The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme Order (Northern Ireland) 2007

4.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (4), the independent medical referee—

(a) shall interview and medically examine the appellant at least once; and

(b) may interview or medically examine him or cause him to be interviewed or medically examined on such further occasions as the independent medical referee thinks necessary for the purpose of deciding the appeal.

(2) The independent medical referee shall—

(a) appoint; and

(b) give the appellant and the Board not less than 21 days’ notice of,

the time and place for every interview and medical examination; if the independent medical referee is satisfied that the appellant is unable to travel, the place shall be the appellant’s place of residence.

(3) The appellant shall attend at the time and place appointed for any interview or medical examination by the independent medical referee.

(4) If—

(a) the appellant fails to comply with sub-paragraph (3); and

(b) the independent medical referee is not satisfied that there was reasonable cause for the failure,

the independent medical referee may dispense with the interview or medical examination required by sub-paragraph (l)(a) or, as the case may be, with any further interview or medical examination required by sub-paragraph (1)(b), and may decide the appeal on such information as is then available.

(5) Any interview under this paragraph may be attended by persons appointed for the purpose by the Board or by the appellant or by each of them.