(1) If ¾

(a) an appointed member is unable to act by reason of sickness, absence or other cause; or

(b) the office of an appointed member is vacant and has not been filled in accordance with this Act,

the Minister may appoint an eligible person to act temporarily in the place of that appointed member, and while so acting according to the tenor of the appointment that other person has all of the functions, powers and immunities of that appointed member.

(2) Where an appointed member who is deputy chairperson is performing the functions of the chairperson, the Minister may, under subsection (1), appoint another eligible person to act in the place of that appointed member.

(3) No act or omission of a person acting in the place of another under this section is to be questioned on the ground that the occasion for the appointment or so acting had not arisen or had ceased.

(4) The appointment of a person as an acting member may be terminated at any time by the Minister.

[Section 7 inserted by No. 30 of 1995 s. 10.]