32. (1) The Board shall appoint a person to be the Secretary to the Council (in this Act referred to as the “Secretary”).

(2) The Secretary may be removed or suspended from office by the Board for stated reasons.

(3) The Secretary shall hold office under a written contract of service (which contract may, at the discretion of the Board, be renewed) for such period as is specified in the contract and subject to such terms and conditions (including terms and conditions relating to remuneration, allowances for expenses and superannuation) as are so specified, as may be determined by the Board with the approval of the Minister and the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

(4) The Secretary shall not be a member of the Council, the Board or a committee but he or she may, in accordance with procedures specified by the Council, the Board or a committee other than the Judicial Conduct Committee, attend meetings of the Council, the Board or the committee concerned, as the case may be, and shall be entitled to speak and give advice at such meetings.

(5) The Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 shall not apply to the appointment of a person as the Secretary.