Summoning of witnesses and administration of oaths
11.—(1) The chairman of the appeal tribunal may by summons require any person in Northern Ireland to attend as a witness at a hearing of an appeal at such time and place as shall be specified in the summons and, subject to paragraph (2), at the hearing to answer any question or produce any documents in his custody or under his control which relate to any matter in question in that appeal but—
(a)no person shall be required to attend in obedience to such summons unless he has been given at least 14 days' notice of the hearing or, if less than 14 days' notice is given, he has informed the tribunal that the notice given is sufficient; and
(b)no person shall be required to attend and give evidence or to produce any document in obedience to such summons unless the necessary expenses of attendance are paid or tendered to him.
(2) No person shall be compelled to give any evidence or produce any document or other material that he could not be compelled to give or produce on a trial of an action in a court of law in Northern Ireland.
(3) In exercising the powers conferred by this regulation, the chairman of the appeal tribunal shall take into account the need to protect any matter that relates to intimate personal or financial circumstances, is commercially sensitive, consists of information communicated or obtained in confidence or concerns national security.
(4) Every summons issued under this regulation shall contain a statement to the effect that the person in question may apply in writing to a legally qualified panel member to vary or set aside the summons.
(5) The chairman of the appeal tribunal may require any witness, including a witness summoned under the powers conferred by this regulation, to give evidence on oath or affirmation and for that purpose there may be administered an oath or affirmation in due form.