(1) Subject to subsection (2) and (3), the Minister may, after consultation with the Commissioner, such other Ministers of the Government as he or she considers appropriate and such committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas as he or she considers appropriate, and having regard to the need to ensure the oversight of entities referred to in subsection (6) and the need for such entities to adhere to the principles of transparency and accountability in government and public affairs as respects those of their activities as are relevant to subsection (6), by order declare an entity to be a prescribed body for the purposes of this Act.

(2) The specification of an entity in an order under subsection (1) may be expressed to be subject to the inclusion or exclusion of elements of that entity.

(3) The Minister may, after consultation with such other Minister of the Government (if any) as appears to him or her to be appropriate, having consulted such committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas as he considers appropriate and having regard to the criteria specified in subsection (1), by order amend or revoke an order under subsection (1).

(4) An entity standing prescribed pursuant to an order for the purposes of subsection (1) -