Statutory Instruments

2000 No. 1347 (N.I. 3)

The Flags (Northern Ireland) Order 2000

17th May 2000

Title and commencementN.I.

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Flags (Northern Ireland) Order 2000.

(2) This Order shall come into operation on such day or days as the Secretary of State may by order appointF1.

F1fully exercised by SR 2000/334

InterpretationN.I.

2.  The [1954 c. 33 (N.I.).] Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 shall apply to Article 1 and the following provisions of this Order as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

Flying of flagsN.I.

3.—(1) The Secretary of State may make regulations regulating the flying of flags at government buildings[F2and court-houses].

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1) “government building” means a building wholly or mainly occupied by members of the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

Regulations under Article 3 – supplementaryN.I.

4.—(1) Where the Secretary of State proposes to make regulations under Article 3, he shall refer a draft of the proposed regulations to the Assembly.

(2) The Assembly shall, within such period as the Secretary of State may specify, report to the Secretary of State the views expressed in the Assembly on the proposed regulations.

(3) The Secretary of State shall consider any report which is made to him under paragraph (2) within the period specified under that paragraph.

(4) In exercising his powers under Article 3 the Secretary of State shall have regard to the Belfast Agreement.

(5) No regulations may be made under Article 3 unless a draft of the regulations has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

(6) The draft laid under paragraph (5) shall be accompanied by—

(a)a copy of any report considered by the Secretary of State under paragraph (3); and

(b)if, as a result of any such report, the proposed regulations have been changed, a statement containing details of the changes.