6.—The Principal Act is amended by substituting for section 2 the following:

“2.—(1) Subject to subsection (2) and section 5, in this Act ‘appropriate authority’ means—

(a) in relation to a civil servant—

(i) holding a position to which that civil servant was appointed by the Government, or

(ii) holding a position as a Commissioner of the Revenue Commissioners pursuant to Article 7 of the Revenue Commissioners Order 1923,

the Government,

(b) in relation to a civil servant who is of the grade of Principal or of an equivalent or superior grade to whom paragraph (a) does not apply, the Minister of the Government by whom the power of appointing a successor to that civil servant would for the time being be exercisable,

(c) in relation to a civil servant below the grade or rank of Principal or an equivalent grade, the Secretary General of the Department or the Head of the Scheduled Office in which the civil servant is serving,

(d) in relation to a civil servant holding a Ministerial Private Office appointment and who provides a service to a Minister of the Government, the Minister of the Government to whom that service is provided, and

(e) in relation to a civil servant holding a Ministerial Private Office appointment and who provides a service to a Minister of State, the Minister of State to whom that service is provided.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), in this Act ‘appropriate authority’ means—

(a) in relation to a civil servant who is the Secretary General of the Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas or the Clerk-Assistant of Dáil Éireann, in respect of matters directly related to the business of Dáil Éireann, the Chairman of Dáil Éireann, in all other respects, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission,

(b) in relation to a civil servant who is the Clerk or Clerk-Assistant of Seanad Éireann, in respect of matters directly related to the business of Seanad Éireann, the Chairman of Seanad Éireann, in all other respects, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission,

(c) in relation to a civil servant who is the Superintendent, Houses of the Oireachtas or the Captain of the Guard, Houses of the Oireachtas—

(i) in respect of matters directly related to the business of Dáil Éireann, the Chairman of Dáil Éireann,

(ii) in respect of matters directly related to the business of Seanad Éireann, the Chairman of Seanad Éireann,

(iii) in all other respects, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission,

(d) in relation to a member of the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission who is of the grade of Principal or of an equivalent or superior grade, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission,

(e) in relation to a member of the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission below the grade or rank of Principal or an equivalent grade, the Secretary General of the Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas,

(f) in relation to a civil servant who is of the grade of Principal or of an equivalent or superior grade to whom subsection (1)(a)(i) does not apply, who is serving in the Office of the Secretary General to the President, the Taoiseach, and

(g) in relation to a civil servant below the grade or rank of Principal or an equivalent grade, who is serving in the Office of the Secretary General to the President, the Secretary General to the President.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (c) of subsection (1) ‘Department’ includes such bodies or organisations (whether established by or under statute, or otherwise) other than a Scheduled Office, for which the Minister having charge of the Department concerned is responsible.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (c) of subsection (1) ‘Scheduled Office’ includes such bodies or organisations (whether established by or under statute, or otherwise) for which the Minister of the Government having charge of the Scheduled Office concerned is responsible.

(5) In this section ‘Minister of State’ means a person appointed under section 1(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1977 to be a Minister of State.

(6) A reference in this section to ‘the grade of Principal or of an equivalent or superior grade’ shall be construed as a reference to the general service grade of principal or a position or office in respect of which the maximum salary is not less than the maximum salary of a general service grade principal.”.