Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997

Appointed persons

5.—(1) The Department shall nominate an appointed person who in the opinion of the Department is specially qualified to consider representations under this Schedule.

(2) The appointed person shall serve on the person who made representations a notice requiring him to state within 14 days of receipt of the notice whether he wishes to make written or oral representations to the appointed person at a meeting.

(3) The notice shall specify the place, date and time of the meeting and the date of the meeting shall not be earlier than 14 days from the date of the notice, unless the person who makes the representations has agreed to an earlier meeting.

(4) The appointed person shall permit the Department or the transporter to make written or oral representations at the hearing either in person or through a representative.

(5) The appointed person may permit any other person to make a written or oral representation to him at the hearing.

(6) The appointed person shall consider—

(a) the reasons given by the Department in accordance with this Schedule; and

(b) any representations made in accordance with this Schedule

and shall make a report to the Department after the close of his consideration, giving his findings of fact and his recommendations, and the Department shall reconsider its decision in the light of the report.

(7) The Department shall notify the transporter of the result of its reconsideration and the reasons for it and shall send him a copy of the appointed person’s report.