The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2020

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations bring into force provisions of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (c. 1) (“the Act”). These are the second commencement regulations made under the Act.

Regulation 3 brings into force the specified paragraphs of Schedule 2 to the Act relating to the Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens’ Rights Agreements (“the IMA”). These provisions place duties on the IMA relating to accounts and audit, public records, investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, the Freedom of Information Act and public sector equality duty and require the IMA to produce an annual plan and guidance.

Regulation 4 brings into force paragraph 5 of Schedule 3 to the Act, which amends section 71 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (restrictions on proceedings) concerning the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission’s ‘own motion’ standing powers to challenge the compatibility of legislation with the European Convention on Human Rights through the Human Rights Act 1998.