This Order brings into operation section 85 of, and Part 3 of Schedule 10 to, the Pensions (No. 2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (“the Act”) on 6th April 2012. Those provisions provide for the removal of special provisions which apply to the protected rights of members of pension schemes on the contracting-out abolition date (defined in section 85(4) of the Act as the day appointed under section 21 of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1 (N.I.)) for the coming into operation of section 13(1) of that Act).

The Pensions (2008 Act) (Commencement No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (S.R. 2012 No. 115 (C. 11) specifies 6th April 2012 as the day appointed for the coming into operation of section 13(1) of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.