(1) Subject to subsection (2), the chief executive shall, whenever required in writing to do so by a Committee, attend before it to give account for the general administration of the Authority.

(2) The chief executive shall not be required to give account before a Committee for any matter which is, has been, or may at a future time be, the subject of proceedings before a court or tribunal in the State.

(3) Where the chief executive is of the opinion that a matter in respect of which he or she is required to give an account before a Committee is a matter to which subsection (2) applies, he or she shall inform the Committee of that opinion and the reasons for the opinion and, unless the information is conveyed to the Committee at a time when the chief executive is before it, the information shall be so conveyed in writing.

(4) Where the chief executive has informed a Committee of his or her opinion in accordance with subsection (3) and the Committee does not withdraw the requirement in writing referred to in subsection (1) -

(a) the chief executive may, not later than 21 days after being informed by the Committee of its decision not to withdraw the requirement, apply to the High Court in a summary manner for determination of the question whether the matter is one to which subsection (2) applies, or