Power to authorise exercise of functions without approval etc.
4.—(1) This Article applies to any statutory power which—
(a)relates to the appointment or management of members of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, and
(b)requires for its exercise the sanction of a department (whether by way of approval, consent, agreement or otherwise).
(2) The department whose sanction is required for the exercise of a power to which this Article applies may, to such extent and subject to such conditions as the department thinks fit, authorise its exercise without the department’s sanction.
(3) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (2), the conditions which may be imposed on an authorisation under that paragraph include a condition prohibiting, to such extent as may be specified in the condition, the exercise of the power concerned under the authority of the person by whom it is exercisable.
(4) In this Article “department” has the same meaning as in the Ministries Act (Northern Ireland) 1944(1) and includes the head of a Department.