2.—(1) The Comptroller and Auditor General shall appoint such staff for the Northern Ireland Audit Office as he considers necessary for assisting him in the discharge of his functions.
(2) The Comptroller and Auditor General and a Northern Ireland department may make arrangements—
(a)for the appointment by the Comptroller and Auditor General under sub-paragraph (1) of persons employed in the civil service of Northern Ireland;
(b)for the appointment to employment in the civil service of Northern Ireland of members of the staff of the Northern Ireland Audit Office.
(3) Arrangements under sub-paragraph (2)(a) or (b)—
(a)shall, if made by the Comptroller and Auditor General with any Northern Ireland department other than the Department, be subject to the approval of the Department;
(b)shall not provide for the appointment of any person without his consent;
(c)may providefor appointments of unlimited duration or for appointments on secondment;
(d)may include such other provisions as the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Northern Ireland department think fit.
(4) Arrangements under sub-paragraph (2)(b) shall not provide for the appointment of any member of the staff of the Northern Ireland Audit Office to employment in the civil service of Northern Ireland for an unlimited period unless that person became a member of the staff of that Office in consequence of paragraph 5.