8. (1) Subject to subsection (6), the Minister may, from time to time, prepare and issue policy directives to public bodies regarding any of their functions under this Act and the public bodies shall comply with any such directives in the performance of their respective functions.

(2) The Minister may amend or revoke a policy directive issued under this section.

(3) The Minister shall cause a copy of any policy directive issued under this section to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

(4) A public body shall make available for inspection by members of the public any policy directive issued to it under this section.

(5) The Minister shall publish or cause to be published, in such manner as he or she considers appropriate, policy directives issued under this section.

(6) The Minister shall, in preparing policy directives under this section (including amendments to such policy directives), have regard to the matters listed in section 6(5)(a) to (i).

(7) Subsections (3) to (5) shall, with all necessary modifications, apply to an amendment made to, or a revocation of, a policy directive issued under this section as those subsections apply to a policy directive issued under this section.