DSD Equality Agenda
Section 75
Background
Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 places a statutory obligation on Public Authorities in carrying out their functions to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity between:
- Persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, martial status or sexual orientation;
- Men and women generally;
- Persons with a disability and persons without; and
- Persons with dependants and persons without.
In addition, and without prejudice to its obligation above, Public Authorities must also have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between persons of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group.
The Department, in accordance with the legislation, has produced an Equality Scheme showing how it proposes to fulfil the duties imposed by Section 75.
Annual Reports
The Department submits an annual progress report to the Equality Commission, setting out the action taken to fulfil Section 75 commitments. Copies of these reports, including the Department’s five year review of its Equality Scheme, can be found at: Equality Commission Annual Reports.
Consultations
Current and past consultations the Department has undertaken on Equality Impact Assessments can be found at Consultations.
Complaints
When a person believes he/she has been directly affected by a failure of the Department to comply with the Equality scheme he/she is free to make a complaint. All complaints should in the first instance be sent to the Office of the Permanent Secretary.Details about the Department’s complaints policy are set out in Section 10 of its Equality Scheme.
Disability Action Plan
Background
Under Section 49A of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Public Authorities when carrying out their functions must have due regard to the need to:
- Promote positive attitudes towards disabled people; and
- Encourage participation by disabled people in public life.
These two elements are collectively known as ‘the disability duties’.
Under Section 49B of the act Public Authorities must also submit a disability action plan to show how they propose to fulfil the disability duties in relation to their functions. The Department’s plan can be found at: Equality - Publications.
Comments
The plan is a living document and therefore the Department will consider any comments received and review as part of the annual progress report to the Equality Commission.
All comments should be forwarded to the Office of the Permanent Secretary at the address given above. Any complaints about the Department’s failure to fulfil its duties under the Act can also be forwarded to this address.
Further information
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