9.— (1) From the establishment day, for the purposes of performing the functions assigned to it under this Act, IFI shall manage and report its business on the basis of that part of the following River Basin Districts which are situate within the State—

(a) Eastern River Basin District (including the Neagh Bann River Basin District),

(b) Western River Basin District,

(c) South Eastern River Basin District,

(d) South Western River Basin District,

(e) North Western River Basin District, and

(f) Shannon River Basin District,

as defined in the Second Schedule to the European Communities (Water Policy) Regulations 2003 (S.I. No. 722 of 2003).

(2) The Minister may, following consultation with IFI, the Joint Oireachtas Committee and such other bodies as he or she deems appropriate, specify by order alternative means by which IFI shall manage and report its business and for as long as an order under this subsection is in force, subsection (1) does not apply.

(3) (a) An order made under subsection (2) shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as practicable after it is made.

(b) Either House of the Oireachtas may, within 21 sitting days after the day on which an order was laid before it in accordance with paragraph (a), pass a resolution annulling the order.

(c) The annulment under paragraph (b) of an order takes effect immediately on the passing of the resolution concerned, but does not affect anything that was done under the order before the passing of the resolution.