The Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 (Commencement) Regulations 2023

Statutory Instruments

2023 No. 566 (C. 29)

Northern Ireland

The Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 (Commencement) Regulations 2023

Made

22nd May 2023

The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 10(2) and (3) of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022(1).

Citation, interpretation and extent

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 (Commencement) Regulations 2023.

(2) In these Regulations—

(a) “the “2022 Act” means the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022; and

(b) “the 1998 Act” means the Northern Ireland Act 1998(2).

(3) These Regulations extend to Northern Ireland.

Provisions coming into force on 22nd May 2023

2.  The following provisions of the 2022 Act come into force on 22nd May 2023—

(a) section 1(1) (National and cultural identity) for the purpose of inserting section 78G (The Office of Identity and Cultural Expression) into the 1998 Act;

(b) section 1(2) (National and cultural identity) and Schedule 1 (The Office of Identity and Cultural Expression);

(c) section 2(1) (Irish language) for the purpose of inserting section 78K (The Irish Language Commissioner) into the 1998 Act;

(d) section 2(2) (Irish language) and Schedule 2 (The Irish Language Commissioner);

(e) section 3(1) (The Ulster Scots and the Ulster British tradition) for the purpose of inserting section 78R (The Commissioner) into the 1998 Act;

(f) section 3(2) (The Ulster Scots and the Ulster British Tradition) and Schedule 3 (Commissioner for the Ulster Scots and the Ulster British Tradition);

(g) section 6 (Concurrent powers and powers of direction); and

(h) section 7 (Concurrent powers and powers of direction: supplementary provision).

Caine

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Northern Ireland Office

22nd May 2023

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations bring into force provisions of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 (c. 45) (“the 2022 Act”).

Regulation 2 commences parts of sections 1 to 3 of the 2022 Act for the purposes of establishing the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression, the Irish Language Commissioner and Commissioner for the Ulster Scots and the Ulster British Tradition provided for in the 2022 Act and brings into force Schedules 1 to 3. This will insert sections 78G, 78K, 78R, and Schedules 9A, 9B and 9C into the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c. 47). Regulation 2 also commences sections 6 and 7 of the 2022 Act, which confer concurrent powers and powers of direction on the Secretary of State in respect of the 2022 Act.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.

(1)

2022 c. 45.

(2)

1998 c. 47.