68. (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (4), the MARA shall, not later than 30 June in each year, prepare and adopt, and submit to the Minister, a report in writing (in this section referred to as the “annual report”) on its activities during the immediately preceding calendar year.

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

(3) The Minister shall, within 21 days of receiving the annual report, cause copies of it to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

(4) The MARA shall include in the annual report the statement that, but for section 1E of the Act of 1933, the relevant Minister, within the meaning of that section, would have been required by section 20 of that Act to lay before each House of the Oireachtas and, for that purpose, the references in such section 20 to the appropriate Minister shall be construed as references to the MARA to the extent that such references are references to such relevant Minister.