Overview

The Northern Ireland Act 2009 amended existing legislation concerning policing and justice in Northern Ireland, primarily focusing on judicial appointments and removals. It established a new system for appointing senior judges and introduced mechanisms for reviewing the effectiveness of those changes.

Description

This Act made several key changes:

Policing and Justice Department:

The Act created a new Northern Ireland department responsible for policing and justice functions. The Minister heading this department was subject to specific appointment procedures requiring cross-community support in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Judicial Appointments and Removals:

The Act altered the process of appointing the Lord Chief Justice, Lords Justices of Appeal, and High Court judges. It introduced a more structured approach involving the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission, and outlined the procedures for removing judges for misbehaviour.

Miscellaneous Amendments:

The Act included minor amendments to various other pieces of legislation, clarifying responsibilities and updating terminology. For instance, it defined the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland as a corporation sole.

Amendments to the Northern Ireland Act 1998:

The Act amended Section 86 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, allowing for the transfer of functions between UK and Northern Ireland authorities through orders, enhancing flexibility in governance.

Government Spending

The Act did not directly specify changes to government spending but indirectly affected it through the establishment of the new department and associated administrative costs, as well as potential costs associated with the review of judicial appointments.

Groups Affected

• Judges in Northern Ireland: The Act significantly altered their appointment and removal processes.
• Northern Ireland Assembly: The Act gave the Assembly a role in appointing the Minister responsible for policing and justice, and a later role in the future of the Judicial Appointments Commission.
• Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission: The Act expanded its powers and responsibilities significantly.
• The UK Government and its departments: The Act allowed for potential transfer of functions between UK and Northern Ireland authorities.
• The Public: The changes to judicial appointments and the establishment of the new department will have broader implications for access to justice and public services in Northern Ireland.

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