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Fair Employment (School Teachers) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

This legislation was enacted by the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2022 and came into effect on 12th May 2024.

From this date, it will be unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of religious or philosophical belief or political opinion in respectof the recruitment or promotion of teachers in schools in Northern Ireland.

Prior to 2003, FETO, and its predecessors, did not prohibit discrimination on the grounds of religious or philosophical belief or political opinion in relation to any aspect of the employment of school teachers. That was due to the effects of article 71 of FETO, commonly known as the teachers’ exception.

This situation changed through a process that began in 2003 when an EU equality law, Council Directive 2000/78/EC, required the exception to be modified and
narrowed. As a result, and since then, FETO has prohibited discrimination on its equality grounds in relation to most aspects of the employment of teachers in
schools; e.g. in relation to pay, training, absence and performance management,
dismissal, harassment.

Despite that change, FETO’s prohibition of discrimination did not apply to the recruitment or promotion of teachers in schools due to the continuing effects of one part of the article 71 exception that remained.

The remaining gap in coverage was filled on 12 May 2024 with the inrtoduction of this legislation.
 

No. 141 The Disability Discrimination (Guidance On The Definition Of A Disability) (Appointed Day) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008

This Order appoints 21/4/08 as the day for the coming into operation of new guidance entitled “Guidance to be taken into account when determining questions in relation to the definition of disability” as issued in Northern Ireland by OFMDFM. 

557 Disability Discrimination (Services and Premises) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

These Regulations address many issues including the following matter: ‘justified’ treatment, insurance, premises, deposit refunds, entering agreements where the disabled person is acting through an agent.

No.426 Employment Equality (Sex Discrimination) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

These Regulations implement the latest in a series of Equality related Directive Requirements. 

No.498 Industrial Tribunals (Interest on Awards in Sexual Orientation Discrimination Cases) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

These Regulations make special provisions in relation to interest on awards and compensation orders made by industrial tribunals under the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (NI) 2003.