17/06/2024

NI EXECUTIVE OFFICE COMMITTEE LAUNCHES SURVEY ON EQUALITY LEGISLATION ‘GAPS’

Equality legislation in Northern Ireland falls way in comparison to Great Britain which implemented the Equality Act in 2010.

On 10 June 2024, the Northern Ireland Committee for the Executive Office (which has responsibility for discrimination law) launched a survey to gather views on the differences in equality legislation between Northern Ireland and Great Britain and in comparison to the rest of the European Union.

The Committee is expected to publish a report on its findings and recommendations in early 2025, with further activity to inform its work being done in the interim.

The Committee’s first step is to seek a wide range of views on the gaps in equality laws which it is doing via an online survey that was launched on 10 June and closes on 6 September 2024.

The questions asked in the survey aim to find out what gaps exist in equality protections across the UK, particularly in terms of:

– Disability;

– Race & Ethnicity;

– Gender;

– Sexual Orientation;

– Age.

The Committee also wants to examine any differences between Northern Ireland and the European Union.

In the Autumn, the Committee plans to invite key groups to their meetings to provide their views and/or written submissions to them which will include hearing from the Equality Commission.

This could be the first step in modernising the equality laws in Northern Ireland and ensuring they remain fit for purpose. However other than gather information and formulating proposals, what can actually be achieved by Stormont in its remaining mandate is questionable.

The survey can be accessed here and we would encourage you to complete.