DoH Equality

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Equality Scheme

Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (‘the Act’) requires the Department, in carrying out 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
between persons with dependants and persons without

Without prejudice to these obligations, the Department is also required to have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between persons of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group.

As required by Schedule 9 of the Act the Department has set out in an Equality Scheme how it proposes to fulfill these duties.

In accordance with Schedule 9 of the Act, the Equality Commission's approval of the Equality Scheme (2012) was notified on 28 March 2012. The Scheme has been updated and reflects the transfer of HSCB function into the Department on 1 April 2022.

When a person believes that he/she has been directly affected by a failure of the Department to comply with the Equality Scheme he/she is free to make a complaint. Chapter 8 of the Equality Scheme explains the complaints procedure.

Please note contact details for the Equality Scheme, including complaints, are now:

Email: equality@health-ni.gov.uk
By post: Equality & Human Rights Unit
Department of Health
Castle Buildings
Stormont
BELFAST
BT4 3SQ

Annual Report to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland

The Department, like all public authorities, is required to report annually to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland on the progress made towards implementing its statutory duties.

Equality Annual reports

Equality Action Plan

The Department’s Equality Scheme includes a commitment to the development of an Equality Action Plan (EAP) which relates to the Department’s specific functions and aims to promote equality of opportunity and good relations by taking actions to address inequalities.

The previous EAP was published in April 2012.

The Department carried out an initial Audit of Inequalities and consulted on a new draft EAP from December 2017 to February 2018.

An EAP for 2019 – 2024 has now been finalised. The document will be reviewed and updated annually.

Disability Action Plan

Under Section 49A of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), amended by Article 5 of the Disability Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, public authorities are required ,when carrying out their functions, to have due regard to the need to:-

promote positive attitudes towards disabled people
encourage participation by disabled people in public life

In addition, under Section 49B public authorities are required to produce a Disability Action Plan showing how they propose to fulfill these duties.

The Department consulted on a new draft Disability Action Plan (DAP) from December 2017 to February 2018. A new DAP for 2019 – 2024 has now been finalised. This document will be reviewed and updated annually.

Policies screened and EQIAs

In fulfilling its obligations under Section 75 the Department is required to equality screen all of its policies and services under consideration to determine whether they should be subject to a full equality impact assessment (EQIA).

Screenings prior to 2012 can be requested by contacting the Equality and Human Rights Unit

Rural Impact Assessments

EU Charter for regional or minority languages

This guidance provides general policy advice and information on meeting the UK Government’s commitments and obligations in respect of Irish and Ulster Scots, made when the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (the Charter) was signed and ratified.

European Charter for regional or minority Languages (Irish, Ulster Scots) revised 2017

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