Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014

Establishment of new schemes N.I.

Schemes for persons in public service N.I.

1.—(1) Regulations may establish schemes for the payment of pensions and other benefits to or in respect of persons specified in subsection (2).

(2) Those persons are—

(a) civil servants;

(b) holders of judicial office;

(c) local government workers;

(d) teachers;

(e) health service workers;

(f) fire and rescue workers;

(g) members of the police service.

(3) These terms are defined in Schedule 1.

(4) In this Act, regulations under this section are called “scheme regulations”.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 1 in operation at 28.4.2014 by S.R. 2014/123, art. 2(1)(a)

Responsible authority for schemes N.I.

2.—(1) The persons who may make scheme regulations are set out in Schedule 2.

(2) In this Act, the person who may make scheme regulations for any description of persons specified in section 1(2) is called the “responsible authority” for the scheme for those persons.

Commencement Information

I2 S. 2 in operation at 28.4.2014 by S.R. 2014/123, art. 2(1)(b)

Scheme regulations N.I.

3.—(1) Scheme regulations may, subject to this Act [F1 and Part 1 of PSPJOA 2022] , make such provision in relation to a scheme under section 1 as the responsible authority considers appropriate.

(2) That includes in particular—

(a) provision as to any of the matters specified in Schedule 3;

(b) consequential, supplementary, incidental or transitional provision in relation to the scheme or any provision of this Act.

[F2 (c) consequential, supplementary, incidental or transitional provision in relation to any provision of Part 1 of PSPJOA 2022.]

(3) Scheme regulations may—

(a) make different provision for different purposes or cases (including different provision for different descriptions of persons);

(b) make retrospective provision (but see section 23);

(c) allow any person to exercise a discretion.

(4) The consequential provision referred to in subsection (2)(b) includes consequential provision amending any primary legislation made or passed before or within the period of 12 months from the date on which this Act receives Royal Assent (as well as consequential provision amending any secondary legislation).

[F3 (4A) In subsection (2)(c)—

(a) the reference to consequential provision includes consequential provision amending any primary legislation made or passed before or within the period of 12 months from the date on which PSPJOA 2022 receives Royal Assent (as well as consequential provision amending any secondary legislation);

(b) the reference to supplementary, incidental or transitional provision includes supplementary, incidental or transitional provision amending an existing scheme contained in primary legislation (as well as supplementary, incidental or transitional provision amending any secondary legislation).

(4B) See sections 37 and 74 of PSPJOA 2022 for provision under which certain powers to make provision under Part 1 of that Act by means of scheme regulations may be exercised by amending existing schemes.]

(5) Scheme regulations require the consent of the Department of Finance and Personnel before being made, unless they are to be made by that Department.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 3(1) inserted (10.3.2022 for specified purposes) by Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 (c. 7), ss. 94(12), 131(1)(2)(f)

F2 S. 3(2)(c) inserted (10.3.2022 for specified purposes) by Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 (c. 7), ss. 94(13), 131(1)(2)(f)

F3 S. 3(4A)(4B) inserted (10.3.2022 for specified purposes) by Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 (c. 7), ss. 94(14), 131(1)(2)(f)

Commencement Information

I3 S. 3 in operation at 28.4.2014 by S.R. 2014/123, art. 2(1)(c)