(1) The chief executive of a public service entity may employ a person to act in the office of a senior executive in the entity during any period or all periods when—(a) no-one is employed in the office; or(b) the person holding the office is absent from duty or is, for another reason, unable to discharge the responsibilities of the office.
(2) It does not matter whether the person employed to act in the office is or is not already a public service officer.