§ 105 — Competent authorities

105.—(1) The Minister may appoint —(a)

a public sector officer to be the competent authority for the administration of this Act and the Regulations generally; or

(b)

one or more public sector officers to be each a competent authority responsible for the administration of a particular Part or provision of this Act or the Regulations generally or for a particular period.

(2) A competent authority is, subject to any general or special directions of the Minister, responsible for the administration of this Act and may perform such duties as are imposed and may exercise such powers as are conferred upon the competent authority by this Act.

(3) The Minister may from time to time give a competent authority directions of a general character, and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as to the exercise of the powers and discretions conferred on the competent authority by, and the duties required to be discharged by the competent authority, under Part 4, 5, 6 or 7 and any Regulations made for the purposes of any of those Parts; and the competent authority must give effect to all these directions given.

(4) A competent authority must act in the discharge of its functions under this Act impartially, with integrity and professionalism and in a manner that facilitates effective democracy.

(5) A competent authority must not exercise any power under this Act for the purpose of furthering or harming the interests of any particular political party.

—(1) The Minister may appoint —(a)

a public sector officer to be the competent authority for the administration of this Act and the Regulations generally; or

(b)

one or more public sector officers to be each a competent authority responsible for the administration of a particular Part or provision of this Act or the Regulations generally or for a particular period.

(2) A competent authority is, subject to any general or special directions of the Minister, responsible for the administration of this Act and may perform such duties as are imposed and may exercise such powers as are conferred upon the competent authority by this Act.

(3) The Minister may from time to time give a competent authority directions of a general character, and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as to the exercise of the powers and discretions conferred on the competent authority by, and the duties required to be discharged by the competent authority, under Part 4, 5, 6 or 7 and any Regulations made for the purposes of any of those Parts; and the competent authority must give effect to all these directions given.

(4) A competent authority must act in the discharge of its functions under this Act impartially, with integrity and professionalism and in a manner that facilitates effective democracy.

(5) A competent authority must not exercise any power under this Act for the purpose of furthering or harming the interests of any particular political party.