(1) The Minister may appoint a person to be an appeals officer (in this section and section 667G referred to as an 'appeals officer') for the purposes of appeals under sections 285D and 667G.
(2) An appeals officer shall be either a practising solicitor or a practising barrister, either of whom shall have not less than 5 years experience.
(3) A solicitor or barrister in the full-time service of the State shall not be an appeals officer.
(4) An appeals officer shall -
(a) hold office for a term of 3 years and, subject to subsection (6), shall be eligible for reappointment on the expiry of that term of office,
(b) be independent in the performance of his or her functions,
(c) be paid such fees and allowances for expenses as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, may determine, and
(d) at such intervals and in relation to such periods as are specified by the Minister, submit a report in writing to the Minister in relation to the performance of hi
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