(1) With a view to assisting a person ("X") who considers -

(a) that another person ("Y") may have discriminated against X in contravention of this Act or may have dismissed or otherwise penalised X in circumstances amounting to victimisation,

(b) that another person ("Y") who is responsible for providing remuneration to X is not providing that remuneration as required by an equal remuneration term, or

(c) that another person ("Y") with whom X has a contract of employment has not provided X with a benefit under an equality clause in that contract,

to decide whether to refer the matter under any provision of section 77 and, in the event of such a reference, to formulate and present X's case in the most effective manner, the Minister may by regulations prescribe forms by which -

(i) X may question Y so as to obtain material information, and

(ii) Y may, if Y so wishes, reply to any questions.

(2) Subject to subsections (3) to (7), information is for the purposes of this section "material information" if it is -

(a) information as to Y's reasons for doing or omitting to do any relevant act and as to any practices or procedures material to any such act,