The Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008

General restrictions

Restrictions on supply of full register and disclosure of information from it by the Chief Electoral Officer and his staff

94.—(1) This regulation applies to—

(a) the Chief Electoral Officer;

(b) any temporary deputy of his; and

(c) any person appointed to assist any such officer or who in the course of his employment is assigned to assist any such officer in his duties.

(2) Where the Chief Electoral Officer is also the counting officer at a referendum held by or under an Act of Parliament (and so has access to the full register without being supplied with a copy of it), this regulation also applies to—

(a) the Chief Electoral Officer in that capacity;

(b) any deputy counting officer;

(c) any person appointed to assist any such officer or who in the course of his employment is assigned to assist any such officer in his duties in respect of the referendum in question.

(3) No person to whom this regulation applies may—

(a) supply to any person a copy of the full register;

(b) disclose information contained in it (and not contained in the edited register); or

(c) make use of such information,

otherwise than in accordance with any enactment including these Regulations.

(4) Nothing in paragraph (3) applies to the supply or disclosure by a person to whom this regulation applies to another such person in connection with his registration duties or the purposes of an election or referendum.

Restriction on use of the full register or information contained in it supplied in accordance with any enactment or otherwise obtained

95.—(1) This regulation applies to—

(a) any person to whom a copy of the full register has been supplied in pursuance of a relevant provision;

(b) any person to whom information contained in the full register has been disclosed in pursuance of a relevant provision;

(c) any person to whom a person referred to in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) has supplied a copy of the full register or information contained in it for the purposes (express or implied) of a relevant provision; and

(d) any person who has obtained access to a copy of the full register or information contained in it by any other means.

(2) In this regulation “relevant provision” means any enactment except these Regulations which sets out the purpose for which a copy of the full register is to be supplied or information from that register disclosed under the enactment.

(3) No person to whom this regulation applies (except by virtue of paragraph (1)(d)) may—

(a) supply a copy of the full register;

(b) disclose any information contained in it (and not contained in the edited register); or

(c) make use of such information,

other than for the purpose (express or implied) for which the copy was supplied or the information disclosed to the person in question under the relevant provision.

(4) No person to whom this regulation applies by virtue of paragraph (1)(d) may—

(a) supply a copy of the full register;

(b) disclose any information contained in it (and not contained in the edited register); or

(c) make use of such information,

other than for any purpose for which a copy could be supplied or information could be disclosed to the person in question under any enactment (including these Regulations).