The Child Trust Funds (Appeals) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2005

Procedure at oral hearings

15.—(1) Subject to regulations 16, 17 and 20, the procedure for an oral hearing shall be such as the chairman of the appeal tribunal shall determine.

(2) Except where paragraph (4) applies, not less than 14 days' notice (beginning with the day on which notice is given and ending on the day before the hearing of the appeal is to take place) of the time and place of any oral hearing of an appeal shall be given to every party to the proceedings.

(3) If such notice has not been given to a person to whom it should have been given under the provisions of paragraph (2) the hearing may proceed only with the consent of that person.

(4) Any party to the proceedings may waive his right under paragraph (2) to receive not less than 14 days' notice of the time and place of any oral hearing by giving notice to the clerk to the appeal tribunal.

(5) If a party to the proceedings to whom notice has been given under paragraph (2) fails to appear at the hearing the chairman of the appeal tribunal may, having regard to all the circumstances including any explanation offered for the absence—

(a) proceed with the hearing notwithstanding his absence; or

(b) give such directions with a view to the determination of the appeal as he may think proper.

(6) If a party to the proceedings has waived his right to be given notice under paragraph (2) the chairman of the appeal tribunal may proceed with the hearing notwithstanding his absence.

(7) An oral hearing of an appeal shall be in public except where the chairman of the appeal tribunal is satisfied that it is necessary to hold the hearing, or part of the hearing, in private—

(a) in the interests of national security, morals, public order or children;

(b) for the protection of private or family life of one or more parties to the proceedings; or

(c) in special circumstances, because publicity would prejudice the interests of justice.

(8) At an oral hearing—

(a) any party to the proceedings shall be entitled to be present and be heard; and

(b) the following persons may be present by means of a live television link—

(i) a party to the proceedings or his representative or both; or

(ii) where an appeal tribunal consists of more than one member, a tribunal member other than the chairman,

provided that the chairman of the appeal tribunal gives permission.

(9) A person who has the right to be heard at a hearing may be accompanied and may be represented by another person whether having professional qualifications or not and, for the purposes of the proceedings at the hearing, any such representative shall have all the rights and powers to which the person whom he represents is entitled.

(10) The following persons shall also be entitled to be present at an oral hearing (whether or not it is otherwise in private) but shall take no part in the proceedings—

(a) the President;

(b) any person undergoing training as a chairman or member of an appeal tribunal or as a clerk to an appeal tribunal;

(c) any person acting on behalf of the President in the training or supervision of panel members or in the monitoring of standards of decision-making by panel members; and

(d) with the leave of the chairman of the appeal tribunal, any other person.

(11) Nothing in paragraph (10) affects the rights of—

(a) any person mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of that paragraph where he is sitting as a member of a tribunal or acting as its clerk; or

(b) the clerk to the tribunal,

and nothing in this regulation prevents the presence at an oral hearing of any witness or of any person whom the chairman of the appeal tribunal permits to be present in order to assist the appeal tribunal or the clerk.

(12) Any person entitled to be heard at an oral hearing may address the tribunal, may give evidence, may call witnesses and may put questions directly to any other person called as a witness.

(13) For the purpose of arriving at its decision an appeal tribunal shall, and for the purpose of discussing any question of procedure may, notwithstanding anything contained in these Regulations, order all persons not being members of the tribunal, other than the person acting as clerk to the appeal tribunal, to withdraw from the hearing except that—

(a) the President or any other person mentioned in paragraph (10)(c); and

(b) with the leave of the chairman of the appeal tribunal, any person mentioned in paragraph (10)(b) or (d),

may remain present at any such sitting.

(14) In this regulation “live television link” means a live television link or other facilities which allow a person who is not physically present at an oral hearing to see and hear proceedings and be seen and heard by those physically present.