15.—(1) There shall be a chief executive officer of the Authority who shall be known, and is referred to in this Act, as the “Chief Executive”.

(2) The Chief Executive shall be appointed by the Board.

(3) The Chief Executive may be removed or suspended from office by the Board.

(4) The Chief Executive shall hold office for a period not exceeding 5 years upon and subject to such terms and conditions (including terms and conditions relating to remuneration and allowances for expenses) as may be determined by the Board with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Finance.

(5) A person may be re-appointed as Chief Executive subject to the other provisions of this section.

(6) The Chief Executive shall for so long as he or she holds that office serve as an ex officio member of the Board.

(7) Where and for so long as the Chief Executive is suspended from office the Chief Executive shall stand suspended from membership of the Board.

(8) The Chief Executive shall carry on and manage and control generally the administration and business of the Authority and shall be responsible to the Board for the performance of his or her functions and for the implementation of the policies of the Authority and shall perform such other functions as may be determined by the Board.

(9)   (a) Where the office of Chief Executive is vacant the Board may designate a member of the staff of the Authority to perform the functions of the Chief Executive which designation shall continue in force for no longer than the period of the vacancy in that office.

(b) The Board may revoke or alter a designation made under paragraph (a) at any time.

(10) (a) Where the Chief Executive is absent from duty and no member of the staff of the Authority has been assigned by the Chief Executive to perform the duties of the Chief Executive in his or her absence the Board may designate a member of the staff of the Authority to perform the functions of the Chief Executive which designation shall continue in force for no longer than the period of the absence of the Chief Executive.

(b) The Board may revoke or alter a designation made under paragraph (a) at any time.

(11) Nothing in subsections (9) or (10) shall entitle a person designated to perform functions of the Chief Executive to be a member of the Board.

(12) The Chief Executive shall not hold any other office or position or carry on any business, trade or profession without the consent of the Board.