Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014

Miscellaneous

21 Rules of court

The Schedule to this Act makes provision about rules of court.

22 Equality duties

(1) In section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (statutory duty on public authorities), after subsection (3) insert—

“(3A) An order under subsection (3)(a) or (d) may provide that the designated department, corporation, body or other person—

(a) is not subject to, or is only subject to, specified obligations under subsection (1) or (2), or

(b) is not subject to, or is only subject to, specified obligations under subsection (1) or (2)—

(i) when exercising a specified function, or

(ii) when exercising a specified function in specified circumstances or for specified purposes.

(3B) In subsection (3A) “specified” means specified in the order.”

(2) In Schedule 9 to that Act (equality: enforcement of duties), in paragraph 4, after sub-paragraph (4) insert—

“(5) But where the public authority is designated by order under section 75(3)(a) or (d)—

• “equality of opportunity” does not include equality of opportunity in relation to which (by virtue of the order) the public authority has no obligations under section 75(1);

• “the relevant functions” does not include functions of the public authority so far as the obligations imposed by section 75 do not (by virtue of the order) apply to their exercise.”

23 Extension of powers to make secondary legislation about elections etc

(1) In section 34 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (elections and franchise for the Assembly), after subsection (6) insert—

“(7) An order under subsection (4) may make different provision for different areas about the conduct of elections, including different provision about the registration of persons entitled to vote at an election.”

(2) In section 84 of that Act (provision with respect to certain matters), after subsection (1A) insert—

“(1B) An Order in Council under subsection (1) may make different provision for different areas about the conduct of elections, including different provision about the registration of persons entitled to vote at an election.”

24 Regulation of biometric data

In Schedule 1 to the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (amendments of regimes other than PACE), in Part 7 (corresponding Northern Ireland provision for excepted or reserved matters etc), in paragraph 8(1) for “2011 or 2012 (whether before or after the passing of this Act)” substitute “2013 or 2014”.

25 Amendment of Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975

In Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 (other disqualifying offices), at the appropriate place, insert “Civil Service Commissioner for Northern Ireland.”