(1) The Minister may, following consultation with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, give a direction to the Commission requiring the Commission to prepare and submit to him or her a code of practice for the purpose of practical guidance to employers, employees and any other persons as to the steps that may be taken for complying with one or more provisions of Part IIA of the Act of 1998 or Part 3.

(2) The Commission shall comply with a direction under subsection (1) and shall prepare and submit to the Minister a draft code of practice.

(3) Before submitting a draft code of practice to the Minister under subsection (2), the Commission shall request any person that it considers appropriate, including trade unions and employer representative bodies and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, to make representations to it in relation to the draft code of practice, and the Commission shall consider any such representations made.

(4) The Minister may, at the request of the Commission or of his or her own volition, after consultation with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Commission and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, give a direction to the Commission to revise the draft code of practice submitted to him or her under subsection (2) in such manner as is specified in the direction, and the Commission shall comply with the direction and resubmit to the Minister a revised code of practice.