http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/section/51DNorthern Ireland Act 1998An Act to make new provision for the government of Northern Ireland for the purpose of implementing the agreement reached at multi-party talks on Northern Ireland set out in Command Paper 3883.1998-11-19texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-01-30Expert Participation2026-01-29 Northern Ireland Act 1998ActNorthern Ireland Act 2006Northern Ireland Act 2006 (repealed)Sch. 2 para. 2(5)s. 1(3)Northern Ireland Act 1998s. 31(2)-(2D)Northern Ireland Act 2006Northern Ireland Act 2006 (repealed)Sch. 3 para. 2(1)s. 1(3)Northern Ireland Act 1998s. 31(2)-(2D)Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006Sch. 3 para. 2(1)s. 1(3)Northern Ireland Act 1998s. 31(2E)Northern Ireland Act 2006Northern Ireland Act 2006 (repealed)Sch. 3 para. 3(1)s. 1(3)Northern Ireland Act 1998Sch. 2 para. 9BSaving Gateway Accounts Act 2009s. 27s. 31 Part IV51D1This section applies to the following resolutions of the Assembly—aa resolution censuring a Minister or junior Minister—ibecause he is not committed to non-violence and exclusively peaceful and democratic means; oriibecause of any failure of his to observe any other terms of the pledge of office;ba resolution censuring a political party—ibecause it is not committed to non-violence and exclusively peaceful and democratic means; oriibecause it is not committed to such of its members as are or might become Ministers or junior Ministers observing the other terms of the pledge of office.2A motion for a resolution to which this section applies shall not be moved unless—ait is supported by at least 30 members of the Assembly;bit is moved by the First Minister and the deputy First Minister acting jointly; orcit is moved by the Presiding Officer in pursuance of a notice under subsection (3).3If the Secretary of State is of the opinion that the Assembly ought to consider a resolution to which this section applies, he shall serve a notice on the Presiding Officer requiring him to move a motion for such a resolution.4In forming an opinion under subsection (3), the Secretary of State shall in particular take into account the matters listed in section 30(7).5A resolution to which this section applies shall not be passed without cross-community support.S. 51D inserted (7.1.2004) by Northern Ireland (Monitoring Commission etc.) Act 2003 (c. 25), ss. 9, 12; S.I. 2004/83, art. 2Pts. II-IV applied in part (1.1.2007) by The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (S.R. 2006/439), reg. 53(6)