Section 21 of the Act of 1994 is amended by substituting the following subsection for subsection (1):

"(1) In addition to the functions conferred on the Authority by sections 7AC, 7D, 7E, 7F, 7G, 12, 14, 15, 17 and 18 and Part IIIA, the principal functions of the Authority shall be -

(a) to manage and administer any schemes prescribed under section 12, and to establish and maintain the fund referred to in that section,

(b) to maintain The Register of Health Benefits Undertaking and The Register of Health Insurance Contracts,

(c) to evaluate and analyse information and other returns made to it,

(d) to take such action as it considers appropriate to increase the awareness of members of the public of their rights as consumers of health insurance and of the health insurance services available to them,

(e) to advise the Minister either at his or her request or on its own initiative on matters relating to the functions of the Minister under this Act, the functions of the Authority under this Act and health insurance generally,

(f) without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (e), to advise the Minister either at his or her request or on its own initiative as to whether, in the opinion of the Authority, the principal objective specified in section 1A(1) is being achieved to the appropriate extent, and