It really depends on whether the ceiling forms part of a fire compartment, its type of construction, its load-bearing capacity or if it has been specified by the client/contract.
Generally speaking, many dwellings are considered to be a single compartment with regards to fire (Approved Document B of the Building Regulations) unless it has an integral garage or has a protected stairway leading to a third floor.
In the case of 3-storey dwellings, it is advisable to fit fire protection to downlighters installed in intermediate floors, especially where the integrity of flooring above has been compromised (e.g. gaps between floor boards, etc.).
Where recessed downlighters are installed in ceilings that are not fire compartments such as the intermediate floors of 2-storey dwellings, the ceiling usually needs to have a minimum fire rating of 30 minutes.
In all cases, it should be remembered that when working with any existing aspect of the Building Regulations applying in existing situations, the general requirement is to be seen as making any particular aspect no less compliant than before the work was carried out.