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I. Preliminary and General

1. (1) In this Order:

the “Act” means the Personal Insolvency Act 2012;

unless the context requires otherwise, “creditor” has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Act;

unless the context requires otherwise, “debtor” has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Act;

each of the expressions “Debt Settlement Arrangement”, “domestic support order”, “excludable debt”, “excluded debt”, “insolvency arrangement”, “Minister”, “Personal Insolvency Arrangement”, “personal insolvency practitioner”, “principal private residence”, “protective certificate”, “relative”, “relevant pension arrangement”, “secured creditor”, “secured debt”, “specified creditor”, “specified debt”, “spouse”, “unsecured creditor” and “unsecured debt” has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Act;

“electronic user” means a person, or a person within a category of persons, for the time being authorised to deliver, file or lodge documents electronically in accordance with rule 4(1);

“the Insolvency Service” means the Insolvency Service of Ireland established by section 8 of the Act.

(2) In the event that any conflict shall arise between the provision of any rule of this Order and any other provision of these Rules, the provision of the rule of this Order shall prevail in respect of any proceedings under the Act.

2. (1) Proceedings under the Act shall be entitled:

“THE HIGH COURT

PERSONAL INSOLVENCY ACT”.

(2) Subject to rule 4, proceedings under the Act shall be issued out of, and any document requiring to be lodged or filed therein shall be lodged or filed in, the Central Office.

3.  (1) Any appeal to the Court under section 183 of the Act shall be made in accordance with Order 84C.

(2) Any application to the Court under section 19(6), section 174, section 179 or section 182(12) of the Act shall be made in accordance with Order 84B.

(3) Rule 4 shall not apply to proceedings under the Act mentioned in sub-rules (1) and (2).

II.  Electronic filing and delivery of documents in proceedings under the Act

4.  (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of these Rules, subject to compliance by the electronic user concerned with one or more of the conditions specified in sub-rule (2), or the whole or part of any one or more of such conditions, as the proper officer of the Central Office may notify to it or him:

(a) the proper officer of the Central Office may:

(i)  authorise or require the Insolvency Service and

(ii) authorise any personal insolvency practitioner, debtor, creditor, or other party to proceedings under the Act (or any solicitor acting for any such party),

to deliver, file or lodge to or with the Court by electronic means any document which may be delivered, filed or lodged and any application which may be made to the Court in any proceedings or category of proceedings under the Act or this Order or in any stage or step in such proceedings,

(b) any originating document, judgment, order or determination of the Court (including any judgment, order or determination entered in or issuing from the Central Office) in such proceedings or category of proceedings which may under the Act or this Order be issued by or on behalf of the Court or the Central Office, may be issued to an electronic user by being transmitted by electronic means, and

(c) any other document or information which may in such proceedings or category of proceedings be transmitted under the Act or this Order to the electronic user concerned by or on behalf of the Court the Central Office may be transmitted to an electronic user by electronic means.

(2) The conditions mentioned in sub-rule (1) are that the proper officer of the Central Office is satisfied in respect of the intending electronic user (in this sub-rule “the user”):

(a) that the hardware and other equipment, any data storage media and communications protocol to be employed by the user when delivering, filing, lodging or receiving documents or information by electronic means are compatible with, and otherwise suitable for use in conjunction with the corresponding equipment, media and protocols used or employed in or in respect of the Central Office;

(b) that the user will use such naming conventions, electronic mail addresses, passwords, electronic signatures, electronic seals, digital signatures, protocols, unique identification codes or references or other means of authenticating documents delivered, filed or lodged by electronic means as may be required by the proper officer of the Central Office to assure the security and authenticity of such documents (and the proper officer of the Central Office may, for that purpose, require the provision to it of the names, specimen signatures and other particulars of the individuals authorised to act on behalf of the user);

(c) that the user will use such firewall, anti-virus tool or other devices or applications, if any, as may be required by the proper officer of the Central Office to avoid damage to any information system used in the Central Office;

(d) that the user will take such steps and use such practice or protocol as may be specified by the proper officer of the Central Office to ensure that harmful, deleterious or offensive material does not enter any information system used in the Central Office;

(e) that the user will format and organise, and, where necessary, identify, code, index or produce in printed form documents to be delivered, filed, lodged or received by electronic means in any manner required by these Rules or by the proper officer of the Central Office.

(3) For the purposes of sub-rule (2), the proper officer of the Central Office may enter into any agreement or protocol with one or more persons (including one or more electronic users), or may publish any requirements which must be met in order to satisfy it that any condition set out in sub-rule (2) is met, or guidelines for compliance with any such conditions.

(4) Without prejudice to sub-rule (2), in accordance with section 140(2)(b) of the Act:

(a) a document transmitted by the Insolvency Service, and

(b) a certificate referred to in rule 11(3) or rule 20(3) transmitted by a personal insolvency practitioner who is an electronic user

by electronic means to an information system used in the Central Office shall be authenticated, and the identity of the person in whose name it has issued shall be verified, by being:

(a) transmitted from an information system or e-mail address of the Insolvency Service or personal insolvency practitioner concerned, accepted for the purpose of this sub-rule by the proper officer of the Central Office, or

(b) transmitted to the information system used in the Central Office using a password issued for the purpose of this sub-rule by the proper officer of the Central Office,

without the need for the incorporation in the document of a signature of the person in whose name it has issued.

(5) Where the proper officer of the Central Office determines that an electronic user is not complying with a condition (or part of any condition) specified in sub-rule (2) which he has required that user to comply with, he may revoke or modify an authorisation or requirement referred to in sub-rule (1) in respect of that user.

(6) An electronic user shall deliver, file or lodge documents by electronic means by such one or more of the following methods as may be provided in or for the Central Office for the purpose of:

(a) transmitting the same in the form of an electronic document or other structured electronic data (which may include any electronic attachment in portable document (pdf) format or other format specified by the proper officer of the Central Office) to an information system used in the Central Office for that purpose, and in a manner and in such form as may be specified by the proper officer of the Central Office, or

(b) transmitting the same (including any electronic attachment) to such electronic mail address as may be specified by the proper officer of the Central Office (provided that nothing in this sub-rule shall invalidate the effect of any document transmitted to any other electronic mail address but actually received in the Central Office).

(7) Documents or information to be delivered by the Court to an electronic user may be:

(a) transmitted in the form of an electronic document or other structured electronic data to an information system of the user, in a manner and in such form as may be specified by the proper officer of the Central Office, or

(b) made available to the electronic user on an information system used in the Central Office to which the electronic user concerned has secure access, or

(c) transmitted to the electronic mail address of that user referred to in paragraph (b) of sub-rule (2) (provided that nothing in this sub-rule shall invalidate the effect of any document transmitted to any other electronic mail address but actually received by that user).

(8) An originating document in proceedings under the Act submitted for issue by electronic means in accordance with this Order shall be issued when it has been assigned a record number.  A notice of motion in proceedings under the Act submitted for issue by electronic means in accordance with this Order shall be issued when it has been assigned a return date.

(9) The documents required to be filed together with any originating document mentioned in sub-rule (8) shall be transmitted by electronic means as a set of files, in portable document (pdf) format or other format specified by the proper officer of the Central Office.

(10) Where a statutory declaration or affidavit is submitted for filing by electronic means in accordance with this Order, unless otherwise permitted by the proper officer of the Central Office, the statutory declaration or affidavit and all exhibits thereto, in appropriate sequence, shall be transmitted in portable document (pdf) format or other format specified by the proper officer of the Central Office.

(11) Where an originating document or a notice of motion is issued in accordance with the preceding provisions of this rule,

(a) a print or copy of the originating document or notice of motion as transmitted for issue shall, when issued, be treated, in accordance with section 140(3) of the Act, as the original of that document, and

(b) the proper officer of the Central Office may certify any printed version of such document as a certified copy of the original.

(12) Where a statutory declaration or affidavit is filed by delivery by electronic means in accordance with the preceding provisions of this rule, the statutory declaration or affidavit bearing the original manuscript signature of the deponent shall be retained for a period of seven years from the date of swearing thereof by the person who has filed the same by electronic means, subject to any order or direction of the Court.

(13) Any order or protective certificate made or issued by the Court in proceedings under the Act shall be authenticated by the incorporation therein of the record number of the proceedings concerned.

(14) Where:

(a) a party to proceedings under the Act who wishes to deliver, file or lodge a document to which this Order relates is not an electronic user, or

(b) a party to proceedings under the Act wishes to deliver, file or lodge a document to which this Order relates as part of a stage or step in the proceedings for which that party is not an electronic user, or

(c) for any reason, any arrangement for the transmission of documents or information between the Central Office and an electronic user by electronic means has not been provided or is for the time being unavailable or ineffective,

documents to which this Order applies may be delivered, filed or lodged by delivering to, or filing or lodging with the Central Office a print of the document concerned (which, in the case of a document which requires to be signed, shall bear an original manuscript signature) together with a copy thereof in accordance with, and by any means permitted by the provisions of these Rules other than this Order.

III.  Case management of applications under Part 3 of the Act

5. (1) On:

(a) the return date of a notice of motion issued under rules 8 to 10 inclusive, 13, 14, 17 to 19 inclusive, 22 or 23, or 

(b) the date on which any Debt Settlement Arrangement and any objections thereto has or have been entered for initial consideration by the Court in accordance with rule 11, or

(c) the date on which any Personal Insolvency Arrangement and any objections thereto has or have been entered for initial consideration by the Court in accordance with rule 20, or

(d) the date on which a hearing for the purposes of section 115A(9)^[2] of the Act has been listed for initial consideration by the Court in accordance with rule 21A, ^[3]

or on any adjournment from such date, the Court may, if it does not hear and determine the application, objections or request for approval concerned (in this rule referred to as the “matter”) on that date, and where it considers it necessary to do so, give such directions and make such orders for the further conduct of the matter as appear convenient for the determination of the matter in a manner which is just, expeditious and likely to minimise the costs of the proceedings which, where appropriate, may include:

(i)  directions as to the service of notice of the matter on any other person, including mode of service and the time allowed for such service (and the Court may for that purpose adjourn the hearing or further hearing of the matter to a date specified);

(ii) directions as to the filing and delivery of any further affidavits by any party or parties;

(iii) orders fixing time limits;

(iv)  directions as to the production of documents to other parties or the furnishing of additional documents or evidence to the Court;

(v) directions as to the exchange of memoranda between or among the parties for the purpose of the agreeing by the parties or the fixing by the Court of any issues of fact or law to be determined in the proceedings, or orders fixing such issues;

(vi)  a direction that the matter be determined on oral evidence, where it appears to the Court that the matter is likely to involve a substantial dispute of fact or it is otherwise necessary or desirable in the interests of justice (and the Court may for that purpose make orders and give directions in relation to the exchange of pleadings or points of claim or defence between the parties);

(vii) directions as to the furnishing by the parties to the Court and delivery of written submissions;

(viii) directions as to the publication of notice of the hearing of the matter and the giving of notice in advance of such hearing to any person other than a party to the proceedings who desires to be heard on the hearing of the matter.

(2) On the date mentioned in sub-rule (1) (or on any adjournment from such date), the Court may, where it deems fit, hear any application for relief of an interlocutory nature.

IV.  Debt Settlement Arrangements

6.  (1) Subject to sub-rule (2), an application to the Court by a debtor for an order under section 57(2) of the Act shall be made by motion on notice to the Insolvency Service grounded on an affidavit of the debtor.

(2) The Court may direct that notice of the application be given by the debtor to such person or persons as it may direct.

7.  (1) The Insolvency Service may seek a decision of the Court in accordance with section 61(2) of the Act by submitting to the Central Office:

(i)  the application for a protective certificate under section 59 of the Act on behalf of a debtor;

(ii) a certificate of the Insolvency Service (in Form No 51) to the effect that the application under section 59 of the Act is in order, and

(iii) the supporting documentation for the application under section 59 of the Act (other than the documents referred to in section 59(2)(f) and (g) of the Act).

(2) The application referred to in paragraph (i) of sub-rule (1) shall, in the form prescribed by the Insolvency Service under the Act, be the originating document in the proceedings concerning the Debt Settlement Arrangement in respect of the debtor concerned.  All further applications under the Act concerning the Debt Settlement Arrangement in respect of the debtor concerned shall be brought in the proceedings commenced by the submission of that application and the documents and information referred to in paragraphs (ii) and (iii) of sub-rule (1).

(3) On the date first fixed for the consideration of the application, the Insolvency Service, the personal insolvency practitioner concerned and the debtor concerned shall not be required to attend and the Court, having considered the application, may:

(a) if satisfied that the eligibility criteria specified in section 57 of the Act have been satisfied, and the other relevant requirements relating to an application for the issue of a protective certificate have been met, issue a protective certificate, in Form No 52, in accordance with section 61(2)(a) of the Act;

(b) if not satisfied that the eligibility criteria specified in section 57 of the Act have been satisfied, and the other relevant requirements relating to an application for the issue of a protective certificate have been met, refuse the application to issue a protective certificate, in accordance with section 61(2)(b) of the Act;

(c) adjourn the consideration of the application and direct the proper officer of the Court to request the Insolvency Service to clarify any matter in the documentation provided or to provide any documentation which appears to the Court to have been omitted, or

(d) where it requires further information or evidence for the purpose of its arriving at a decision under section 61(2) of the Act, direct that a hearing be held, which hearing shall be on notice to the Insolvency Service and the personal insolvency practitioner concerned in accordance with section 61(3) of the Act.

(4) Where the Court directs a hearing in accordance with section 61(3) of the Act, the Court shall direct the Registrar to include in the notification to the Insolvency Service issued under section 61(10) of the Act the time and place fixed for the hearing, and may direct the Registrar to include in the notification:

(a) an indication of the nature of the information or evidence which the Court requires for the purpose of its arriving at a decision under section 61(2) of the Act, and the persons who are likely to be able to provide such information or evidence, and

(b) notice of whether any evidence required may be given by way of affidavit.

(5) Where the Insolvency Service has sought a decision of the Court under section 61(2) of the Act in accordance with sub-rule (1) and the personal insolvency practitioner wishes to withdraw the application in accordance with section 59(3) of the Act, the personal insolvency practitioner shall notify the Insolvency Service in writing of the withdrawal, and the Insolvency Service shall, as soon as practicable following receipt of such notification, notify the Court of the withdrawal of the application.

8.  (1) An application to the Court by a personal insolvency practitioner concerned under section 61(6) or section 61(7) of the Act to extend the period of the protective certificate shall be brought by notice of motion in the proceedings, setting out the reasons for the extension sought.  The motion need not be supported by any affidavit, provided that the Court may require the delivery of an affidavit in any case in which it considers it just and necessary to do so.

(2) The notice of motion shall be served on the Insolvency Service.

(3) The Insolvency Service shall not be required to attend on the date first fixed for the hearing of the motion, and shall not be required to attend on any date to which such motion is adjourned, save by direction of the Court.

9.  (1) Where an application is made to the Court under section 62(3) of the Act for leave, whilst a protective certificate remains in force, to commence or continue other proceedings, execution or other legal process in respect of a specified debt against the debtor or his or her property, that application shall:

(a) in the case of an application to commence proceedings, be brought by originating notice of motion, or

(b) in the case of an application to continue proceedings or for execution or other legal process, be brought by notice of motion in the proceedings which it is sought to continue or in which leave for execution or other process is sought,

of the person seeking such relief, grounded on an affidavit sworn by or on behalf of that person setting out the reasons why such leave is sought.

(2) The originating notice of motion or notice of motion (and a copy of any grounding affidavit) shall be served on the debtor concerned, the personal insolvency practitioner concerned, the Insolvency Service, and any other person who the Court directs should be served, not less than 21 days before the date first fixed for the hearing of the originating notice of motion or notice of motion, unless otherwise ordered by the Court.

(3) The Insolvency Service and the personal insolvency practitioner concerned shall not be required to attend on the date first fixed for the hearing of the originating notice of motion or notice of motion, and shall not be required to attend on any date to which such motion is adjourned, save by direction of the Court.

10.  (1) An application to the Court under section 63 of the Act by a creditor who is aggrieved by the issue of a protective certificate, shall be brought by notice of motion in the proceedings on the protective certificate concerned, grounded on an affidavit sworn by or on behalf of the creditor.

(2) The notice of motion shall specify the date on which notice of the issue of the protective certificate was given to the creditor concerned and the grounds of the application.

(3) The affidavit shall set out the facts or circumstances which it is alleged establish the grounds concerned and authorise or entitle the applicant to the relief sought and set out the basis of the deponent’s belief as to the existence of those facts or circumstances.

(4) The notice of motion and a copy of the grounding affidavit shall be served on the Insolvency Service, the relevant personal insolvency practitioner concerned and any other person who the Court directs should be served, in accordance with section 63(2) of the Act, not less than 21 days before the date first fixed for the hearing of the motion.

(5) Each person served with the notice of motion and a copy of the grounding affidavit shall be at liberty to file and serve a replying affidavit setting out concisely the grounds of any opposition to the application and verifying any facts relied on in opposing the application, and a copy of such affidavit (and any exhibits thereto) shall be served upon the moving party and upon every other person served with notice of the application before the return date of the notice of motion.

11.  (1) A notice of objection to a Debt Settlement Arrangement lodged by a creditor in accordance with section 75(3) of the Act shall be in Form No 53 and shall:

(a) include the record number of the proceedings;

(b) state when the notice under section 75(2) of the Act was sent to the creditor by the personal insolvency practitioner (if known) and when the said notice was received by the creditor;

(c) specify succinctly the grounds, set out in section 87 of the Act, on which objection is made to the coming into effect of the Debt Settlement Arrangement, and

(d) confirm the amount of the debt due to the creditor concerned.

(2) ^[4]  A notification to the Court by the Insolvency Service in accordance with section 76(1)^[5] of the Act of a Debt Settlement Arrangement which has been approved or is deemed to have been approved at a creditors’ meeting or, where only one creditor would be entitled to vote at a creditors’ meeting, has been approved or is deemed to have been approved by that creditor in accordance with section 74A^[6]  of the Act, shall be in Form No. 54 and shall be accompanied by: 

(a) a true copy of the certificate provided for under section 75(1)(a) ^[7] or, as the case may be, section 75(1A)(a) ^[8], of the Act, which shall be in Form No. 55, 

(b) a true copy of the approved Debt Settlement Arrangement, and 

(c) a true copy of the statement provided for under section 75(1)(c) ^[9] or, as the case may be, section 75(1A)(c) ^[10], of the Act, which shall be in Form No. 56.

(3) Following such notification, a certificate of the personal insolvency practitioner certifying the date or dates on which every notice to creditors under section 75(2) was sent shall be furnished by the personal insolvency practitioner to the Insolvency Service and shall promptly be lodged in Court by the Insolvency Service.

(4) On receipt of a notification referred to in sub-rule (2), the proper officer of the Court shall enter the Debt Settlement Arrangement and any objections thereto for initial consideration by the Court on a date which is not less than 14 days after the date of the sending by the personal insolvency practitioner of the notice referred to in section 75(2) of the Act, or the date of receipt by the Court of a copy of a Debt Settlement Arrangement concerned, whichever appears to be later, and shall notify the Insolvency Service, the personal insolvency practitioner and any creditor who has lodged an objection to the coming into effect of the Debt Settlement Arrangement.

(5) ^[11] The provisions of these Rules which apply to the notification and consideration of a Debt Settlement Arrangement shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the notification and consideration of a variation of a Debt Settlement Arrangement and any objections thereto, and with such modifications to those Rules (including modifications to the relevant Forms) as may be necessary in accordance with section 82(9) ^[12] of the Act. 

(5A) The Debt Settlement Arrangement as varied, required to be lodged with the Court in accordance with section 76(1) ^[13] of the Act as applied by section 82(9) ^[14] of the Act, shall clearly identify, by annotation, underlining, bracketing or striking through of the relevant text, or by other means as appropriate, the variations effected to the original Debt Settlement Arrangement.

12.  (1) On the date fixed in accordance with rule 11(4) (or on any adjournment from such date), the Court shall (if it does not hear and determine any objections on that date) give directions and make orders for the determination of any objections.

(2) Where no objection is lodged by a creditor with the Court within the time prescribed by section 75(2) of the Act, or an objection is lodged with the Court and the matter is determined by the Court on the date fixed in accordance with rule 11(4) on the basis that the objection should not be allowed, the Court:

(a) if satisfied that the requirements specified in section 78(2)(a) of the Act have been satisfied, shall approve the coming into effect of the Debt Settlement Arrangement;

(b) if not satisfied that the requirements specified in section 78(2)(a) of the Act have been satisfied, shall refuse the application to approve the coming into effect of the Debt Settlement Arrangement, in accordance with section 78(2)(b) of the Act;

(c) may adjourn the further consideration of the Debt Settlement Arrangement to a date fixed by the Court and direct the registrar of the Court to request the Insolvency Service to provide such further information as is specified by the Court in accordance with section 78(3)(a) of the Act, or

(d) where it requires further information or evidence in accordance with section 78(3)(b) of the Act for the purpose of its arriving at a decision under section 78(2) of the Act, shall direct that a hearing be held, which hearing shall be on notice to the Insolvency Service and the personal insolvency practitioner concerned in accordance with section 78(3) of the Act.

(3) Where the Court directs a hearing in accordance with section 78(3)(b) of the Act, the Court shall direct the Registrar to include in the notification to the Insolvency Service and the personal insolvency practitioner issued under section 78(6) of the Act the time and place fixed for the hearing, and may direct the Registrar to include in the notification:

(a) an indication of the nature of the information or evidence which the Court requires for the purpose of its arriving at a decision under section 78(2) of the Act and the persons who are likely to be able to provide such information or evidence, and

(b) notice of whether any evidence required may be given by way of affidavit.

13.  (1) An application to the Court by a creditor or a personal insolvency practitioner under section 83 of the Act to have a Debt Settlement Arrangement terminated, shall be brought by notice of motion in the proceedings, grounded on an affidavit sworn by or on behalf of the moving party.

(2) The notice of motion shall specify the grounds mentioned in section 83(1) of the Act on which the application is made and the particular reliefs sought under section 83(3) of the Act.

(3) The affidavit shall set out the facts or circumstances which it is alleged establish the grounds mentioned in section 83(1) of the Act concerned and authorise or entitle the moving party to the relief sought and set out the basis of the deponent’s belief as to the existence of those facts or circumstances.

(4) The notice of motion and a copy of the grounding affidavit shall be served on the debtor concerned and on any other person who the Court directs should be served not less than 21 days before the date first fixed for the hearing of the motion, unless otherwise ordered by the Court.

(5) The debtor concerned shall be at liberty to file and serve a replying affidavit setting out concisely the grounds of any opposition to the application and verifying any facts relied on in opposing the application, and a copy of such affidavit (and any exhibits thereto) shall be served upon the moving party not later than seven days before the return date of the notice of motion.

(6) Where the Court makes an order under section 83 of the Act terminating a Debt Settlement Arrangement, an application for an order under section 85(1)(b) of the Act may be made without motion for that purpose, provided that the Court may direct that the same be heard on affidavit; in a case where a Debt Settlement Arrangement has been deemed to have failed by virtue of section 84(1) of the Act, an application for an order under section 85(1)(b) of the Act shall be made by notice of motion grounded upon an affidavit.  The notice of motion and a copy of the grounding affidavit shall be served on the Insolvency Service and on any other person who the Court directs should be served.

14.  (1) An application to the Court by a creditor or a personal insolvency practitioner for relief under section 88 of the Act shall be brought by notice of motion in the proceedings on the protective certificate concerned, grounded on an affidavit sworn by or on behalf of the moving party.

(2) The notice of motion shall specify the particular reliefs sought under section 88(3) of the Act.

(3) The affidavit shall set out the facts or circumstances which it is alleged establish that the debtor has made excessive contributions to a relevant pension arrangement, and authorise or entitle the moving party to the relief sought and set out the basis of the deponent’s belief as to the existence of those facts or circumstances.

(4) The notice of motion and a copy of the grounding affidavit shall be served on the debtor concerned not less than 21 days before the date first fixed for the hearing of the motion.

(5) The debtor concerned shall be at liberty to file and serve a replying affidavit setting out concisely the grounds of any opposition to the application and verifying any facts relied on in opposing the application, and a copy of such affidavit (and any exhibits thereto) shall be served upon the moving party not later than seven days before the return date of the notice of motion.

V.  Personal Insolvency Arrangements

15.  (1) Subject to sub-rule (2), an application to the Court by a debtor for an order under section 91(3) of the Act shall be made by motion on notice to the Insolvency Service grounded on an affidavit of the debtor.

(2) The Court may direct that notice of the application be given by the debtor to such person or persons as it may direct.

16.  (1) The Insolvency Service may seek a decision of the Court in accordance with section 95(2) of the Act by submitting to the Central Office:

(i)  the application for a protective certificate under section 93 of the Act on behalf of a debtor;

(ii) a certificate of the Insolvency Service (in Form No 51) to the effect that the application under section 93 of the Act is in order, and

(iii) the supporting documentation for the application under section 93 of the Act (other than the documents referred to in section 93(2)(f) and (g) of the Act).

(2) The application referred to in paragraph (i) of sub-rule (1) shall, in the form prescribed by the Insolvency Service under the Act, be the originating document for the proceedings concerning the Personal Insolvency Arrangement in respect of the debtor concerned.  All further applications under the Act concerning the Personal Insolvency Arrangement in respect of the debtor concerned shall be brought in the proceedings commenced by the submission of that application and the documents and information referred to in paragraphs (ii) and (iii) of sub-rule (1).

(3) On the date first fixed for the consideration of the application, the Insolvency Service, the personal insolvency practitioner concerned and the debtor concerned shall not be required to attend and the Court, having considered the application, may:

(a) if satisfied that the eligibility criteria specified in section 91 of the Act have been satisfied and the other relevant requirements relating to an application for the issue of a protective certificate have been met, issue a protective certificate, in Form No 57, in accordance with section 95(2)(a) of the Act;

(b) if not satisfied that the eligibility criteria specified in section 91 of the Act have been satisfied and the other relevant requirements relating to an application for the issue of a protective certificate have been met, refuse the application to issue a protective certificate, in accordance with section 95(2)(b) of the Act;

(c) adjourn the consideration of the application and direct the proper officer of the Court to request the Insolvency Service to clarify any matter in the documentation provided or to provide any documentation which appears to the Court to have been omitted, or

(d) where it requires further information or evidence for the purpose of its arriving at a decision under section 95(2) of the Act, direct that a hearing be held, which hearing shall be on notice to the Insolvency Service and the personal insolvency practitioner concerned in accordance with section 95(3) of the Act.

(4) Where the Court directs a hearing in accordance with section 95(3) of the Act, the Court shall direct the Registrar to include in the notification to the Insolvency Service and the personal insolvency practitioner concerned issued under section 95(10) of the Act the time and place fixed for the hearing, and may direct the Registrar to include in the notification:

(a) an indication of the nature of the information or evidence which the Court requires for the purpose of its arriving at a decision under section 95(2) of the Act and the persons who are likely to be able to provide such information or evidence, and

(b) notice of whether any evidence required may be given by way of affidavit.

(5) Where the Insolvency Service has sought a decision of the Court under section 95(2) of the Act in accordance with sub-rule (1) and the personal insolvency practitioner wishes to withdraw the application in accordance with section 93(3) of the Act, the personal insolvency practitioner shall notify the Insolvency Service in writing of the withdrawal, and the Insolvency Service shall, as soon as practicable following receipt of such notification, notify the Court of the withdrawal of the application.

17.  (1) An application to the Court by a personal insolvency practitioner concerned under section 95(6) or section 95(7) of the Act to extend the period of the protective certificate shall be brought by notice of motion in the proceedings, setting out the reasons for the extension sought.  The motion need not be supported by any affidavit, provided that the Court may require the delivery of an affidavit in any case in which it considers it just and necessary to do so.

(2) The notice of motion shall be served on the Insolvency Service.

(3) The Insolvency Service shall not be required to attend on the date first fixed for the hearing of the motion, and shall not be required to attend on any date to which such motion is adjourned, save by direction of the Court.

18.  (1) Where an application is made to the Court under section 96(3) of the Act for leave, whilst a protective certificate remains in force, to commence or continue other proceedings, execution or other legal process in respect of a specified debt against the debtor or his or her property, that application shall:

(a) in the case of an application to commence proceedings, be brought by originating notice of motion, or

(b) in the case of an application to continue proceedings or for execution or other legal process, be brought by notice of motion in the proceedings which it is sought to continue or in which leave for execution or other process is sought, of the person seeking such relief, grounded on an affidavit sworn by or on behalf of that person setting out the reasons why such leave is sought.

(2) The originating notice of motion or notice of motion (and a copy of any grounding affidavit) shall be served on the debtor concerned, the personal insolvency practitioner concerned, the Insolvency Service, and any other person who the Court directs should be served, not less than 21 days before the date first fixed for the hearing of the originating notice of motion or notice of motion, unless otherwise ordered by the Court.

(3) The Insolvency Service and the personal insolvency practitioner concerned shall not be required to attend on the date first fixed for the hearing of the originating notice of motion or notice of motion, and shall not be required to attend on any date to which such motion is adjourned, save by direction of the Court.

19.  (1) An application to the Court under section 97 of the Act by a creditor who is aggrieved by the issue of a protective certificate, shall be brought by notice of motion of the creditor in the proceedings on the protective certificate concerned, grounded on an affidavit sworn by or on behalf of the creditor.

(2) The notice of motion shall specify the date on which notice of the issue of the protective certificate was given to the creditor concerned and the grounds of the application.

(3) The affidavit shall set out the facts or circumstances which it is alleged establish the grounds concerned and authorise or entitle the applicant to the relief sought and set out the basis of the deponent’s belief as to the existence of those facts or circumstances.

(4) The notice of motion and a copy of the grounding affidavit shall be served on the Insolvency Service and the personal insolvency practitioner concerned, in accordance with section 97(2) of the Act, not less than 21 days before the date first fixed for the hearing of the motion.

(5) Each person served with the notice of motion and a copy of the grounding affidavit shall be at liberty to file and serve a replying affidavit setting out concisely the grounds of any opposition to the application and verifying any facts relied on in opposing the application, and a copy of such affidavit (and any exhibits thereto) shall be served upon the moving party not later than seven days before the return date of the notice of motion.

20.  (1) A notice of objection to a Personal Insolvency Arrangement lodged by a creditor in accordance with section 112(3) of the Act shall be in Form No 53 and shall:

(a) include the record number of the proceedings;

(b) state when the notice under section 112(2) of the Act was sent to the creditor by the personal insolvency practitioner (if known) and when the said notice was received by the creditor;

(c) specify succinctly the grounds, set out in section 120 of the Act, on which objection is made to the coming into effect of the Personal Insolvency Arrangement, and

(d) confirm the amount of the debt due to the creditor concerned.

(2) ^[15] A notification to the Court by the Insolvency Service in accordance with section 113(1) ^[16] of the Act of a Personal Insolvency Arrangement which has been approved or is deemed to have been approved at a creditors’ meeting, or where only one creditor would be entitled to vote at a creditors’ meeting, has been approved or is deemed to have been approved by that creditor in accordance with section 111A^[17] of the Act, shall be in Form No. 54 and shall be accompanied by: 

(a) a true copy of the certificate provided for under section 112(1)(a) ^[18] or, as the case may be, section 112(1A)(a) ^[19], of the Act, which shall be in Form No. 55, 

(b) a true copy of the approved Personal Insolvency Arrangement with the record number of the proceedings endorsed thereon, and 

(c) a true copy of the statement provided for under section 112(1)(c) ^[20] or, as the case may be, section 112(1A)(c) ^[21], of the Act, which shall be in Form No. 56.

(3) Following such notification, a certificate of the personal insolvency practitioner certifying the date or dates on which every notice to creditors under section 112(2) was sent shall be furnished by the personal insolvency practitioner to the Insolvency Service and shall promptly be lodged in Court by the Insolvency Service.

(4) On receipt of a notification in accordance with sub-rule (2), the proper officer of the Court shall enter the Personal Insolvency Arrangement and any objections thereto for initial consideration by the Court on a date which is not less than 14 days after the date of the sending by the personal insolvency practitioner of the notice referred to in section 112(2) of the Act, or the date of receipt by the Court of a copy of the Personal Insolvency Arrangement concerned, whichever appears to be later, and shall notify the Insolvency Service, the personal insolvency practitioner and any creditor who has lodged an objection to the coming into effect of the Personal Insolvency Arrangement.

(5) ^[22] The provisions of these Rules which apply to the notification and consideration of a Personal Insolvency Arrangement shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the notification and consideration of a variation of a Personal Insolvency Arrangement and any objections thereto, and with such modifications to those Rules (including modifications to the relevant Forms) as may be necessary in accordance with section 119(9) ^[23] of the Act. 

(5A) The Personal Insolvency Arrangement as varied, required to be lodged with the Court in accordance with section 113(1) ^[24] of the Act as applied by section 119(9) ^[25] of the Act, shall clearly identify, by annotation, underlining, bracketing or striking through of the relevant text, or by other means as appropriate, the variations effected to the original Personal Insolvency Arrangement.

21.  (1) On the date fixed in accordance with rule 19(4) (or on any adjournment from such date), the Court shall (if it does not hear and determine any objections on that date) give directions and make orders for the determination of any objections.

(2) Where no objection is lodged by a creditor with the Court within the time prescribed by section 112(3) of the Act, or an objection is lodged with the Court and the matter is determined by the Court on the date fixed in accordance with rule 19(4) on the basis that the objection should not be allowed, the Court:

(a) if satisfied that the requirements specified in section 115(2)(a) of the Act have been satisfied, shall approve the coming into effect of the Personal Insolvency Arrangement;

(b) if not satisfied that the requirements specified in section 115(2)(a) of the Act have been satisfied, shall refuse the application to approve the coming into effect of the Personal Insolvency Arrangement, in accordance with section 115(2)(b) of the Act;

(c) may adjourn the further consideration of the Personal Insolvency Arrangement to a date fixed by the Court and direct the registrar of the Court to request the Insolvency Service to provide such further information as is specified by the Court in accordance with section 115(3)(a) of the Act, or

(d) where it requires further information or evidence in accordance with section 115(3)(b) of the Act for the purpose of its arriving at a decision under section 115(2) of the Act, shall direct that a hearing be held, which hearing shall be on notice to the Insolvency Service and the personal insolvency practitioner concerned in accordance with section 115(3) of the Act.

(3) Where the Court directs a hearing in accordance with section 115(3)(b) of the Act, the Court shall direct the registrar to include in the notification to the Insolvency Service and the personal insolvency practitioner issued under section 115(6) of the Act the time and place fixed for the hearing, and may direct the Registrar to include in the notification:

(a) an indication of the nature of the information or evidence which the Court requires for the purpose of its arriving at a decision under section 115(2) of the Act and the persons who are likely to be able to provide such information or evidence, and

(b) notice of whether any evidence required may be given by way of affidavit.

21A. ^[26] (1) An application by a personal insolvency practitioner on behalf of a debtor under section 115A^[27] of the Act for an order under section 115A(9) of the Act shall be commenced by notice of motion (which shall include the notice required by section 115A(3) of the Act), in Form No. 58, signed by the personal insolvency practitioner concerned, which shall— 

(a) bear the record number of the proceedings on the application for a protective certificate under section 93 of the Act on behalf of the debtor concerned, 

(b) include a statement of the grounds of the application, referred to in paragraph (a) of section 115A(2) of the Act, 

(c) include the statement referred to in paragraph (e) of section 115A(2) of the Act, 

(d) have appended a copy of the written instruction of the debtor to the personal insolvency practitioner to make the application, and 

(e) have appended the documents referred to in paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of section 115A(2) of the Act. 

(2) The certificate as to the matters referred to in paragraph (d) of section 115A(2) of the Act shall be in Form No. 59.

(3) On receipt of a notice of motion and appended documents in accordance with sub-rule (1), the proper officer shall issue the notice of motion and enter the notice of motion and any objections thereto for initial consideration by the Court on the earliest practicable date which is not less than 21 days after the date of issue of the notice of motion.

(4) The personal insolvency practitioner shall, not later than four days after the notice of motion referred to in sub-rule (1) has issued, send a copy of same to the Insolvency Service, to the debtor and to each creditor concerned.

(5) On the date first fixed for a hearing for the purposes of section 115A(9) of the Act (or on any adjournment from such date), the Court shall (if it does not hear and determine any objections on that date) give directions and make orders for the determination of any objections in accordance with rule 5. 

(6) The provisions of these Rules which apply to:

(a) the notification and consideration of a Personal Insolvency Arrangement, and 

(b) an application for an order under section 115A(9) of the Act in relation to a proposed Personal Insolvency Arrangement;

shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to an application under section 119A^[28] of the Act for an order confirming the coming into effect of the Personal Insolvency Arrangement as varied in accordance with the proposal under section 119A of the Act, and any objections thereto, and with such modifications to those Rules (including modifications to the relevant Forms) as may be necessary in accordance with section 119A(6) and 119A(14) of the Act. 

(7) The proper officer shall notify the Insolvency Service and the personal insolvency practitioner concerned where the court makes or refuses to make an order under either section 115A(9) or section 119A of the Act, by ordinary prepaid post or by such other means as the proper officer considers sufficient.

22.  (1) An application to the Court by a creditor or a personal insolvency practitioner for relief under section 121 of the Act shall be brought by notice of motion in the proceedings on the protective certificate concerned, grounded on an affidavit sworn by or on behalf of the moving party.

(2) The notice of motion shall specify the particular reliefs sought under section 121(3) of the Act.

(3) The affidavit shall set out the facts or circumstances which it is alleged establish that the debtor has made excessive contributions to a relevant pension arrangement, and authorise or entitle the moving party to the relief sought and set out the basis of the deponent’s belief as to the existence of those facts or circumstances.

(4) The notice of motion and a copy of the grounding affidavit shall be served on the debtor concerned, and on any other person who the Court directs should be served not less than 21 days before the date first fixed for the hearing of the originating notice of motion or notice of motion, unless otherwise ordered by the Court.

(5) The debtor concerned shall be at liberty to file and serve a replying affidavit setting out concisely the grounds of any opposition to the application and verifying any facts relied on in opposing the application, and a copy of such affidavit (and any exhibits thereto) shall be served upon the moving party and upon every other person served with notice of the application before the return date of the notice of motion.

23.  (1) An application to the Court by a creditor or a personal insolvency practitioner under section 122 of the Act to have a Personal Insolvency Arrangement terminated, shall be brought by notice of motion in the proceedings on the protective certificate concerned, grounded on an affidavit sworn by or on behalf of the moving party.

(2) The notice of motion shall specify the grounds mentioned in section 122(1) of the Act on which the application is made and the particular reliefs sought under section 122(3) of the Act.

(3) The affidavit shall set out the facts or circumstances which it is alleged establish the grounds mentioned in section 122(1) of the Act concerned and authorise or entitle the moving party to the relief sought and set out the basis of the deponent’s belief as to the existence of those facts or circumstances.

(4) The notice of motion and a copy of the grounding affidavit shall be served on the debtor concerned and on any other person who the Court directs should be served not less than 21 days before the date first fixed for the hearing of the notice of motion, unless otherwise ordered by the Court.

(5) The debtor concerned shall be at liberty to file and serve a replying affidavit setting out concisely the grounds of any opposition to the application and verifying any facts relied on in opposing the application, and a copy of such affidavit (and any exhibits thereto) shall be served upon the moving party and upon every other person served with notice of the application before the return date of the notice of motion.

(6) Where the Court makes an order under section 122 of the Act terminating a Personal Insolvency Arrangement, an application for an order under section 124(1)(b) of the Act may be made without motion for that purpose, provided that the Court may direct that the same be heard on affidavit; in a case where a Personal Insolvency Arrangement has been deemed to have failed by virtue of section 123(1) of the Act, an application for an order under section 124(1)(b) of the Act shall be made by notice of motion grounded upon an affidavit.  The notice of motion and a copy of the grounding affidavit shall be served on the Insolvency Service and on any other person who the Court directs should be served.

VI.  Correction of Errors

24.  (1) The Court may where satisfied that no prejudice would thereby be suffered by any person, of its own motion and without a hearing for that purpose:

(a) cancel any order, notice, certificate or other document which has issued for and on behalf of the Court in error, or

(b) without limiting the entitlement of any party or person to make any application under Order 28, rule 11, correct any clerical mistake in any order, certificate or other document issued for and on behalf of the Court, or any error arising therein from any accidental slip or omission.

(2) Where any party may be affected thereby, the Court may cause the matter to be listed on notice to that person and, having heard that person, may:

(a) cancel any order, notice, certificate or other document which has issued for and on behalf of the Court in error, or

(b) without limiting the entitlement of any party or person to apply to the Court under Order 28, rule 11, correct any clerical mistake in any order, notice, certificate or other document issued for and on behalf of the Court, or any error arising therein from any accidental slip or omission.