15. The Principal Act is amended—

(a) in section 250—

(i) in subsection (1), by inserting the following after “those appointments”:

“and the Minister may at any time terminate an appointment under this subsection whether or not the appointment was for a fixed period”,

(ii) by inserting the following subsections after subsection (1):

“(1A) An appointment as a social welfare inspector shall cease—

(a) if the Minister terminates the appointment,

(b) if it is made for a fixed period, on the expiry of that period, or

(c) if the person ceases to be an officer of the Minister.

(1B) A member of the Garda Síochána seconded by the Minister for a purpose referred to in subsection (1) has conferred on him or her all the powers and duties conferred on a social welfare inspector by this section and may exercise those powers and duties under and in accordance with this Act.

(1C) A member of the Garda Síochána exercising a power or duty of a social welfare inspector shall continue to be under the general direction and control of the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána.

(1D) A member of the Garda Síochána exercising a power or duty of a social welfare inspector shall continue to have conferred on him or her and may exercise the powers and duties of a member of the Garda Síochána for purposes other than the purposes of this Act, as well as for the purposes of this Act.”,

(iii) by inserting the following subsection after subsection (7):

“(7A) A member of the Garda Síochána seconded by the Minister for a purpose referred to in subsection (1) shall be given a certificate of his or her secondment, and on entering any premises or place for the purposes of Parts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 12 and this Part shall, if so requested, produce that certificate.”,

and

(iv) in subsection (16), by deleting “in uniform” in each place where it occurs,

and

(b) in section 299—

(i) in subsection (2), by inserting the following after “such allowance”:

“and the Minister may at any time terminate an appointment under this subsection whether or not the appointment was for a fixed period”,

and

(ii) by inserting the following subsection after subsection (2):

“(3) An appointment as a designated person under subsection (2) shall cease—

(a) if the Minister terminates the appointment,

(b) if it is made for a fixed period, on the expiry of that period, or

(c) where the person is an officer of the Minister, if that person ceases to be an officer of the Minister.”.