Personal Insolvency Act 2012

SCHEDULE 2

Provisions applicable to Oral Hearings conducted pursuant to SECTIONS 181 and 182.

PART 1

Oral Hearing conducted by inspector pursuant to SECTION 181(15)

1. The inspector conducting the oral hearing for the purposes of an investigation may take evidence on oath, and the administration of such an oath by the inspector is hereby authorised.

2. The inspector may by notice in writing require any person to attend the oral hearing at such time and place as is specified in the notice to give evidence in respect of any matter in issue in the investigation or to produce any relevant documents within his or her possession or control or within his or her procurement.

3. Subject to paragraph 4, a person referred to in paragraph 2 may be examined and cross-examined at the oral hearing.

4. A person referred to in paragraph 2 shall be entitled to the same immunities and privileges in respect of compliance with any requirement referred to in that paragraph as if the person were a witness before the High Court.

5. Where a person referred to in paragraph 2 does not comply or fully comply with a requirement referred to in that paragraph, the inspector may apply in a summary manner to the Circuit Court, on notice to that person, for an order requiring the person to comply or fully comply, as the case may be, with the requirement within a period to be specified by the Court, and the Court may make the order sought or such other order as it deems appropriate or refuse to make any order.

6. The jurisdiction conferred on the Circuit Court by paragraph 5 may be exercised by the judge of that Court for the circuit in which the person concerned ordinarily resides or carries on any profession, business or occupation.

7. The oral hearing shall be held otherwise than in public.

PART 2

Oral Hearing conducted by Complaints Committee pursuant to SECTION 182(6)

1. The Complaints Committee, in conducting the oral hearing for the purposes of assisting it to make a determination under section 182 or for the purposes of observing fair procedures, may take evidence on oath, and the administration of such an oath by any member of the Complaints Committee is hereby authorised.

2. The Complaints Committee may by notice in writing require any person to attend the oral hearing at such time and place as is specified in the notice to give evidence in respect of any matter in issue in the making of the decision under section 182 or to produce any relevant documents within his or her possession or control or within his or her procurement.

3. Subject to paragraph 4, a person referred to in paragraph 2 may be examined and cross-examined at the oral hearing.

4. A person referred to in paragraph 2 shall be entitled to the same immunities and privileges in respect of compliance with any requirement referred to in that paragraph as if the person were a witness before the High Court.

5. Where a person referred to in paragraph 2 does not comply or fully comply with a requirement referred to in that paragraph, the Insolvency Service may apply in a summary manner to the Circuit Court, on notice to that person, for an order requiring the person to comply or fully comply, as the case may be, with the requirement within a period to be specified by the Court, and the Court may make the order sought or such other order as it deems appropriate or refuse to make any order.

6. The jurisdiction conferred on the Circuit Court by paragraph 5 may be exercised by the judge of that Court for the circuit in which the person concerned ordinarily resides or carries on any profession, business or occupation.

7. The oral hearing shall be held otherwise than in public unless—

(a) the personal insolvency practitioner to whom the investigation concerned relates or, if the investigation arose in consequence of the receipt of a complaint, the complainant, makes a request in writing to the Insolvency Service that the hearing (or a part thereof) be held in public and states in the request the reasons for the request, and

(b) the Insolvency Service, after considering the request (in particular, the reasons for the request), is satisfied that it would be appropriate to comply with the request.