AQW 11813/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 13/05/2024
Answered On Date: 19/07/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the work being carried out to ensure completion of the statutory duty to promote equality of opportunity for all visa holders.

Answer:

Immigration status is not a devolved matter.

There are however extensive legal protections in place in respect of equality in this jurisdiction.

Section 75(1) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 requires departments and other public authorities when carrying out functions to have due regard to:

the need to promote equality of opportunity across protected characteristics of religious belief, political opinion, gender, race, disability, age, marital status, dependants, and sexual orientation ; and

regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between persons of different political opinion, religious belief, and racial group.

These obligations, and the commitments in our Equality Scheme, are at the core of policy and decision making in The Executive Office. Consultation papers on new policy proposals can be made available in a range of formats and variety of languages.

Our Department takes a leading role in seeking to embed the section 75 duties across government here. We also sponsor the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, which has a responsibility to promote equality of opportunity and good relations, and to provide equality rights advice to employers and members of the public.