Final provisions

28Commencement

1

The following provisions come into force on the day on which this Act is passed—

a

in section 1 (donations for political purposes)—

i

subsections (1) and (2), and

ii

subsection (3) for the purpose of prescribing requirements;

b

in section 2 (loans etc for political purposes)—

i

subsection (1),

ii

subsection (2) for the purpose of prescribing requirements, and

iii

subsection (3);

c

section 7 (extension of term of Assembly);

d

section 19 (Chief Electoral Officer: performance standards etc);

e

section 20 (data sharing) (but see subsection (2) below);

f

section 22 (equality duties);

g

section 23 (extension of powers to make secondary legislation about elections etc);

h

section 24 (regulation of biometric data) (but see subsection (3) below);

i

sections 26 to 29 (final provisions).

2

If paragraph 10 of Schedule 4 to the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 (which restricts to Northern Ireland the application of section 10A of the Representation of the People Act 1983) comes into force on a day after that on which this Act is passed, subsection (2)(c)(i) of section 20 comes into force immediately after that paragraph comes into force.

3

If paragraph 8(1) of Schedule 1 to the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 comes into force on a day after that on which this Act is passed, section 24 comes into force immediately after that paragraph comes into force.

4

The following provisions come into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed—

  • section 6 (reduction in size of the Assembly to be reserved matter);

  • section 10 (Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland);

  • section 11 (Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission);

  • section 12 (district electoral areas for council elections);

  • section 13 (removal of requirement that canvass form must be prescribed form);

  • section 17 (electoral identity cards);

  • section 18 (Chief Electoral Officer: duty to take necessary steps) (but see subsection (5) below);

  • section 21 and the Schedule (rules of court);

  • section 25 (amendment of Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975).

5

If paragraph 6 of Schedule 4 to the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 (which amends section 9A of the Representation of the People Act 1983) comes into force on a day after the end of the period mentioned in subsection (4), section 18(3) comes into force immediately after that paragraph comes into force.

6

The following provisions come into force on the first day after this Act is passed on which the Northern Ireland Assembly is dissolved—

  • section 3 (MPs to be disqualified for membership of Assembly);

  • section 4 (members of the Dáil Éireann to be disqualified for membership of the Assembly);

  • section 5 (statements by prospective members of Assembly).

7

Subject to the preceding subsections of this section, this Act comes into force on such day as the Secretary of State may appoint by order made by statutory instrument.

8

An order under subsection (7)—

a

may appoint different days for different purposes, and

b

may make transitional, transitory or saving provision.