Part 1: Sentencing of terrorist offenders Section 13: Minimum tariff for serious terrorism offenders given life sentences: Northern Ireland
Section 13 creates the minimum 14-year term for a serious terrorism offender who would otherwise have received a serious terrorism sentence but is given a life sentence in Northern Ireland by amending the Life Sentences (Northern Ireland) Order 2001 (S.I. 2001/2564 (N.I. 2)). It inserts section 5A which introduces a minimum 14-year tariff in serious terrorism cases where the court is imposing a life sentence. This is to ensure consistency in the minimum term imposed on those convicted of serious terrorism offences.
	New section 5A(1) requires the court to specify a 14-year minimum as specified under Article 5(1). New subsection (2) provides for the court to specify a lesser period for the custodial term than the minimum of 14 years where the court considers it appropriate to take into account a guilty plea in accordance with Article 33(1) of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1996, as long as the custodial term is no less than 11 years and 73 days.
	New section 5A(3) provides for the court to give a lesser period than the 14-year minimum if it considers it appropriate, in accordance with section 73(2) of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, where the offender has given assistance to the prosecution.
	New section 5A(4) provides for the court to specify a period of less than 14 years where it finds there are exceptional circumstances that relate to the offence or the offender.
	New section 5A(5) defines a serious terrorism case as a case where the court would be required by Article 13A (as inserted by this Act) to impose a serious terrorism sentence, were it not passing a life sentence or an indeterminate custodial sentence. New subsection (6) defines "indeterminate custodial sentence" under Article 13(4) of the 2008 Order.