The Industrial Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1992

Procedure of the Industrial Court

92.—(1) The Department may make, or authorise the Industrial Court to make, rules regulating the procedure of the Court and such rules may provide—

(a)for references in certain cases to a single member of the Court;

(b)for the Court to sit in two or more divisions;

(c)for the Court to sit with assessors;

(d)for the Court, or any division of the Court, to act notwithstanding any vacancy in its number;

(e)for enabling questions as to the interpretation of any award to be settled without any fresh reference;

(f)for the cases in which persons may appear by counsel or solicitor in proceedings before the Court.

(2) Except as provided by rules under paragraph (1)(f), no person shall be entitled to appear in any proceedings before the Court by counsel or solicitor.

(3) If in any case the Court cannot reach a unanimous decision on its award, the chairman shall decide the matter acting with the full powers of an umpire.

(4) Where any trade dispute referred to the Court under Article 84(2)(e) involves questions as to wages or as to hours of work or otherwise as to the terms and conditions of or affecting employment which are regulated by any statutory provision, the Court shall not make any award which is inconsistent with that statutory provision.

(5) The Arbitration Act (Northern Ireland) 1937(1) shall not apply to any reference to the Court.

(6) Subject to paragraphs (1) to (5), the Court shall determine its own procedure.