26. (1) The Commission shall, not later than 6 months after the end of each year, submit to the Minister a report on the activities, including those undertaken pursuant to a diversity statement, of the Commission in the preceding year, and the Minister shall, as soon as may be after receiving the report, cause copies of the report to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

(2) Where a new diversity statement is published in the year to which the annual report relates, the fact of its publication shall be included in the annual report.

(3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), if, but for this subsection, the first report under this section would relate to a period of less than 6 months, the report shall relate to that period and to the year immediately following that period and shall be made as soon as may be, but not later than 6 months after the end of that year.

(4) An annual report submitted to the Minister under subsection (1) shall not contain any information that discloses or is likely to disclose proceedings, communications or matters referred to in section 30.

(5) The Minister may, having consulted with the Commission, direct the Commission to provide a report under this section in such form and manner as the Minister may specify.

(6) The Commission shall comply with a direction given under subsection (5).