The Flags (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2023

Made: 4th May 2023

Coming into force: 5th May 2023

In accordance with article 4(5) of the 2000 Order, a draft of these Regulations was laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

Citation, commencement, extent and interpretation

1

• (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Flags (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2023.

• (2) They come into force on the day after the day on which they are made.

• (3) They extend to Northern Ireland only.

• (4) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954[^f00003] applies to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

Amendment of the Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000

2

• (1) The Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000[^f00004] are amended as follows.

• (2) In Part 2 of the Schedule (days on which the Union flag is to be flown at full mast)—

• (a) in the entry for the birthday of the Prince of Wales, for “14th November” substitute “21st June”;

• (b) omit the following entries—

• (c) insert the following entries—

Signed

Steve Baker — Minister of State — Northern Ireland Office — 4th May 2023

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 (S.R. 2000 No. 347) (“the Flags Regulations”) make provision as to the flying of flags at government buildings in Northern Ireland, in particular by specifying in Part 1 of the Schedule the buildings at which flags must be flown on the days listed in Part 2 of the Schedule. Section 67(2) of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 26) provides for the Flags Regulations to apply to court houses as they apply to the government buildings specified in Part 1 of the Schedule to the Flags Regulations.

These Regulations amend Part 2 of the Schedule (days on which the Union flag is to be flown at full mast) to add several entries related to King Charles III, add an entry for the birthday of the Queen Consort, and update the date of the entry for the birthday of the Prince of Wales.

The Regulations also remove from the list in Part 2 of the Schedule redundant entries related to Her Late Majesty The Queen.

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.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: S.I. 2000/1347 (N.I. 3); article 3(1) was amended by section 67(1) of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 26).

[^f00002]: Cm 3883.

[^f00003]: 1954 c. 33 (N.I.) amended by S.I. 1999/663; other amendments have been made, but they are not relevant to these Regulations.

[^f00004]: S.R. 2000 No. 347, amended by S.R. 2003 No. 553, S.I. 2020/455, S.I. 2022/95 and S.I. 2022/1128. Section 67(2) of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 26) provides for the regulations to apply to court houses as they apply to the government buildings specified in Part 1 of the Schedule to the regulations.