Interpretation Act 1978

24 Application to Northern Ireland. U.K.

(1) This Act extends to Northern Ireland so far as it applies to Acts or subordinate legislation which so extend.

(2) In the application of this Act to Acts passed or subordinate legislation made after the commencement of this Act, all references to an enactment include an enactment comprised in Northern Ireland legislation whenever passed or made; and in relation to such legislation references to the passing or repeal of an enactment include the making or revocation of an Order in Council.

(3) In the application of section 14 to Acts passed after the commencement of this Act which extend to Northern Ireland, “statutory instrument” includes statutory rule for the purposes of the M1 [F1 Statutory Rules (Northern Ireland) Order 1979].

[F2 (3A) Section 20A applies to Northern Ireland legislation as it applies to Acts.]

(4) The following definitions contained in Schedule 1, namely those of—

• F3 ...

• The Communities F4 ...;

• The Corporation Tax Acts;

• [F5 E.C.S.C. Treaty;

• E.E.C. Treaty;]

• [F6 EEA agreement and EEA state;]

• [F7 Entry date;

• The EU or the European Union;

• EU institution;

• EU instrument;

• Euratom, Economic Community and Coal and Steel Community;

• Euratom Treaty;

• European Court;]

• The Income Tax Acts;

• [F8 Member (in the expression “member State”);]

• The Tax Acts [F9 ;

• The Treaties or the EU Treaties],

apply, unless the contrary intention appears, to Northern Ireland legislation as they apply to Acts.

(5) In this section “Northern Ireland legislation” means—

(a) Acts of the Parliament of Ireland;

(b) Acts of the Parliament of Northern Ireland;

(c) Orders in Council under section 1(3) of the M2 Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972;

[F10 (d) Measures of the Northern Ireland Assembly established under section 1 of the M3 Northern Ireland Assembly Act 1973;

(e) Orders in Council under Schedule 1 to the M4 Northern Ireland Act 1974;

(f) Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly; and

(g) Orders in Council under section 85 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words substituted by S.I. 1979/1573 (N.I. 12), Sch. 4 para. 25

F2 S. 24(3A) inserted (8.1.2007) by Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (c. 51), ss. 25(3), 33

F3 Words repealed by British Nationality Act 1981 (c. 61, SIF 87), s. 52(8), Sch. 9

F4 Words in s. 24(4) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (c. 16), s. 25(4), Sch. 8 para. 21(a) (with s. 19, Sch. 7 para. 26, Sch. 8 para. 37); S.I. 2020/1622, reg. 3(n) (with reg. 22)

F5 Words in s. 24(4) inserted (31.12.2020) by European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (c. 16), s. 25(4), Sch. 8 para. 21(b) (with s. 19, Sch. 7 para. 26, Sch. 8 para. 37); S.I. 2020/1622, reg. 3(n)

F6 Words in s. 24(4) inserted (8.1.2007) by Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (c. 51), ss. 26(2), 33

F7 Words in s. 24(4) inserted (31.12.2020) by European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (c. 16), s. 25(4), Sch. 8 para. 21(c) (with s. 19, Sch. 7 para. 26, Sch. 8 para. 37); S.I. 2020/1622, reg. 3(n)

F8 Words in s. 24(4) inserted (31.12.2020) by European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (c. 16), s. 25(4), Sch. 8 para. 21(d) (with s. 19, Sch. 7 para. 26, Sch. 8 para. 37); S.I. 2020/1622, reg. 3(n)

F9 Words in s. 24(4) inserted (31.12.2020) by European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (c. 16), s. 25(4), Sch. 8 para. 21(e) (with s. 19, Sch. 7 para. 26, Sch. 8 para. 37); S.I. 2020/1622, reg. 3(n)

F10 S. 24(5)(d)-(g) substituted for s. 24(5)(d)(e) (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 99, Sch. 13 para. 3 (with s. 95); S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 24 extended by Northern Ireland Act 1982 (c. 38, SIF 29:3), s. 6, Sch. 2 para. 7(2)

Marginal Citations

M1 S.I. 1979/1573 (N.I. 12).

M2 1972 c. 22.

M3 1973 c.17.

M4 1974 c.28.