18.—(1) Where the Minister considers that an appeal lodged under section 17(1) involves issues the resolution or understanding of which require particular technical skills or specialised knowledge, the Minister may establish an Appeals Advisory Panel to provide advice to the Minister in respect of the appeal.
(2) For the purposes of establishing an Appeals Advisory Panel, the Minister may do all or any of the following:
(a)
determine, and from time to time vary, the terms of reference of the Appeals Advisory Panel;
(b)
appoint persons possessing particular technical skills or specialised knowledge to be the chairperson and other members of an Appeals Advisory Panel;
(c)
at any time remove the chairperson or other member of an Appeals Advisory Panel from such office;
(d)
determine any other matters which the Minister considers incidental to or expedient for the proper and efficient conduct of business by the Appeals Advisory Panel.
(3) An Appeals Advisory Panel may regulate its proceedings in such manner as it considers appropriate, subject to the following:
(a)
the quorum for a meeting of the Appeals Advisory Panel is a majority of its members;
(b)
a decision supported by a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of the Appeals Advisory Panel at which a quorum is present is the decision of that Panel.
(4) The remuneration and allowances (if any) of a member of an Appeals Advisory Panel is to be determined by the Minister.
(5) An Appeals Advisory Panel is independent in the performance of its functions.