Northern Ireland Act 2006

Postponement of next Northern Ireland Assembly election

2 (1) In section 31 of the 1998 Act (Northern Ireland Assembly: dates of elections and dissolutions), for subsection (2) substitute—

“(2) The date of the poll for the election of the Assembly next following the Assembly elected at the poll on 26th November 2003 shall be a date to be specified in an order made by the Secretary of State.

(2A) An order under subsection (2) may not specify a date falling on or before the date on which the poll would (apart from that subsection) fall to be held under subsection (1).

(2B) An order under subsection (2) may include provision making such modifications of—

(a) any enactment (other than one contained in this Act), or

(b) any provision of subordinate legislation,

as appear to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of, or in consequence of or in connection with, the order.

(2C) An order under subsection (2) may, in particular, make provision modifying any duty of the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland whereby (apart from the order) he must perform any function or discharge any duty on or by reference to a particular date.

(2D) An order under subsection (2) may also make such supplementary, incidental or consequential provision as the Secretary of State considers necessary or expedient.”

(2) In subsection (1) of that section, for “subsection (2)” substitute “subsections (2) to (3)”.

(3) The amendments made by this paragraph shall have effect on and after 25th November 2006.