(1) The Minister may, if he thinks fit, issue a warrant providing for any person (referred to in this section as "a prisoner") serving a sentence in a prison or any other place for which rules or regulations may be made under the Prisons Acts, 1826 to 1980, or section 13 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1960, to be transferred to a country or territory outside the State for the purpose -
(a) of giving evidence in criminal proceedings there, or
(b) of being identified in, or otherwise by his presence assisting, such proceedings or the investigation of an offence.
(2) No warrant shall be issued under this section in respect of any prisoner unless he has consented to being transferred as mentioned in subsection (1) of this section and that consent may be given either -
(a) by the prisoner himself, or
(b) in circumstances in which it appears to the Minister inappropriate, by reason of the prisoner's physical or mental condition or his youth, for him to act for himself, by a person appeari