Commentary on Sections and Schedules Part 1: the Statistics Board Section 49 Power to authorise disclosure to the Board: Northern Ireland
208.This section provides a Northern Ireland department with the power to make regulations to authorise Northern Ireland public authorities to disclose information to the Board, in the same way, and essentially via the same mechanism, as the Minister for the Cabinet Office can make regulations to authorise disclosure to the Board in section 47. Under section 47, regulations must be made by the Northern Ireland department with the consent of the Minister for the Cabinet Office. The definition of a Northern Ireland public authority (section 67) is a public authority whose functions are exercisable only or mainly in or as regards Northern Ireland and relate only or mainly to transferred matters within the meaning of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.