
1 
These Regulations may be cited as the Licensing (Requirements for Conference Centre) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 and shall come into operation on 20th February 1997.
2 
The requirements to which a conference centre as defined in Article 2(2) of the Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 must conform are that—
(a) the premises must have a specialised conference brochure or otherwise advertise the provision of conference facilities as one of the main businesses carried on in the premises;
(b) the premises must—
(i) have a minimum of 2 conference rooms, one of which must be capable of seating at least 60 persons in addition to providing adequate space for the person or persons addressing the gathering; and
(ii) be capable of providing a main table meal for up to 60 delegates simultaneously.
(c) the conference rooms must be used exclusively or mainly as meeting rooms;
(d) the premises must have at least one named member of staff with designated responsibility for handling conference enquiries and arrangements;
(e) adequate equipment for use at conferences must be available on the premises; and
(f) the premises must have—
(i) a letter from an environmental health officer of the district council for the district in which the premises are situated, stating that the premises comply with the hygiene provisions of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991, with the Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 and the Food Safety (Temperature Control) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995;
(ii) a letter from an inspector appointed by that district council, stating that the premises comply with the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978; and
(iii) either, where applicable, a fire certificate issued by the Fire Authority for Northern Ireland under the provisions of the Fire Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1984 or a letter from an authorised member of the fire brigade, stating that the premises afford an adequate means of escape in case of fire and that appropriate means for fighting fire have been provided and maintained on those premises, together with, where necessary, appropriate means for giving warning in case of fire.
3 
In regulation 2—
 “inspector” has the meaning assigned to it by Article 2 of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978; and
 “authorised member of the fire brigade” has the meaning assigned to it by Article 21 of the Fire Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1984.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health and Social Services on
J. Harbison
Under Secretary
24th January 1997.The Department of Economic Development hereby concurs with the foregoing RegulationsSealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Economic Development on
Malcolm J. Briant
Assistant Secretary
28th January 1997.