Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003

Accountability mechanisms.

22.—(1) As soon as practicable but not later than 4 months after the end of each financial year, the Supervisory Authority shall make a written report to the Minister of its activities during that year.

(2) The annual report must be prepared in such manner and form as the Minister may direct.

(3) The Minister shall ensure that a copy of the annual report is laid before each House of the Oireachtas not later than 6 months after the end of the financial year to which the report relates.

(4) Whenever required to do so by the Committee of Dáil Éireann established under the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann to examine and report to Dáil Éireann on the appropriation accounts and reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General, the chief executive officer and the chairperson of the board shall give evidence to that Committee on the following:

(a) the regularity and propriety of the transactions recorded or to be recorded in any account subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General that the Supervisory Authority is required by law to prepare;

(b) the Supervisory Authority's economy and efficiency in using its resources;

(c) systems, procedures and practices used by the Supervisory Authority for evaluating the effectiveness of its operations;

(d) any matter affecting the Supervisory Authority that is referred to in a special report under section 11 (2) of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993 or in any other report of the Comptroller and Auditor General that is laid before Dáil Éireann, in so far as the other report relates to a matter specified in any of paragraphs (a) to (c);

(5) Whenever requested by any other committee appointed by either House of the Oireachtas or appointed jointly by both Houses, the chief executive officer and the chairperson of the board shall account to the committee for the performance of the functions and the exercise of the powers of the Supervisory Authority.

(6) The Supervisory Authority shall have regard to any recommendations relating to its functions or powers that are made by a committee in response to an account given under subsection (5).

(7) In performing duties under subsection (4) or (5), neither the chief executive officer nor the chairperson of the board shall question or express an opinion on the merits of any policy of the Government or a Minister of the Government or on the merits of the objectives of such a policy.