OpenLegislation

Section 7 Department may make regulationsI1I2

Northern Ireland

(1)

The Department for Communities may by regulations make provision for the purpose of or in connection with—

(a)

the matters contained in this Part (including things which could be the subject of guidance under this Chapter), and

(b)

such additional or different matters as to—

(i)

British Sign Language or Irish Sign Language, or

(ii)

the interests of the deaf community,

as the Department considers appropriate.

(2)

Regulations under this Chapter may relate to (in particular)—

(a)

the offering or facilitation of the use of British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language, and

(b)

the—

(i)

accessibility to people in the deaf community of information and services through the use of British Sign Language or Irish Sign Language, and

(ii)

support of particular kinds to be made available specially for people who rely for communication on British Sign Language or Irish Sign Language.

(3)

Regulations under this Chapter may confer functions on—

(a)

the prescribed organisations (apart from the Northern Ireland departments),

(b)

the Department for Communities alone or one or more of the Northern Ireland departments separately or together in different or similar ways, or

(c)

any persons or groups appearing to the Department for Communities to be—

(i)

acting on behalf or in the interests of the deaf community, and

(ii)

willing to exercise more functions on behalf or in the interests of the deaf community.

(4)

Regulations under this Chapter may limit the operation of this Part (including provisions in such regulations)—

(a)

in specific respects, and

(b)

in relation to particular prescribed organisations except the Northern Ireland departments,

if, having regard to the scale of their resources or the nature of their functions, the Department for Communities believes this to be appropriate.

(5)

In deciding whether to prepare (or whenever reviewing) regulations under this Chapter, the Department must take account of any relevant material or representations received by it from—

(a)

any of the prescribed organisations, or

(b)

any persons or groups appearing to it to be acting on behalf or in the interests of the deaf community.

(6)

Regulations under this Chapter may modify any statutory provision (within the meaning given by section 1(f) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954).

Annotations

Commencement

I1

S. 7 not in operation at Royal Assent, see s. 15(1)(b)

I2

S. 7 in operation at 23.9.2026 by S.R. 2026/162, art. 2(f)