Equality Commission
The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland was set up under the
Northern Ireland (1998) Act. On 1 October 1999 it took over the functions of:
The Commission for Racial Equality for Northern Ireland;
The Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland;
The Fair Employment Commission; and
The Northern Ireland Disability Council (NIDC).
On its establishment, the Equality Commission took on the remit of the NIDC to advise government on eliminating and reducing discrimination against disabled people and the operation of the Disability Discrimination Act. On 25 April 2000 the Equality Commission assumed full powers to enforce the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. This legislation extends the duties of the Equality Commission in relation to disability matters to:
Work towards the elimination of discrimination against disabled people;
Promote the equalisation of opportunities for disabled people;
Take steps to encourage good practice in the treatment of disabled people;
Keep the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA 1995) under review;
Assist disabled people by offering information, advice and support in taking cases forward;
Provide information and advice to employers and service providers;
Undertake formal investigations;
Prepare statutory Codes of Practice providing practical guidance on how to comply with the law;
Arrange independent conciliation between service providers and disabled people in the area of access to goods and services.
A Disability Unit has been set up within the Commission headed by Bill Halliday. The Unit will provide a range of services including information and advice to anyone with rights and obligations under the Act, carry out formal investigations, prepare new and revised Codes of Practice, and arrange for independent conciliation of disputes.
The Equality Commission Disability Unit can be contacted at:
Equality House,
7/9 Shaftesbury Square,
Belfast,
BT2 7DP.
Phone: (028) 9050 0600
Fax: (028) 9050 0591
Textphone: (028) 9050 0589
E-Mail: info.disability@equalityni.org
Website: www.equalityni.org
For further information about the Disability Discrimination Act:
Phone: 0345 622633
Textphone: 0345 622644
The Commission for Racial Equality for Northern Ireland;
The Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland;
The Fair Employment Commission; and
The Northern Ireland Disability Council (NIDC).
On its establishment, the Equality Commission took on the remit of the NIDC to advise government on eliminating and reducing discrimination against disabled people and the operation of the Disability Discrimination Act. On 25 April 2000 the Equality Commission assumed full powers to enforce the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. This legislation extends the duties of the Equality Commission in relation to disability matters to:
Work towards the elimination of discrimination against disabled people;
Promote the equalisation of opportunities for disabled people;
Take steps to encourage good practice in the treatment of disabled people;
Keep the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA 1995) under review;
Assist disabled people by offering information, advice and support in taking cases forward;
Provide information and advice to employers and service providers;
Undertake formal investigations;
Prepare statutory Codes of Practice providing practical guidance on how to comply with the law;
Arrange independent conciliation between service providers and disabled people in the area of access to goods and services.
A Disability Unit has been set up within the Commission headed by Bill Halliday. The Unit will provide a range of services including information and advice to anyone with rights and obligations under the Act, carry out formal investigations, prepare new and revised Codes of Practice, and arrange for independent conciliation of disputes.
The Equality Commission Disability Unit can be contacted at:
Equality House,
7/9 Shaftesbury Square,
Belfast,
BT2 7DP.
Phone: (028) 9050 0600
Fax: (028) 9050 0591
Textphone: (028) 9050 0589
E-Mail: info.disability@equalityni.org
Website: www.equalityni.org
For further information about the Disability Discrimination Act:
Phone: 0345 622633
Textphone: 0345 622644
