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.