(1) In this section "Committee" means a Committee appointed by either House of the Oireachtas or jointly by both Houses of the Oireachtas, other than -

(a) the Committee referred to in section 22,

(b) the Committee on Members’ Interests of Dáil Éireann or the Committee on Members’ Interests of Seanad Éireann, or

(c) a subcommittee of a Committee referred to in paragraph (a) or (b).

(2) Subject to subsection (3), the Ombudsman shall, at the request in writing of a Committee, attend before it to give account for the general administration of the Office.

(3) The Ombudsman shall not be required to give account before a Committee for any matter that -

(a) is or has been or may at a future time be the subject of proceedings before a court or tribunal (including an adjudication officer and the Labour Court) in the State, or

(b) relates to a specific complaint that was or is under investigation by, or has been submitted to, the Ombudsman.