The Airports (Northern Ireland) Order 1994

Reports on references N.I.

36.—(1) In making a report on any reference under Article 34, the Commission—

(a) shall include in the report definite conclusions on the questions comprised in the reference together with such an account of their reasons for those conclusions as, in their opinion, is expedient for facilitating proper understanding of those questions and of their conclusions;

(b) where they conclude that any course of conduct specified in the reference has operated, or might be expected to operate, against the public interest, shall specify in the report the effects adverse to the public interest which that course of conduct has had or might be expected to have; and

(c) where they conclude that any adverse effects so specified could be remedied or prevented by the imposition of any conditions in relation to the airport in question, or by the modification of any conditions already in force in relation to it, shall specify in the report the conditions that should be imposed or (as the case may be) the modifications that should be made.

(2) The Commission's conclusions on a reference under Article 34(1) so far as relating to the maximum amounts referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of that provision shall take the form of recommendations as to what those maximum amounts should be during the five years in question; and any such recommendations may do any of the things referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) to (c) of Article 31(5).

[F1 (2A) For the purposes of Article 37(2), a conclusion contained in a report of the Commission is to be disregarded if the conclusion is not that of at least two-thirds of the members of the group constituted in connection with the reference concerned in pursuance of paragraph 15 of Schedule 7 to the Competition Act 1998.

(2B) If a member of a group so constituted disagrees with any conclusions contained in a report made on a reference under Article 34 as the conclusions of the Commission, the report shall, if the member so wishes, include a statement of his disagreement and of his reasons for disagreeing.]

Para. (3) rep. by 1998 c. 41

[F2 (4) For the purposes of the law relating to defamation, absolute privilege attaches to any report made by the Commission on a reference under Article 34.

(4A) In making any report on a reference under Article 34 the Commission must have regard to the following considerations before disclosing any information.

(4B) The first consideration is the need to exclude from disclosure (so far as practicable) any information whose disclosure the Commission thinks is contrary to the public interest.

(4C) The second consideration is the need to exclude from disclosure (so far as practicable)—

(a) commercial information whose disclosure the Commission thinks might significantly harm the legitimate business interests of the undertaking to which it relates, or

(b) information relating to the private affairs of an individual whose disclosure the Commission thinks might significantly harm the individual's interests.

(4D) The third consideration is the extent to which the disclosure of the information mentioned in paragraph (4C)(a) or (b) is necessary for the purposes of the report.]

(5) A report of the Commission on any reference under Article 34 shall be sent to the CAA.

(6) On receiving such a report, the CAA—

(a) shall send a copy of the report to the Department and to the airport operator concerned; and

(b) subject to any direction given by the Department under paragraph (7), shall publish the report in such manner as the CAA considers appropriate for bringing the report to the attention of persons likely to be affected by it.

(7) If it appears to the Department that the publication of any matter in such a report would be against the public interest or the commercial interests of any person, it may, before the end of the period of 21 days beginning with the day on which it receives the copy of the report, direct the CAA to exclude that matter from the report as published under paragraph (6).

F1 2002 c. 40

F2 2002 c. 40