The Industrial Tribunals and Fair Employment Tribunal (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Regulation 17(1)

SCHEDULE 1 THE INDUSTRIAL TRIBUNALS AND FAIR EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL RULES OF PROCEDURE 2020

1. PART 1 INTRODUCTORY AND GENERAL

   1. 1. Interpretation

   2. 2. Overriding objective

   3. 3. Alternative dispute resolution and the role of the Agency

   4. 4. General power to regulate procedure

   5. 5. Time

   6. 6. Extending or shortening time

   7. 7. Irregularities and non-compliance

   8. 8. Presidential guidance

2. PART 2 STARTING A CLAIM

   1. 9. Presenting the claim

   2. 10. Multiple claimants

   3. 11. Rejection

   4. 12. Reconsideration of rejection

   5. 13. Protected disclosure claims: notification to a regulator

3. PART 3 TRIBUNAL’S ACTIONS ON RECEIVING THE CLAIM

   1. 14. Sending claim form to respondents

4. PART 4 THE RESPONSE TO THE CLAIM

   1. 15. Presenting the response

   2. 16. Rejection

   3. 17. Reconsideration of rejection

   4. 18. Applications for extension of time for presenting response

   5. 19. Effect of non-presentation or rejection of response or case not being contested

   6. 20. Notification of acceptance

5. PART 5 EMPLOYER’S CONTRACT CLAIMS

   1. 21. Making an employer’s contract claim

   2. 22. Notification of employer’s contract claim

   3. 23. Responding to an employer’s contract claim

6. PART 6 CASE MANAGEMENT ORDERS AND OTHER POWERS

   1. 24. Early case management

   2. 25. Case management orders

   3. 26. Applications for case management orders

   4. 27. Documents and evidence

   5. 28. Addition, substitution and removal of parties

   6. 29. Other persons

   7. 30. Lead cases

   8. 31. Consolidation of industrial tribunal and Fair Employment Tribunal proceedings

   9. 32. Striking out

   10. 33. Unless orders

   11. 34. Deposit orders

7. PART 7 RULES COMMON TO ALL KINDS OF HEARING

   1. 35. General conduct of hearings

   2. 36. Written representations

   3. 37. Witnesses

   4. 38. Inspection of witness statements

   5. 39. Timetabling

   6. 40. Electronic communication

   7. 41. Non-attendance

   8. 42. Conversion from preliminary hearing to final hearing and vice versa

   9. 43. Majority decisions

   10. 44. Privacy and restrictions on disclosure

8. PART 8 WITHDRAWAL OF A CLAIM

   1. 45. End of claim

   2. 46. Dismissal following withdrawal

9. PART 9 PRELIMINARY HEARINGS

   1. 47. Scope of preliminary hearings

   2. 48. Fixing of preliminary hearings

   3. 49. Constitution of tribunal for preliminary hearings

   4. 50. When preliminary hearings shall be in public

10. PART 10 FINAL HEARING

    1. 51. Scope of final hearing

    2. 52. Notice of final hearing

    3. 53. Constitution of tribunal for final hearings

    4. 54. When final hearing shall be in public

11. PART 11 JUDGMENTS, CASE MANAGEMENT ORDERS AND REASONS

    1. 55. Judgments and case management orders made without a hearing

    2. 56. Judgments and case management orders made at or following a hearing

    3. 57. Reasons

    4. 58. Absence of employment judge

    5. 59. Consent orders and judgments

    6. 60. When a judgment or order takes effect

    7. 61. Entry of judgments and reasons in the register

    8. 62. Copies of judgment for referring court

    9. 63. Correction of clerical mistakes and accidental slips

12. PART 12 RECONSIDERATION OF JUDGMENTS

    1. 64. Reconsideration of judgment

    2. 65. Reconsideration on tribunal’s own initiative

    3. 66. Application for reconsideration

    4. 67. Consideration of the application

    5. 68. Reconsideration of the original decision

    6. 69. Unavailability of employment judge or tribunal

    7. 70. Outcome of reconsideration

13. PART 13 COSTS, PREPARATION TIME AND WASTED COSTS ORDERS

    1. 71. Definitions

    2. 72. Costs orders and preparation time orders

    3. 73. When a costs order or a preparation time order may or shall be made

    4. 74. Procedure

    5. 75. The amount of a costs order

    6. 76. The amount of a preparation time order

    7. 77. When a wasted costs order may be made

    8. 78. Effect of a wasted costs order

    9. 79. Procedure for making a wasted costs order

    10. 80. Allowances

    11. 81. Ability to pay

14. PART 14 DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS

    1. 82. Delivery to the tribunal

    2. 83. Delivery to parties

    3. 84. Delivery to non-parties

    4. 85. Special cases

    5. 86. Substituted service

    6. 87. Date of delivery

    7. 88. Situations in which a document may be treated as delivered

    8. 89. Correspondence with the tribunal: copying to other parties

15. PART 15 MISCELLANEOUS

    1. 90. Conciliation: recovery of sums payable under compromises

    2. 91. National security proceedings: industrial tribunals

    3. 92. National security proceedings: Fair Employment Tribunal

16. PART 16 OTHER PROCEEDINGS

    1. 93. Interim relief proceedings

    2. 94. Proceedings involving the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund

    3. 95. Collective agreements

    4. 96. Devolution issues

    5. 97. References to the Court of Justice of the European Union

    6. 98. Transfer of proceedings from a court

    7. 99. Vexatious litigants

    8. 100. Provision of information to the Commission

    9. 101. Application of this Schedule to levy appeals

    10. 102. Application of this Schedule to appeals against improvement and prohibition notices

    11. 103. Application of this Schedule to appeals against directions, non-discrimination notices and notices of refusal

    12. 104. Application of this Schedule to applications for enforcement of an undertaking or directions

PART 1 INTRODUCTORY AND GENERAL

Interpretation

1.—(1) In these Rules—

“Agency” means the Labour Relations Agency;

“case management order” means an order or decision of any kind in relation to the conduct of proceedings, not including the determination of any issue which would be the subject of a judgment;

“claim” means any proceedings before a tribunal making a complaint;

“claimant” means the person bringing the claim;

“Commission” means the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland;

“complaint” means anything that is referred to as a claim, complaint, reference, application or appeal in any statutory provision which confers jurisdiction on a tribunal;

“disclosure”, for the purposes of rules 24 and 27, means stating that a document exists or has existed;

“early conciliation certificate” means a certificate issued by the Agency in accordance with the Industrial Tribunals and Fair Employment Tribunal (Early Conciliation: Exemptions and Rules of Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020(1);

“early conciliation exemption” means an exemption contained in regulation 3(1) of the Industrial Tribunals and Fair Employment Tribunal (Early Conciliation: Exemptions and Rules of Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020;

“early conciliation number” means the unique reference number which appears on an early conciliation certificate;

“electronic communication” has the meaning given to it by section 4(1) of the Electronic Communications (Northern Ireland) Act 2001(2);

“employee panel” means a panel of persons appointed by the Department after consultation with such organisations or associations of organisations representative of employees as it sees fit;

“employer panel” means a panel of persons appointed by the Department after consultation with such organisations or associations of organisations representative of employers as it sees fit;

“employee’s contract claim” means a claim brought by an employee in accordance with Articles 3 and 7 of the Industrial Tribunals Extension of Jurisdiction Order (Northern Ireland) 1994(3);

“employer’s contract claim” means a claim brought by an employer in accordance with Articles 4 and 8 of the Industrial Tribunals Extension of Jurisdiction Order (Northern Ireland) 1994;

“employment judge” means one of—

(a)

the President;

(b)

the Vice-President;

(c)

a member of the panel of employment judges,

and in relation to particular proceedings it means the employment judge to whom the proceedings have been referred by the President or the Vice-President;

“Employment Rights Order” means the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996(4);

“Fair Employment and Treatment Order” means the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998;

“Fair Employment Tribunal” means the Fair Employment Tribunal for Northern Ireland established in accordance with regulation 5;

“industrial tribunal” means an industrial tribunal established in accordance with regulation 4;

“Industrial Tribunals Order” means the Industrial Tribunals (Northern Ireland) Order 1996;

“judgment” means a decision made at any stage of the proceedings, but not including a decision under rule 12 or 17 (reconsideration of rejection), which finally determines—

(a)

a claim, or part of a claim, as regards liability, remedy or costs (including preparation time and wasted costs); or

(b)

any issue which is capable of finally disposing of any claim, or part of a claim, even if it does not necessarily do so (for example, whether a claim should be struck out or a jurisdictional issue);

“panel of employment judges” means a panel of persons appointed by the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission meeting any of the qualifications in Article 82(2) of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order;

“prescribed form” means any appropriate form prescribed by the Department in accordance with regulation 15;

“present” means deliver (by any means permitted under rule 82) to the tribunal office;

“President” means the President of the Industrial Tribunals and the Fair Employment Tribunal appointed under Article 82(1)(a) of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order or the person nominated by the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission under Article 82(6) of that Order to discharge for the time being the functions of the President;

“register” means the register of judgments and written reasons kept in accordance with regulation 16;

“relevant proceedings” means proceedings listed in Article 20(1) of the Industrial Tribunals Order or proceedings under Article 38 of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order;

“respondent” means the person against whom a claim is made;

“Secretary” means a person for the time being appointed to act as the Secretary of the tribunal (and any function of the Secretary may be performed by a person acting with the authority of the Secretary);

“tribunal”, unless otherwise specified, means—

(a)

any industrial tribunal or Fair Employment Tribunal; and

(b)

in relation to particular proceedings, the industrial tribunal or Fair Employment Tribunal to which those proceedings relate;

“tribunal office” means the Office of the Industrial Tribunals and the Fair Employment Tribunal;

“Vice-President” means the Vice-President of the Industrial Tribunals and the Fair Employment Tribunal or the person nominated by the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission under Article 82(6) of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order to discharge for the time being the functions of the Vice-President;

“writing” includes writing delivered by means of electronic communication.

(2) Any reference in the Rules to a tribunal applies to a tribunal comprising of—

(a) an employment judge acting alone;

(b) an employment judge acting with one or two other members.

(3) An order or other decision of the tribunal is either a case management order or a judgment.

Overriding objective

2.  The overriding objective of these Rules is to enable tribunals to deal with cases fairly and justly. Dealing with a case fairly and justly includes, so far as practicable—

(a) ensuring that the parties are on an equal footing;

(b) dealing with cases in ways which are proportionate to the complexity and importance of the issues;

(c) avoiding unnecessary formality and seeking flexibility in the proceedings;

(d) avoiding delay, so far as compatible with proper consideration of the issues; and

(e) saving expense.

A tribunal shall seek to give effect to the overriding objective in interpreting, or exercising any power given to it by, these Rules. The parties and their representatives shall assist the tribunal to further the overriding objective and in particular shall co-operate generally with each other and with the tribunal.

Alternative dispute resolution and the role of the Agency

3.—(1) A tribunal shall wherever practicable and appropriate encourage the use by the parties of conciliation or other means of resolving their disputes by agreement.

(2) Where a claim starts relevant proceedings and has not been rejected under rule 11(2), the Secretary may send a copy of all documents, orders, decisions, written reasons and notices to the Agency and shall inform the parties that the services of an Agency conciliation officer are available to them.

(3) Subject to rule 44 (privacy and restrictions on disclosure) and rules 91 and 92 (national security), a representative of the Agency may attend any hearing.

General power to regulate procedure

4.  A tribunal, having regard to the principles contained in the overriding objective and any Presidential guidance, and subject to the provisions of these Rules and any practice directions, may regulate its own procedure.

Time

5.—(1) Unless otherwise specified by the tribunal, an act required by these Rules, a practice direction or an order of a tribunal to be done on or by a particular day may be done at any time before midnight on that day. If there is an issue as to whether the act has been done by that time, the party claiming to have done it shall prove compliance.

(2) If the time specified by these Rules, a practice direction or an order for doing any act ends on a day other than a working day, the act is done in time if it is done before midnight on the next working day. “Working day” means any day except a Saturday, a Sunday or a public holiday(5).

(3) Where any act is required to be, or may be, done within a certain number of days of or from an event, the date of that event shall not be included in the calculation. (For example, a response shall be presented within 28 days of the date on which the respondent was sent a copy of the claim: if the claim was sent on 1st May the last day for presentation of the response is 29th May.)

(4) Where any act is required to be, or may be, done not less than a certain number of days before or after an event, the date of that event shall not be included in the calculation. (For example, if a party wishes to present representations in writing for consideration by a tribunal at a hearing, they shall be presented not less than 7 days before the hearing: if the hearing is fixed for 8th May, the representations shall be presented no later than 1st May.)

(5) Where the tribunal imposes a time limit for doing any act, the last date for compliance shall, wherever practicable, be expressed as a calendar date.

(6) Where time is specified by reference to the date when a document is sent to a person by the tribunal, the date when the document was sent shall, unless the contrary is proved, be regarded as the date endorsed on the document as the date of sending or, if there is no such endorsement, the date shown on the letter accompanying the document.

Extending or shortening time

6.  A tribunal may, on its own initiative or on the application of a party, extend or shorten any time limit specified in these Rules or in any decision, whether or not (in the case of an extension) it has expired.

Irregularities and non-compliance

7.  A failure to comply with any provision of these Rules (except rule 9(1), 15(1), 21 or 23) or any order of a tribunal (except for an order under rules 33 or 34) does not of itself render void the proceedings or any step taken in the proceedings. In the case of such non-compliance, the tribunal may take such action as it considers just, which may include all or any of the following—

(a) waiving or varying the requirement;

(b) striking out the claim or the response, in whole or in part, in accordance with rule 32;

(c) barring or restricting a party’s participation in the proceedings;

(d) awarding costs in accordance with rules 71 to 81.

Presidential guidance

8.  The President may publish guidance as to matters of practice and as to how the powers conferred by these Rules may be exercised. Any such guidance shall be published in an appropriate manner to bring it to the attention of claimants, respondents and their advisers. Tribunals must have regard to any such guidance, but they shall not be bound by it.

PART 2 STARTING A CLAIM

Presenting the claim

9.—(1) A claim shall be started by presenting a completed claim form (using a prescribed claim form) to the tribunal office.

(2) A claim may be presented if—

(a) a respondent resides or carries on business in Northern Ireland;

(b) an act or omission complained of took place in Northern Ireland;

(c) the claim relates to a contract under which work is or has been performed partly in Northern Ireland; or

(d) the tribunal has jurisdiction to determine the claim by virtue of a connection with Northern Ireland.

(3) The claim form must include—

(a) the name and address of each claimant and respondent; and

(b) one of the following—

(i) an early conciliation number;

(ii) confirmation that the claim does not start any relevant proceedings; or

(iii) confirmation that an early conciliation exemption applies; and

(c) details describing the basis for the claim.

Multiple claimants

10.  Two or more claimants may make their claims on the same claim form if their claims are based on the same set of facts. Where two or more claimants wrongly include claims on the same claim form, this shall be treated as an irregularity falling under rule 7.

Rejection

11.—(1) The Secretary shall refer a claim form to an employment judge if—

(a) it is not made on a prescribed form;

(b) it does not include the information specified in rule 9(3); or

(c) the Secretary considers that the claim, or part of it, may be—

(i) one which the tribunal has no jurisdiction to consider;

(ii) one which includes insufficient information to enable the basis for the claim to be established or is in a form which cannot sensibly be responded to or is otherwise an abuse of process; or

(iii) one which, although starting relevant proceedings—

(aa) confirms that an early conciliation exemption applies where no such exemption applies; or

(bb) records a name or address for the claimant or the respondent differing materially from the name or address recorded for the prospective claimant or the prospective respondent (as the case may be) on the early conciliation certificate to which the early conciliation number relates.

(2) The claim, or part of it, shall be rejected if the employment judge considers that it is of a kind described in paragraph (1), except that the claim shall not be rejected—

(a) if paragraph (1)(a) applies and the employment judge considers that the information provided in the claim form is substantially the same as the information which would have been provided had the prescribed form been used or if the claim relates to the proceedings specified in regulation 15(2);

(b) if paragraph (1)(c)(iii)(bb) applies and the employment judge considers that the disparity between the information provided, respectively, in the claim and the early conciliation certificate is not such as to cast doubt on the identity of the claimant or respondent and that it would not be in the interests of justice to reject the claim.

(3) If the claim is rejected, the rejected claim form shall be returned to the claimant together with a notice of rejection giving the employment judge’s reasons for rejecting the claim, or part of it. The notice shall contain information about how to apply for a reconsideration of the rejection.

Reconsideration of rejection

12.—(1) A claimant whose claim has been rejected (in whole or in part) under rule 11 may apply for a reconsideration on the basis that either the decision to reject was wrong or the notified defect can be rectified.

(2) The application shall—

(a) be in writing;

(b) be presented within 14 days of the date that the notice of rejection was sent;

(c) explain why the decision is said to have been wrong or rectify the defect; and

(d) state whether the claimant requests a hearing.

(3) If the claimant does not request a hearing, or an employment judge decides, on considering the application, that the claim shall be accepted in full, the employment judge shall determine the application without a hearing; otherwise the application shall be considered at a hearing attended only by the claimant.

(4) If the employment judge decides that the original rejection was correct but that the defect has been rectified, the claim shall be treated as presented on the date that the defect was rectified.

(5) If the employment judge decides that the original rejection was wrong, the claim (or part) shall be accepted from the date on which it was presented.

Protected disclosure claims: notification to a regulator

13.  If a claim alleges that the claimant has made a protected disclosure within the meaning of Article 67A of the Employment Rights Order, the employment judge may, with the consent of the claimant, direct the Secretary to send a copy of any accepted claim, or part of it, to a regulator listed in Schedule 1 to the Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order (Northern Ireland) 1999.

PART 3 TRIBUNAL’S ACTIONS ON RECEIVING THE CLAIM

Sending claim form to respondents

14.  Unless a claim is rejected, the Secretary shall send a copy of the claim form, together with a prescribed response form, to each respondent with a notice which includes information on—

(a) whether any part of the claim has been rejected;

(b) how to submit a response to the claim;

(c) the time limit for doing so;

(d) what will happen if a response is not presented within that time limit; and

(e) the availability of alternative means of resolving the issues raised in the claim, including conciliation.

PART 4 THE RESPONSE TO THE CLAIM

Presenting the response

15.—(1) The response to a claim shall be—

(a) on a prescribed form; and

(b) presented within 28 days of the date that the copy of the claim form was sent to the respondent.

(2) A response form may include the response of more than one respondent if they are responding to a single claim and either—

(a) they all resist the claim on the same grounds and details of those grounds are the same; or

(b) they do not resist the claim.

(3) A response form may include the response to more than one claim if the claims are based on the same set of facts and either—

(a) the respondent resists all of the claims on the same grounds and details of those grounds are the same; or

(b) the respondent does not resist the claims.

Rejection

16.—(1) The Secretary shall refer a response to an employment judge if—

(a) it is not made on a prescribed form;

(b) it does not contain the respondent’s full name and address;

(c) it does not indicate whether the respondent wishes to resist any part of the claim and, if the respondent does wish to do so, give the details of the grounds for such resistance; or

(d) it is presented outside the time limit in rule 15 (or any extension of that limit granted within the original limit).

(2) The response shall be rejected if the employment judge considers that it is of a kind described in paragraph (1), except that—

(a) if paragraph (1)(a) applies and the employment judge considers that the information provided in the response is substantially the same as the information which would have been provided had the prescribed form been used, the response shall not be rejected;

(b) if paragraph (1)(b) applies and the employment judge considers that sufficient information is available to enable the respondent’s full name and address to be identified and that it would not be in the interests of justice to reject the response, the response shall not be rejected;

(c) if paragraph (1)(d) applies and an application for extension has already been made under rule 18 or the response includes or is accompanied by such an application, the response shall not be rejected pending the outcome of the application.

(3) The Secretary shall return the rejected response to the respondent with a notice of rejection explaining—

(a) why it has been rejected;

(b) what steps may be taken by the respondent, including the need (if appropriate) to apply for an extension of time; and

(c) how to apply for a reconsideration of the rejection.

Reconsideration of rejection

17.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a respondent whose response has been rejected under rule 16 may apply for a reconsideration on the basis that—

(a) the decision to reject was wrong; or

(b) the notified defect can be rectified.

(2) Paragraph (1)(b) does not apply in the case of a rejection under rule 16(1)(d).

(3) The application shall—

(a) be in writing;

(b) be presented within 14 days of the date that the notice of rejection was sent;

(c) explain why the decision is said to have been wrong or rectify the defect; and

(d) state whether the respondent requests a hearing.

(4) If the respondent does not request a hearing, or an employment judge decides, on considering the application, that the response shall be accepted in full, the employment judge shall determine the application without a hearing; otherwise the application shall be considered at a hearing attended only by the respondent.

(5) If the employment judge decides that the original rejection was correct but that the defect has been rectified, the response shall be treated as presented on the date that the defect was rectified (but the employment judge may extend time under rule 6).

Applications for extension of time for presenting response

18.—(1) An application for an extension of time for presenting a response shall—

(a) be presented in writing;

(b) be copied to the claimant;

(c) set out the reason why the extension is sought;

(d) except where the time limit has not yet expired, be accompanied by a draft of the response which the respondent wishes to present or an explanation of why that is not possible; and

(e) if the respondent wishes to request a hearing, include that request.

(2) The claimant may within 7 days of receipt of the application give reasons in writing explaining why the application is opposed.

(3) An employment judge may determine the application without a hearing.

(4) If the decision is to refuse an extension, any prior rejection of the response shall stand. If the decision is to allow an extension, any judgment issued under rule 19 shall be set aside.

Effect of non-presentation or rejection of response or case not being contested

19.—(1) Where—

(a) the time limit in rule 15 has expired and no response has been presented; or

(b) a response has been received but has been rejected, and no application for a reconsideration under rule 17 is outstanding; or

(c) the respondent has stated that no part of the claim is contested,

the claim shall proceed to early case management under rule 24.

(2) Where paragraph (1) applies, the respondent shall be entitled to notice of any hearings and decisions of the tribunal but, unless and until an extension of time is granted, shall only be entitled to participate in any hearing to the extent permitted by the employment judge.

Notification of acceptance

20.  Where the response is accepted the Secretary shall send a copy of it to all other parties, and the claim shall proceed to early case management.

PART 5 EMPLOYER’S CONTRACT CLAIMS

Making an employer’s contract claim

21.  Any employer’s contract claim shall be made as part of the response, presented in accordance with rule 15, to a claim which includes an employee’s contract claim. An employer’s contract claim may be rejected on the same basis as a claimant’s claim may be rejected under rule 11, in which case rule 12 shall apply.

Notification of employer’s contract claim

22.  When the response is sent to the other parties in accordance with rule 20, the Secretary shall notify the claimant that the response includes an employer’s contract claim and include information on—

(a) whether any part of the claim has been rejected;

(b) how to submit a response to the claim;

(c) the time limit for doing so; and

(d) what will happen if a response is not presented within that time limit.

Responding to an employer’s contract claim

23.  A claimant’s response to an employer’s contract claim shall be presented within 28 days of the date that the response was sent to the claimant. If no response is presented within that time limit, rules 18 and 19 shall apply, and the claim shall proceed to early case management.

PART 6 CASE MANAGEMENT ORDERS AND OTHER POWERS

Early case management

24.  As soon as possible after the acceptance of the response or the application of rule 19(1), whichever is the earlier, an employment judge shall review the documents held by the tribunal that are relevant to the claim and shall do one or more of the following:

(a) decide whether a determination can properly be made of the claim, or part of it;

(b) provide a preliminary assessment of the issues to be determined;

(c) explore alternative means of resolving the issues in dispute, including the use of conciliation;

(d) issue any case management order appropriate to furthering the overriding objective including, but not limited to, any order dealing with—

(i) the identification of the issues to be determined;

(ii) the identification of any preliminary issues and consideration of whether they should be dealt with at a preliminary hearing under rule 47 or a final hearing under rule 51;

(iii) the disclosure, exchange and inspection of documents;

(iv) the provision of additional documents and information;

(v) the numbers of witnesses;

(vi) the sequential or simultaneous exchange of witness statements;

(vii) the preparation of documents or hearing;

(viii) limiting the content, length or format of any document or bundle of documents, including a witness statement;

(ix) the timetabling of any orders made; and

(x) the listing of the case for hearing.

Case management orders

25.—(1) The tribunal may at any stage of the proceedings, on its own initiative or on application, make a case management order.

(2) A case management order may vary, suspend or set aside an earlier case management order where that is necessary in the interests of justice, and in particular where a party affected by the earlier order did not have a reasonable opportunity to make representations before it was made.

(3) The particular powers identified in rule 24 or the following rules do not restrict the general power in this rule.

Applications for case management orders

26.—(1) An application by a party for a particular case management order may be made either at a hearing or presented in writing to the tribunal.

(2) Where a party applies in writing and sends a copy of the application to the other parties in accordance with rule 89, the party shall notify the other parties of their rights under paragraph (3).

(3) The other parties may present any comments on or objections to the application within 7 days of receiving the application. If a hearing is due to take place before the expiry of the 7 day period, any comments or objections should be presented as soon as possible before that hearing.

(4) The tribunal may deal with such an application in writing or order that it be dealt with at a preliminary or final hearing.

Documents and evidence

27.—(1) The tribunal may—

(a) order any person in Northern Ireland—

(i) to grant to a party such disclosure, exchange and inspection (including the taking of copies) of documents as might be granted by a county court;

(ii) to disclose information to a party; or

(iii) to attend a hearing to give evidence, produce documents, or produce information;

(b) apply for an order under section 67 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 compelling the attendance at a hearing of any witness from another part of the United Kingdom or requiring the production by that witness of any document; or

(c) use the procedures for obtaining evidence prescribed in Council Regulation (EC) No. 1206/2001 of 28 May 2001 on cooperation between the courts of the Member States in the taking of evidence in civil or commercial matters.

(2) An order containing a requirement described in paragraph (1)(a) shall include the following information (as the case may require)—

(a) that any person who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with the requirement shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine in accordance with Article 9(4) of the Industrial Tribunals Order or Article 84(9) and (10) of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order;

(b) the amount of the current maximum fine; and

(c) that any person who, having been summarily convicted under Article 84(10) of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order, without reasonable excuse continues to fail to comply with the requirement shall be liable on a second or subsequent summary conviction to a continuing fine.

Addition, substitution and removal of parties

28.  The tribunal may on its own initiative, or on the application of a party or any other person wishing to become a party, add any person as a party, by way of substitution or otherwise, if it appears that there are issues between that person and any of the existing parties falling within the jurisdiction of the tribunal which it is in the interests of justice to have determined in the proceedings; and may remove any party apparently wrongly included.

Other persons

29.  The tribunal may permit any person to participate in proceedings, on such terms as may be specified, in respect of any matter in which that person has a legitimate interest.

Lead cases

30.—(1) Where a tribunal considers that two or more claims give rise to common or related issues of fact or law, the tribunal or the President may make an order specifying one or more of those claims as a lead case and staying the other claims (“the related cases”).

(2) When the tribunal makes a decision in respect of the common or related issues the Secretary shall send a copy of that decision to each party in each of the related cases and, subject to paragraph (3), that decision shall be binding on each of those parties.

(3) Within 28 days after the date on which the Secretary sent a copy of the decision to a party under paragraph (2), that party may apply in writing for an order that the decision does not apply to, and is not binding on the parties to, a particular related case.

(4) If a lead case is withdrawn before the tribunal makes a decision in respect of the common or related issues, it shall make an order as to—

(a) whether another claim is to be specified as a lead case; and

(b) whether any order affecting the related cases should be set aside or varied.

Consolidation of industrial tribunal and Fair Employment Tribunal proceedings

31.  The tribunal may on its own initiative, or on the application of a party, request from the President or the Vice-President a direction under Article 85 of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order that a matter that would otherwise fall to be determined by an industrial tribunal be heard and determined by the Fair Employment Tribunal exercising, for the purposes of that matter, the powers of an industrial tribunal.

Striking out

32.—(1) At any stage of the proceedings, either on its own initiative or on the application of a party, a tribunal may strike out all or part of any claim or response on any of the following grounds—

(a) that it is frivolous or vexatious or has no reasonable prospect of success;

(b) that the manner in which the proceedings have been conducted by or on behalf of the claimant or the respondent (as the case may be) has been frivolous, unreasonable or vexatious;

(c) for non-compliance with any of these Rules or with an order of the tribunal;

(d) that it has not been actively pursued;

(e) that the tribunal considers that it is no longer possible to have a fair hearing of the claim or response (or the part to be struck out).

(2) A claim or response may not be struck out unless the party in question has been given the opportunity to make representations, either in writing or, if requested by the party or ordered by the tribunal, at a hearing.

(3) Where a response is struck out, the effect shall be as if no response had been presented, as set out in rule 19.

Unless orders

33.—(1) An order may specify that, if it is not complied with by the date specified, the claim or response, or part of it, shall be dismissed without further order. If a claim or response, or part of it, is dismissed on this basis the parties shall be given written notice confirming what has occurred.

(2) A party whose claim or response has been dismissed, in whole or in part, as a result of such an order may apply to the tribunal in writing, within 14 days of the date that the notice was sent, to have the order set aside on the basis that it is in the interests of justice to do so. Unless the application includes a request for a hearing, the tribunal may determine it on the basis of written representations.

(3) Where a response is dismissed under this rule, the effect will be as if no response had been presented, as set out in rule 19.

Deposit orders

34.—(1) Where at a preliminary hearing under rule 48 the tribunal considers that any specific allegation or argument in a claim or response has little reasonable prospect of success, it may make an order requiring a party (“the paying party”) to pay a deposit not exceeding £500 as a condition of being permitted to continue to take part in the proceedings.

(2) The tribunal shall make reasonable enquiries into the paying party’s ability to pay the deposit and have regard to any such information when deciding the amount of the deposit.

(3) The tribunal’s reasons for making the deposit order shall be provided with the order and the paying party must be notified about the potential consequences of the order.

(4) If the paying party fails to pay the deposit by the date specified, the claim or response of that party or, as the case may be, the part of it to which the deposit order relates shall be struck out. Where a response is struck out, the effect shall be as if no response had been presented, as set out in rule 19.

(5) If the tribunal at any stage following the making of a deposit order decides the specific allegation or argument against the paying party for substantially the reasons given in the deposit order—

(a) the paying party shall be treated as having acted unreasonably in pursuing that specific allegation or argument for the purpose of rule 73 (tribunal’s consideration as to whether to make a costs or preparation time order), unless the contrary is shown; and

(b) the deposit shall be paid to the other party (or, if there is more than one, to such other party or parties as the tribunal orders),

otherwise the deposit shall be refunded.

(6) If a deposit has been paid to a party under paragraph (5)(b) and a costs or preparation time order has been made against the paying party in favour of the party who received the deposit, the amount of the deposit shall count towards the settlement of that order.

PART 7 RULES COMMON TO ALL KINDS OF HEARING

General conduct of hearings

35.—(1) In accordance with rule 4 (general power to regulate procedure) and the overriding objective, a tribunal shall conduct each hearing in the manner it considers fair. The following rules do not restrict that general power.

(2) The tribunal—

(a) is not bound by any rule of law relating to the admissibility of evidence in proceedings before the courts; and

(b) may itself question the parties or any witnesses so far as appropriate in order to clarify the issues or elicit the evidence.

Written representations

36.  The tribunal shall consider written representations from a party, including a party who does not propose to attend the hearing. Any such representations must be—

(a) presented not less than 7 days before the hearing; and

(b) at the same time, delivered to the other parties in accordance with rule 89.

Witnesses

37.—(1) Where a witness (who may be a party) is called to give oral evidence, any witness statement of that person ordered by the tribunal shall stand as that witness’s evidence in chief unless the tribunal orders otherwise.

(2) Witnesses shall be required to give their oral evidence on oath or affirmation.

(3) If it considers it in the interests of justice to do so, the tribunal may exclude from the hearing any person who is to appear as a witness in the proceedings until such time as that person gives evidence.

Inspection of witness statements

38.  Subject to rules 44 (privacy and restrictions on disclosure) and 91 and 92 (national security), any witness statement which stands as evidence in chief shall be available for inspection during the course of the hearing by members of the public attending the hearing unless the tribunal decides that all or any part of the statement is not to be admitted as evidence, in which case the statement or that part shall not be available for inspection.

Timetabling

39.  A tribunal may impose limits on the time that a party may take in presenting evidence, questioning witnesses or making submissions, and may prevent the party from proceeding beyond any time so allotted.

Electronic communication

40.  A hearing may be conducted, in whole or in part, by use of electronic communication (including by telephone) provided that the tribunal considers that it would be just and equitable to do so and provided that the parties and members of the public attending the hearing are able to hear what the tribunal hears and see any witness as seen by the tribunal.

Non-attendance

41.  If a party fails to attend or to be represented at the hearing, the tribunal may dismiss the claim, proceed with the hearing in the absence of that party or adjourn the hearing to a later date. Before doing so, it shall consider any information which is available to it about the reasons for the party’s absence.

Conversion from preliminary hearing to final hearing and vice versa

42.  A tribunal conducting a preliminary hearing may order that it be treated as a final hearing, or vice versa, if the tribunal is properly constituted for the purpose and if it is satisfied that neither party shall be materially prejudiced by the change.

Majority decisions

43.  Where a tribunal is composed of three persons, any decision may be made by a majority; but where it is composed of two persons, the employment judge has a second or casting vote.

Privacy and restrictions on disclosure

44.—(1) A tribunal may at any stage of the proceedings, on its own initiative or on application, make an order with a view to preventing or restricting the public disclosure of any aspect of those proceedings. Such an order may be made in any of the following circumstances—

(a) where the tribunal considers it necessary in the interests of justice;

(b) in order to protect the Convention rights of any person;

(c) for the purpose of hearing evidence from any person (“P”) which in the opinion of the tribunal is likely to consist of information which, if disclosed—

(i) would contravene a prohibition imposed by or by virtue of any statutory provision;

(ii) would breach a confidence by virtue of which P has obtained the information;

(iii) would, for reasons other than its effect on negotiations with respect to any of the matters mentioned in Article 96(1) of the Industrial Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1992, cause substantial injury to any undertaking of P’s or in which P works;

(d) in relation to proceedings before the Fair Employment Tribunal, where the tribunal considers that—

(i) the disclosure of any evidence given would be against the interests of national security, public safety or public order;

(ii) the disclosure of evidence given by any person (“P”) would create a substantial risk that P or another individual would be subject to physical attack or sectarian harassment.

(2) In considering whether to make an order under this rule, the tribunal shall give full weight to the principle of open justice and to the Convention right to freedom of expression.

(3) Such orders may include—

(a) an order that a hearing that would otherwise be in public be conducted, in whole or in part, in private;

(b) an order that the identities of specified parties, witnesses or other persons referred to in the proceedings should not be disclosed to the public, by the use of anonymisation or otherwise, whether in the course of any hearing or in its listing or in any documents entered on the register or otherwise forming part of the public record;

(c) an order for measures preventing witnesses at a public hearing being identifiable by members of the public;

(d) a restricted reporting order within the terms of Article 13 or 14 of the Industrial Tribunals Order;

(e) an order prohibiting the disclosure of specified information in accordance with Article 84(6) of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order.

(4) Any party, or other person with a legitimate interest, who has not had a reasonable opportunity to make representations before an order under this rule is made may apply to the tribunal in writing for the order to be revoked or discharged, either on the basis of written representations or, if requested, at a hearing.

(5) Where an order is made under paragraph (3)(d)—

(a) it shall specify the person whose identity is protected; and may specify particular matters of which publication is prohibited as likely to lead to that person’s identification;

(b) it shall specify the duration of the order;

(c) the tribunal shall ensure that a notice of the fact that such an order has been made in relation to those proceedings is displayed on the notice board of the tribunal with any list of the proceedings taking place before the tribunal, and on the door of the room in which the proceedings affected by the order are taking place; and

(d) the tribunal may order that it applies also to any other proceedings being heard as part of the same hearing.

(6) “Convention rights” has the meaning given to it in section 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998(6).

PART 8 WITHDRAWAL OF A CLAIM

End of claim

45.  Where a claimant informs the tribunal, either in writing or in the course of a hearing, that a claim, or part of it, is withdrawn, the claim, or part, comes to an end, subject to any application that the respondent may make for a costs, preparation time or wasted costs order.

Dismissal following withdrawal

46.  Where a claim, or part of it, has been withdrawn under rule 45, the tribunal shall issue a judgment dismissing it (which means that the claimant may not commence a further claim against the respondent raising the same, or substantially the same, complaint) unless—

(a) the claimant has expressed at the time of withdrawal a wish to reserve the right to bring such a further claim and the tribunal is satisfied that there would be legitimate reason for doing so; or

(b) the tribunal believes that to issue such a judgment would not be in the interests of justice.

PART 9 PRELIMINARY HEARINGS

Scope of preliminary hearings

47.—(1) A preliminary hearing is a hearing at which the tribunal, notwithstanding any steps taken under rule 24, may do one or more of the following—

(a) conduct a preliminary consideration of the claim with the parties and make a case management order (including an order relating to the conduct of the final hearing);

(b) determine any preliminary issue;

(c) consider whether a claim or response, or any part, should be struck out under rule 32;

(d) make a deposit order under rule 34;

(e) explore alternative means of resolving the issues in dispute, including the use of conciliation.

(2) There may be more than one preliminary hearing in any case.

(3) “Preliminary issue” means, as regards any complaint, any substantive issue which may determine liability (for example, an issue as to jurisdiction or as to whether an employee was dismissed).

Fixing of preliminary hearings

48.—(1) A preliminary hearing may be directed by the tribunal on its own initiative following early case management under rule 24, at any time thereafter or as the result of an application by a party and the parties shall be given reasonable notice of the date of the hearing.

(2) Where the hearing involves any preliminary issues, that notice shall be given at least 14 days prior to the hearing unless the parties agree to shorter notice and shall specify the preliminary issues that are to be, or may be, decided at the hearing.

Constitution of tribunal for preliminary hearings

49.  Preliminary hearings shall be conducted by an employment judge alone unless—

(a) notice has been given under rule 48(2) that any preliminary issues are to be, or may be, decided at the hearing; and

(b) a party has requested in writing that the hearing be conducted by an employment judge acting with either one or two other members in accordance with regulation 10,

and in that case an employment judge shall decide whether it would be desirable for the hearing to proceed in accordance with the party’s request.

When preliminary hearings shall be in public

50.  Preliminary hearings shall be conducted in private, except that where the hearing involves a determination under rule 47(1)(b) (preliminary issues) or (c) (striking out), any part of the hearing relating to such a determination shall be in public, subject to rule 44 (privacy and restrictions on disclosure) and rules 91 and 92 (national security), and the tribunal may direct that the entirety of the hearing be in public.

PART 10 FINAL HEARING

Scope of final hearing

51.—(1) A final hearing is a hearing at which the tribunal determines the claim or such parts as remain outstanding following early case management under rule 24 or any preliminary hearing.

(2) There may be different final hearings for different issues (for example, liability, remedy or costs).

Notice of final hearing

52.  The parties shall be given not less than 14 days’ notice of the date of a final hearing.

Constitution of tribunal for final hearings

53.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), final hearings shall be conducted by a tribunal comprising an employment judge and either one or two other members, in accordance with regulation 10.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to final hearings in national security proceedings, which shall be conducted by an employment judge and two other members, in accordance with regulation 12.

When final hearing shall be in public

54.  Any final hearing shall be in public, subject to rule 44 (privacy and restrictions on disclosure) and rules 91 and 92 (national security).

PART 11 JUDGMENTS, CASE MANAGEMENT ORDERS AND REASONS

Judgments and case management orders made without a hearing

55.  Judgments and case management orders made without a hearing shall be communicated in writing to the parties, identifying the employment judge who has made the judgment or order.

Judgments and case management orders made at or following a hearing

56.—(1) Where there is a hearing the tribunal may announce a judgment or case management order in relation to any issue at the hearing or reserve it to be sent to the parties as soon as practicable in writing.

(2) If the judgment or order is announced at the hearing, it shall be provided to the parties (and, where the proceedings were referred to the tribunal by a court, to that court) as soon as practicable in writing.

(3) Each judgment or order provided in writing shall be signed by the employment judge unless rule 58 (absence of employment judge) applies.

Reasons

57.—(1) The tribunal shall give reasons—

(a) for any order (which includes a case management order) on its own initiative, if it considers it appropriate to do so, or if requested by any party;

(b) for any judgment (including any judgment on an application for reconsideration or for orders for costs, preparation time or wasted costs).

(2) If a judgment or order for which reasons are given under paragraph (1)(a) is announced at a hearing, the reasons may be given orally at the hearing or reserved to be sent to the parties as soon as practicable in writing.

(3) Reasons given in writing may be included in the relevant judgment or order but if they are provided separately they shall be signed by the employment judge.

(4) Reasons given orally need only be provided in writing if requested by any party—

(a) at the hearing; or

(b) within 14 days of the date on which judgment or order was sent.

(5) If no request under paragraph (4) is received, the tribunal shall provide written reasons only if requested to do so by a court.

(6) The reasons given for any judgment or order shall be proportionate to the significance of the issue.

(7) The reasons given for a judgment shall—

(a) identify the issues which the tribunal has determined;

(b) state the findings of fact made in relation to those issues;

(c) concisely identify the relevant law;

(d) state how that law has been applied to those findings in order to decide the issues; and

(e) where the judgment includes a financial award identify, by means of a table or otherwise, how the amount to be paid has been calculated.

Absence of employment judge

58.  If it is impossible or not practicable for a judgment, case management order or reasons to be signed by the employment judge as a result of death, incapacity or absence, that document shall be signed by the other member or members of the tribunal (if any) or by the President or the Vice-President (in the case of an employment judge sitting alone).

Consent orders and judgments

59.  If the parties agree in writing or orally at a hearing upon the terms of any order or judgment a tribunal may, if it thinks fit, make such order or judgment, in which case it shall be identified as having been made by consent.

When a judgment or order takes effect

60.  A judgment or order takes effect from the day when it is given or made, or on such later date as specified by the tribunal.

Entry of judgments and reasons in the register

61.  Subject to rule 44 (privacy and restrictions on disclosure) and rules 91 and 92 (national security), a copy shall be entered in the register of any judgment and of any written reasons for a judgment.

Copies of judgment for referring court

62.  Where the proceedings were referred to the tribunal by a court a copy of any judgment and of any written reasons shall be provided to that court.

Correction of clerical mistakes and accidental slips

63.—(1) An employment judge may at any time require corrections to be made to any clerical mistake or other accidental slip or omission in any order, judgment or other document produced by a tribunal.

(2) If such a correction is made, any published version of the document shall also be corrected.

(3) If any document is corrected under this rule, a copy of the corrected version, signed by the employment judge, shall be sent to all the parties.

PART 12 RECONSIDERATION OF JUDGMENTS

Reconsideration of judgment

64.  A tribunal may, either on its own initiative or on the application of a party, reconsider any judgment (“the original decision”) where it is necessary in the interests of justice to do so.

Reconsideration on tribunal’s own initiative

65.  Where the tribunal proposes to reconsider the original decision on its own initiative—

(a) it shall inform the parties of the reasons why the decision is being reconsidered; and

(b) the original decision shall be reconsidered in accordance with rule 67(2) (as if an application had been made and not refused).

Application for reconsideration

66.  Except where it is made at a hearing, an application for reconsideration shall be presented in writing (and copied to all the other parties)—

(a) within 14 days of the date on which the original decision was sent to the parties; or

(b) within 14 days of the date that the written reasons were sent (if later),

and shall set out why reconsideration of the original decision is necessary in the interests of justice.

Consideration of the application

67.—(1) An employment judge shall consider any application made under rule 66. If the employment judge considers that there is no reasonable prospect of the original decision being varied or revoked (including, unless there are special reasons, where substantially the same application has already been made and refused), the application shall be refused and the parties shall be informed of the refusal.

(2) If the application is not refused, a notice shall be sent to the parties—

(a) setting a time limit for any response to the application by the other parties;

(b) seeking the views of the parties on whether the application can be determined without a hearing; and

(c) where the employment judge considers it appropriate, setting out the employment judge’s provisional views on the application.

Reconsideration of the original decision

68.—(1) If the application has not been refused under rule 67(1), the original decision shall be reconsidered at a hearing unless the employment judge considers, having regard to any response to the notice under rule 67(2), that a hearing is not necessary in the interests of justice.

(2) If the reconsideration proceeds without a hearing the parties shall be given a reasonable opportunity to make further written representations.

Unavailability of employment judge or tribunal

69.—(1) Where practicable—

(a) the consideration under rule 67 shall be by the employment judge who made the original decision or, as the case may be, chaired the tribunal which made it; and

(b) any reconsideration under rule 68 shall be made by the employment judge or, as the case may be, the tribunal which made the original decision.

(2) Where it is not practicable to proceed under paragraph (1), the President or the Vice-President shall appoint another employment judge to deal with the application or, in the case of a decision of a tribunal, shall either direct that the reconsideration be by such members of the original tribunal as remain available or reconstitute the tribunal in whole or in part.

Outcome of reconsideration

70.  Following reconsideration under rule 68, the original decision may be confirmed, varied or revoked. If it is revoked it may be taken again.

PART 13 COSTS, PREPARATION TIME AND WASTED COSTS ORDERS

Definitions

71.—(1) “Costs” means fees, charges, disbursements or expenses (other than expenses that witnesses incur for the purpose of, or in connection with, attendance at a tribunal hearing) incurred by or on behalf of a party (“the receiving party”).

(2) “Legally represented” means having the assistance of a person (including where that person is the receiving party’s employee) who—

(a) is a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland or a solicitor of the Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland;

(b) has a right of audience in relation to any class of proceedings in any part of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, or all proceedings in county courts or magistrates’ courts; or

(c) is an advocate or solicitor in Scotland.

(3) “Preparation time” means time spent by a party (“the receiving party”) (including by any employees or advisers) in working on the case, except for time spent at any final hearing.

(4) “Represented by a lay representative” means having the assistance of a person who does not satisfy any of the criteria in paragraph (2) and who charges for representation in the proceedings.

Costs orders and preparation time orders

72.—(1) A costs order is an order that a party (“the paying party”) make a payment to the receiving party in respect of the costs that the receiving party has incurred while legally represented or while represented by a lay representative.

(2) A preparation time order is an order that a party (“the paying party”) make a payment to the receiving party in respect of the receiving party’s preparation time while not legally represented or while not represented by a lay representative.

(3) A costs order and a preparation time order may not both be made in favour of the same party in the same proceedings. A tribunal may, if it wishes, decide in the course of the proceedings that a party is entitled to one order or the other but defer until a later stage in the proceedings deciding which kind of order to make.

When a costs order or a preparation time order may or shall be made

73.—(1) A tribunal may make a costs order or a preparation time order, and shall consider whether to do so, where it considers that—

(a) a party (or that party’s representative) has acted vexatiously, abusively, disruptively or otherwise unreasonably in either the bringing of the proceedings (or part) or the way that the proceedings (or part) have been conducted; or

(b) all or part of any claim or response had no reasonable prospect of success.

(2) A tribunal may also make such an order where a party has been in breach of any order or practice direction or where a hearing has been postponed or adjourned on the application of a party.

(3) A tribunal may make such an order against a respondent who has not had a response accepted in the proceedings in relation to the conduct of any part which the respondent has taken in the proceedings.

(4) Where in proceedings for unfair dismissal a final hearing is postponed or adjourned, the tribunal shall order the respondent to pay the costs incurred as a result of the postponement or adjournment if—

(a) the claimant has expressed a wish to be reinstated or re-engaged which has been communicated to the respondent not less than 7 days before the hearing; and

(b) the postponement or adjournment of that hearing has been caused by the respondent’s failure, without a special reason, to adduce reasonable evidence as to the availability of the job from which the claimant was dismissed or of comparable or suitable employment.

Procedure

74.  A party may apply for a costs order or a preparation time order at any stage up to 28 days after the date on which the judgment finally determining the proceedings in respect of that party was sent to the parties. No such order may be made unless the paying party has had a reasonable opportunity to make representations (in writing or at a hearing, as the tribunal may order) in response to the application.

The amount of a costs order

75.—(1) A costs order may—

(a) order the paying party to pay the receiving party a specified amount, not exceeding £10,000, in respect of the costs of the receiving party;

(b) order the paying party to pay the receiving party the whole or a specified part of the costs of the receiving party, with the amount to be paid being determined in accordance with such of the scales prescribed by county court rules for proceedings in the county court as shall be directed by the order; or

(c) if the paying party and the receiving party agree as to the amount payable, be made in that amount.

(2) Where the costs order includes an amount in respect of fees charged by a lay representative, for the purposes of the calculation of the order, the hourly rate applicable for the fees of the lay representative shall be no higher than the rate under rule 76(2).

(3) For the avoidance of doubt, the amount of a costs order under sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) of paragraph (1) may exceed £10,000.

The amount of a preparation time order

76.—(1) The tribunal shall decide the number of hours in respect of which a preparation time order should be made, on the basis of—

(a) information provided by the receiving party on time spent falling within rule 72(2); and

(b) the tribunal’s own assessment of what it considers to be a reasonable and proportionate amount of time to spend on such preparatory work, with reference to such matters as the complexity of the proceedings, the number of witnesses and documentation required.

(2) The hourly rate is £39 and increases on 6 April each year by £1.

(3) The amount of a preparation time order shall be the product of the number of hours assessed under paragraph (1) and the rate under paragraph (2).

When a wasted costs order may be made

77.—(1) A tribunal may make a wasted costs order against a representative in favour of any party (“the receiving party”) where that party has incurred costs (“wasted costs”)—

(a) as a result of any improper, unreasonable or negligent act or omission on the part of the representative; or

(b) which, in the light of any such act or omission occurring after they were incurred, the tribunal considers it unreasonable to expect the receiving party to pay.

(2) “Representative” means a party’s legal or other representative or any employee of such representative, but it does not include a representative who is not acting in pursuit of profit with regard to the proceedings.

(3) A wasted costs order—

(a) may be made in favour of a party whether or not that party is legally represented;

(b) may be made in favour of a representative’s own client;

(c) may not be made against a representative where that representative is representing a party in his or her capacity as an employee of that party.

Effect of a wasted costs order

78.  A wasted costs order may—

(a) order the representative to pay the whole or part of any wasted costs of the receiving party;

(b) disallow any wasted costs that, but for the order, would be payable to the representative;

(c) order that the representative repay to its client any costs which have already been paid;

and the amount to be paid, disallowed or repaid must in each case be specified in the order.

Procedure for making a wasted costs order

79.—(1) A wasted costs order may be made by the tribunal on its own initiative or on the application of any party.

(2) A party may apply for a wasted costs order at any stage up to 28 days after the date on which the judgment finally determining the proceedings as against that party was sent to the parties.

(3) No such order shall be made unless the representative has had a reasonable opportunity to make representations (in writing or at a hearing, as the tribunal may order) in response to the application or proposal.

(4) The Secretary shall inform the representative’s client in writing of any proceedings under this rule and of any order made against the representative.

Allowances

80.  Where the tribunal makes a costs, preparation time, or wasted costs order, it may also make an order that the paying party (or, where a wasted costs order is made, the representative) pay to the Department, in whole or in part, any allowances (other than allowances paid to members of the tribunal) paid by the Department under Article 7(2) or (3) of the Industrial Tribunals Order or Article 83 of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order to any person for the purposes of, or in connection with, that person’s attendance at the tribunal.

Ability to pay

81.  In deciding whether to make a costs, preparation time, or wasted costs order, and if so in what amount, the tribunal may have regard to the paying party’s (or, where a wasted costs order is made, the representative’s) ability to pay.

PART 14 DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS

Delivery to the tribunal

82.—(1) Documents may be delivered to the tribunal—

(a) by post;

(b) by direct delivery to the tribunal office (including delivery by a courier or messenger service); or

(c) by electronic communication.

(2) The tribunal may from time to time notify the parties of any change of address, or that a particular form of communication should or should not be used, and any documents shall be delivered in accordance with that notification.

Delivery to parties

83.—(1) Documents may be delivered to a party (whether by the tribunal or by another party)—

(a) by post;

(b) by direct delivery to that party’s address (including delivery by a courier or messenger service);

(c) by electronic communication; or

(d) by being handed personally—

(i) to that party, if an individual and if no representative has been named in the claim form or response;

(ii) to any individual representative named in the claim form or response; or

(iii) on the occasion of a hearing, to any person identified by the party as representing that party at that hearing.

(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraphs (a) to (c) of paragraph (1), the document shall be delivered to the address given in the claim form or response (which shall be the address of the party’s representative, if one is named) or to a different address as notified in writing by the party in question.

(3) If a party has given both a postal address and one or more electronic addresses, any of them may be used unless the party has indicated in writing that a particular address should or should not be used.

Delivery to non-parties

84.  Subject to the special cases referred to in rule 85, documents shall be sent to non-parties—

(a) at any address for service which they may have notified;

(b) where no address has been notified—

(i) at any known address or place of business in the United Kingdom;

(ii) if the party is a corporate body, at its registered or principal office in the United Kingdom;

(c) in any case, if permitted by the President or the Vice-President, at an address outside the United Kingdom.

Special cases

85.  Addresses for serving the Department, the Advocate General for Northern Ireland, the Attorney General for Northern Ireland, the First Minister, the deputy First Minister, the Commission, and any other body or person the President considers appropriate, shall be issued by practice direction.

Substituted service

86.  Where no address for service in accordance with the above rules is known or it appears that service at any such address is unlikely to come to the attention of the addressee, the President or the Vice-President may order that there shall be substituted service in such manner as appears appropriate.

Date of delivery

87.  Subject to rule 88, a document delivered in accordance with rule 82 or 83 shall be taken to have been received by the addressee—

(a) if sent by post, on the day on which it would be delivered in the ordinary course of post;

(b) if sent by means of electronic communication, on the day of transmission;

(c) if delivered directly or personally, on the day of delivery.

Situations in which a document may be treated as delivered

88.—(1) A tribunal may treat any document as delivered to a person, notwithstanding any non-compliance with rules 83 to 85, if satisfied that the document in question, or its substance, has in fact come to the attention of that person.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), a tribunal may treat a document as delivered to a person, unless the contrary is proved, if the document was delivered by post or by direct or personal delivery to that person at their last known address, even if that document has been returned as undelivered.

Correspondence with the tribunal: copying to other parties

89.  Where a party sends a communication to the tribunal (except an application for an order requiring a person to attend a hearing under rule 27(1)(a)(iii)) that party shall send a copy to all other parties and state that it has done so (by use of “cc” or otherwise) including the date and means of delivery. The tribunal may order a departure from this rule where it considers it in the interests of justice to do so.

PART 15 MISCELLANEOUS

Conciliation: recovery of sums payable under compromises

90.—(1) A party may apply for a declaration under Article 21A(4) of the Industrial Tribunals Order or Article 88A(4) of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order that a sum payable under the terms of a compromise is not recoverable under the general law of contract.

(2) The application, which must be made within 14 days of the date of issue of the certificate stating that a compromise has been reached, shall be considered by an employment judge.

National security proceedings: industrial tribunals

91.—(1) Where in relation to particular Crown employment proceedings before an industrial tribunal the Secretary of State considers that it would be expedient in the interests of national security, the Secretary of State may direct a tribunal to—

(a) conduct all or part of the proceedings in private;

(b) exclude a person from all or part of the proceedings;

(c) take steps to conceal the identity of a witness in the proceedings.

(2) Where an industrial tribunal considers it expedient in the interests of national security, it may order—

(a) in relation to particular proceedings (including Crown employment proceedings), anything which can be required to be done under paragraph (1);

(b) a person not to disclose any document (or the contents of any document), where provided for the purposes of the proceedings, to any other person (save for any specified person),

and any order so made shall be kept under review by the tribunal.

(3) Where the tribunal considers that it may be necessary to make an order under paragraph (2) in relation to particular proceedings (including Crown employment proceedings), the tribunal may consider any material provided by a party (or where the Secretary of State is not a party, by the Secretary of State) without providing that material to any other person. Such material shall be used by the tribunal solely for the purposes of deciding whether to make that order (unless that material is subsequently used as evidence in the proceedings by a party).

(4) Where the Secretary of State considers that it would be appropriate for the tribunal to make an order under paragraph (2), the Secretary of State may make an application for such an order.

(5) Where the Secretary of State has made an application under paragraph (4), the tribunal may order—

(a) in relation to the part of the proceedings preceding the outcome of the application, anything which can be required to be done under paragraph (1);

(b) a person not to disclose any document (or the contents of any document) to any other person (save for any specified person), where provided for the purposes of the proceedings preceding the outcome of the application.

(6) Where the Secretary of State has made an application under paragraph (4) for an order to exclude any person from all or part of the proceedings, the Secretary shall not send a copy of the response to that person, pending the decision on the application.

(7) If before the expiry of the time limit in rule 15(1)(b) the Secretary of State makes a direction under paragraph (1) or makes an application under paragraph (4), the Secretary of State may apply for an extension of that time limit.

(8) A direction under paragraph (1) or an application under paragraph (4) may be made irrespective of whether the Secretary of State is a party.

(9) Where having considered making an order under paragraph (2) the tribunal decides not to do so, rule 6 of Schedule 2 shall apply to the reasons given by the tribunal under rule 57 for that decision, save that the reasons shall not be entered on the register.

(10) The tribunal must ensure that in exercising its functions, information is not disclosed contrary to the interests of national security.

National security proceedings: Fair Employment Tribunal

92.  Where the Fair Employment Tribunal considers it expedient in the interests of national security, it may order in relation to particular proceedings (including Crown employment proceedings) that all or part of the proceedings be conducted in private and any order so made shall be kept under review by the tribunal.

PART 16 OTHER PROCEEDINGS

Interim relief proceedings

93.  When a tribunal hears an application for interim relief under Article 163 of the Employment Rights Order or for its variation or revocation under Article 166 of that Order, rules 47 to 50 (preliminary hearings) apply and the tribunal shall not hear oral evidence unless it directs otherwise.

Proceedings involving the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund

94.  The Department shall be entitled to appear and be heard at any hearing in relation to proceedings which may involve a payment out of the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund and shall be treated as a party for the purposes of these Rules.

Collective agreements

95.—(1) Where a claim includes a complaint under any of the statutory provisions listed in paragraph (2) relating to a term of a collective agreement, the following persons, whether or not identified in the claim, shall be regarded as the persons against whom a remedy is claimed and shall be treated as respondents for the purposes of these Rules—

(a) the claimant’s employer (or prospective employer); and

(b) every organisation of employers and organisation of workers, and every association of or representative of such organisations, which, if the terms were to be varied voluntarily, would be likely, in the opinion of an employment judge, to negotiate the variation.

An organisation or association shall not be treated as a respondent if the employment judge, having made such enquiries of the claimant and such other enquiries as the employment judge thinks fit, is of the opinion that it is not reasonably practicable to identify the organisation or association.

(2) The statutory provisions are—

(a) Article 77A(4A) of the Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976(7);

(b) paragraph 5 of Schedule 3A to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995(8);

(c) Article 68B(1) of the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997(9);

(d) Article 100B(1) of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order;

(e) paragraph 5 of Schedule 4 to the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003(10);

(f) paragraph 5 of Schedule 4 to the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006(11).

Devolution issues

96.—(1) In any proceedings involving a devolution issue as defined in paragraph 1 of Schedule 10 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998(12), the Secretary shall as soon as practicable give notice of that fact and a copy of the claim form and response to each of the persons mentioned in paragraph 5 of that Schedule, unless they are a party to the proceedings.

(2) A person to whom notice is sent may be treated as a party to the proceedings, so far as the proceedings relate to the devolution issue, if that person sends notice to the tribunal within 14 days of receiving a notice under paragraph (1).

(3) Any notices sent under paragraph (1) or (2) must at the same time be sent to the parties.

References to the Court of Justice of the European Union

97.  Where a tribunal decides to refer a question to the Court of Justice of the European Union for a preliminary ruling under Article 267 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union(13), a copy of that decision shall be sent to the registrar of that court.

Transfer of proceedings from a court

98.  Where proceedings are referred to a tribunal by a court, these Rules apply as if the proceedings had been presented by the claimant.

Vexatious litigants

99.  The tribunal may on its own initiative or on application make a request that the Attorney General for Northern Ireland review documents or information for the purpose of determining whether it is appropriate to prepare an application under section 32 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978(14) (restriction on institution of vexatious actions) and the tribunal shall provide any documents or information requested by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland for that purpose.

Provision of information to the Commission

100.—(1) The Secretary shall send to the Commission copies of all judgments, including any written reasons for such judgments, relating to proceedings under—

(a) the Equal Pay Act (Northern Ireland) 1970(15)

(b) the Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976;

(c) the Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1988(16)

(d) the Disability Discrimination Act 1995;

(e) the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997;

(f) the Fair Employment and Treatment Order;

(g) the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003; or

(h) the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply in any proceedings where the Secretary of State has given a direction, or a tribunal has made an order, under rule 91 or 92 (national security); and either the Security Service, the Secret Intelligence Service or the Government Communications Headquarters is a party to the proceedings.

Application of this Schedule to levy appeals

101.  For the purposes of an appeal against an assessment to a levy imposed under Article 23 of the Industrial Training (Northern Ireland) Order 1984(17) (“a levy appeal”), references in this Schedule to a claim or claimant shall be read as references to a levy appeal or to an appellant in a levy appeal respectively.

Application of this Schedule to appeals against improvement and prohibition notices

102.—(1) A person (“the appellant”) may appeal an improvement notice under Article 23 of the Health and Safety Order or a prohibition notice under Article 24 of that Order by presenting a claim to the tribunal office before the end of the period of 21 days beginning with the date of the service on the appellant of the notice which is the subject of the appeal.

(2) For the purposes of such an appeal, this Schedule shall be treated as modified in the following way—

(a) references to a claim or claimant shall be read as references to an appeal or to an appellant in an appeal respectively;

(b) references to a respondent shall be read as references to the inspector appointed under Article 21(1) of the Health and Safety Order who issued the notice which is the subject of the appeal.

(3) For the purposes of this rule and its application to this Schedule, “Health and Safety Order” means the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978(18).

Application of this Schedule to appeals against directions, non-discrimination notices and notices of refusal

103.—(1) For the purposes of an appeal against directions, a non-discrimination notice or a notice of refusal, this Schedule shall be treated as modified in the following ways—

(a) references to a claim or claimant shall be read as references to a notice of appeal or to an appellant in an appeal against directions, a non-discrimination notice or a notice of refusal respectively (as the case may require);

(b) references to a respondent shall be read as references to the Commission.

(2) For the purposes of this rule and its application to this Schedule—

“directions” means directions given by the Commission under Article 12, 13, 14(4) or 57 of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order or substituted by the tribunal under Article 15 of that Order;

“non-discrimination notice” means a notice under Article 67 of the Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976, Article 55 of the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997, Article 6 of the Equality (Disability, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 2000(19) or regulation 37 of the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006(20);

“notice of refusal” means a notice served by the Commission under Article 62(7) or 63(5) of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order.

Application of this Schedule to applications for enforcement of an undertaking or directions

104.—(1) For the purposes of an application under Article 16(1) (enforcement of an undertaking or directions) or 16(7)(b) (enforcement of an order under Article 16(3)(a)) of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order—

(a) any reference to a claim shall be read as a reference to an application;

(b) any reference to a claimant shall be read as a reference to the Commission;

(c) any reference to a respondent shall be read as a reference to the person who gave the undertaking, was given the directions or against whom an order was made (as the case may require).

(2) For the purposes of an application under Article 16(8)(a) (to revoke or vary the terms of an order under Article 16(3)) of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order—

(a) any reference to a claim shall be read as a reference to an application;

(b) any reference to a claimant shall be read as a reference to the applicant;

(c) any reference to a respondent shall be read—

(i) if the applicant is the Commission, as a reference to the person against whom the order was made; and

(ii) if the applicant is the person against whom the order was made, as a reference to the Commission.

(3) For the purposes of this rule and its application to this Schedule—

“directions” means directions given by the Commission under Articles 12, 13, 14 or 57 of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order or substituted by the Fair Employment Tribunal under Article 15 of that Order;

“undertaking”, except for the purposes of rule 44(1)(c)(iii), means an undertaking given to the Commission under Article 12, 13 or 57 of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order,

and any reference to Article 15 or 16 of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order (appeals and legal proceedings in relation to undertakings and directions) includes reference to those provisions as they are applied for the purposes of Articles 57 and 58 by Article 59 of that Order.

(1)

S.R. 2020 No. 2.

(2)

2001 c. 9; section 4(1) was amended by 2003 c. 21.

(3)

S.R. 1994 No. 308.

(4)

S.I. 1996/1969 (N.I. 16).

(5)

“Public holiday” is defined in s. 39(8) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (c. 33) so as to include Christmas Day, Good Friday, any bank holiday appointed by or under any statutory provision and any day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning. Schedule 1 of the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 (c. 80) lists the following bank holidays in respect of Northern Ireland: 17th March (or 18th March if 17th is a Sunday); Easter Monday; the last Monday in May; the last Monday in August; 26th December (if it is not a Sunday); and 27th December (if 25th or 26th is a Sunday).

(6)

1998 c. 42.

(7)

S.I. 1976/1042 (N.I. 15); Article 77A was inserted by S.I. 1988/1303 (N.I. 13), Article 11 and paragraph (4A) by S.I. 1993/2668 (N.I. 11), Article 11.

(8)

1995 c. 50; Schedule 3A was inserted by S.R. 2004 No. 55, regulation 16(2).

(9)

S.I. 1997/869 (N.I. 6); Article 68B was inserted by regulation 53 of S.R. 2003 No. 341, regulation 53.

(10)

S.R. 2003 No. 497.

(11)

S.R. 2006 No. 261.

(12)

1998 c. 47.

(13)

O.J. No. C83, 30.03.10, p. 47.

(14)

1978 c. 23.

(15)

1970 c. 32 (N.I.).

(16)

S.I. 1988/1303 (N.I. 13).

(17)

S.I. 1984/1159 (N.I. 9).

(18)

S.I. 1978/1039 (N.I. 9).

(19)

S.I. 2000/1110 (N.I. 2).

(20)

S.R. 2006 No. 439.