Consumer Affairs Act (Cap. 378), article 17

17. (1) Each tribunal shall be presided by an arbiter sitting alone: Provided that more than one arbiter may be appointed to sit in any of the said tribunals, but only one arbiter shall sit in any one case. (2) Arbiters shall be appointed by the Prime Minister. No person shall be qualified to be appoint ed arbiter unless such person - (a) is a citizen of Malta over t he age of thirty years; and (b) holds the warrant and has practised the profession of advocate in Malta f or a period of at least five years. (3) A person shall be disqualified to be appointed arbiter if such person - (a) is a member of the House of Representatives; or (b) is a member of a Local Council; or (c) is a trader; or (d) has been convicted of any of the offences or found guilty of any of the infringements referred to in article 4(7)( d)(v). (4) Arbiters shall receive suc h remuneration as the Prime Minister may by notice in the Gazette determine, and shall not be precluded from the exercise o f their respective profession. (5) Arbiters shall be appointed for a term of three years and shall be eligible to be re-appointed, for a further term or ter ms of three years each. (6) In the exercise of his functions under this Act an arbiter shall not be subject to the cont rol or direction of any other p erson or authority and may not be removed from office except by the Court of Appeal on an application for that purpose by the Prime Minister on the grounds of misbehaviour or inability to perform his functions by reason of in firmity of body or mind. (7) The remuneration due to arbiters and the expenses in connection with the administration of the tribunals shall be pa id out of the Consolidated Fund without the necessity of any further appropriation. Abstention or challenge of arbiters.