Equality

Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 requires all public sector bodies to promote equality of opportunity and good relations. In carrying out its functions, the Council must 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

In addition, the Council must have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between persons of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group.

The Council’s Equality Scheme is a statement of the Council’s commitment to the promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations and also outlines how it will meet its obligations under Section 75. The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland recently approved Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council’s first Equality Scheme which has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s guidance on the implementation of section 75. A copy of the Equality Scheme is available to download below.