54.— (1) The Garda Commissioner may, on application by a member of the Garda Síochána, arrange with the Chief Constable, for the member’s secondment to the Police Service of Northern Ireland for a period not exceeding 3 years.

(2) The Garda Commissioner may terminate a secondment to the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

(3) During the period of secondment—

(a) the member shall continue to be paid as a member of the Garda Síochána, but shall not be subject to the direction or control of the Garda Commissioner or be entitled to exercise in the State any of such a member’s powers,

(b) the member’s service shall be regarded as service with the Garda Síochána for pension, promotion and seniority purposes, and

(c) the member is entitled to claim compensation under F106[the Garda Síochána (Compensation) Act 2022 for injuries inflicted as a result of a malicious incident within the meaning of that Act] in the course of or in relation to the carrying out of his or her duties with the Police Service of Northern Ireland as if he or she had not been seconded and the injuries had been received in the course of or in relation to the carrying out of his or her duties as a member of the Garda Síochána.

(4) The number and rank of members of the Garda Síochána who may be seconded under this section may be prescribed.