F20[13.—(1) There shall stand established in the Department of Defence a military element (which shall be known, and is referred to in this Act, as "Defence Forces Headquarters"), the head of which shall be the Chief of Staff.

(2) Subject to the Defence Acts, 1954 to 1998, there shall be assigned to the Chief of Staff such duties in connection with the business of the Department of Defence as the Minister may from time to time determine.

(3) The Chief of Staff shall be directly responsible to the Minister for the performance of such duties as may from time to time be assigned to him or her under subsection (2).

(4) The Chief of Staff may, subject to the approval of the Minister, delegate such duties assigned to him or her under subsection (2) as he or she considers appropriate to the Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) or the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support).]