Cap. 470 Art. 4Establishment of the National Council of the Maltese Language.

(1) There shall be a body, to be known as the National

Council of the Maltese Language, having the aim of adopting and promoting a suitable language policy and strategy and to verify their performance and observance in every sector of Maltese life, for the benefit and development of the national language and the identity of the Maltese people.

(2) The Council shall be made up of fifteen (15) members and an observer as follows:

(a) a Chairman appointed by the Prime Minister and chosen from among persons who are established and qualified in the study of Maltese and who are recommended by L-Akkademja tal-Malti and by the Department of Maltese at the University of Malta jointly or separately; Linguistics and Language Technology at the University;

(e) a representative of the Education Division coming from the National Curriculum Department and nominated by the Minister;

(f) a representative nominated by the Arts Council Malta;

(g) the Principal Permanent Secretary of the Civil Service or his representative;

(h) a representative elected in such manner as may be prescribed by and from among members of the committees of the Maltese language associations listed in Schedule A, excluding L-Akkademja tal-Malti;

(i) a representative of the Institute of Maltese Journalists;

(j) a representative of the Broadcasting Authority;

(k) a representative of the Department of Translation, Terminology and Interpreting Studies at the University;

(l) a representative of the Maltese publishers nominated by the publishers in consultation with the National Book Council;

(m) a representative of the lecturers specialised in the teaching of Maltese nominated by the Faculty of Education at the University; and

(n) a representative of the teachers of Maltese within the Church schools nominated by the Secretariat for Catholic Education;

(o) a representative of the teachers of Maltese within independent schools nominated by the independent schools; and

(p) an observer representative of the departments of Maltese translators of the European Union, jointly nominated by the same departments that are listed in Schedule B..

(3) One of the other members of the Council referred to in sub-article (2) shall be appointed by the Prime Minister as Deputy Chairman of the Council to preside over the same Council whenever the Chairman is absent.

(4) The Council shall be a body corporate having a distinct legal personality and capable, subject to the provisions of this Act, to enter into contracts, purchase and dispose of any kind of property for the purposes of its functions, to sue and to be sued, and to enter all operations as may be incidental or conducive to the exercise or the performance of its functions under this Act, including the lending of money or requests for credit. Council in judicial proceedings and on any act, contract, instrument or any document whatsoever.

(6) Any document made or issued by the Council and signed by the Chairman, or issued by the Executive Director and signed by him, may be produced as evidence and shall, unless otherwise proven, be deemed to be an instrument made or issued by the Council or by the Executive Director.