Citation, commencement and extent

1. These Regulations—

(a) may be cited as the Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021;

(b) come into force on 31st March 2021;

(c) extend to Northern Ireland only.

Implementation of CEDAW recommendations

2. —(1) If the Secretary of State considers that any action capable of being taken by a relevant person is required for the purpose of implementing the recommendations in paragraphs 85 and 86 of the CEDAW report, the Secretary of State may direct that the action must be taken.

(1A) The fact that a matter has not been brought to the attention of, or discussed and agreed by, the Executive Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly is to be disregarded when determining what a relevant person could do for the purposes of paragraph (1).

(1B) A relevant person must comply with a direction under paragraph (1) irrespective of whether any matter has been brought to the attention of, or discussed and agreed by, the Executive Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

(2) After giving a direction under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State must—

(a) lay a copy of the direction before Parliament, and

(b) publish the direction in such a manner as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a “relevant person” means—

(a) the First Minister;

(b) the deputy First Minister;

(c) a Northern Ireland Minister;

(d) a Northern Ireland department;

(e) a Local Commissioning Group appointed under section 9 of the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009( 2 );

(f) the Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being established by section 12(1) of that Act.