Northern Ireland Act 1998

74 The Commission’s principal functions. U.K.

(1) The functions exercisable by the bodies listed in subsection (2) shall instead be exercisable by the Equality Commission; and the bodies listed are hereby dissolved.

(2) Those bodies are—

(a) the Fair Employment Commission for Northern Ireland;

(b) the Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland;

(c) the Commission for Racial Equality for Northern Ireland;

(d) the Northern Ireland Disability Council.

(3) In exercising its functions the Equality Commission shall—

(a) aim to secure an appropriate division of resources between the functions previously exercisable by each of the bodies listed in subsection (2); and

(b) have regard to advice offered by a consultative council.

(4) In subsection (3) “consultative council” means a group of persons selected by the Commission to advise in relation to the functions previously exercisable by one of the bodies listed in subsection (2) or in relation to the Commission’s functions under Schedule 9.

(5) The Secretary of State may by order make such supplemental, incidental or consequential provision as appears to him to be appropriate as a result of subsections (1) and (2).

(6) In particular, an order may include provision—

(a) amending an enactment;

(b) for the transfer of rights and liabilities;

(c) for payments into the Consolidated Fund or to a specified person.

[F1 (7) For functions of the Commission in relation to Article 2(1) of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland in the EU withdrawal agreement (rights of individuals), see sections 78A to 78E.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 74(7) inserted (31.12.2020) by European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (c. 1), s. 42(7), Sch. 3 para. 6 (with s. 38(3)); S.I. 2020/1622, reg. 5(i)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 74 wholly in force at 1.10.1999; s. 74 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 101(3); s. 74 in force at 21.6.1999 for specified purposes by S.I. 1999/1753, art. 2; s. 74 in force at 1.10.1999 insofar as not in force already by S.I. 1999/2204, art. 3