EQUALITY COMMISSION FOR NORTHERN IRELAND ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY NINTH MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2018 AT 1.30 PM IN EQUALITY HOUSE

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1 EC/18/02/01 EQUALITY COMMISSION FOR NORTHERN IRELAND ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY NINTH MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2018 AT 1.30 PM IN EQUALITY HOUSE PRESENT Michael Wardlow Lesley Carroll Eileen Chan-Hu Deborah Donnelly Duane Farrell Helen Ferguson Hazel Francey Billy Gamble Judith Gillespie Tom Hartley Jarlath Kearney Geraldine McGahey William McKee Robin Mullan David Rose Chief Commissioner Deputy Chief Commissioner APOLOGIES Joe McVey Christo McConnell Boardroom Apprentice IN ATTENDANCE Evelyn Collins Keith Brown Eileen Lavery Lisa King Jacqui McKee Darren McKinstry Alden Henderson Simon Hookham Louise Conlon Chief Executive Head of Corporate and Legal Services Head of Advice, Policy and Investigations Director, Research and Investigations Director, Advice and Compliance Director, Policy and Strategic Engagement Manager, Advice and Compliance Senior Research Officer Manager, Secretariat 1

2 The Chair welcomed Conor Clarkson-Doran, a sixth form student from Wellington College, Belfast, who was on work experience with the Commission. 1. Declarations of conflict of interest The Chief Commissioner declared a conflict of interest in relation to item 7, Public Authority Statutory Duties: Recommendations for approval and exemption. The Deputy Chief Commissioner would take over the Chair for this part of the meeting. 2. Minutes EC/18/01/01 The meeting considered the minutes of the one hundred and forty eighth meeting held on Wednesday 22 November The minutes were approved and signed as a true and accurate record. 3. Matters Arising Review of Legal Services : This Review has been published on the Commission s website. Recommendations for Withdrawal Bill: Dates for meetings with the new Secretary of State and Shadow Secretary of State were being sought. Gender Pay Reporting Regulations: The Commission had issued a Statement on the need for Gender Pay Regulations to be enacted in Northern Ireland. Equality Awareness Survey: Findings in relation to the Attitudes section will be published on Wednesday 28 February Policy Issues - Draft Statement on Key Inequalities in Participation in Public Life in Northern Ireland. EC/18/01/02i EC/18/01/02ii Simon Hookham, Research Manager, presented this draft Statement which was based on research conducted by Ipsos MORI for the Commission. He noted that the information provided in the draft Statement was curtailed by the extensive data limitations and gaps which existed across all areas of 2

3 public life and across the nine equality grounds. With this caveat, four key inequalities and a number of barriers had been identified. The proposed next step is to discuss the draft Statement with relevant stakeholders prior to presenting a final Statement to Commissioners for approval in March Commissioners were asked to approve the Statement and proposed next steps. Commissioners commended the research team for its work to date but expressed frustration about the lack of available data and the subsequent impact this had on the availability of information for the draft Statement. It was noted that these data gaps had been highlighted time and again including in relation to the various KI Statements. It was agreed that it was important that the Commission made a strong statement about data gaps. There were queries on the methodology employed to select the key inequalities. It was explained that this was methodology agreed by the Commission at the outset of the current phase of the key inequalities work in June There were also queries around the definition of participation in public life and it was confirmed that this definition was drawn from across our existing guidance definitions. It was also suggested that, at some stage, it would be useful to link the information from the different statements on particular equality groups. This would highlight how inequalities impact on people s lives across themes for example, working class children and young people or disabled people. It was suggested that it might be useful to include the policy narrative and recommendations for action to address the key inequalities prior to progressing to publication and stakeholder engagement. It was anticipated that this would provide for more productive and valuable engagement with stakeholders on the draft key inequalities statement and the actions needed to address it. The Chief Executive agreed to give consideration to the practicalities and timetabling of bringing this work together and would report back. If required, a revised document could be circulated for consideration by Business Reporting - Finance Report: 1 April Dec 2017 EC/18/01/03 The Head of Corporate Services presented this report noting that the Commission s bid in January monitoring round had been successful and the Commission had received an additional 178k. Funding had also been 3

4 secured under the Voluntary Exit Scheme to allow three staff members to leave on 31 March A business case had been approved to allow a further two staff members to leave under the VE scheme at the end of May 2018, although funding had not been secured as yet. This additional budget of 178k had been allocated across a number of areas including legal assistance, employer advice, communications and staff training. Work was ongoing to make savings in relation to holiday pay accrual and the importance of managing staff leave was noted by Commissioners. A Commissioner queried whether TEO had confirmed that the Commission could retain the full amount of receipts going forward and it was noted that TEO had not confirmed this. A Commissioner welcomed the additional budget allocated to staff training. In relation to staff leaving under VES, clarification was sought on which departments would be losing staff members and it was confirmed that two staff from the Communications and Promotions team and a member of the Policy Team would be leaving at the end of March It was noted that it was important to assess carefully the impact of the departures on delivery of the Commission s statutory remit and annual business plan. The Chief Executive explained that this was considered prior to VES being approved; staffing resources are also considered during business planning. Commissioners noted the Finance Report for the period. - Progress Report: 1 April Dec 2017 EC/18/01/04 The Chief Executive presented the progress report noting that, with one exception, all areas were on target to be delivered by the year end. Commissioners discussed the potential of budget reductions on the delivery of the Commission s statutory remit going forward. It was noted that this would need to be considered carefully during both corporate planning and business planning over the next period. Commissioners noted the Progress Report for the period. - Communication Report: 1 April Dec 2017 EC/18/01/05 The Manager, Secretariat, presented the Communications report for the period. Commissioners noted the good coverage and commended the proactive approach. Commissioners noted the Progress Report for the period. 4

5 6. Other Matters for Commission Decision [The Chief Commissioner left the room having previously declared an interest in this item. The Deputy Chief Commissioner chaired the meeting.] - Public Authority Statutory Duties: Recommendations for Approval and Requests for Exemption from Equality Scheme and Disability Plan duties. EC/18/01/06 Jacqui McKee, Director, Advice and Compliance, presented this paper which recommended approval of the Equality Schemes for five public authorities. Causeway Coast & Glens Police & Community Safety Partnership Lisburn & Castlereagh Police & Community Safety Partnership Mid & East Antrim Police & Community Safety Partnership Fermanagh & Omagh Police & Community Safety Partnership Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust She provided background information regarding the development of the Schemes noting that they broadly follow the Commission s Model Equality Scheme. Following consideration, Commissioners approved the above public authorities Equality Schemes as recommended. [The Chief Commissioner returned to the meeting and chaired the remainder of the meeting] Three public authorities had requested exemption from producing an Equality Scheme and Disability Action Plan. Taking all the information presented into account, the Commission approved exemption for the British Library and the Livestock and Meat Commission. Both exemptions would be reviewed if circumstances change. A proposal for exemption for the Northern Ireland Law Commission was deferred; Commissioners requested additional information from DOJ in relation to this. 8. Chief Commissioner s Business EC/18/01/07 The Chief Commissioner reported on engagements undertaken since the last meeting including on meetings with Equality Coalition and Coiste. 5

6 He reported that the Head of NI Civil Service had accepted an invitation to meet with the Commission. This was currently scheduled for the February meeting but other priorities beyond his control might mean that he will have to postpone until the March meeting. The Chief Commissioner proposed setting aside the morning of the February Commission meeting for a further discussion on strategic priorities, following the November discussion, and this was agreed. 9. Chief Executive s Report EC/18/01/08 The Chief Executive noted her report and highlighted a number of updates including noting that the Commission s Business Plan was on the TEO Board Meeting of 31 January 2018 for approval. She also provided an update on a useful meeting with Maria Miller MP, Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee in Westminster, and highlighted a number of pieces of correspondence including from Gregory Campbell MP and from the Chief Executive of Newry and Mourne and Down District Council. Commissioners noted this report. 10. Matters for Information Commissioners noted the following matters for information. - Code of Conduct for Commissioners EC/18/01/09 - Consultation response: A Fundamental Review of Social Housing Allocations. EC/18/01/ Minutes of Committee Meetings There were no minutes to note. 12. Any Other Business There was no other business discussed. 13. Date of next meeting: One hundred and fiftieth Commission Meeting on Wednesday, 28 February 2018, at 1.30 pm in Equality House. The meeting closed at 4.30pm 6