Search Legislation

Advanced Search

Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954

Help about what version

What Version

Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

More Resources

Status:

Point in time view as at 31/01/2020.

Changes to legislation:

There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. At the current time any known changes or effects made by subsequent legislation have been applied to the text of the legislation you are viewing by the editorial team. Please see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ for details regarding the timescales for which new effects are identified and recorded on this site.

N.I.Meaning of particular words and phrases

41Definitions for parliamentary purposes.N.I.

(1)In an enactment the expression—

  • [F1 “Assembly” means the Northern Ireland Assembly];

  • “House of Commons”, when used without qualification[F2 in any enactment passed or made before 1st January 1974], shall mean House of Commons of Northern Ireland;

  • “Parliament”, when used without qualification[F2 in any enactment passed or made before 1st January 1974], shall mean Parliament of Northern Ireland;

  • “Senate” shall mean the Senate of Northern Ireland.

F3[(2)In any Act passed after the thirtieth day of May, nineteen hundred and fifty, “statutory period” means a period comprising—

(a)ten days on which the [F4 Assembly] has sat; or

(b)…

F5(c)thirty days;

whichever period is the longest, such days being reckoned without regard to whether they occur during one or more than one session of the same [F4 Assembly] or of different [F4 Assemblies] …F5].

[F2(3)Where, under any enactment, a statutory instrument or statutory document is required to be laid before the Assembly, the delivery of a copy of the instrument or document to the Business Office of the Assembly on any day during the existence of an Assembly shall for all purposes be deemed to be the laying of it before the Assembly.]

(4)The expression “subject to affirmative resolution” when used in relation to any statutory instruments or statutory documents shall mean that those instruments or documents shall not come into operation unless and until affirmed by a resolution of[F2 the Assembly].

Subs. (5) rep. by SI 1999/663

(6)The expression “subject to negative resolution” when used in relation to any statutory instruments or statutory documents shall mean that those instruments or documents shall, as soon as may be after they are made, be laid before[F2 the Assembly, and if the Assembly], within the statutory period next after any such instrument or document has been so laid, resolves that the instrument or document shall be annulled, the instrument or document shall be void as from the date of the resolution, but without prejudice to the validity of anything done thereunder or to the making of a new instrument or document.

Subs. (7) rep. by SI 1999/663

F1SI 1973/2163

F2SI 1999/663

F4SI 1973/2163

F5SI 1973/2163

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C7S. 41(3) applied by 2002 c. 29, s. 303I(5) (as inserted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), ss. 15, 58(1)(6))

C8S. 41(3) applied by 2002 c. 29, s. 303E(9) (as inserted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), ss. 15, 58(1)(6))

C9S. 41(3) applied by 2002 c. 29, s. 303E(9) (as inserted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 16.4.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), ss. 15, 58(1)(6); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 4(b))

C10S. 41(3) applied by 2002 c. 29, s. 303I(5) (as inserted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 16.4.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), ss. 15, 58(1)(6); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 4(b))

C66S. 41(3) applied (16.5.2019) by Offensive Weapons Act 2019 (c. 17), ss. 68(7), 70(5)(n)

42Definitions for judicial purposes.N.I.

(1)In an enactment the expression—

  • “[F6Court of Judicature]” shall mean the [F6Court of Judicature] of Northern Ireland;

  • “Court of Appeal” or “High Court of Appeal” shall mean Her Majesty's Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland;

  • “High Court” shall mean Her Majesty's High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland;

  • “Court of Criminal Appeal” shall mean the Court of Criminal Appeal in Northern Ireland F7...;

  • “court of assize” shall mean a court of assize, a court of oyer and terminer and a court of gaol delivery or any of them and shall include a court held in and for the county of the City of Belfast by virtue of a commission of oyer and terminer or general gaol delivery;

  • [F8“Lands Tribunal” shall mean the Lands Tribunal for Northern Ireland;]

  • [F9“Crown Court” shall mean Her Majesty's Crown Court in Northern Ireland;

  • “county court” shall mean a county court held F10... under the County Courts [F11(Northern Ireland) Order 1980]M1;]

  • F12...

  • [F13“court of summary jurisdiction” or “magistrates' court” shall have the meaning assigned to it by Article 2(2) of the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981].

F14(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3)In an enactment the expression—

  • “Lord Chief Justice” shall mean the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland;

  • “Chancery Judge” shall mean the Judge of the High Court to whom the business and matters arising in the chancery jurisdiction of that court are for the time being assigned;

  • “county court judge” shall include F12... a recorder F12...; and

  • [F9“Probate Judge” shall mean the Judge of the High Court to whom probate business and matters are for the time being assigned.]

(4)In an enactment the expression—

  • “appeal summarily” shall mean appeal, in accordance [F13with magistrates' courts rules], to a court of summary jurisdiction;

  • Definition rep. by 1975 NI 7; 1978 c. 23

  • “committed for trial” shall mean committed by a court, judge, resident magistrate, F15... F16... or other authority having power to commit a person in custody with a view to his trial, and shall include committed on bail upon a recognizance to appear and stand trial before a judge and jury;

  • [F17“standard scale” means the standard scale provided by Article 5 of the Fines and Penalties (Northern Ireland) Order 1984;

  • “statutory maximum” means the prescribed sum within the meaning of Article 4 of the Fines and Penalties (Northern Ireland) Order 1984.]

  • “Summary Jurisdiction Acts” shall mean the statutory provisions for the time being in force in Northern Ireland in relation to summary jurisdiction;

  • “summary conviction” shall mean conviction subject to and in accordance with the Summary Jurisdiction Acts.

[F18(5)In an enactment the expression “industrial tribunal” means a tribunal established under Article 3 of the Industrial Tribunals (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.]

F15SLR 1973

Marginal Citations

M11980 NI 3

43Definitions for official purposes.N.I.

(1)In an enactment the expression—

  • “Admiralty” shall mean the Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom or the Commissioners for executing the office of the Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom;

  • “Bank of England” shall mean, as the circumstances require, the Governor and Company of the Bank of England or the Bank of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England;

  • “Bank of Ireland” shall mean, as the circumstances require, the Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland or the Bank of the Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland;

  • “Board of Trade” shall mean the Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council appointed for the consideration of matters relating to trade and foreign plantations;

  • “British Islands” shall mean the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland;

  • “consular officer” shall include consul-general, consul, vice-consul, consular agent, and any person authorised to discharge the duties of consul-general, consul, or vice-consul;

  • “Governor” shall mean the Governor of Northern Ireland;

  • “Lord Chancellor” shall mean the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain;

  • “National Debt Commissioners” shall mean the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt;

  • “Postmaster General” shall mean Her Majesty's Postmaster General;

  • “Privy Council” shall mean, except when used with reference to Northern Ireland only, the Lords and others of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, and when used with reference to Northern Ireland only, shall mean the Privy Council of Northern Ireland;

  • “Secretary of State” shall mean one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State;

  • “Treasury” shall mean the Lord High Treasurer or the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury;

  • “United Kingdom” shall mean the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

(2)In an enactment the expression—

  • “Attorney-General” shall mean the Attorney-General for Northern Ireland;

  • “authorised analyst” shall include the government chemist and any public analyst;

  • Definition rep. by 1976 NI 23

  • Definition rep. by 2000 c. 32

  • “Commissioner of Valuation” shall mean the officer [F19appointed under Article 36 of the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977M2 to be the Commissioner of Valuation for Northern Ireland];

  • “consolidated fund” shall mean the consolidated fund of Northern Ireland;

  • Definition rep. by 2000 c. 32

  • Definition rep. by 1998 c. 32

  • “exchequer” shall mean the exchequer of Northern Ireland;

  • “government chemist” shall mean the officer appointed under section two of the Administrative Provisions Act (Northern Ireland), 1928M3, to be the government chemist for Northern Ireland;

  • “Great Seal” shall mean the Great Seal of Northern Ireland and shall [F20include a] Wafer Great Seal where the use of that Seal has been authorised under section three of the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1945M4 [F20 or section 49 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998];

  • Definitions rep. by 1998 c. 32

  • “Pharmacy Inspector” and “Pharmacy Registrar” shall mean respectively [F21the Pharmacy Inspector appointed under Article 24(1), and the registrar appointed under Article 9(1), of the Pharmacy (Northern Ireland) Order 1976M5;]

  • [F22“Poisons Inspector” means [F23the Poisons Inspector appointed under Article 16 of the Poisons (Northern Ireland) Order 1976M6;]]

  • “public analyst” shall mean a public analyst appointed under[F24 Article 27(1) of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991];

  • “Queen's Printer” shall mean the officer appointed to print Acts;

  • [F25“regional rate” means a rate made by the Department of Finance under the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977M7;]

  • “registered pharmacist” shall mean a person registered in the register of pharmaceutical chemists in pursuance of [F21the Pharmacy (Northern Ireland) Order 1976;]

  • Definition rep. by 2000 c. 32

  • “weights and measures inspector” shall mean [F26a chief or other inspector of weights and measures within the meaning of the Weights and Measures (Northern Ireland) Order 1981]M8.

F20SI 1999/663

F22SRO (NI) 1972/253

Marginal Citations

[F2743ADefinitions in connection with police.N.I.

In an enactment—

  • “Chief Constable” means the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland;

  • “constable”, except when used in enactments relating to the pay or pensions of, or the general administration of, the police, includes—

    (a)

    any police officer;

    (b)

    any member of any Harbour or Airport Police;

    (c)

    any member of the Naval, Military or Royal Air Force Police or of the Ministry of Defence Police;

    (d)

    any other person having for the time being the powers of a constable;

  • “Policing Board” means the Northern Ireland Policing Board;

  • “police district” and “district commander” have the meanings assigned by section 20 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000;

  • “the police”, “police officer”, “Police Service of Northern Ireland”, “Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve” and “police support staff” have the same meaning as in the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000;

  • “reserve constable” means a person appointed as a reserve constable under section 37 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000.]

44Definitions for local government purposes.N.I.

In an enactment the expression—

  • “borough” when used in relation to local government, shall mean a municipal borough, F28... ;

  • [F29“chairman”, when used in relation to a district council, shall include a mayor or lord mayor, and “vice-chairman”, when so used, shall include a deputy mayor or deputy lord mayor;

  • “councillor” shall include an alderman;

  • “district”, when used in relation to local government, shall mean a local government district within the meaning of section 1 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972M9 and shall include a district which is a borough;

  • “district council” shall mean the council of a district;]

  • [F30“district rate” means a rate made by a district council under the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977M10;]

  • [F29“local government auditor” shall mean [F31the person] [F32designated] as such under [F33 Article 4 of the Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 2005];]

  • “municipal borough” shall mean any [F34district for which a charter of incorporation of inhabitants, or a charter designating the district a borough, is in force, and shall include a borough which is a city];

  • Definition rep. by SI 1999/663

F28SI 1999/663

F33S. 44: words in definition of "local government auditor" substituted (1.4.2006) by Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/1968 (N.I. 18)), arts. 1(2), 28(1); S.R. 2006/151, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4)

Marginal Citations

[F3544A.Definitions relating to the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European UnionN.I.

In an enactment—

  • [F36“EU withdrawal agreement” means the withdrawal agreement within the meaning of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (see section 39(1) and (6) of that Act),]

  • “exit day” (and related expressions) have the same meaning as in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (see section 20(1) to (5) of that Act),

  • [F37“IP completion day” (and related expressions) have the same meaning as in the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (see section 39(1) to (5) of that Act),]

  • “retained EU law”, “retained direct minor EU legislation”, “retained direct principal EU legislation” and “retained direct EU legislation” have the same meaning as in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (see sections 6(7), 7(6) and 20(1) of that Act) [F38(see also paragraph 7 of Schedule 1 to the Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Act 2020)],

  • “retained EU obligation” means an obligation that—

    (a)

    was created or arose by or under the EU Treaties before [F39IP completion day], and

    (b)

    forms part of retained EU law,

    as modified from time to time.]

45References relating to land.N.I.

(1)In any enactment passed after the commencement of this Act the expression—

(a)“land” shall include—

(i)messuages, tenements and hereditaments of any tenure;

(ii)land covered by water;

(iii)any estate in land or water; and

(iv)houses or other buildings or structures whatsoever;

(b)“registered land” shall mean land the title to which is registered under [F40Part III of the Land Registration Act (Northern Ireland) 1970]M11; and

(c)“unregistered land” shall mean land the title to which is not registered under [F40Part III of the Land Registration Act (Northern Ireland) 1970].

(2)In any enactment passed after the commencement of this Act “estate”, when used with reference to land, includes any legal or equitable estate or interest, easement, right, title, claim, demand, charge, lien or encumbrance in, over, to or in respect of the land.

(3)Where an enactment passed after the commencement of this Act provides that a person may dispose of land, that person may deal with the land in any of the following ways—

(a)sell it;

(b)lease, let it or grant it in fee farm;

(c)exchange it, giving or receiving money for equality of exchange;

(d)if leasehold, surrender it;

(e)grant a licence to use it for any purpose or for such purposes as are mentioned in the licence; or

(f)grant (by way of sale, lease, letting or licence) any easement, profit or right in respect of it.

Marginal Citations

46Miscellaneous definitions.N.I.

(1)In an enactment the expression—

  • “commencement” when used with reference to any statutory provision shall mean the time at which that provision comes into operation;

  • “contravention” shall include in relation to any statutory provision, a failure to comply with that provision;

  • “Land Clauses Acts” shall mean the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845M12, the Lands Clauses Consolidation Acts Amendment Act, 1860M13, the Railways Act (Ireland), 1851M14, the Railways Act (Ireland), 1860M15, the Railways Act (Ireland), 1864M16, F41..., the Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Act, 1919M17, section two of the Repeal of Unnecessary Laws Act (Northern Ireland), 1953M18, and every statutory provision for the time being in force amending those provisions or any of them;

  • “ordnance map” shall mean a map made under the powers conferred by the Survey (Ireland) Acts, 1825 to 1870;

  • “owner” in relation to any land shall include any person who under the Lands Clauses Acts would have power to sell and convey that land to the promoters of an undertaking;(12 & 13 Geo.5)(13 Geo.5)

  • “Republic of Ireland” shall mean the territory which, in accordance with the provisions of the Irish Free State (Agreement) Act, 1922M19, and the Irish Free State Constitution Act, 1922M20 (Session 2), was required to be styled and known as the Irish Free State;

  • [F42“sewerage undertaker” shall be construed in accordance with Article 13 of the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006;]

  • “signature” and “signed” shall include and apply to the making of a mark;

  • “Valuation Acts” shall mean the [F43statutory] provisions relating to the valuation of rateable property in Northern Ireland;

  • [F44“water undertaker” shall be construed in accordance with Article 13 of the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006;]

  • “will” shall include codicil;

  • “writing”, “written” or any term of like import shall include words typewritten, printed, painted, engraved, lithographed, photographed or represented or reproduced by any mode of representing or reproducing words in a visible form.

(2)In an enactment passed or made after the commencement of this Act the expression—

  • “access” shall include ingress, egress and regress;

  • “act” where used in reference to an offence or civil wrong shall include a series of acts, and words so used which refer to acts done shall extend to omissions;

  • [F45“arbitrator” has the same meaning as in Part I of the Arbitration Act 1996;]

  • “assets” shall include property or rights of any kind;

  • “barrister-at-law” shall mean any person admitted or entitled to practise as a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland;

  • [F46“civil partnership” means a civil partnership which exists under the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (and any reference to a civil partner shall be construed accordingly);]

  • “constitutional laws of Northern Ireland” shall mean F47... the statutory provisions F47... relating to or affecting the legislative powers of [F43the Assembly];

  • F48“costs” shall include fees, charges, disbursements, expenses or remuneration;

  • “fault” shall mean wrongful act or default;

  • “functions” shall include jurisdictions, powers and duties;

  • “goods” shall mean all kinds of movable property including animals;

  • “individual” shall mean a natural person and shall not include a corporation;

  • “movable property” shall mean property of every description (including growing crops) except immovable property;

  • “registry of deeds” shall mean the registry maintained in Northern Ireland under the Registration of Deeds Acts;

  • [F49“Registration of Deeds Acts” shall mean the Registration of Deeds Act (Northern Ireland) 1970M21 and every statutory provision for the time being in force amending that Act or otherwise relating to the registry of deeds, or to the registration of deeds, orders or other instruments or documents in such registry;]

  • “statute of limitation” shall mean any statutory provision in force in Northern Ireland prescribing a period within which any civil proceeding to which such provision relates is required to be brought, but shall not include a provision prescribing a period within which any criminal proceedings (including proceedings to recover any penalty imposed as a punishment for a criminal offence) is to be brought.

[F43(3)In any enactment passed or made after the day appointed for the commencement of Parts II and III of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the following expressions shall have the same meaning as in that Act—

  • “The Belfast Agreement”;

  • “cross-community support”;

  • “excepted matter”;

  • “Northern Ireland legislation”;

  • “reserved matter”; and

  • “transferred matter”.

(4)In any enactment, whenever passed or made, any reference to a Minister of a Northern Ireland department shall, in the case of the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister, be construed as a reference to the First Minister and deputy First Minister acting jointly.]

F43SI 1999/663

F48Definition ext. (costs in criminal cases), 1968 c. 10 (NI)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Marginal Citations

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.

Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

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.