Part 1: Companies House Reform Disqualification in relation to companies Section 32: Disqualification for persistent breaches of companies legislation: NI
This section amends article 6 (disqualification for persistent default of companies legislation) of the Company Directors Disqualification (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 ("CDDNIO 2002"), to allow for disqualification of directors in Northern Ireland on the grounds of persistent non-compliance with "relevant provisions of the companies legislation". A person may be disqualified if in preceding 5 years he has been adjudged guilty of three or more "defaults".
	Section 29(2)(c) amends article 6 of the CDDNIO 2002 so that the imposition of a financial penalty can also count as a "default", whether imposed under section 1132A of the Companies Act 2006 or under section 39 of the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement Act) 2022.
	Section 29(2)(d) sets out "the relevant provisions of the companies legislation" relates to non-compliance with companies filing obligations and directors’ and People with Significant Control’s identity verification requirements.
	The meaning of "the companies legislation" is amended by Section 29(2)(e) to include the Companies Acts, Parts A1 to 7 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (company insolvency and winding up), and Part 1 of the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (registration of overseas entities). This ensures any offence committed under "the companies legislation" can count as a "default".