate in the circumstances.

Article 93
Other forms of cooperation
4. In accordance with article 72, a State Party may deny a request for assistance, in whole or in part, only if the request concerns the production of any documents or disclosure of evidence which relates to its national security.