36.— (1) The F40[Child and Family Agency] shall establish one or more adoption committees.

(2) The functions of an adoption committee are—

(a) to advise and assist the Authority in the performance of its functions under this Act and section 6 of the Child Care Act 1991, and

(b) to make recommendations to the Authority under section 39 concerning the issuance to applicants of declarations of eligibility and suitability.

(3) The membership of an adoption committee may include persons who are not employees of the F40[Child and Family Agency] but have special knowledge and experience related to the purposes of the committee.

(4) The F40[Child and Family Agency] may make payments to a member of an adoption committee in respect of travelling and subsistence expenses incurred by the member in relation to the business of the committee.

(5) Payments made under this section shall be in accordance with a scale determined by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance.