Commentary on Sections Section 26 - Interpretation: “relevant authority”
This Section defines the term “relevant authority”, for the purposes of the Commissioner for Older People Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.  It includes any authority which falls within the purview of the Assembly Ombudsman or the Commissioner for Complaints.  It also includes other organisations which carry out work directly relevant to the lives of older people and which are specifically listed in Schedule 3.  This list includes a number of bodies in the area of health.  This Section provides that it is possible for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to add, modify or remove a body from the list. The Section specifies that any reference in the Act to action taken by a relevant authority relates to action taken regarding Northern Ireland.