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16/03/2004
NI disability rights brought into line with GB
Disability rights legislation in Northern Ireland is to be brought into line with changes similar to those already announced for Great Britain.
Equality Minister, John Spellar, made the announcement during a visit to the Equality Commission in Belfast, where he said progress continued to be made on equality issues.
With regard to the rights of disabled people particularly, the amendments to the Disability Discrimination Act in NI would be another milestone in progress, he said.
“There have been significant developments in equality legislation and in non-legislative areas in the past few years which strengthen protection and improve inclusion in our society," the Minister said.
“Separate disability legislation, similar to the draft Great Britain Disability Bill, will be taken forward in Northern Ireland and work on preparing the necessary legislation in the form of an Order in Council will begin as soon as possible. This will mean that people with disabilities in Northern Ireland will enjoy the same legal protection as their counterparts in Great Britain."
The Great Britain draft Disability Discrimination Bill which was announced in December 2003 is currently undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny by a Parliamentary Committee.
The legislation builds on other steps already taken by the Government, such as giving powers to the Equality Commission in relation to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and bringing into force, in October 2004, the duties in the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) concerning service providers making reasonable adjustments to physical features of their premises.
(MB)
Equality Minister, John Spellar, made the announcement during a visit to the Equality Commission in Belfast, where he said progress continued to be made on equality issues.
With regard to the rights of disabled people particularly, the amendments to the Disability Discrimination Act in NI would be another milestone in progress, he said.
“There have been significant developments in equality legislation and in non-legislative areas in the past few years which strengthen protection and improve inclusion in our society," the Minister said.
“Separate disability legislation, similar to the draft Great Britain Disability Bill, will be taken forward in Northern Ireland and work on preparing the necessary legislation in the form of an Order in Council will begin as soon as possible. This will mean that people with disabilities in Northern Ireland will enjoy the same legal protection as their counterparts in Great Britain."
The Great Britain draft Disability Discrimination Bill which was announced in December 2003 is currently undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny by a Parliamentary Committee.
The legislation builds on other steps already taken by the Government, such as giving powers to the Equality Commission in relation to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and bringing into force, in October 2004, the duties in the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) concerning service providers making reasonable adjustments to physical features of their premises.
(MB)
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