Commentary on Sections Interpretation Section 96: Meaning of “relevant Northern Ireland department”
491.This section defines the term “relevant Northern Ireland department”. Different Northern Ireland departments deal with different administrative matters in Northern Ireland; this section provides that any given function is to be performed by the department which is responsible for the relevant matter. Where two or more departments are responsible, then the term refers to both of them (subsection (2)). Subsection (3) explains the process for answering a question as to which department is responsible for a matter.