Competition Act, 2002

Accounts and audits.

41.—(1) The Authority shall—

(a) submit estimates of income and expenditure to the Minister in such form, in respect of such periods and at such times as may be required by the Minister, and

(b) furnish to the Minister any information which the Minister may require in relation to such estimates, including proposals and future plans relating to the performance by the Authority of its functions over a period of years.

(2) The Authority shall cause to be kept all proper and usual books or other records of account of—

(a) all income and expenditure of the Authority,

(b) the sources of such income and the subject matter of such expenditure, and

(c) the property, assets and liabilities of the Authority,

and shall keep such other special accounts as the Minister may from time to time direct to be kept.

(3) The financial year of the Authority shall be the period of 12 months ending on the 31st day of December in any year.

(4) The Authority shall, whenever so requested by the Minister, permit any person appointed by the Minister to examine the books or other records of account of the Authority in respect of any financial year or other period and shall facilitate any such examination, and the Authority shall pay such fee therefor as may be fixed by the Minister.

(5) The accounts of the Authority for each financial year shall—

(a) be prepared in such form and manner as may be specified by the Minister, and

(b) be prepared by the Authority as soon as practicable, but not later than 3 months, after the end of the financial year to which they relate for submission to the Comptroller and Auditor General for audit,

and a copy of the accounts and the auditor's report thereon shall be presented, as soon as practicable, to the Minister.

(6) The Minister shall cause a copy of the accounts and auditor's report referred to in subsection (5) to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.