Cap. 556 Art. 2Interpretation.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

''Committee'' means the Social Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives or any other committee substituting the same; "Council" means the Maltese Sign Language Council established under article 7; "Deaf community" means -

(a) the distinct linguistic and cultural group of people who have a hearing impairment and who use Maltese Sign Language as their first or preferred language; and

(b) people who have a hearing impairment and who identify with the group of people referred to in paragraph (a);

"Maltese Sign Language" means the visual and gestural language that is the first or preferred language in Malta of the distinct linguistic and cultural Deaf community; "Minister" means the Minister responsible for the rights of persons with a disability.