Schedule 3: Protection for certain rights, safeguards etc in Belfast Agreement Section 78B - ECNI functions in relation to EU withdrawal agreement
New section 78B of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 sets out the functions of the ECNI as part of the dedicated mechanism, which are the same as the functions of the NIHRC in relation to Article 2(1) of the Protocol.
	The ECNI will be required to monitor the implementation of Article 2(1) of the Protocol (78B(1)). It will also be required to report to the Secretary of State and the Executive Office in Northern Ireland on the implementation of Article 2(1) of the Protocol (78B(2)); and may require them to reply to such a report and explain what steps they have taken, or are planning to take, in response to any recommendation/s contained in the report (78B(3)). Where the ECNI makes such a report under subsection (3), the Secretary of State must lay a copy of it before Parliament and the Executive Office must lay a copy of it before the Assembly (78B(4)).
	This section also includes a duty to advise the Secretary of State and the Executive Committee of the Assembly of legislative and other measures which ought to be taken to implement the commitment in Article 2(1) (78B(5)). The ECNI is also required to advise the Assembly on the compatibility of proposed Assembly legislation with Article 2(1) of the Protocol (78B(6)) and to promote understanding and awareness of the importance of Article 2(1) through research and educational activities (78B(7)). This section also allows the ECNI to publish its advice and the outcome of its research (78B(8)) and to bring any appropriate matters to the attention of the Specialised Committee referred to in Article 14(c) of the Protocol (78B(9)).