Section 26

Substitute the following section for section 26:

"26. Accountability before Committee of Public Accounts.

(1) The chief executive shall, whenever he or she is 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, give evidence to that Committee on -

(a) the regularity and propriety of the transactions recorded or required to be recorded in any book or other record of account subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General which the Agency or the chief executive is required by this Act to prepare,

(b) the economy and efficiency of the Agency in the use of its resources,

(c) the systems, procedures and practices employed by the Agency for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of its operations, and

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

(2) In the performance of his or her duties under subsection (1), the chief executive shall not question nor 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.".