(1)    This Order may be cited as the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (Commencement No1 and Transitional Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 2008.

(2)    In this Order—

“the 2000 Act” means the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000; and

“the 2006 Act” means the Electoral Administration Act 2006.

(1)    Subject to article 3 and the Schedule to this Order, the provisions of the 2006 Act specified in paragraph (2) shall come into force on 1st July 2008 so far as they extend to Northern Ireland.

(2)    The provisions referred to in paragraph (1) are—

(a)    section 61 (regulation of loans etc), except so far as—

(i)    it provides, by subsection (1), for the insertion of section 71S(3) of the 2000 Act; and

(ii)    it provides, by subsection (5), for the insertion of paragraphs 2(3) and 3(2) of Schedule 6A to the 2000 Act;

(b)    section 62 (regulation of loans: power to make provision for candidates, third parties and referendums);

(c)    section 74 (miscellaneous amendments and repeals) so far as it relates to the provisions referred to in sub-paragraphs (d) and (e);

(d)    in Schedule 1 (amendments)—

(i)    paragraphs 97 to 102 except so far as paragraph 99 provides for the insertion of paragraph 16 of Schedule 7A to the 2000 Act;

(ii)    paragraphs 140, 141, 144, 146, 148, 150, 151, 153 and 154(1), (2) and (4) to (7);

(e)    in Schedule 2 (repeals) in the entries relating to the 2000 Act, the references relating to—

(i)    sections 50(2)(e), 50(4) and 53(4)(a); and

(ii)    paragraphs 2 and 5(4)(a) of Schedule 7.

The Schedule to this Order, which makes transitional provisions, has effect.

Paul Goggins

Minister of State

Northern Ireland Office

25th June 2008

1

(1)    Paragraphs (3) to (5) make transitional provisions in relation to section 61 of, and Part 6 of Schedule 1 to, the 2006 Act.

(2)    In those paragraphs, references to sections and to Schedules are references to the sections and Schedules inserted in the 2000 Act by the provisions of the 2006 Act mentioned in sub-paragraph (1).

2

In the period beginning on 1st July 2008 and ending on 31st December 2008, section 71M has effect as if—

(a)    in subsection (1)—

(i)    for “each year” there were substituted “2008”; and

(ii)    paragraphs (a) and (b) were omitted.

(b)    In subsection (3) for the words “in that year” (as they appear in the definition of “relevant transaction”), there were substituted “in the period beginning on 1st July 2008 and ending on 31st December 2008”.

3

(1)    This paragraph applies to the first transaction report prepared under section 71M, so far as it relates to an existing transaction within the meaning of section 71O(3).

(2)    Section 71M(9) has effect as if the words from “and is dealt with” to the end were omitted.

(3)    Section 71N(3) has effect as if the words from “and in consequence of” to the end were omitted.

(4)    The following provisions do not have effect—

(a)    Section 71T(2)(a) and (d);

(b)    Paragraph 4(1)(b) of Schedule 6A; and

(c)    Paragraph 4A(c) of Schedule 6A.

4

(1)    In the period beginning on 1st July 2008 and ending on 31st December 2008, paragraph 9 of Schedule 7A has effect as if in sub-paragraph (2)(b)(i) for “the same calendar year” there were substituted “the period beginning on 1st July and ending on 31st December 2008”.

(2)    Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to paragraph 9 of Schedule 7A where it has effect for the purposes of paragraph 14 of that Schedule.

5

(1)    This paragraph applies to a transaction report made in respect of an existing transaction within the meaning of paragraph 14 of Schedule 7A.

(2)    Paragraph 10(3)(d) and (4)(e) of Schedule 7A have effect as if, in each case, the words from “and the date when” to the end were omitted.

(3)    Paragraphs 11(7)(c) and 13 of Schedule 7A do not have effect.

(4)    Paragraph 12(1) of Schedule 7A has effect as if—

(a)    for “30 days” there were substituted “60 days” and;

(b)    before paragraph (a) there were inserted “(as applied by paragraph 14(1))”.

This Order brings into force on 1st July 2008 sections 61 and 62 of, and related provisions in Schedules 1 and 2 to, the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c 22) in so far as those provisions extend to Northern Ireland. Section 61 concerns the regulation of loans and other related transactions to political parties and, in certain circumstances, members and members associations of those parties and holders of elective offices. The transitional provisions are made principally in respect of the reporting provisions relating to those transactions for the remainder of 2008.