There is a special High Court procedure for challenging the decisions and acts of public bodies. This is known as judicial review because it deals with matters of public concern. The rules are significantly different from those that apply to private disputes. Judicial review proceedings must generally be brought within three months at most. Permission […]
The Ombudsman (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 provides for the office of the Assembly Ombudsman of Northern Ireland. It succeeded the Northern Ireland Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. A person holds the office of Ombudsman during good behaviour. Provisions are made to secure the independence of the Ombudsman and his staff. The departments and authorities listed below […]
The Department of Finance and Personnel. The aim of the Department is to help the executive secure the more appropriate and effective use of resources and services for the benefit of the community. It is to deliver quality, cost-effective, and efficient public services and administration in its areas of executive responsibility. The Department is managed […]
The Commissioner for Complaints (NI) Order 1996 continues the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints in existence. The Commissioner is appointed by Her Majesty and can only be removed in consequence of an Address from the Assembly or upon reaching retirement age. The office may be declared vacant by Her Majesty if she is satisfied that […]
The Commissioner may conduct an investigation pursuant to a complaint not made in time if he considers there are special circumstances making it proper to do so. A complaint may not be entertained unless the person aggrieved is resident in Northern Ireland or was so resident, or the complaint relates to action taken in relation […]
The Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 updates fire services legislation. It gives effect to departmental proposals published in 2004 and follows UK developments enacted in 2004 and regulatory reform legislation enacted in 2005. The legislation establishes a new body, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Services Board. It provides for the dissolution […]
The Department of Culture, Arts, and Leisure is responsible for arts and creativity, libraries, museums, sports, inland waterways and fisheries, linguistic issues, archives, and National Lottery distribution issues. There are five divisions. The Culture Division is responsible for arts, creativity, inland waterways, language policy, and the built environment. The Sports, Museums, and Internet Creation Facilities […]
The Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 represents the most comprehensive reform of local government in Northern Ireland for over 40 years. Changes are made within the context of local government. The councils and councillors are granted enhanced powers in certain areas. The existing 26 councils are amalgamated and recast into 11 new so-called super […]
Executive Arrangements A council must operate a committee system. The decision to operate executive arrangements or prescribed arrangements must be taken by a qualified majority. The executive system may consist of a committee of the council as a cabinet-style executive; or more than one committee, streamlined committee executive. The chair and deputy chair of the […]
A council may erect nameplates and street names. They may be in English or any other language. It may erect a second name in another language. In deciding whether or not to exercise its powers to name a street in another language, it shall have regard to the views on the matters expressed by the […]