Public inquiriesN.I.
48.—(1) The Department may cause an inquiry to be held in any case where the Department considers it advisable to do so in connection with[F1 any matter relating to gas arising under this Part or the Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, other than a matter in respect of which any functions of the Authority under Part VI of that Order are or may be exercisable.]
(2) Without prejudice to section 23 of the [1954 c. 33 (N.I.).] Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954, the Department may make rules regulating the procedure to be followed in connection with inquiries held by or on behalf of the Department under this Part.
(3) Where—
(a)an inquiry is to be held under this Part in connection with any matter; and
(b)in the case of some other matter required or authorised (whether by this Part or by any other statutory provision) to be the subject of an inquiry ( “the other inquiry”), it appears to the Department concerned that the matters are so far cognate that they should be considered together,
the Department concerned may direct that the inquiries be held concurrently or combined as one inquiry.
(4) In paragraph (3) “the Department concerned” means the Department, or where causing the other inquiry to be held is a function of some other Department, the Department and that other Department acting jointly.