The First Minister and the deputy First Minister acting jointly shall make arrangements for obtaining from the Forum its views on social, economic and cultural matters.

The arrangements so made shall not take effect until after they have been approved by the Assembly.

The expenses of the Forum shall be defrayed as expenses of the Department of Finance and Personnel.

In this section “the Forum” means the consultative Civic Forum established in pursuance of paragraph 34 of Strand One of the Belfast Agreement by the First Minister and the deputy First Minister acting jointly.