Tribunal membership disqualifies persons who are not independent or who have reached sixty-five years of age. Section 48 disqualifies any person from appointment to, or continuance in, membership of a Tribunal or National Industrial Tribunal if the person is not an independent person or has attained the age of sixty-five years. The Explanation defines an independent person as one unconnected with the industrial dispute referred to the Tribunal or with any industry directly affected by that dispute.