(1) As soon as may be after the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media requests the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to conduct a full media merger examination under section 28E, he or she may, if he or she considers that the opinion of an advisory panel is required in order to assist the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland in carrying out the full media merger examination and in making its report under section 28E, establish an advisory panel (in this Part referred to as an "advisory panel") to provide a reasoned opinion in writing to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland on the application of the relevant criteria to the media merger in question and to provide clarifications of the opinion where requested by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland in accordance with subsection (6)(b).

(2) An advisory panel shall consist of at least 3 and not more than 5 persons appointed by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, each of whom shall have knowledge of, and expertise in, law, journalism, media, business or economics.

(3) The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media shall appoint one member of the advisory panel as chairperson of the panel.