1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Ombudsman (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.
(2) This Order shall come into operation on the expiration of two months from the day on which it is made.
2.—(1) The [1954 c. 33 (N.I.).] Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 shall apply to Article 1 and the following provisions of this Order as it applies to a Measure of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
(2) In this Order—
“action” includes failure to act and other expressions connoting action shall be construed accordingly;
“the Crown” (except in the expression “Minister of the Crown”) means the Crown in right of Her Majesty’s Government in Northern Ireland;
“department” means a department of the Government of Northern Ireland;
“the Department” means the Department of Finance and Personnel;
“officer” includes employee;
“the Ombudsman” means the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland;
“person aggrieved” has the meaning assigned by Article 9(3);
“statutory provision” has the meaning assigned by section 1 of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954;
“tribunal” includes any authority, body or person having power to determine any matter.