Explanatory note

Paragraphs (1) and (2) of regulation 5 of the European Parliamentary Elections (Northern Ireland) Regulations 1986 applied the provisions in primary and subordinate legislation which were listed in Schedules 1 and 2 to those Regulations for the purposes of European Parliamentary elections, subject to the modifications made by paragraphs (4) to (6) of regulation 5. Paragraphs (1) and (2) were subsequently amended to provide that references in Schedules 1 and 2 to particular items of primary and subordinate legislation which had been subsequently amended were to be construed as references to that legislation, as amended.

Without these specific provisions about amended primary and subordinate legislation, the same result would be achieved by section 20(2) of the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30), read with section 23(2) of that Act. Paragraphs (2) and (3) of regulation 2 of these Regulations revoke the specific provisions made by regulation 5(1) and (2) (as amended) so that sections 20(2) and 23(2) can operate to achieve the same result.