8.— Where the Minister is satisfied that there is a particular class or group of public servants who, by reason of exceptional circumstances (because of some particular aspect or condition of their employment, office or position) which, in the Minister’s opinion, are materially distinguished from other classes or groups of public servants to which section 2 applies, then the Minister, if he or she considers it to be just and equitable in all the circumstances to do so, may by direction—

(a) exempt that class or group from deductions under section 2, either entirely or to such extent as the Minister considers appropriate, or

(b) modify the obligation under section 2 to make deductions from their remuneration in such manner as the Minister thinks fit, having regard to the nature and degree of the financial burden that would otherwise be borne by that class or group,

and the provisions of this Act relating to deductions, and of any regulations made under any of those provisions, shall be read subject to any such direction.