Search Legislation

Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954

 Help about what version

What Version

  • Latest available (Revised)
  • Original (As enacted)

More Resources

Changes to legislation:

Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 03 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the affected provisions when you open the content using the Table of Contents below.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to :

  • s. 1(f)(i) words in s. 1(f) renumbered as s. 1(f)(i) by S.I. 2019/628 reg. 5(1)(a) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. Reg. 5(1)(a) omitted (30.4.2020) by virtue of S.I. 2020/463, regs. 1(1), 10(6)(a))
  • s. 1(f)(ii) inserted by S.I. 2019/628 reg. 5(1)(c) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. Reg. 5(1)(c) substituted (30.4.2020) by S.I. 2020/463, regs. 1(1), 10(6)(c))
  • s. 20(2) applied (with modifications) by 2015 c. 8 (N.I.) s. 125(1)
  • s. 24 applied (with modifications) by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 114(2)
  • s. 24 excluded by 2015 c. 8 (N.I.) s. 124(2)
  • s. 39(2) excluded by S.R. 2023/143 art. 2(3) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S.R. 2023/143 revoked before coming into operation (26.9.2023) by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating (No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2023 (S.R. 2023/150), arts. 1, 33)
  1. Introductory Text

  2. Application of this Act Meaning of certain expressions as used...

    1. Application of this Act

      1. 1.Meaning of certain expressions as used in this Act.

      2. 2.Application of this Act.

      3. 3.Rules not inconsistent not excluded.

    2. Operation of enactments

      1. 4.Acts to be deemed public.

      2. 5.Provisions in private Acts.

      3. 6.Enactments to apply to whole of Northern Ireland.

      4. 7.Crown not bound, unless named.

      5. 8.References to the Crown, etc.

      6. 9.Provisions to be substantive enactments.

      7. 10.Preamble and marginal notes.

      8. 11.References in enactments.

      9. 11A.References to EU instruments etc which have direct effect

      10. 12.Amending provisions.

      11. 13.Date of passing, etc., of enactments.

      12. 14.Coming into force of enactments.

      13. 15.Date of expiration of enactments.

      14. 16.Exercise of powers before enactment comes into force.

      15. 17.Statutory powers and duties generally.

      16. 18.Provisions as to holders of offices.

      17. 19.Effect of words of incorporation.

      18. 20.Offences.

      19. 21.Rules regulating procedure of courts and tribunals.

      20. 22.Powers of appellate courts.

      21. 23.Inquiries and investigations

      22. 24.Service of documents.

      23. 25.Deviation in forms.

      24. 26.Oaths, affirmations and declarations.

      25. 27.Operation of declaration that provisions are to cease to have effect.

      26. 28.Effect of repeal.

      27. 29.Effect of substituting provisions.

      28. 30.Reprints.

    3. Construction of Enactments

      1. 31.Enactment always speaking.

      2. 32.Limited nature of powers, privileges or advantages granted by enactments.

      3. 33.Expressions in instrument have same meaning as in enactment.

      4. 34.Application of interpretation provisions in enactments.

      5. 35.Corresponding meanings of parts of speech.

      6. 36.Names commonly used.

      7. 37.Rules as to gender and number.

      8. 38.Construction of “shall” and “may”.

      9. 39.Time.

      10. 40.Distance.

    4. Meaning of particular words and phrases

      1. 41.Definitions for parliamentary purposes.

      2. 42.Definitions for judicial purposes.

      3. 43.Definitions for official purposes.

      4. 43A.Definitions in connection with police.

      5. 44.Definitions for local government purposes.

      6. 44A.Definitions relating to the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union

      7. 45.References relating to land.

      8. 46.Miscellaneous definitions.

    5. Citation

      1. 47.Citation of statutory provisions, etc.

    6. Supplemental

      1. 48.Repeals, etc.

      2. 49.Saving.

      3. S. 50 rep. by SLR 1973

      4. 51.Short title.

  3. SCHEDULES

    1. Schedule rep. by SLR 1973

    2. SCHEDULE A1

      PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO INQUIRIES AND INVESTIGATIONS

      1. 1.Introductory

      2. 2.Appointment of person to hold inquiry

      3. 3.Notification of time and place of inquiry

      4. 4.Powers to require persons to give evidence etc.

      5. 5.Oaths and statements

      6. 6.Offences

      7. 7.Expenses

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.