The Trade Union and Labour Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[F1 19C.—(1) This paragraph applies if the Court accepts an application under paragraph 11(2) or 12(2) or (4). N.I.

(2) The union (or unions) may apply to the Court for the appointment of a suitable independent person to handle communications during the initial period between the union (or unions) and the relevant workers.

(3) In the case of an application under paragraph 11(2) or 12(2), the relevant workers are—

(a) in relation to any time before an appropriate bargaining unit is agreed by the parties or decided by the Court, those falling within the proposed bargaining unit, and

(b) in relation to any time after an appropriate bargaining unit is so agreed or decided, those falling within the bargaining unit agreed or decided upon.

(4) In the case of an application under paragraph 12(4), the relevant workers are those falling within the bargaining unit agreed by the parties.

(5) The initial period is the period starting with the day on which the Court informs the parties under sub-paragraph (7)(b) and ending with the first day on which any of the following occurs—

(a) the application under paragraph 11 or 12 is withdrawn;

(b) the Court gives notice to the union (or unions) of a decision under paragraph 20 that the application is invalid;

(c) the Court notifies the union (or unions) of a declaration issued under paragraph 19F(5) or 22(2);

(d) the Court informs the union (or unions) under paragraph 25(9) of the name of the person appointed to conduct a ballot.

(6) A person is a suitable independent person if—

(a) he satisfies such conditions as may be specified for the purposes of paragraph 25(7)(a) by an order under that provision, or is himself specified for those purposes by such an order, and

(b) there are no grounds for believing either that he will carry out any functions arising from his appointment otherwise than competently or that his independence in relation to those functions might reasonably be called into question.

(7) On an application under sub-paragraph (2) the Court must as soon as reasonably practicable—

(a) make such an appointment as is mentioned in that sub-paragraph, and

(b) inform the parties of the name of the person appointed and the date of his appointment.

(8) The person appointed by the Court is referred to in paragraphs 19D and 19E as “the appointed person”.]

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F1 2004 NI 19