22. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Regulator shall, not later than 30 June in each year, prepare and submit to the Minister a report (in this section referred to as the “annual report”) in writing on its activities during the immediately preceding year.

(2) The first annual report shall be prepared in respect of the period beginning on the establishment day and ending on 31 December in the next following year.

(3) The annual report shall contain information in relation to—

(a) progress regarding implementation of the strategy statement published under section 20, and

(b) such other matters as the Minister may specify.

(4) The annual report may, in respect of the period to which the report relates, include a summary from which AHBs cannot be identified of—

(a) assessment reports by the Regulator under section 38,

(b) compliance plans approved by the Regulator under section 39(5)(a), (6)(a) or section 40, as the case may be, and

(c) the results of any investigations under Part 5.

(5) The Minister shall cause a copy of the annual report to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as practicable after it has been submitted to him or her in accordance with this section.

(6) The Regulator may, from time to time, prepare and submit to the Minister such other reports in relation to the activities of the Regulator as the Regulator considers appropriate.

(7) The Minister may give a direction, in writing, to the Regulator to prepare and submit to him or her a report, in writing, not later than such date as the Minister specifies in the direction, in relation to any particular matter relating to the functions of the Regulator as the Minister considers appropriate.

(8) The Regulator shall comply with a direction under subsection (7).

(9) This section shall not operate to require the Regulator to include information in the annual report or other report referred to in this section that, in its opinion, would prejudice the performance by the Regulator of any of its functions under Parts 4, 5 and 6.