The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2023

Made: 29th November 2023

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 63(4) of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023[^f00001].

Citation

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2023.

Provisions coming into force on 1st December 2023

2

The following provisions of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 come into force on 1st December 2023—

• (a) section 2(1) to (3), (11), (12) and (14) and Schedule 1 (the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery, the Commissioners and ICRIR officers);

• (b) section 3 (ICRIR officers);

• (c) section 4(1) and (2) (actions of the ICRIR: safeguards);

• (d) section 33(1), (3), (5) and (6) (guidance and protocols relating to information);

• (e) section 34 (regulations about the holding and handling of information);

• (f) section 35 (biometric material);

• (g) section 56 (designated persons and funding);

• (h) section 57(1) to (5) (interpretation of Part 4);

• (i) paragraphs 1 and 14 of Schedule 2 (operational powers of ICRIR officers), and section 6(4) in so far as it relates to those paragraphs;

• (j) paragraph 2(4) and (5) of Schedule 5 (prohibition of grant of immunity: sexual offences), and section 19(17) in so far as it relates to those paragraphs;

• (k) paragraphs 2 and 10 of Schedule 13 (amendments), and section 58(1) in so far as it relates to those paragraphs.

Signed

Caine — Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State — Northern Ireland Office — 29th November 2023

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Regulations are the first set of commencement regulations made under the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (c. 41) (“the Act”).

Regulation 2 brings into force on 1st December 2023 a number of provisions of the Act. These relate to the establishment of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery and allow for regulations and guidance to be made.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on business, charities or the public or voluntary sector is foreseen. An impact assessment has been published in relation to the Act and a copy can be obtained at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/62828d60d3bf7f1f40ca508e/EQIA_NI_Troubles__Legacy_and_Reconciliation__Bill.pdf or from the Northern Ireland Office, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 2023 c. 41.