This is the second Commencement Order made under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (“the Act”), but the first which commences provisions in so far as they extend to Northern Ireland.

Article 2 of this Order commences section 1 of, and Schedule 1 to, the Act in relation to Northern Ireland. These provisions provide for the establishment of the Independent Barring Board which will establish and maintain the children’s barred list and the adults’ barred list provided for under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1351) (N.I. 11). It also commences the interpretive and ancillary provisions in sections 59 to 61 of the Act, in so far as they relate to section 1 and Schedule 1.