234—(1) If the Department of Justice is considering giving a direction under section 232(4) the Attorney General may appoint a person to represent the interests of any person who will be prevented from hearing or inspecting any evidence at any inquiry or examination if the direction is given.
(2) If before the Department of Justice gives a direction under section 232(4) no person is appointed under subsection (1), the Attorney General may at any time appoint a person as mentioned in subsection (1) for the purposes of the inquiry or examination.
(3) The Department of Justice may by rules make provision—
(a)as to the procedure to be followed by that Department before a direction is given under section 232(4) in a case where a person has been appointed under subsection (1);
(b)as to the functions of a person appointed under subsection (1) or (2).
(4) Rules made under subsection (3) shall be subject to negative resolution.
(5) If a person is appointed under subsection (1) or (2) (the appointed representative) the Department of Justice may direct any person who that Department thinks is interested in the inquiry or examination in relation to a matter mentioned in section 232(5) (the responsible person) to pay the fees and expenses of the appointed representative.
(6) If the appointed representative and the responsible person are unable to agree the amount of the fees and expenses, the amount shall be determined by the Department of Justice.
(7) The Department of Justice shall cause the amount agreed between the appointed representative and the responsible person or determined by that Department to be certified.
(8) An amount so certified is recoverable from the responsible person as a civil debt.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Ss. 228-235: transfer of functions (8.5.2016) by The Departments (Transfer of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016/76), art. 1(2), Sch. 5 Pt. 2 (with art. 9(2))
Commencement Information
I1S. 234 in operation at 13.2.2015 for specified purposes by S.R. 2015/49, art. 2, Sch. 1
I2S. 234 in operation at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in operation by S.R. 2015/49, art. 3, Sch. 1 (with Sch. 2) (as amended (16.3.2016) by S.R. 2016/159, art. 2)