The Flags (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020

Draft Regulations laid before Parliament under Article 4(5) of the Flags (Northern Ireland) Order 2000 for approval by resolution of each House of Parliament.

Draft Statutory Instruments

2020 No

Armorial Bearings, Ensigns And Flags

Northern Ireland

The Flags (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020

Made

2020

Coming into force in accordance with regulation 1(2)

The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 3 of the Flags (Northern Ireland) Order 2000 (“the 2000 Order”) (1).

On 1st September 2020 the Secretary of State referred a draft of the Regulations the Secretary of State proposed to make under the 2000 Order to the Northern Ireland Assembly (“the Assembly”).

On 14th September 2020 (being within the period specified by the Secretary of State), the Assembly reported to the Secretary of State the views expressed in the Assembly on the proposed Regulations.

In accordance with Article 4(3) of the 2000 Order, the Secretary of State has considered the Assembly’s Report on the proposed Regulations.

In accordance with Article 4(4) of the 2000 Order, the Secretary of State has, in exercising the powers under Article 3 of that Order, had regard to the Belfast Agreement.

In accordance with Article 4(5) of the 2000 Order, a draft of these Regulations was laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament and in accordance with Article 4(6) the draft laid before Parliament was accompanied by a copy of the Assembly’s Report considered by the Secretary of State.

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Flags (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020.

(2) They come into force 21 days after the date on which they are made.

(3) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(2) applies to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

Amendment of the Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000

2.—(1) The Schedule to the Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000(3) is amended as follows.

(2) In Part 1 (specified government buildings)—

(a) omit “Churchill House, Victoria Square, Belfast.”;

(b) after “Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, Belfast” insert—

“Causeway Exchange, 1-7 Bedford Street, Belfast.”

“Clare House, 303, Airport Road West, Belfast.”

(3) In Part 2 (days on which the union flag is to be flown at full mast), in the appropriate places, insert the following entries—

9th January	Birthday of the Duchess of Cambridge
21st June	Birthday of the Duke of Cambridge
17th July	Birthday of the Duchess of Cornwall

Name

Minister of State

Northern Ireland Office

Date

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

The Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 (S.R. 2000/347) (“the Flags Regulations”) make provision as to the flying of flags at government buildings in Northern Ireland, in particular on which buildings and on which days flags must be flown. These Regulations amend the Flags Regulations so as to remove the requirement that the Union flag is flown at Churchill House, Victoria Square, Belfast (as this building has been demolished) and to require it to be flown at Causeway Exchange, 1-7 Bedford Street, Belfast and Clare House, 303 Airport Road West, Belfast. They also add three further days on which the Union flag must be flown (9th January 21st June and 17th July).

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.

(1)

S.I. 2000/1347 (N.I. 3); article 3 was amended by section 67(1) of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 26).

(2)

1954 c. 33, amended by S.I. 1999/663; there are other amending instruments, but none is relevant.

(3)

S.R. 2000/347, amended by section 67 of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002, S.R. 2003/553 and S.I. 2020/455.