Ms Imelda Reynolds:

Section 49 of the 1997 Act states: "Subject to subsections (2) and (3), the Board of its own motion or at the request of a party, shall have an absolute discretion to hold an oral hearing of an appeal under this Chapter." I suspect it can decide itself or a third party can request an oral hearing, but I would read that as the board having absolute discretion. Someone may request an oral hearing but it is at the discretion of the board whether it decides to hold it. I am not aware of whether there have been any oral hearings.