Paragraph 117 - Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/ 702 (N.I. 3))

1161.     Paragraph 117 amends the definition of "relative" contained within Article 2(2) of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 to include civil partners. This provides that civil partners are treated in the same manner as spouses for the purposes of the 2004 Order.

Schedule 30 - Repeals and revocations

1162.     This Schedule contains repeals and revocations of the specified provisions of various Acts which have been superseded by or made redundant by the provisions of the Act.

TERRITORIAL APPLICATION: WALES

1163.     The Act does not raise any general issues concerning devolution to Wales. The Act confers two powers on the National Assembly for Wales, in relation to matters falling within its functions: the power in section 247(3)(c) by order to amend Schedule 21 (references to stepchildren etc.) and the power in section 259(2) by order to make further provision in connection with civil partnership.

COMMENCEMENT

1164.     All substantive provisions of the Act are to come into force by commencement orders. These orders will be made by the Secretary of State, except for the Scottish provisions, which will be made by the Scottish Ministers and the Northern Ireland provisions, which will be made by the Department of Finance and Personnel, both after consulting the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State must also consult the Scottish Ministers or the Department of Finance and Personnel before commencing certain other provisions.

HANSARD REFERENCES

1165.     The following table sets out the dates and Hansard references for each stage of the Act's passage through Parliament.

Royal Assent - 18th November 2004

House of Lords Hansard Vol. 666 (no. 157) Col 1659

House of Commons Hansard Vol. 426 (no. 158) Col 1518