9(1)The Secretary of State may, in accordance with section 55 or (as the case may be) 66(5) to (7), accept, from such persons as he considers appropriate, undertakings to take action specified or described in the undertakings.
(2)An undertaking under this paragraph—
(a)shall come into force when accepted;
(b)may be varied or superseded by another undertaking; and
(c)may be released by the Secretary of State.
(3)An undertaking which is in force under this paragraph in relation to a reference under section 45 or 62 shall cease to be in force if an order under paragraph 6(1)(b) or 10 comes into force in relation to the subject-matter of the undertaking.
(4)No undertaking shall be accepted under this paragraph in relation to a reference under section 45 or 62 if an order has been made under—
(a)paragraph 6(1)(b) or 10 in relation to the subject-matter of the undertaking; or
(b)paragraph 11 in relation to that reference.
(5)The Secretary of State shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, consider any representations received by him in relation to varying or releasing an undertaking under this section.
Textual Amendments applied to the whole legislation
F1Act: for the words "solicitor of the Supreme Court of Northern Ireland" wherever they occur there is substituted (prosp.) the words "solicitor of the Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland" by virtue of Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 59, 148(1), Sch. 11 para. 5 [Editorial Note: this amendment will be carried through into the text of the Act at the same time as any other effects on the Act for the year in which the relevant commencement order (or first such order) is made]