(1) A Minister of the Government may, with the consent of the Minister, by regulation, set or vary, whether by formula or otherwise, the amount or the rate of payment to be made to persons or classes of persons (in this section referred to as "service providers"), in respect of a service that the service providers render -

(a) to or on behalf of that Minister of the Government or a public service body under the aegis of that Minister, and

(b) under or in accordance with any contract, arrangement, understanding, circular, instrument or other document or other enactment.

(2) For the purposes of this Act, any service rendered to the State that is not rendered to or on behalf of a Minister of the Government or a public service body under the aegis of such a Minister is to be taken to be rendered to the Minister.

(3) The Minister may exercise the powers conferred by subsection (1) in relation to the service providers rendering the services referred to in subsection (2).