Paragraph (2) shall have effect with respect to the powers of the Executive under section 19 of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 [1954 c.33] to employ staff.

The numbers, terms and conditions of employment, remuneration, appointment, removal from office, suspension or re-instatement and qualifications of such of the staff employed by the Executive as the Department may direct, shall be subject to the approval of the Department.

The Executive shall be deemed to be a local authority for the purposes of the Superannuation (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 [1972 NI 10] .

The Executive may, with the consent of the Department, make such provision as it considers desirable for the payment of pensions and other superannuation benefits to or in respect of such of its employees as it may designate for the purposes of this paragraph, and paragraph (3) shall not apply to a person so designated.

The functions of the Local Government Staff Commission for Northern Ireland shall continue to extend to officers of the Executive and for that purpose Part III of, and Schedule 3 to, the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 [1972 c.9] shall continue to have effect in accordance with the amendments set out in Schedule 3.