2026 No. 483

Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

Made27th April 2026

Coming into force30th April 2026

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the power conferred by section 63(5) of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023¹.

1 Citation and commencement¶

1 These Regulations may be cited as the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026.

2 These Regulations come into force on 30th April 2026.

2 Amendment of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2024¶

In regulation 3(2) of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2024² (transitional provision in relation to criminal investigations), for “30th April 2026” substitute “31st October 2026”.

EXPLANATORY NOTE¶

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/584 (C. 36)) (“the 2024 Regulations”). The 2024 Regulations were the second set of commencement regulations made under the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (c. 41).

Regulation 2 of these Regulations amends regulation 3(2) of the 2024 Regulations to extend the period in which an investigating body may prepare or complete an investigation report or do anything subsequent to that. The period was initially set to end on 30th April 2025. It was extended to end on 31st October 2025 by the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/530). It was extended again to end on 30th April 2026 by the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provisions) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1140). Regulation 2 of these Regulations extends it again to end on 31st October 2026.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen. An impact assessment has been published in relation to the Act and a copy can be obtained at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/62828d60d3bf7f1f40ca508e/EQIA_NI_Troubles__Legacy_and_Reconciliation__Bill.pdf or from the Northern Ireland Office, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ.

Footnotes

1
2023 c. 41. The Secretary of State is a ‘national authority’ for the purposes of section 63(5); see section 58(3).
2
S.I. 2024/584 (C. 36). Regulation 3(2) was amended by S.I. 2025/530 and S.I. 2025/1140.