Workers may tape tribunals

ALTHOUGH recording court proceedings in Londonderry or anywhere else will earn a fine or jail term, workers who take their employers to tribunal over pay, conditions and other industrial grievances may be permitted to tape the hearing at the discretion of the chairperson.

By Kevin Mullan

Published 24th Mar 2013, 16:14 BST

Londonderry MLA Colum Eastwood asked the Employment Minister Dr Stephen Farry if a person is allowed to make an audio recording of proceedings at an Industrial Tribunal hearing.

The Minister revealed that whilst recording court proceedings is banned under the Contempt of Court Act 1981 it’s possible for an industrial tribunal to waive a similar ban.

Dr Farry said the default position is that tribunal proceedings cannot be recorded without leave of the tribunal.

“However, the Rules of Procedure governing industrial tribunals grant broad discretion for a tribunal chair to manage proceedings on a hearing by hearing basis,” he stated. “Therefore, should any party apply to make an audio recording of the proceedings, it is a matter for the tribunal chair to consider and decide, in all the circumstances of the case, whether to grant leave,” he explained.