The Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989

Appointment of insolvency practitioner by the High Court N.I.

247.—(1) Subject to Article 248, on the hearing of a debtor's petition the High Court shall not make a bankruptcy order if it appears to the Court—

(a) that if a bankruptcy order were made the aggregate amount of the bankruptcy debts, so far as unsecured, would be less than the small bankruptcies level,

(b) that if a bankruptcy order were made, the value of the bankrupt's estate would be equal to or more than the minimum amount,

(c) that within the 5 years immediately preceding the presentation of the petition the debtor has neither been adjudged bankrupt nor made a composition with his creditors in satisfaction of his debts or a scheme of arrangement of his affairs, and

(d) that it would be appropriate to appoint a person to prepare a report under Article 248;

and in this paragraph “the minimum amount” and “the small bankruptcies level” mean such amounts as may for the time being be specified by order under Article 362(1)(b).

(2) Where on the hearing of the petition it appears to the High Court as mentioned in paragraph (1), the Court shall appoint a person who is qualified to act as an insolvency practitioner in relation to the debtor—

(a) to prepare a report under Article 248, and

(b) subject to Article 232(3), to act in relation to any voluntary arrangement to which the report relates either as trustee or otherwise for the purpose of supervising its implementation.