(1) For the purpose of providing practical guidance to political parties with respect to keeping proper books of accounts and preparing the annual statement of accounts and auditor's report, the Commission shall prepare and publish guidelines.

(2) Before publishing guidelines under this section, the Commission -

(a) shall obtain the consent of the Minister,

(b) may publish in such manner as the Commission considers appropriate a draft of the guidelines and shall give persons 28 days from the date of publication of the draft guidelines within which to make written representations to the Commission in relation to the draft guidelines, or such further period, not exceeding 28 days, as the Commission in its absolute discretion thinks fit, and

(c) following consultation and, where relevant, having considered the representations, if any, made, shall submit the draft guidelines to the Minister for his or her consent to its publication under this section, with or without modification.

(3) Where the Commission publishes guidelines, it shall publish a notice of such publication in Iris Oifigiúil and that notice shall -