550Attendance at Court of author of report

550 Attendance at Court of author of report (1) The author of a report to which this Part applies may be required to attend to give evidence at the hearing of the proceeding to which the report is relevant by a notice given in accordance with subsection (2) by— (a) the child in respect of whom the report has been prepared; or (b) a parent of that child; or (c) the Secretary; or (d) the Court. (2) A notice under subsection (1) must be— (a) in writing; and S. 550(2)(b) amended by No. 26/2023 s. 54(1). (b) filed in the Court as soon as possible and, if practicable, not later than 2 working days before the hearing. S. 550(3) amended by No. 26/2023 s. 54(2). (3) On the filing of a notice under subsection (1), the Court must immediately notify the author of the report that the author's attendance is required on the return date. (4) A person is guilty of contempt of court if, being the author of a report who has been required to attend the Court under subsection (1), he or she fails, without sufficient excuse, to attend as required. (5) The author of a report who has been required under subsection (1) by the child or a parent of the child or the Secretary to attend at the hearing of a proceeding must, if required by the child or the parent or the Secretary (as the case requires), be called as a witness and may be cross-examined on the contents of the report.