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06/02/2015
The amendments were put forward by DUP Assembly member Paul Girvan last year after the Equality Commission took a civil case against NI bakery Asher's over its refusal to make a cake with slogan supporting gay marriage.
In response to the private bill, the Consultation on a Northern Ireland Freedom of Conscience Amendment Bill, Dr Michael Wardlow, Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission, said that the organisation would not support either of the proposed amendments to the Sexual Orientation Regulations.
He said: We believe that, if introduced, the proposed amendments would significantly weaken protection against discrimination in Northern Ireland for lesbian, gay and bisexual people when accessing goods, facilities and services or buying or renting premises.
"These exceptions are targeted solely on the rights protected by the sexual orientation Regulations and no equivalent provisions are proposed for other areas of equality law.
"They are inconsistent with the approach adopted under other equality strands where there is also the potential for competing rights, and with the approach adopted by equality law in other parts of the United Kingdom."
The Commission added that the amendments are "too wide" in scope, and lack legal clarity and certainty in a number of areas, as well as lacking appropriate safeguards.
Dr Wardlow added: "We do not believe that the exceptions proposed strike a fair balance between those rights and the rights of service providers to manifest their faith."
(JP/CD)
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Equality Commission 'Will Not Support Conscience Clause'
The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has said it will not support changes to the region's equality law.The amendments were put forward by DUP Assembly member Paul Girvan last year after the Equality Commission took a civil case against NI bakery Asher's over its refusal to make a cake with slogan supporting gay marriage.
In response to the private bill, the Consultation on a Northern Ireland Freedom of Conscience Amendment Bill, Dr Michael Wardlow, Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission, said that the organisation would not support either of the proposed amendments to the Sexual Orientation Regulations.
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He said: We believe that, if introduced, the proposed amendments would significantly weaken protection against discrimination in Northern Ireland for lesbian, gay and bisexual people when accessing goods, facilities and services or buying or renting premises.
"These exceptions are targeted solely on the rights protected by the sexual orientation Regulations and no equivalent provisions are proposed for other areas of equality law.
"They are inconsistent with the approach adopted under other equality strands where there is also the potential for competing rights, and with the approach adopted by equality law in other parts of the United Kingdom."
The Commission added that the amendments are "too wide" in scope, and lack legal clarity and certainty in a number of areas, as well as lacking appropriate safeguards.
Dr Wardlow added: "We do not believe that the exceptions proposed strike a fair balance between those rights and the rights of service providers to manifest their faith."
(JP/CD)
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