Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Act 2022

4 Transitional provision

(1) The amendments made by sections 1(2), (3) and (5) and 2(2) do not apply in a case where section 16A of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 applies as the result of an Assembly being elected before this Act comes into force.

(2) The new provisions relating to vacancies in the office of First Minister or deputy First Minister—

(a) apply in relation to vacancies arising within the period of seven days ending when this Act comes into force, but

(b) do not otherwise apply in relation to vacancies arising before this Act comes into force.

(3) For these purposes “the new provisions relating to vacancies in the office of First Minister or deputy First Minister” means—

(a) the amendment made by section 1(4),

(b) the new section 18(A1)(c) to be inserted into the Northern Ireland Act 1998 by section 2(3), and

(c) the new paragraph 3D(A1)(c) to be inserted into Schedule 4A to that Act by section 2(5).

(4) The amendments made by section 3 do not apply where the duty of the Secretary of State under section 32(1) or (3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 arises before this Act comes into force.