Deregulation (Model Appeal Provisions) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997

Procedures at the hearing etc.

Hearing to be in public

25.  The hearing must be in public except where the tribunal is satisfied that, because the subject matter to be considered by the tribunal—

(a) relates to intimate personal or financial circumstances, is commercially sensitive, or consists of information communicated or obtained in confidence; or

(b) is a matter whose disclosure would be contrary to the interests of national security,

or for any other reason, it is fair and reasonable for the hearing, or any part of the hearing, to be conducted in private.

Procedure at the hearing

26.—(1) At the beginning of the hearing the Chairman must explain the order of proceedings which the tribunal proposes to adopt.

(2) The tribunal must conduct the hearing in the manner which it considers most suitable to clarification of the issues before it and generally to fair handling of the proceedings; it shall so far as appears appropriate seek to avoid formality in its proceedings.

(3) The appellant and the Authority may appear at the hearing and may be represented or assisted by any person.

(4) If the appellant or the Authority fails to attend or be represented at the hearing, the tribunal may hear and, provided they have considered any representations made by the party under rule 21(1)(b), determine the appeal in that party’s absence.

(5) The tribunal must consider any representations made by an interested person under rule 16.

(6) Subject to paragraph (7), the appellant and the Authority are entitled to give evidence, to call witnesses, to question any witnesses and to address the tribunal both on the evidence and generally on the subject matter of the appeal.

(7) The tribunal may at any point in the hearing limit the rights of either party under paragraph (6), provided that it is satisfied that to do so will not prevent the appeal from being decided fairly.

(8) The tribunal may adjourn the hearing, but must not do so unless it is satisfied that it is necessary to do so in order for the appeal to be decided fairly.

(9) The time and place fixed for an adjourned hearing must be—

(a) announced before the adjournment; or

(b) published in accordance with rule 23.

Absence of a member of the tribunal

27.  The tribunal may continue to hear the appeal in the absence of one member of the tribunal other than the Chairman, and the tribunal shall be taken to be properly constituted in those circumstances.

Evidence

28.—(1) Evidence before the tribunal may be given orally or, if the tribunal so orders, by affidavit or written statement, but the tribunal may at any stage of the proceedings require the personal attendance of any deponent or maker of a written statement.

(2) The tribunal may receive evidence of any fact which appears to the tribunal to be relevant, whether or not the evidence—

(a) would be admissible in a court of law; or

(b) was available to the Authority when the disputed action was taken.

(3) The tribunal may require any witness to give evidence on oath or affirmation which may be administered for the purpose by the Chairman.

Summoning or citing of witnesses

29.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the tribunal may, on the application of either party, issue a summons, requiring any person in Northern Ireland—

(a) to attend as a witness at the hearing, at the time and place set out in the summons; and

(b) to answer any questions or produce any documents or other material in his possession or under his control which relate to any matter in question in the appeal.

(2) No person may be required to attend in compliance with a summons under this rule unless—

(a) he has been given at least seven days' notice of the hearing; and

(b) he is paid the necessary expenses of his attendance.

(3) No person may be required in compliance with a summons under this rule to give any evidence or produce any document or other material that he could not be required to produce in legal proceedings.

(4) Where a person summoned under paragraph (1)—

(a) refuses or neglects, without sufficient cause, to appear or to produce any documents required by the summons to be produced; or

(b) having been so summoned, refuses to be sworn or to give evidence,

a judge may, on the application of the Chairman, exercise his powers under Articles 54 and 55 of the County Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1980(1) in relation to that person as though the person had been summoned in pursuance of County Court Rules as a witness in a county court.

(5) In this rule, “legal proceedings” means proceedings in a county court.

(1)

S.I. 1980/397 (N.I. 3)