17.—(1) (a) The Minister may F17[subject to subsection (4)] give a direction in writing to An Foras requiring it—

(i) to provide specified services or to carry on specified activities that it is authorised by section 4 or 5 of this Act to provide or, as the case may be, carry on,

(ii) to refrain from providing specified services or carrying on specified activities,

(iii) to incur expenditure of specified amounts, or to increase by specified amounts its expenditure, on specified services or specified activities that it is authorised by the said section 4 or 5 to provide or, as the case may be, carry on, or

(iv) to refrain from incurring expenditure, or to reduce by specified amounts its expenditure, on specified services or specified activities.

(b) References in paragraph (a) to the provision of services and to the carrying on of activities include references to the arrangement for such provision and carrying on.

(2) The Minister may give a direction in writing to An Foras in relation to policy generally, in relation to any matter specified in a report furnished to him under section 11 (2) or subsection (1) or (3) of section 12 or in relation to any information furnished to him under subsection (5) of the said section 12.

(3) An Foras shall comply with a direction under this section.

F18[(4) A direction under this section shall not include a direction in respect of the functions of An Foras under paragraphs (b) to (g) of section 4(1).]