The Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 (Procedural Rules) Order 2005

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order appoints 15th April 2005 as the date on which the revised procedural rules regulating and prescribing the practice and procedure to be followed by the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland (“the Commission”) in exercising the functions mentioned in section 2(2) of the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 (“the 1998 Act”)(power to mediate between parties to particular disputes concerning proposed public processions and to issue determinations in respect of particular proposed public processions and protest meetings), and by other persons or bodies in their dealings with the Commission in connection with the exercise of those functions, are to come into operation. Article 4(2) of the Public Processions (Amendment)(Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/857 (N.I. 2)) amended section 2(2)(b) of the 1998 Act to provide that it is also a function of the Commission to issue determinations in respect of protest meetings.

The revised procedural rules, which are issued by the Commission under section 4 of the 1998 Act, replace the procedural rules which were brought into operation on 31st July 1999 by the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 (Procedural Rules) Order 1999 (S.I.1999/2117)(which is revoked by this Order).

The revised procedural rules are published by the Commission and copies may be obtained from the Commission at 12th floor, Windsor House, Bedford Street, Belfast BT2 7EL.