1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Child Support (Northern Ireland) Order 1991.
(2) This Order shall come into operation on such day or days as may be appointed by order made by the Lord Chancellor or the Head of the Department or by both of them acting jointly.
(3) An order under paragraph (2) may make such supplemental, incidental or transitional provision as appears to the person making the order to be necessary or expedient in connection with the provisions brought into operation by the order, including such adaptations or modifications of—
(a)the provisions so brought into operation;
(b)any provisions of this Order then in operation; or
(c)any provision of any other statutory provision,
as appear to him to be necessary or expedient.
(4) Different provision may be made by virtue of paragraph (3) with respect to different periods.
(5) Any provision made by virtue of paragraph (3) may, in particular, include provision for—
(a)the enforcement of a maintenance assessment (including the collection of sums payable under the assessment) as if the assessment were a court order of a prescribed kind;
(b)the registration of maintenance assessments with the appropriate court in connection with any provision of a kind mentioned in sub-paragraph (a);
(c)the variation, on application made to a court, of the provisions of a maintenance assessment relating to the method of making payments fixed by the assessment or the intervals at which such payments are to be made;
(d)a maintenance assessment, or an order of a prescribed kind relating to one or more children, to be deemed, in prescribed circumstances, to have been validly made for all purposes or for such purposes as may be prescribed.