Section 944I of the Principal Act is amended -

(a) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (1):

''(1) Where one Member only stands appointed for the time being under section 944F, the Minister may authorise in writing a person (which may be a member of staff of the Authority) to perform the functions of a Member and of the chairperson during any period when that Member is absent from duty or absent from the State or is, for any other reason, unable to perform the functions of a Member and the chairperson.'',

(b) in subsection (2), by the substitution of ''of a Member and of the chairperson'' for ''of a Member'', and

(c) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (5):

''(5) A person in respect of whom an authorisation under this section is in force may perform the functions of a Member and the chairperson under this Act and, for that purpose, references in this Chapter and in Schedule 22 -

(a) to a Member, other than in sections 944F(3), 944H(2) and 944L, and

(b) to the chairperson, other than in sections 944G(1) and 944G(3), shall be construed as including references to that person.''.