1. Introductory Text

2. The Commissioner

   1. 1. The Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland

   2. 2. Principal aim of the Commissioner

3. Functions of the Commissioner

   1. 3. Duties of the Commissioner

   2. 4. General powers of the Commissioner

   3. 5. General review of advocacy, complaint, inspection and whistle-blowing arrangements of relevant authorities

   4. 6. Review of advocacy, complaint, inspection and whistle-blowing arrangements of relevant authorities in individual cases

   5. 7. Assistance with complaints to relevant authorities

   6. 8. Investigation of complaints against relevant authorities

   7. 9. Actions which may be investigated: restrictions and exclusions

   8. 10. Power to bring, intervene in or assist in legal proceedings

   9. 11. Assistance in relation to legal proceedings

   10. 12. Conciliation of disputes

4. Formal investigations

   1. 13. Formal investigations

   2. 14. Formal investigations: exclusions

   3. 15. Report on formal investigation

   4. 16. Further action following report on formal investigation

   5. 17. Evidence in formal investigations

   6. 18. Powers of entry and inspection for purposes of formal investigation

   7. 19. Obstruction and contempt in relation to formal investigation

   8. 20. Disclosure of information by Commissioner

5. Review of this Act

   1. 21. Review of this Act

6. Supplementary provisions

   1. 22. Privilege for certain publications

   2. 23. Application of this Act: relevant authorities with mixed functions

   3. 24. Application of this Act: matters arising before commencement

7. Interpretation

   1. 25. Interpretation: “older person”

   2. 26. Interpretation: “relevant authority”

   3. 27. Interpretation: general

8. General

   1. 28. Commencement

   2. 29. Short title

9. SCHEDULES

   1. SCHEDULE 1

      The Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland

      1. Status

         1. 1. (1) The person for the time being holding the office...

      2. General powers

         1. 2. (1) The Commissioner may do anything, apart from borrowing money,...

      3. Tenure of office

         1. 3. (1) Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, a person...

      4. Salary, etc.

         1. 4. (1) The Office may pay to or in respect of...

      5. Staff

         1. 5. (1) The Commissioner may appoint such number of officers as...

      6. Exercise of functions of Commissioner

         1. 6. Any function of the Commissioner may be exercised by any...

      7. Seal

         1. 7. The application of the seal of the Commissioner must be...

      8. Evidence

         1. 8. A document purporting to be an instrument issued by the...

      9. Property

         1. 9. (1) Any real or personal property vested in the Commissioner...

      10. Funding

          1. 10. (1) The Office may make grants to the Commissioner of...

      11. Accounts

          1. 11. (1) The Commissioner must— (a) keep proper accounts and proper...

      12. Annual report

          1. 12. (1) As soon as practicable after the end of each...

      13. The Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 25)

          1. 13. In Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland...

      14. The Commissioner for Complaints (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (NI 7)

          1. 14. In Schedule 2 to the Commissioner for Complaints (Northern Ireland)...

      15. The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36)

          1. 15. In Part 7 of Schedule 1 to the Freedom of...

   2. SCHEDULE 2

      Investigation under section 4(4)

      1. Interpretation

         1. 1. In this Schedule any reference to an investigation is a...

      2. Conduct of investigation

         1. 2. (1) In determining whether to conduct or discontinue an investigation,...

      3. Report on investigation

         1. 3. (1) Where the Commissioner has conducted an investigation pursuant to...

      4. Further action following report on investigation

         1. 4. (1) Where the Commissioner has made a report under paragraph...

   3. SCHEDULE 3

      Relevant authorities

      1. The following bodies and persons are relevant authorities by virtue...

      2. Health and social care

         1. 1. Relevant authorities

         2. 2. Relevant authorities

         3. 3. Any person carrying on or managing any of the following...

      3. Education

         1. 4. The governing body of an institution of further education, within...

      4. Others

         1. 5. The ombudsman scheme operator as defined by section 225(2) of...

         2. 6. The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation.

         3. 7. The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland.

         4. 8. The Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission.

         5. 9. The Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Ombudsman.