The Judicial Pensions (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2019 No. 26

Public Service Pensions

The Judicial Pensions (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019

Made

4th March 2019

Coming into operation

1st April 2019

The Department of Justice makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of, and paragraph 9 of Schedule 3 to, the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014(1) (“the 2014 Act”).

In accordance with section 22(2)(a) of the 2014 Act, the Department of Justice has consulted such persons and representatives of such persons as appear to it likely to be affected by these Regulations with a view to reaching agreement with them.

In accordance with section 22(2)(b) of the 2014 Act, the Department of Justice has laid a report before the Assembly.

In accordance with section 3(5) of the 2014 Act, the Department of Finance(2) has consented to the making of these Regulations.

The Department of Justice has had regard to the matters referred to in section 5(4) of the 2014 Act.

In accordance with section 24(1) of the 2014 Act, the pension board for the scheme for holders of judicial office has stated that it considers these Regulations to be minor or wholly beneficial.

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Judicial Pensions (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 and come into operation on 1st April 2019.

Amendment to the Judicial Pensions Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

2.—(1) The Judicial Pensions Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015(3) are amended in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2) In the heading to the final table in regulation 124 (rate of member contributions), after “31st March 2019” insert “and Scheme Year 1st April 2019 to 31st March 2020”.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Justice on 4th March 2019

Peter May

A senior officer of the Department of Justice

The Department of Finance consents to the foregoing Regulations.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance on 4th March 2019

Emer Morelli

A senior officer of the Department of Finance

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

The Judicial Pensions Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (“the 2015 Regulations”) make provision for the contributions payable by members of the scheme constituted by the 2015 Regulations up to 31st March 2019.

These Regulations provide for the contribution rates applicable in the scheme year ending on that date to also apply for the following year. Since these Regulations involve a change to a protected element of the scheme constituted by the 2015 Regulations, the Department of Justice has consulted such persons and representatives of such persons as appear to it likely to be affected by these Regulations with a view to reaching agreement with them and has laid a report before the Assembly as required by section 22 of the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014. In accordance with section 24(1) of that Act, the pension board for the scheme constituted by the 2015 Regulations has stated that it considers these Regulations to be minor or wholly beneficial.

An equality impact screening and rural needs impact assessment have been produced for this statutory rule and are available at https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/publications/proposed-amendment-judicial-pensions-regulations-northern-ireland-2015.

(1)

2014 c. 2 (N.I.).

(2)

Formerly the Department of Finance and Personnel; see section 1(4) and (11) of, and Schedule 1 to, The Departments Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (2016 c. 5 (N.I.)).

(3)

S.R. 2015 No. 76.