(1) For the purpose of the exercise of its functions under this Act, the NICC
may arrange for the holding of inquiries in public or in private presided over
by a member of the NICC or by some other person appointed by the NICC to
preside.
(2) Evidence may be taken on oath or affirmation at an inquiry, and
for that purpose--
(a) the person presiding at the inquiry may require a
person appearing at the inquiry who wishes to give evidence to take an oath or
to make an affirmation in a form approved by the person presiding, and
(b) a
key official may administer an oath or affirmation to a person so appearing at
the inquiry.
(3) The person presiding at an inquiry is not bound by the rules
or practice of evidence and may inform himself or herself on any matter in
such manner as the person considers appropriate.
(4) A reference in this
section to an inquiry includes a reference to an inquiry held for the purpose
of enabling a person to make submissions to the NICC and a reference to the
giving of evidence includes a reference to the making of those submissions.
(5) The person presiding at an inquiry is required to report to the NICC on
the results of the inquiry and is subject to the control and direction of the
NICC with respect to the matters that are to be the subject of inquiry, the
procedures to be adopted at an inquiry and the time within which the person is
to report to the NICC.
(6) The NICC may publish, in the way the NICC
considers appropriate, the results of an inquiry held under this section--
(a)
for an inquiry held in public--in full, or
(b) for an inquiry held in private
or partly in private--in full or in part, as the NICC considers appropriate in
the circumstances.
(7) In this section--
"results of an inquiry" includes reports, exhibits, evidence and submissions
produced or received as part of the inquiry.
