NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY COMMISSION

SUMMARY OF THE DRAFT EQUALITY SCHEME

Background

1. The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission finds its statutory basis in Section 40 and Schedule 5 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. As the body corporate, it is responsible for providing the property, services and staff required for the Assembly’s purposes. It has four principal roles. These are:

• The allocation of resources;
• The provision of property to support the Members, support staff and secretariat staff for a fully functioning Assembly;
• The provision of services; and
• The provision of a fully staffed Secretariat to support the administration of the Assembly.

Northern Ireland Assembly Commission Draft Equality Scheme

2. Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (‘the Act’) requires the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission in carrying out all its functions, powers and duties to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity:

• between persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status or sexual orientation;
• between men and women generally;
• between persons with a disability and persons without; and
• between persons with dependants and persons without.

3. Also, without prejudice to its obligation above, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission will, in carrying out its functions, power and duties relating to Northern Ireland have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between persons of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group.
4. Schedule 9 of the Act requires the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission to set out in an Equality Scheme how the Assembly Commission proposes to fulfil the duties imposed by Section 75. This scheme has been developed to satisfy that statutory requirement.

Commitments

5. The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission is committed to the fulfilment of its Section 75 obligations in all parts of its work. Its draft Equality Scheme incorporates the following undertakings:

   1. To implement effective internal arrangements to ensure compliance with Section 75 duties.

These Arrangements will include:

• regular monitoring by senior management of progress in implementing the Scheme;
• integration of objectives and targets relating to the equality duties in strategic and operational plans;
• inclusion of objectives in personal performance plans for staff who are directly engaged in this work;
• a commitment to the statutory duties in all job descriptions;
• the submission of an annual review of progress to the Equality Commission.

2. To undertake full and meaningful consultation on the Equality Scheme, equality impact assessments and monitoring arrangements.

The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission recognises the importance of consultation in all aspects of the implementation of its statutory equality duties.

The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission will consult as widely as possible to ensure that any organisation or group which has a legitimate, particular interest in its work and /or the likely impact of its policies on the promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations will be included in the process of engagement.

3. To review all existing and proposed policies to determine whether there are any equality of opportunity implications.

The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission is committed to carrying out a systematic review of all its existing and new/proposed policies to determine whether there are any equality of opportunity implications.

The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission will consider the impact of each current and new/proposed policy on equality of opportunity in terms of the nine categories listed at Section 75 of the Act when considering which policies will be subject to equality impact assessment.

4. To conduct Equality Impact Assessments on policies having significant impact on equality of opportunity.

Any policies which have a significant impact on equality of opportunity will be prioritised for equality impact assessment. The assessment will be carried out in accordance with Equality Commission guidance and the outcome made publicly available.

5. To establish a system to monitor the impact of policies on relevant section 75 groups.

   A system will be established to monitor the impact of policies and access to services across all functions in order to identify their effects on the relevant groups and ensure equality of opportunity. If over a two year period, monitoring and evaluation show that a policy results in greater adverse impact than predicted, or if opportunities arise which would allow for greater equality of opportunity to be promoted, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission will ensure that the policy is revised.

6. To make accessible all information provided to the public to ensure equality of opportunity.

The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission is committed to ensuring that the information it disseminates and the services it provides are made accessible to ensure equality of opportunity. It is aware that some groups will not have the same access to information as others and consideration will be given on how to provide accessible information in a timely manner to all these groups.

7. To develop an effective training and communication programme for all staff.

The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission will ensure that an effective communication and training programme will be developed for all staff. All training will be developed in association with the appropriate Section 75 groups.

8. To review the Scheme within five years.

The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission will conduct a thorough review of the Scheme within five years of its submission to the Equality Commission. This review will evaluate the effectiveness of the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission in meeting its Section 75 obligations. A report of this review will be made public and sent to the Equality Commission.

Timetable

6. Appendix 5 to the Equality Scheme outlines an action plan for implementing the Scheme.

Complaints

7. When a complaint is made on the grounds that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission has failed to comply with the Scheme, the point of contact will be:

Tony Logue
Clerk to the Assembly Commission
Room 103,
Parliament Buildings,
Stormont
BT4 3XX

Tel No: 028 90 521930
Fax No: 028 90 418340
Textphone: 028 90 521209
E Mail: equality@niassembly.gov.uk

Availability of the draft Equality Scheme

8. All documents relating to the Scheme are available on the Northern Ireland Assembly website at:

www.niassembly.gov.uk/equalityscheme.htm or they can be made available by contacting:

Kevin Kerr
Office of the Assembly Commission
Room 54,
Parliament Buildings,
Stormont
BT4 3XX

Tel No: 028 90 418388
Fax No: 028 90 418340
Textphone: 028 90 521209
E Mail: equality@niassembly.gov.uk