BAILII is celebrating 24 years of free online access to the law! Would you consider making a contribution?

No donation is too small. If every visitor before 31 December gives just £1, it will have a significant impact on BAILII's ability to continue providing free access to the law.
Thank you very much for your support!



BAILII [Home] [Databases] [World Law] [Multidatabase Search] [Help] [Feedback]

Statutes of Northern Ireland


You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> Statutes of Northern Ireland >>
URL: http://www.bailii.org/nie/legis/num_act/sdio1976403.txt

[New search] [Help]


SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - LONG TITLE

[2nd July 1976]
[{1}Ulster Polytechnic]. 5. 25. It is unlawful for an Education and
Library Board, in carrying out such of its functions under the
Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 as do not fall
under Article 24, to do any act which constitutes sex
discrimination. N General duty in public sector of education A >
26. (1) Without prejudice to its obligation to comply with any
other provision of this Order, a body to which this paragraph
applies shall be under a general duty to secure that facilities for
education provided by it, and any ancillary benefits or services,
are provided without sex discrimination. B>(2) Article 90 of the
Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 (power of
Department of Education to prevent unreasonable exercise of functions)
shall apply to the performance by a body to which paragraph (1)
applies of the duties imposed by Articles 24 and 25 and shall also
apply to the performance of the general duty imposed by paragraph
(1), as it applies to the performance by an Education and Library
Board of a duty imposed by that Order. B>(3) The sanctions in
paragraph (2) shall be the only sanctions for breach of the general
duty in paragraph (1), but without prejudice to the enforcement of
Articles 24 and 25 under Article 66 or otherwise (where the breach
is also a contravention of either of those Articles). B>(4)
Paragraph (1) applies to C >>( a ) an Education and Library Board;
and C >>( b ) any other body which is a responsible body in
relation to an establishment falling within paragraph 1, 4 or 5 of
the table in Article 24. N Exception for single-sex establishments A
> 27. (1) Articles 24 ( a ) and ( b ) and 26 do not apply to
the admission of pupils to any establishment (a ""single-sex
establishment'') which admits pupils of one sex only, or which would
be taken to admit pupils of one sex only if there were disregarded
pupils of the opposite sex C >>( a ) whose admission is
exceptional, or C >>( b ) whose numbers are comparatively small and
whose admission is confined to particular courses of instruction or
teaching classes. B >(2) Where a school which is not a single-sex
establishment has some pupils as boarders and others as non-boarders,
and admits as boarders pupils of one sex only (or would be taken
to admit as boarders pupils of one sex only if there were
disregarded boarders of the opposite sex whose numbers are
comparatively small), Articles 24( a ) and ( b ) and 26 do not
apply to the admission of boarders and Articles 24( c )(i) and 26
do not apply to boarding facilities. B>(3) Where an establishment is
a single-sex establishment by reason of its inclusion in paragraph
(1)( b ), the fact that pupils of one sex are confined to
particular courses of instruction or teaching classes shall not be
taken to contravene Article 24( c )(i) or the duty in Article 26.
N Exception for single-sex establishments turning co-educational A >
28. (1) Where at any time C >>( a ) the responsible body for a
single-sex establishment falling within column 1 of the table in
Article 24 determines to alter its admissions arrangements so that
the establishment will cease to be a single-sex establishment, or C
>>( b ) Article 27(2) applies to the admission of boarders to a
school falling within column 1 of that table but the responsible
body determines to alter its admissions arrangements so that Article
27(2) will cease so to apply, B the responsible body may apply in
accordance with Schedule 2 for an order (a ""transitional exemption
order'') authorising discriminatory admissions during the transitional
period specified in the order. B>(2) Where during the transitional
period specified in a transitional exemption order applying to an
establishment the responsible body refuses or deliberately omits to
accept an application for the admission of a person to the
establishment as a pupil the refusal or omission shall not be taken
to contravene any provision of this Order. B>(3) Paragraph (2) does
not apply if the refusal or omission contravenes any condition of
the transitional exemption order. B>(4) Except as mentioned in
paragraph (2), a transitional exemption order shall not afford any
exemption from liability under this Order. B>(5) Where, during the
period between the making of an application for a transitional
exemption order in relation to an establishment and the determination
of the application, the responsible body refuses or deliberately
omits to accept an application for the admission of a person to
the establishment as a pupil the refusal or omission shall not be
taken to contravene any provision of this Order. N Exception for
physical training A > 29. Articles 24, 25 and 26 do not apply to
any further education course being C >>( a ) a course in physical
training, or C >>( b ) a course designed for the training of
teachers of physical training. 6 Goods, facilities, services and
premises N Discrimination in provision of goods, facilities or
services A > 30. (1) It is unlawful for any person concerned with
the provision (for payment or not) of goods, facilities or services
to the public or a section of the public to discriminate against a
woman who seeks to obtain or use those goods, facilities or
services C >>( a ) by refusing or deliberately omitting to provide
her with any of them, or C >>( b ) by refusing or deliberately
omitting to provide her with goods, facilities or services of the
like quality, in the like manner and on the like terms as are
normal in his case in relation to male members of the public or
(where she belongs to a section of the public) to male members of
that section. B >(2) The following are examples of the facilities
and services mentioned in paragraph (1) C >>( a ) access to and
use of any place which members of the public or a section of the
public are permitted to enter; C >>( b ) accommodation in a hotel,
boarding house or other similar establishment; C >>( c ) facilities
by way of banking or insurance or for grants, loans, credit or
finance; C >>( d ) facilities for education; C >>( e ) facilities
for entertainment, recreation or refreshment; C >>( f ) facilities
for transport or travel; C >>( g ) the services of any profession
or trade, or any local or other public authority. B >(3) For the
avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that where a particular
skill is commonly exercised in a different way for men and for
women it does not contravene paragraph (1) for a person who does
not normally exercise it for women to insist on exercising it for
a woman only in accordance with his normal practice or, if he
reasonably considers it impracticable to do that in her case, to
refuse or deliberately omit to exercise it. N Discrimination in
disposal or management of premises A > 31. (1) It is unlawful for
a person, in relation to premises in Northern Ireland of which he
has power to dispose, to discriminate against a woman C >>( a )
in the terms on which he offers her those premises, or C >>( b )
by refusing her application for those premises, or C >>( c ) in
his treatment of her in relation to any list of persons in need
of premises of that description. B >(2) It is unlawful for a
person, in relation to premises managed by him, to discriminate
against a woman occupying the premises C >>( a ) in the way he
affords her access to any benefits or facilities, or by refusing or
deliberately omitting to afford her access to them, or C >>( b )
by evicting her, or subjecting her to any other detriment. B >(3)
Paragraph (1) does not apply to a person who owns an estate or
interest in the premises and wholly occupies them unless he uses
the services of an estate agent for the purposes of the disposal
of the premises or publishes or causes to be published an
advertisement in connection with the disposal. N Discrimination:
consent for assignment or sub-letting A > 32. (1) Where the licence
or consent of the landlord or of any other person is required for
the disposal to any person of premises in Northern Ireland comprised
in a tenancy, it is unlawful for the landlord or other person to
discriminate against a woman by withholding the licence or consent
for disposal of the premises to her. B>(2) Paragraph (1) does not
apply if C >>( a ) the person withholding a licence or consent,
or a near relative of his (""the relevant occupier'') resides, and
intends to continue to reside, on the premises, and C >>( b )
there is on the premises, in addition to the accommodation occupied
by the relevant occupier, accommodation (not being storage
accommodation or means of access) shared by the relevant occupier
with other persons residing on the premises who are not members of
his household, and C >>( c ) the premises are small premises as
defined in Article 33(2). B >(3) In this Article ""tenancy'' means
a tenancy created by a lease or sub-lease, by an agreement for a
lease or sub-lease or by a tenancy agreement or in pursuance of
any statutory provision; and ""disposal'', in relation to premises
comprised in a tenancy, includes assignment of the tenancy and
sub-letting or parting with possession of the premises or any part
of the premises. B>(4) This Article applies to tenancies created
before the commencement of this Article, as well as to others. N
Exception for small dwellings A > 33. (1) Articles 30(1) and 31 do
not apply to the provision by a person of accommodation in any
premises, or the disposal of premises by him, if C >>( a ) that
person or a near relative of his (""the relevant occup]
ier") resides, and intends to continue to reside, on the premises,
and

(b)there is on the premises, in addition to the accommodation
occupied by the relevant occupier, accommodation (not being storage
accommodation or means of access) shared by the relevant occupier
with other persons residing on the premises who are not members of
his household, and

(c)the premises are small premises.

(2) Premises shall be treated for the purposes of paragraph (1) as
small premises if

(a)in the case of premises comprising residential accommodation for
one or more households (under separate letting or similar agreements)
in addition to the accommodation occupied by the relevant occupier,
there is not normally residential accommodation for more that two
such households and only the relevant occupier and any member of
his household reside in the accommodation occupied by him;

(b)in the case of premises not falling within sub-paragraph (a),
there is not normally residential accommodation on the premises for
more than six persons in addition to the relevant occupier and any
members of his household.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 34

34.(1) This Article applies to a political party if

(a)it has as its main object, or one of its main objects, the
promotion of parliamentary candidatures for the Parliament of the
United Kingdom, or the Assembly, or

(b)it is an affiliate of, or has an affiliate, or has similar
formal links with, a political party within sub-paragraph (a).

(2) Nothing in Article 30(1) shall be construed as affecting any
special provision for persons of one sex only in the constitution,
organisation or administration of the political party.

(3) Nothing in Article 30(1) shall render unlawful an act done in
order to give effect to such a special provision.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 35

35.(1) This Article applies to a body

(a)the activities of which are carried on otherwise than for profit,
and

(b)which was not set up by any statutory provision.

(2) Articles 30(1) and 31 shall not be construed as rendering
unlawful

(a)the restriction of membership of any such body to persons of one
sex (disregarding any minor exceptions), or

(b)the provision of benefits, facilities or services to members of
any such body where the membership is so restricted,

(3) Nothing in Article 30 or 31 shall

(a)be construed as affecting a provision to which this paragraph
applies, or

(b)render unlawful an act which is done in order to give effect to
such a provision.

(4) Paragraph (3) applies to a provision for conferring benefits on
persons on one sex only (disregarding any benefits to persons of
the opposite sex which are exceptional or are relatively
insignificant), being a provision which constitutes the main object
of a body within paragraph (1).

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 36

36.(1) A person who provides at any place facilities or services
restricted to men does not for that reason contravene Article 30(1)
if

(a)the place is, or is part of, a hospital or other establishment
for persons requiring special supervision, attention or care, or

(b)the place is (permanently or for the time being) occupied or
used for the purposes of an organised religion, and the facilities
or services are restricted to men so as to comply with the
doctrines of that religion or avoid offending the religious
susceptibilities of a significant number of its followers, or

(c)the facilities or services are provided for, or are likely to be
used by, two or more persons at the same time, and

(i)the facilities or services are such, or those persons are such,
that male users are likely to suffer serious embarrassment at the
presence of a woman, or

(ii)the facilities or services are such that a user is likely to
be in a state of undress and a male user might reasonably object
to the presence of a female user.

(2) A person who provides facilities or services restricted to men
does not for that reason contravene Article 30(1) if the facilities
or services are such that physical contact between the user and any
other person is likely, and that other person might reasonably
object if the user were a woman.

(3) Articles 30(1) and 31 do not apply

(a)to discrimination which is rendered unlawful by any provision in
column 1 of the table below, or

(b)to discrimination which would be so unlawful but for any
provision in column 2 of that table, or

(c)to discrimination which contravenes a term modified or included by
virtue of an equality clause.

21 and 22.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 37

37.(1) Article 30(1)

(a)does not apply to goods, facilities or services outside Northern
Ireland except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3); and

(b)does not apply to facilities by way of banking or insurance or
for grants, loans, credit or finance, where the facilities are for
a purpose to be carried out, or in connection with risks wholly or
mainly arising, outside Northern Ireland.

(2) Article 30(1) applies to the provision of facilities for travel
outside Northern Ireland where the refusal or omission occurs in
Northern Ireland or on a ship, aircraft or hovercraft within
paragraph (3).

(3) Article 30(1) applies on and in relation to

(a)any ship registered at a port of registry in Northern Ireland,
and

(b)any aircraft or hovercraft registered in the United Kingdom and
operated by a person who has his principal place of business, or
is ordinarily resident, in Northern Ireland, and

(c)any ship, aircraft or hovercraft belonging to or possessed by Her
Majesty in right of the Government of Northern Ireland,

(4) This Article shall not render unlawful an act done in or over
a country outside the United Kingdom, or in or over that country's
territorial waters, for the purpose of complying with the laws of
that country.

(5) Articles 24, 25 and 26 do not apply to benefits, facilities or
services outside Northern Ireland except

(a)travel on a ship registered at a port of registry in Northern
Ireland, and

(b)benefits, facilities or services provided on a ship so registered.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 38

38.(1) In this Article "discriminatory practice" means the application
of a requirement or condition which results in an act of
discrimination which is unlawful by virtue of any provision of Part
III or IV taken with Article 3(1)(b) or 5(1)(b) or which would be
likely to result in such an act of discrimination if the persons
to whom it is applied were not all of one sex.

(2) A person acts in contravention of this Article if and so long
as

(a)he applies a discriminatory practice, or

(b)he operates practices or other arrangements which in any
circumstances would call for the application by him of a
discriminatory practice.

(3) Proceedings in respect of a contravention of this Article shall
be brought only by the Commission in accordance with Articles 67 to
71.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 39

39.(1) It is unlawful to publish or cause to be published an
advertisement which indicates, or might reasonably be understood as
indicating, an intention by a person to do any act which is or
might be unlawful by virtue of Part III or IV.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to an advertisement if the
intended act would not in fact be unlawful.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1), use of a job description
with a sexual connotation (such as "waiter", "salesgirl", "postman"
or "stewardess") shall be taken to indicate an intention to
discriminate, unless the advertisement contains an indication to the
contrary.

(4) The publisher of an advertisement made unlawful by paragraph (1)
shall not be subject to any liability under that paragraph in
respect of the publication of the advertisement if he proves

(a)that the advertisement was published in reliance on a statement
made to him by the peron who caused it to be published to the
effect that, by reason of the operation of paragraph (2), the
publication would not be unlawful, and

(b)that it was reasonable for him to rely on the statement.

(5) A person who knowingly or recklessly makes a statement such as
is referred to in paragraph (4) which in a material respect is
false or misleading commits an offence, and shall be liable on
summary conviction to a fine not exceeding #400.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 40

40. It is unlawful for a person

(a)who has authority over another person, or

(b)in accordance with whose wishes that other person is accustomed
to act,

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 41

41.(1) It is unlawful to induce, or attempt to induce, a person to
do any act which contravenes Part III or IV by

(a)providing or offering to provide him with any benefit, or

(b)subjecting or threatening to subject him to any detriment.

(2) An offer or threat is not prevented from falling within
paragraph (1) because it is not made directly to the person in
question, if it is made in such a way that he is likely to hear
of it.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 42

42.(1) Anything done by a person in the course of his employment
shall be treated for the purposes of this Order as done by his
employer as well as by him, whether or not it was done with the
employer's knowledge or approval.

(2) Anything done by a person as agent for another person with the
authority (whether express or implied, and whether precedent or
subsequent) of that other person shall be treated for the purposes
of this Order as done by that other person as well as by him.

(3) In proceedings brought under this Order against any person in
respect of an act alleged to have been done by an employee of his
it shall be a defence for that person to prove that he took such
steps as were reasonably practicable to prevent the employee from
doing that act, or from doing in the course of his employment acts
of that description.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 43

43.(1) A person who knowingly aids another person to do an act
made unlawful by this Order shall be treated for the purposes of
this Order as himself doing an unlawful act of the like
description.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1) an employee or agent for
whose act the employer or principal is liable under Article 42 (or
would be so liable but for Article 42(3)) shall be deemed to aid
the doing of the act by the employer or principal.

(3) A person does not under this Article knowingly aid another to
do an unlawful act if

(a)he acts in reliance on a statement made to him by that other
person that, by reason of any provision of this Order, the act
which he aids would not be unlawful, and

(b)it is reasonable for him to rely on the statement.

(4) A person who knowingly or recklessly makes a statement such as
is referred to in paragraph (3)(a) which in a material respect is
false or misleading commits an offence, and shall be liable on
summary conviction to a fine not exceeding #400.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 44

44.(1) Nothing in Parts III to V shall

(a)be construed as affecting a provision to which this paragraph
applies, or

(b)render unlawful an act which is done in order to give effect to
such a provision.

(2) Paragraph (1) applies to a provision for conferring benefits on
persons of one sex only (disregarding any benefits to persons of
the opposite sex which are exceptional or are relatively
insignificant), being a provision which is contained in a charitable
instrument.

(3) In this Article

(a)"charitable instrument" means a statutory provision or other
instrument passed or made for charitable purposes, or a statutory
provision or other instrument so far as it relates to charitable
purposes;

(b)"charitable purposes" means purposes which are exclusively
charitable according to the law of Northern Ireland.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 45

45. Nothing in Parts III to V shall, in relation to any sport,
game or other activity of a competitive nature where the physical
strength, stamina or physique of the average woman puts her at a
disadvantage to the average man, render unlawful any act related to
the participation of a person as a competitor in events involving
that activity which are confined to competitors of one sex.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 46

46. Nothing in Parts III to V shall render unlawful the treatment
of a person in relation to an annuity, life assurance policy,
accident insurance policy, or similar matter involving the assessment
of risk, where the treatment

(a)was effected by reference to actuarial or other data from a
source on which it was reasonable to rely, and

(b)was reasonable having regard to the data and any other relevant
factors.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 47

47.(1) In this Article "communal accommodation" means residential
accommodation which includes dormitories or other shared sleeping
accommodation which for reasons of privacy or decency should be used
by men only, or by women only (but which may include some shared
sleeping accommodation for men, and some for women, or some ordinary
sleeping accommodation).

(2) In this Article "communal accommodation" also includes residential
accommodation all or part of which should be used by men only, or
by women only, because of the nature of the sanitary facilities
serving the accommodation.

(3) Nothing in Part III or IV shall render unlawful sex
discrimination in the admission of persons to communal accommodation
if the accommodation is managed in a way which, given the
exigencies of the situation, comes as near as may be to fair and
equitable treatment of men and women.

(4) In applying paragraph (3) account shall be taken of

(a)whether and how far it is reasonable to expect that the
accommodation should be altered or extended, or that further
alternative accommodation should be provided; and

(b)the frequency of the demand or need for use of the accommodation
by men as compared with women.

(5) Nothing in Part III or IV shall render unlawful sex
discrimination against a woman, or against a man, as respects the
provision of any benefit, facility or service if

(a)the benefit, facility or service cannot properly and effectively
be provided except for those using communal accommodation, and

(b)in the relevant circumstances the woman or, as the case may be,
the man could lawfully be refused the use of the accommodation by
virtue of paragraph (3).

(6) Neither paragraph (3) nor paragraph (5) is a defence to an act
of sex discrimination under Part III unless such arrangements as are
reasonably practicable are made to compensate for the detriment
caused by the discrimination; but in considering under paragraph
(5)(b) whether the use of communal accommodation could lawfully be
refused (in a case based on Part III), it shall be assumed that
the requirements of this paragraph have been complied with as
respects paragraph (3).

(7) Article 26 shall not apply to sex discrimination within
paragraph (3) or (5).

(8) This Article is without prejudice to the generality of Article
36(1)(c).

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 48

48.(1) Nothing in Parts III to V shall render unlawful any act
done in relation to particular work by a training body in, or in
connection with

(a)affording women only, or men only, access to facilities for
training which would help to fit them for that work, or

(b)encouraging women only, or men only, to take advantage of
opportunities for doing that work,

(2) Where in relation to particular work it appears to a training
body that although the condition for the operation of paragraph (1)
is not met for the whole of Northern Ireland it is met for an
area within Northern Ireland, nothing in Parts III to V shall
render unlawful any act done by the training body in, or in
connection with

(a)affording persons who are of the sex in question, and who appear
likely to take up that work in that area, access to facilities for
training which would help to fit them for that work, or

(b)encouraging persons of that sex to take advantage of opportunities
in the area for doing that work.

(3) Nothing in Parts III to V shall render unlawful any act done
by a training body in, or in connection with, affording persons
access to facilities for training which would help to fit them for
employment, where it appears to the training body that those persons
are in special need of training by reason of the period for which
they have been discharging domestic or family responsibilities to the
exclusion of regular full time employment.

The discrimination in relation to which this paragraph applies may
result from confining the training to persons who have been
discharging domestic or family responsibilities, or from the way
persons are selected for training, or both.

(4) In this Article "training body" means

(a)a person mentioned in Article 17(2)(a) or (b), or

(b)any other person being a person designated for the purposes of
this Article in an order made by the Department of Manpower
Services,

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 49

49.(1) Nothing in Parts III to V shall render unlawful any act
done by an employer in relation to particular work in his
employment, being an act done in, or in connection with,

(a)affording his female employees only, or his male employees only,
access to facilities for training which would help to fit them for
that work, or

(b)encouraging women only, or men only, to take advantage of
opportunities for doing that work,

(2) Nothing in Article 15 shall render unlawful any act done by an
organisation to which that Article applies in, or in connection
with,

(a)affording female members of the organisation only, or male members
of the organisation only, access to facilities for training which
would help to fit them for holding a post of any kind in the
organisation, or

(b)encouraging female members only, or male members only, to take
advantage of opportunities for holding such posts in the
organisation,

(3) Nothing in Parts III to V shall render unlawful any act done
by an organisation to which Article 15 applies in, or in connection
with, encouraging women only, or men only, to become members of the
organisation where at any time within the twelve months immediately
preceding the doing of the act there were no persons of the sex
in question among those members or the number of persons of that
sex among the members was comparatively small.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 50

50.(1) If an organisation to which Article 15 applies comprises a
body the membership of which is wholly or mainly elected, nothing
in Article 15 shall render unlawful provision which ensures that a
minimum number of persons of one sex are members of the body

(a)by reserving seats on the body for persons of that sex, or

(b)by making extra seats on the body available (by election or
co-option or otherwise) for persons of that sex on occasions when
the number of persons of that sex in the other seats is below the
minimum,

(2) This Article shall not be taken as making lawful

(a)discrimination in the arrangements for determining the persons
entitled to vote in an election of members of the body, or
otherwise to choose the persons to serve on the body, or

(b)discrimination in any arrangements concerning membership of the
organisation itself.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 51

51.(1) References in this Order to the affording by any person of
access to benefits, facilities or services are not limited to
benefits, facilities or services provided by that person himself, but
include any means by which it is in that person's power to
facilitate access to benefits, facilities or services provided by any
other person (the "actual provider").

(2) Where by any provision of this Order the affording by any
person of access to benefits, facilities or services in a
discriminatory way is in certain circumstances prevented from being
unlawful, the effect of the provision shall extend also to the
liability under this Order of any actual provider.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 52

52.(1) Nothing in Parts III to V shall render unlawful anything
done in order to comply with a requirement

(a)of an enactment enacted before this Order; or

(b)of an instrument made or approved (whether before or after the
making of this Order) under an enactment enacted before the making
of this Order.

(2) Where an enactment enacted after the making of this Order
re-enacts (with or without modification) a provision of an enactment
enacted before the making of this Order, paragraph (1) shall apply
to that provision as re-enacted as if it continued to be contained
in an enactment enacted before the making of this Order.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 53

53.(1) Nothing in Parts III to V shall render unlawful an act done
for the purpose of safeguarding national security or of protecting
public safety or public order.

(2) A certificate signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of State
and certifying that an act specified in the certificate was done
for a purpose mentioned in paragraph (1) shall be conclusive
evidence that it was done for that purpose.

(3) A document purporting to be a certificate such as is mentioned
in paragraph (2) shall be received in evidence and, unless the
contrary is proved, shall be deemed to be such a certificate.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 54

54.(1) There shall be a body of Commissioners named the Equal
Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland consisting of at least
six but not more than twelve individuals each appointed by the head
of the Department of Manpower Services (in this Article and Schedule
3 referred to as "the Department"), on a full-time or part-time
basis, which shall have the following duties

(a)to work towards the elimination of discrimination,

(b)to promote equality of opportunity between men and women
generally, and

(c)to keep under review the working of this Order and the Equal
Pay Act and, when the Commission is so required by the Department
or otherwise thinks it necessary, draw up and submit to the
Department proposals for amending them.

(2) The head of the Department shall appoint

(a)one of the Commissioners to be chairman of the Commission, and

(b)either one or two of the Commissioners (as the head of the
Department thinks fit) to be deputy chairman or deputy chairmen of
the Commission.

(3) The Department may by order amend paragraph (1) so far as it
regulates the number of Commissioners.

(4) Schedule 3 shall have effect with respect to the Commission.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 55

55.(1) The Commission may undertake or assist (financially or
otherwise) the undertaking by other persons of any research, and any
educational activities, which appear to the Commission necessary or
expedient for the purposes of Article 54(1).

(2) The Commission may make charges for educational or other
facilities or services made available by it.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 56

56.(1) Without prejudice to the generality of Article 54(1), the
Commission, in pursuance of the duties imposed by sub-paragraphs (a)
and (b) of that paragraph

(a)shall keep under review the relevant statutory provisions in so
far as they require men and women to be treated differently, and

(b)if so required by the relevant department, make to it a report
on any matter specified by it which is connected with those duties
and concerns the relevant statutory provisions.

Any such report shall be made within the time specified by the
relevant department, and the relevant department shall cause the
report to be published.

(2) Whenever the Commission thinks it necessary, it shall draw up
and submit to the relevant department proposals for amending the
relevant statutory provisions.

(3) The Commission shall carry out its duties in relation to the
relevant statutory provisions in consultation with the relevant
department.

(4) In this Article "the relevant statutory provisions" means the
provisions mentioned in Schedule 4 or, in relation to the relevant
department, means such of those provisions as relates to matters
falling within the scope of the functions of that department; and
"the relevant department" means any government department on or for
purposes of which functions are conferred by any of those
provisions.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 57

57.(1) Without prejudice to its general power to do anything
requisite for the performance of its duties under Article 54(1), the
Commission may if it thinks fit, and shall if required by the
Department of Manpower Services, conduct a formal investigation for
any purpose connected with the carrying out of those duties.

(2) The Commission may, with the approval of the head of the
Department of Manpower Services, appoint, on a full-time or part-time
basis, one or more individuals as additional Commissioners for the
purposes of a formal investigation.

(3) The Commission may nominate one or more Commissioners, with or
without one or more additional Commissioners, to conduct a formal
investigation on its behalf, and may delegate any of its functions
in relation to the investigation to the persons so nominated.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 58

58.(1) The Commission shall not embark on a formal investigation
unless the requirements of this Article have been complied with.

(2) Terms of reference for the investigation shall be drawn up by
the Commission or, if the Commission was required by the Department
of Manpower Services to conduct the investigation, by the Department
after consulting the Commission.

(3) It shall be the duty of the Commission to give general notice
of the holding of the investigation unless the terms of reference
confine it to activities of persons named in them, but in such a
case the Commission shall in the prescribed manner give those
persons notice of the holding of the investigation.

(4) The Commission or, if the Commission was required by the
Department of Manpower Services to conduct the investigation, the
Department after consulting the Commission, may from time to time
revise the terms of reference; and paragraphs (1) and (3) shall
apply to the revised investigation and terms of reference as they
applied to the original.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 59

59.(1) For the purposes of a formal investigation the Commission, by
a notice in the prescribed form served on him in the prescribed
manner,

(a)may require any person to furnish such written information as may
be described in the notice, and may specify the time at which, and
the manner and form in which, the information is to be furnished;

(b)may require any person to attend at such time and place as is
specified in the notice and give oral information about, and produce
all documents in his possession or control relating to, any matter
specified in the notice.

(2) Except as provided by Article 69, a notice shall be served
under paragraph (1) only where

(a)service of the notice was authorised by an order made by the
Department of Manpower Services, or

(b)the terms of reference of the investigation state that the
Commission believes that a person named in them may have done or
may be doing acts of all or any of the following descriptions

(i)unlawful discriminatory acts,

(ii)contraventions of Article 38,

<(iii)contraventions of Article 39, 40 or 41, and

<(iv)acts in breach of a term modified or included by virtue of an equality clause,

(b)and confine the investigation to those acts.

(3) A notice under paragraph (1) shall not require a person

(a)to give information, or produce any documents, which he could not
be compelled to give in evidence, or produce, in civil proceedings
before the High Court, or

(b)to attend at any place unless the necessary expenses of his
journey to and from that place are paid or tendered to him.

(4) If a person fails to comply with a notice served on him under
paragraph (1) or the Commission has reasonable cause to believe that
he intends not to comply with it, the Commission may apply to a
county court for an order requiring him to comply with it or with
such directions for the like purpose as may be contained in the
order; and if he fails without reasonable excuse to comply with any
such order he may be dealt with by the county court as if he had
failed to comply with a witness summons issued in accordance with
county court rules.

(5) A person commits an offence if he

(a)wilfully alters, suppresses, conceals or destroys a document which
he has been required by a notice or order under this Article to
produce, or

(b)in complying with such a notice or order, knowingly or recklessly
makes any statement which is false in a material particular,

(6) Proceedings for an offence under paragraph (5) may (without
prejudice to any jurisdiction exercisable apart from this paragraph)
be instituted

(a)against any person at any place at which he has an office or
other place of business;

(b)against an individual at any place where he resides, or at which
he is for the time being.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 60

60.(1) If in the light of any of the Commission's findings in a
formal investigation it appears to the Commission necessary or
expedient, whether during the course of the investigation or after
its conclusion,

(a)to make to any persons, with a view to promoting equality of
opportunity between men and women who are affected by any of their
activities, recommendations for changes in their policies or
procedures, or as to any other matters, or

(b)to make to the Department of Manpower Services any
recommendations, whether for changes in the law or otherwise,

(2) The Commission shall prepare a report of its findings in any
formal investigation conducted by it.

(3) If the formal investigation is one required by the Department
of Manpower Services

(a)the Commission shall deliver the report to the Department, and

(b)the Department shall cause the report to be published,

(4) If the formal investigation is not one required by the
Department of Manpower Services, the Commission shall either publish
the report, or make it available for inspection in accordance with
paragraph (5).

(5) Where under paragraph (4) a report is to be made available for
inspection, any person shall be entitled, on payment of such fee
(if any) as may be determined by the Commission

(a)to inspect the report during ordinary office hours and take
copies of all or any part of the report, or

(b)to obtain from the Commission a copy, certified by the Commission
to be correct, of the report.

(6) The Commission may if it thinks fit determine that the right
conferred by paragraph (5)(a) shall be exercisable in relation to a
copy of the report instead of, or in addition to, the original.

(7) The Commission shall give notice of the place or places where,
and the times when, reports may be inspected under paragraph (5).

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 61

61.(1) No information given to the Commission by any person ("the
informant") in connection with a formal investigation shall be
disclosed by the Commission, or by any person who is or has been
a Commissioner, additional Commissioner or employee of the Commission,
except

(a)on the order of any court, or

(b)with the informant's consent, or

(c)in the form of a summary or other general statement published by
the Commission which does not identify the informant or any other
person to whom the information relates, or

(d)in a report of the investigation published by the Commission or
made available for inspection under Article 60(5), or

(e)to the Commissioners, additional Commissioners or employees of the
Commission, or, so far as may be necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the Commission, to other persons, or

(f)for the purpose of any civil proceedings under this Order to
which the Commission is a party, or any criminal proceedings.

(2) Any person who discloses information in contravention of
paragraph (1) commits an offence and shall be liable on summary
conviction to a fine not exceeding #400.

(3) In preparing any report for publication or for inspection the
Commission shall exclude, so far as is consistent with its duties
and the object of the report, any matter which relates to the
private affairs of any individual or business interests of any
person where the publication of that matter might, in the opinion
of the Commission, prejudicially affect that individual or person.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 62

62.(1) Except as provided by this Order no proceedings, whether
civil or criminal, shall lie against any person in respect of an
act by reason that the act is unlawful by virtue of a provision
of this Order.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not preclude the making of an order of
certiorari, mandamus or prohibition.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 63

63.(1) A complaint by any person ("the complainant") that another
person ("the respondent")

(a)has committed an act of discrimination against the complainant
which is unlawful by virtue of Part III, or

(b)is by virtue of Article 42 or 43 to be treated as having
committed such an act of discrimination against the complainant,

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a complaint under Article 16(1)
of an act in respect of which an appeal, or proceedings in the
nature of an appeal, may be brought under any statutory provision.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 64

64.(1) Where a complaint is presented to an industrial tribunal
under Article 63, or under section 2(1) of the Equal Pay Act, the
Secretary of the Central Office of the Industrial Tribunals shall
send a copy of the complaint to [the Labour Relations Agency] and
it shall be the duty of [the Agency]

(a)if it is requested to do so by both the complainant and the
respondent, or

(b)if, in the absence of requests by the complainant and the
respondent, it considers that it could act under this paragraph with
a reasonable prospect of success,

(2) Where, before a complaint such as is mentioned in paragraph (1)
has been presented to an industrial tribunal, a request is made to
[the Labour Relations Agency] to make its services available in the
matter by a person who, if the complaint were so presented, would
be the complainant or respondent, paragraph (1) shall apply as if
the complaint had been so presented and a copy of it had been
sent to [the Agency].

(3) In proceeding under paragraph (1) or (2), [the Labour Relations
Agency] shall where appropriate have regard to the desirability of
encouraging the use of other procedures available for the settlement
of grievances,

(4) Anything communicated to [the Labour Relations Agency] in
connection with the performance of its functions under this Article
shall not be admissible in evidence in any proceedings before an
industrial tribunal except with the consent of the person who
communicated it to [the Agency].

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 65

65.(1) Where an industrial tribunal finds that a complaint presented
to it under Article 63 is well-founded the tribunal shall make such
of the following as it considers just and equitable

(a)an order declaring the rights of the complainant and the
respondent in relation to the act to which the complaint relates;

(b)an order requiring the respondent to pay to the complainant
compensation of an amount corresponding to any damages he could have
been ordered by a county court to pay to the complainant if the
complaint had fallen to be dealt with under Article 66;

(c)a recommendation that the respondent take within a specified
period action appearing to the tribunal to be practicable for the
purpose of obviating or reducing the adverse effect on the
complainant of any act of discrimination to which the complaint
relates.

(2) The amount of compensation awarded to a person under paragraph
(1)(b) shall not exceed the limit for the time being imposed by
Article 37 of the Industrial Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1976.

(3) If without reasonable justification the respondent to a complaint
fails to comply with a recommendation made by an industrial tribunal
under paragraph (1)(c), then, if they think it just and equitable
to do so,

(a)the tribunal may increase the amount of compensation required to
be paid to the complainant in respect of the complaint by an order
made under paragraph (1)(b), or

(b)if an order under paragraph (1)(b) could have been made but was
not, the tribunal may make such an order.

(4) Where compensation falls to be awarded in respect of any act
both under the provisions of this Article and under any other
statutory provision, an industrial tribunal shall not award
compensation under this Article in respect of any loss or other
matter which has been taken into account under that other statutory
provision by the court in awarding compensation in an action in
respect of that act.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 66

66.(1) A claim by any person ("the claimant") that another person
("the respondent")

(a)has committed an act of discrimination against the claimant which
is unlawful by virtue of Part IV, or

(b)is by virtue of Article 42 or 43 to be treated as having
committed such an act of discrimination against the claimant,

(2) Proceedings under paragraph (1) shall be brought only in a
county court, but all such remedies shall be obtainable in such
proceedings as, apart from this paragraph and Article 62(1), would
be obtainable in the High Court.

(3) As respects an unlawful act of discrimination falling within
Article 3(1)(b) (or, where this Article is applied by Article
65(1)(b), Article 5(1)(b)) no award of damages shall be made if the
respondent proves that the requirement or condition in question was
not applied with the intention of treating the claimant unfavourably
on the ground of his sex or marital status as the case may be.

(4) For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that damages
in respect of an unlawful act of discrimination may include
compensation for injury to feelings whether or not they include
compensation under any other head.

(5) Civil proceedings in respect of a claim by any person that he
has been discriminated against in contravention of Article 24 or 25
by a body to which Article 26(1) applies (other than proceedings in
respect of a claim against the Department of Education) shall not
be instituted unless the claimant has given notice of the claim to
the Department of Education and either that Department has by notice
informed the claimant that it does not require further time to
consider the matter, or the period of two months has elapsed since
the claimant gave notice to that Department; but nothing in this
paragraph applies to a counter-claim.

(6) For the purposes of proceedings under paragraph (1)

(a)[Article 33(1) of the County Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1980]
shall apply with the omission of the words "on the application of
any party", and

(b)the remuneration of assessors appointed under the said section
62(1) shall be at such rate as may be determined by the Lord
Chancellor with the approval of the Minister for the Civil Service
and may be defrayed as part of the expenses of the county court
service.

(7) A county court shall have jurisdiction to entertain proceedings
under paragraph (1) with respect to an act done on a ship,
aircraft or hovercraft outside its district, including such an act
done outside Northern Ireland.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 67

67.(1) This Article applies to

(a)an unlawful discriminatory act, and

(b)a contravention of Article 38, and

(c)a contravention of Article 39, 40 or 41, and

(d)an act in breach of a term modified or included by virtue of
an equality clause.

(2) If in the course of a formal investigation the Commission
becomes satisfied that a person is committing, or has committed, any
such acts, the Commission may in the prescribed manner serve on him
a notice in the prescribed form ("a non-discrimination notice")
requiring him

(a)not to commit any such acts, and

(b)where compliance with sub-paragraph (a) involves changes in any of
his practices or other arrangements

(i)to inform the Commission that he has effected those changes and
what those changes are, and

(ii)to take such steps as may be reasonably required by the notice
for the purpose of affording that information to other persons
concerned.

(3) A non-discrimination notice may also require the person on whom
it is served to furnish the Commission with such other information
as may be reasonably required by the notice in order to verify
that the notice has been complied with.

(4) The notice may specify the time at which, and the manner and
form in which, any information is to be furnished to the
Commission, but the time at which any information is to be
furnished in compliance with the notice shall not be later than
five years after the notice has become final.

(5) The Commission shall not serve a non-discrimination notice in
respect of any person unless it has first

(a)given him notice that it is minded to issue a non-discrimination
notice in his case, specifying the grounds on which it contemplates
doing so, and

(b)offered him an opportunity of making oral or written
representations in the matter (or both oral and written
representations if he thinks fit) within a period of not less than
28 days specified in the notice, and

(c)taken account of any representations so made by him.

(6) Paragraph (2) does not apply to any acts in respect of which
the Department of Education could exercise the powers conferred on
it by Article 26(2); but if the Commission becomes aware of any
such acts it shall give notice of them to that Department.

(7) Article 59(4) shall apply to requirements under paragraphs
(2)(b), (3) and (4) contained in a non-discrimination notice which
has become final as it applies to requirements in a notice served
under Article 59(1).

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 68

68.(1) Not later than six weeks after a non-discrimination notice is
served on any person he may appeal against any requirement of the
notice

(a)to an industrial tribunal, so far as the requirement relates to
acts which are within the jurisdiction of the tribunal;

(b)to a county court so far as the requirement relates to acts
which are within the jurisdiction of the court and are not within
the jurisdiction of an industrial tribunal.

(2) Where the court or tribunal considers a requirement in respect
of which an appeal is brought under paragraph (1) to be
unreasonable because it is based on an incorrect finding of fact or
for any other reason, the court or tribunal shall quash the
requirement.

(3) On quashing a requirement under paragraph (2) the court or
tribunal may direct that the non-discrimination notice shall be
treated as if, in place of the requirement quashed, it had
contained a requirement in terms specified in the direction.

(4) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a requirement treated as
included in a non-discrimination notice by virtue of a direction
under paragraph (3).

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 69

69.(1) If

(a)the terms of reference of a formal investigation state that its
purpose is to determine whether any requirements of a
non-discrimination notice are being or have been carried out, but
Article 59(2)(b) does not apply, and

(b)Article 58(3) is complied with in relation to the investigation
on a date ("the commencement date") not later than the expiration
of the period of five years beginning when the non-discrimination
notice became final,

(2) The said period begins on the commencement date and ends on
the later of the following dates

(a)the date on which the period of five years mentioned in
paragraph (1)(b) expires;

(b)the date two years after the commencement date.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 70

70.(1) The Commission shall establish and maintain a register ("the
register") of non-discrimination notices which have become final.

(2) Any person shall be entitled, on payment of such fee (if any)
as may be determined by the Commission,

(a)to inspect the register during ordinary office hours and take
copies of any entry, or

(b)to obtain from the Commission a copy, certified by the Commission
to be correct, of any entry in the register.

(3) The Commission may, if it thinks fit, determine that the right
conferred by paragraph (2)(a) shall be exercisable in relation to a
copy of the register instead of, or in addition to, the original.

(4) The Commission shall give general notice of the place or places
where, and the times when, the register or a copy of it may be
inspected.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 71

71.(1) If, during the period of five years beginning on the date
on which either of the following became final in the case of any
person, namely,

(a)a non-discrimination notice served on him,

(b)a finding by a court or tribunal under Article 63 or 66, or
section 2 of the Equal Pay Act, that he has done an unlawful
discriminatory act or an act in breach of a term modified or
included by virtue of an equality clause,

(2) In proceedings under this Article the Commission shall not
allege that the person to whom the proceedings relate has done an
act which is within the jurisdiction of an industrial tribunal
unless a finding by an industrial tribunal that he did that act
has become final.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 72

72.(1) Proceedings in respect of a contravention of Article 39, 40
or 41 shall be brought only by the Commission in accordance with
the following provisions of this Article.

(2) The proceedings shall be

(a)an application for a decision whether the alleged contravention
occurred, or

(b)an application under paragraph (4),

(3) An application under paragraph (2)(a) shall be made

(a)in a case based on any provision of Part III, to an industrial
tribunal, and

(b)in any other case to a county court.

(4) If it appears to the Commission

(a)that a person has done an act which by virtue of Article 39,
40 or 41 was unlawful, and

(b)that unless restrained he is likely to do further acts which by
virtue of that Article are unlawful,

(5) In proceedings under paragraph (4) the Commission shall not
allege that the person to whom the proceedings relate has done an
act which is unlawful under this Order and within the jurisdiction
of an industrial tribunal unless a finding by an industrial tribunal
that he did that act has become final.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 73

73.(1) With a view to making an application under Article 71(1) or
72(4) in relation to a person the Commission may present to an
industrial tribunal a complaint that he has done an act within the
jurisdiction of an industrial tribunal, and if the tribunal considers
that the complaint is well-founded they shall make a finding to
that effect and, if they think it just and equitable to do so in
the case of an act contravening any provision of Part III may also
(as if the complaint had been presented by the person discriminated
against) make an order such as is referred to in Article 65(1)(a),
or a recommendation such as is referred to in Article 65(1)(c), or
both.

(2) Paragraph (1) is without prejudice to the jurisdiction conferred
by Article 72(2).

(3) Any finding of an industrial tribunal under

(a)this Order, or

(b)the Equal Pay Act,

(i)by the county court on an application under Article 71(1) or
72(4) or in proceedings on an equality clause,

(ii)by an industrial tribunal on a complaint made by the person
affected by the act under Article 63 or in relation to an equality
clause.

(4) In Articles 71 and 72 and this article, the acts "within the
jurisdiction of an industrial tribunal" are those in respect of
which such jurisdiction is conferred by Articles 63 and 72 and by
section 2 of the Equal Pay Act.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 74

74.(1) With a view to helping a person ("the person aggrieved") who
considers he may have been discriminated against in contravention of
this Order to decide whether to institute proceedings and, if he
does so, to formulate and present his case in the most effective
manner, the Secretary of State shall by order prescribe

(a)forms by which the person aggrieved may question the respondent
on his reasons for doing any relevant act, or on any other matter
which is or may be relevant;

(b)forms by which the respondent may if he so wishes reply to any
questions.

(2) Where the person aggrieved questions the respondent (whether in
accordance with an order under paragraph (1) or not)

(a)the question, and any reply by the respondent (whether in
accordance with such an order or not) shall, subject to the
following provisions of this Article, be admissible as evidence in
the proceedings;

(b)if it appears to the court or tribunal that the respondent
deliberately, and without reasonable excuse omitted to reply within a
reasonable period or that his reply is evasive or equivocal, the
court or tribunal may draw any inference from that fact that it
considers it just and equitable to draw, including an inference that
he committed an unlawful act.

(3) The Secretary of State may by order

(a)prescribe the period within which questions must be duly served
in order to be admissible under paragraph (2)(a), and

(b)prescribe the manner in which a question, and any reply by the
respondent, may be duly served.

(4) County court rules may enable the court entertaining a claim
under Article 66 to determine, before the date fixed for the
hearing of the claim, whether a question or reply is admissible
under this Article or not.

(5) This Article is without prejudice to any other statutory
provision or rule of law regulating interlocutory and preliminary
matters in proceedings before a county court or industrial tribunal,
and has effect subject to any statutory provision or rule of law
regulating the admissibility of evidence in such proceedings.

(6) An order made by the Secretary of State under this Article
shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of
either House of Parliament in like manner as a statutory instrument,
and section 5 of the Statutory Instruments Act 1946 shall apply
accordingly.

(7) In this Article "respondent" includes a prospective respondent.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 75

75.(1) Where, in relation to proceedings or prospective proceedings
either under this Order or in respect of an equality clause, an
individual who is an actual or prospective complainant or claimant
applies to the Commission for assistance under this Article, the
Commission shall consider the application and may grant it if it
thinks fit to do so on the ground that

(a)the case raises a question of principle, or

(b)it is unreasonable, having regard to the complexity of the case
or the applicant's position in relation to the respondent or another
person involved or any other matter, to expect the applicant to
deal with the case unaided,

(2) Assistance by the Commission under this Article may include

(a)giving advice;

(b)procuring or attempting to procure the settlement of any matter
in dispute;

(c)arranging for the giving of advice or assistance by a solicitor
or counsel;

(d)arranging for representation by any person including all such
assistance as is usually given by a solicitor or counsel in the
steps preliminary or incidental to any proceedings, or in arriving
at or giving effect to a compromise to avoid or bring to an end
any proceedings,

(3) In so far as expenses are incurred by the Commission in
providing the applicant with assistance under this Article the
recovery of those expenses (as taxed or assessed in such manner as
may be prescribed by rules or regulations) shall constitute a first
charge for the benefit of the Commission

(a)on any costs which (whether by virtue of a judgment or order of
a court or tribunal or an agreement or otherwise) are payable to
the applicant by any other person in respect of the matter in
connection with which the assistance is given, and

(b)so far as relates to any costs, on his rights under any
compromise or settlement arrived at in connection with that matter
to avoid or bring to an end any proceedings.

(4) The charge conferred by paragraph (3) is subject to any charge
under [the Legal Aid, Advice and Assistance (Northern Ireland) Order
1981] and is subject to any provision in that [Order] for payment
of any sum into the legal aid fund.

(5) In this Article "respondent" includes a prospective respondent
and "rules or regulations"

(a)in relation to county court proceedings, means county court rules;

(b)in relation to industrial tribunal proceedings, means regulations
made under Article 59 of the Industrial Relations (Northern Ireland)
Order 1976.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 76

76.(1) An industrial tribunal shall not consider a complaint under
Article 63 unless it is presented to the tribunal before the end
of the period of three months beginning when the act complained of
was done.

(2) A county court shall not consider a claim under Article 66
unless proceedings in respect of the claim are instituted before the
end of

(a)the period of six months beginning when the act complained of
was done; or

(b)in a case to which Article 66(5) applies, the period of eight
months so beginning.

(3) An industrial tribunal or county court shall not consider an
application under Article 72(2)(a) unless it is made before the end
of the period of six months beginning when the act to which it
relates was done; and a county court shall not consider an
application under Article 72(4) unless it is made before the end of
the period of five years so beginning.

(4) An industrial tribunal shall not consider a complaint under
Article 73(1) unless it is presented to the tribunal before the end
of the period of six months beginning when the act complained of
was done.

(5) A court or tribunal may nevertheless consider any such
complaint, claim or application which is out of time if, in all
the circumstances of the case, it considers that it is just and
equitable to do so.

(6) For the purposes of this Article

(a)where the inclusion of any term in a contract renders the making
of the contract an unlawful act that act shall be treated as
extending throughout the duration of the contract, and

(b)any act extending over a period shall be treated as done at the
end of that period, and

(c)a deliberate omission shall be treated as done when the person
in question does an act inconsistent with doing the omitted act or,
if he has done no such inconsistent act, when the period expires
within which he might reasonably have been expected to do the
omitted act if it were to be done.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 77

77.(1) A term of a contract is void where

(a)its inclusion renders the making of the contract unlawful by
virtue of this Order, or

(b)it is included in furtherance of an act rendered unlawful by
this Order, or

(c)it provides for the doing of an act which would be rendered
unlawful by this Order.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a term the inclusion of which
constitutes, or is in furtherance of, or provides for, unlawful
discrimination against a party to the contract, but the term shall
be unenforceable against that party.

(3) A term of a contract which purports to exclude or limit any
provision of this Order or the Equal Pay Act is unenforceable by
any person in whose favour the term would operate apart from this
paragraph.

(4) Paragraph (3) does not apply

(a)to a contract settling a complaint to which Article 63(1) of
this Order or section 2 of the Equal Pay Act applies where the
contract is made with the assistance of [the Labour Relations
Agency];

(b)to a contract settling a claim to which Article 66 applies.

(5) On the application of any person interested in a contract to
which paragraph (2) applies, a county court may make such order as
it thinks just for removing or modifying any term made unenforceable
by that paragraph; but such an order shall not be made unless all
persons affected have been given notice of the application (except
where under rules of court notice may be dispensed with) and have
been afforded an opportunity to make representations to the court.

(6) An order under paragraph (5) may include provision as respects
any period before the making of the order.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 78

78.(1) This Article applies to any trust deed or other instrument

(a)which concerns property applicable for or in connection with the
provision of education in any establishment in paragraphs 1 to 5 of
the table in Article 24, and

(b)which in any way restricts the benefits available under the
instrument to persons of one sex.

(2) If on the application of the trustees, or of the responsible
body (as defined in Article 24), the Department of Finance is
satisfied that the removal or modification of the restriction would
conduce to the advancement of education without sex discrimination
that Department may by order make such modifications of the
instrument as appear to it expedient for removing or modifying the
restriction, and for any supplemental or incidental purposes.

(3) If the trust was created by gift or bequest, no order shall
be made until 25 years after the date on which the gift or
bequest took effect, unless the donor or his personal
representatives, or the personal representatives of the testator, have
consented in writing to the making of the application for the
order.

(4) The Department of Finance shall require the applicant to publish
notice

(a)containing particulars of the proposed order, and

(b)stating that representations may be made to that Department within
a period specified in the notice.

(5) The period specified in the notice shall not be less than one
month from the date of the notice.

(6) The applicants shall publish the notice in such manner as may
be specified by the Department of Finance, and the cost of any
publication of the notice may be defrayed out of the property of
the trust.

(7) Before making the order the Department of Finance shall take
into account any representations duly made in accordance with the
notice.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 79

79.(1) The Secretary of State may by an order the draft of which
has been approved by the Assembly

(a)amend any of the following provisions, namely, Articles 8(3), 10,
21, 22(1), (2) and (3), 32(2), 33, 35, 36 and 44 to 49 (including
any such provision as amended by a previous order under this
paragraph);

(b)amend or repeal any of the following provisions, namely, Articles
14(4), 15(4), 34 and 50 (including any such provision as amended by
a previous order under this paragraph);

(c)amend Part III, IV or V so as to render lawful an act which,
apart from the amendment, would be unlawful by reason of Article
8(1) or (2), 30(1), 31 or 32;

(d)amend Article 14(1) so as to alter the number of partners
specified in that provision.

(2) The Secretary of State shall not be recommended to cause to be
laid before the Assembly the draft of an order under paragraph (1)
unless the Commission has been consulted about the contents of the
draft.

(3) An order under paragraph (1)(c) may make such amendments to the
list of provisions given in paragraph (1)(a) as in the opinion of
the Secretary of State are expedient having regard to the contents
of the order.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 80

80.(1) An order made by a Northern Ireland department under the
preceding provisions of this Order (except Article 13(5), 17(2)(c),
28, 48(4)(b) or 59(2)), and regulations made under this Order, shall
be subject to negative resolution.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to an order under Article 78
unless the order modifies an enactment.

(3) An order under this Order may contain transitional provisions
and savings.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 81

81.(1) The provisions of Schedule 5 shall have effect for making
transitional provision for the purposes of this Order.

Para.(2), with Schedule 6, effects amendments; para.(3), with Schedule
7, effects repeals

Para.(4)Commencement

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 82

82.(1) This Order applies

(a)to an act done by or for purposes of a Minister of the Crown
or government department, or

(b)to an act done on behalf of the Crown by a statutory body, or
a person holding a statutory office,

(2) Parts III and V apply to

(a)service for purposes of a Minister of the Crown or government
department, other than service of a person holding a statutory
office, or

(b)service on behalf of the Crown for purposes of a person holding
a statutory office or purposes of a statutory body,

(3) Part IV (except Article 26(2) and (3)) applies to any
educational establishment conducted in accordance with arrangements
made by the Department of Education under Article 55(1) of the
Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 as if that
establishment were included in a paragraph in column 1 of the table
in Article 24 and that Department were included in relation to it
in column 2 of that table, and as if references to that paragraph
were included in Article 24 and Article 26(4)(b).

(4) Paragraphs (1) and (2) have effect subject to Article 19.

(5) Paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply in relation to service in

(a)the naval, military or air forces of the Crown, or

(b)any women's service administered by the Defence Council.

(6) Nothing in this Order renders unlawful discrimination in
admission to the Army Cadet Force, Air Training Corps, Sea Cadet
Corps or Combined Cadet Force, or any other cadet training corps
for the time being administered by the Ministry of Defence.

(7) This Order (except Article 11(1) and (6)) does not apply to
employment in the case of which the employee may be required to
serve in support of a force or service mentioned in paragraph
(5)(a) or (b).

(8) Paragraph (2) of Article 13 shall have effect in relation to
any ship, aircraft or hovercraft belonging to or possessed by Her
Majesty in right of the Government of Northern Ireland as it has
effect in relation to a ship, aircraft or hovercraft mentioned in
sub-paragraph (a) or (b) of that paragraph, and Article 13(5) shall
apply accordingly.

(9) The provisions of Parts II to IV of the Crown Proceedings Act
1947 shall apply to proceedings against the Crown under this Order4
as they apply to proceedings in Northern Ireland which by virtue of
section 23 of that Act are treated for the purposes of Part II of
that Act as civil proceedings by or against the Crown, except that
in their application to proceedings under this Order section 20 of
that Act (removal of proceedings from county court to High Court)
shall not apply.

(10) In this Article "statutory body" means a body set up by or
in pursuance of a statutory provision, and "statutory office" means
an office so set up; and service "for purposes of" a Minister of
the Crown or government department does not include service in any
office in Schedule 2 (Ministerial offices) to the House of Commons
Disqualification Act 1975 as for the time being in force.

SEX DISCRIMINATION (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1976 - SECT 83

83.(1) This Article applies to any appointment by a Minister of the
Crown or government department to an office or post where Article 8
does not apply in relation to the appointment.

(2) In making the appointment, and in making the arrangements for
determining who should be offered the office or post, the Minister
of the Crown or government department shall not do an act which
would be unlawful under Article 8 if the Crown were the employer
for the purposes of this Order.

Schedule 1 Part IAmendments; Part II sets out 1970 c.32 (NI) as
amended by this Order

1. Any application for a transitional exemption order made by the
responsible body in relation to an establishment falling within
paragraph 1 or 5 of the table in Article 24 shall be made to the
Department of Education and in relation to an establishment falling
within paragraph 2 of that table shall be made to the Commission.

2. An application under paragraph 1 shall specify the transitional
period proposed by the responsible body to be provided for in the
order, the stages by which within that period the body proposes to
move to the position where Article 24(b) is complied with, and any
other matters relevant to the terms and operation of the order
applied for.

3. The Department of Education on any application under paragraph 1
may make a transitional exemption order on such terms and conditions
as it may think fit.

4. The Commission on any application under paragraph 1 may if it
thinks fit make a transitional exemption order, but shall not make
such an order unless it is satisfied that the terms of the
application are reasonable having regard to the nature of the
premises at which the establishment is carried on, the accommodation,
equipment and facilities available, and the financial resources of
the responsible body.

1. On the appointment of the first members of the Commission, the
Commission shall come into existence as a body corporate.

2.(1) The Commission is not an emanation of the Crown, and shall
not act or be treated as the servant or agent of the Crown.

(2) Accordingly

(a)neither the Commission nor any of its members or members of its
staff as such is entitled to any status, immunity, privilege or
exemption enjoyed by the Crown;

(b)the members of the Commission and members of its staff as such
are not civil servants; and

(c)the Commission's property is not property of, or held on behalf
of, the Crown.

3.(1) A person shall hold and vacate his office as chairman, deputy
chairman or other member of the Commission in accordance with the
terms of his appointment:

Provided that no such appointment shall be for a period exceeding
five years in the case of the chairman and three years in the
case of another member.

(2) With the consent of the Commissioner concerned, the head of the
Department may alter the terms of an appointment so as to make a
full-time Commissioner into a part-time Commissioner or vice versa,
or for any other purpose.

(3) A person may at any time resign office as chairman, deputy
chairman or other member of the Commission by notice to the
Department.

(4) Past service as chairman, deputy chairman or other member of
the Commission is no bar to re-appointment.

4. The Department may pay, or make such payments towards the
provision of, such remuneration, allowances (including allowances for
expenses), pensions or gratuities to or in respect of the chairman,
deputy chairmen and other members of the Commission, or any of
them, as, with the approval of the Department of Finance, it may
determine.

5.(1) Paragraphs 2(2) and 3(1) and (3) shall apply to additional
Commissioners appointed under Article 57(2) as they apply to
Commissioners.

(2) The Commission may pay, or make such payments towards the
provision of, such remuneration, allowances (including allowances for
expenses), pensions or gratuities to or in respect of an additional
Commissioner as the Department, with the consent of the Department
of Finance, may determine.

(3) With the approval of the Department and the consent of the
additional Commissioner concerned, the Commission may alter the terms
of appointment of an additional Commissioner so as to make a
full-time additional Commissioner into a part-time additional
Commissioner or vice versa, or for any other purpose.

(4) An additional Commissioner may resign by notice to the
Commission.

(5) The appointment of an additional Commissioner shall terminate at
the conclusion of the investigation for which he was appointed, if
not sooner.

6.(1) The Commission may with the approval of the Department and
the Department of Finance as to numbers and as to remuneration and
other terms and conditions of employment

(a)employ such officers and servants as the Commission considers
necessary;

(b)employ the services of such other persons as the Commission
considers expedient for any particular purpose.

(2) The Commission may, in the case of such persons employed by it
as may be determined by the Commission with the approval of the
Department and the Department of Finance, pay to or in respect of
them such allowances (including allowances for expenses), pensions or
gratuities, or provide and maintain for them such pension schemes
(whether contributory or not), or contributory or other pension
arrangements, as may be so determined.

7.(1) The Commission may regulate its own procedure and business
including the formalities for affixing its common seal to any
document and, subject to sub-paragraph (2), its quorum.

(2) The quorum for meetings of the Commission shall, in the first
instance, be determined by a meeting of the Commission attended by
not less than five members.

8. The validity of any proceedings of the Commission shall not be
affected by any vacancy in the office of chairman, deputy chairman
or other member of the Commission or any defect in the appointment
of the chairman, deputy chairman or any other member.

9. A document purporting to be duly executed under the common seal
of the Commission shall be received in evidence and shall, unless
the contrary is proved, be deemed to be so executed.

10. Any contract or instrument which, if entered into or executed
by an individual, would not require to be under seal may be
entered into or executed on behalf of the Commission by any person
generally or specially authorised by the Commission to act for that
purpose, and any document purporting to be such a contract or
instrument shall be deemed to be such a contract or instrument
until the contrary is proved.

11.(1) Without prejudice to Article 57(3), the Commission may
authorise the discharge, under the general direction of the
Commission, of any of its functions by either a member or a group
of members of the Commission selected by the chairman.

(2) Anything done by or in relation to a member or group of
members in or in connection with the discharge of functions he or
they are authorised to discharge under sub-paragraph (1) shall have
the same effect as if done by or in relation to the Commission.

(3) A group of members authorised to discharge any functions under
sub-paragraph (1) may regulate their own procedure and business,
including their quorum.

(4) The validity of any proceedings of a member or group of
members so authorised shall not be affected by any defect in his
appointment or any of their appointments; and the validity of the
proceedings of any such group shall not be affected by any vacancy
in their number.

(5) The chairman may select himself as the member, or as one of
the group of members, mentioned in this paragraph.

12. All expenditure incurred by or on behalf of the Commission

(a)within the terms of any general authorisation in writing given by
the Department and the Department of Finance; or

(b)with the approval of those Departments;

13.(1) The Commission shall keep proper accounts in such form as
may be approved by the Department, and proper records in relation
to the accounts, and shall prepare in respect of the period ending
on 31st March 1977 and in respect of each subsequent financial year
a statement of accounts in such form as the Department, with the
approval of the Department of Finance, may direct.

(2) The accounts of the Commission shall be audited by auditors
appointed by the Commission with the approval of the Department and
shall be vouched to the satisfaction of the auditors.

(3) The Commission shall, at such time in each year as the
Department may direct, transmit to the Department and the Comptroller
and Auditor-General copies, certified by the auditors, of the annual
statement of accounts.

(4) The Comptroller and Auditor-General

(a)shall examine a copy of each annual statement of accounts of the
Commission;

(b)may, in connection with such examination, examine any accounts
kept by the Commission and any records relating to the accounts;
and

(c)shall make a report on the copy of each annual statement of
accounts and send the report to the Department.

(5) Subject to sub-paragraph (6), a copy of every annual statement
of accounts of the Commission and a copy of the Comptroller and
Auditor-General's report thereon shall be laid by the head of the
Department before the Northern Ireland Assembly.

(6) During the interim period the copies mentioned in sub-paragraph
(5) shall, instead, be sent by the Department to the Secretary of
State and laid by him before Parliament.

14.(1) The Commission shall prepare in respect of the period ending
on 31st March 1977 and in respect of each subsequent financial year
a report on the Commission's activities during that period or year
("the annual report").

(2) The annual report shall include a general survey of
developments, during the period to which it relates, in respect of
matters falling within the scope of the Commission's functions.

(3) Subject to sub-paragraph (4), the annual report shall be made
to the head of the Department and shall be laid by him before the
Northern Ireland Assembly.

(4) During the interim period the annual report shall, instead, be
made to the Secretary of State and laid by him before Parliament.

(5) The Department, or where sub-paragraph (4) applies the Secretary
of State, shall cause the annual report to be published.

1. The provisions of the Acts mentioned in the following table
which are specified in the third column of the table:

to 32 and 80.

Regulation Act 1906.

1919.

Young Persons and Children

Act 1920.

Ireland) 1924.

Ireland) 1927.Conventions) Act 1936.

(Fumigation) Act (Northern

Ireland) 1938.

Act 1948.

Substances) Act (Northern

Ireland) 1954.

Health and Welfare

Provisions) Act (Northern

Ireland) 1959.

Ireland) 1965.Act (Northern Ireland) 1966.

Ireland) 1969.Ireland) 1970.

2. The provisions of any regulations, orders or other instruments of
a legislative character made or having effect under any provision
specified in that table.

[3. The provisions of Part II of the Health and Safety at Work
(Northern Ireland) Order 1978 and of any health and safety
regulations made under that Part.]

Paras.1, 2 spent

3.(1) Until a date specified by order made by the Department of
Health and Social Services the courses of training to be undergone
by men as a condition of [the issue of certificates to them as
midwives under the Nurses and Midwives Act (Northern Ireland) 1970
(as amended by Article 22)] [registration as midwives under the
Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979] must be courses
approved in writing by the Department of Health and Social Services
for the purposes of this paragraph.

[(2) Until the date specified under sub-paragraph (1), section 30(1)
of the Nurses and Midwives Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 (regulation
of persons other than certified midwives attending women in
childbirth) shall have effect as if for the words "any person who,
not being a midwife," there were substituted the words

(a)a woman who is a certified midwife, or

(b)in a place approved in writing by or on behalf of the
Department a man who is a certified midwife",

The amendment made by this sub-paragraph shall be read without
regard to the section 54A inserted in the said Act of 1970 by
Article 22(4).

(3) On and after the said date the words to be substituted for
those, in the said section 30(1), first mentioned in sub-paragraph
(2) are

"if a person who is not a certified midwife".]

Paras.4, 5 spent

6.(1) Section 6 of the Equal Pay Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 (as
amended by paragraph 3 of Schedule 1) shall apply as if the
references to death or retirement in subsection (1A)(b) of that
section included references to sums payable on marriage in pursuance
of a contract of employment made before the making of this Order,
or the commutation, at any time, of the right to such sums.

(2) In relation to service within section 1(9) of the said Act of
1970 (service of the Crown) for the reference in this paragraph to
a contract of employment made before the making of this Order there
shall be substituted a reference to terms of service entered into
before the making of this Order.

Schedule 6Amendments. Schedule 7Repeals

1970 c.32


BAILII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback | Donate to BAILII
URL: http://www.bailii.org/nie/legis/num_act/sdio1976403.txt