Citation and commencement

1. These Rules may be cited as the Rules of the Supreme Court (Northern Ireland) (Amendment No.2) 2008 and shall come into operation on 3rd November 2008.

Amendments to the Rules of the Supreme Court (Northern Ireland) 1980

2. The Rules of the Supreme Court (Northern Ireland) 1980(2) are amended as follows:–

(1) In Order 1, rule 12(b), after sub-paragraph (xv) insert–

"(xvi) Schedule 1 to the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007;".

(2) In Order 76, rule 1(3) for "Probate and Matrimonial Office" substitute "Chancery Office".

(3) In Order 83–

(a) in the title to rule 14, for "Re-opening of extortionate agreements" substitute "Unfair relationships";

(b) in rule 14(1) for "to have a credit agreement reopened in accordance with section 139(1)(b) or (c)" substitute "to apply in accordance with section 140B(2)(b) or (c) for an order under section 140B"; and

(c) in rule 14(5) for "137 to 140" substitute "140A to 140D".

(4) In Order 93–

(a) after rule 1(2)(s) insert–

"(t) Regulations 6, 9, 11, 16, 53(6) and 54(5) of the Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations 2007(3).";

(b) in rule 10(4), for "Probate and Matrimonial Office" substitute "Chancery Office"; and

(c) after rule 16, insert the following new rules–

"Applications under the Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations 2007

17.–(1) In this rule and in rules 18 to 20 "the 2007 Regulations" means the Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations 2007.

(2) An application to the Court under regulation 6(1) of the 2007 Regulations (Court approval of pre-merger requirements) shall be made by originating summons in Form 7.

(3) Such an application must be supported by evidence that the requirements of regulations 7 to 10 and 12 to 15 of the 2007 Regulations have been complied with.

(4) Where an application under regulation 11 of the 2007 Regulations to summon a meeting of creditors has been made, the Court will not determine the application under regulation 6 until the result of the meeting is known.

18.–(1) An application to the Court under–

(a) regulation 9(3) (Independent expert´s report); or

(b) regulation 11(1) (Power of court to summon meeting of members or creditors)

of the 2007 Regulations shall be made by originating summons in Form 7 and be accompanied by evidence in support of the application.

19.–(1) An application to the Court under regulation 16(1) of the 2007 Regulations (Court approval of cross-border merger), shall be made by originating summons in Form 7 and must be accompanied by the documents referred to in regulation 16(1)(b), (c) and (e).

(2) Where appropriate the application should also be accompanied by evidence that regulation 16(f) of the 2007 Regulations has been complied with and such other evidence as may be required to enable the Court to decide the application.

(3) Where the Court makes an order under regulation 16 of the 2007 Regulations approving the merger it will fix a date on which the consequences of the merger are to take effect.

20.–(1) An application to the Court under–

(a) regulation 53(6) (Disputes about operation of an employee participation agreement or the standard rules of employee participation); or

(b) regulation 54(5)(Misuse of procedures)

of the 2007 Regulations for a penalty notice shall be made by originating summons in Form 7 and must be supported by a copy of the declaration made by the Industrial Court under regulation 53(4) or 54(4) of the 2007 Regulations or an explanation as to why none is included.

21. Any document that is lodged with the Court under rules 17 to 20 shall, if not in English, be accompanied by a translation of that document into English–

(a) certified by a notary public or other qualified person; or

(b) accompanied by written evidence that the translation is accurate.".

(5) In Appendix A, Form No.3–

(a) for "Family Division" substitute "Chancery Division"; and

(b) for "Probate and Matrimonial Office" substitute "Chancery Office".

(6) In Appendix C, Form No.5, for "Probate and Matrimonial Office" substitute "Chancery Office".

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Rules)

These Rules amend the Rules of the Supreme Court (Northern Ireland) 1980 (SR 1980/346) so as to–

• assign proceedings under Schedule 1 to the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 [c.20] to the Family Division of the High Court by amending Order 1, rule 12 (rule 2(1));

• make a small number of amendments in consequence of the transfer of probate business from Family Division to Chancery Division (rules 2(2), (4)(b), (5) and (6));

• amend Order 83 to take account of changes made to the Consumer Credit Act 1974 by the Consumer Credit Act 2006 in relation to unfair relationships in connection with credit agreements (rule 2(3)); and

• prescribe the procedure for applications to the High Court under the Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations 2007 ("the Regulations") by inserting new rules 1(2)(t) and 17-21 into Order 93 to add a reference to the 2007 Regulations and prescribe the procedure for making an application under the Regulations (rules 2(4)(a) and (c)).