69 (5) The Solicitor-General shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Judicial Services Commission following consultation by the Judicial Services Commission with the Attorney-General. (6) The President may, on the recommendation of the Judicial Services Commission following consultation by it with the Attorney-General, appoint a person to act as the Solicitor-General during any period or during all periods, when the office of the SolicitorGeneral is vacant or when the Solicitor-General is absent from duty or from Fiji or is, for any reason, unable to perform the functions of office. (7) The Solicitor-General has the same status as that of a permanent secretary and shall be responsible as the Permanent Secretary for the Office of the Attorney-General and may be assigned such additional responsibilities as permanent secretary. (8) The Solicitor-General shall have the same term of office as a Judge of the High Court, and shall be paid such remuneration as determined by the Judicial Services Commission in consultation with the Attorney-General, provided however that such remuneration shall not be less than that payable to a Judge of the High Court or a permanent secretary and any such remuneration must not be varied to his or her disadvantage, except as part of an overall austerity reduction similarly applicable to all officers of the State. (9) The Solicitor-General may be removed from office for inability to perform the functions of his or her office (whether arising from infirmity of body or mind or any other cause) or for misbehaviour, and may not otherwise be removed. (10) The procedure for removal of the Solicitor-General from office shall be the same as the procedure for removal of a judicial officer under section 112. (11) The Solicitor-General shall have the authority to appoint, remove and institute disciplinary action against all staff (including administrative staff) in the Office of the Attorney-General. (12) The Solicitor-General has the authority to determine all matters pertaining to the employment of all staff in the Office of the Attorney-General, including— (a) the terms and conditions of employment; (b) the qualification requirements for appointment and the process to be followed for appointment, which must be an open, transparent and competitive selection process based on merit; (c) the salaries, benefits and allowances payable, in accordance with its budget as approved by Parliament; and (d) the total establishment or the total number of staff that are required to be appointed, in accordance with the budget as approved by Parliament.