Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Act 2018

1Extension of period for Executive formationU.K.

This section has no associated Explanatory Notes

(1)For the purposes of filling the Ministerial offices on the first occasion following the election of the Northern Ireland Assembly at the poll on 2 March 2017, the Northern Ireland Act 1998 has effect as if in section 16A(3) for the words before paragraph (a) there were substituted “ Within the period beginning with the first meeting of the Assembly and ending with [F113 January 2020]”.

(2)Subsection (1) is to be treated as having had effect at all times on and after 2 March 2017.

(3)Section 32 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 has effect as if, during the period for forming an Executive, for subsection (3) there were substituted—

“(3)The Secretary of State may propose a date for the poll for the election of the next Northern Ireland Assembly that is earlier than the date determined in accordance with section 31.””

(4)In the Northern Ireland (Ministerial Appointments and Regional Rates) Act 2017, omit section 1.

(5)In this section—

  • “the Ministerial offices” means the offices of the First Minister, deputy First Minister and the Northern Ireland Ministers;

  • “the period for forming an Executive” means the period beginning when this Act is passed and ending—

    (a)

    when all of the Ministerial offices are next filled,

    (b)

    when the period mentioned in section 16A(3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, as modified by subsection (1), ends, or

    (c)

    when the Assembly elected on 2 March 2017 is dissolved,

    whichever happens first.

Textual Amendments