17.— (1) The Minister may appoint one or more persons to be appeals officers.

(2) A person shall be a practising barrister or practising solicitor of not less than 7 years’ standing to be appointed as an appeals officer.

(3) An appeals officer shall—

( a) hold office for a term of 3 years and shall be eligible for re-appointment as such an officer,

( b) subject to this Act, be independent in the performance of his or her functions, and

( c) be paid such remuneration and allowances for expenses as the Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, determine.

(4) An appeals officer may—

( a) resign from office by letter addressed to the Minister and the resignation shall take effect on the date on which the Minister receives the letter,

( b) be removed from office by the Minister if, in the opinion of the Minister, the appeals officer has become incapable through ill-health of effectively performing his or her functions under this Act or has committed stated misbehaviour.