This Order brings into operation certain provisions of the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c.24) (“the Act”).

The provisions of the Act set out in Article 2 come into operation on 7th January 2013.

Section 82 amends the Legal Aid, Advice and Assistance (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 to include applicants in receipt of the guarantee credit element of State Pension Credit as automatically meeting, in certain circumstances, the financial test for civil legal aid.

Section 86 amends Schedule 2 to the Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) 2003 to ensure that civil legal services are available for applications in the Crown Court or in a court of summary jurisdiction to vary or discharge a witness anonymity order or an order under the Protection from Harassment (Northern Ireland) Order 1997. The Schedule is also amended so that civil legal services will also be available in a court of summary jurisdiction for applications for a foreign travel restriction order or to vary, renew or discharge a foreign travel restriction order; for applications to discharge an investigation anonymity order; or for applications to release property subject to a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.