Tenure of members

1 Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, a person holds office as a member in accordance with the terms of the person’s appointment. 2 A person may not be appointed as a member for more than five years at a time, or more than twice. 3 A person may resign as a member by notice in writing to the First Minister and deputy First Minister. 4 The First Minister and deputy First Minister acting jointly may dismiss a person from office as a member by notice in writing if satisfied that the person— a has without reasonable excuse failed to discharge the functions of the office for a continuous period of three months beginning not earlier than six months before the day of dismissal; b has been convicted of a criminal offence; c has become bankrupt or the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order, a debt relief order or a debt relief restrictions order, or has made a voluntary arrangement; d is unable or unfit to carry out the functions of the office of a member. 5 Each of the expressions used in sub-paragraph (4)(c) has the same meaning as in the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 ( S.I. 1989/2405 (N.I. 19) .