Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954

1954 CHAPTER 33

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.

[21st December 1954]

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1The Act has frequently been applied by other legislation: for details see the Chronological Table of the Statutes (NI)

N.I.Application of this Act

1Meaning of certain expressions as used in this Act.N.I.

For the purposes of this Act—

(a)“Act” means an Act of the Parliament of Northern Ireland[F1 or an Act of the Assembly];

(b)“enactment” means an Act or a statutory instrument or any provision of an Act or statutory instrument;

(c)“instrument” includes an Order in Council, order or warrant (other than an order made or a warrant issued by a court), scheme, rule, regulation, or bye-law;

(d)“statutory instrument” means an instrument made under an Act;

(e)“statutory document” means any document issued under an Act other than a statutory instrument or an order of a court;

(f)“statutory provision” means any provision of a statute or instrument made under a statute (by whatsoever Parliament[F1 or Assembly] passed or by whomsoever made) for the time being in force in Northern Ireland,F1. . . ;

(g)“transferred provision” means—

(i)an enactment;

(ii)a statute passed either before the date of the commencement of the Union with Ireland Act, 1800 [1800 c.67] , by the Parliament of England, the Parliament of Great Britain or the Parliament of Ireland, or after that date by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, being a statute extending to Northern Ireland and relating to a matter in respect of which the Parliament of Northern Ireland[F1 had power] to make laws;

(iii)an instrument made under or by virtue of any such statute; and

(iv)any provision of any such statute or instrument.

F1SI 1999/663

2Application of this Act.N.I.

(1)Every provision of this Act shall extend and apply to every enactment, whether passed or made before or after the passing of this Act, unless a contrary intention appears in this Act or in the enactment.

(2)In addition, any provision of this Act which refers to [F2statutory] provisions shall, unless the contrary intention appears in the [F2statutory] provisions, have, in relation to those provisions, such effect as is stated in that provision of this Act.

(3)The provisions of this Act shall apply to this Act as they apply to an enactment passed after the commencement of this Act and references in this Act to an enactment passed after the commencement of this Act shall be construed as including references to this Act.

F2SI 1999/663

3Rules not inconsistent not excluded.N.I.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed as excluding the application to a statutory provision of a rule of construction applicable thereto and not inconsistent with this Act.

N.I.Operation of enactments

4Acts to be deemed public.N.I.

Every Act shall be a public Act and shall be judicially noticed as such, unless the contrary is expressly provided by the Act.

5Provisions in private Acts.N.I.

A provision in a private Act shall not affect the rights of a person otherwise than as therein mentioned or referred to.

6Enactments to apply to whole of Northern Ireland.N.I.

Every enactment shall, unless the contrary intention appears, apply to the whole ofF3. . . Northern Ireland.

F3SI 1999/663

7Crown not bound, unless named.N.I.

No enactment passed or made after the commencement of this Act shall bind or affect in any manner whatsoever Her Majesty or Her Majesty's rights or prerogatives, unless it is stated therein that Her Majesty is bound thereby to the full extent authorised or permitted by the constitutional laws of Northern Ireland or to such less extent as is specified in the enactment.

8References to the Crown, etc.N.I.

(1)A reference in an enactment to the Sovereign or to the Crown includes a reference to the Sovereign for the time being.

(2)This Act shall be binding on the Crown to the full extent authorised or permitted by the constitutional laws of Northern Ireland.

9Provisions to be substantive enactments.N.I.

Every provision of an enactment shall have effect as a substantive enactment without introductory words.

10Preamble and marginal notes.N.I.

(1)The preamble to an enactment shall be construed as a part thereof intended to assist in explaining the purport and object of the enactment.

(2)Marginal notes in an enactment and marginal references therein to other enactments shall not be construed as part of the enactment and shall be deemed to be inserted for convenience of reference only.

11References in enactments.N.I.

(1)A reference in an enactment to any statutory provision shall be construed as a reference to that provision as for the time being amended by or under any other statutory provision, including the enactment in which the reference is made.

(2)A reference in an enactment to any statute passed either before the date of the commencement of the Union with Ireland Act, 1800 [1800 c.67] , by the Irish Parliament or the Parliament of England or the Parliament of Great Britain or on or after that date by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, or to any instrument made under or by virtue of any such statute, shall, except as provided in sub-section (3), be construed as a reference to that statute or instrument as it applies for the time being in Northern Ireland.

(3)Sub-section (2) shall not apply where the reference—

(a)is to a statute or instrument which does not apply in Northern Ireland; or

(b)relates to any act or thing done in any other part of the United Kingdom under and for the purposes of a statute or instrument as it applies in that part of the United Kingdom.

(4)A reference in an enactment by number or letter to a Part, section, sub-section, paragraph, sub-paragraph or other division of another enactment or statutory provision shall be construed as a reference to such Part, section, sub-section, paragraph, sub-paragraph or other division of such other enactment or provision as printed by authority of law.

(5)A reference in an enactment by number or letter to two or more Parts, divisions, sections, sub-sections, paragraphs, sub-paragraphs, schedules, instruments or forms shall be read as including the number or letter first mentioned and the number or letter last mentioned.

(6)Where in an enactment reference is made to a Part, division, section, schedule or form without anything in the context to indicate that a reference to a Part, division, section, schedule or form of some other enactment or statutory provision is intended, the reference shall be construed as a reference to a Part, division, section, schedule or form of the enactment in which the reference is made.

(7)Where in a section of an enactment reference is made to a sub-section, paragraph, sub-paragraph or other division without anything in the context to indicate that a reference to a sub-section, paragraph, sub-paragraph or other division of some other section or provision is intended, the reference shall be construed as a reference to a sub-section, paragraph, sub-paragraph or other division of the section in which the reference is made.

(8)Where in a schedule or Part of a schedule to an enactment reference is made to a paragraph, sub-paragraph or other division without anything in the context to indicate that a reference to a paragraph, sub-paragraph or other division of some other provision is intended, the reference shall be construed as a reference to the paragraph, sub-paragraph or other division of the schedule or the Part of the schedule in which the reference is made.

(9)Where in an enactment reference is made to a statutory instrument or statutory document, without anything in the context to indicate that a reference to a statutory instrument or statutory document made under some other enactment or statutory provision is intended, the reference shall be construed as a reference to a statutory instrument or statutory document, as the case may be, made under the enactment in which the reference is made.

(10)A reference in an enactment to any power exercisable, statutory instrument or statutory document made, or issued or act or thing done under a statutory provision shall include a reference to a power exercisable, a statutory instrument or statutory document made, or issued or act or thing done by virtue of that provision or of any statutory instrument or statutory document made or issued under or by virtue of that provision.

(11)The expression “herein” when used in a section or other division of an enactment passed or made after the commencement of this Act shall relate to the whole enactment and not to that section or division only.

12Amending provisions.N.I.

(1)An Act may be amended, altered or repealed in the same session of[F4 the Assembly].

(2)An amending enactment shall, so far as consistent with the tenor thereof, operate and be construed as part of any[F4 statutory] provision which it amends and, without prejudice to sub-section (1) of section eleven shall, as from the date on which it comes into operation, have effect accordingly for the purpose of the construction and operation of any other[F4 statutory] provision which refers to, or is incorporated with, the provision which it amends.

F4SI 1999/663

13Date of passing, etc., of enactments.N.I.

(1)The date of the passing of every Act shall be the date on which the Bill for that Act receives the Royal Assent.

Subs. (2) rep. by 1998 c. 47

(3)The date of the making of every statutory instrument shall be the date therein expressed as the date of the execution thereof, but where the instrument is made by two or more authorities jointly and is therein expressed to be executed by those authorities on different dates, the date of the making thereof shall be the last date so expressed.

(4)Where a statutory instrument made or to be made after the commencement of this Act by one authority requires the concurrence or approval of any other authority, that concurrence or approval shall be formally inscribed on the instrument either—

(a)on or before the date of the making thereof; or

(b)if the other authority has before that date indicated an intention to concur in or approve of the making of the instrument, within one month after such making.

14Coming into force of enactments.N.I.

(1)Every enactment which is not expressed to come into force or operation on a particular day shall come into operation immediately on the expiration of the day before the date of the passing thereof, or, where the enactment is a statutory instrument, of the making thereof.

(2)Where an enactment is expressed to come into force or operation on a particular day (whether such day is before or after the date of the passing of such enactment, or where the enactment is a statutory instrument, of the making thereof, and whether such day is named in the enactment or is to be appointed or fixed or ascertained in any other manner) the enactment shall be construed as coming into force immediately on the expiration of the day before that particular day.

Subs. (3) rep. by SLR 1976

15Date of expiration of enactments.N.I.

(1)Where an enactment is expressed to expire, lapse or otherwise cease to have effect on a particular day, the enactment shall, except as provided by sub-section (2), be construed as ceasing to have effect immediately on the expiration of that day.

(2)Where a Bill is introduced into any session of [F5the Assembly] for the continuance of any Act limited to expire in that session and that Act expires before such Bill, [F5having been passed by the Assembly], receives in that session the Royal Assent, that Act shall be deemed to have continued as fully and effectively in operation as if such Bill had received the Royal Assent before that Act expired.

(3)Sub-section (2) shall not operate so as to render any person liable under the provisions of an Act which has expired to any penalty or forfeiture by reason of any act done by him before the date on which the Bill for the continuance of that Act, [F5having been passed by the Assembly], receives the Royal Assent.

F5SI 1999/663

16Exercise of powers before enactment comes into force.N.I.

Where an enactment which is not to come into force immediately on the passing or making thereof confers power—

(a)to make appointments;

(b)to hold elections;

(c)to make statutory instruments or issue statutory documents;

(d)to publish documents or give any notices;

(e)to prescribe forms;

(f)to give directions; or

(g)to do any other act or thing;

that power may, for the purpose of making the enactment effective upon its commencement, be exercised at any time after the passing or making thereof, but, except in so far as may be necessary or expedient for that purpose, a statutory instrument or statutory document made under that power shall not have effect before the commencement of the enactment conferring the power.

17Statutory powers and duties generally.N.I.

(1)Where an enactment confers a power or imposes a duty, the power may be exercised and the duty shall be performed from time to time, as occasion requires.

(2)Where an enactment confers a power to make any statutory instrument the power shall be construed as including power, exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like consent and conditions, if any, to amend, alter, rescind or revoke, that instrument and to make other statutory instruments in lieu thereof but this sub-section shall not apply to an order which is not made by a rule-making authority in the exercise of a statutory power which is of a legislative character.

(3)Where an enactment empowers any person or authority to do any act or thing, all such powers shall be deemed to be also given as are reasonably necessary to enable that person or authority to do that act or thing or are incidental to the doing thereof.

(4)Where an enactment authorises or requires an act or thing to be done collectively by more than two persons, a majority of those persons may do that act or thing, unless any quorum fixed by that enactment or by any other[F6 statutory] provision has not been formed.

(5)Any power conferred by an enactment to make a statutory instrument or issue a statutory document may be exercised—

(a)either in relation to all cases to which the power extends, or in relation to all those cases subject to specified exceptions, or in relation to any specified cases or classes of case; and

(b)so as to make, as respects the cases in relation to which it is exercised—

(i)the full provision to which the power extends or any less provision (whether by way of exception or otherwise);

(ii)the same provision for all cases in relation to which the power is exercised, or different provision for different cases or classes of case, or different provision as respects the same case or class of case for different purposes of the enactment;

(iii)any such provision either unconditionally or subject to any specified condition.

F6SI 1999/663

18Provisions as to holders of offices.N.I.

(1)Every person who is appointed by the Crown in right of Her Majesty's Government in Northern Ireland to any office by or under the authority of an enactment, passed or made after the commencement of this Act, shall hold that office during pleasure only, unless the contrary is expressed in the enactment or in his commission or appointment.

(2)Words in an enactment passed or made after the commencement of this Act which authorise the appointment of a person to any office and declare that this sub-section shall apply to that appointment shall be deemed also to confer on the authority in whom the power of appointment is vested—

(a)power, at the discretion of the authority, to remove or suspend him; and

(b)power, exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like consent and conditions, if any, applicable on his appointment—

(i)to reappoint or reinstate him;

(ii)to appoint another person in his stead or to act in his stead and to provide for the remuneration of the person so appointed;

(iii)to fix or vary his remuneration, to withhold his remuneration in whole or in part during any period of suspension from office, and to terminate his remuneration on his removal from office.

(3)In an enactment a reference, without qualification, to the holder of any office shall include a reference to any person for the time being holding that office and, in particular—

(a)words in an enactment directing or empowering the holder of an office to do any act or thing, or otherwise applying to him by the name of his office, shall apply to his successors in office and to his or their deputy;

(b)where an enactment confers a power or imposes a duty on the holder of an office, as such, the power may be exercised and the duty shall be performed by the person for the time being charged with the execution of the powers and duties of the office.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

19Effect of words of incorporation.N.I.

(1)Where an Act passed after the commencement of this Act contains words establishing, or providing for the establishment of, a body corporate and applying this section to that body those words shall operate—

(a)to vest in that body when established—

(i)the power to sue in its corporate name;

(ii)the power to enter into contracts in its corporate name, and to do so that, as regards third parties, the body shall be deemed to have the same power to make contracts as an individual has;

(iii)the right to have a common seal and to alter or change that seal at pleasure;

(iv)the right to acquire and hold …F7 any real or personal property for purposes for which the corporation is constituted and to dispose of or charge such property at pleasure;

(v)the right to regulate its own procedure and business; and

(vi)the right to employ such staff as may be found necessary for the performance of its functions;

(b)to make that body liable to be sued in its corporate name;

(c)to require that judicial notice shall be taken of the common seal of that body, and that every document purporting to be a document sealed by that body and to be attested in accordance with the statutory provisions, if any, applicable to the attestation of documents so sealed shall, unless the contrary is proved, be received in evidence and be deemed to be such a document without further proof;

(d)to vest in a majority of the members of that body the power, subject to any quorum fixed by the enactment under which it is established or by any relevant standing orders, to bind other members thereof; and

(e)to exempt from personal liability for the debts, obligations or acts of that body, such members thereof as do not contravene the provision of the Act under which the body is established.

(2)Without prejudice to sub-section (1) of section two, the application of this section to a body corporate shall not—

(a)prevent additional powers being conferred by any enactment on that body; or

(b)prevent the powers conferred by virtue of such application being limited by any enactment; or

(c)prejudice or affect any liability of any member of that body to be surcharged with the payment of any amount which may be disallowed, by an auditor acting in pursuance of any statutory provision, in the accounts of that body.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

20 F8Offences.N.I.

(1)Where any act or omission constitutes an offence under two or more than two statutory provisions or under a statutory provision and at common law, the offender shall be liable to be prosecuted and punished under either or any of those provisions or at common law, but shall not be liable to be punished twice for the same offence.

F9F10(2)Where an offence under any enactment passed after the commencement of this Act has been committed by a body corporate the liability of whose members is limited, then notwithstanding and without prejudice to the liability of that body, any person who at the time of such commission was a director, general manager, secretary or other similar officer of that body or was purporting to act in any such capacity shall, subject to sub-section (3), be liable to be prosecuted as if he had personally committed that offence and shall, if on such prosecution it is proved to the satisfaction of the court that he consented to, or connived at, or did not exercise all such reasonable diligence as he ought in the circumstances to have exercised to prevent the offence, having regard to the nature of his functions in that capacity and to all the circumstances, be liable to the like conviction and punishment as if he had personally been guilty of that offence.

(3)A person shall not be charged under sub-section (2) [F11F12 except by or with the consent of the Attorney-General or the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland].

(4)An enactment creating criminal liability for an act or omission which, apart from that enactment, would give rise to civil liability shall not operate to prejudice the civil liability …F13.

F8mod. by SI 2004/1769

F9mod. by 2005 NI 17

F10mod. by 2002 NI 7

F12continue to am. 2002 c. 26

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C23S. 20(2) applied (with modifications) (12.10.2009 for certain purposes, otherwise prosp.) by Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1351 (N.I. 11)), arts. 1(3), 22(1) (with arts. 2(4), 53, 57(3), 61(4)); S.R. 2009/346, art. 3, Sch.

C24S. 20(2) applied (with modifications) (prosp.) by Taxis Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 4), ss. 47, 59

C25S. 20(2) applied (with modifications) (prosp.) by Pensions (No. 2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 13), ss. 46, 118(1) (with s. 73)

C29S. 20(2) applied (with modifications) (10.8.2009) by Groundwater Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (S.R. 2009/254), reg. 30(1) (with reg. 5)

C33S. 20(2) applied (with modifications) (31.7.2011) by Controls on Ozone-Depleting Substances Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 (S.R. 2011/239), reg. 13(1) (with reg. 15)

C38S. 20(3) applied (with modifications) (prosp.) by Taxis Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 4), ss. 47, 59

21Rules regulating procedure of courts and tribunals.N.I.

(1)Where an enactment confers any jurisdiction on a court or other tribunal or extends or varies the jurisdiction of a court or tribunal, the authority having for the time being power to make rules or orders regulating the practice and procedure of that court or tribunal may make such rules or orders (including rules or orders regulating costs, …F14, witnesses and other expenses) as appear to the authority to be necessary for regulating the practice and procedure of such court or tribunal in the exercise of the jurisdiction so conferred, extended or varied, and it shall not be necessary for any other enactment to confer power on the authority to make any rules or orders for those purposes.

(2)A county court[F15 rule or magistrates' courts rule which]

(a)directs money to be paid out of or in aid of public funds; or

Para. (b) rep. by 1978 c. 23

shall not be made without the concurrence of the [F16 Treasury], but the validity of any county court[F15 rule or magistrates' courts rule shall] not in any proceedings in any court be impugned either by the court or by any party to the proceedings on the ground only that any such concurrence as aforesaid had not been given or is not expressed to have been given.

(3)All such rules or orders heretofore made under any enactment shall be deemed to have been made under this section and may be varied or revoked accordingly.

F16[(4)In any enactment—

(5)In any enactment—

(6)References in this section to rules or orders shall include—

(a)in relation to the[F17Court of Judicature], the High Court or the Court of Appeal …F14, references to rules of court;

F18[(aa)in relation to the Crown Court, references to Crown Court rules;]

(b)in relation to the county court …F14, references to county court rules; and

[F15(c)in relation to magistrates' courts references to magistrates' courts rules.]

Subs. (7) rep. by 1964 c. 21 (NI)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

22Powers of appellate courts.N.I.

Where an enactment provides that an appeal against any decision or determination of a court, tribunal, authority or person (in this section called “the original tribunal”), may be brought to any court, that court (in this section called “the appellate court”) may, for all purposes of and incidental to hearing or determining such appeal, exercise all the powers, authority and jurisdiction of the original tribunal and, in addition, may—

(a)confirm, reverse or vary the decision or determination of the original tribunal;

(b)remit the appeal or any matter arising thereon to the original tribunal with such declarations or directions as the appellate court may think proper; or

(c)make such order as to costs and expenses as the appellate court may think proper;

and—

(i)

it shall be the duty of the original tribunal to have regard to all such declarations and to obey all such directions, if any, as may be given by the appellate court pursuant to paragraph ( b); and

(ii)

orders made by the appellate court shall have the like effect and may be enforced in like manner as orders made by the original tribunal.

[F1923Inquiries and investigationsN.I.

The provisions of Schedule A1 to this Act shall have effect in relation to any local or other inquiry or any investigation which a Minister or Northern Ireland department causes to be held or made under any enactment passed or made—

(a)after the commencement of this Act, and

(b)before the commencement of section 47 of the Inquiries Act 2005.]

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

24Service of documents.N.I.

(1)Where an enactment authorises or requires a document to be served by post, whether the word “serve” or any of the words “give”, “deliver” or “send” or any other word is used, the service of the document may be effected by prepaying, registeringF20 and posting an envelope addressed to the person on whom the document is to be served at his usual or last known place of abode or business and containing such document; and, unless the contrary is proved, the document shall be deemed to have been served at the time at which such envelope would have been delivered in the ordinary course of post.

(2)Where an enactment authorises or requires a document to be served on any person without directing it to be served in a particular manner the service of that document may be effected either—

(a)by personal service; or

(b)by post in accordance with sub-section (1); or

(c)by leaving it for him with some person apparently over the age of sixteen at his usual or last known place of abode or business; or

(d)in the case of a corporate body or of any association of persons (whether incorporated or not), by delivering it to the secretary or clerk of the body or association at the registered or principal office of the body or association or serving it by post on such secretary or clerk at such office; or

(e)if it is not practicable after reasonable enquiry to ascertain the name or address of an owner, lessee, or occupier of premises on whom the document should be served, by addressing the document to him by the description of “owner” or “lessee” or “occupier” of the premises (naming them) to which the document relates, and by delivering it to some person on the premises or, if there is no person on the premises to whom it can be delivered, by affixing it, or a copy of it, to some conspicuous part of the premises.

F20Recorded delivery service may be used as an alternative, 1963 c. 5 (NI)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

25Deviation in forms.N.I.

Where a form is prescribed or specified by any enactment, deviations therefrom not materially affecting the substance nor calculated to mislead, shall not invalidate the form used.

26Oaths, affirmations and declarations.N.I.

(1)Where any enactment passed or made after the commencement of this Act authorises or requires evidence to be taken on oath, or authorises or directs an oath to be made, taken or administered, the oath may be administered, and a certificate or acknowledgment of its having been made, taken or administered may be given, by anyone authorised by the enactment to take the evidence, or by a judge of any court, a notary public, or a commissioner for oaths or justice of the peace having authority or jurisdiction in the place where the oath is administered.

(2)In every enactment, the words “oath” and “affidavit” shall, F21..., include affirmation and declaration; and the word “swear” shall, F21..., include affirm and declare.

(3)A reference in an enactment to a statutory declaration shall be construed as a reference to a declaration made by virtue of the Statutory Declarations Act, 1835M1.

(4)A power conferred by an enactment upon a [F22lay magistrate or] justice of the peace to administer any oath or affirmation, or to take any affidavit or declaration, may be exercised by a notary public or a commissioner for oaths.

Marginal Citations

27Operation of declaration that provisions are to cease to have effect.N.I.

(1)Where in an enactment it is declared that the whole or a part of any [F23statutory] provision is to cease to have effect, that [F23statutory] provision shall be deemed to have been repealed to the extent to which it is so declared to cease to have effect.

(2)Sub-section (1) shall not be taken to prejudice the operation of any declaration in an enactment that the whole or a part of any [F23statutory] provision is repealed.

F23SI 1999/663

28Effect of repeal.N.I.

(1)The repeal of any enactment shall not be deemed to be or to involve a declaration that such enactment was or was considered by Parliament[F24 or (as the case may be) the Assembly] to have been previously in force in Northern Ireland.

(2)Where an enactment repeals or revokes a[F24 statutory] provision, the repeal or revocation shall not, save as in this section otherwise provided—

(a)revive any[F24 statutory] provision or thing not in force or existing at the time at which the repeal or revocation takes effect;

(b)affect the previous operation of the[F24 statutory] provision so repealed or revoked, or anything duly done or suffered thereunder;

(c)affect any right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired, accrued or incurred under the[F24 statutory] provision so repealed or revoked;

(d)affect any offence committed against the[F24 statutory] provision so repealed or revoked, or any penalty or forfeiture or punishment incurred in respect thereof; or

(e)affect any investigation, legal proceeding or remedy in respect of any such right, privilege, obligation, liability, penalty, forfeiture or punishment as aforesaid;

and any such investigation, legal proceeding or remedy may be instituted, continued or enforced, and any such penalty, forfeiture or punishment may be imposed, as if the[F24 statutory] provision had not been repealed or revoked.

(3)Nothing in sub-section (2) shall be taken to authorise the continuance in force after the repeal or revocation of a[F24 statutory] provision of any instrument made under that provision.

(4)Where at any time an enactment expires, lapses or otherwise ceases to have effect, this section shall apply as if that enactment had then been repealed or revoked.

(5)The inclusion in the repealing provisions of any enactment of any express saving with respect to the repeals affected thereby shall not be taken to prejudice the operation of this section with respect to the effect of those repeals.

F24SI 1999/663

29Effect of substituting provisions.N.I.

(1 )F25Where an enactment repeals or revokes and re-enacts, with or without modification, any[F26 statutory] provision, a reference in any other[F26 statutory] provision or in any statutory instrument or statutory document to the provision so repealed or revoked shall without prejudice to the operation of sub-sections (2) and (3) be construed as a reference to the provision as re-enacted.

(2)Where an enactment repeals or revokes a[F26 statutory] provision and substitutes another enactment therefor by way of amendment, revision or consolidation—

(a)all officers and persons acting under that provision shall continue to act, as if appointed under the enactment so substituted;

(b)every bond and security given by a person appointed under that provision shall remain in force and all offices, books, papers and things used or made under that provision shall continue to be used as theretofore so far as consistent with the enactment so substituted;

(c)all proceedings taken under that provision shall be prosecuted and continued under and in conformity with the enactment so substituted, so far as consistently may be;

(d)in the recovery or enforcement of penalties and forfeitures incurred, and in the enforcement of rights existing or accruing under that provision or in any other proceedings under that provision, the procedure established by the enactment so substituted shall be followed so far as it can be adapted; and

(e)where any penalty, forfeiture or punishment is reduced or mitigated by any of the provisions of the enactment so substituted, the penalty, forfeiture or punishment, if imposed or adjudged after such repeal or revocation, shall be reduced or mitigated accordingly.

(3)Without prejudice to sub-section (2), where an enactment repeals or revokes a[F26 statutory] provision and substitutes another enactment therefor by way of amendment, revision or consolidation—

(a )F25all statutory instruments or statutory documents made, issued, confirmed or granted under that[F26 statutory] provision and all decisions, authorisations, directions, consents, applications, requests or things made, issued, given or done thereunder shall, in so far as they are in force at the commencement of the enactment so substituted, and are not inconsistent therewith, have the like effect, and the like proceedings may be had thereon and in respect thereof as if they had been made, issued, confirmed or granted or made, issued, given or done under the corresponding provision of the enactment so substituted; and

(b)any reference to that[F26 statutory] provision in any unrepealed or unrevoked[F26 statutory] provision shall, in relation to any subsequent transaction, matter or thing, be construed as a reference to so much of the enactment so substituted as relates to the same subject-matter as that provision; and, if nothing in the enactment so substituted relates to the same subject-matter, that provision shall stand good, and be read and construed as unrepealed or unrevoked in so far, and in so far only, as is necessary to support, maintain or give effect to such unrepealed or unrevoked[F26 statutory] provision.

F25mod. by 1989 NI 6

F26SI 1999/663

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

30Reprints.N.I.

(1)Where an enactment directs that [F27an Act is to be reprinted, that Act] shall be reprinted with—

(a)the addition of any words added thereto;

(b)the substitution of any words substituted therein;

(c)the omission of any words repealed therein;

by [F27any statutory provision] (including the enactment directing the reprint) for the time being in force.

(2)[F27For the purpose of reprinting any Act, the Presiding Officer shall cause to be prepared and shall certify a copy of that Act], with the additions, substitutions and omissions referred to in the preceding sub-section, and with the sections, sub-sections and paragraphs numbered in accordance with the [F27statutory provision] which makes the addition or substitution, as the case may be, and with any renumbering, and any alteration of references, cross-headings and marginal notes and with such other modifications necessarily consequential on the amendments so made andF27... such footnotes and additional references as [F27may be] necessary or desirable to assist in explaining the reprint.

(3)The Queen's Printer shall print in accordance with the copy as certified all copies of the [F27Act] to be reprinted which are printed after the passing of the enactment directing the reprint.

(4)[F27The Presiding Officer may by order direct that any Act] shall be reprinted in accordance with the foregoing sub-sections and where such order is made these sub-sections shall apply as if an enactment had directed [F27that Act] to be reprinted.

(5)Where [F27an Act] is reprinted pursuant to an order made under sub-section (4), the fact that it is so reprinted shall be stated on the reprint.

F27SI 1999/663

N.I.Construction of Enactments

31Enactment always speaking.N.I.

(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.N.I.

(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 [F28any 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.

F28SI 1999/663

33Expressions in instrument have same meaning as in enactment.N.I.

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.N.I.

(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.N.I.

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.N.I.

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.N.I.

(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”.N.I.

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.N.I.

(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.

F29(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 taxF30. . . 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.

F29mod. by 2005 NI 1

F30SI 1999/663

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C58S. 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)

C64S. 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)

C65S. 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)

C66S. 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)

40Distance.N.I.

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.

N.I.Meaning of particular words and phrases

41Definitions for parliamentary purposes.N.I.

(1)In an enactment the expression—

F33[(2)In any Act passed after the thirtieth day of May, nineteen hundred and fifty, “statutory period” means a period comprising—

(a)ten days on which the [F34 Assembly] has sat; or

(b)…

F35(c)thirty days;

whichever period is the longest, such days being reckoned without regard to whether they occur during one or more than one session of the same [F34 Assembly] or of different [F34 Assemblies] …F35].

[F32(3)Where, under any enactment, a statutory instrument or statutory document is required to be laid before the Assembly, the delivery of a copy of the instrument or document to the Business Office of the Assembly on any day during the existence of an Assembly shall for all purposes be deemed to be the laying of it before the Assembly.]

(4)The expression “subject to affirmative resolution” when used in relation to any statutory instruments or statutory documents shall mean that those instruments or documents shall not come into operation unless and until affirmed by a resolution of[F32 the Assembly].

Subs. (5) rep. by SI 1999/663

(6)The expression “subject to negative resolution” when used in relation to any statutory instruments or statutory documents shall mean that those instruments or documents shall, as soon as may be after they are made, be laid before[F32 the Assembly, and if the Assembly], within the statutory period next after any such instrument or document has been so laid, resolves that the instrument or document shall be annulled, the instrument or document shall be void as from the date of the resolution, but without prejudice to the validity of anything done thereunder or to the making of a new instrument or document.

Subs. (7) rep. by SI 1999/663

F31SI 1973/2163

F32SI 1999/663

F34SI 1973/2163

F35SI 1973/2163

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

42Definitions for judicial purposes.N.I.

(1)In an enactment the expression—

(2)Where an enactment provides that any appeal, application, proceeding or other matter arising thereunder may be heard or determined by a county court, …F41[F42 or a magistrates' court, without] specifying any particular county court …F41[F42 or magistrates' court, the matter] may be heard and determined by such county court, …F41[F42 or magistrates' court (as] the case may be) as may be prescribed, in the case of a county court …F41 by county court rules, or in the case of[F42 a magistrates' court, by magistrates' courts rules or, if] no such court is so prescribed, by the county court, …F41[F42 or magistrates' court (as] the case may be) having jurisdiction over the whole or any part of the division or district or place in which the matter arises or, if the matter relates to any premises, in which those premises are situated.

(3)In an enactment the expression—

(4)In an enactment the expression—

[F46(5)In an enactment the expression “industrial tribunal” means a tribunal established under Article 3 of the Industrial Tribunals (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.]

F43SLR 1973

43Definitions for official purposes.N.I.

(1)In an enactment the expression—

(2)In an enactment the expression—

F48SI 1999/663

F50SRO (NI) 1972/253

Marginal Citations

[F5543ADefinitions in connection with police.N.I.

In an enactment—

44Definitions for local government purposes.N.I.

In an enactment the expression—

F56SI 1999/663

F60S. 44: words in definition of "local government auditor" substituted (1.4.2006) by Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/1968 (N.I. 18)), arts. 1(2), 28(1); S.R. 2006/151, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4)

45References relating to land.N.I.

(1)In any enactment passed after the commencement of this Act the expression—

(a)“land” shall include—

(i)messuages, tenements and hereditaments of any tenure;

(ii)land covered by water;

(iii)any estate in land or water; and

(iv)houses or other buildings or structures whatsoever;

(b)“registered land” shall mean land the title to which is registered under [F62Part III of the Land Registration Act (Northern Ireland) 1970]M9; and

(c)“unregistered land” shall mean land the title to which is not registered under [F62Part III of the Land Registration Act (Northern Ireland) 1970].

(2)In any enactment passed after the commencement of this Act “estate”, when used with reference to land, includes any legal or equitable estate or interest, easement, right, title, claim, demand, charge, lien or encumbrance in, over, to or in respect of the land.

(3)Where an enactment passed after the commencement of this Act provides that a person may dispose of land, that person may deal with the land in any of the following ways—

(a)sell it;

(b)lease, let it or grant it in fee farm;

(c)exchange it, giving or receiving money for equality of exchange;

(d)if leasehold, surrender it;

(e)grant a licence to use it for any purpose or for such purposes as are mentioned in the licence; or

(f)grant (by way of sale, lease, letting or licence) any easement, profit or right in respect of it.

Marginal Citations

46Miscellaneous definitions.N.I.

(1)In an enactment the expression—

(2)In an enactment passed or made after the commencement of this Act the expression—

[F65(3)In any enactment passed or made after the day appointed for the commencement of Parts II and III of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the following expressions shall have the same meaning as in that Act—

(4)In any enactment, whenever passed or made, any reference to a Minister of a Northern Ireland department shall, in the case of the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister, be construed as a reference to the First Minister and deputy First Minister acting jointly.]

F65SI 1999/663

F70Definition ext. (costs in criminal cases), 1968 c. 10 (NI)

N.I.Citation

47Citation of statutory provisions, etc.N.I.

(1)Any Act passed after the first day of January, nineteen hundred and forty-three, may be cited by reference to the calendar year in which it was passed and its chapter in that year.

(2)Without prejudice to sub-section (1), any statutory provision may be cited in any manner in which it could have been cited before the commencement of this Act.

(3)A reference in an enactment to a statutory provision shall be construed as referring, in relation to statutes included in any revised edition of the statutes purporting to be printed by authority, to that edition, and in relation to statutes not so included, and passed before the reign of King George the First, to the edition prepared under the direction of the Record Commission, and, in relation to other statutes, to copies of the statutes purporting to be printed under the superintendence or authority of Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

(4)In an enactment every description of or citation from any statutory provision or from any document shall be construed as including the word, sub-section, section, or other portion mentioned or referred to as forming the beginning or as forming the end of the portion comprised in the description or citation or as being the point from which or to which such portion extends.

N.I.Supplemental

48Repeals, etc.N.I.

Subs. (1) rep. by SLR 1973

(2)Without prejudice to sub-section (1), the Interpretation Act, 1889 [1889 c.63] , shall cease to apply to the interpretation of enactments.

49Saving.N.I.

The provisions of this Act which are expressed to apply to enactments passed or made after the commencement of this Act shall not affect the construction of any enactment passed before such commencement, although such enactment is continued or amended by an enactment passed after such commencement.

S. 50 rep. by SLR 1973

51Short title.N.I.

This Act may be cited as the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland), 1954.

SCHEDULE

N.I.

Schedule rep. by SLR 1973

[F72SCHEDULE A1N.I. PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO INQUIRIES AND INVESTIGATIONS

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

IntroductoryN.I.

1In this Schedule—

Appointment of person to hold inquiryN.I.

2The Department shall appoint a person to hold the inquiry and to report thereon to the Department.

Notification of time and place of inquiryN.I.

3Notification shall be sent to any persons appearing to the Department or the person appointed to hold the inquiry to be interested of the time when, and the place where, the inquiry is to be held.

Powers to require persons to give evidence etc.N.I.

4(1)Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3), the person appointed to hold the inquiry may by notice require any person—

(a)to attend at the time and place set forth in the notice to give evidence or to produce any books or documents in his custody or under his control which relate to any matter in question at the inquiry; or

(b)to furnish, within such reasonable period as is specified in the notice, such information relating to any matter in question at the inquiry as the person appointed to hold the inquiry may think fit, and as the person so required is able to furnish.

(2)A person shall not to be required, in obedience to such a notice, to attend at any place which is more than 16 kilometres from the place where he resides unless the necessary expenses are paid or tendered to him.

(3)Nothing in this paragraph shall empower the person appointed to hold the inquiry to require any person to produce any book or document, or to answer any question, which he would be entitled, on the ground of privilege or otherwise, to refuse to produce or to answer if the inquiry were a proceeding in a court of law.

Oaths and statementsN.I.

5The person appointed to hold the inquiry may administer oaths and examine witnesses on oath, and may accept, in lieu of evidence on oath by any person, a statement in writing by that person.

OffencesN.I.

6Any person who—

(a)refuses or wilfully neglects to attend in obedience to a notice under paragraph 4, or to give evidence; or

(b)wilfully alters, suppresses, conceals or destroys or refuses to produce any book or document which he may be required to produce by any such notice; or

(c)refuses or deliberately neglects to furnish any information which he is required to furnish under paragraph 4(1)(b);

shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale.

ExpensesN.I.

7(1)The expenses incurred by the Department in relation to the inquiry (including such sum as the Department may, with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel, determine in respect of the services of any officer engaged in the inquiry) shall be paid by such of the parties to the inquiry in such proportions as the Department may order.

(2)The Department may make orders as to the expenses incurred by the parties appearing at the inquiry and as to the parties by whom such expenses shall be paid.

(3)Any order made by the Department under sub-paragraph (1) or (2) may, on the application of any party to the inquiry, be made a rule of the High Court.]