The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

Inquiries

152.—(1) The Department may cause local or other inquiries to be held in any cases where it appears to the Department to be advisable to do so in connection with—

(a) the functions of an authority or voluntary organisation, in so far as those functions relate to children;

(b) a children’s home or voluntary home;

(c) any of the following, so far as they provide accommodation for children—

(i) a residential care home;

(ii) a hospital (including a private hospital);

(iii) a nursing home;

(iv) a school;

(v) any prescribed home or institution not falling within heads (i) to (iv) and not provided by the Secretary of State.

(2) Before an inquiry is begun, the Department may direct that it shall be held in private.

(3) Where no direction has been given, the person holding the inquiry may if he thinks fit hold it, or any part of it, in private.

(4) In paragraph (1)(a) “functions” includes powers and duties other than under a statutory provision.