NICCY legislation

NICCY was set up by The Commissioner for Children and Young People (Northern Ireland) Order 2003.

The legislation sets out our statutory remit and details our principal aim as:

“to safeguard and promote the rights and best interests of children and young persons”.

The legislation further sets out the functions of the Commissioner which are divided into both duties and powers.

A full copy of the legislation is available to download here in pdf format here. You can also view it at the following link:

• The Commissioner for Children and Young People (Northern Ireland) Order 2003

Reviewing NICCY’s legislation

NICCY has a duty to review its legislation on a periodic basis:

• Report to Department for Communities under Article 24 of the Commissioner for Children and Young People (NI) Order (2003) – NICCY (March 2019)

• Report to the Office of the First and Deputy First Ministers Under Article 24 of the Commissioner For Children And Young People (NI) Order (2003) – NICCY (April 2015)

Building on previous, work two reports were completed in 2013, these were:

• Report to the Office of the First and Deputy First Ministers Under Article 24 of the Commissioner for Children and Young People (NI) Order (2003) – NICCY (May 2013)
• A Review of the Duties and Powers of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People – by Barry Fitzpatrick and Brice Dickson (March 2013)

Two reports were completed in 2006, these were:

• Article 24 of the Commissioner for Children and Young People (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 – the review of the office of the Commissioner – by Barry Fitzpatrick (September 2006)
• An analysis to the extent to which the Commissioner for Children and Young People (NI) Order 2003 complies with the Paris Principles 1993 – by Brice Dickson (September 2006)