Companies Act 2014 section 796

Assistance to company law authority

Section 796 enables the Corporate Enforcement Authority to use its investigative powers to assist foreign company law authorities with their inquiries, subject to certain conditions and with discretion to decline requests.

• The Authority may use its powers under this Part to assist a foreign company law authority that has requested help with its investigations, provided the Authority is satisfied the assistance relates to the discharge of the requesting body's supervisory or regulatory functions.
• The Authority has discretion to refuse a request if it considers the assistance inappropriate or if the requesting authority does not agree to make a reasonable contribution towards the costs involved.
• A "company law authority" is defined as an authority outside the State that performs supervisory or regulatory functions in relation to bodies corporate, undertakings, or their officers, or a person acting on behalf of such an authority.
• The section provides a framework for international cooperation in company law enforcement while protecting the Authority's resources through cost-sharing arrangements.