The Employment Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 2004

17.  After paragraph 166A of Schedule 1A to the 1995 Order (which is inserted by paragraph 16) insert—

“166B.— (1) The Department may by order provide that, during any period beginning and ending with the occurrence of specified events, employers and unions to which the order applies are prohibited from using such practices as are specified as unfair practices in relation to an application under this Schedule of a specified description.

(2) An order under this paragraph may make provision about the consequences of a contravention of any prohibition imposed by the order (including provision modifying the effect of any provision of this Schedule in the event of such a contravention).

(3) An order under this paragraph may confer functions on the Court.

(4) An order under this paragraph may contain provision extending for the purposes of the order either or both of the following powers to issue Codes of Practice—

(a) the power of the Agency under Article 90 of the 1992 Order;

(b) the power of the Department under Article 95 of that Order.

(5) An order under this paragraph may include supplementary or incidental provisions (including provision amending this Schedule).

(6) No order shall be made under this paragraph unless a draft of it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly.

(7) In this paragraph “specified” means specified in an order under this paragraph.”.