34. (1) The Secretary shall, in addition to the functions assigned to him or her by or under any other provision of this Act, manage and control the staff of the Council and the administration of the Council (and its committees) and perform such other functions (if any) as may be determined by the Board.

(2) The Secretary shall perform the functions referred to in subsection (1) (other than those of Registrar to the Judicial Conduct Committee) in accordance with such directions as may be given to him or her from time to time by the Board and shall be accountable to the Board for the performance of those functions and the effective and efficient management of the Council.

(3) The Secretary shall provide to the Board such information in relation to the performance of his or her functions referred to in subsection (2) (including information with respect to the performance of those functions in so far as they relate to the financial affairs of the Council) as the Board may require.

(4) The Secretary may, with the consent of the Board, authorise a member of the staff of the Council to perform a specified function of the Secretary and such a member of the staff so authorised may perform the function accordingly.

(5) The Board may designate a member of the staff of the Council to perform the functions of Secretary in the absence of the Secretary or where the office of Secretary is vacant, and a member of the staff of the Council so designated shall in such absence or upon such office being vacant, perform those functions.