9.— The Principal Act is amended by inserting the following sections after section 31:

“Financial year of Commission.

31A.— (1) The financial year of the Commission is—

(a) the period of 12 months beginning on 1 July in each year, or

(b) if the Commission has published a notice in accordance with subsection (2), the period specified in the notice.

(2) The Commission may, by notice published in Iris Oifigiúil, specify as the Commission’s financial year a period different from that specified in subsection (1)(a) or previously specified under this subsection.

Commission to prepare annual action plan.

31B.— (1) Before the end of each financial year of the Commission, the Commission shall—

(a) prepare an action plan setting out the principal activities that it proposes to undertake during the ensuing financial year, and

(b) present the plan to the Minister and arrange for a copy of the plan to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

(2) The action plan shall segregate the relevant activities according to the Commission’s functions relating to—

(a) regulating electronic communications, and

(b) managing the radio frequency spectrum, and

(c) regulating postal services.

(3) In preparing the action plan, the Commission shall have regard to its current strategy statement.

(4) As soon as practicable after preparing an action plan, the Commission shall publish it in a form and manner that will enable members of the public to have access to it.

Commission to prepare annual financial forecast.

31C.— (1) Before the end of each financial year of the Commission, the Commission shall—

(a) prepare a financial forecast showing estimates of the Commission’s revenue and expenditure for the ensuing financial year in relation to the activities referred to in the Commission’s action plan for that year, and

(b) present the forecast to the Minister.

(2) In preparing its annual financial forecast, the Commission shall estimate the amounts of revenue expected to be derived, and the amount of expenditure expected to be made, in respect of each of its functions relating to electronic communications, managing the radio frequency spectrum and postal services.

(3) As soon as practicable after preparing its annual financial forecast, the Commission shall publish it in a form and manner that will enable members of the public to have access to it.”.