The Public Service Pensions (2014 Act) (Commencement No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015

Made: 13 January 2015

The Department of Finance and Personnel, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 37(2) and (3) of the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014[^f00001], makes the following Order:

Citation and interpretation

1

• (1) This Order may be cited as the Public Service Pensions (2014 Act) (Commencement No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015.

• (2) In this Order, “the Act” means the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

Commencement of provisions on governance, valuations and employer cost cap

2

• (1) 1st April 2015 is the day appointed for the coming into operation of the provisions of the Act identified in paragraph (2) for all purposes (or as the case may be, all remaining purposes).

• (2) The provisions are—

• (a) section 4 (scheme manager);

• (b) section 5 (pension board);

• (c) section 6 (pension board: information);

• (d) section 7 (scheme advisory board);

• (e) section 11 (valuations); and

• (f) section 12 (employer cost cap).

Commencement of provisions on information and records

3

1st April 2015 is the day appointed for the coming into operation of the following provisions of the Act for the purposes specified—

• (a) section 15 (information about schemes) for all purposes; and

• (b) section 16 (records) for all remaining purposes.

Commencement of regulatory oversight and saving provision

4

• (1) 1st April 2015 is the day appointed for the coming into operation of the following provisions of the Act for the purposes specified, subject to paragraph (2)—

• (a) section 17(1) (regulatory oversight) for all remaining purposes; and

• (b) paragraphs 3 to 13, 17, and 19 to 21 of Schedule 4 (regulatory oversight) for all purposes.

• (2) A code of practice issued before 1st April 2015 under section 85(2)(a) of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 No.225(N.I.)[^f00002] relating to what constitutes a “reasonable period” for the purposes of early leaver rights shall continue to have effect, until and to the extent it is revoked, in relation to a public service pension scheme (within the meaning of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005).

Commencement of provisions relating to public body pension schemes

5

• (1) 1st April 2015 is the day appointed for the coming into force of the provisions of the Act identified in paragraph (2) for all purposes.

• (2) The provisions are—

• (a) section 31 (new public body pension schemes);

• (b) section 32 (power to restrict other existing public body pension schemes);

• (c) section 33 (existing public body pension schemes: pension age).

Signed

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance and Personnel on 13 January 2015.

Grace Nesbitt — A senior officer of the — Department of Finance and Personnel

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Order brings into operation certain provisions of the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 (c.2). This is the second commencement order to be made under that Act.

Article 2 commences on 1st April 2015 for all remaining purposes: sections 4 to 7 (governance), section 11 (valuations) and section 12 (employer cost cap).

Article 3 commences on 1st April 2015 section 15 (information about schemes) and section 16 (records).

Article 4 commences on 1st April 2015 section 17 and Schedule 4 (regulatory oversight) with a saving for codes issued under the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 before that date in relation to early leavers.

Article 5 commences on 1st April 2015 sections 31 to 33 (public body pension schemes).

This Order will have no effect on the costs of business or the voluntary sector. For that reason no impact assessment has been produced for it.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 2014 c.2(N.I)

[^f00002]: 2005 No.255(N.I. 1)