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An act of the Northern Ireland Assembly is primary legislation made by the Northern Ireland Assembly. The power to create acts was conferred to the Parliament by section 5 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 following the successful 1998 referendum on the Good Friday Agreement.[1]
Prior to the establishment of the Parliament under the 1998 act, all post-union laws specific to Northern Ireland were passed at the Westminster Parliament. Although the Westminster Parliament has retained the ability to legislate for Northern Ireland, by convention it does not do so without the consent of the Northern Ireland Assembly.[1][2]
A draft act is known as a bill. Once it is passed by the Northern Ireland and receives royal assent, the bill becomes an act and is then a part of Northern Ireland Law.[1]