Northern Ireland Act 2000

4 (1) While section 1 is in force—

(a) any functions of the First Minister and the deputy First Minister may be discharged by the Secretary of State;

(b) any functions of a Northern Ireland Minister who was in charge of a Northern Ireland department immediately before the coming into force of section 1 may be discharged by that department;

(c) any functions of a Northern Ireland Minister who was not then in charge of a Northern Ireland department may be discharged by the Secretary of State;

(d) section 56 of the 1998 Act (which imposes duties on the First Minister and the deputy First Minister in relation to the Civic Forum) ceases to have effect;

(e) the functions to which section 66 of the 1998 Act applies (expenses of Northern Ireland Audit Office) are exercisable by the Department of Finance and Personnel;

(f) any functions of a Northern Ireland department (including functions discharged as a result of this sub-paragraph) are to be discharged subject to the direction and control of the Secretary of State.

(2) Anything required or authorised by or under any enactment or instrument to be done to or in relation to a Minister in connection with any functions which are exercisable as a result of this paragraph by a substituted authority (whether the Secretary of State or a Northern Ireland department) are to be done instead to or in relation to that authority.

(3) Any enactment or instrument is to have effect, so far as may be necessary for or in consequence of the exercise of any functions by a substituted authority as a result of this paragraph, as if references to a Minister were references to that authority.

(4) This paragraph does not invalidate anything done before section 1 came into force.

(5) Anything which, immediately before section 1 came into force, is in the process of being done by or in relation to a Minister may be continued by or in relation to the substituted authority.

(6) Any act which was effective, immediately before section 1 came into force, as an act of a Minister continues to have effect as the act of the substituted authority.

(7) In sub-paragraph (6) “act” includes an order, regulation, rule, direction, authority, appointment, authentication, approval or other instrument.

(8) “Instrument” includes a charter, contract or other document.

(9) This paragraph applies to functions conferred by any enactment or instrument—

(a) before section 1 comes into force, or

(b) while that section is in force,

but that is subject to any contrary provision made by that enactment or instrument.