European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018

Northern Ireland Act 1998

58 After section 96 (orders and regulations) insert—

“96A Explanatory statements in relation to certain regulations

(1) This section applies where a draft of a statutory instrument containing regulations under section 6A or 24(3) is to be laid before each House of Parliament.

(2) Before the draft is laid, the Minister of the Crown who is to make the instrument—

(a) must make a statement explaining the effect of the instrument, and

(b) in any case where the Assembly has not made a decision to agree a motion consenting to the laying of the draft—

(i) must make a statement explaining why the Minister has decided to lay the draft despite this, and

(ii) must lay before each House of Parliament any statement provided for the purpose of this sub-paragraph to a Minister of the Crown by a relevant Minister giving the opinion of the relevant Minister as to why the Assembly has not made that decision.

(3) A statement of a Minister of the Crown under subsection (2) must be made in writing and be published in such manner as the Minister making it considers appropriate.

(4) For the purposes of this section, where a draft is laid before each House of Parliament on different days, the earlier day is to be taken as the day on which it is laid before both Houses.

(5) In this section “relevant Minister” means the First Minister and the deputy First Minister acting jointly or a Northern Ireland Minister.

(6) This section does not apply to a draft of an instrument which only contains regulations under section 6A or 24(3) which only relate to a revocation of a specification.”