Explanatory Memorandum to Employment (Northern Ireland) Order 2003

The Employment (Northern Ireland) Order 2003

2003 No. 2902

Commentary on Provisions

Article 6: Practice directions

Article 6 enables industrial tribunal Rules of Procedure to be amended to enable the President to issue practice directions to Chairmen as to how procedures are to be applied. This is achieved by inserting a new Article 9A after Article 9 of ITO. The procedure regulations may contain provisions about securing compliance with practice directions and their publication. They may also make reference to provision made or to be made by practice directions, instead of making such provision themselves.

The aim of the provisions of Article 6 is to ensure that industrial tribunals adopt a consistent approach to procedural issues and to the interpretation of their powers under the Rules of Procedure. It is anticipated that this will reinforce confidence among users of industrial tribunals by demonstrating that cases are being dealt with in a uniform manner.