The Family Law (Northern Ireland) Order 1993

Article 12(2).

SCHEDULE 2 THE NORTHERN IRELAND FAMILY PROCEEDINGS RULES COMMITTEE

1.  In this Schedule “the Committee” means the Northern Ireland Family Proceedings Rules Committee.

2.  The Committee shall consist of—

(a) the Lord Chief Justice, who shall be chairman;

(b) two judges of the High Court or the Court of Appeal nominated from time to time by the Lord Chief Justice;

(c) two county court judges nominated by the Lord Chancellor after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice;

(d) the Master (Probate and Matrimonial);

(e) the Master (Care and Protection);

(f) a district judge nominated by the Lord Chancellor;

(g) a practising member of the Bar of Northern Ireland nominated by the Lord Chancellor;

(h) one other practising member of the Bar of Northern Ireland nominated by the Council thereof;

(i) the president of the Law Society of Northern Ireland or a member of the Council thereof nominated by him;

(j) a practising solicitor nominated by that Council.

3.  Where any member of the Committee is unable to act, the Lord Chief Justice, or, in the case of a member nominated by any other authority or body, that authority or body, may nominate another qualified person to act temporarily in his place.

4.  Rules of court may be made and other powers of the Committee exercised at a meeting of the Committee by a majority consisting of not less than four members, of whom the chairman of the meeting shall be one.

5.  In the absence of the Lord Chief Justice, the senior judge present shall be chairman of the meeting.

6.  The joint secretaries to the Committee shall be such persons as the Lord Chancellor, after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, may from time to time designate, and one of the persons so designated shall be either the Principal Secretary to the Lord Chief Justice or another officer serving in the Supreme Court.

7.  Such of the joint secretaries to the Committee as the Lord Chancellor may designate shall, in relation to rules of court, be the responsible officer within the meaning of Articles 5 and 7 of the Statutory Rules (Northern Ireland) Order 1979(1).

8.  The Committee shall not, except with the concurrence of the Treasury, make a rule which may involve an increase in expenditure out of public funds; but the validity of such a rule shall not, in any proceedings in any court, be called in question either by the court or by any party to the proceedings on the ground only that the Treasury did not concur or are not expressed to have concurred in the making of the rule.

9.  Any expenses incurred by the Committee shall be paid by the Lord Chancellor.

(1)

1979 NI 12