Northern Ireland Act 1998

2 (1) Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, a Commissioner shall hold office in accordance with the terms of his appointment.

(2) A Commissioner shall not be appointed—

(a) in the case of the Chief Commissioner, for more than five years at a time; and

(b) in any other case, for more than three years at a time.

(3) A person may resign as a Commissioner or as Chief Commissioner by notice in writing to the Secretary of State.

(4) The Secretary of State may dismiss a person from his office as Commissioner or Chief Commissioner if satisfied—

(a) that he has without reasonable excuse failed to discharge his functions for a continuous period of three months beginning not earlier than six months before the day of dismissal;

(b) that he has been convicted of a criminal offence;

(c) that a bankruptcy order has been made against him, or his estate has been sequestrated, or he has made a composition or arrangement with, or granted a trust deed for, his creditors; or

(d) that he is unable or unfit to carry out his functions.