OpenLegislation

The Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997

1997/869 · Made 19 March 1997 · Extends to Northern Ireland

Not fully up to date. 3 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 1 April 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
Instrumentam. (prosp.)Petroleum Act 1998 s.50, Sch.4, para.41
art.17(4) (defn. of police force)am. (prosp.)Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 s.74(1), Sch.4, para.24
Instrumentam. (prosp.)Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 s.74(1), Sch.4, para.24

19th March 1997

Annotations to the whole text

Textual amendments

F1

functions transf. by SR 1999/481

Contents

  1. Part I: INTRODUCTORY
  2. 1Title and commencement
  3. 2Interpretation
  4. 3Racial discrimination
  5. 4Discrimination by way of victimisation
  6. 4AHarassment
  7. 5Meaning of “racial grounds” “racial group” etc.
  8. Part II: DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT IN THE EMPLOYMENT FIELD
  9. Discrimination and harassment by employers
  10. 6. . . applicants and employees
  11. 7Discrimination by persons with statutory power to select employees for others
  12. 7AException for genuine occupational requirement
  13. 8Exceptions for genuine occupational qualifications
  14. 9. . . contract workers
  15. 10Meaning of employment at establishment in Northern Ireland
  16. 11Seafarers
  17. Discrimination by other bodies
  18. 12Partnerships
  19. 13Trade unions etc.
  20. 14Qualifying bodies
  21. 15Persons concerned with provision of vocational training
  22. 16Employment agencies
  23. Police
  24. Part III: DISCRIMINATION IN OTHER FIELDS
  25. Education
  26. 18. . . bodies in charge of educational establishments
  27. 19Other discriminationetc. by the Education Authority
  28. 20General duty in public sector of education
  29. 20APublic authorities
  30. 20BExceptions or further exceptions from Article 20A for judicial and legislative acts etc
  31. 20CException from Article 20A for certain acts in immigration cases
  32. 20DExceptions from Article 20A for decisions not to prosecute etc
  33. Goods, facilities, services and premises
  34. 21. . . provision of goods, facilities or services
  35. 22. . . disposal or management of premises
  36. 23Exception from Articles 21(1) and 22: small dwellings
  37. 24Further exceptions from Articles 21 and 22
  38. 25Discrimination: associations not within Article 13
  39. Barristers
  40. 26. . . barristers
  41. Extent
  42. 27Extent of Part III
  43. Part IV: OTHER UNLAWFUL ACTS
  44. 27ARelationships which have come to end
  45. 28Article 28
  46. 29Discriminatory advertisements
  47. 30Instructions to commit unlawful acts
  48. 31Pressure to commit unlawful acts
  49. 32Liability of employers and principals
  50. 33Aiding unlawful acts
  51. Part V: CHARITIES
  52. 34Charities
  53. Part VI: GENERAL EXCEPTIONS FROM PARTS II TO IV
  54. 35Special needs of racial groups in regard to education, training or welfare
  55. 36Provision of education or training for persons not ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland
  56. 36ASelection of unemployed persons
  57. 37Discriminatory training etc.
  58. 38Sports and competitions
  59. 39Indirect access to benefits etc.
  60. 40Acts done under statutory authority etc.
  61. 40AThe Police Service of Northern Ireland and the police support staff
  62. 41Acts safeguarding national security, etc.
  63. 41AEffect of certificates by Secretary of State
  64. Part VII: THE COMMISSION FOR RACIAL EQUALITY FOR NORTHERN IRELAND
  65. General
  66. 42Establishment and duties of Commission
  67. 43Assistance to organisations
  68. 44Research and education
  69. Codes of practice
  70. 45Codes of practice
  71. Investigations
  72. 46Power to conduct formal investigations
  73. 47Terms of reference
  74. 48Power to obtain information
  75. 49Recommendations and reports on formal investigations
  76. 50Restriction on disclosure of information
  77. Part VIII: ENFORCEMENT
  78. General
  79. 51Restriction on proceedings for breach of Order
  80. Enforcement in employment field
  81. 52Jurisdiction of industrial tribunals
  82. 52ABurden of proof: industrial tribunals
  83. 53Remedies on complaint under Article 52
  84. Enforcement of Part III
  85. 54Claims under Part IIIetc
  86. 54AClaims under Article 20A in immigration cases
  87. 54BBurden of proof: county court
  88. Non-discrimination notices
  89. 55Issue of non-discrimination notice
  90. 56Appeal against non-discrimination notice
  91. 57Investigation as to compliance with non-discrimination notice
  92. 58Register of non-discrimination notices
  93. Other enforcement by Commission
  94. 59Persistent discrimination
  95. 60Enforcement of Articles 29 to 31
  96. 61Preliminary action in employment cases
  97. 62Undertakings by persons contravening this Order
  98. Help for persons suffering discrimination
  99. 63Help for aggrieved persons in obtaining information etc.
  100. 64Assistance by Commission
  101. Period within which proceedings to be brought
  102. 65Period within which proceedings to be brought
  103. Evidence
  104. 66Evidence
  105. IXSUPPLEMENTAL
  106. 67District councils: general statutory duty
  107. 68Validity and revision of contracts
  108. 68ACollective agreements and rules of undertakings
  109. 68BArticle 68B
  110. 69Power to amend certain provisions of Order
  111. 70Regulations and orders
  112. 71Application to Crown etc.
  113. 72Government appointments outside Article 6
  114. 72ZAOther office holders
  115. 72AThe Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve
  116. 72BOther police bodies
  117. Schedule Schedule
  118. Schedule Schedule