Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013

Hearings N.I.

31—(1) This section applies where the Secretary of State has the function of—

(a) deciding (under section 27(7)) whether to confirm byelaws made under section 26;

(b) deciding (under section 28(5)) whether to revoke emergency byelaws;

(c) deciding (under section 29(8)) whether to revoke interim byelaws.

(2) This section also applies where the Department has the function of—

(a) deciding whether to make byelaws under section 26;

(b) deciding whether to make interim byelaws under section 29.

(3) The Secretary of State or (as the case may be) the Department may, before making that decision, give to any person the opportunity of—

(a) appearing before and being heard by a person appointed for that purpose;

(b) providing written representations to such a person.

(4) The Department may make regulations providing for the procedure to be followed (including decisions as to costs) at hearings held under subsection (3).

(5) A person appointed under subsection (3) must make a report to the Secretary of State or (as the case may be) the Department of any oral or written representations made under that subsection.