Northern Ireland Legislation:
proceedings as at 26 February 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	9.2.2005
Higher Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2005	29.10.2004 - 21.1.2005	20.1.2005	8.2.2005
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			28.2.2005 (D)
Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 2004	19.10.2004 - 10.1.2005
Drainage (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004	6.9.2004 - 26.11.2004		26.1.2005
Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (Disapplication of Part IV for Northern Ireland Parties, etc.) Order 2005	-	-	20.12.2004	3.2.2005 (D)	31.1.2005(A)
Firearms (Appeals and Applications) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 (N) SR (NI) 2005 No.3	-		10.1.2005
Company Directors Disqualification (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005			20.1.2005	1.3.2005 (D)
The Electoral Law (Northern Ireland) Act 1962 (Amendment) Order 2005			20.1.2005
The Terrorism Act 2000 (Continuance of Part Vii) Order 2005			20.1.2005
Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 2005			24.1.2005	1.3.2005 (D)
The Drainage (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005			26.1.2005	24.2.2005 (D)
Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997 (Amnesty Period) Order 2005			26.1.2004	9.2.2005 (D) 21.2.2005 (A)	9.2.2005 (A)
Law Reform Miscellaneous Provisions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005			7.2.2005
Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Modification) Order 2005			8.2.2005
Budget (Northern Ireland) Order 2005		8.3.2005	9.2.2005
District Policing Partnerships (Northern Ireland) Order 2005			21.2.2005
Firearms (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005			21.2.2005
Unauthorised Encampments (Northern Ireland) Order 2005			21.2.2005
Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005			21.2.2005
Public Processions (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005			22.2.2005