Introductory
Interpretation2
1
The [1954 c. 33 (N.I.).] Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 shall apply to Article 1 and the following provisions of this Order as it applies to a Measure of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
2
In this Order—
“document” means anything in which information of any description is recorded, and “copy”, in relation to a document, means anything onto which information recorded in the document has been copied, by whatever means and whether directly or indirectly;
“hearsay” shall be construed in accordance with Article 3(3);
“oral evidence” includes evidence which, by reason of a defect of speech or hearing, a person called as a witness gives in writing or by signs;
“the original statement”, in relation to hearsay evidence, means the underlying statement (if any) by—
- a
in the case of evidence of fact, a person having personal knowledge of that fact, or
- b
in the case of evidence of opinion, the person whose opinion it is;
- a
“statement” means any representation of fact or opinion, however made;
“statutory provision” has the meaning assigned to it by section 1(f) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954.
3
In this Order “civil proceedings” means civil proceedings, before any court or other tribunal, in relation to which the strict rules of evidence apply.
4
In the following provisions of this Order—
“court” means any such court or tribunal as is referred to in paragraph (3);
“rules of court” means rules regulating the practice and procedure of such a court or tribunal.