Race Relations (Interest on Awards) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order.)

This Order, which comes into operation on 4th August 1997, makes special provision in relation to interest on awards and compensation orders made by industrial tribunals under the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (“the 1997 Order”).

Article 2 enables an industrial tribunal which makes an award or order of compensation under the 1997 Order to include a sum by way of interest on the amount awarded. Article 3 provides that such interest is to be calculated as simple interest which accrues from day to day and specifies the rate of interest to be used. Articles 4 to 6 contain rules for the calculation of interest. There is also provision for the industrial tribunal to depart from these rules where it is of the opinion that serious injustice would be done if the rules were to be applied. Article 7 provides that written details must be given of the calculation of interest and that reasons must be given if no interest is awarded.

Article 8 modifies the effect of the Industrial Tribunals (Interest) (Northern Ireland) Order 1990 (“the 1990 Order”) as it applies to an award or order of compensation made under the 1997 Order (including any interest awarded under Article 2). In relation to such an award, interest will begin to accrue from the day after the day on which the tribunal’s decision is sent to the parties (and not from a date 42 days later); however no interest will be payable under the 1990 Order if the full amount of the award is paid to the complainant within 14 days after the decision is sent out.