Explanatory note

These Rules set out the detailed procedure for the conduct of all company and individual insolvency proceedings under the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 and otherwise give effect to that Order. The insolvency proceedings concerned are -

• company voluntary arrangements (Part 1 of the Rules),

• administration (Part 2),

• appointment of receiver or manager; administrative receivership (Part 3),

• companies winding up (Part 4),

• individual voluntary arrangements (Part 5), and

• bankruptcy (Part 6).

Parts 7 to 12 of the Rules apply to both company and individual insolvency proceedings and are concerned with the following matters -

• court procedure and practice (Part 7),

• proxies and company representation (Part 8),

• examination of persons concerned in company and individual insolvency (Part 9),

• official receivers (Part 10),

• declaration and payment of dividend (winding up and bankruptcy) (Part 11 ), and

• miscellaneous and general (Part 12).

The Arrangement of Rules at the beginning of these Rules lists the numbers and contents of all the Rules and Schedules. The Rules come into operation on the day appointed for the coming into operation of Article 359 of the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 and generally apply to all insolvency proceedings commenced on or after that date. The Rules also apply to such proceedings commenced before that date to which provisions of the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 are applied by Schedule 8 to that Order to the extent necessary to give effect to those provisions. In addition, Rules 6.003-CP, 7.30 and 7.31 expressly provide for their application to insolvency proceedings, whenever commenced.