45.—(1) Whenever a vacancy occurs in the membership of the committee appointed under section 44 for any reason, the Commissioner shall notify the Minister of the vacancy and the Minister shall, as soon as may be, appoint a person to fill the vacancy.

(2) Any person so appointed shall be appointed for the residue of the term of the person whom he or she replaces and shall be eligible for reappointment.

(3) If the vacancy occurs in relation to one of the members of the Garda Síochána on the committee, the Minister shall, after consultation with the Commissioner, appoint a member to fill the vacancy who is of the same rank as the member whom he or she replaces.