SI 1999/663

mod. by 2005 NI 1

S. 39(2) excluded (6.4.2006) by Occupational Pension Schemes (Payments to Employer) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (S.R. 2006/161), reg. 2(4)

S. 39(2) excluded (20.11.2006) by Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (S.R. 2006/405), reg. 2(6)

S. 39(2) excluded (20.11.2006) by Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (S.R. 2006/406), reg. 2(7)

S. 39(2) excluded (1.4.2008) by Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (S.R. 2008/92), arts. 1(1)(a), 2(3) (with art. 6)

S. 39(2) excluded by S.R. 2005/168, reg. 2(6) (as inserted (6.4.2008) by Occupational Pension Schemes (Employer Debt and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (S.R. 2008/132), reg. 4(5))

S. 39(2) excluded by Foyle Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1952 (c. 5), s. 82(6) (as inserted (1.6.2008) by Foyle and Carlingford Fisheries (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/915 (N.I. 9)), arts. 1(3), 31 (with art. 32)); S.R. 2008/232, art. 2, Sch.

S. 39(2) modified (29.6. 2007) by Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007 (c. 2), ss. 57(2)(b), 60

S. 39(2) modified (11.2.2008) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1), s. 20(2), Sch. 4 Pt. 3

S. 39(2) modified (15.12.2008) by Pensions (No. 2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 13), ss. 117(2), 118(2)(g)

S. 39(2) excluded (1.4.2009) by Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2009 (S.R. 2009/89), arts. 1(1)(a), 2(3)

S. 39(2) excluded (1.4.2010) by Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010/118), arts. 1(1)(a), 2(3)

S. 39(2) excluded (1.4.2011) by Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 (S.R. 2011/119), arts. 1(1)(a), 2(3)

S. 39(3) excluded by Foyle Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1952 (c. 5), s. 82(6) (as inserted (1.6.2008) by Foyle and Carlingford Fisheries (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/915 (N.I. 9)), arts. 1(3), 31 (with art. 32)); S.R. 2008/232, art. 2, Sch.

S. 39(4) excluded by Foyle Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1952 (c. 5), s. 82(6) (as inserted (1.6.2008) by Foyle and Carlingford Fisheries (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/915 (N.I. 9)), arts. 1(3), 31 (with art. 32)); S.R. 2008/232, art. 2, Sch.

SI 1999/663

S. 39(8) excluded by Foyle Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1952 (c. 5), s. 82(6) (as inserted (1.6.2008) by Foyle and Carlingford Fisheries (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/915 (N.I. 9)), arts. 1(3), 31 (with art. 32)); S.R. 2008/232, art. 2, Sch.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2009-10-01Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954An Act to make provision with respect to the operation, interpretation and citation of Acts of the Parliament of Northern Ireland and of instruments made thereunder.texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2024-05-222009-10-01Construction of Enactments
31Enactment always speaking.1

Every enactment shall be construed as always speaking and if anything is expressed in the present tense it shall be applied to the circumstances as they occur, so that effect may be given to each enactment according to its true spirit, intent and meaning.

2

The expression “now”, “next”, “heretofore” or “hereafter” shall be construed as referring to the time when the enactment containing the expression came into force.

32Limited nature of powers, privileges or advantages granted by enactments.1

Every enactment passed or made after the commencement of this Act conferring any power upon, or granting any privilege or advantage to, any person shall be construed as conferring that power, or, as the case may be, granting that privilege or advantage, for so long only as that enactment remains unrepealed or unrevoked.

2

Nothing in this section shall—

a

affect the title to any property which vested pursuant to the provisions of an enactment in any person upon payment of compensation; or

b

prejudice any power to amend, repeal or revoke any enactment or to modify, restrict or revoke any power, privilege or advantage conferred or granted by an enactment.

33Expressions in instrument have same meaning as in enactment.

Where an enactment confers power to make any statutory instrument or issue any statutory document, expressions used in the instrument or document shall, unless a contrary intention appears, have the same respective meanings as in the enactment.

34Application of interpretation provisions in enactments.1

Definitions or rules of interpretation contained in an enactment shall apply to the construction of the provisions of the enactment which contain those definitions or rules of interpretation, as well as to the other provisions of the enactment.

2

An interpretation section or provision contained in an enactment shall be read and construed as being applicable only if a contrary intention does not appear in the enactment.

35Corresponding meanings of parts of speech.

Where a word is defined in an enactment other parts of speech and grammatical variations of that word shall have corresponding meanings in that enactment.

36Names commonly used.

In an enactment, a name commonly applied to a country, place, Government department, body, corporation, society, Minister, officer, functionary, person, party, statutory provision, or other thing whatsoever, shall mean the country, place, Government department, body, corporation, society, Minister, officer, functionary, person, party, statutory provision or thing to which the name is commonly applied, or is commonly applied in Northern Ireland, whether or not the name is the formal or unabbreviated designation thereof.

37Rules as to gender and number.1

Words in an enactment importing (whether in relation to an offence or otherwise) persons or male persons shall include male and female persons, corporations (whether aggregate or sole) and unincorporated bodies of persons.

2

In an enactment—

a

words in the singular shall include the plural; and

b

words in the plural shall include the singular.

3

Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions, a reference in an enactment to a party aggrieved shall include a reference to a body corporate in every case where that body is a party aggrieved.

38Construction of “shall” and “may”.

In an enactment passed or made after the commencement of this Act, the expression “shall” shall be construed as imperative and the expression “may” as permissive and empowering.

39Time.1

Words in an enactment relating to time and references therein to a point of time shall be construed as relating or referring to Greenwich mean time, subject, however, to any statutory provision which may for the time being provide that, during any specified period or periods, time in Northern Ireland is to differ from Greenwich mean time.

2

Where in an enactment a period of time is expressed to begin on, or to be reckoned from, a particular day, that day shall not be included in the period.

3

Where in an enactment a period of time is expressed to end on, or to be reckoned to, a particular day, that day shall be included in the period.

4

Where the time limited by an enactment for the doing of anything expires or falls upon a Sunday or a public holiday, the time so limited shall extend to and the thing may be done on the first following day that is not a Sunday or a public holiday.

5

Sub-sections (2), (3) and (4) shall apply whether or not the number of days concerned is expressed to be clear days.

6

In an enactment—

a

a reference to midnight, in relation to any particular day, shall be construed as a reference to the point of time at which that day ends;

b

a reference to a week-day shall be construed as a reference to a day which is not a Sunday;

c

a reference to a month shall be construed as a reference to a calendar month;

d

a reference, without qualification, to a year shall be construed as a reference to a period of twelve months; and

e

a reference to a financial year or to a local financial year shall be construed as a reference to a period of twelve months ending at midnight on the thirty-first day of March.

7

In any enactment relating to any duty or tax. . . the expression “night” shall be deemed to begin at eleven of the clock in the evening of each day, and to end at five of the clock in the morning of the next succeeding day.

8

In an enactment the expression “public holiday” shall include Christmas Day, Good Friday, any bank holiday appointed by or under any statutory provision and any day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.

40Distance.

In the measurement of any distance for the purposes of any enactment, that distance shall be measured in a straight line on a horizontal plane and may be determined by reference to the most recent edition of the ordnance map available at the time of determination unless that edition is proved incorrect as to the particular distance which is to be determined.

This XML file does not appear to have any style information associated with it. The document tree is shown below.
<akomaNtoso xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" xsi:schemaLocation="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0 http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/akn-core/v1.0/cos01/part2-specs/schemas/akomantoso30.xsd">
<portion includedIn="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/apni/1954/33/part">
<meta>
<identification source="#source">
<FRBRWork>
<FRBRthis value="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/apni/1954/33/part"/>
<FRBRuri value="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/apni/1954/33/part"/>
<FRBRdate date="1954-12-21" name="enacted"/>
<FRBRauthor href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/legislature/NorthernIrelandParliament "/>
<FRBRcountry value="GB-NIR"/>
<FRBRnumber value="33"/>
<FRBRname value="1954 c. 33 (N.I.)"/>
<FRBRprescriptive value="true"/>
</FRBRWork>
<FRBRExpression>
<FRBRthis value="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2009-10-01"/>
<FRBRuri value="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/2009-10-01"/>
<FRBRdate date="2009-10-01" name="validFrom"/>
<FRBRauthor href="#source"/>
<FRBRlanguage language="eng"/>
</FRBRExpression>
<FRBRManifestation>
<FRBRthis value="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2009-10-01/data.akn"/>
<FRBRuri value="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/2009-10-01/data.akn"/>
<FRBRdate date="2024-11-14Z" name="transform"/>
<FRBRauthor href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk"/>
<FRBRformat value="application/akn+xml"/>
</FRBRManifestation>
</identification>
<lifecycle source="#source">
<eventRef date="1954-12-21" type="generation" eId="enacted-date" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2006-01-01" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2012-04-01" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2013-04-01" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2014-04-01" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2015-04-01" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2015-10-05" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2016-01-01" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2016-02-28" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2016-04-06" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2016-06-20" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2017-04-01" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2017-09-25" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2017-09-27" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2017-10-20" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2018-03-24" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2018-04-01" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2018-09-29" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2019-03-26" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2019-04-01" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2019-09-27" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2020-04-01" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2021-04-01" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2021-08-10" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2022-09-28" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2023-03-27" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2023-09-26" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2023-09-27" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2024-03-22" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2024-04-01" type="amendment" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2006-01-01" eId="effective-date-1" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2009-10-01" eId="effective-date-2" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2012-03-31" eId="effective-date-3" source="#source"/>
<eventRef date="2012-04-01" eId="effective-date-4" source="#source"/>
</lifecycle>
<analysis source="#source">
<passiveModifications>
<textualMod type="insertion" eId="mod-d29p1594">
<source href="#c16948791"/>
<destination href="#section-32-2-b"/>
</textualMod>
</passiveModifications>
<restrictions source="#source">
<restriction refersTo="#ni" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#section-32" refersTo="#ni" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#section-39" refersTo="#ni" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#part" refersTo="#ni" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#part-chapter-n3" refersTo="#ni" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#section-39-2" refersTo="#ni" type="jurisdiction"/>
</restrictions>
</analysis>
<temporalData source="#source">
<temporalGroup eId="period1">
<timeInterval end="#effective-date-4" refersTo="#period-concept1"/>
</temporalGroup>
<temporalGroup eId="period2">
<timeInterval start="#effective-date-1" refersTo="#period-concept2"/>
</temporalGroup>
<temporalGroup eId="period3">
<timeInterval start="#effective-date-1" end="#effective-date-3" refersTo="#period-concept3"/>
</temporalGroup>
<temporalGroup eId="period4">
<timeInterval start="#effective-date-1" end="#effective-date-4" refersTo="#period-concept4"/>
</temporalGroup>
<temporalGroup eId="period5">
<timeInterval start="#effective-date-2" end="#effective-date-3" refersTo="#period-concept5"/>
</temporalGroup>
</temporalData>
<references source="#source">
<TLCOrganization eId="source" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/publisher/StatuteLawDatabase" showAs="Statute Law Database"/>
<TLCLocation eId="ni" href="/ontology/jurisdictions/uk.NorthernIreland" showAs="Northern Ireland"/>
<TLCConcept eId="period-concept1" href="/ontology/time/2006.01.01" showAs="since 2006-01-01"/>
<TLCConcept eId="period-concept2" href="/ontology/time/2006.01.01-2012.03.31" showAs="from 2006-01-01 until 2012-03-31"/>
<TLCConcept eId="period-concept3" href="/ontology/time/2006.01.01-2012.04.01" showAs="from 2006-01-01 until 2012-04-01"/>
<TLCConcept eId="period-concept4" href="/ontology/time/2009.10.01-2012.03.31" showAs="from 2009-10-01 until 2012-03-31"/>
<TLCConcept eId="period-concept5" href="/ontology/time/-2012.04.01" showAs=" before 2012-04-01"/>
</references>
<notes source="#source">
<note class="commentary F" eId="c16948791">
<p>SI 1999/663</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary F" eId="c16948811">
<p>
mod. by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisi/2005">2005 NI 1</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary C" eId="c19748131">
<p>
S. 39(2) excluded (6.4.2006) by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2006/161">Occupational Pension Schemes (Payments to Employer) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (S.R. 2006/161)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2006/161/regulation/2/4">reg. 2(4)</ref>
</p>
<p>
S. 39(2) excluded (20.11.2006) by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2006/405">Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (S.R. 2006/405)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2006/405/regulation/2/6">reg. 2(6)</ref>
</p>
<p>
S. 39(2) excluded (20.11.2006) by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2006/406">Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (S.R. 2006/406)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2006/406/regulation/2/7">reg. 2(7)</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary C" eId="c20703021">
<p>
S. 39(2) excluded (1.4.2008) by Social Security Benefits Up-rating
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2008/92">Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (S.R. 2008/92)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2008/92/article/1/1/a">arts. 1(1)(a)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2008/92/article/2/3">2(3)</ref>
(with
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2008/92/article/6">art. 6</ref>
)
</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary C" eId="c20703051">
<p>
S. 39(2) excluded by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2005/168">S.R. 2005/168</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2005/168/regulation/2/6">reg. 2(6)</ref>
(as inserted (6.4.2008) by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2008/132">Occupational Pension Schemes (Employer Debt and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (S.R. 2008/132)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2008/132/regulation/4/5">reg. 4(5)</ref>
)
</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary C" eId="c20315861">
<p>
S. 39(2) excluded by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/apni/1952/5">Foyle Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1952 (c. 5)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/apni/1952/5/section/82/6">s. 82(6)</ref>
(as inserted (1.6.2008) by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisi/2007/915">Foyle and Carlingford Fisheries (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/915 (N.I. 9))</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisi/2007/915/article/1/3">arts. 1(3)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisi/2007/915/article/31">31</ref>
(with
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisi/2007/915/article/32">art. 32</ref>
));
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2008/232">S.R. 2008/232</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2008/232/article/2">art. 2</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2008/232/schedule">Sch.</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary C" eId="c20315631">
<p>
S. 39(2) modified (29.6. 2007) by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nia/2007/2">Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007 (c. 2)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nia/2007/2/section/57/2/b">ss. 57(2)(b)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nia/2007/2/section/60">60</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary C" eId="c20703081">
<p>
S. 39(2) modified (11.2.2008) by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nia/2008/1">Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nia/2008/1/section/20/2">s. 20(2)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nia/2008/1/schedule/4/part/3">Sch. 4 Pt. 3</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary C" eId="c20703091">
<p>
S. 39(2) modified (15.12.2008) by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nia/2008/13">Pensions (No. 2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 13)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nia/2008/13/section/117/2">ss. 117(2)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nia/2008/13/section/118/2/g">118(2)(g)</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary C" eId="c21294711">
<p>
S. 39(2) excluded (1.4.2009) by Social Security Benefits Up-rating
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2009/89">Order (Northern Ireland) 2009 (S.R. 2009/89)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2009/89/article/1/1/a">arts. 1(1)(a)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2009/89/article/2/3">2(3)</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary C" eId="c22462931">
<p>
S. 39(2) excluded (1.4.2010) by Social Security Benefits Up-rating
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2010/118">Order (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010/118)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2010/118/article/1/1/a">arts. 1(1)(a)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2010/118/article/2/3">2(3)</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary C" eId="c22496841">
<p>
S. 39(2) excluded (1.4.2011) by Social Security Benefits Up-rating
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2011/119">Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 (S.R. 2011/119)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2011/119/article/1/1/a">arts. 1(1)(a)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2011/119/article/2/3">2(3)</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary C" eId="c20315891">
<p>
S. 39(3) excluded by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/apni/1952/5">Foyle Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1952 (c. 5)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/apni/1952/5/section/82/6">s. 82(6)</ref>
(as inserted (1.6.2008) by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisi/2007/915">Foyle and Carlingford Fisheries (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/915 (N.I. 9))</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisi/2007/915/article/1/3">arts. 1(3)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisi/2007/915/article/31">31</ref>
(with
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisi/2007/915/article/32">art. 32</ref>
));
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2008/232">S.R. 2008/232</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2008/232/article/2">art. 2</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2008/232/schedule">Sch.</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary C" eId="c20315911">
<p>
S. 39(4) excluded by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/apni/1952/5">Foyle Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1952 (c. 5)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/apni/1952/5/section/82/6">s. 82(6)</ref>
(as inserted (1.6.2008) by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisi/2007/915">Foyle and Carlingford Fisheries (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/915 (N.I. 9))</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisi/2007/915/article/1/3">arts. 1(3)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisi/2007/915/article/31">31</ref>
(with
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisi/2007/915/article/32">art. 32</ref>
));
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2008/232">S.R. 2008/232</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2008/232/article/2">art. 2</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2008/232/schedule">Sch.</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary F" eId="c16948821">
<p>SI 1999/663</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary C" eId="c20315921">
<p>
S. 39(8) excluded by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/apni/1952/5">Foyle Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1952 (c. 5)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/apni/1952/5/section/82/6">s. 82(6)</ref>
(as inserted (1.6.2008) by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisi/2007/915">Foyle and Carlingford Fisheries (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/915 (N.I. 9))</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisi/2007/915/article/1/3">arts. 1(3)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisi/2007/915/article/31">31</ref>
(with
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisi/2007/915/article/32">art. 32</ref>
));
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2008/232">S.R. 2008/232</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2008/232/article/2">art. 2</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2008/232/schedule">Sch.</ref>
</p>
</note>
</notes>
<proprietary xmlns:ukl="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/namespaces/legislation" xmlns:ukm="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/namespaces/metadata" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:dct="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" source="#source">
<ukl:RestrictStartDate value="2009-10-01"/>
<ukl:RestrictEndDate value="2012-03-31"/>
<dc:identifier>http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2009-10-01</dc:identifier>
<dc:title>Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954</dc:title>
<dc:description>An Act to make provision with respect to the operation, interpretation and citation of Acts of the Parliament of Northern Ireland and of instruments made thereunder.</dc:description>
<dc:type>text</dc:type>
<dc:format>text/xml</dc:format>
<dc:language>en</dc:language>
<dc:publisher>Statute Law Database</dc:publisher>
<dc:modified>2024-05-22</dc:modified>
<dct:valid>2009-10-01</dct:valid>
<atom:link rel="self" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2009-10-01/data.xml" type="application/xml"/>
<atom:link rel="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/def/navigation/resources" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/resources" title="More Resources"/>
<atom:link rel="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/def/navigation/act" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/2009-10-01" title="whole act"/>
<atom:link rel="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/def/navigation/introduction" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/introduction/2009-10-01" title="introduction"/>
<atom:link rel="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/def/navigation/body" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/body/2009-10-01" title="body"/>
<atom:link rel="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/def/navigation/schedules" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/schedules/2009-10-01" title="schedules"/>
<atom:link rel="alternate" type="application/rdf+xml" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2009-10-01/data.rdf" title="RDF/XML"/>
<atom:link rel="alternate" type="application/akn+xml" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2009-10-01/data.akn" title="AKN"/>
<atom:link rel="alternate" type="application/xhtml+xml" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2009-10-01/data.xht" title="HTML snippet"/>
<atom:link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2009-10-01/data.htm" title="Website (XHTML) Default View"/>
<atom:link rel="alternate" type="text/csv" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2009-10-01/data.csv" title="CSV"/>
<atom:link rel="alternate" type="application/pdf" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2009-10-01/data.pdf" title="PDF"/>
<atom:link rel="alternate" type="application/akn+xhtml" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2009-10-01/data.html" title="HTML5 snippet"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/tableOfContents" hreflang="en" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/contents/2009-10-01" title="Table of Contents"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/isReplacedBy" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2012-04-01" title="2012-04-01"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2006-01-01" title="2006-01-01"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2012-04-01" title="2012-04-01"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2013-04-01" title="2013-04-01"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2014-04-01" title="2014-04-01"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2015-04-01" title="2015-04-01"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2015-10-05" title="2015-10-05"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2016-01-01" title="2016-01-01"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2016-02-28" title="2016-02-28"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2016-04-06" title="2016-04-06"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2016-06-20" title="2016-06-20"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2017-04-01" title="2017-04-01"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2017-09-25" title="2017-09-25"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2017-09-27" title="2017-09-27"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2017-10-20" title="2017-10-20"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2018-03-24" title="2018-03-24"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2018-04-01" title="2018-04-01"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2018-09-29" title="2018-09-29"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2019-03-26" title="2019-03-26"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2019-04-01" title="2019-04-01"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2019-09-27" title="2019-09-27"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2020-04-01" title="2020-04-01"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2021-04-01" title="2021-04-01"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2021-08-10" title="2021-08-10"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2022-09-28" title="2022-09-28"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2023-03-27" title="2023-03-27"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2023-09-26" title="2023-09-26"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2023-09-27" title="2023-09-27"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2024-03-22" title="2024-03-22"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3/2024-04-01" title="2024-04-01"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n3" title="current"/>
<atom:link rel="up" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/2009-10-01" title="Part"/>
<atom:link rel="prev" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n2/2009-10-01" title="Chapter; Part Chapter n2"/>
<atom:link rel="prevInForce" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n2/2009-10-01" title="Chapter; Part Chapter n2"/>
<atom:link rel="next" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n4/2009-10-01" title="Chapter; Part Chapter n4"/>
<atom:link rel="nextInForce" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1954/33/part/chapter/n4/2009-10-01" title="Chapter; Part Chapter n4"/>
<ukm:PrimaryMetadata>
<ukm:DocumentClassification>
<ukm:DocumentCategory Value="primary"/>
<ukm:DocumentMainType Value="NorthernIrelandParliamentAct"/>
<ukm:DocumentStatus Value="revised"/>
</ukm:DocumentClassification>
<ukm:Year Value="1954"/>
<ukm:Number Value="33"/>
<ukm:EnactmentDate Date="1954-12-21"/>
</ukm:PrimaryMetadata>
<ukm:Statistics>
<ukm:TotalParagraphs Value="59"/>
<ukm:BodyParagraphs Value="51"/>
<ukm:ScheduleParagraphs Value="8"/>
<ukm:AttachmentParagraphs Value="0"/>
<ukm:TotalImages Value="0"/>
</ukm:Statistics>
</proprietary>
</meta>
<portionBody period="#period2">
<part eId="part" period="#period3">
<heading/>
<chapter eId="part-chapter-n3" period="#period4">
<num/>
<heading>Construction of Enactments</heading>
<section eId="section-31" period="#period2">
<num>31</num>
<heading>Enactment always speaking.</heading>
<subsection eId="section-31-1">
<num>1</num>
<content>
<p>Every enactment shall be construed as always speaking and if anything is expressed in the present tense it shall be applied to the circumstances as they occur, so that effect may be given to each enactment according to its true spirit, intent and meaning.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-31-2">
<num>2</num>
<content>
<p>The expression “now”, “next”, “heretofore” or “hereafter” shall be construed as referring to the time when the enactment containing the expression came into force.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
</section>
<section eId="section-32" period="#period2">
<num>32</num>
<heading>Limited nature of powers, privileges or advantages granted by enactments.</heading>
<subsection eId="section-32-1">
<num>1</num>
<content>
<p>Every enactment passed or made after the commencement of this Act conferring any power upon, or granting any privilege or advantage to, any person shall be construed as conferring that power, or, as the case may be, granting that privilege or advantage, for so long only as that enactment remains unrepealed or unrevoked.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-32-2">
<num>2</num>
<intro>
<p>Nothing in this section shall—</p>
</intro>
<paragraph eId="section-32-2-a">
<num>a</num>
<content>
<p>affect the title to any property which vested pursuant to the provisions of an enactment in any person upon payment of compensation; or</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph eId="section-32-2-b">
<num>b</num>
<content>
<p>
prejudice
<ins class="d29p1594 first last">
<noteRef href="#c16948791" marker="F1" class="commentary attribute F"/>
any power
</ins>
to amend, repeal or revoke any enactment or to modify, restrict or revoke any power, privilege or advantage conferred or granted by an enactment.
</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
</section>
<section eId="section-33" period="#period2">
<num>33</num>
<heading>Expressions in instrument have same meaning as in enactment.</heading>
<content>
<p>Where an enactment confers power to make any statutory instrument or issue any statutory document, expressions used in the instrument or document shall, unless a contrary intention appears, have the same respective meanings as in the enactment.</p>
</content>
</section>
<section eId="section-34" period="#period2">
<num>34</num>
<heading>Application of interpretation provisions in enactments.</heading>
<subsection eId="section-34-1">
<num>1</num>
<content>
<p>Definitions or rules of interpretation contained in an enactment shall apply to the construction of the provisions of the enactment which contain those definitions or rules of interpretation, as well as to the other provisions of the enactment.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-34-2">
<num>2</num>
<content>
<p>An interpretation section or provision contained in an enactment shall be read and construed as being applicable only if a contrary intention does not appear in the enactment.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
</section>
<section eId="section-35" period="#period2">
<num>35</num>
<heading>Corresponding meanings of parts of speech.</heading>
<content>
<p>Where a word is defined in an enactment other parts of speech and grammatical variations of that word shall have corresponding meanings in that enactment.</p>
</content>
</section>
<section eId="section-36" period="#period2">
<num>36</num>
<heading>Names commonly used.</heading>
<content>
<p>In an enactment, a name commonly applied to a country, place, Government department, body, corporation, society, Minister, officer, functionary, person, party, statutory provision, or other thing whatsoever, shall mean the country, place, Government department, body, corporation, society, Minister, officer, functionary, person, party, statutory provision or thing to which the name is commonly applied, or is commonly applied in Northern Ireland, whether or not the name is the formal or unabbreviated designation thereof.</p>
</content>
</section>
<section eId="section-37" period="#period2">
<num>37</num>
<heading>Rules as to gender and number.</heading>
<subsection eId="section-37-1">
<num>1</num>
<content>
<p>Words in an enactment importing (whether in relation to an offence or otherwise) persons or male persons shall include male and female persons, corporations (whether aggregate or sole) and unincorporated bodies of persons.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-37-2">
<num>2</num>
<intro>
<p>In an enactment—</p>
</intro>
<paragraph eId="section-37-2-a">
<num>a</num>
<content>
<p>words in the singular shall include the plural; and</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph eId="section-37-2-b">
<num>b</num>
<content>
<p>words in the plural shall include the singular.</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-37-3">
<num>3</num>
<content>
<p>Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions, a reference in an enactment to a party aggrieved shall include a reference to a body corporate in every case where that body is a party aggrieved.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
</section>
<section eId="section-38" period="#period2">
<num>38</num>
<heading>Construction of “shall” and “may”.</heading>
<content>
<p>In an enactment passed or made after the commencement of this Act, the expression “shall” shall be construed as imperative and the expression “may” as permissive and empowering.</p>
</content>
</section>
<section eId="section-39" period="#period4">
<num>39</num>
<heading>Time.</heading>
<subsection eId="section-39-1">
<num>1</num>
<content>
<p>Words in an enactment relating to time and references therein to a point of time shall be construed as relating or referring to Greenwich mean time, subject, however, to any statutory provision which may for the time being provide that, during any specified period or periods, time in Northern Ireland is to differ from Greenwich mean time.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-39-2" period="#period1">
<num>
<noteRef href="#c16948811" marker="F2" class="commentary F"/>
<noteRef href="#c19748131" marker="C1" class="commentary C"/>
<noteRef href="#c20703021" marker="C2" class="commentary C"/>
<noteRef href="#c20703051" marker="C3" class="commentary C"/>
<noteRef href="#c20315861" marker="C4" class="commentary C"/>
<noteRef href="#c20315631" marker="C5" class="commentary C"/>
<noteRef href="#c20703081" marker="C6" class="commentary C"/>
<noteRef href="#c20703091" marker="C7" class="commentary C"/>
<noteRef href="#c21294711" marker="C8" class="commentary C"/>
<noteRef href="#c22462931" marker="C9" class="commentary C"/>
<noteRef href="#c22496841" marker="C10" class="commentary C"/>
2
</num>
<content>
<p>Where in an enactment a period of time is expressed to begin on, or to be reckoned from, a particular day, that day shall not be included in the period.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-39-3">
<num>
<noteRef href="#c20315891" marker="C11" class="commentary C"/>
3
</num>
<content>
<p>Where in an enactment a period of time is expressed to end on, or to be reckoned to, a particular day, that day shall be included in the period.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-39-4">
<num>
<noteRef href="#c20315911" marker="C12" class="commentary C"/>
4
</num>
<content>
<p>Where the time limited by an enactment for the doing of anything expires or falls upon a Sunday or a public holiday, the time so limited shall extend to and the thing may be done on the first following day that is not a Sunday or a public holiday.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-39-5">
<num>5</num>
<content>
<p>Sub-sections (2), (3) and (4) shall apply whether or not the number of days concerned is expressed to be clear days.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-39-6">
<num>6</num>
<intro>
<p>In an enactment—</p>
</intro>
<paragraph eId="section-39-6-a">
<num>a</num>
<content>
<p>a reference to midnight, in relation to any particular day, shall be construed as a reference to the point of time at which that day ends;</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph eId="section-39-6-b">
<num>b</num>
<content>
<p>a reference to a week-day shall be construed as a reference to a day which is not a Sunday;</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph eId="section-39-6-c">
<num>c</num>
<content>
<p>a reference to a month shall be construed as a reference to a calendar month;</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph eId="section-39-6-d">
<num>d</num>
<content>
<p>a reference, without qualification, to a year shall be construed as a reference to a period of twelve months; and</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph eId="section-39-6-e">
<num>e</num>
<content>
<p>a reference to a financial year or to a local financial year shall be construed as a reference to a period of twelve months ending at midnight on the thirty-first day of March.</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-39-7">
<num>7</num>
<content>
<p>
In any enactment relating to any duty or tax
<noteRef href="#c16948821" marker="F3" class="commentary F"/>
. . . the expression “night” shall be deemed to begin at eleven of the clock in the evening of each day, and to end at five of the clock in the morning of the next succeeding day.
</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-39-8">
<num>
<noteRef href="#c20315921" marker="C13" class="commentary C"/>
8
</num>
<content>
<p>In an enactment the expression “public holiday” shall include Christmas Day, Good Friday, any bank holiday appointed by or under any statutory provision and any day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
</section>
<section eId="section-40" period="#period2">
<num>40</num>
<heading>Distance.</heading>
<content>
<p>In the measurement of any distance for the purposes of any enactment, that distance shall be measured in a straight line on a horizontal plane and may be determined by reference to the most recent edition of the ordnance map available at the time of determination unless that edition is proved incorrect as to the particular distance which is to be determined.</p>
</content>
</section>
</chapter>
</part>
</portionBody>
</portion>
</akomaNtoso>