Northern Ireland Legislation:
proceedings as at 15 January 2005

The Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended from midnight on 14 October 2002. During suspension, legislation, which would otherwise have come within the competence of the Assembly, may be made by Order in Council under Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Act 2000. The 2000 Act is also currently being used to make Orders in Council which, while the Assembly was active, would have been made under section 85 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Orders making provision for certain reserved matters, for example the criminal law).

Unless made without Parliamentary Approval by reason of urgency, draft Orders in Council must be approved by a resolution of both Houses before being made (affirmative procedure). Orders in Council made before Parliamentary approval by reason of urgency (U), must be approved by both Houses within 40 days of being made.

Some UK Acts, for example dealing with social security or pensions, provide for corresponding provisions to be made for Northern Ireland by means of an Order in Council under the 2000 Act, subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House (negative procedure (N)), rather than by the normal affirmative procedure.

Where appropriate, proposals for draft Orders in Council are issued for public consultation and on occasions may be considered by the Northern Ireland Grand Committee (G), before the draft Order is laid. Prior to formal approval being sought on the floor of the Commons, draft Orders are normally considered in a Delegated Legislation Standing Committee (D) or, less frequently, by the Northern Ireland Grand Committee. The Northern Ireland Orders Grand Committee (O) would also, from time to time, consider a draft Order before formal approval is sought on the floor of the Lords.

Abbreviations:

U	Urgent Procedure	D	Delegated legislation Standing Committee
G	Northern Ireland Grand committee	O	Northern Ireland Order Grand Committee
A	Approved	N	Negative Procedure

Title and SI No.	Consultation on Proposal	NIGC	(Draft) Order Laid	Commons	Lords	Privy Council
Special Educational Needs and Disability (Northern Ireland) Order 2004	2.4.2004 - 28.6.2004	20.5.2004
Higher Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2005	29.10.2004 - 21.1.2005	20.1.2005
Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 (Specifies Organisations) Order 2004 SI 2004 No. 3009	-	-	17.11.2004	11.1.2005 (D)	11.1.2005 (A)
Agriculture (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 SI 2004 No. 3327 (N.23)	-		24.11.2004	6.12.2004 (D) 7.12.2004 (A)	13.12.2004(O) 14.12.2004 (A)	16.12.04
Financial Provisions (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 SI 2004 No. 3326 (N.22)	-		25.11.2004	9.12.2004 (D) 14.12.2004 (A)	13.12.2004(O) 14.10.2004 (A)	16.12.04
Employment Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (N) SI 2004 No. 3078	-	-	30.11.2004			17.11.04
Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004	22.11.2004 - 17.2.2005
Unauthorised Encampments (Northern Ireland) Order 2004	11.10.2004 - 31.12.2004
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004	30.9.2004 - 23.12.2004
Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 2004	19.10.2004 - 10.1.2005
Drainage (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004	6.9.2004 - 26.11.2004
Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (Disapplication of Part IV for Northern Ireland Parties, etc.) Order 2005	-	-	20.12.2004
Firearms (Appeals and Applications) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 (N) SR (NI) 2005 No.3	-		10.1.2005