The Rules of the Supreme Court (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) 2007

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Rules)

These Rules amend the Rules of the Supreme Court (Northern Ireland) 1980 (“the principal Rules”), so as to—

• make a number of amendments consequential to the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c.33);

• transfer probate business from the Family Division to the Chancery Division and make a small number of consequential amendments;

• update a number of references to merchant shipping legislation, which has been repealed and consolidated in the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 (c.21);

• provide for taxation of solicitor’s professional costs as a single item under the short form procedure;

• provide for proceedings against or concerning the International Oil Pollution Compensation Supplementary Fund 2003;

• make a minor amendment in respect of giving evidence by video link;

• make a number of amendments in relation to the procedure for applications for statutory review and appeals under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c.41), as amended by the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 (c.19) and the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 (c.13); and

• prescribe the procedure for applications to the High Court under the European Public Limited-Liability Company Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 (S.R. 2004 No. 417) and the European Cooperative Society (Involvement of Employees) Regulations 2006) (S.I. 2006/2059).