Equality Impact Assessment

PPS 12 has been prepared in accordance with the Department's statutory obligations under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. Section 75 requires public authorities, in carrying out their functions relating to Northern Ireland, to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity: • between persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status or sexual orientation; • between men and women generally; • between persons with a disability and persons without; and • between persons with dependents and persons without. In addition, without prejudice to the obligation, the Department must also, in carrying out its functions relating to Northern Ireland, have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between persons of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group. An Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) has been carried out by the Department and is available at www.drdni.gov.uk/shapingourfuture.