Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975

1 Disqualification of holders of certain offices and places. U.K.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, a person is disqualified for membership of the Northern Ireland Assembly who for the time being—

(a) holds any of the judicial offices specified in Part I of Schedule 1 to this Act;

(b) is employed in the civil service of the Crown, whether in an established capacity or not, and whether for the whole or part of his time;

(c) is a member of any of the regular armed forces of the Crown or the Ulster Defence Regiment;

(d) is a member of any police force maintained by a police authority;

[F1 (da) is a member of the National Criminal Intelligence Service or the National Crime Squad;]

(e) is a member of the legislature of any country or territory outside the Commonwealth [F2 (other than Ireland)]; or

(f) holds any office described in Part II or Part III of Schedule 1.

(2) In this section—

• “civil service of the Crown” includes the civil service of Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Court Service, Her Majesty’s Diplomatic Service and Her Majesty’s Overseas Civil Service;

• “police authority” means any police authority within the meaning of [F3 the Police Act 1996] or the M1 Police (Scotland) Act 1967, or the Police Authority for Northern Ireland; and “member” in relation to a police force means a person employed as a full-time constable;

• “regular armed forces of the Crown” means the Royal Navy, the regular forces as defined by section 225 of the M2 Army Act 1955 [F4 or the regular air force as defined by section 223 of the Air Force Act 1955].

(3) Except as provided by this Act, a person shall not be disqualified for membership of the Northern Ireland Assembly by reason of his holding an office or place of profit under the Crown or any other office or place; and a person shall not be disqualified for appointment to or for holding any office or place by reason of his being a member of the Assembly.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 1(1)(da) inserted (1.4.1998) by 1997 c. 50, s. 134(1), Sch. 9 para. 30(2); S.I. 1998/354, art. 2(2)(ay)(bb) (subject to art. 8)

F2 Words in s. 1(1)(e) inserted (30.11.2000) by 2000 c. 42, s. 1

F3 Words in s. 1(2) substituted (22.8.1996) by 1996 c. 16, ss. 103, 104(1), Sch. 7 Pt. II para. 25

F4 Words in s. 1(2) substituted (11.5.2001) by 2001 c. 19, s. 34, Sch. 6 Pt. 5 para. 27

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 1(1)(c) amended (1.7.1992) by 1992 c. 39, ss. 3(4), 5

Marginal Citations

M1 1967 c. 77.

M2 1955 c. 18.