{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/northern-ireland-act-1998/section-51D",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/northern-ireland-act-1998/section-51D.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1998/47",
  "legislation_title": "Northern Ireland Act 1998",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/northern-ireland-act-1998",
  "path": "section/51D",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "51D",
  "heading": "Censure resolutions",
  "text": "(1) This section applies to the following resolutions of the Assembly—\n(a) a resolution censuring a Minister or junior Minister—\n(i) because he is not committed to non-violence and exclusively peaceful and democratic means; or\n(ii) because of any failure of his to observe any other terms of the pledge of office;\n(b) a resolution censuring a political party—\n(i) because it is not committed to non-violence and exclusively peaceful and democratic means; or\n(ii) because it is not committed to such of its members as are or might become Ministers or junior Ministers observing the other terms of the pledge of office.\n(2) A motion for a resolution to which this section applies shall not be moved unless—\n(a) it is supported by at least 30 members of the Assembly;\n(b) it is moved by the First Minister and the deputy First Minister acting jointly; or\n(c) it is moved by the Presiding Officer in pursuance of a notice under subsection (3).\n(3) If the Secretary of State is of the opinion that the Assembly ought to consider a resolution to which this section applies, he shall serve a notice on the Presiding Officer requiring him to move a motion for such a resolution.\n(4) In forming an opinion under subsection (3), the Secretary of State shall in particular take into account the matters listed in section 30(7).\n(5) A resolution to which this section applies shall not be passed without cross-community support.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 51D inserted (7.1.2004) by Northern Ireland (Monitoring Commission etc.) Act 2003 (c. 25), ss. 9, 12; S.I. 2004/83, art. 2"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/section/51D",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:22:12.253813+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}