s 7 Appointed authorities
7.—(1) A relevant Minister may appoint a public officer, or a body established or constituted by or under any public Act to perform a public function (except a Town Council), to be an appointed authority for the purposes of all or any of the provisions of this Act for which the relevant Minister may act. (2) An appointed authority is responsible for the administration of the provisions of this Act for which purpose the appointed authority was appointed, and may perform such duties as are imposed, and may exercise such powers as are conferred, on the appointed authority by this Act, subject to any general or special directions of the relevant Minister. (3) If a relevant Minister does not appoint an appointed authority under subsection (1), then, the competent authority —(a) is responsible for the administration of the provisions of this Act in respect of the functions and powers transferred to the relevant Minister under section 6(2); and (b) may perform such duties as are imposed, and may exercise such powers as are conferred, on the appointed authority by this Act, subject to any general or special directions of the relevant Minister. (4) If a direction in relation to a relevant Minister is revoked under section 6(5)(a), the appointment of any appointed authority appointed by that relevant Minister is also treated as revoked.