If any Northern Ireland department considers that any action proposed to be taken by a council would be incompatible with any international obligations, that department may direct that the proposed action must not be taken.

If any Northern Ireland department considers that any action capable of being taken by a council is required for the purpose of giving effect to any international obligations, that department may direct that the action shall be taken.

A direction under this section must give the reasons for making the direction and may make provision having retrospective effect.

In this section “international obligations” has the same meaning as in the Northern Ireland Act 1998.