Consumer Protection Act 2007

Accounts and audits.

23.— (1) The Agency shall 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 shall furnish to the Minister any information which the Minister may require in relation to those estimates, including proposals and future plans relating to the performance by the Agency of its functions over a specified period of years.

(2) The Agency shall keep in such form as may be approved by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance all proper and usual books or other records of account of—

(a) all monies received or expended by the Agency, and

(b) all property, assets and liabilities of the Agency,

including an income and expenditure account and a balance sheet and, in particular, shall keep such special accounts (if any) as the Minister may from time to time direct.

(3) The chief executive and the other officers of the Agency 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 Agency in respect of any financial year or other period and shall facilitate any such examination, and the Agency shall pay such fee as may be fixed by the Minister.

(4) Accounts kept in pursuance of this section, signed by the chief executive, shall be submitted by the Agency to the Comptroller and Auditor General for audit as soon as practicable, but not later than 3 months, after the end of the financial year to which the accounts relate.

(5) When so audited, a copy of the accounts together with a copy of the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon shall be presented by the Agency to the Minister who shall, as soon as practicable but not later than 3 months thereafter, cause copies of them to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.