6.— (1) The Garda Commissioner shall, subject to subsection (2) and the Council Decision, send one or more than one member of the national unit to be a liaison officer with Europol for the purposes of the Council Decision.

(2) A member of the national unit, other than a member of the Garda Síochána, may be sent as a liaison officer with Europol only after consultation with the Minister, and

(a) where the member to be sent is an officer of the Revenue Commissioners, on the nomination of the Revenue Commissioners,

(b) where the member to be sent is not a member of the Garda Síochána or an officer of the Revenue Commissioners, on the nomination of such other Minister of the Government as the Minister considers appropriate in the circumstances.

(3) Without prejudice to the functions of the national unit under section 5, a liaison officer shall provide liaison between Europol and the national unit in the transmission of information, and otherwise cooperate with Europol and Europol staff.

(4) A liaison officer who is not a member of the Garda Síochána has the same immunities and privileges as if he or she were a person appointed to the rank of garda under section 14 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005.