The Northern Ireland (Royal Assent to Bills) Order 1999

Made10th March 1999

Coming into force in accordance with Article 1(1)

At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 10th day of March 1999

Present,

The Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council

Her Majesty, in exercise of the powers conferred on Her by section 49(1) of the Northern Ireland Act 19981, is pleased, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, to order, and it is hereby ordered, as follows:

Citation, commencement and interpretation1

1

This Order may be cited as the Northern Ireland (Royal Assent to Bills) Order 1999 and shall come into force on the appointed day2.

2

In this Order, references to Letters Patent are to Letters Patent signed with Her Majesty’s own hand signifying Her Assent to a Bill passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Form and manner of preparation2

1

Letters Patent are to take the form set out in the Schedule to this Order, subject only to such variations as are specified in the Schedule itself or are necessitated by circumstances to be referred to in the Letters Patent on a particular occasion.

2

They may be prepared on paper or parchment, and may be printed or written or partly printed and partly written.

Publication3

Letters Patent are to be published in the Belfast Gazette.

A.K. GallowayClerk of the Privy Council

SCHEDULEFORM OF LETTERS PATENT3

Article 2(1)

(This note is not part of the Order)

Under section 5(3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, a Bill becomes an Act at the beginning of the day on which Letters Patent signifying Royal Assent are notified to the Presiding Officer of the Assembly. This Order in Council prescribes a standard form for the Letters Patent.

The Order also requires the Letters Patent to be published in the Belfast Gazette.