(1) The Minister shall, from time to time as required, request the Public Appointments Service to undertake a selection process for the purpose of identifying and recommending to the Minister persons who are suitable for appointment under section 14(1) as members of the Authority.

(2) Upon receipt of a request under subsection (1), the Public Appointments Service shall undertake a selection process and, subject to subsection (3), recommend to the Minister, from among persons who participated in the process, those persons whom it is satisfied are suitable for appointment as members of the Authority.

(3) The Minister shall agree with the Public Appointments Service the selection criteria and procedures that are to apply to the selection process under this section having regard to -

(a) the desirability that the members of the Authority will, among them, possess knowledge of, and experience, qualifications, training or expertise in, the matters specified in subsection (4),

(b) the need, in so far as possible, to achieve the objective that no fewer than 3 members of the Authority are women and no fewer than 3 members are men, and