Qualification for certain appointments
14.Article 3 makes an amendment to Article 82(2) of the 1998 Order which specifies that a person is not qualified for appointment as a President of the Industrial Tribunals and the Fair Employment Tribunal, a Vice-President of the Industrial Tribunals and the Fair Employment Tribunal, or a panel of chairmen of the Fair Employment Tribunal unless he is “a barrister or solicitor of not less than 7 years' standing”. The Department understands that this can be legally construed to apply only to appropriately qualified members of the Northern Ireland legal profession. This Article amends Article 82(2) of the 1998 Order to enable appropriately-qualified persons from anywhere in Great Britain or Northern Ireland to apply for appointment.