
1 
These Regulations may be cited as the Industrial Court (Membership) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 and shall come into operation on 31st July 2011.
2 

(1) The Court shall consist of members appointed by the Department.
(2) The Department shall appoint a chairman, and may appoint a deputy chairman, both of whom shall, on appointment, become members of the Court.
(3) The Department shall appoint as other members only persons experienced in industrial relations, and they shall include some persons whose experience is as representatives of employers and some whose experience is as representatives of workers.
(4) The Department shall consult with the Agency and may consult other persons about the arrangements for making an appointment under paragraph (2) or (3).
(5) At any time when the chairman of the Court is absent or otherwise incapable of acting, or there is a vacancy in the office of chairman, the deputy chairman, if any, may perform any of the functions of chairman of the Court.
(6) At any time when the chairman or deputy chairman is absent or otherwise incapable of acting, or there is no such person, such member of the Court as the Department may direct may perform any of the functions of the chairman of the Court.
3 

(1) The members of the Court shall hold and vacate office in accordance with their terms of appointment, subject to the following provisions.
(2) A person shall not be appointed for a term exceeding five years, but previous membership does not affect eligibility for re-appointment.
(3) A member may at any time resign his membership, and the chairman or a deputy chairman may at any time resign his office as such, by notice in writing to the Department.
(4) If the Department is satisfied that a member—
(a) has become bankrupt or made an arrangement with his creditors, or
(b) is incapacitated by physical or mental illness, or
(c) is otherwise unable or unfit to discharge the functions of a member,
the Department may declare his office as a member to be vacant and shall notify the declaration in such manner as it thinks fit, whereupon the office shall become vacant.
(5) The Department may, by notice in writing, suspend the appointment of a member pending investigations in relation to paragraph (4)(c).
(6) If the chairman or deputy chairman ceases to be a member of the Court, he shall also cease to be chairman or, as the case may be, deputy chairman.
(7) Subject to paragraphs (3) to (6), any member holding office on 31st July 2011 shall continue to hold office until 31st March 2013.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Employment and Learning on 23rd June 2011.
Dr. Stephen Farry
Minister for Employment and Learning
