AQW 1110/07

Mrs Naomi Long
Alliance Party
East Belfast

Tabled Date: 26/06/2007
Answered On Date: 03/08/2007
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to report on the good relations proofing of policies.

Answer:

Section 75 (2) of the Northern Ireland Act (1998) places a duty on public authorities in carrying out their functions to have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between persons of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group.

The Equality Commission has a duty to offer advice to public authorities and others in connection with the statutory equality and good relations duties under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998). The Commission is also required to keep under review the effectiveness of these duties.

The Commission has a statutory duty under the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order (1997) to promote good relations between persons of different racial groups.

The equality proofing mechanism (through the existing process of screening and equality impact assessment) is intended to ensure that equality and good relations are mainstreamed into all levels of decision making as set out in guidance provided by the Commission. It regards the two duties of Section 75 as complementary.

The screening process specifically asks policy makers to consider whether there is an opportunity to better promote equality of opportunity and good relations by altering the policy or working with others in Government or in the larger community.

Because of the difficulties in subjecting high level strategies and policies to equality impact assessment, a high level equality impact assessment process was designed specifically to mainstream equality, good relations and other considerations into the Priorities and Budget process. This process was agreed by the Equality Commission.

The Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister is committed to a shared future and to racial equality and supports Departments to mainstream good relations in the development of their policies and specific intervention. Ministers have given a commitment that the Executive and the Assembly will wish to consider carefully the progress to date and bring forward detailed plans, consistent with the pledge of office, to promote the interests of the whole community towards the goal of a shared future and a prosperous, peaceful and settled society.

The mainstreaming of the good relations duty and the practical outworking of actions to support good relations interventions are evidenced by the Commissions publication of

(a) annual implementation reports;

(b)‘Good Relations in Practice' and ‘Section 75, Keeping it Effective';

(c)the Equality Impact Assessments and screening outcomes; and

(d) the forthcoming ‘outcomes report' on implementation of a shared future and the racial equality strategy action plans. This will be published by the Department for consideration by Ministers, the Executive and the Assembly.