(1) The referral of a dispute shall be initiated by the employee or the relevant employer giving a notice in writing, containing such particulars (if any) as may be prescribed, to a rights commissioner -
(a) within the period of 6 months from the date on which the employer is informed of the initial circumstances relevant to the dispute, that is to say
(i) that the employee is pregnant, has recently given birth or is breastfeeding,
(ii) in the case of an employee who is the expectant father of a child, that the expectant mother of the child is pregnant, or
(iii) in the case of an employee who is the father of a child, that the child's mother has died, or
(b) if the rights commissioner is satisfied that exceptional circumstances prevented the giving of the notice within the period specified in paragraph (a), within such period, not exceeding 12 months from the date so specified, as the rights commissioner considers reasonable.
(2) As soon as may be after a rights commissioner has r