Mental Health Capacity act 2016 The Mental Capacity Act (NI) 2016 was enacted by the Assembly in May 2016. The first Phase of the Act came into operation in two stages - research provisions commenced on 1 October 2019 and provisions in relation to deprivation of liberty, offences and money and valuables in residential care and nursing homes commenced on 2 December 2019. Information on the Act and its commencement is available here on the official website. Manage Cookie Preferences