(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Agency shall, as soon as practicable after 30 April in each year, prepare an investment plan for the Fund, having regard to the scheme made by the Minister under section 42 for the disbursement of moneys from the Fund.

(2) The Minister, in consultation with the Minister for Finance, may issue directions or guidelines to the Agency concerning the preparation of the investment plan, and the Agency shall comply with those directions and prepare the investment plan in accordance with those guidelines.

(3) Moneys standing to the credit of the Fund that are not, for the time being, required for the purpose of meeting the liabilities of the Fund specified in section 17 (4) shall be invested by the Agency in the currency of the State -

(a) in the securities (other than shares in a company) that the Agency considers appropriate, or

(b) by way of deposit of moneys with any credit institution, or the investment of moneys in short term financial products, such as certificates of deposit or commercial paper, issued by any person,

and may be so invested within the State or otherwise.