1999 No. 452
Fair Employment Tribunal (Rules of Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999
Made
Coming into operation
The Department of Economic Development, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Articles 84(1), (2) and (3) and 104(3) of the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 19981 and of every other power enabling it in that behalf, hereby makes the following Regulations:
Citation and commencement1
These Regulations may be cited as the Fair Employment Tribunal (Rules of Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 and shall come into operation on 20th December 1999.
Amendment of the Fair Employment Tribunal (Rules of Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1989
2
The Fair Employment Tribunal (Rules of Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 19892 shall be amended in accordance with regulations 3 to 7.
3
In rule 3(1) in Schedule 1, for the words “14 days” there shall be substituted the words “21 days”.
4
After rule 4(2) in Schedule 1 there shall be inserted the following paragraphs—
2A
A tribunal may, on the application of a party to the proceedings made by notice to the Secretary or of its own motion, require a party to furnish to the tribunal a written answer to any question if it considers—
a
that the answer of the party to that question may help to clarify any issue likely to arise for determination in the proceedings; and
b
that it would be likely to assist the progress of the proceedings for that answer to be available to the tribunal before the hearing,
and may appoint the time within which the written answer is to be furnished. Where a requirement is imposed under this paragraph, the Secretary shall send to each other party a copy of such requirement and a copy of the written answer furnished to the tribunal.
2B
The tribunal shall take account of a written answer furnished pursuant to paragraph (2A) in the same way as it takes account of representations in writing submitted by a party pursuant to rule 7(2).
5
In rule 4(3) in Schedule 1, after the words “paragraph (1)(c)” there shall be inserted the words “and a party on whom a requirement has been imposed under paragraph (2A) in his absence”.
6
In rule 4(5) in Schedule 1, after the words “paragraph (1)(a) or (b)” there shall be inserted the words “or (2A)”.
7
In rule 8(3) in Schedule 1, at the end there shall be inserted the words “and any written answer furnished to the tribunal pursuant to rule 4(2A).”.
Transitional provision8
The amendments made by regulations 2 to 7 shall not apply in relation to proceedings instituted before 20th December 1999.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Economic Development on 15th November 1999.
(This note is not part of the Regulations.)