Citation and interpretation

1.-(1) This Order may be cited as the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Commencement No. 3) Order 1999.

(2) In this Order, "the 1998 Act" means the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

PART VII OF THE 1998 ACT (HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES)

Establishment of Equality Commission

2. The following provisions of the 1998 Act, so far as not already in force, shall come into force on 2nd August 1999:

• Section 73(1), except for the purposes of paragraph 6 of Schedule 4 to the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998(2)

• Section 73(2) to (5)

• Schedule 8.

Functions of Equality Commission

3. The following provisions of the 1998 Act shall come into force on 1st October 1999:

• Section 73(1), for the purposes of paragraph 6 of Schedule 4 to the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998

• Section 74, for all remaining purposes

• Section 75(4), so far as relating to paragraph 1(b) of Schedule 9

• Section 95(5), so far as relating to paragraphs 1 and 13 of Schedule 12

• Section 99, so far as relating to paragraphs 2, 16 and 19 of Schedule 13

• Section 100(2), so far as relating to the entries in Schedule 15 coming into force by virtue of this Order

• Paragraph 1(b) of Schedule 9, except for the purposes of paragraph 2 of that Schedule

• Paragraphs 1 and 13 of Schedule 12

• Paragraphs 2, 16 and 19 of Schedule 13

• In Schedule 15, the entries relating to:

  • House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975

  • Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975

  • Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976

  • Schedule 2 to the Commissioner for Complaints (Northern Ireland) Order 1996

  • Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997.

Statutory duty on public authorities

4. The following provisions of the 1998 Act, so far as not already in force, shall come into force on 1st January 2000:

• Section 75

• Schedule 9.

PART VIII OF THE 1998 ACT (MISCELLANEOUS)

Discrimination: certificates by Secretary of State

5. The following provisions of the 1998 Act, so far as not already in force, shall come into force on 2nd August 1999:

• Sections 90 to 92

• Section 100(1), so far as relating to paragraph 18 of Schedule 14

• Schedule 11

• Paragraph 18 of Schedule 14.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order brings into force, on various dates, provisions of the Northern Ireland Act. The principal provisions are as follows.

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is established by section 73(1) of the 1998 Act, which is brought into force on 2nd August 1999. Its principal functions are conferred by section 74, which comes into force substantially on 1st October 1999. New statutory duties on public authorities in relation to the promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations are imposed by section 75, which is brought into force on 1st January 2000.

The Order also brings into force, on 2nd August 1999, sections 90 to 92 of the 1998 Act. These provisions establish a Tribunal to which a person may appeal against a certificate issued by the Secretary of State in discrimination proceedings.

Note as to Earlier Commencement Orders

(This note is not part of the Order)

The following provisions of the 1998 Act came into force under the orders, and on the dates, indicated below.