If the function of selecting a person for appointment, or recommendation for appointment, to an office is delegated to a committee or sub-committee, the committee or sub-committee must include a member of the Commission and, unless he is a lay member, a person who is eligible to be a lay member.

The application of the seal of the Commission is to be authenticated by the signature of any member, or member of staff, of the Commission who has been authorised (whether generally or specially) for the purpose.

Any contract or instrument which, if entered into or executed by an individual, would not require to be under seal may be entered into or executed on behalf of the Commission by any person who has been authorised (whether generally or specially) for the purpose.

In Part 2 of Schedule 1 to the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24) (bodies of which all members are disqualified), insert (at the appropriate place in alphabetical order)—

In Part 2 of Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 25) (bodies of which all members are disqualified), insert (at the appropriate place in alphabetical order)—

In Part 7 of Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36) (public authorities), insert (at the appropriate place in alphabetical order)—

The County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 (c. 25 (N.I.)) has effect subject to the following amendments.

In section 102(1) (appointment of county court judges), for “Lord Chancellor” substitute “ First Minister and deputy First Minister, acting jointly ”.

In section 134 (evidence of health of person recommended for appointment as county court judge), for “Lord Chancellor shall take steps to satisfy himself” substitute “ First Minister and deputy First Minister shall take steps to satisfy themselves ”.

After section 136 insert—

The Lord Chancellor may by order make provision amending any enactment or instrument in consequence of the provision made by section 10 or by or by virtue of the preceding provisions of this Schedule.

The references to justices of the peace in sections 13, 15, 16 and 18 of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835 (c. 62) (oaths and declarations) include lay magistrates.

In section 5(1) of the General Dealers (Ireland) Act 1903 (c. 44) (general dealers to produce articles and books on demand of constable authorised by a justice), for “general or special authority of a justice of the peace” substitute “ authority of a warrant issued by a lay magistrate ”.

In section 26(4) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (c. 33 (N.I.)) (administration of oaths), after “upon a” insert “ lay magistrate or ”.

In section 189(1) of the Army Act 1955 (3 & 4 Eliz. 2 c. 18) (certificates of arrest or surrender of deserters and absentees), after “justice of the peace” insert “ or (in Northern Ireland) resident magistrate ”.

In section 189(1) of the Air Force Act 1955 (3 & 4 Eliz. 2 c. 19) (certificates of arrest or surrender of deserters and absentees), after “justice of the peace” insert “ or (in Northern Ireland) resident magistrate ”.

In sections 47(2) and 110(2) of the Naval Discipline Act 1957 (c. 53) (certificates of arrest and surrender), after “justice of the peace” insert “ or (in Northern Ireland) resident magistrate ”.

In section 110(2) of the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (c. 14 (N.I.)) (non-payment of compensation for unjust etc. charge of personation), for “under the hand and seal of a justice of the peace” substitute “ issued by a lay magistrate ”.

In section 21 of the Treatment of Offenders Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (c. 29 (N.I.)) (offences during suspended sentence etc.), for subsection (2) substitute—

The Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (c. 23) has effect subject to the following amendments.

After that section insert—

In Article 84(6) of the Pollution Control and Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (S.I. 1978/1049 (N.I. 19)) (judges and justices not disqualified by being ratepayers etc.), for “and a justice of the peace” substitute “ , resident magistrate or lay magistrate ”.

The Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (S.I. 1981/1675 (N.I. 26)) has effect subject to the following amendments.

In Article 2(2)(b) (meaning of “magistrates’ court”), for “justice of the peace” substitute “ lay magistrate ”.

In Article 4 (local jurisdiction of justice of the peace), for “justice of the peace” substitute “ lay magistrate ”.

In Article 7 (clerk’s immunity in respect of warrant to enforce order), for “resident magistrate or other justice of the peace” substitute “ magistrates’ court ”.

In Article 42(1)(a) and (b) (reading of depositions), for “other justice of the peace” substitute “ lay magistrate ”.

In Article 114(2) (warrants: postponement of issue and stay of execution), insert at the end “; but a lay magistrate sitting out of petty sessions may postpone the issue of a warrant, or stay the execution of it, only if it was issued by him or another lay magistrate.”

In Article 126(1) (proof of service), for “other justice of the peace” substitute “ lay magistrate ”.

In Article 158(1) (execution of warrants), for “other justice of the peace” substitute “ lay magistrate ”.

In Article 160(1) (misbehaviour in court), for “justice of the peace” substitute “ lay magistrate ”.

In paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 (matters which may be dealt with by a justice of the peace out of petty sessions), for “justice of the peace” substitute “ lay magistrate ”.

In Article 165(2) of the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/ 2405 (N.I. 19)) (affidavits etc.), for “justices” substitute “ lay magistrates ”.

In section 244(6)(a)(ii) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 46) (community service orders), for “justice of the peace acting for the petty sessions district for the time being specified in the order” substitute “ resident magistrate ”.

In Schedule 2 to the Juries (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/1141 (N.I. 6)) (persons ineligible for jury service), after the entry relating to persons holding an office belonging to any court of justice in Northern Ireland insert—

In section 9(5) of the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42) (judicial acts), in the definition of “judge”, after “a justice of the peace” insert “ (or, in Northern Ireland, a lay magistrate) ”.

In section 81(1) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (c. 23) (interpretation), after the definition of “interception warrant” insert—

In section 71(2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c. 47) (law officers able to rely on Convention rights under that Act even though not victim), after “to the Attorney General,” insert “ the Advocate General for Northern Ireland, ”.

In section 100(2) of the Scotland Act 1998 (similar provision in relation to that Act), after “, the Attorney General” insert “ , the Advocate General for Northern Ireland ”.

In section 81(7) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (notice of intention to vary retrospective decision to be given to the appropriate authority), for “First Minister and the deputy First Minister” substitute “ Advocate General for Northern Ireland and ”.

In section 102(7) of the Scotland Act 1998 (notice to be given to the appropriate law officer), for “Attorney General for Northern Ireland” substitute “ Advocate General for Northern Ireland ”.

The First Minister and deputy First Minister must consult the Advocate General for Northern Ireland about any arrangements they propose to make for the discharge of the functions of the Attorney General of Northern Ireland during any vacancy in that office.

The First Minister and deputy First Minister must consult the Advocate General for Northern Ireland before appointing a person to be Attorney General for Northern Ireland.

Part 3 of this Act (Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland) has effect subject to the following amendments.

In section 49(5) (copies of reports relating to Public Prosecution Service), after “copy of it to” insert “ the Advocate General for Northern Ireland and ”.

In section 91(7) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c. 47) (appointment of person to represent interests of party to proceedings before Tribunal under that section), for “Attorney General for Northern Ireland” substitute “ Advocate General for Northern Ireland ”.

In paragraph 7(2) of Schedule 2 to the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 (c. 35) (appointment of person to represent prisoner’s interests in proceedings of Sentence Review Commissioners from which he and his representative are excluded), for “Attorney General for Northern Ireland” substitute “ Advocate General for Northern Ireland ”.

The Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11) has effect subject to the following amendments.

In section 72(2)(b) (regulations providing for time limits to cease to have effect where Attorney General for Northern Ireland certifies that offence is not to be treated as scheduled offence), for “Attorney General for Northern Ireland” substitute “ Advocate General for Northern Ireland ”.

In Schedule 9 (certification that offence is not scheduled offence), in Notes 1 and 2 in Part 1, and in the Note in Part 3, for “Attorney General for Northern Ireland” substitute “ Advocate General for Northern Ireland ”.

In section 12 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 (c. 28) (construction of references to Attorney General), for “Attorney-General for Ireland” substitute “ Advocate General for Northern Ireland ”.

In section 1(3) of the Genocide Act 1969 (c. 12) (proceedings for genocide), for “Attorney General for Northern Ireland” substitute “ Advocate General for Northern Ireland ”.

In section 2(1) of the Biological Weapons Act 1974 (c. 6) (proceedings for offence of contravening section 1 of that Act), for “Attorney General for Northern Ireland” substitute “ Advocate General for Northern Ireland ”.

In section 11 of the Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975 (c. 59) (proceedings for extra-territorial offences), for “Attorney General for Northern Ireland” substitute “ Advocate General for Northern Ireland ”.

In section 2(1) of the Internationally Protected Persons Act 1978 (c. 17) (proceedings for offence which is an offence by virtue only of section 1 of that Act), for “Attorney General for Northern Ireland” substitute “ Advocate General for Northern Ireland ”.

In section 3(1) of the Nuclear Material (Offences) Act 1983 (c. 18) (proceedings for offence which is an offence only by virtue of that Act), for “Attorney General for Northern Ireland” substitute “ Advocate General for Northern Ireland ”.

In section 135 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33) (proceedings for offence of torture), for “Attorney General for Northern Ireland” substitute “ Advocate General for Northern Ireland ”.

In section 9(1) of the Official Secrets Act 1989 (c. 6) (proceedings for offence under that Act), for “Attorney General for Northern Ireland” substitute “ Advocate General for Northern Ireland ”.

In Article 8(11) of the Iraq and Kuwait (United Nations Sanctions) Order 1990 (S.I. 1990/1651) (as substituted by the Iraq and Kuwait (United Nations Sanctions) (Second Amendment) Order 1990 (S.I. 1990/2144)) (proceedings for offence under that Order), for “Attorney General for Northern Ireland or” substitute “ Advocate General for Northern Ireland or the Attorney General for ”.

In section 31(1) of the Chemical Weapons Act 1996 (c. 6) (proceedings for offence under section 2 or 11 of that Act), for “Attorney General for Northern Ireland” substitute “ Advocate General for Northern Ireland ”.

Section 33 of this Act applies in relation to the giving of consent by the Advocate General for Northern Ireland as in relation to the giving of consent by the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.

The Secretary of State may make grants to the Chief Inspector.

The Chief Inspector is a corporation sole.

The application of the seal of the Chief Inspector is to be authenticated by the signature of the Chief Inspector or any member of his staff who has been authorised (whether generally or specially) for the purpose.

In Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24) (disqualifying offices), insert (at the appropriate place in alphabetical order)—

In Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 25) (disqualifying offices), insert (at the appropriate place in alphabetical order)—

In Part 7 of Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36) (public authorities), insert (at the appropriate place in alphabetical order)—

The Secretary of State may make grants to the Commission.

The application of the seal of the Commission is to be authenticated by the signature of any Commissioner or member of staff of the Commission who has been authorised (whether generally or specially) for the purpose.

Any contract or instrument which, if entered into or executed by an individual, would not require to be under seal may be entered into or executed on behalf of the Commission by any person who has been authorised (whether generally or specially) for the purpose.

In Part 2 of Schedule 1 to the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24) (bodies of which all members are disqualified), insert (at the appropriate place in alphabetical order)—

In Part 2 of Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 25) (bodies of which all members are disqualified), insert (at the appropriate place in alphabetical order)—

In Part 7 of Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36) (public authorities), insert (at the appropriate place in alphabetical order)—

In section 2(1A) of the Costs in Criminal Cases Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (costs ordered by magistrates’ court to be paid by person under 17 not to exceed amount of fine imposed on him), for “seventeen” substitute “ eighteen ”.