The Flags (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2022

Statutory Instruments

2022 No. 1128

Armorial Bearings, Ensigns And Flags

Northern Ireland

The Flags (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2022

Made

1st November 2022

Coming into force

22nd November 2022

The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by article 3 of the Flags (Northern Ireland) Order 2000 (“the 2000 Order”)(1).

In accordance with article 4(1) of the 2000 Order, on 15th March 2022 the Secretary of State referred a draft of the Regulations the Secretary of State proposed to make under the 2000 Order to the Northern Ireland Assembly (“the Assembly”).

In accordance with article 4(2) of the 2000 Order, on 21st March 2022 (being within the period specified by the Secretary of State), the Assembly reported to the Secretary of State the views expressed in the Assembly on the proposed Regulations.

In accordance with article 4(3) of the 2000 Order, the Secretary of State has considered the Assembly’s report on the proposed Regulations.

In accordance with article 4(4) of the 2000 Order, the Secretary of State has, in exercising the powers under article 3 of that Order, had regard to the Belfast Agreement(2).

In accordance with article 4(5) of the 2000 Order, a draft of these Regulations was laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament and in accordance with article 4(6) the draft laid before Parliament was accompanied by a copy of the Assembly’s report considered by the Secretary of State.

Citation, commencement, extent and application

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Flags (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2022.

(2) They come into force on the twenty-first day after the day on which they are made.

(3) They extend to Northern Ireland only.

(4) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(3) applies to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

Amendment of the Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000

2.—(1) The Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000(4) are amended as follows.

(2) In Part 2 of the Schedule (days on which the Union flag is to be flown at full mast), omit the following entries—

9th January	Birthday of the Duchess of Cambridge
20th January	Birthday of The Countess of Wessex
19th February	Birthday of The Duke of York
10th March	Birthday of The Earl of Wessex
21st June	Birthday of the Duke of Cambridge
17th July	Birthday of the Duchess of Cornwall
15th August	Birthday of The Princess Royal

Steve Baker

Minister of State

Northern Ireland Office

1st November 2022

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

The Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 (S.R. 2000/347) (“the Flags Regulations”) make provision as to the flying of flags at government buildings in Northern Ireland, in particular by specifying the buildings on which flags must be flown on certain days. Section 67(2) of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 26) provides for the Flags Regulations to apply to court houses as they apply to the government buildings specified in Part 1 of the Schedule.

These Regulations remove, from the list in Part 2 of the Schedule to the Flags Regulations (days on which the Union flag must be flown), entries for the birthdays of several members of the Royal Family.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.

(1)

S.I. 2000/1347 (N.I. 3); article 3 was amended by section 67(1) of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 26).

(2)

Cm 3883.

(3)

1954 c. 33 (N.I.), amended by S.I. 1973/2163, S.I. 1999/663; other amendments have been made, but they are not relevant to these Regulations.

(4)

S.R. 2000 No. 347, amended by section 67(2) of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002, S.R. 2003 No. 553, S.I. 2020/455, S.I. 2020/1310, S.I. 2022/95.