OpenLegislation

The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Commencement No. 3) Order 1999

S.I. 1999/2204 · Made 28 July 1999

Original text. legislation.gov.uk does not revise statutory instruments, so later amendments are not shown here. Changes made to it are listed under each provision when known.

NORTHERN IRELAND

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Made 28th July 1999

The Secretary of State, in exercise of the power conferred on her by section 101(3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998f1, hereby makes the following Order:

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

1998 c. 47.

Contents

  1. 1Citation and interpretation
  2. Part VII OF THE 1998 ACT (HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUAL OPPORT
  3. 2Establishment of Equality Commission
  4. 3Functions of Equality Commission
  5. 4Statutory duty on public authorities
  6. Part VIII OF THE 1998 ACT (MISCELLANEOUS)
  7. 5Discrimination: certificates by Secretary of State
  8. Signature
  9. Explanatory note

1Citation and interpretation

(1)

This Order may be cited as the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Commencement No. 3) Order 1999.

(2)

In this Order, “the 1998 Act” means the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

2Establishment of Equality Commission

The following provisions of the 1998 Act, so far as not already in force, shall come into force on 2nd August 1999:

  • Section 73(1), except for the purposes of paragraph 6 of Schedule 4 to the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998f1

  • Section 73(2) to (5)

  • Schedule 8.

3Functions of Equality Commission

The following provisions of the 1998 Act shall come into force on 1st October 1999:

  • Section 73(1), for the purposes of paragraph 6 of Schedule 4 to the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998

  • Section 74, for all remaining purposes

  • Section 75(4), so far as relating to paragraph 1(b) of Schedule 9

  • Section 95(5), so far as relating to paragraphs 1 and 13 of Schedule 12

  • Section 99, so far as relating to paragraphs 2, 16 and 19 of Schedule 13

  • Section 100(2), so far as relating to the entries in Schedule 15 coming into force by virtue of this Order

  • Paragraph 1(b) of Schedule 9, except for the purposes of paragraph 2 of that Schedule

  • Paragraphs 1 and 13 of Schedule 12

  • Paragraphs 2, 16 and 19 of Schedule 13

  • In Schedule 15, the entries relating to:

    • House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975

    • Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975

    • Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976

    • Schedule 2 to the Commissioner for Complaints (Northern Ireland) Order 1996

    • Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997.

4Statutory duty on public authorities

The following provisions of the 1998 Act, so far as not already in force, shall come into force on 1st January 2000:

  • Section 75

  • Schedule 9.

5Discrimination: certificates by Secretary of State

The following provisions of the 1998 Act, so far as not already in force, shall come into force on 2nd August 1999:

  • Sections 90 to 92

  • Section 100(1), so far as relating to paragraph 18 of Schedule 14

  • Schedule 11

  • Paragraph 18 of Schedule 14.

Signature

Paul Murphy

Minister of State

Northern Ireland Office

28th July 1999

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order brings into force, on various dates, provisions of the Northern Ireland Act. The principal provisions are as follows.

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is established by section 73(1) of the 1998 Act, which is brought into force on 2nd August 1999. Its principal functions are conferred by section 74, which comes into force substantially on 1st October 1999. New statutory duties on public authorities in relation to the promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations are imposed by section 75, which is brought into force on 1st January 2000.

The Order also brings into force, on 2nd August 1999, sections 90 to 92 of the 1998 Act. These provisions establish a Tribunal to which a person may appeal against a certificate issued by the Secretary of State in discrimination proceedings.