Personal Insolvency Act 2012

SCHEDULE 3

Complaints Panel and Complaints Committees

Section 177 .

1. Subject to paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Schedule, on the coming into operation of section 177 of this Act, the Minister shall, with the consent of the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, establish and maintain a panel which shall be composed of at least 7 persons.

2. Each of the persons appointed to the panel referred to in paragraph 1 of this Schedule shall be a person whom the Minister considers to have relevant experience or special knowledge which will enable the persons appointed to carry out their functions under this Act.

3. At least two of the persons appointed to the panel referred to in paragraph 1 of this Schedule shall be a solicitor or a barrister.

4. Subject to paragraph 6 of this Schedule, a person shall remain on the panel established under this section for such period as may be specified on appointment unless he or she sooner dies or requests the Minister that his or her appointment be revoked, but unless he or she has died shall be eligible to be appointed to the panel for a further period or periods.

5. A vacancy in the membership of the panel may be filled by the Minister in the same manner as is specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 as respects the appointment of persons to be members of the panel.

6. A person who has been appointed to be a member of a Complaints Committee as respects a particular investigation shall continue as a member of the panel and of that Complaints Committee until the conclusion of the deliberations of that Complaints Committee as respects the matter concerned notwithstanding that the period for which the panel was appointed has expired.

7. A member of the panel appointed to a Complaints Committee shall be paid such remuneration and allowances for expenses as the Minister may determine with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

8. A Complaints Committee shall be composed of no less than three persons at least one of whom shall be a barrister or solicitor.

9. The Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may at any time remove a member from the panel for stated misbehaviour.

10. A Complaints Committee shall be independent in the discharge of its functions.

11. The Minister shall make available to a Complaints Committee such services, including staff, as may be reasonably required by that Committee.