12.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Council may appoint persons to be members of its staff and may determine their duties.

(2) The numbers and grades of staff to be appointed under this section and the conditions (including those relating to remuneration and allowances) of their appointment shall be determined by the Council with the approval of the Minister given with the consent of the Minister for Finance.

(3) Staff appointed under this section shall be paid by the Council, out of funds at its disposal, the remuneration and allowances determined under subsection (2).

(4) Subject to subsection (5), the Council may make and carry out arrangements with any person or body to assist any of the following in performing their functions or exercising their powers under this Act:

(a) the Council;

(b) a committee of the Council;

(c) a registration board;

(d) a committee of a registration board.

(5) The Council's power to make an arrangement to assist a registration board or a committee of a registration board may be exercised only at the request of the registration board concerned.