Commentary Law Commission Section 50: Law Commission
92.Subsection (1) provides for the establishment of a Law Commission for Northern Ireland, which will review the criminal and civil law of Northern Ireland, including procedure and practice, with a view to making recommendations to Government for reform, codification, simplification and consolidation of legislation.
93.Subsections (2) to (4) require the Secretary of State to appoint a chairman and four other Commissioners. The chairman must be a person who holds the office of judge of the High Court of Northern Ireland; and of the other Commissioners one must have experience as a barrister, one must have experience as a solicitor and one must have experience as a teacher of law in a university. The remaining Commissioner must be a lay person.
94.Subsection (5) requires the Secretary of State to consult with the Lord Chancellor, the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Attorney General for Northern Ireland before appointing Commissioners. Subsection (6) requires the Secretary of State in exercise of the powers of appointment to secure, as far as possible, that the Commission is representative of the community in Northern Ireland. Subsection (7) and Schedule 9 make further provision about the Commission, including Commissioners’ tenure, salaries, staff and financial provisions.