Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
(asked on 12th February 2020) - View Source
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the new powers of the Equalities Commission for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission as provided for in the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 will commence.
Answered by
Viscount Younger of Leckie
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Article 2 of the Northern Ireland Protocol to the Withdrawal Agreement commits the UK Government to ensuring that no diminution of certain rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity set out in the Belfast (‘Good Friday’) Agreement results from the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. That Article, which requires the UK to implement the commitment through “dedicated mechanisms”, applies from the end of the transition period. The new powers of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland will commence in time for them to carry out their functions as part of the dedicated mechanisms.