10.—(1) (a)  In the case of the first election of members to the Council, the Minister may make regulations for the purposes of the following:

(i) the election of members in accordance with paragraphs (a)(i) and (b)(i) of section 8(2);

(ii) to ensure, in so far as it is practicable, that the election of members shall be on as equitable a geographical basis as possible and, for that purpose, to make provision for the determination of constituencies and the number of members from each constituency.

(b) In the case of each subsequent election, the Council, with the approval of the Minister, may make regulations for the purposes referred to in paragraph (a)(i) and (ii).

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the regulations may specify all or any of the following:

(a) the class or classes of persons who shall be entitled to seek nomination for election to the Council;

(b) the class or classes of persons who shall be entitled to nominate a candidate for election or to vote in an election;

(c) subject to subsection (3), that registered teachers employed in, or qualified to teach in, a particular category of recognised school shall be entitled to vote only for registered teachers employed in, or qualified to teach in, that particular category of recognised school.

(3) In the case of the first election to the Council, a teacher who is employed in a recognised school as a teacher and whose remuneration in respect of that employment is paid out of funds provided by the Oireachtas shall be deemed to be a registered teacher for the purposes of that election.

(4) In the case of the first election to the Council, the returning officer for that election shall be appointed by the Minister, and in the case of each subsequent election, the returning officer for the election shall be appointed by the Council.