1. The following definitions apply where, by virtue of any provision in any enactment, the Rules in this Chapter have effect in relation to appeals against the taking of enforcement action under any enactment—
“the Authority” means the person taking the enforcement action in question;
“the Chairman” means the person appointed to be Chairman of the tribunal in relation to an appeal under these Rules;
“disputed action” means the enforcement action taken by the Authority against which an appeal is made under these Rules;
“document” includes information recorded in writing or in any other manner;
“enforcement action” has the same meaning as in Article 9(8) of the Deregulation and Contracting Out (Northern Ireland) Order 1996(1);
“the Registrar” means the person appointed under rule 2 to be Registrar of tribunals;
“the responsible Department” means the Department responsible for the subject matter of the enforcement action in question (and in any case where two or more Departments share such responsibility, means those Departments acting together);
“the tribunal” means a particular tribunal established for the purposes of deciding an appeal under these Rules.
2.—(1) Where, by virtue of any provision in any enactment, these Rules come into effect in relation to appeals against the taking of enforcement action under any enactment, the responsible Department must as soon as practicable after such coming into effect—
(a)appoint a barrister or solicitor of at least seven years standing, to be Registrar of tribunals established for the purpose of hearing such appeals; and
(b)publish in such manner as it thinks appropriate the name and the address of such tribunals and, if there is more than one address, indicate which address applies in which cases.
(2) The terms and conditions on which the Registrar is appointed, including those concerning remuneration and allowances, shall be determined by the responsible Department.
(3) The Registrar shall have the functions conferred on him by these Rules, and must carry out his functions in relation to each appeal under these Rules in cooperation with the Chairman, and generally carry out his functions with a view to ensuring that appeals to tribunals established under these Rules are conducted as fairly, efficiently and economically as possible.
(4) The Registrar may, with the approval of the responsible Department, appoint such staff as he may determine, and may determine the terms and conditions on which they are appointed.
(5) Any function of the Registrar in relation to a particular appeal, other than his functions under rule 15, may be performed on his behalf by any other member of his staff whom he may authorise for the purpose, and references to the Registrar shall be construed accordingly.
S.I. 1996/1632 (N.I. 11)