6. (1) There shall stand established on the establishment day, a body which shall be known as Comhairle na mBreithiúna or, in the English language, the Judicial Council (in this Act referred to as the “Council”) to perform the functions conferred on it by this Act.

(2) The Council shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be independent in the performance of its functions.

(3) The Council shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and an official seal and shall have power to sue, and may be sued, in its corporate name, and shall, with the consent of the Minister and the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, have power to acquire, hold and dispose of land or an interest in land and to acquire, hold and dispose of any other property.

(4) The Council shall have a seal and the seal shall be authenticated by the signatures of—

(a) the chairperson of the Council or another member of the Council authorised by it to act in that behalf, and

(b) the Secretary or another member of the staff of the Council authorised by it to act in that behalf.

(5) Judicial notice shall be taken of the seal of the Council and every document purporting—

(a) to be an instrument made by the Council, and

(b) to be sealed with the seal of the Council authenticated in accordance with subsection (4),

shall be received in evidence and be deemed to be such an instrument without further proof, unless the contrary is shown.