(1) The Board may engage consultants, advisers or support staff necessary for the performance of the Board's functions, but only after the Minister -
(a) has requested the Board to do so or has approved a request by the Board for authority to do so, and
(b) has approved the terms and conditions of their engagement.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the Minister shall have regard to the guidelines relating to the engagement of consultants, advisers and support staff that are issued from time to time by the Minister for Finance.
(3) The Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance and on the terms and conditions that the Minister with the agreement of the Minister for Finance thinks fit, advance to the Board out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas the sums that the Minister, after consulting with the Board, may determine for the purpose of defraying -
(a) fees payable by the Board to persons engaged under subsection (1), and
(b) other costs and expenses incurred