Commentary on Sections Appointment of special advocates in Northern Ireland Section 91 – Appointment of Special Advocates in Northern Ireland
248.This section provides that certain references to the Attorney General for Northern Ireland in current legislation are substituted with references to the Advocate General for Northern Ireland. The purpose of the amendments is to enable the transfer of a number of functions of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland relating to the appointment of special advocates to the Advocate General for Northern Ireland. The provisions of primary legislation to be amended are contained in section 6(2)(c) of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission Act 1997, paragraph 7(2)(c) of Schedule 3 to the 2000 Act, and paragraph 6(2) (c) of Schedule 6 to the ATCSA. A provision of secondary legislation contained in rule 9(1) of the Northern Ireland Act Tribunal (Procedure) Rules 1999 is also to be amended. These changes will come into force upon the devolution of justice matters in Northern Ireland, and the coming into force of section 27 of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c.26) which creates the office of Advocate General for Northern Ireland.